By LEROY STANDISH

Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE — The Victor Valley African American Chamber of Commerce was recognized as No. 1 in the state by the California Black Chamber of Commerce for its increase in membership, revenue and generous donations to the community.

The chamber, founded in 1993 to provide "a visible network of African American owned businesses in the High Desert," increased its membership by 25 percent and more than tripled its revenue last year allowing it to donate $15,000 to a variety of community non-profit programs, charities and scholarships. The efforts of the chamber to involve itself in the surrounding community did not go unnoticed.

During a banquet Friday at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento, the Victor Valley chamber was singled out from the 26 other African American chambers in the state as the chamber of the year.

"Added value is something every business owner sees in the African American Chamber of Commerce," Lionel M. Dew, president said. "If not for that added value we wouldn't exist."

Creating a value to chamber services has been Dew's mission since becoming president of the chamber three years ago. He instituted a method of leadership he calls creative team leadership. Nothing is accomplished by the chamber without the collective organization, he said.

"It always takes the collective effort of the team to make things happen," Dew said.

Last year, that collective effort drove membership up from 250 to nearly 325 members. Through aggressive marketing, and providing members a return on their investments and soliciting eight corporate partners, the chamber's budget rose from $20,000 to $70,000.

Among the corporate partners are the Desert Community Bank, Desert Valley Hospital, the city of Victorville and Desert Gold Enterprises. The diversity of partners symbolizes the diversity within the chamber — on the board and amongst its members. It is not just an organization serving black owned businesses.

"It's catering to businesses and that's what it's all about is business," said Charley Glasper, a member of the chamber. "It's all about making the Victor Valley a better place to live."