Chamber Trends Across America: What’s Hot, What’s Not

1. Chamber Trends Across America:What’s Hot, What’s Not Presented By: Keith Woods CEO, North Coast Builders Exchange Senior Advisor on Chamber Trends, California Chamber of Commerce (707) 542-0645

3. How to recruit great volunteers and staff: 1) Smart and energetic 2) Smart and lazy 3) Dumb and lazy 4) Dumb and energetic

4. Ten Trends…Some Positive, Some Negative

5. Chamber organizational re-structuring and streamlining • “Right-size” the Board of Directors • Decision-making empowered at lowest levels • Fewer committees, more task forces • Creation of “Talent Banks” of volunteers

6. 2) Better (not more) communications with members • In today’s world, less is more • We’re a nation of skimmers and glancers, not readers • The goal: High-impact communications • Develop a strategy…and don’t make it a low priority • “Bad communications is always the problem – good communications is always the solution”

7. 3) A commitment to creative new programs, services and events • Also, new “spins” on existing ones • New approaches to annual banquets, golf tournaments, trade shows, mixers, breakfast & lunch meetings, candidates forums, etc. • In the world today, people like novelty and change • Apply the “K.M.E.A.” approach to everything you do • Offer “demand-driven” programs, not “supply driven” ones

8. 4) A confident aggressiveness throughout the organization • A firm belief that the Chamber is on the side of what’s right • Especially in politics and governmental affairs • “If you’re not at the table, you’ll probably be on the menu” • Also an aggressiveness in membership recruitment • And in funding the Chamber…sponsorships, etc. • The bottom line: set a goal to create a more business-like Chamber • “Non-profit is a tax status, not your business plan”

9. 5) Continued membership flat-lining • Good news: membership sales are up nationally • Bad news: membership drops are also up • The root of the problem: 1st and 2nd year members • (Nation-wide: 40 – 60% of all first year members drop!) • Chambers are putting more effort into retention programs • An idea: worry about a member’s “connection” , not “involvement” • Major membership drives are declining in popularity (but they can work if done right)

10. 6) Creative new membership pricing and dues structures are being explored • Not based on the number of employees in the usual “tiered” system • Hot: selling member packages of services, programs, benefits • Hotter: Chairman’s Circles, President’s Clubs, Gold Star Members • What they really are is “Ego Memberships… and they work

11. 7) Recognition of “Time Poverty” issues continuing to plague members • The reality: we have fewer volunteers with less discretionary time • 24 hours doesn’t feel like 24 hours to most people • “People don’t measure things in dollars and cents any more, they measure things in minutes and hours” • Another trend: declining attendance at events • Ride your winners and kill off your losers • Make every meeting and event worth attending…or don’t hold it at all • Holding no meeting is infinitely better than holding a bad meeting

12. More regional thinking and co-operation among Chambers • Provincialism is great in moderation, but lousy in large doses • Collaboration on major issues: transportation, water, economic development, etc. • Co-sponsorship of events: trade shows, mixers, seminars • Creation of area-wide Leadership Programs • Chambers should serve as the organizer and facilitator for regional meetings … forums, summits, conferences

13. 9) Higher quality Chamber execs, staff, and volunteers • Execs are true professional management pros… well-trained, experienced, and considered to be leaders in their community • Same with staff…both department heads and clerical personnel • Volunteers are better than ever, but there are fewer of them • What to avoid: “Whack-a-Mole” management and leadership • Ten Traits of Great Chamber Execs and Staff: (see list) • Five Characteristics of Terrific Volunteers: (see list)

14. Ten Traits of Great Chamber Execs & Staff 1) Time management skills 2) Good communicator (verbal & written) 3) Financial competence 4) An ability to motivate others 5) Perseverance 6) A sense of humor 7) Technological proficiency 8) A flair for the creative 9) Savvy political instincts 10) An ego that’s under control

15. Five Characteristics of Terrific Volunteers 1) Follow-through on commitments 2) Candor and honesty 3) Willingness to underwrite what you write 4) A positive, upbeat attitude 5) An ability to “play well with others”

17. 10) Serious introspection about the role of Chambers in the future • Why are we really here? • Would we be missed if we weren’t around? • For a Chamber, having a Strategic Plan is good… • …but having a Strategic Vision is even better! • Great Chambers have a clear set of priorities…not just to be liked 1) To be respected as the community’s business leader 2) To be a valuable resource for our members 3) To be a force to be feared when necessary

19. The two key words in the 21st Century “Guts & Glitz”

20. “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do” -Henry Ford

21. “You can’t talk your way out of problems that you behaved your way into.” -Stephen Covey

22. Words for the ages by George Bernard Shaw “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. For I want to be thoroughly used up when I die… Life is not a brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”