A rose by any other name still smells as sweet. Does the same hold true for a merchant’s association? The answer is yes, according to the members of the Alamo Merchants and Professional Association (AMPA), who voted at their Aug. 20 meeting to change their name to the Alamo Chamber of Commerce.
AMPA, which has been active since 1992, is a business networking group that has grown to 99 members.
The name change comes only six months after the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce retooled its logo and Web site to be more inclusive of membership outside the town. Danville Area Chamber CEO Melony Newman said the change came as something of a surprise.
“We announced our new logo with the emphasis on the word ‘area’ in February, and have worked at having an even stronger presence in the surrounding areas,” she said.
Alamo Chamber President Rich Wood said they are appreciative of the Danville group’s inclusion and their name change doesn’t mean they don’t want to be part of it. He said the change came about for pragmatic reasons.
“Our rationale was that no one knew what AMPA is,” he said. “It’s a simple name change; we’re still going to do everything that we’ve always done.”
“A lot of us are active with the Danville Area Chamber,” he added, “and we’re still going to be.”
All of the AMPA activities will continue on under the new banner, including network mixers, publishing a business directory, organizing the lighting of the Christmas Tree, and providing scholarships to students at San Ramon and Monte Vista high schools. The group’s activities are available on its newly unveiled Web site, www.alamochamberofcommerce.com.
Newman said that she is hopeful the two groups will be able to work together to further their mutual goals.
“Our Chamber board will be considering various possible options for the two organizations to continue to work together,” she said. “It will be similar to making a trail in the woods. It will be new territory.”
At least for the foreseeable future, the Alamo Chamber will remain a singular entity. Wood said at present there are no plans for it to join the larger state or national chamber organizations.
