Phil Harris envisions a chamber of commerce where a majority of merchants help keep the business district flourishing.

Before a Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting earlier this month, Harris, owner of the Open Mind Bookstore and chamber president, didn't think his vision would be a reality.

While he has hope that change is around the corner, Harris knows the process could be difficult.

"Anytime you have a volunteer organization, it is always difficult to find people to help," said Harris. "Meetings are nice and give the illusion of doing something, but we need action."

A marketing campaign for the business district is Harris' first -- and major -- goal for the chamber.

"Marketing is a big deal," Harris said.

"We need that."

Gone are the days when a business district can survive solely on its local residents, he said.

"The business district can't survive just on the support of the people who live there," Harris said.

"We need to start inviting people from all around to come here and see what Sewickley has to offer."

Harris is concerned that a resistance to an outside marketing campaign could further hurt businesses here.

"I'm sure I don't have to explain the obstacles that a small business district has to face -- a less than robust local economy; deep discount big-box stores; punitive taxes from local, state and national government; and more specifically, a parking issue in its many forms," Harris told business merchants at the chamber's recent meeting.

Looking outside of the Sewickley area, Harris has met several times with an official from the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, hoping to strike a friendship with the neighboring organization.

"If we work with the airport chamber, we could get the movers and shakers of the world to relocate to Sewickley," he said.

Hoping to find support from area businesses, Harris told merchants it's been difficult running his business and overseeing the chamber almost on his own.

Finding at least a part-time staff person for the chamber is a priority for Harris.

With about 1,000 airport chamber members, the organization has five employees. Harris estimates there are 110 Sewickley chamber members.

Karen Fazden, who attended Sewickley's chamber meeting, said she would have joined the group long ago had she known about it.

"If anyone had ever said anything to us about how to join the chamber, we would have been paying dues for the last 10 years," said Fazden, part of the management team with the Penguin Bookshop.

Harris was asked about the chamber's records and membership dues. He admitted some chaos in the record-keeping efforts.

Member dues weren't collected in 2007, Harris said. He's hoping for an about face of dues collecting this year.

Harris said chamber records are kept "in my basement in a big box."

"We're not the most organized group, but we're getting better."

Harris is hopeful for the chamber's success this year -- provided businesses in town want to get involved.

"If we get enough support from local businesses that have an interest in Sewickley, we could make a big difference," he said.