Member Benefits Division
- Kenny Smiley, Chair
OBJECTIVES:
1. DISCOUNT SERVICES
Action Steps:
· Continue current programs
· Explore telecommunications and cell phone plan discounts
· Survey members to determine other possible needs
2. MEMBER SERVICES
Action Steps:
· Continue to explore options with insurance (Purchasing Alliance Solutions – Myrna Ballard / Fred Boscarino – Kenny Smiley)
· Continue to explore retirement plan options
· Explore employment agreements / performance evaluations (several samples on GACCE web site under Resource Guides – Staff)
· Investigate what other State Executive Associations are offering their members
3. WAGE & BENEFIT SURVEY
Action Steps:
· Remove 2003 and 2005 survey results from Member Login section of the GACCE web site
· Create study group to evaluate current survey questions
· Look at increasing detail in Benefits Section (insurance – how much? / is there a cap? / retirement – Chamber match?)
· Kenny Smiley to touch base with Janeen Tucker with Greater Columbus Chamber to help develop additional questions
· Online survey to be sent to Chamber Executives in August for results to be presented at 2007 Leadership Conference in November
Professional Development Division
- Tara Peters, Chair
OBJECTIVES:
1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
A. NEW – LEGISLATIVE POLICY UPDATE (Early September 2007)
Co-Chairs: Chip Cherry / Kay Pippin
Action Steps:
§ Event Committee: Myrna Ballard, Chip Cherry, Pam Christopher, Bonnie Pfrogner, and Kay Pippin
§ One-day drive in session to central location:
o Date needs to be finalized (Board Meeting in Macon scheduled for Friday, September 7)
o Location to be finalized
o Registration cost to be finalized (event should be self-supporting)
§ Objective – to partner with Georgia Chamber and provide information on key topics to help each Chamber write their own legislative policy agendas
§ Possible agenda to include:
o 8:30am - Registration
o 9:00am – Overview of Georgia Chamber’s Legislative Agenda
o 10am – Noon – morning sessions on tax reform and water
o Lunch – feature keynote speaker (Lt. Governor)
o Afternoon session – focus on transportation funding
§ Consider developing and distributing white papers to membership on each topic before event
B. WASHINGTON FLY-IN (September 26-28, 2007 / Hyatt Regency)
Chair: Kay Pippin
Action Steps:
§ Suggested topics for briefing sessions:
o Tax Reform
o Transportation Funding
o Water
§ Fly-In format will change for this year due to Georgia Chamber’s reception taking place on Thursday:
o Wednesday – arrive at hotel and have private meeting/reception with group discussing hot topic issues
o Thursday – meetings with Senators in AM, lunch with Congressional Reps, afternoon group briefing from Pentagon/White House/Speaker’s Office, finish day with Georgia Chamber’s reception
o Friday – possible early morning briefing at hotel – will need to leave hotel earlier because of flight change
C. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (November 8-9, 2007 / Albany, GA)
Chair: Monica Simmons
Action Steps:
§ Theme – “Elements of High Performance”
§ Mike Gaymon to contact Mick Fleming with ACCE to see if he will open the conference with his Chamber Trends presentation
§ Conduct two sessions Thursday on Continuous Improvement (LEAN) – Mike Gaymon to contact someone from GA Tech to present this
§ Panel of past board chairs to conduct volunteer breakout session
§ Finish conference Friday with the 212 degree video (Mike Gaymon)
D. NEW – Regional Drive-Ins (Chamber Trends) (Early February 2008)
Co-Chairs: Kali Boatright / Candace LaForge
Action Steps:
§ Two regional drive-in meetings – North and South locations
o Finalize event date/s
o Finalize event locations
§ Board Members from each location would “host” the regional event
§ Poll membership for topic of interest and determine best speaker/s for each topic – would have exact same content for each meeting
§ Event committee would create agenda/template for each meeting
E. STAFF CLINIC (March 18-20, 2008 / Valdosta, GA)
Chair: Teri Wommack
Action Steps:
§ Theme – “Connecting Relevance, Empowerment and the Bottom Line”
§ Focus on programs, people and results
§ Change breakout sessions to the following themes with suggested topics listed below:
o Membership & Communications
§ Sales and Retention
§ Member Communications
§ Marketing and Branding
§ Networking and Referrals
o Administrative Support
§ Customer Service
§ Relationship Building
§ Professionalism
§ Goal Setting
o Programs and Events
§ Fundraising
§ Small Business Programs
§ Governmental Affairs
§ Education and Training
§ Provide outline to all speakers to ensure tie-in to bottom line
§ Two general sessions – make sure pertinent to all staff / suggested topic “Five Star Customer Service” by Ritz Carlton staff
F. ANNUAL CONFERENCE (July 8-11, 2008 / Jekyll Island Club Hotel)
Chair: Monica Simmons
Action Steps:
§ Theme – “Taking Care of Business”
§ Potential topics:
o Education / Workforce
o Healthcare / Insurance
o Immigration
§ Concept is to have formal presentation on each topic (professional speaker), then have 1-3 successful community examples (Chamber Execs) for each area
2. BID PROCESS
Action Steps:
· 2008 – send out Request for Proposal in April for 2009 GACCE events
3. AWARDS, GCCE PROCESS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Action Steps:
· Pam Christopher to chair Scholarship Committee for 2007-2008
· Scholarships – number of scholarships changed to the following:
o Leadership Conference = 2 (down from 3)
o Annual Conference = 4 (up from 2)
o Staff Clinic = 6 (up from 5)
o Institute = 4 half scholarships (from 2 full scholarships)
· Application changes to Scholarships:
o Discontinue points system
o Allow individuals to win consecutive scholarships, but not for the same conference
o Include statement of intent
o Describe level of involvement in GACCE
o Change “how long have you been a member” to “how long has your Chamber been a member”
o Require each applicant to attach a bio
· GCCE Process – changes to be made to application to include specifics on what samples are to be provided
· Kent Lawrence Professional of the Year Award – changes to be made to nomination process
4. MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL (Macon, GA)
Chair: Beth Morrison
Action Steps:
- Leave as reconstructed at 2007 Staff Clinic
Marketing & Communications Division
- Candace LaForge, Chair
OBJECTIVES:
1. NEWSLETTER
Action Steps:
· Leslie Hamrick (South Fulton) to head up Newsletter Review Committee – will report to Board at September meeting
2. TIP SHEETS
Action Steps:
· Committee: Pam Carnes, Candace LaForge, JoAnne Lewis, Bonnie Pfrogner, and Jimmy Phillips
· Create tip sheets for membership with suggested topics:
o How to get involved
o Communicate with chamber search committees
o Resource list for regional members
o Professional development
o Outreach to newly formed or “considering” chambers
o Areas of expertise
3. TARGETED E-MAIL
Action Steps:
· Look at creating weekly/monthly targeted e-mail to enforce use
· Create annual topical calendar
· Continue with membership question of the week e-mails
4. REGIONAL OUTREACH
Action Steps:
· Continue to make contact with new Chamber Execs with welcome letter
· Board Members to send personal notes and/or contact all Execs in their region before GACCE events
· Board Members to follow up on membership invitations to non-member Chambers in their region
· Support Chamber Trends efforts
5. COMMUNICATION AWARDS
Action Steps:
· Launch awards at 2007 Annual Conference
· Form committee to begin review process
· Increase charge to apply from $25 to $35 per piece (or $30 each for multiple applications)
· Board Member/s to make presentation at Grand Winning chambers
· Consider have five Grand Winning chamber present at the next Annual Conference
· Review awarding these at Annual Conference versus Staff Clinic
