Caribbean-American
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
for the
Greater Washington Area Network
| Q & A - General Ask, Seek and Knock... Click below. The answers are here. |
| Question / Answer / Source |
| Q: What is CACCI-GWAN? A: CACCI-GWAN is the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Greater Washington Area Network. It is a chamber of commerce whose region is the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan area and whose primary focus is the Caribbean Business Community within that region. |
| Q: What is a chamber of commerce? A: A chamber of commerce like a business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit. Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues. Chambers of commerce and boards of trade are organizations of the same general type as business leagues and the requirements for exemption of business leagues are the same for these organizations. Reg. 1.501(c)(6)-l.
However, chambers of commerce and boards of trade direct their efforts at promoting the common economic interests of all the commercial enterprises in a given trade or community. See Rev. Rul. 73-411, 1973-2 C.B. 180. |
| Q: What is a 501(c)(6)? A: IRC 501(c)(6) provides for exemption of business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade, and professional football leagues (whether or not administering a pension fund for football players), which are not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Source: http://www.irs.gov |
| Q: How can the Chamber be/remain tax exempt? A: To be an exempt, a business league's activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons. No part of a business league's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual and it may not be organized for profit to engage in an activity ordinarily carried on for profit (even if the business is operated on a cooperative basis or produces only enough income to be self-sustaining). The term "line of business" generally refers either to an entire industry or to all components of an industry within a geographic area. It does not include a group composed of businesses that market a particular brand within an industry. Source: http://www.irs.gov |
| Q: What is the origin of CACCI-GWAN? A: I saw that my parents originally from Jamaica and Cuba never used the Yellow Pages to find a professional to do house or automobile repairs. They always went to their Rolodex or called someone for a referral. I wondered - what if I could do this using Internet technology? Create an active network of Caribbean Business Professionals – a National Caribbean Business Directory. It was a great idea with great potential, but something about it was nagging me. My parents’ network was only active when needed. It was not on all the time. Even a National Caribbean Business Directory would not create an active network on its own. You must create the network and networking opportunities like a chamber of commerce does. So I concluded that after the directory becomes popular we could create a chamber of commerce. Shortly afterwards I was talking with my wife and family members about creating a National Caribbean Business Directory online and then the chamber. They saw that I had the cart before the horse. They saw that the chamber needed to come first and told me that is what I should do. So I did.
But what would make the chamber different? What did the Caribbean Business Community need? I found the answer in Staples in Silver Spring, Maryland. I was there to pick up a book called “Getting to Yes”. My brother told me I should read it to improve my negotiating skills. As I reached for the book on the rack, I saw the book next to it, “Jesus, CEO”. I followed my heart and the higher authority and picked up “Jesus, CEO”. I could not put the book down once I started reading. It was a fascinating, insightful analysis of how Jesus Christ is the CEO of the largest company ever created – the Christian Church and how he combined all the characteristics of the “perfect leader” into one person. I then saw that I needed to use the chamber to promote Christian Business Principles. My research showed me that 90% of the Caribbean is Christian and somehow I felt that we needed to get back to our spiritual roots to help our community achieve the success we are destined to achieve.
---John S. McKenzie, President/CSO
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| Q: What is the purpose of CACCI-GWAN? A: CACCI-GWAN's purpose is to advance and improve the civic, commercial, cultural, economic, educational, financial and industrial interests of the individuals and businesses of the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan Area with a focus on those individuals and business owners that are of Caribbean Ancestry. |
| Q: What is the mission of the Chamber? A: CACCI-GWAN's mission is to unite, strengthen and empower the Caribbean Community. |
| Q: What will be the focus of the Chamber? A: CACCI-GWAN will focus on the following areas in its mission to unite, strengthen and empower the Caribbean Community: Economic Development Community Development Human Resources Development Public Affairs / Relations |
| Q: What is the Chamber's motto or slogan? A: Our maxim as I like to call it is: Many People, Many Languages, Many Nations…One Love! |
| Q: What is the Chamber's tagline? A: The voice for Caribbean Businesses in the Nation’s Capital |
| Q: What is the image the Chamber is trying to portray? A: It is CACCI-GWAN's objective to project and promote an image of Caribbean unity, strength and power. |
| Q: I have seen so many. What is your definition of the Caribbean? A: The standard definition for the Caribbean: Area of (and countries within this area) the Atlantic bounded on the north and east by the West Indies, south by South America, and west by Central America. Our goal is to include descendants of all of the Caribbean and Latin American Countries in our membership. Source: http://www.multiculturaltrails.ca |
| Q: What is the Chamber's vision? A: CACCI-GWAN's vision is a Caribbean Community that is a vital, visible and viable part of the larger community. |
| Q: Who else is part of CACCI-GWAN? A: Currently, the working board is comprised of the following individuals: Althea Grey-McKenzie Amity Pope, Chair Barbara Flack-Darko Gary Fraser, Co-Chair Gerard Benjamin Ian Campbell Jaime McKenzie Jaquenette Ferguson John McKenzie, President Les Young Marcus Battle Paul McKenzie Sonia Thompson, Chair Vince Liburd |
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