American Chamber of Commerce Executives

Standing with Moore

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400

Chamber executives rally around their peers in times of need. And since a deadly tornado devastated the city of Moore, OK on Monday, ACCE has received dozens of inquires about chambers in the greater Oklahoma City region.

We?re relieved to report that Brenda Roberts and her team at the Moore Chamber of Commerce are safe. Roy Willliams, CCE and his team at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber were also unharmed.

Chamber leaders across the country have asked how they can help chambers support the business owners impacted by the storm. As soon as we are able to advise a course of action that best addresses the right needs, we will share information. Expect an announcement within the coming days.

Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones, homes and businesses. We know this disaster will not derail the momentum of this vibrant region.

ACCE To Relocate Headquarters May 29

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

ACCE will be relocating its office to a new location in Alexandria, Va., effective May, 29. ACCE?s new address will be:

American Chamber of Commerce Executives
1330 Braddock Place, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314

Please take a moment to update your records. Phone numbers and other contact information remain the same.

?While we?re only moving a few miles across town, our new location will be conveniently more accessible for our members when they are in Washington, D.C.,? said Mick Fleming, ACCE president. ?Our new office is next to the Braddock Road metro station in Alexandria, just one stop from Ronald Reagan National Airport. Whether you stop by after deplaning at DCA, or if you?re traveling from Capitol Hill, the trip to our office will be less than 30 minutes.?

The new office has been designed to be more functional for guests and small groups. Two private work rooms, affectionately dubbed the ?phone booths? will provide a quiet place to make a few calls before your flight. Any one of the three conference rooms will be the perfect place for you and your chairman to dissect the latest chamber trends with ACCE staff after visiting your Congressional delegation.

New Survey Finds Widespread Business Support for Early Childhood

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

America?s Promise Alliance (America?s Promise) and its early childhood project ReadyNation, announced the findings of a new survey that examined business support of early childhood programs in the U.S. The survey, titled Championing Success: Business Organizations for Early Childhood Investments, found that since 2007 at least one state chamber of commerce, large city chamber, or state business roundtable in 44 states has publicly supported early childhood policy initiatives. In addition, about half (49 percent) of the local chambers responding to the survey reported that their organization took action to support early childhood policy initiatives. Overall, the survey revealed that business organizations in nearly all states (49 states) have publicly supported early childhood programs and initiatives.

?Parents, educators and children?s advocates have known for years that a high quality early childhood program improves a young person?s trajectory in life. Business leaders ? not traditionally major players in this part of the debate about children ?are now also voicing their support for investments in early childhood. These business leaders see that this type of investment improves children?s lives, their communities, and the economy,? said Sara Watson, director, ReadyNation and executive vice president, America?s Promise Alliance. ?This survey shows that business support is widespread, and that it encompasses the range of services ? pre-kindergarten, child care, home visiting ? that are being discussed in the active state and federal debates on early childhood.?

The business organizations surveyed are major contributors to policy change and this survey provides examples of their impact on early childhood. Advocacy efforts from the Grand Rapids (MI) Chamber of Commerce helped enact new legislation on home visiting and the Ohio Business Roundtable helped restore $1.5 million in state funding cuts for home visiting services. Business organizations took many different actions to make their positions known: joining a coalition, making early childhood part of an overall policy agenda, providing legislative testimony or having other communication with policymakers, making speeches or other public statements in the news media, or undertaking a distinct project around early childhood.

Other findings from the survey include:

Specifically, 29 state chambers, 36 metropolitan city chambers and 16 business roundtables took public action to support early childhood initiatives.
The most popular form of action for large chambers and business roundtables was to include early childhood as part of an overall organizational policy or legislative agenda. Forty-five percent of total actions by large chambers and business roundtables fell into this category. For example, the Business Council of Alabama specifically mentions support for pre-kindergarten education as part of its state and federal policy agenda.
While early education was the most popular issue, other topics include child care, health care and home visiting.
The most popular ways that local chambers showed their support were communicating with policymakers (27%), making early childhood a part of a defined policy agenda (26%) and joining a coalition in support of early childhood (25%).
Business organizations also voiced their support through editorials in the news media and public speeches. Nineteen percent of local chambers included early education in public speeches and 18 percent of large chambers and state business roundtables prepared news pieces voicing their support.

