Chamber = business.

But for the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce team 鈥� both its staff and directors 鈥� their organization is about much more than commerce.

It鈥檚 about being active and immersed in the community. Sure, it means participating in a few community events and happenings. It also means speaking out about social injustices. It also means hosting several key community functions of their own.

Admittedly, a few of the chamber events may stretch beyond the normal purview of a board of trade or chamber of commerce, admitted Colleen Clark, the executive director for the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce (GLCC).

But, pointing to some of their special events 鈥� such as the summer golf tournament at Redwoods Golf Course, the H.D. Stafford Good Citizen Award presentations every December, the business excellence awards every October, and a relatively new women鈥檚 luncheon happening in early September 鈥� Clark said they鈥檙e important in solidifying the chamber鈥檚 role as a community partner in 91原创.

These are more than special chamber events, they鈥檙e important community events, Clark said. And that鈥檚 why the chamber has taken the leadership role in each.

Since 1980, for instance, the chamber has picked one worthy volunteer in 91原创 to be lauded for all he or she does to help others and the community.

鈥淚 think if you go back through history of the chamber鈥� the chamber had worked with Harold [Stafford] on different issues, and they really wanted to somehow add him to something the chamber did 鈥� and it didn鈥檛 really fit with business per say. So when you look at the H.D. Stafford award, it鈥檚 not just about being a businessperson. That鈥檚 part of the criteria, but when we give out the H.D. Stafford [Award]鈥� it鈥檚 about being a good citizen in general鈥� we really look for individuals who are all encompassing鈥� they give from the heart not just the cheque book.鈥�

Speaking of recognition, the chamber will hold its 23rd annual business excellence awards this fall, and while it鈥檚 a recognition event for local business operators and entrepreneurs, it鈥檚 also one of the premier community events 鈥� drawing more than 400 people to help laud the local people behind prize-winning businesses and to recognize the individuals and businesses alike for outstanding customer relations, community service, and quality products.

Then, there鈥檚 the long-running chamber golf tournament that鈥檚 on tap for June 6.

鈥淭he golf tournament gives us a fun event, where people can just get out and network and enjoy a day on the course,鈥� she said, noting more and more chambers are incorporating golf tourneys into their annual calendars.

鈥淸Fun] is one of the main reasons, but we are a non-profit organization and it is one of our largest fundraisers of the year, too,鈥� Clark elaborated.

These kinds of events are key to the chamber鈥檚 bottomline, she emphasized. The organization garners most of its funds through membership dues and administration fees through partnership programs.

Money raised by hosting events, like this year鈥檚 33rd annual golf tournament, are also essential to ensuring the strength and longevity of the organization.

And, still relatively new on the chamber calendar is the women鈥檚 luncheon. While there are other community events held in and around International Women鈥檚 Day, the chamber still wants to recognize 鈥減owerful women in business,鈥� Clark said.

So, while details are still being ironed out, the chamber is preparing for the third time to hold a women鈥檚 lunch, slated for Sept. 5. It will feature author Darci Lang , an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, a wife, and a mother, and someone who lived with depression and learned how to turn her life around to focus on the positives.

She鈥檒l give the 150-plus women in attendance one simple tool to change the way they view their lives.

Clark was so impressed hearing Lang鈥檚 motivational speech at another event, that she jumped at the chance to bring her to 91原创 and share her secret to finding balance in life.

鈥淎s a chamber, yes, we focus on the business community, but our underlying morals are 鈥榳e want our community to be the best community it can be, as a whole,鈥� said Clark, a self-proclaimed 鈥渃hamber nerd鈥� who鈥檚 been involved in large and small chambers of commerce for a quarter century, the past three years at the helm in 91原创.

鈥淪o, whether it鈥檚 a social issue such as affordable housing, or opoiod overdoses, we 鈥� as a chamber 鈥� need to have a say in that because the business community is a huge part of the community.鈥�

To do so, the chamber has to be active beyond the obvious business realm.

To find out more about the upcoming chamber special events, visit their new website at .