I got an email the other day from Mick Fleming, president of the American Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and in it he wrote that “despite changes in markets and demographics, a nagging recession and the growing influence of the Internet, the chamber brand today is stronger and more dynamic than ever.”

ACCE commissioned a new study, “The Real Value of Joining a Local Chamber of Commerce.” Expanding upon related work from five years ago, it reconfirms the fact that being an active member in a local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy because two-thirds of consumers believe that chamber members are better than non-chamber members at four core business traits: They use good business practices, are reputable, they care about their customers and are involved in the community.

Some highlights of the study: