Times Are So Tough Chamber Can't Make a Go Of It

How difficult have the economic times become? Here is evidence that it is close to as bad as it ever has been.

The Berlin Chamber of Commerce is no more.

After serving the business community in the Town of Berlin for 58 years, the Board of Directors decided that it could no longer do business as a non-profit. The costs exceeded the revenue and have for some time.

Chamber members were sent a letter notifying them that the Chamber would close its office on the Chamberlain Highway by Dec. 5.

Thomas Satalino, Financial Treasurer for the Chamber said the non-profit is forced to make the same decisions homeowners have to make on a daily and monthly basis.

"People have to decide what bills they are going to pay and what they ae going to do," said Satalino, a CPA. "We have to do the same. If people don't pay their bills, they lose their houses. We have to close our office."

Satalino said that the Chamber has been tryng to cut costs and make every penny count for the past several years. Seven years ago, the Chamber had around 240 members but is now down to 170.

"Small Businesses are trying to cut costs across the board so memberships to clubs or associations are one of the first to get cut," Satalino said. "We didn't charge a huge amount for membership ($225) but I'm sure there were some businesses that decided $200 is $200 and I can't afford to part with that. You always have some small businesses start up and join and then close so that is to be expected but to be down 70 members over a seven-year period is a substantial amount."

Satalino said the problems Berlin is having opening and keeping small businesses is indicative of what is going on around the country.

"It's brutal out there," he said. "American Airlines filed for bankruptcy today. It's not just small businesses that are struggling but large ones too. In the Chamber model, small businesses help each other. Sometimes the businesses don't match up with the Chamber. Small businesses need to pay rent, insurance, salaries, taxes. And so do we. Those small businesses can network and help each other to do those things effectively. It's why the big box stores are making money hand over fist and the smaller ones are struggling. People don't care if an item was made overseas. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you don't have to leave your couch to shop. You can even get your groceries delivered. By doing those things, even though they are convenient, they are hurting their local merchants and in the end, the town."

Chamber Executive Director Kate Fuechsel will stay on until Dec. 5 and then have to find a new job. Her hours were cut to part-time as a cost cutter earlier in her tenure. She had been the Executive Director for the past 13 years.

Satalino said that the Chamber will not leave the businesses of Berlin hanging. The BOD is searching for viable options for the businesses to go.

"We are looking at Meriden or New Britain but that might not match up with the businesses in town," he said. "We will also look at Plainville and Bristol, as well.

"We tried everything we could. We would run seminars and hours after dark and hope to have someone show up. We would do all this outreach and hope to get 40 or 45 people and 10 people would show up. It was depressing and discouraging all at once. So many people put time and effort into the Chamber that this is a very sad day."

At its annual dinner, the Berlin Chamber, along with the Economic Development Department of the Town, gave out several awards including: "Business Person of the Year" Award, "Employee Of The Year" Award, "New Member of the Year" Award, "Community Service" Award, "50 Years in Business" Award, and "Beautification" Award.