Survey findings also revealed that early childhood?traditionally viewed as a family or social services issue?has become more of an education and economic development issue for businesses. Organizations had multiple frames for this issue. In 41 states, large chambers or business roundtables presented their support for early childhood initiatives as part of an education agenda; however in 22 states, these organizations also framed parts of their efforts as workforce or economic development.

To conduct this survey, ReadyNation partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). With the support of ACCE, ReadyNation conducted a detailed survey with individual follow-up to state chambers of commerce in 46 states (Nevada, Rhode Island, Utah and Wyoming do not have state chambers), members of the ACCE Metro Cities Council (the 74 largest city/regional chambers in the nation), all state business roundtables (22 total) and a sampling of smaller local chambers of commerce. In total, the survey features feedback from a total of 122 state chambers, state business roundtables and Metro Cities Councils combined. An additional survey was sent to all 1,200+ members of ACCE and 104 local chambers responded. To see the full survey visit: www.readynation.org.

ReadyNation is part of the Grad Nation Campaign, a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020, with no school graduating less than 80 percent of its students on time. The 2013 Building a Grad Nation report found that for the first time, the nation is on track to meet the goal of a 90 percent national graduation rate by the class of 2020. The report found the national high school graduation rate increased 6.5 percentage points since 2001 with an average growth of 1.25 percentage points each year from 2006-2010 to 78.2 percent. For more information, visit www.americaspromise.org.

About America?s Promise Alliance
America?s Promise Alliance is the nation?s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. We bring together more than 400 national organizations representing nonprofit groups, businesses, communities, educators and policymakers. Through our Grad Nation campaign, we mobilize Americans to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21^st century workforce. Building on the legacy of our founding chairman General Colin Powell, America?s Promise believes the success of young people is grounded in the Five Promises?Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others. For more information, visit AmericasPromise.org.

Certificates of Origin: "Loose Oversight ... Undermines U.S. Business"

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Focusing on the practice of some chambers of commerce that loan out their Certificate of Origin stamps,the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported April 28 that "experts on international shipments warn that the United States' loose system of having unregulated chambers of commerce verify the origins of exports undermines the credibility of the nation's foreign shipments and threatens American producers. Moreover, the practice could harm unsuspecting consumers if a substandard product makes its way into the marketplace."

Certificates of Origin are international trade documents used to determine the origin of goods for official, commercial and financial reasons. Since 1898, chambers have been recognized by government and customs officials as competent authorities to issue COs. With nearly 4 million certificates issued within the United States annually, chambers play a crucial role as trusted third parties bringing reliability, integrity, neutrality and impartiality in the issuance of COs. For more information from ACCE about COs, visit this page. (You'll need your ACCE username and password.)

Apply for a 2013 ACCE Convention Scholarship

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:30:00 -0400

ACCE is accepting applications for four convention scholarships, two each in the names of Mike Hauser and Shelia Lee, who were leaders of the chamber movement and ACCE. Many thanks to the donors to these scholarship funds!

The four scholarships pay for convention registration.* Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. EST May 15. Winners will be notified at the end of May. For more information, call 800-394-2223 ext. 3534. Visit www.acce.org/convention to get the latest information on ACCE Convention 2013.

Eligibility Requirements:

Individuals who have received a scholarship from ACCE in the last two years are not eligible.
Chamber professionals of all levels and disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Selection will be based on the most compelling application letter that includes financial need, professional aspirations and organizational benefit of convention attendance. Applications of first-time convention attendees may receive extra attention.
Applicants from the seven states in which Mike and Shelia worked in chambers are strongly encouraged: California, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota and Kansas.
ACCE?s division advisory board members are not eligible to apply.

* Registration fee does not cover lodging or travel. Most meals are included. Applicants who are not members of ACCE will be asked to pay the difference between member and non-member registration price.

Convention Registration Now Open

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:10:00 -0400

Registration for Momentum, the 2013 ACCE Annual Convention is now open!

Chambers of commerce will lead the way and help build momentum as the economy improves. You'll get fresh ideas on keeping that momentum going when you join the top chamber people in the world in Oklahoma City, July 23-26. Visit convention.acce.org for information on

To learn more about Oklahoma City's momentum, check out this video!

Smoffice Wins!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:15:00 -0400

The Greater Durham (NC) Chamber of Commerce has won the title of Best Unconventional Project at the 2013 International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation Competition for The Smoffice - The ?World?s Smallest Office."

