Publications
2008-09 Chamber Operations Fundamental Statistics Report
This fifth annual ACCE Chamber Operations Survey continues to build on over a decade of collecting data from and about chambers of commerce. The results are presented, in a free on-line format, to ACCE members who participated in the Chamber Operations Survey. Financial, membership and staffing statistics have been calculated from 312 chambers' 2008 program year data for common chamber operational measures:
- customer
- financial
- internal process/operations
- growth and stability
The results are presented in PDF format and will be sent via email to the address provided. There is no charge for shipping.
Please select one of the total revenue ranges when ordering.
Pages 45
ACCE Members: $95.00
Non-members: $155.00
Total revenue range: $450,000 and under
Total revenue range: $450,001 - $900,000
Total revenue range: $900,001 - $2,000,000
Total revenue range: $2,000,001 and up
A Guide to Intercity Visits: Community Development through Leadership Exchange
Intercity visits are community and leadership development through best practice sharing and high level networking. They provide a unique opportunity to assemble a diverse delegation of business, elected and civic leaders and expose them to innovative ideas and programs by traveling to a peer city. Chambers in cities of all sizes lead intercity visits on an annual basis, and their communities are stronger to show for it.
A Guide to Intercity Visits, explains the value of these programs and provides a detailed guide for how to get a program started. I
Pages 70
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Accounting, Tax, and Reporting Requirements
Your complete reference for reporting requirements, this step-by-step guide covers public access to records, lobby issues, IRS audits, internal controls, unrelated business income tax, Form 990, Form 990-T, IRS reporting requirements, wholly-owned taxable subsidiaries, intermediate sanctions, required statement on membership forms, and the role of the independent CPA.
This completely revised and expanded edition includes three all-new chapters. Detailed appendices offer full explanations of the four accounting standards—SFAs #116, 117, 124 and 136—that primarily affect chambers of commerce.
Pages 173
Members $50.00
Non Members $75.00
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$156.50 for complete Chamber Financial Management Series
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Budgeting and Financial Management
Is your budget an annual exercise in drudgery? Replace an obsolete or ineffective system with one that works!
Take control of your chamber’s short and long-term financial plan. Break down time-consuming annual budgeting processes into twelve easy-to-manage increments that produce more accurate and effective resource allocation. The Continuous Budgeting System is easy for CEOs, CFOs or anyone with budgeting responsibilities to adopt.
Also included in this bestseller are sample forms and financial statements, templates for preparing budget documents for boards and valuable tips on how to use footnotes to present and explain financial statements thoroughly and with confidence.
Pages 140
Price: $50.00
Non Members: $65.00
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Purchase the entire Chamber Financial Management Series
(all 3 books) for $156.75 .
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Career Building for the Chamber Professional
Career Building for the Chamber Professional: A Definitive Guide to Moving Up in the Chamber World provides insights into the job search process for chamber leaders, and, by doing so, limit your zigging and zagging to reach your goal. This book is designed to offer practical advice and wisdom, based in part on the author's own observations and experiences, as well as comments from others within the chamber profession. The advice and tips here are designed to help you overcome some of the obstacles you may face and help you secure your next chamber leadership position. Don’t let your chamber position be just a job, make it a career.
"Fantastic!A 'must have' for any executive contemplating their next step," says Kristofer T. Johnson, IOM, President & CEO, Tri-City (WA) Area Chamber of Commerce.
Pages 75
ACCE Members: $45.00
Non-members: $60.00
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CCE Clock
Digital desk clock with the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) logo
On Sale Now: $10.00 (members only)
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CCE Padfolio
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CCE padfolio with embossed CCE logo
On Sale Now: $10.00 (members only)
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Chamber Professionals Salary & Benefits Survey, 2007 Edition
The most comprehensive source of compensation and job descriptions developed specifically for the chamber industry. This report contains 2006-7 salary and benefits data, as well as sample job descriptions, for more than 25 different positions at chambers of commerce, from the top paid staff professional to the receptionist. Compare your compensation package with other chamber professionals!
Pages 146
$95 for ACCE members whose chambers participated in the survey
$135 for non-participating ACCE chamber members
$255 for non-members
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Chamber Professionals Salary & Benefits Survey, CEO Data, 2007 Edition (Electronic Version Only)
The most comprehensive source of compensation and job descriptions developed specifically for the chamber industry. This report contains 2006-7 salary and benefits data, as well as sample job descriptions, for chief executive officers, presidents, and executive directors of chambers of commerce. Compare your compensation package with other chamber professionals!
