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The Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, already one of the biggest in the region, wants to grow even larger — and is offering a free Caribbean vacation to its top recruiter as an enticement.

At the chamber's annual membership celebration dinner Thursday, new Chairman Sherman L. Ragland II announced the contest and the only prize: seven days and six nights at the Ritz-Carlton Club on St. Thomas. The contest runs through April 30, and rewards the member who recruits the most new members by working with chamber officials.

"Twelve months ago, our membership stood at 882. Today, we have grown to 961," immediate past Chairman Craig M. Muckle said at the dinner, which had the apt theme, "Tropical Paradise."

The Prince George's chamber is the largest in Maryland, said Ragland, managing partner of Realinvestors of Maryland in Bowie, although the Harford County Chamber of Commerce reports 1,200 members. He said the chamber is aiming to become the largest in the Washington, D.C., region. The D.C. Chamber of Commerce holds this title, with about 2,000 members, according to its Web site. The Loudon County Chamber of Commerce in Virginia is next, with about 1,300.

"Aside from McDonald's, this is the only business that defines its success on customers served," said Tony Howard, president and CEO of the Loudon County chamber. "It tends to be a trap."

He emphasized that the Loudon County chamber wants to be relevant to however many members it has.

Howard said chambers throughout the region are experiencing membership attrition, as businesses cut back on marketing and paid memberships to avoid cutting jobs. Some chambers are responding through total resource campaigns, in which they offer incentives to teams of members who recruit new members, sponsors, advertisers and event participants.

"These prizes are more attractive to people who are real go-getters," said Kathleen T. Snyder, president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. "But these days, you go with whatever tools you can use." Snyder is also a former chairwoman of the Prince George's chamber.

The Maryland chamber held a membership drive in March, with two Southwest Airlines tickets to anywhere in the U.S. as one of the prizes.

Generally, few chambers have lowered dues to retain or attract members, Howard and Snyder said.

The Prince George's chamber has been working to meet its goal of 1,000 members by the end of this year, a goal set by former CEO James A. Dula. In April, Rhonda L. Slade succeeded Dula, who resigned in October.

Ragland said the contest is part of his new "do it now spirit" for the chamber, saying that many members did not realize the milestones the chamber has already achieved. His goal is to leave the chamber to chairman-elect James W. Cornelsen, president and CEO of Old Line Bancshares, in 2010 "better than the way it was given to him."

"It takes a team to make this work," he said.

Ragland said the chamber is also working to include more member-only events such as monthly 90-minute seminars on marketing strategies.

The chamber recently expanded membership to individuals who may belong to businesses or be working toward starting their own business; they pay $150 annually.

Ragland said the individual membership is in response to nonprofit workers or workers who may be getting laid off and are looking to start a business. Chamber membership and its networking potential could help these people build their businesses, he said.

The chamber is also ramping up its student membership activities, working to better integrate students into chamber events and provide additional access to business leaders. Ragland said these opportunities can help when students pursue jobs, as local employers try to hire student chamber members. Student members, including high school students, pay $25 per year.

Conventional members' annual dues vary on business size, ranging from $300 to $5,000.

The chamber also started a new two-for-one membership deal with the civic-based Greater Washington Urban League. Muckle, a member of the league, arranged the partnership.