Competition finalists presented their projects during the 8th World Chambers Congress in Doha, Qatar April 22-25. The Smoffice was the only finalist from the United States and is the first US recipient of the award. Competitors hailed from Slovenia, Finland, Korea and Nuremburg, Germany.

?We are thrilled by this honor,? said Casey Steinbacher, president and CEO of the Durham Chamber. ?To recognize by your peers on an international platform is phenomenal. Now, the world knows Durham!?

Read more about The Smoffice in the Summer 2012 issue of Chamber Executive magazine.

In Memoriam: Mike McLaran

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Mike McLaran, former CEO of the Salem (OR) Chamber of Commerce, passed away Saturday morning, March 30, after suffering an apparent heart attack while jogging. He was 53.

McLaran, who retired from the Salem Chamber in July 2011, served as the organization?s leader for 16 years. He was president of McLaran Enterprises, Inc., offering strategic planning, project management and leadership development services.

McLaran transformed the Salem chamber into a first-class organization and built an all-star staff, two of whom were named "Staff Person of the Year" in consecutive years by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE). He was one of the few non-Californians to be chairman of WACE. In 2011 he was cited for his mentorship by Chamber Executive Magazine in a cover story about the nation's most influential chamber executives.

Admired by many in the profession, McLaran was recognized in 2007 by WACE with the Russell E. Pettit Memorial Excellence in Leadership Award, and in 1997 he was named Executive of the Year by the Oregon Chamber Executives. McLaran was also a highly respected leader in the Salem community and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Last year, he received an honorary doctorate from Corban University and delivered the keynote address. Reno Hoff, president of Corban University, said in a news release that McLaran ?was selected because of his years of service to the Salem community and his reputation as a man of high integrity. An honorary doctorate is a way to honor someone who has led a distinguished life and Mike McLaran has done that beyond reproach.?

McLaran?s passing is a tremendous loss for Salem. Click here to read how residents are remembering this man who was considered by many to be a leader, mentor and friend.

Chambers Qualify for 2013 Chamber of the Year

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

More than 200 ACCE member chambers of commerce have been invited to apply for the Chamber of the Year award, the most prestigious award in the chamber profession. Invitations were sent to 202 chambers following the review of data collected from this year?s Chamber Operations Survey. The award is sponsored this year by WebLink International.

Data from the 2012-13 Chamber Operations Survey was used to pre-qualify applicants for the award. Chambers had to meet four of the six criteria listed below to qualify for the competition:

Total Revenue minus Total Expenses must equal a positive number.
Current Assets/Current Liabilities must result in a ratio that is not less than 1.
Total Assets minus Total Liabilities must equal a positive number.
Net Assets/Total Annual Expenses must equal a ratio that exceeds the average of all survey participants.
Dollar value of Retained Members must exceed the average of all survey participants.
Membership Retention based on the number of Member Accounts must exceed the average of all survey participants.

The Chamber of the Year is the nation?s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in creating both leading businesses and communities. Chambers honored with this designation have not only demonstrated success in community leadership and organizational strength, but also have made an impact on key community priorities such as education, transportation, healthcare, and cultural vitality.

Winners of the 2013 Chamber of the Year will be announced at this year?s annual ACCE convention, July 23-26, in Oklahoma City. For more information, visit the Chamber of the Year webpage or email Chaaron Pearson.

Google Helps Businesses Get Online

bholt@acce.og (Brad Holt) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. small businesses account for half of our gross domestic product, and they create two-thirds of all new jobs. But only about half of them have websites.

Google, an official corporate sponsor of ACCE, is trying to change that.

The company has rolled out a new program, ?Get Your Business Online,? that offers a free domain name and website hosting for one year to virtually any small business. After the free year of service, monthly charges begin at about $5. The program includes online education to help small businesses grow through marketing themselves online, connecting with customers and prospects, and measuring progress with Google?s online tools.

Google recently held a ?small business boot camp? in Washington, D.C., for selected entrepreneurs from each of the 50 states. Google paid the tab for travel, room and board, and offered free workshops in web design, search engine optimization, and connecting with smart phone users.

Here are videos of some of the events, including a reception with officials from the Small Business Administration officials and other D.C. area organizations focused on small business issues.

