NEWPORT — “We are searching for an identity,” said Judy Young, president of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and manager of the local branch of Key Bank.

In this effort, the Newport Chamber hosted a luncheon panel discussion with various other Chamber representatives Friday. Guest speakers were Donna Moreland, director of the Moosehead Region Chamber, David Savage, director of Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and Sharon Albert of the Greater Bangor Chamber of Commerce.

The first step needed, advised Moreland, was a poll of members. “Chambers react … to their local businesses and their needs. It doesn’t matter if you have 1,000 members or 50. It is vital to listen to what the business members tell you. When a group doesn’t listen, the businesses then will look at what the Chamber is doing and say, `Why are they doing that? That doesn’t help me.’ You must look at your capabilities and look at your survey. What can you accomplish this year? In two years? In three years? Set goals.”

Young said that a membership drive was conducted by the Newport Chamber this summer and the young organization now has about 70 members from the Newport-Plymouth area. “We plan to survey our members and find out just what their needs are,” she said. Young also said a future goal of the Newport group is to continue searching for a spot for an informational building. A log-home manufacturer has donated the building, she said, but land has not been found that is suitable.

Some of the methods that other Chambers use, the panel said, are informational booklets, special activities, fund-raisers and informational centers.

Each Chamber must recognize what its strengths are and promote them, said Moreland. “In our area, it is tourism. Here in Newport, I would suspect that it is retail.”

Some of the activities and events that other Chambers have found successful are videos promoting the area, catalogs promoting home crafters and other small businesses without a storefront, and newsletters.

Moreland said that eight years ago, the Moosehead Chamber had 80 members. Today, the group has 184 members and operates an information center seven days a week from May to October. “That is what we needed. In our area, we are tourism- and marketing-focused. We also expect that our marketing and promotional efforts will change as we grow. You can’t do it all at once,” she advised. “Take it in steps.”

Some of the things that a Chamber is not, said Moreland, is a charity, a service club or a scapegoat. “Don’t let people blame you for everything that goes wrong in your community.”