Pages 16
Member: $15.00
Non-Member: $25.00
Chairman's Circle Member: $10.50
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Chief Executive Succession Planning
How ready are you for a leadership transition? In Chief Executive Succession Planning, author Nancy R. Axelrod explains why it is important for your board to have a leadership transition plan whether or not you anticipate an upcoming executive search. Learn how to devise an ongoing chief executive officer succession plan that is linked to the strategic planning, mission, and vision of your organization. Help your board prepare for the future by tying the needs of the organization into the chief executive officer job description and chief executive officer evaluation.
Pages 68
ACCE Member: $45.00
Non-member: $90.00
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Compendium of Dues Formulas
Updated compilation of tiered and traditional dues structures are included in the most recent edition.
Dues structures are grouped by total annual dues volume for easier reference.
Pages 180
Member: $40.00
Non-Member: $65.00
Chairman's Circle: $28.00
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Fraud & Embezzlement in Small Business
Any organization can fall prey to fraud and embezzlement schemes, particularly small businesses and nonprofits. Unfortunately, the embezzler is always the person you would least likely expect. That's why sound internal controls are essential in protecting your organization.
This eye-opening, easy-to-read guide is filled with sage advice, compelling stories and practical tools to protect your hard earned assets and reputation.
Pages 152
ACCE Member: $37.00
Non Member: $42.00
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Hiring the Chief Executive
Written exclusively for the board as a guide to the chief executive selection process, with directives for creating a search committee and deciding the qualifications of the ideal candidate. The accompanying diskette provides sample forms to help the chamber's board screen and interview candidates.
Pages 40
ACCE Members: $32.50
Non-members: $36.00
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Making Your Chamber Make A Difference
Author Mick Fleming, president of ACCE, makes the case for why chambers need to be involved in shaping public policy, then offers a menu of options and suggestions for crafting a policy agenda, understanding the issues, lobbying basics, grassroots lobbying, coalitions, e-advocacy, and measuring success.
Pages 82
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Member Retention Kit - 2008 Edition
The kit will help you:
- Understand how retention rates impact your bottom line.
- Explore the common reasons why members leave and why they stay.
- Discover the Member Experience Cycle and how these stages link to recruitment and retention.
- Identify your members' expectations and how to meet them better.
- Conduct a Member Retention Study to collect member feedback.
- Follow a step-by-step process to create a retention plan to build your membership base.
The Member Retention Kit includes:
- The Member Retention Guide: An Overview of Why Members Leave and How to Keep Them
- The Guide for Conducting a Member Retention Study—A Precursor to a Retention Plan
- The Retention Plan Template—A step-by-step process for creating your own plan
- Samples of Retention Implementation Ideas
See Inside the Kit!
Pages 250
ACCE Members: $450.00
Non-members: $650.00
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Merging Chambers and EDOs
Thinking of initiating – or completing – a merger between your chamber and an economic development organization?
In the past, much of economic development was driven by “I and I”, inventory and incentives. And nowadays, it seems it is either employees and environment, “E and E”, or people and place, “P and P” driving economic development – and chambers have an important role to play in this new environment.
Listen to this 45-minute discussion (or read the transcript) about why chamber executives in three different communities felt that a merger between their organizations and the economic development organization in their communities was a necessary move, and the lessons that they learned along the way.
- Jim Fram, CCE, CEcD, President and CEO, Bartlesville (OK) Area Chamber of Commerce
- Bob Quick, CCE, President and CEO, Commerce Lexington (KY)
- Wendy Northcross, CCE, Chief Executive Officer, Cape Cod (MA) Chamber Of Commerce
Moderated by ACCE President Mick Fleming.
Free - Download Audio file
Free - Download Transcript
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Model Policies and Procedures
Chamber executives and board members are held accountable for virtually every aspect of their organization's activities, including finance, reporting requirements, accounting, administration, tax, internal controls, conflicts of interest, personnel, public disclosure of records among many others.
Strengthen your organization's financial procedures and assure board members that they are meeting fiduciary responsibilities. In addition, well-thought-out and thorough policies that comply with current tax law and accounting regulations will prove to be invaluable in the event of an IRS audit.
The book includes over 250 policies and 80 forms that you can easily customize for your chamber by simply downloading and customizing the information for your organization from an associated Web site.
Pages 274
On Sale Now: $32.00 (members only) 
Non-members: $80.00
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Purchase the Chamber Financial Management Series
(all 3 books) for $156.75.
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Regional Strategies Monographs
ARS publishes a monograph series on topics of interest to regional stewards, such as community decision-making, leadership development, regional governance, and more. The monographs are free, but are available to members only.
The following Monographs are available to members only.
