Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Does the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce send funds or give support to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?"

Kent e-mails Mr. Answer Person: "Does the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce send funds or give support to the US Chamber of Commerce?"

Mr. Answer Person says: The short answer is "no."  The longer explanation is that the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, as its name implies, has a local focus.  The mission statement of the organization states, "The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce provides resources and programs to promote member business interests and enhance the business environment of the Decorah area."

The U.S. Chamber of commerce, by contrast, states "The fundamental activity of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is to develop and implement policy on major issues affecting business."  That makes the organization extremely active in political questions and a constant lobbying group on Capitol Hill.

While the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce has occasionally in the past taken positions on political issues, its primary purpose remains helping local businesses to succeed.