About Us

The Wanaque Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit corporation established to meet the needs of the Borough of Wanaque area business and the community in which we work.  Our membership is open to all professional and commercial enterprises located in the Borough of Wanaque.  Associate membership with no voting rights shall be available to otherwise interested parties.  We encourage all new members to participate in helping us accomplish our goals. 

Our purpose is to provide a forum to promote local business and create an environment for business growth.  This environment will encompass a non-political, meaningful liaison with the town Officials.  We strongly recommend that our members refrain from using the Wanaque Chamber of Commerce to benefit their personal or political gain.  This will permit the Borough of Wanaque to realize its highest potential as a premier business community.

Our Mission

The Wanaque Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit corporation established to meet the needs of the Borough of Wanaque area business and the community in which we work.  Our membership is open to all professional and commercial enterprises located in the Borough of Wanaque.  Associate membership with no voting rights shall be available to otherwise interested parties.  We encourage all new members to participate in helping us accomplish our goals. 

Our purpose is to provide a forum to promote local business and create an environment for business growth.  This environment will encompass a non-political, meaningful liaison with the town Officials.  We strongly recommend that our members refrain from using the Wanaque Chamber of Commerce to benefit their personal or political gain.  This will permit the Borough of Wanaque to realize its highest potential as a premier business community.

Programs

Scholarship Program - Each year the Chamber presents scholarships to two deserving members of the senior class of Lakeland Regional. The funding for these awards come from various sources. The dues of the Chambers members and various fund raising events held throughout the year.

Establish a positive working relationship with the Mayor and Town Council - this is important to our members. A good working liaison relationship with the Town Council will create an environment that will provide the opportunity for sound business planning.

Discounts on Advertising in the Town Directory - Each year the Chamber publishes a “Town Directory”. It is distributed to every home in the borough free of charge. It lists goods and services available to the members of the community. Local businesses are encouraged to place ads in the directory. Chamber members receive a discount on their ads. The directory is something that homeowners hold onto. It will stay in the home to be used as a reference for the whole year until the new edition is delivered. It is a very inexpensive form of promoting your business.

Use of the Chamber’s Website - Member’s are listed on the Chamber’s website and links are available to your existing website if you wish. The Chamber’s web service provider will attend meetings from time to time to assist your with your e-needs. Discounts are available to those members who wish to create their own web pages through our provider.

Chamber Participation in Town Parades & Picnics - Your business will receive greater exposure through your participation in town parades and special events. Get out and meet your perspective customer at these public events. It will help you get noticed and develop goodwill among the community. This encourages everyone to support their community and shop locally.

Welcome Bags - Someone who has just moved into town is a potential new client of yours! Whenever a new person or family arrives the Chamber provides them with a “Welcome Bag”. Included in the bag will be a “Town Directory” and many other gifts welcoming them to town. If you provide the Chamber with something that represents your company we can include it in the bag. Again, providing additional advertising and exposure for your business.

Help for the Holidays - The Chamber donates food for the holiday to needy families in town. Our plan for this year is to expand the program to additional holidays and to further support the local food bank. With the added strength of new members and the continued support of existing members we hope the no local family will suffer in 2002.

Nativity Scene - It is the Chamber that erects the nativity scene each year in front of the public library. We encourage our members to assist us with this and with any of our programs designed to improve local relations and promote Wanaque as a wonderful place to raise a family and start of business. We want our members to plant roots and to watch them flourish.

Purchasing and Mounting New Holiday Decorations - one of our goals for this year is to assist the town in purchasing and mounting new holiday decorations for Ringwood Avenue. Time and weather takes its toll on our decorations. We need to evaluate the current ones and raise the money necessary to replace what is worn.

History

The first Wanaque Chamber of Commerce was formed sometime during the early 1950's. The Wanaque Chamber of Commerce was revitalized this past time in 1984.  The meeting was held at Partner's Restaurant.  The exact number that attended the initial meeting is unclear but was definitely less that a dozen.  The original registration needed to be reinstated.  Through the direction and efforts of Bess Doty (Parliamentarian) the process was completed.  

It has been stated that the Wanaque Chamber of Commerce grew in members due to concerns, such as, "where the town was headed."  The membership grew because of the interest shown by new businesses that came to the Borough and membership grew out of plain curiosity as to what the Chamber of Commerce was going to accomplish. The Wanaque Chamber has continued on since. 

There were serious concerns within the business community in 1984.  One of the major issues, if not the most important, was the "ramp exit 55" for Interstate 287 and at what location is should be.  Seems it was resolved?   

Past Presidents: 

Past Events:  

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