ACCE - American Chamber of commerce executives

Ask ACCE

Virtual Reference Desk

Need contact information for someone you just heard about? How about ideas for fundraising? Want to know which chambers have developed apps for mobile devices? Need help figuring out what to do when a board member resigns? Let ACCE answer the who, what, when and why questions you have on the job.

This is a free service to ACCE members.

Call 703-998-3524 or email aimhoff@acce.org and expect a reply within 24-48 hours.

Know what you need already?

Use our contact form and make sure your question goes directly to who needs to see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chamber?

This document was created to tell people new to chambers of commerce what chambers do.

We are rewriting our personnel manual. Do you have any samples?

Personnel Manual

http://www.acce.org/samples/samples/human-resources-personnel-manual/

Employee Manual

http://www.acce.org/samples/samples/human-resources-employee-manual/

Personnel Policies & Procedures

http://www.acce.org/samples/samples/human-resources-personnel-policies-and-procedures/

US Chamber Best Practices site.

http://www.uschamber.com/chambers/accreditation/best-practices

Look under Human Resources and then at the three Personnel Policies listed.

Where can I find data to benchmark and compare my chamber with other chambers across the country?

Our annual Operations Survey takes place between January and March each year. If you participated in the survey, you can access your results for free. If you did not, you can purchase the results.

I'd like information on the international trips ACCE is currently offering.

ABC Destinations & ACCE Croatia Trip - March 6-13, 2012
ACCE-Citslinc China Trip - March 12-20, 2012

What do I need to know about using social media?

ACCE has a white paper for chambers just starting out with social media.

Below are samples of social media use policies:

Be sure to look at our Chamberpedia page on Social Media as well for more resources and weblinks.

I'm looking for sample position descriptions. Do you have any?

In the ACCE samples library, you will find position descriptions for many of the most common positions at chambers. Click here to browse the different job titles. Click on the position title to view or download the position description.

Help! I'm a brand new chamber CEO. What do I do now?

If you are new to chambers of commerce, take a look at this article called Chambers of Commerce: The Basics.

Here is an article from Chamber Executive magazine on the First 100 Days.

Here is an article from Chamber Executive magazine on Starting Strong.

Is there a standard list of industry codes to classify chamber members?

We suggest using this subset of NAICS codes which can be tailored to meet the needs of your chamber.

I'd like Membership Retention rates for chambers across the country.

Click here for a page where you can download a pdf or Excel file of membership statistics.
Also, we have a Membership Chamberpedia page which will also link you to our Chamberpedia pages on Membership Retention, Sales, and more.

I don't see my question in this list. What can I do?

Let ACCE answer the who, what, when and why questions you have on the job. This is a free service to ACCE members. Call 703-998-3524 or email aimhoff@acce.org and expect a reply within 24-48 hours.
You can also click on Ask ACCE and fill out this form to be sure your question goes to the right person at the ACCE office.

I want information about the annual convention.

Visit convention.acce.org

Join us in Los Angeles, August 3-6, where you and several hundred of your chamber peers will access:

Expert insight and “a-ha!” inspiration from influential keynote speakers
Customized educational workshops focusing on issues faced by chamber professionals at all levels
Actionable ideas for your community and your organization
Money-saving solutions and revenue-generating resources in the Commerce of Chambers Exhibit Hall

Plus, enjoy countless networking opportunities, exciting evening events and all-around fun in the warm Los Angeles sun!

What is the right size for a chamber board?

Board Composition and Responsibilities Chamberpedia page

I need some help managing my volunteers.

Check out our Volunteer Management Chamberpedia page for information, resources, and links.

What revenue sources are available to chambers?

Non-Dues Revenue Champerpedia page

Chamber Executive Magazine Fall 2009: Membership and Non-Dues Revenue

I'm not sure if my chamber is doing enough in economic development. I'd like some resources on this.

Check out our Economic and Community Development Chamberpedia page for information, resources, and links.

Tell me about ACCE.

The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is a national association uniquely serving individuals involved in the management of chambers of all sizes. (What is a Chamber of Commerce?) ACCE's mission is to support and develop chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities. The organizational vision is that ACCE is the organization of choice for chamber professionals.

ACCE currently has over 7,800 professional members in 1,400 chambers of commerce. These professionals represent local, regional, and state chambers of commerce of all sizes across the United States and Canada.

Our goal is to empower chamber executives with a combination of knowledge, information, networks, connections, and career advancement.

How do I join ACCE?

Contact Carly Dubernas by phone at 703-998-3525 or by email at cdubernas@acce.org.

How much does it cost to join ACCE?

Our membership dues are based on your organization’s operating budget. If you receive government funds, we ask that you count 20% of received government funds towards your total operating budget. Here are links to dues schedule for chamber memberships, affiliate memberships, international memberships, and associate memberships.

I want to know who has done before? Who has experience with ________?

Join one of our many groups on LinkedIn.com and ask your peers! We have groups for all ACCE members, communications, membership, Young Professionals, and many more! You can also search these LinkedIn groups by clicking the Search tab when you are on the group’s page. If this doesn’t answer your question, call or email our virtual reference desk, Ask ACCE.

Our CEO is retiring. What should we do?

Here is a link to download ACCE's Hiring Toolkit, a document that will walk you step-by-step through the search, interview, and hiring process for a chamber CEO.

Here is a link to three documents on succession from the ACCE Samples Library.
http://tinyurl.com/ChipSuccession
Once at that page, click on each link to take you to the page where you can download each file.

Here is a link to Robert Harris' webpage on CEO Performance. Click on the link for "CEO Transition Plan" to download his perspective on CEO succession. You might also find the document, "Choosing a Professional CEO" to be useful to your board. http://www.rchcae.com/ceo-performance-tools-download/

ACCE also has a 35-page book on Succession which is available on our website for $20. Here is the link to the page where you can purchase that book. You have to login with your member id and password to get the $20 price.
http://tinyurl.com/ACCESuccession

What are some samples of dues structures and membership applications?

The first link below is an e-book with a description of tiered dues from 5 different communities. The second is an excellent brochure from Salem, OR with a description of the different dues levels and what benefits come with each level. The third and fourth links contain different membership application samples.

ACCE e-book on Tiered Dues
Salem (OR) brochure
Oceanside Membership Application with dues schedule
Baltimore-Washington Membership Application with dues and discounts