Fleming Re-Appointed to World Chambers Federation?s General Council

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

ACCE President Mick Fleming was recently appointed to a second three-year term as Vice-Chair of the World Chambers Federation?s (WCF) General Council. The appointment came during the executive board meeting of the International Chamber of Commerce. Fleming holds the distinction as the first American to have been elected to serve on the WCF board.

?I am honored to continue serving as vice-chair of the World Chambers Federation,? said Fleming. ?I look forward to working with the newly elected leadership in strengthening the global network of chambers and to reinforce the role chambers play in their respective communities ? wherever they are in the world.?

Also during the meeting, Peter Mihok, president of Slovakia?s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was elected the new Chair of WCF. ACCE's longtime friend and ally Hamad Buamim, director general of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, was elected Deputy Chair. The new Chair and Deputy bring a wealth of experience to their positions after having already served WCF in various roles.

Read about the additional leadership changes here.

Established in December 1950, WCF is the global body fostering and facilitating collaboration and cooperation between chamber leaders and their organizations throughout the world. Today, the WCF unites and represents the global network of 12,000 chambers of commerce. The WCF helps chambers to improve the effectiveness and extend the range of the services that they provide to their members. For more information visit the World Chambers Federation.

The World Chambers Federation executive committee: (back row) Mahindra Sanghi, Lorenzo Ysasi, Georges Fischer, Jean-Claude Karpeles, Anthony Parkes, Mick Fleming, Ambrosio Bertolotti, Bark-Jae Shin, Philip Kucharski (ICC) . (Front row) Peter Bishop, Rona Yircali, Peter Mihok, Olive Kigongo and Hamad Buamim.

ACCE Announces Exciting New Partner

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

ACCE is so pleased to introduce Google, the search-engine and technology powerhouse, as its new corporate partner.

And in particular, we look forward to working with a Google program called "Get Your Business Online" (GYBO). This program is an attempt by Google to bring the benefits of the web to the many companies that do not have websites today. Surprisingly, while 97 percent of American Internet users look online for local products and services, 58 percent of U.S. small businesses do not have a website.

The companies that are chamber members usually do have websites. But Google has found that chambers are ideally positioned to tell the entire community about the benefits of being on the web. In a recent nationwide campaign, Google's GYBO team worked with 600 chambers of commerce and found them (and perhaps you) to be extraordinary partners in spreading the news about how important the web is for businesses.

Our friends at Google have told us they are proud to partner with ACCE to provide businesses with an easy-to-build website, a customized domain name, and web hosting for one year for free. Small businesses need to be online because that's where their customers are. Free websites are waiting at www.gybo.com.

Introducing ACCE's New Volunteer Portal

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

At ACCE, volunteering is more than just an opportunity to help your national association. It's a way for you to connect with your peers, share your strengths and impart your knowledge on a national level?all while making ACCE even stronger. ACCE's volunteers help improve products and services, launch new initiatives, and build our online information repository.

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?

Visit ACCE's new Volunteer Portal and find an engagement opportunity based on what you like to do and the time you have available. Whether you just want to get your feet wet or are ready to dive in, there's a volunteer level that fits your expectations. Best of all, ACCE makes it easy to get involved. If you see something that would be a fit for you?or someone on your team?just send an inquiry email and the ACCE team will be in touch on how to get started.

Be sure to check out the Wall of Fame and see how your peers have recently used their talents to help ACCE help you. Visit now and get involved today!

In Memoriam: Former Austin, TX, Chamber CEO, Vic Mathias

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Vic Mathias, a great friend to many in the chamber profession, died Jan. 14. He was 86. Mathias served as the CEO of the Austin (TX) Chamber from 1956-83. During his impressive chamber career, he helped form and operate the Austin Aqua Festival, Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, Austin Economic Development Council, Highland Lakes Tourist Association, and Leadership Austin. The initial efforts and successes in attracting high-tech companies came during his tenure. He was a former president of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives and had served on ACCE?s board of directors.

Mathias is also remembered for his monthly letter, "Thoughts While Thinking," which he authored for more than 25 years. For his family, he also wrote "The Way I Remember It," 175 vignettes about his life experiences. In one entry, ?Cooling It & the C of C Job,? he remembers how a hot summer day in 1953 led him to the Austin Chamber and his resulting 29-year career there. In another entry, he recalls how the Austin Economic Development Council came into existence in 1961. Click here to read Vic Mathias? obituary.

