Karie Hamilton has worked with us before on past Tacoma projects. The chamber requested we use her again and it’s obvious why. Her photos are great and eye catching. Here is a collage of some of her pics she recently sent to us to use for the upcoming publication. (more…)

photography, Washington

Money remains tight and many chambers continue to struggle in signing new members, but there are still some chambers out there approaching their membership drives with enthusiasm and finding success. If you’re trying to decide how to approach your next membership drive, here are some thoughts from three successful drives that could help. Regardless of the approach, the themes that stand out include getting key people involved early, choosing volunteers wisely, and making sure your chamber’s value proposition is communicated well. (more…)

membership drives

Summerville acquired its name because plantation owners and Charleston residents escaped to the region’s pine forests and dry, sandy ridges to avoid summer’s scorching temperatures, swamp fevers, and insects. Summerville’s climate gained worldwide attention in the late 1800s when physicians attending The Tuberculosis Congress in Paris named the town one of the two best areas in the world for the cure of lung and throat diseases. Several inns and vacation homes sprang up to accommodate those seeking the cure. The region’s Pine Forest Inn served as something of a winter White House for Presidents William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. (more…)

Community Profile, Stories, Tennessee

Jenn Tate of DACC

While preparing a post concerning membership drives (stay tuned for that one), we came across a successful effort in Demopolis, Alabama that’s rooted in a chamber executive’s drive to find new members.

As with many other small chambers around the country, the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC) wasn’t getting the kind of response they had hoped for from conventional membership drives. Three attempts over a seven year period had led them to look for alternatives to their internally organized recruitment events. (more…)

member recruitment, membership drive

If you’ve considered competing for ACCE’s Chamber of the Year award, then this post is for you. We recently got the chance to speak with Executive Vice President Greta Ownby at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce about competing and winning in this year’s $900,000 – $2,000,000 total revenue category, plus we got some insight from the ACCE on what it takes to win. Here’s what they had to say…

Within the competition’s current format, the process begins with an application and electronic submission of materials for the operational survey. The survey includes items such as samples of work, reports, and other indicators of financial and membership performance. (more…)

ACCE competition, ACCE Convention, Chamber of the Year, Oak Ridge Chamber