Hughes clarification letter to the public meant to end confusion about membership

The Gary Chamber of Commerce has been in Gary since 1907, a year after the city was incorporated. The Black Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Indiana was started 3 years ago.

Now, “It is necessary to alert our members and prospective members that the two organizations are separate entities,” wrote Charles ‘Chuck’ Hughes, President and CEO of the Gary Chamber in a “clarification letter to the public.”

Hughes said he was making the statement “due to widespread confusion and the need to clarify that we are not affiliated with the Black Chamber of Commerce.”

“What may have contributed to the confusion was an event hosted by that organization where one of their principal partners was introduced by the emcee as the executive director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. There was no attempt to rectify that mistake by the emcee or the individual,” Hughes said.

“Individuals have attended events thinking that they were supporting the Gary Chamber of Commerce,” Hughes said.

“The latest incident involves a business that joined the Chamber, thinking that it was the Gary Chamber of Commerce. Realizing their error, they asked to be refunded the membership fee they paid, which totaled several hundred dollars and were denied,” Hughes said. “According to the communication we received, they are considering legal action.”

There is no confusion in membership, Lois Whittaker, Founder/President of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Indiana said. “We are based in Merrillville and affiliated with the National Black Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.”

“We talked for weeks with that business before and after they joined our chamber. Everything is in writing. With our grant writing technical assistance, she received a $25,000 grant,” Whittaker said. “Then she asked for her money back, saying she thought we were the Gary Chamber of Commerce.”

The Black Chamber’s website lists a range of membership categories, with fees ranging between $25 and $500.

“Chuck has been doing this for three years, bashing the Black Chamber. I don’t fight about it anymore,” Whittaker said. “To me, we should be working together.”

Whittaker said Hughes has been invited to speak at the Black Chamber and she asked Hughes to speak at the Gary Chamber. Neither were accepted