ACCE Remembers Marian Ivers, First Female ACCE Life Member

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Marian Ivers, who served the Greater Omaha (NE) Chamber for 27 years and was ACCE?s first female Honorary Life Member, passed away on January 8. She was 90. Ivers began her tenure at the chamber as its executive secretary in 1962 and retired in 1989 as executive vice president. She also served as the chamber?s membership director, director of administration and finance and assistant general manager.

According to David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, Ivers ?was the innovator who began the all-volunteer sales effort in Omaha as well as our leadership program and many efforts that support women in business.? Ivers was also the first woman to chair the National Alliance for Membership Development.

In Ivers? obituary, her daughter, Laurie Piper, described how much her mother loved her native Omaha: ?For her, there was nothing more important than making this city great.? Click here to read her obituary.

ACCE Announces New Official Corporate Sponsor: Central Holidays

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

It's with great pleasure that ACCE announces a new official corporate sponsor, Central Holidays. This family of travel companies is a part of Sakkara Group International (SGI), the owners and operators of an award-winning worldwide portfolio of successful hotels, cruise providers, and tour companies. Central Holidays can help you provide fascinating travel opportunities to your members and your community, while at the same time earning significant non-dues revenue for your chamber.

You may have seen Mick Fleming's blog about Central Holidays and SGI and their extraordinary and generous rescue of 18 ACCE member chambers whose tours were abandoned by a bankrupt company, ABC Destinations. It was this kind of dedication and expertise, not to mention the group's rock-solid reputation and financial standing, that helped determine ACCE's decision to work with this proven travel organization.

As always, ACCE will continue to work with another official corporate sponsor, Citslinc, for chamber trips to China.

To see the places you can go via Central Holidays, take a look at the special web page for ACCE members. Use this password: accecentral

You may also call Central Holidays directly:

Jane Masterson, ACCE Director of Sales: (201) 228-5315
James Zitani, VP of Sales: (201) 228-5273

Chamber Profession Mourns Passing of Sally Haas

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It is with great sadness that ACCE announces the passing of Sally Haas, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Airport Area (PA) Chamber of Commerce. Haas died on December 27 at the age of 58.

In an article in the Pittsburgh Business Times, Haas was remembered by Dewitt Peart, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, as "[t]he go-to person in the airport region. If you wanted to get something done, get Sally involved. She brought energy and leadership to the table."

Funeral prayer will be held at 9:15 a.m. Monday, with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church in Pittsburgh.

Below is a statement the Chamber released.

The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce announces with deep sorrow the passing of its CEO and President, Sally Haas, unexpectedly on December 27, 2012 at the age of 58. Haas started with the Chamber in March, 1998 as its Membership Director, becoming President and CEO in October, 1998. During her time as President, the Chamber grew from 800 members to the current 1,100 members.

Haas? work touched so many aspects of the airport community, focusing not just on the business members, but on other areas of the community that affected those businesses.

Haas teamed with the 911th and 99th Regional Readiness Command to develop the Honorary Commanders Association, whose aim is to get the word out to the community-at-large about the vital role and economic impact the military has in this region's economy. The program partnership now includes representatives of the 911th Airlift Wing, 171st Air Refueling Wing, 316th Sustainment Command, and members of the business community at large. Haas had been serving as the state representative for the Air Force Civic Leaders program and co-chaired the local committee seeking to ensure the continuation of the 911th Airlift Wing in our community.

Haas? work has strengthened and grown the Chamber's relationship with such groups as the Char-West Council of Governments, Tri-County Area Partnership, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, Southwestern PA Planning Commission, and Allegheny County Department of Economic Development. Haas was an active proponent for economic development opportunities in the region.

Haas participated with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance on business investment missions to Sheffield and Manchester, England, which resulted in recruitment of a company from the United Kingdom to the United States which was located for a time in the Chamber offices. Using the Airport Area Chamber's Enterprise Foundation as its start-up location, Haas assisted not only that international business, but other local entrepreneurs in their start-up phase.

As part of the Chamber's ongoing efforts to create global outreach opportunities, Haas led several outreach missions to China, with close to 200 people on the tours over the last four years. The 2012 trip was the most challenging, as the travelers became stranded for an extra week because of the disruptions in air travel caused by superstorm Sandy

To help local entrepreneurs, Haas became a certified Fast Trac Instructor and served as a mentor of the entrepreneur round table known as E.L.I.T.E., which targets support for start-up companies. In 2008, Haas completed a Regionalism & Sustainable Development Fellowship with the Ford Foundation and the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) association under a grant awarded by the Hillman Foundation.

