LEWISTON — They’re so close.

The Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce will kick off its new membership drive Oct. 5 and surpassing Portland’s chamber membership is once again within sight.

One hundred and one members separate the two: 1,320 for Androscoggin, 1,421 for Portland.

“That’s within reach. It depends. We’ve never had this many volunteers,” Androscoggin chamber President Chip Morrison said. “We’ve been within 100, 150 consistently, which is really good considering their service area is 250,000 people and ours is 115,000. But that doesn’t stop us from seeking the pride of having the largest chamber.”

In last year’s effort, 50 volunteers netted close to 30 new members. This year’s outreach is a little different: Many more volunteers — 146 and counting as of Monday — making just two phone calls each. Volunteers will get training to hone their pitch at an Oct. 5 breakfast.

“I think the hope is that half of the people who’ve volunteered will be successful,” said Kurk Lalemand at Next Level Business Coaching, chairman of the membership committee. “I think (catching Portland) is a goal that inspires people and puts a little competitive spirit in there and fires people up a bit.”

Morrison said volunteers will get a list of current nonmembers so they can choose their own calls. Membership costs run on a sliding scale, from $125 a year for a one-person shop to $400 for an average-size company.

“The biggest reason (to join) is you make contacts to increase your business,” Morrison said.

While it’s using their numbers as inspiration, the Androscoggin chamber is also readying for a first-time Business After Hours event with the Portland Regional Chamber on Sept. 30 at Spring Meadows Golf & Country Club in Gray. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. with discounted rounds of golf offered ahead of that.

Morrison said sponsor Androscoggin Bank helped bring the two together.

“I think it’ll be a lot of fun,” he said. “There’s no agenda. Hopefully they’ll be some conversation about what the two chambers can do together. We do far more together than we do in rivalry.”

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