05/11/2026
The Hilton Parma Hamlin Chamber of Commerce has been officially closed by the current Board of Directors. Since the Covid pandemic, nearly no businesses submitted their annual membership dues or participated in any conversation or activity.
The HPH Chamber was created many decades ago when Chamber activity and membership was very high in most American communities. Networking and commercial engagements were done primarily by face-to-face meetings, cooperative efforts, and print advertising.
Since the advent of the Internet and the ease and price of online promotion, shopping, and networking, "the old ways" slipped in importance and value to both large and small business. In person training and connections declined (except when required by an organization or company,) so Chamber meetings couldn't offer any "golden opportunities" to small business owners.
Chambers "in the old days" could band together and purchase very competitive insurance rates - particularly health insurance rates - for solo entrepreneurs and tiny companies... that world is gone, too.
A frequent question in the earliest ages of Chambers was, "How can I work with others to help my community?" Gradually, that question was replaced by, "What does the Chamber do for me for the price I have to pay?" A subtle shift occurred from "energy flowing outward" to "energy flowing inward" for most small businesses.
There really wasn't a good answer for that.
As the Internet grew in importance and accessibility, other kinds of new networks sprang up as well. Industry-specific groups, special interest associations, economic and think-tank organizations replaced what the local Chambers has provided... to the varying degree that they could, based on what business owners chose to join thr Chamber, step up to service and leadership in the Chamber, and offer their skills, knowledge, and connections for their associates and communities.
Now, so many of those same opportunities exist far beyond a local Chamber that small busines owners simply don't have the time, energy, or money to do more and more... and more... and then again, even more.
Even the very largest Chambers of Commerce with paid staff and central offices and "big budgets" are struggling to survive. Many don't.
The Hilton Parma Hamlin Chamber of Commerce has had hundreds of devoted small business owners sacrifice and engage local and regional activities for many decades. Speaking for all of them (many before me I never even met,) thank you all for patronizing our "mom and pop shops," supporting our local businesses and activities, and just "being there" for all these many years and efforts.
Everything that lives can also die, at the right time. Even the giant redwoods out in California are not eternal. Chambers of Commerce had a vibrant role in many local communities for nearly a hundred years, possibly even more. But that model is not sustainable in the current age.
For the HPH CoC, now closed, we sincerely say thank you to everyone who served and everyone running small businesses in this wonderful region of Monroe County, New York State, the USA, North America, and the world at large.
- Myke Merrill,
president emeritus and current board of directors member
