PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend, Tri-Area and Port Ludlow chambers of commerce will unite in 2010 for a trial relationship.
“What we propose here is getting married, but we’d like to live together first,” said Chuck Russell, Tri-Area Chamber of Commerce board member, drawing laughs at Monday’s Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Fort Worden State Park Commons.
Russell, longtime owner of Valley Tavern in Port Hadlock who has attended recent Port Townsend chamber board meetings along with Port Hadlock chamber representative Dana Petrick, drew the analogy after Ryan Anderson, Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce president, explained the proposed formation of a unified Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
Only missing in the mix is the Quilcene-Brinnon Chamber of Commerce, which opted out of the idea when it was first proposed this year.
“We want to represent all of the county . . . by bringing forces together and unifying the message we can better deliver the message” of Jefferson County business, Anderson told about 50 attending the luncheon, including Russell, Tri Area chamber vice president, and that chamber’s president, Frances Rawski.
Anderson said advantages would include paying the price of one chamber membership — Port Townsend’s — to be a member of all three chambers.
Anderson said more targeted marketing with a common message was another advantage.
Times were changing, Anderson said, and there was the possibility that Port Townsend one day would no longer be the commercial center.
