1. Chamber Trends Across America: What’s Hot, What’s Not 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. 1)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: 1 st and 2 nd 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. 8)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 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 21 st 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.”