The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce will proudly celebrate its 109th anniversary on Sept. 22 of this year. The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is the oldest chamber in Washington state and serves as a united voice of the business people in our community. We endeavor to advance the commercial, industrial and civic interests of the Plateau area through our dealings in the community.

The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is a medium for Plateau-area business people to network, share information, ideas and collaborate on issues affecting the business community and the general well being of the region. Through the monthly activities and events we offer, area business people are afforded the opportunity to come together in both business and social settings. The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce also serves as the organizational mechanism in bringing together private business and resources to assist the Plateau, provides a portfolio of services to assist member companies in growing their respective businesses and offers assistance to firms inquiring about the area.

However, business growth is not the sole purpose of the chamber. The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst for positive and progressive growth and continuous improvement in the lifestyles of the people on the Plateau. It is also a marketer of the community it serves by sponsoring festive and cultural events like the annual Fourth of July Parade, the Christmas Parade and we have introduced new events like our fall and spring Wine Walks and Santa’s Village. We also partner with the city on Oktoberfest and the Wine and Chocolate Festival, support the efforts of the very popular Street Fair and have a public relations booth at many of the events held at the Expo Center, among other community activities. We have also partnered with Rotary and other causes like the Enumclaw School Foundation to make a difference in our community at large.

Our membership consists of business people from all facets of Enumclaw and the Plateau area, including retailers, manufacturers, service organizations and other professionals.

The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce also houses the oldest visitor center in the state of Washington where we offer a large assortment of free brochures and maps of the Enumclaw area, as well as the Plateau area and many of the great attractions in Washington state. We also sell Enumclaw merchandise and promote our members’ businesses by encouraging chamber members to display their wares and information onsite.

The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization which exists to support the needs of the community, promote growth and awareness of the plateau and draw visitors to enjoy the many events, recreational opportunities and spectacular mountain destinations that can be explored.

As business people you are all aware that this costs money. We survive on our membership dues and donations, as well as our two major fundraisers of the year, which are the auction and dinner on May 7 and the golf tournament on Aug. 3. Both of the events are right around the corner and we need your help and contributions so we can continue our quest to expand our efforts to support our community.

Together we can make Enumclaw a strong and vibrant community.

This column was written by Tracey McCallum, executive director of the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce.