Chamber Trends & Leadership: The Professional The Volunteer The Collaboration Mick Fleming, President, ACCE

Chambers in 2010 Delayed recession impact – (more & more direct tie to state of your economy) Regional variation – Individual performance Snap-Shot (unscientific eval of 2009)

–28% with dues drop of 10% or more –30% with attendance drop of 10+% –40% experienced sponsor drop of 10+% –37% of chambers lost some staff –80% of chambers avoided dip into reserves Recession Impact on Chambers

Other trends Public policy –Populist extremes challenge real discourse –Policy interest by chambers up -- Fed Policy way up –choke hold of state/local budgets –Policy agendas widening – “soft” stuff not soft COM revolution continues Econ Dev –gardening over recruiting –Sustainability of sustainability Employers -- Helping ‘em with today... and tomorrow Graph Follows

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

Programming Evolution Big Events still big and growing Subgroup management Connectivity of buyer/seller (not just mixer) Case work intensity Lemons, dogs, cows, red meat Tracking staff time to programs YP 2.0 Travel – China, Tuscany, India, Venus?

Questions facing every Chamber: 1. How the heck do we budget? 2. How do we now apply leverage in politics/policy? 3. How do we stay proactive on fundraising? 4. How do we turn business needs into chamber stability? 5. How will required changes in program define us? 6. Are we doing everything we can to make the community attractive 7. How is our corporate-civic engagement model changing?

PART 2 1. Heresies Revisited 2. Recognition of membership motivations 3. What Do You Mean By Volunteer? –Work? –Money above the rate card? –Leadership? –Governance? 4. Demographics & Chambers 5. How Does their Day Job Fit? 6. The “Secret”

Heresies Worth Discussing: Do Volunteers Really Matter? Changing Role of Professional Community Leader visa vis Corporate Civic Leader Features of the new paradigm –Episodic v. Butts In Seats –Higher expectations –2006 Brookings Study –2007 Fleming Paper

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

GET DONE (Community Focus) GET (Enterprise Focus) INVESTEDINVOLVED Community Builders Business Builders Business Investors Community Investors Divisions Within the Ranks

Relevance of Chamber Volunteering to their Jobs & Life Are they involved for their day job? To advance their career? Altruism or community pride? Fear for the future of the economy or community? Vanity? HOW DO YOU MAKE CHAMBER A FACTOR IN EACH OF THESE MOTIVATIONS?

What Do They Offer? Work? Clout & stature? Intel? Knowledge? “Let me lend you Doris” Network participation? Money above the rate card & help with fundraising? Actual Leadership? Committee, project, problem solving Governance? A butt in the seat? Isn’t it all good?

Demographics Ages and Generations –What they bring and expect –How they work together –Building your bench Diversity and Birthrates –Be welcoming or die (both org & community) Global rural population adjustments

Volunteers: Get ‘em... Use ‘em... Keep em The Punch line? The days of “civic rent” are dead AND so are the days of “taking your turn” So what’s the “SECRET?

Actually Two Secrets 1. You’re more likely to get what you need if you deal with volunteers on their terms instead of yours – Where are they coming from? That’s where you start. 2. If you want them to play and not just pay, the chamber must work to be perceived as a viable vehicle for dealing with their hopes and fears

Commercials Convention Benefits Plan Policy Clearinghouse Learn at your desk Case work & “answer man” Operations data Salary data Two degrees of separation from anybody Chamber image & brand Awards & recognition Buying power Subgroup Involvement CCE & Body of Knowledge Opportunity awareness – from speakers to affinities

Trends & Volunteers Mick Fleming, President ACCE April 30, 2010