Not limiting her work to businesses, however, but to the entire community, Haas brought the Choices program to the airport corridor and the Chamber currently offers that program in ten school districts in the Chamber footprint. The program uses a hands-on approach to make middle school students realize that there are long-term effects to the choices they make now. The goal is to prevent drop-outs and feedback from the students has shown that those who were considering dropping out have reconsidered that decision.

Those of you who have attended Chamber events know how informative and enjoyable the events have been, but few recognize the number of hours of planning and careful thought Haas gave to making those events memorable for the membership. Whether it was a breakfast briefing with government leaders, an educational program on marketing, the Summer Gala at Roselea Farms or our most recent Jingle Fest, Haas' mark touched everything from the decorations, to the food served, to the prizes offered.

Haas was selected by SBN as one of the first recipients of the Pittsburgh Pacesetter Awards, recognizing her for her efforts on behalf of transportation and growth in the Pittsburgh region. She also served on County Executive Dan Onorato's transportation task force, and chaired the SPC Public Participation Panel.

Haas served as the board Chair of the PA Association of Chamber Professionals, and headed the Southwestern PA Chamber Executives division.

Haas is survived by her husband Allan L. Haas, her daughters Kristen Haas and Jill Kipper, son-in-law Knut Kipper, brother James Obringer and his wife Susan, sister Amy Meyers and her husband Edward, nephew Tommy Meyers and niece Jenna Meyers.

Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Toolkit Added to ACCE's Toolkit Library

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

ACCE?s Information Office (IO) is pleased to announce a new addition to its toolkit library: The Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit (ACCE log in and password required to access toolkit) .

When disasters strike, chamber executives have no playbook to follow. But now, with the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit, chamber professionals can take steps to prepare for emergencies and learn whom to turn to and what to expect. The toolkit is a collection of:

Articles written by experts in disaster management
Tips and lessons learned by chamber executives who experienced disasters in their own communities
Worksheets to help start and guide your own disaster planning efforts
More than a dozen crisis communications, disaster preparedness and recovery plan samples provided by fellow ACCE-member chambers
Numerous resources designed to help you prepare for oncoming disasters and connect you with the information you need to speed your community?s recovery.

The toolkit was prepared by ACCE as a project of ACCE?s Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Task Force.

After experiencing an EF-5 tornado which tore a 14-mile swath through Joplin, Mo., and the neighboring community of Duquesne in May 2011, Tonya Sprenkle, vice president of the Joplin Area (Mo.) Chamber of Commerce, values the importance of disaster preparedness. ?Being prepared for whatever comes your way is very important to me. Having gone through the 16 months in Joplin has been quite an experience and we are happy to share what we have learned and experienced here, good and bad,? she said.

Among the toolkit?s many samples, it features links to several of the Joplin Chamber?s disaster-related documents, including a PowerPoint presentation on communication strategies in the tornado?s aftermath as well as the chamber?s very thorough Disaster Preparedness and Business Contingency Plan.

ACCE members may download the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit at no charge via ACCE?s Information Office (ACCE log in and password required to access toolkit).

To access the Information Office (?IO?), click on the "Info Office" button on the main navigation bar of the www.acce.org homepage. The IO features links and original documents from trusted sources that will assist chamber professionals in their everyday work:

Click through Chamberpedia to find links by category.
Get immediate answers with FAQs or Ask ACCE.
Search a library of 1,300 sample documents.
Download toolkits on a variety of topics.
Benchmark your chamber?s operations.

To view a demo of the IO site and its many features, click here.

Survey: Chamber Membership is Effective Business Strategy

aimhoff@acce.org — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A national survey of 2,000 adults reveals that being active in a local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy because two-thirds of consumers believe that such companies use good business practices, are reputable, care about their customers, and are involved in the community.

The study, conducted by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found consumer perceptions of chamber members to be positive in many ways:

When consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 49% more likely to think favorably of it and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.

If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local chamber (e.g., is a chamber board member), consumers are 10% more likely to think that its products stack up better against its competition.
When consumers know that a national restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 68% more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months.
When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 36% more likely to think favorably of the company.

