Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce
36 Oswego St., Suite 206
Baldwinsville NY 13027
MaryAnne Williams, Executive Director
315-638-0550
Q: What is the purpose of your organization?
A: The Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) is a progressive association of businesses and organizations that promotes cooperation within the community, advocates for members, and projects a positive image for the Baldwinsville area. Membership is open to all who are concerned with improving the local economic climate and wish to work with other business people.
Q: How many members are in the GBCC?
A: We have 215 individuals, businesses, churches, civic groups, and other organizations. Membership in the GBCC is not automatic simply by operating a business in Baldwinsville; members pay to join the GBCC.
Q: Why do you charge member dues? Isn’t the GBCC a department within the village government or funded by the village?
A: The GBCC is an independent organization and is completely member funded — we are not under the umbrella of the village government and we do not receive any funds from the village, either town, or any other government entity or agency. We run a very lean organization so that we can keep member dues as low as possible while still providing benefits to members and to the greater Baldwinsville community.
Q: What types of things do you do?
A: We have many ongoing activities, such as:
- • Awarding an annual $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior
- • Producing the monthly Bee Local member features in the Baldwinsville Messenger
- • Promoting members through social media and a twice monthly email newsletter
- • Ribbon cuttings for new members, new locations, or anniversaries
- • Monthly member luncheons
- • Monthly networking opportunities, called Coffee Talk
- • Organizing the greeters for the Baldwinsville Visitor Center, which operates from Memorial weekend through Labor Day
We also have many special events throughout the year:
- • The B’ville Big Chill is a winter festival that showcases the people and businesses of Baldwinsville. We partner with Baldwinsville Rotary, and the event includes a Best in Bowl competition, teams of people plunging into the icy Seneca River, and a • pub crawl. In addition to raising funds for both GBCC and Rotary, three local charities receive cash donations.
- • The GBCC Member Showcase takes place in April at Anheuser-Busch, and is a fun way for the community to meet many of our members, tour the brewery, and sample A-B products.
- • We worked with local restaurateurs to organize and produce the Taste of B’ville in September 2019, and we plan to have it again this year.
- • GBCC Trick or Treating takes place on a Saturday afternoon in October, and any business or organization in Baldwinsville can hand out candy to trick or treaters.
Q: How many people work for the GBCC?
A: One — just me, and I am part-time. We have a wonderful volunteer board of directors who work tirelessly on our events and activities:
- • Matt Hunt, president – Heritage Insurance Agency
- • Renee Newton, vice president – La Tresse by Renee
- • Tina Solomon, treasurer – Primerica
- • Melanie Randolph, secretary – Your Window to the World, LLC
- • Nancy Howe, immediate past president – Baldwinsville Public Libary
- • Janice MacDonald, director – Seneca Savings
- • Andy Levin, director – Apparel Brothers
- • Kyle Proia, director – Tymeless Tattoo
- • Angela Antonello, director – Fashion Rescue 911 Boutique and Fashion Truck
Q: What is your favorite part about the B’ville community?
A: The partnerships between residents, organizations, churches, businesses, everyone! I am particularly impressed by the businesses that collaborate with other businesses, even when they are technically competitors. They understand that by working together, they all benefit.
We are also fortunate to have not only generous people in this village, but many generous businesses. So many businesses are willing to host fundraisers, and contribute to community events and causes. I have to think that people reward those good deeds by spending their money at those businesses.
Q: What is one thing you want people to know about the GBCC?
A: You get out of membership what you put into it. It’s like a health club membership; if you purchase a membership to a health club but never go, do you then blame the health club when you don’t lose weight or get fit? Those members who make the time to participate in our activities are the ones who make the connections, who build the relationships, who get their name out in the community, and who learn from other members.
Q: What superpower would you like to have?
A: The ability to provide every organization, club, church, school, and event in Baldwinsville with all the volunteers and resources they need. We have so many groups doing good work here, but it is often the same people doing everything. If you want activities and events and good things in our village, you have to work to make them happen in any way you can.
