b'THE CHAMBER HAS THRIVED AS HELMSMANThe Confederate flag was removed from the LV: The Chamber is incredibly relevant because weState House in June 2015, after decades of tackle the key issues that matter to this community protest and the mass shooting in June of the porthealthcaregrowing the region. As a voice for business for the region, we are out front. We havenine African Americans, including State Sen. never veered away from asking whats working andClementa C. Pinckney, at the Mother Emanuel whats not.AME Church in Charleston. Ours was the first MM: Anytime we went on a call with anyone interestedchamber in the state to come forward to in relocating a business here, the first thing they asked about was education. People dont come here askingadvocate for bringing it down. The campaign about the water or air quality. They ask about the qualitybegan under the leadership of Len Hutchinson, of education and what were doing to improve it. who started a dialogue that simmered for RJ: Like the decision to take down the Confederateyears, and came to fruition under Laura Varns flag, sometimes a position is not popular with peopleyear as chair. There was no political appetite and the community goes round and round.for it before the attempt to start a race war, LH: Through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, twoshe says. But it had a business and reputation world wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, two pandemics, this has always been a city of commerce, whether youimpact for our state, and the business liked it or didnt like it. The business community hascommunity really rose and rallied around it. The always kept it going. And by and large the Chamber has held to the purpose of what a chamber ought to be: antime was right and now.advocate for business. That manifests itself in different ways and continues to evolve. Where the Chamber is today is very different than where it was in 2000. WeA June 22, 2015 news release stated that have significant workforce and housing needs today. The Charleston Metro Chamber believes the The Chamber probably didnt get enough credit forremoval of the flag is representative of the bringing the flag down. I had several conversationsunification and collaboration of our regions with legislators and changed their mind on it. It was acitizens, businesses and leaders to act for the commerce decision.greater good of all South Carolinians, President PB: In early public policy discussions about the flag,and CEO Bryan Derreberry said. It is in the it would have been easy for the Chamber to say, no, thanks. This is a split issue. Wed rather not have theinterest of all who live and work here that we controversy. It produced a big, heated debate. Thereshow our ability to unite under the flag that is were tons of people who wanted us to leave it alone.representative of everyone.LV: The Chamber has made a pivotal shift since 2000 from ribbonWere a nimble organization in constant communication with cuttings and networking toward advocacy and greater involvement inmembers. My counsel to the Chamber staff, which has evolved from government relations. We still network and socialize, but weve becomebeing nonexistent to very large, is to never lose sight of the larger much more intentional about moving the needle from an advocacyconstituency of the board, past chairs and people in the community perspective. When we first put that stake in the ground, it rattled somewho are moving initiatives forward with or without us. The Chamber is members and they left. Now, its the core of who we are and what we do. the support group to members. If none of the members are showing up to a protest, there should be no protest. Its not the Chambers job to PB: When someone in the community comes to the staff or chair orlead the protest. board and says, I want to tell you about an issue in the community we need to address, the Chamber listens with intent for action and vets it. Then, if you all agree were going to the moon, were going to the moon.21 BRIDGE MAKER'