Chamber Trends & Leadership:Chamber Trends & Leadership:

The ProfessionalThe ProfessionalThe VolunteerThe Volunteer

The CollaborationThe Collaboration

Mick Fleming, President, ACCEMick Fleming, President, ACCE

Chambers in 2010Chambers in 2010

Delayed recession impact – (more & more Delayed recession impact – (more & more direct tie to state of your economy)direct tie to state of your economy)

Regional variation – Individual Regional variation – Individual performanceperformance

Snap-Shot (unscientific eval of 2009)Snap-Shot (unscientific eval of 2009)

– 28% with dues drop of 10% or more28% with dues drop of 10% or more– 30% with attendance drop of 10+%30% with attendance drop of 10+%– 40% experienced sponsor drop of 10+%40% experienced sponsor drop of 10+%– 37% of chambers lost some staff37% of chambers lost some staff– 80% of chambers avoided dip into reserves80% of chambers avoided dip into reserves

Recession Impact on ChambersRecession Impact on Chambers

Other trendsOther trendsPublic policyPublic policy– Populist extremes challenge real discoursePopulist extremes challenge real discourse– Policy interest by chambers up -- Fed Policy way upPolicy interest by chambers up -- Fed Policy way up– choke hold of state/local budgetschoke hold of state/local budgets– Policy agendas widening – “soft” stuff not softPolicy agendas widening – “soft” stuff not soft

COM revolution continuesCOM revolution continues

Econ Dev Econ Dev – gardening over recruitinggardening over recruiting– Sustainability of sustainabilitySustainability of sustainability

EmployersEmployers -- Helping ‘em with today . . . and tomorrow -- Helping ‘em with today . . . and tomorrowGraph Follows

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12. What steps are you taking to assist your members in 12. What steps are you taking to assist your members in dealing with economic conditions?dealing with economic conditions?

Programming EvolutionProgramming Evolution

Big Events still big and growingBig Events still big and growing

Subgroup managementSubgroup management

Connectivity of buyer/seller (not just mixer)Connectivity of buyer/seller (not just mixer)

Case work intensityCase work intensity

Lemons, dogs, cows, red meatLemons, dogs, cows, red meat

Tracking staff time to programsTracking staff time to programs

YP 2.0YP 2.0

Travel – China, Tuscany, India, Venus?Travel – China, Tuscany, India, Venus?

Questions facing Questions facing everyevery Chamber: Chamber:

1.1. How the heck do we budget?How the heck do we budget?

2.2. How do we now apply leverage in politics/policy?How do we now apply leverage in politics/policy?

3.3. How do we stay proactive on fundraising? How do we stay proactive on fundraising?

4.4. How do we turn business needs into chamber stability? How do we turn business needs into chamber stability?

5.5. How will required changes in program define us?How will required changes in program define us?

6.6. Are we doing everything Are we doing everything wewe can to make the community can to make the community attractive attractive

7.7. How is our corporate-civic engagement model How is our corporate-civic engagement model changing?changing?

PART 2PART 2

1.1. Heresies RevisitedHeresies Revisited2.2. Recognition of membership motivationsRecognition of membership motivations3.3. What Do You Mean By Volunteer?What Do You Mean By Volunteer?

– Work?Work?– Money above the rate card?Money above the rate card?– Leadership?Leadership?– Governance?Governance?

4.4. Demographics & ChambersDemographics & Chambers5.5. How Does their Day Job Fit?How Does their Day Job Fit?6.6. The “Secret”The “Secret”

Heresies Worth Discussing:Heresies Worth Discussing:Do Volunteers Really Matter?Do Volunteers Really Matter?

Changing Role of Professional Community Changing Role of Professional Community Leader visa vis Corporate Civic LeaderLeader visa vis Corporate Civic Leader

Features of the new paradigmFeatures of the new paradigm– Episodic v. Butts In SeatsEpisodic v. Butts In Seats– Higher expectationsHigher expectations– 2006 Brookings Study2006 Brookings Study– 2007 Fleming Paper2007 Fleming Paper

What You’ll Get Relates To Why What You’ll Get Relates To Why They’re Playing at AllThey’re Playing at All

GET DONEGET DONE

(Community Focus)

GETGET

(Enterprise Focus)

INVESTED INVOLVED

Community Builders

Business Builders

Business Investors

Community Investors

Divisions Divisions Within Within

the Ranksthe Ranks

Relevance of Chamber Relevance of Chamber Volunteering to their Jobs & LifeVolunteering to their Jobs & Life

Are they involved for their day job? Are they involved for their day job?

To advance their career? To advance their career?

Altruism or community pride? Altruism or community pride?

Fear for the future of the economy or Fear for the future of the economy or community?community?

Vanity?Vanity?

HOW DO YOU MAKE CHAMBER A FACTOR IN HOW DO YOU MAKE CHAMBER A FACTOR IN EACH OF THESE MOTIVATIONS?EACH OF THESE MOTIVATIONS?

What Do They Offer? What Do They Offer? Work?Work?Clout & stature?Clout & stature?Intel? Knowledge? “Let me lend you Doris”Intel? Knowledge? “Let me lend you Doris”Network participation?Network participation?Money above the rate card & help with fundraising?Money above the rate card & help with fundraising?Actual Leadership? Committee, project, problem solvingActual Leadership? Committee, project, problem solvingGovernance?Governance?A butt in the seat?A butt in the seat?

Isn’t it all good?Isn’t it all good?

DemographicsDemographics

Ages and GenerationsAges and Generations– What they bring and expect What they bring and expect – How they work togetherHow they work together– Building your benchBuilding your bench

Diversity and BirthratesDiversity and Birthrates– Be welcoming or die (both org & community)Be welcoming or die (both org & community)

Global rural population adjustmentsGlobal rural population adjustments

Volunteers:Volunteers:Get ‘em . .. Use ‘em . . . Keep emGet ‘em . .. Use ‘em . . . Keep em

The Punch line?The Punch line?

The days of “civic rent” are dead AND so are the The days of “civic rent” are dead AND so are the days of “taking your turn”days of “taking your turn”

So what’s the “SECRET?So what’s the “SECRET?

Actually Two SecretsActually Two Secrets

1.1. You’re more likely to get what you need if You’re more likely to get what you need if you deal with volunteers on their terms you deal with volunteers on their terms instead of yours – Where are they instead of yours – Where are they coming from? That’s where you start.coming from? That’s where you start.

2.2. If you want them to play and not just pay, If you want them to play and not just pay, the chamber must work to be perceived the chamber must work to be perceived as a viable vehicle for dealing with as a viable vehicle for dealing with theirtheir hopes and fearshopes and fears

CommercialsCommercials

ConventionConvention

Benefits PlanBenefits Plan

Policy ClearinghousePolicy Clearinghouse

Learn at your deskLearn at your desk

Case work & “answer Case work & “answer man”man”

Operations dataOperations data

Salary dataSalary data

Two degrees of Two degrees of separation from anybodyseparation from anybody

Chamber image & brandChamber image & brand

Awards & recognitionAwards & recognition

Buying powerBuying power

Subgroup InvolvementSubgroup Involvement

CCE & Body of CCE & Body of KnowledgeKnowledge

Opportunity awareness – Opportunity awareness – from speakers to affinitiesfrom speakers to affinities

Trends & VolunteersTrends & Volunteers

Mick Fleming, PresidentMick Fleming, President

ACCEACCE

April 30, 2010April 30, 2010