The Chamber of Commerce idea is a concept found only where private initiative and free enterprise exist.

The Chamber of Commerce, as a wholly voluntary institution in Canada, dates back to 1750, in Halifax.

In these 250 plus years, Chambers of Commerce have grown from a single-purpose Federation of Traders, who organized to promote trade and cut costs by cooperating in certain operations, to a broad community development association which believes that when men and women of high purpose work unselfishly on problems that they have in common, progress will result.

Today, Chambers of Commerce enjoy an excellent reputation for their effective programs. Most important, they have realized a coordinated effort with all of the important community elements necessary to solve many complex problems and to take advantage of opportunities that confront an area such as Eastern Ottawa.

WHAT DOES A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REALLY DO?

This is a legitimate question, and many people, including those to whom the Chamber is very important, have no real concept of exactly what a Chamber of Commerce is or what it does.

There are a lot of misconceptions about a Chamber of Commerce.

First of all, a Chamber of Commerce is not a BNI. While many business people join a Chamber in order to build their network of contacts, they cannot expect to be the only person in a particular field of business nor can they expect to get all the Chamber’s business. The role of the Chamber is to represent all businesses in its area.

There are those who believe all a Chamber of Commerce does is gather statistics, print nice brochures, visit new businesses, answer inquiries and promote the Eastern Ottawa area as a great place in which to live and work. They are right … but the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce is much more than that.

There are those who see a Chamber of Chamber as just another networking group, … well, the Eastern Ottawa Chamber does provide the opportunity to network with other businesses, but since it represents all businesses in the community it is much more that that.

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst, a vehicle through which business and professional people work together of the common good of the community. A better community means better business conditions.

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce works for a better community for everyone. The prime reason for the Chamber’s existence is to do all that is necessary to keep the economy in the area of the former city of Eastern Ottawa at a level where business will risk their resources in our community in the hope of making a profit. Everything else is just a means to an end.

This means that “WE” must do the job. The final question is … who is the “WE” that does this? “WE” are “YOU”! The staff, the Chamber members and all of our business and professional friends who are also Chamber members.

YOU are the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. You provide the ideas, the drive, the goals, the funds and the voluntary services to keep the Chamber doing what it does. YOU are the Chamber and without YOU, there wouldn’t be any Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.

WHO WOULD DO THESE THINGS IF THE CHAMBER DIDN’T?

WHAT DOES THE CHAMBER DO FOR YOU?

Here are some examples of the services and benefits you will enjoy when you join your fellow business leaders in the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce to make our area of the City a fine place in which to WORK, LIVE and PLAY.

SERVICES

Voice of Business

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce is the unified voice of all business interests and represents you at all levels of government. It unites small businesses with larger enterprises of all types and guarantees that all politicians and bureaucrats will hear and consider your problems, recommendations and solutions. The Chamber is the guardian of business. Through membership in the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, you are also a member of the National Capital Business Alliance and are represented in the Coalition for a Successful Ottawa Economy, two groups of like-minded organizations that represent the broader concerns of the business community at the municipal level. You are also a member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, which represents business interests at the provincial level, and of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which speaks at the national level to the federal government.

Watchdog of Government

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce combats government encroachment of business by seeking to ensure that legislation, both existing and proposed, does not unnecessarily impede on the business community. Again, the Chamber works with other tiers of Chambers to carry out this work at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Community Affairs

Volunteer communities of the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce seek not only to help all businesses, large and small, earn profits from their business ventures but strive to attract new industries to our area of the City as an excellent site for their new venture.

The Chamber is an active supporter of the key organizations that also contribute to making Eastern Ottawa a better place to live: The Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre, the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard and Arts Ottawa East.

Seminars

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce organizes professionally conducted, informative, educational seminars to help small business become more competitive and knowledgeable, and to understand new regulations that may impact on their business.

Business Contacts

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce provides frequent opportunities for members to meet and mingle, enabling you to obtain business leads, exchange ideas and introduce your business venture to others while your knowledge is being challenged by an interesting business discussion. These opportunities include monthly luncheons, breakfasts and after hours events.

Communication

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce newsletter, the Commerce Courier, keeps you abreast of Chamber and other activities in the business community. The Commerce Courier is published monthly from September to June.
The Business Directory, published mid-winter, provides a listing of all Chamber members as well as information about the services of the Chamber, community services in Eastern Ottawa and useful information about City services.
A new venture in 2005 is a weekly electronic version of the Commerce Courier, prepared and distributed to our members by the Ottawa Business Journal, focusing on local business news.

Crime Prevention

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce can help you to avoid financial losses resulting from fraudulent or deceptive business practices through the Crimestoppers and Commercial Watch programs.

Volunteers

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, with the exception of the Chamber staff, that is all directors and committee members, is managed by volunteers, working without pay. Your membership fee permits others to continue their good work in support of your business interests. Serving on a Chamber Committee or as a Director provides members the opportunity to advance their areas of interest, develop relations with other members and showcase and/or develop their skills.

Certificates of Origin

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, as an exclusive service, processes Certificates of Origin for its members at no charge.

Information Services

The staff of the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce provides a variety of information and referral services including details of firms, suppliers and addresses, as well as information about local community events, directions and other information.

Complaint Service

The Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce will act as a “middle-man” in complaints against business. Upon receiving a written complaint and at your request, we will write a letter on your behalf in an effort to resolve a problem before it goes any further.

Business Credibility

Your business is perceived to be a good corporate citizen as a member of the Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan
• Individual packages to suit your needs
• Available for one, two or more person firms
• Health, dental, short and long term disability, prescription and more available
• Best Docs ™ Program

Esso Direct Driver Billing program.
• A gasoline discount program for Chamber members allowing them to save 3.0 cents per litre off the pump price.

Member-to-Member Discounts.
• Members may offer all or selected goods and/or services to other Chamber members at discounted rates. The E.O.C.C. will advertise your offer AT NO CHARGE at least once in its newsletter as well as listing it in the Directory.

Visa, MasterCard and Debit Card Discount Program
• Receive a preferred merchant discount rate through the TD Merchant Services program.

Social Events
• Monthly Luncheon Meetings
• Monthly Strictly Business Breakfasts
• Annual Curling Bonspiel
• Annual Golf Tournament
• Business Mixers

Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member Natural Gas Buying Program
Through ECNG LP, a leading provider of objective energy procurement and energy management services, established in 1987, Chamber members are able to use the buyinng power and expert support that larger users have to buy natural gas on the wholesale market.  The program provides natural gas at prices that have consistently out-performed local utility prices.
• Simple sign-up
• One price cost certainty
• Group buying power
• One invoice per month
• No penalties for over or under consumption

2008 Fee Schedule
Fees for new members after 1 Jan 08 and renewals received after 1 Jan 08

New Member