FOLEY, Ala. — E-mails this week from the chairmen of the boards of directors of South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce in Foley and Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce in Gulf Shores sound the same tone to their respective chamber members.

Yes, discussions are taking place concerning a merger, but no merger can take place without an affirmative vote of the chambers’ full memberships.

“Your Board of Directors has neither the legal authority nor the desire to act unilaterally,” reads one common line in the e-mails from R. Jerry Jackson, chairman of SBCC’s board, and Sean P. Chappell, chairman of AGCCC’s board.

“We, as a Board, will not take that action and absolutely want the input of members to decide the right course,” is Chappell’s next sentence.

Jackson’s next sentence is, “Talk you may have heard that a merger is already a ‘done-deal’ is totally incorrect!”

But Arthur Holk, a longtime South Baldwin businessman and civic leader, said this week some directors in the two chambers’ boards “are trying to move forward” with a merger.

“It would be detrimental to South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce to try and combine with any other chamber office,” Holk said.

Foley chamber members should support AGCCC but with a different kind of support, Holk said, noting the two cities involved have always been different.

According to Holk, Foley has always been about industry and development. Gulf Shores, on the other hand, is about “tourism and the beach.”

Also, what Holk calls a “tricky economy” makes a possible merger a case of bad timing in his opinion.

“You can’t run any office rented and staffed for less than $75,000 a year,” he said.

The former mayor of Foley also believes that a merger will result in less business memberships than the chambers currently have.

While Holk refused to name the organization except to call it a “local civic organization,” he said a show of hands was asked for at a recent weekly meeting of those in favor of combining the two chambers. He said only two hands went up.

“The vast majority was opposed to such a move,” he said.

Jackson and Chappell, in their emails, said members will soon receive a “more complete status and update.” Both said their respective chambers’ “core value” is commitment to members.

“Creating a prosperous area to own and operate a business is our only goal,” Chappell said.

“No merger (should that ultimately take place) would alter that commitment!,” Jackson said.

“I want to see it stay where it is, do what it does, and be successful right here,” Holk said of SBCC.

“I’m proud of Gulf Shores, but it’s entirely different as far as its goals and things.”