Gary Reese, president of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, wrote an outstanding column last week regarding the financial rate-of-return chamber members receive from chamber involvement. You may have been surprised at how much involved chamber members gain financially.

This gain comes through the development of trusting relationships that result in referral sources and potential clients. Yet there is even more to be gained through chamber membership.

Just a few ways I have seen involved members gain are as follows: First, personal development. I have seen many grow confidence through working on committees or speaking before a group. People then take this new acquired skill back to their workplace. Leadership development happens often with involved members. Guiding a committee toward a successful event, learning to work with varied personalities and handling problems as they arise are skills that can be transferred to any job.