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It is not uncommon for a small organization to be reluctant to join forces -- merge -- with a larger one because of fear over possibly giving up its individual identity.
Mirror reporter Walt Frank's Aug. 7 article "Tyrone chamber considers merger" provided hints of such reluctance amid that organization's interest in obtaining information from and about the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.
Joe Hurd and Steve McKnight, leaders of the Blair chamber and Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, will be addressing the Tyrone Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club on Wednesday about potential merger and whatever other cooperative options might be available to the groups.
ABCD's involvement in that discussion stems from the possibility that it and the Blair chamber will be merging soon.
Some ingrained, longstanding uncertainties regarding identity, as well as about the extent of possible benefits available under a unified mission, probably are at the root of why the current talks between the Blair chamber and ABCD are just now happening, rather than having been carried out and completed successfully years ago.
Perhaps now, after Aug. 16, the stage will be set for the Tyrone chamber to join those talks -- or at least watch them more closely -- as ABCD and the Blair chamber work to finalize their joining-together, with the ultimate goal of benefiting one another.
Still, Tyrone's concerns within the proverbial big picture are legitimate and understandable.
Joe DeStadio, president of Gardners Candies, has expressed the sentiment well, saying "my only concern would be, if they (Tyrone and Blair chambers) merge, will the new chamber give appropriate attention to northern Blair County."
In some places, the answer to that question might be more "up in the air" than here, but Blair County is of a size where Tyrone is not far removed from everywhere else.
Its best interests will be as front-and-center as the rest of the county's.
Hurd and McKnight will no doubt come equipped with a number of potential ways in which the current three organizations, as well as the county as a whole, will be able to benefit with everyone working together, rather than as three separate entities.
Yet, that is for the Tyrone chamber to evaluate and render a final opinion.
Frank's article mentioned that some Tyrone members already attend events of the Blair County organization, so a valuable familiarity -- or cornerstone -- already exists that, theoretically, can make the potential transition to a larger organization and venture easier to get up and running, and remain focused.
The ultimate decision rests with Tyrone and Tyrone alone, and there is time for a thorough, not hasty, evaluation process.
"In any business merger, there are always pros and cons to both decisions," said Nathan Verilla, broker/owner of Verilla Real Estate. "The Tyrone chamber needs to make a decision that is best for Tyrone businesses."
That observation/goal will be part of the challenge -- to provide the most important reasons why being part of a bigger organization will be to the Tyrone chamber's and the Tyrone area community's advantage.
The bottom line is the Tyrone chamber, in close consultation with the Tyrone community, business and otherwise, needs to produce the right decision, whatever that might be.