Regional Stewardship: A Commitment to Place
This monograph defines the concept of regional stewardship; explains why the region is the scale at which we need to address the complex issues that connect our economic, environmental and social well-being; and describes the roles that regional stewards play in crossing boundaries of jurisdiction, sector, and discipline to build coalitions for action. Monograph #1 (October 2000)
Empowering Regions: Strategies and Tools for Community Decision Making
This monograph provides a user’s guide to tools for community decision making. It examines the challenges of contemporary regional governance, provides insight into how to democratize the planning process, describes the tools available to support civic engagement, and gives examples of successful regional engagement efforts. Monograph #2 (April 2001)
The Downtowns of the Future: Opportunities for Regional Stewards
This monograph summarizes the lessons from regions across the U.S. that are working in new partnerships to build creative downtowns for living and working. It examines demographic, cultural and business trends; describes how downtowns are evolving into centers of retail services, entertainment, and creative activity; and provides a framework for choosing your downtown’s future. Monograph #3 (August 2001)
The Triumph of the Regional Commons: Governing 21st Century Regional Communities
Garrett Hardin’s seminal 1968 publication “The Tragedy of the Commons” illustrated the collective disaster that can occur when each member of a commons is allowed to pursue his or her individual interests without regard to their impact on the whole. This monograph examines the current state of regional governance and presents a vision and strategy for navigating future challenges. Monograph #4 (October 2001)
The Practice of Regional Stewardship: Developing Leaders for Regional Action
This monograph examines how more than two dozen regions have developed the capability over time to lead themselves into the future. It describes the common stages of regional change—initiation, mobilization, collaborative action, and sustaining success—and provides insight into why some regions continually innovate while others become stagnant. Monograph #5 (March 2002)
Metropolitan Regional Grantmaking: Promising Practices and the Stewardship of Place
How can foundations advance the smart growth and livable communities agenda that is emerging in communities led by regional collaboratives? This monograph suggests that metropolitan regional grantmaking is a distinct style of philanthropy, one that is strategic, proactive, values-based, collaborative, cross-disciplinary, pragmatic, innovative, durable and accountable. It describes strategies and practices among metropolitan regional grantmakers, and offers lessons learned by their experiences. Monograph #6 (October 2003)
Inclusive Stewardship: Emerging Collaborations Between Neighborhoods and Regions
This monograph describes the concept of inclusive stewardship, an emerging form of collaboration connecting neighborhoods, communities and regions. It distinguishes this kind of collaboration from other approaches, provides examples of it in action, and offers a diagnostic roadmap for assessing a region’s readiness and initial focus for inclusive stewardship. Monograph #7(November 2003)
Toward a Vision of the Livable Community
What do people seek in the communities they choose to live? This monograph suggests that the concept of livability has many dimensions and exists along a continuum. Although some characteristics of livability are shared by all communities, many are subjective. This publication considers the experiences of numerous communities in promoting livability in equitable and inclusive ways. Monograph #8 (October 2004)
Regional Business Civic Organizations: Creating New Agendas for Metropolitan Competitiveness
This monographs gauges the extent to which business-led civic organizations are embracing social and economic development issues to promote overall regional economic competitiveness. A new breed of business organizations is enlisting unconventional partners in a climate of collaboration. This publication includes a diagnostic tool to assist regions in assessing their readiness for cross-sector regional action. Monograph #9 (October 2004)
Regional Indicators: Telling Stories, Measuring Trends, Inspiring Action
This monograph examines how indicators are being used at the regional level for a variety of purposes. In 2004, ARS conducted a regional indicators survey; this monograph includes feedback received from 21 regions regarding their own experience with regional indicators. Also included is an indicators "matrix," outlining which indicators are used by the majority of indicator initiatives. Monograph #10 (November 2005)
Regional Stewardship and Collaborative Governance
Regional collaborative governance is a web of expectations, interactions, and ultimately responsibilities that provide the only realistic hope for meeting the complex economic, social, and environmental challenges facing regions today. In short, it is about how regional stewards find practical ways to solve problems by transcending traditional jurisdictions, sectors, and issues, and creating a new framework for collaborative action. Monograph #11 (March 2006)
Sustainable Economies and Strong Communities: Regional Chamber Strategies for Growth
In the interconnected world in which we live, it is simply impossible to address major economic and quality of life issues in a jurisdictional vacuum. No single business—or governmental agency—can effect regional change by itself . This monograph focuses on the work business-led civic institutions, such as chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, are doing to build a better regional “product”—the institutions, infrastructure, social conditions and business environment that lead to long-term stability and business growth. Monograph #12 (August 2008)
These Monographs are FREE to our members.
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Retooling for Growth
Retooling for Growth
Effective Chambers of Commerce: A Key to Regional Economic Prosperity
The American Assembly has investigated and reported on emerging economic development strategies for weak market cities, aimed at meeting a major need as cities and metropolitan areas seek to find their place in the changing global economy. A crucial question facing weak market cities today is what economic development strategies should be used as these cities and metropolitan areas seek to find their place in the changing global economy. There is no easy fix here, but this Assembly represents a major opportunity to remove the public policies and practices that handicap these cities.
