Resolutions for the New Year

A new calendar is synonymous with fresh starts and resolutions. People often promise to take better care of themselves or to stop doing something that doesn’t serve them. Why not take the opportunity to do the same for your chamber? Here are a few suggestions to make 2023 your chamber’s best year yet.

Focus on your mission.

Chambers are uniquely positioned to take on our communities’ most significant challenges and make a lasting impact. This isn’t your mission statement. It’s tackling issues head-on and saying no to things that don’t move the needle toward a big, audacious goal. Through grit, passion, innovation and collaboration, chambers can cement their role as community leaders. 

• It’s one of the three essential pillars for your chamber’s success.
• Learn how to sell your chamber’s mission.

Create lasting and meaningful partnerships.

Chambers can’t do it all alone. Collaborations and partnerships are essential to successfully taking on those challenges. Work toward inclusive partnerships by embracing a multitude of ideas and voices. Chambers can operate as sane centers in a divisive world by convening the public and private sectors, government leaders and non-profits to improve communities and create lasting results.

• The Charleston Metro Chamber’s One Region Roadmap is a comprehensive coalition with the goal of creating opportunities for all.
• Here’s how the Tulsa Chamber leveraged diverse partnerships for economic development.

Lead courageously.

In the 2023 version of the Edelman Trust Barometer, business is the only institution viewed as competent and ethical. The business community and its leaders are expected to take charge in a world full of uncertainty and complications. Chambers can help fill that leadership void by working with members and other partners to deliver solutions.

• Read Sheree Anne’s column for a deeper dive.
• Here are recommendations for the business community to remain a reliable and stabilizing force.

Use (or start) a chamber foundation.

About 65% of chambers have a 501(c)3 as part of their organization. Chambers can leverage foundations to address mission-based goals. They provide an additional stream of funding through grants and donations. A handful of chambers have even earned millions of dollars through federal grants. Mission-based resource development can expand a chamber’s horizons.

• Just getting started? Check out ACCE’s Chamber Foundations Resource Bundle.
• Here’s how to reignite your chamber foundation by aligning it with your strategic plan.

Tell your chamber’s story.

Chambers make gracious partners and are usually content making magic happen behind the scenes. But if you aren’t telling your organization’s story, someone else will. Own your story. Use basic story structure: think of a situation, explain a conflict or complication and share the resolution (even if it hasn’t happened yet). Avoid chamber jargon and be authentic. Don’t be afraid to pull on heartstrings and share how your chamber is making a difference.

• Here’s how the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership uses video to tell the story of the business community.
• Learn from the most recent winners of the Awards for Communications Excellence.

Engage with ACCE.

ACCE has plenty of opportunities to engage with industry peers, learn best practices, share ideas and provide excellent benefits for the entire team. Join one of our peer networks or divisions and make sure you’re getting our emails (Let us know if you’re not.) Keep your information up-to-date and inform our membership team about any staff changes.

• Don’t forget to register for #ACCE23 in Salt Lake City to learn and connect in person.
• Share your chamber’s information through Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking by March 31, 2023 to qualify for Chamber of the Year and access the reports when they’re complete.