Amherst Chamber Accepting Nominations for Board of Directors

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce has a 45 member Board of Directors.  Each member serves a three year term and may serve a maximum of three terms.  The Nominating Committee which consists of the President, the current Chairman of the Board and the In Coming Chairman of the Board, selects candidates to insure we have diversity geographically, with a broad range of industries and companies of all sizes represented.  Any Chamber member, in good standing, is eligible for consideration.  Historically, the Nominating Committee identifies a single slate which is presented to the membership for ratification.  If any member requests consideration and is not selected they have the ability to circulate a petition and if they secure 25 member signatures, they will be added to the slate and a formal election will be held.  This, however, has only happened once in the past thirty years. 

Membership on the Board of Directors has become a sought after position.  As one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in the state we have significant impact in the region. Our relationship with the region's leadership and our public officials at every level of government has resulted in our having lively discussions and numerous meetings with community stewards.  We are 'at the table' on most initiatives of  major impact in the area.  We alternate Board meetings throughout the year with one being a business session and the next featuring a speaker.  Our 2011 speakers have included Margaret Sullivan (The Buffalo News), Jordan Levy (Erie Canal Harbor Association), Jack Quinn (Erie Community College President), Robert Odhawi (Seneca Nation President).

We also host regular Public Briefings with our elected officials including Senators Ranzenhofer and Maziarz, US House of Representatives Brian Higgins and Kathy Hochul, Senator Schumer, County Executive Collins and members of the Erie County Legislature and Amherst Town Board. 

Members of the Board of Directors of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce provide leadership to the organization and the community at large.  They assist the staff in developing positions on public policy.  They support our signature events which include our Business of the Year Dinner, Small Business Awards Luncheon and our Emerging Business Leaders Gala.  They are not responsible for running events or doing staff work, they simply support the events by purchasing or organizing the purchase of a table.  Board members are inducted at our Annual Meeting in January which also features the State of the Town Address by the Town Supervisor. 

While board members historically represent firms that can make a major investment in the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, some smaller firms participate by assisting us in identifying investors or providing us with in-kind leadership.  The Amherst Chamber of Commerce is an inclusive organization and we have representation on our Board of Directors ranging from an at home business to C-level individuals from multi-million dollar corporations.  What all board members have in common is a belief in the value of our organization to the region and a vision of our role in growing the prosperity of Western New York.

If you would like to submit a nomination for the 2012 Board of Directors email your resume or biography to Caitlin Campbell at ccampbell@amherst.org no later than Friday September 9, 2011 at 5:00pm. The 2012 Board of Directors slate will be brought to the Chamber membership at the end of the year for voting.