Dan Doore, the recently installed president of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, knows this lesson well.

"I helped get it started and running again," Doore said of the business association, which filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its assets in 1995. "I guess I've been there long enough that they asked if I'd serve. It was hard to say 'no.' "

Joking aside, Doore—chief executive officer of Community Hospital of Los Gatos—said he has enjoyed working with the Chamber and is looking forward to helping it grow during this fiscal year.

"We've kinda gone through growing pains," he said. "My goal is to build on the success of the Chamber."

For the first time in recent years, Doore explained, the organization is in solid financial condition, so its priorities have shifted away from simply attracting new members, though that will obviously remain a goal.

"I want to focus more on retention," he said. "I want to know 'what more can we do?' We're trying to make sure people understand the benefits."

He said it will also be important to keep a strong relationship with the town.

"I'll try to work together with the town and find projects to work on that are mutually beneficial," he said. "When needed, I'll provide testimony to the council on the business community's views."

Sometimes, though, the views of Los Gatos business owners are as varied as the shops they run and the services they provide. Doore said events such as Down2Biz (a monthly educational seminar), mixers and a new annual dinner help keep business owners in touch with each other.

Doore praised his peers for bringing in members during financially challenging times.

"It's a credit to past Chamber leadership, because the last few years have been tough," he said. "What we're now focused on is not survival. We have an opportunity to step back and say, 'We're pretty stable,' and to do longer-term planning."

The new president was once CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital and has been at Community Hospital for six years.