Area chamber members take informational trip to China

When most think of a chamber of commerce and what their job entails, the Great Wall of China does not come to mind.

In the beginning of October, four area chamber of commerce directors took part in an opportunity of a lifetime -- to take a nine-day trip to China at no cost.

The trip was offered to Brian Gerau, director of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce; Dena Kreitler, executive director of the Ste. Genevieve Area Chamber of Commerce; Melissa Hemmann, executive director of the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce; and Doug McDermott, president of the Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce, from Citslinc International Inc. during a conference in April.

Citslinc was started in 1995 by Leo Liu in an effort to promote positive economic growth in the realm of international trade, according to the company's website. Citslinc hosts American business people in visits to China.

Community members and chamber of commerce directors from across the country participated in the event, and the four local leaders were grouped with those from Utah, Iowa, California and Texas.

Picture of our group eating lunch at a local family´s home (Woo Family) in Hutong.

The trip is offered to directors and members of chambers of commerce across the nation in the hopes they will then extend the same opportunity to members of their community, Kreitler explained.

Those on the trip stayed in Shanghai and Beijing and visited places such as Tiger Hill and the Great Wall of China.

"I never thought in a million years I would be standing on the Great Wall of China," Kreitler said, adding that it was an emotional and surreal experience.

In a country that is so technology driven, tourism is the No. 1 influencer of the country's economy, Hemmann said.

SEMO Chamber group visiting the Ming Tombs in Beijing (Dena, Brian, me, Doug)

How the country blends technology with its old-world traditions and superstitions was an aspect of the trip Hemmann found interesting.

Doug McDermott, left, Brian Gerau, Dena Kreitler and Melissa Hemmann, representing Southeast Missouri chambers of commerce, pose at Tiger Hill Pagoda in Suzhou, nicknamed the “Leaning Tower of China.”

"It was kind of neat to see the blend of the two and see them work hand in hand," she said.

Those on the trip learned a lot about culture and history during the "trip of a lifetime," Hemmann said, who described China's preservation of buildings and temples in the midst of high-rise apartment buildings and hotels.

While they visited the country, the directors learned not only about China, but they also learned from the members of the other chambers with whom they traveled.

What helped make the trip worthwhile was the people Kreitler and Hemmann shared it with, the two directors agreed. It's not just what you see, but who you meet that makes the experience richer, Hemmann said.

The two directors noticed only one major difference among the chambers represented on the trip, and that was the size of the different chambers and their boards of directors.

Kreitler spoke of a chamber from San Francisco that used a staff of 15, while she has a board of 15 members.

The biggest similarity the directors found was the ultimate goal of all the chambers, which is to promote their communities.

"We all have to face the same challenges," Hemmann said. "... No matter what size, we have the same desires for our towns where we live, no matter if it's small or large."

Kreitler does not have plans to offer a similar opportunity to her community. Hemmann said they are looking into the opportunity.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

Jackson, MO

Ste. Genevieve, MO

Perryville, MO

Farmington, MO