In collaboration with the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, the American Assembly issued a report, Retooling for Growth, that will serve as an action agenda for strengthening the economic development strategies, policies, and programs of weak market cities. ACCE contributed a chapter to Retooling that points to the specific role that business-civic groups can play to better position their respective metropolitan areas for sector-diverse, sustainable economic growth. Click here to download the chapter "Effective Chamber of Commerce: A Key to Regional Economic Prosperity." Chapter authors Steve Moret, Mick Fleming and Pauline O. Hovey.
Find out more about the supporting organization, the American Assembly at http://www.americanassembly.org/.
The entire publication can be ordered at the Brookings Institution http://www.brookings.edu/press/Books/2008/retoolingforgrowth.aspx.
Pages 37
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Taming the Troublesome Board Member
Addressing troubling behavior in a timely manner can make the difference between troubling and troublesome. Organized as a reference guide, Taming the Troublesome Board Member lays out a blueprint for avoiding and resolving the challenge of disruptive board members. It explores the root of troublesome behaviors and helps identify and address problems quickly and with as much grace as possible. Real-life case study examples illustrate specific behaviors with analysis and recommendations on the best next steps, in any boardroom. Board chairs will find this book empowering and accessible as the board leaders who need to take action. Chief executives and consultants will also benefit from this resource in an effort to understand what might be causing trouble in the boardroom. From micromanaging and undermining the board chair to silence in board meetings and founder syndrome, Taming the Troublesome Board Member addresses more than 25 different types of troublesome behavior.
Pages 105
On Sale Now: $15.00 (members only)
Non-Member: $60.00
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The Essentials of Membership Development
An "insider's view" at what membership development means in a chamber of commerce today, this book offers tips and tools you can use to create a successful membership development operation. In addition, you will learn the necessary personal effectiveness skills and self-knowledge necessary for successful membership development.
Here are just some of the included samples, models, and advice:
- dozens of model membership policies & procedures
- membership professional & chamber board interactions
- legal implications of membership sales
- sample tiered dues structures
- definitions and formulas to calculate retention, cost of membership sales, and more
- inside sales telephone scripts
- answers to common sales objections
About the Author
Dawn A. Moliterno is the President & CEO of the Walton County (FL) Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining this chamber, she shared her expertise in marketing, communication, and strategic development with chambers of commerce throughout the nation through her company, Introspect Associates LTD. Dawn has won a number of national and regional awards for her efforts, and has served on the Board of Directors for the former National Alliance for Membership Development (NAMD).
Pages 295
On Sale Now: $45.00 (members only)
Non-Members: $85.00
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Urgent Succession Planning for Chambers of Commerce: A No-Nonsense Guide
Just because it's unexpected doesn't mean you can't plan for it!
No matter what the reason, a chamber can prepare for the unexpected by crafting an urgent or emergency succession plan to deal with a situation in which the chief executive is suddenly unavailable to serve. Accident, illness, departure for career opportunities and many other events can generate the need for rapid reaction. Find out how to avoid unnecessary damage, embarrassment, conflict and lost productivity in your chamber as a result of an emergency succession. Discover the documentation, preparation and actions you can take now to avoid future problems. As many as 70% of successions in non-profits are "non-routine." With this publication, even the non-routine can be handled without major upheaval.
When ordering, indicate your preference for either a downloadable PDF or hard copy delivery.
See what ACCE members are saying about the Urgent Succession Planning publication:
I wanted to extend my kudos and thanks for the terrific ACCE publication “Urgent Succession Planning for Chambers of Commerce.” My copy was delivered last week and I found it to be an excellent guide for Board leadership faced with the challenges of needing a new CEO. In the past 5 years, I have worked with over 50 search committees of chambers, economic development organizations, associations and other nonprofit entities – and so many of these organizations would have benefited from the foresight this book encourages.
Eric N. Peterson
Managing Director & Principal
Waverly Partners, LLC
Although I hope I do not need it, I wanted to be the first to order one. It is one of those resources nice to have in your toolkit for when members or volunteers come knocking.
Douglas S. Kinsinger
President/CEO, CCE
Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
We have ordered the booklet from ACCE and we have downloaded it as well. I think it looks outstanding…I appreciate being credited in the “Preface”…but you guys at ACCE made my Chevrolet look like a Cadillac!!!
Thank you again and I look forward to the next two guidebooks.
Charles Van Rysselberge
President & CEO
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Pages 35
Members: $20
Non-Members: $30
Chairman's Circle Members: $14
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