During the World Chambers Federation’s big congress in Mexico City earlier this month, I couldn’t help making comparisons with our own convention. Over drinks in the hotel bar the final night of the Congress, I received some help in my comparative evaluation from a handful of foreign chamber leaders who have attended both events.  My own prejudices about the value and power of ACCE’s gig were reinforced by this discerning gang of world travelers.

“I learn a lot more from ACCE,” said one big shot from another country. He added, “the program is much stronger.”

“In the States, you avoid boring, predictable political speeches . . . that’s a big plus,” said another.

“The attention to scheduling and logistical details helps to avoid wasted time when we come to the ACCE meeting,” offered another. 

And, of course, the inevitable comment by every foreign sampler of North American chamber hospitality,  “We had a lot of fun in Milwaukee.” 

All of this was, of course, very gratifying to hear over the five days of the Congress, in between speeches by President Calderon and Nobel Laureates. Here I was at the premier event for chamber leaders of the entire world. Some of the leaders at the Congress ran chambers with budgets in the hundreds of millions.

As much as I loved hearing the nice comments, I eventually realized that the real basis for their praise is that they don’t really have a basis of comparison. As nice a job as the Mexico City Chamber did with the World Congress this year, there is nothing really like ACCE in the world.  We are an entity that devotes 100 percent of our time and resources to one thing -– increasing the capacity, knowledge and networks of those who lead businesses and communities. Our convention is the manifestation of that mission. We’re not trying to provide a platform for politicians or the host city’s business elite. The ACCE Convention is just a meeting of chamber people, built by chamber people, for chamber people. It’s our learning lab, our best practices showcase, our party. I loved the people of Mexico City, and the WCF program was good. There's just nothing quite like the chamber meeting of choice put on by ACCE each year . . . anywhere.

I hope you’ll experience it this summer in Los Angeles. And yes, I’ll need your help to continue to impress visitors from around the globe.