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Date	ArticleType
3/5/2009
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber Awarded Top Accreditation by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce its five-star accreditation for sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community. Most recently, 17 chambers were accredited, with only six receiving the prestigious five-star ranking. Local chambers are rated accredited, three stars, four stars or five stars. “As board chairman, I’m just as proud as I can be that the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber was not only accredited on the first attempt but also received top honors,” said Brant Branham. “The application process took four months, and the submittal was so comprehensive that it required multiple binders to contain it. I commend the staff for all their hard work, not just for the application but each and every day, which earned them this distinction.” Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, 260 (less than 4 percent) of those are accredited. Of those accredited, only 49 (19 percent) have earned the five-star ranking. In South Carolina, 10 state and local chambers are accredited, with four of those earning five stars. The determination is made by the accrediting board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. “Accreditation recognizes chambers for their high standards of practice, full accountability to members and steadfast commitment to community,” said Thomas J. Donahue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud these organizations for advancing these principles of free enterprise.” Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. To receive accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, demonstrating competency in nine core areas: governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, program development, communications, technology, facilities and benchmarking.