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Not so long ago, springtime meant the Mon-Yough Regional Science Fair --- showcasing the best science, technology and engineering experiments from elementary and high schools throughout McKeesport and the surrounding communities.

It was a wonderful tradition and an example of the McKeesport area's resilience and history of innovation.

It was, that is, until 2009, when the Regional Chamber Alliance pulled the plug.

. . .

The RCA, which began sponsoring the science fair back when it was known as the "Mon-Yough Chamber of Commerce," told the Daily News that it had become too hard to find underwriting, and besides, it was too busy to run the science fair any more.

They were busy? Really? Busy doing what? Holding wine and cheese parties?

Unfortunately, along with lobbying for the Mon-Fayette Expressway, wine-and-cheese parties and other social outings seem to be the RCA's main reason for existence these days.

While those sorts of "networking" events might be useful for the people who attend, they don't do much for the community at large.

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Effective chambers of commerce promote their hometowns as good places to locate a business. They organize entrepreneurs and professionals to affect positive changes in the community.

The Norwin Chamber of Commerce, for instance, is a vital advocate for the Irwin and North Huntingdon areas, leading such efforts as the construction of the time capsule and veterans' monument in front of the North Huntingdon Town House.

The Steel Valley Chamber of Commerce also seems to play an important role in the civic life of its municipalities.

. . .

But the "Regional Chamber Alliance" hasn't played that kind of role for McKeesport and its neighboring communities for at least a decade.

Events such as the science fair have been allowed to die. Through the Downtown McKeesport Association, the chamber once ran the "Salute to Santa" Christmas parade; now that responsibility has been dumped onto an already stressed city government.

I was thinking about all of this when I read that Howard Carpenter was stepping down as the RCA's executive director.

. . .

Although I knew Carpenter's predecessors, I never met him. That's just as well. Based on his frequent editorializing in the Daily News and the RCA's own publications, I doubt we would have had much common ground.

For one thing, he had an Ayn Rand-esque hatred of anything done for the "public good." For another, he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in mocking the Mon-Yough area and its leaders.

That's exactly the wrong position for the so-called "voice of local business." More than one elected official has complained about it. Indeed, two years ago McKeesport Mayor Jim Brewster threatened to start a new "McKeesport Chamber of Commerce."

. . .

Frankly, dropping "Mon-Yough" from the organization's name seemed almost like a sign that the "Regional Chamber Alliance" was ashamed to be associated with McKeesport and the Mon Valley.

Nobody asked us, but The Almanac says Carpenter's departure is an opportunity for the RCA to shift its priorities.

A good start would be returning to its roots as a "chamber of commerce," not a "business alliance" or a "chamber alliance" or any other fancy combination of buzzwords.

. . .

And let's call it the "Mon-Yough" or "Mon Valley" or even "McKeesport Area Chamber of Commerce," please. "Regional Chamber Alliance" is an entirely useless name. (So it's "regional." Big deal. What "region" are we talking about?)

Restoring the appropriate name would provide us all with a sign that the "chamber of commerce" is going to fight for --- and not against --- the McKeesport area again.

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More than most communities, McKeesport, Glassport, Clairton and their neighboring municipalities need an effective, professional organization for attracting and retaining businesses, promoting us to the outside world, and counteracting bad publicity.

A chamber of commerce can provide a powerful tool for tackling those issues --- but only if it's focused outward on the community, not inward on its own members.

. . .

It's time for the local chamber to step up and reclaim its rightful place boosting and building the McKeesport community, not tearing it down.

And if the Regional Chamber Alliance is unable to fill that role, then we need to resurrect Brewster's idea for a new chamber of commerce.

McKeesport needs local entrepreneurs involved more in civic activity and community leadership and economic development --- and sure, even science fairs --- and less in wine-and-cheese outings.

. . .

Opinions expressed in this commentary are those of Jason Togyer, executive director of Tube City Community Media Inc., and do not necessarily reflect those of the corporation, its board of directors, or its volunteers.

Responsible replies are welcome. Email them to j togyer at g mail dot com or write to Tube City Online, P.O. Box 94, McKeesport, PA 15134.

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