Here at SAC we get community groups like ours and how you join a civic association. And how which civic association you belong to is kinda decided by where you live, your address.

So, how does belonging to business associations work from town to town? How are business associations structured from town to town?

Because we are Ardmore-centric we get how the ABA (Ardmore Business Association) works. Several of the members of that group are also part of us. The current president has a dual presence: respected Ardmore business owner and local Ardmore resident - in both cases Lower Merion Township Ardmore, and one of his businesses is on Ardmore's "Main Street" or Lancaster Avneue. The past president of the ABA also resided and had a business in Ardmore and Lower Merion.

Now some other members, board and otherwise have Lower Merion Ardmore businesses, on and off "Main Street" and reside close by, just not in Lower Merion. That's cool too.

A bit "up the pike" is Bryn Mawr, another village in flux. Soon Bryn Mawr we be evaluating it's future like Ardmore is doing this week. But Bryn Mawr, although it shares the same township some days seems foreign and why is that?

Bryn Mawr has a business association. It's called the Bryn Mawr Business Association. We guess it does similar stuff that Ardmore Business Associaition does, except we're not sure 'cause it's well...not Ardmore. Some BMBA people are more active in the community then others. Some BMBA members live in Lower Merion while their physical business is in downtown Lower Merion Township Bryn Mawr. Some live outside Lower Merion with a biz on Lancaster or off Lancaster in Lower Merion Township's portion of Bryn Mawr.

But one thing we don't get, and we don't want them to get all upset is how the current President of the BMBA does it? How do they simply not get exhausted representing Bryn Mawr? If this person doesn't have a business with a Main Street physical presence in Lower Merion (that we can find- we walked all around Bryn Mawr's village looking), how does this person do it? Not living in Lower Merion is no big deal, but the other thing, well it's a bit of a question, that's all. Our other question is how the BMBA changes it's officers versus the ABA? Is it annually or just whenever?

It's tough to be a small business in the land of mall, chain store and big box mentality. We salute and support our small businesses throughout our township.

And in the efforts of giving them a voice, we invite our local business associations and businesses to register up here and have a voice - they can blog about local issues the public should be aware of, when they are doing special events, having a meeting they wish to post on a bulletin boad, need help, etc. Contact

Happy Monday Y'all! Remember: Be Vocal/Shop Local