Major Impact on Small Businesses
Small businesses represent the largest segment of most local chamber membership rolls, and the study indicates that chamber membership has consistent and powerful benefits for small business members?if consumers are aware that the small business is involved with its local chamber.

For example, if respondents know that a small business is a member of its local chamber, the business enjoys a 49% increase in its consumer favorability rating, a 73% increase in consumer awareness, a 68% increase in its local reputation, and an 80% increase in the likelihood that consumers will patronize the business in the future.

Most people know fairly well what their local chambers do; the study assessed the effect of this knowledge on perceptions of chamber members. The researchers said ?any belief about the chamber of commerce?whether that belief was true or not?could have a significant positive impact on how someone views a member? he or she is more likely to think that the [member] company?s products stack up well and have a favorable opinion toward the company.?

The key factor in developing and maintaining positive consumer perception of chamber members, the Schapiro Group said, was that ?positive outcomes only occur when consumers know that a business is a chamber member (i.e., being involved in the chamber is a known facet of the company's reputation).?

Accordingly, when consumers know that a large business is a member of the chamber, they are likely to patronize the company more often, to express favorable opinions about the company, to know more about the company, and to buy the company's products. The strength and nature of these effects differ by industry:

Large Restaurant Chains
When consumers know that a restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 15% more likely to report knowing a lot about the franchise, 58% more likely to eat at the franchise more often, 68% more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months, and 37% more likely to think favorably of the franchise. Among consumers who do not eat at the franchise so often, those who are aware that the franchise is a member of the chamber are 33% more likely to hold favorable opinions of the franchise. Among consumers who hold less favorable opinions of the franchise, those who are aware that the franchise is a member of the chamber are 65% more likely to eat there in the coming months.

Insurance Companies
When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 29% more likely to report knowing a lot about the company, 36% more likely to think favorably of the company, and 36% more likely to consider buying insurance from it. Among consumers who hold less favorable opinions of the insurance company, those who are aware that the company is a member of the chamber are 25% more likely to consider purchasing insurance from it. Among those who have not considered purchasing insurance there in the past, chamber membership increases that likelihood by 37%.

Automobile Manufacturers
When consumers know that an auto manufacturer is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 21% more likely to have a favorable opinion of that company and 31% more likely to consider purchasing their next car from that company. Among those who have ever considered buying a car from a particular auto manufacturer, chamber membership leads to a 44% increase in consumers? likelihood of purchasing a car there in the future.

The study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), in cooperation with the Western Association of Chamber Executives, was sponsored by Insperity, a Houston-based company that provides human resources and other business services to more than 100,000 businesses nationwide. J. Mac Holladay, founder and CEO of Market Street Services, an economic development firm in Atlanta, was a key contributor of concepts used to develop the study.

The new study tracks similar data reported by The Schapiro Group in 2007. ?Despite changes in markets and demographics, a nagging recession and the growing influence of the internet, the chamber brand today is stronger and more dynamic than ever,? said ACCE President Mick Fleming. ?We?re proud that the numbers prove, once again, that engagement in a chamber means a positive perception of the business in the eyes of the buying public.?

View the new study here.

About ACCE
Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association serving the professional development needs of executives and managers of chambers of commerce throughout the U.S. and Canada. Representing more than 7,300 chamber employees, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber professionals and their staffs through its education, research, publications, certification, trends analysis, benchmarking, and promotion of best practices.

About WACE
The Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) is a premier organization for education and professional development for more than 800 chamber executives and staff in 15 Western states and Canada.

ACCE, Pew Build Awareness About State Fiscal Issues

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

ACCE has launched a project with the Pew Center on the States to build awareness among business community leaders about key state fiscal health issues including public sector retirement systems, health care costs, and public safety. ACCE members will have access to a wealth of research and some of the nation?s leading policy experts on these and other important state policy topics. As part of the project, ACCE will also assist with outreach to chambers in states with ongoing policy reform efforts.

?The Pew Center on the States has been a great partner to us, and to many chambers, for years,? said ACCE President Mick Fleming. ?We?re excited to expand our work together on areas of state fiscal policy that have such a significant impact on the employers and communities served by our member organizations.

About the Pew Center on the States
The Pew Center on the States provides nonpartisan reporting and research, advocacy, and technical assistance to help states deliver better results and achieve long-term fiscal health by investing in programs that provide the strongest returns. Pew conducts in-depth research across the 50 states, using evidence to determine which policies work and which do not.