Best Practices - Networking

Becca Stoka, president of the El Campo Camber of Commerce and her team revived a dying yearly event into something enjoyable for chamber members and sponsors. Becca Stoka can be reached at (979) 543-2713 or by visiting the El Campo, Texas Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Web site at www.elcampochamber.com

Best Practices - Networking

The El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture funded and built a bowling center through the aid of private investors and loans. Networking was essential for a plan like this, possibly never accomplished anywhere else in the country, and Becca Stoka, the chamber’s president, tells how she did it. Becca Stoka can be reached at (979) 543-2713 or by visiting the El Campo, Texas Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Web site at www.elcampochamber.com

Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Jim Purgerson, president of the Ashland Alliance of Ashland, Ky. has a few simple words. "Let the members know what's in it for them," he says. And the best way to do this is by utilizing technology. The Ashland Alliance sends out a bi-weekly newsletter to members' fax machines and an e-newsletter to their e-mail addresses in addition to the regular monthly or quarterly newsletters sent out by postal mail.

Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Giovanna Phillips. president of the Southlake, Texas Chamber of Commerce lets her members know she cares and gets feedback from them through a program she calls "Questions of the Month." in this program, a monthly question is e-mailed out to her members asking about what they need, or if they are established, what it took them to get started. She also invited feedback on how the chamber is doing, and uses the replies to better the services the chamber provides. For more information, contact Giovanna Phillips at (817) 481-8200 or phillips(at)southlakechamber.com.

Best Practices - Public Relations

Each year, Jane Patton, director of the Haines City, Fla. Chamber of Commerce, presents ten upstanding high-school students with a taste of what the community has to offer. The students are taken to area courts, facories, hospitals and media organizations. They also visit several media outlets and are exposed to some of the cultural activities the Haines City area has to offer. The tours culminate with a three day trip to Tallahassee where students meet the governors and regional legislature. For more information on this program, contact Jane Patton at (863) 422-3751 or director(at)HainesCity.com.

Best Practices - Professional Development

Positive attitudes and empathy are what Hollie Jones looks for in leaders. In addition, she has several other traits she believes all leaders should have. Hollie Jones can be contacted at (229) 776-7718 or e-mail her at holliejones@bellsouth.net.

Best Practices - Volunteer leadership

George Warren has lived in Henderson, Ky. his entire life. As the President of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, he knows that being a life-long resident is a valuable asset, but his experience has shown him that bringing in directors from outside of the area brings new perspectives and prevents "tunnel vision" from hindering the efforts of the chamber. George Warren can be reached at (270) 826-9531 or geohwarren(at)hendersonchamber.com.

Best Practices - Public Relations

Gary Driscoll, President of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, has taken the word "community" to a whole new level. The word "unity," broken into an acronym, is what he is suggesting for his chamber's theme. He can be reached at portcofc(at)bellsouth.net or (615) 325-9032.

Best Practices - Fund Raising

When Gaye Shaw, president of the Edmonton and Metcalf County Chamber of Commerce says she has the biggest little chamber in the state, she's not bragging. Per-capita, she has more members then any other chamber in Kentucky - more than 300 in a community of 10,000 people. Her secret? A 10 hour radio telethon. To learn more, contact her at metchamb(at)scrtc.com or (270) 722-3222.

Best Practices - Networking

Building networks through contests, prizes, dinners and crazy hats are just a few ideas given by Diane Probst, President and CEO of the Rockport-Folsom area Chamber of Commerce. Watching networks form and grow in her community in formal and informal sessions is something her chamber strives to do. For more information, contact her at president(at)1rockport.com or by phone at (361) 729-6445.

Best Practices - Event management

Deana Epperly Karem, the new Executive Director of the Oldham, Ky., Chamber of Commerce explains some of the techniques she uses to put on a good event, from e-mailing invitations to save printing and opstage costs to setting up different registration lines to get people through faster. For more information, she can be reached at (502) 222-1635 or dekarem(at)oldhamcountychamber.com.

Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Cindy Klein, Executive Director of Leadership Tyler, has a program oriented towards a common goal of improving the quality of life for all the members of her Texas community. This "enhanced program" pushes all members to work for a common goal, and she says it works. For more information, Cindy klein can be reached at (903) 535-9242 or by e-mail at cklein(at)tylertexas.com.

Best Practices - Economic Development

Carolyn Hutcheson and the Polk County, Ga. Chamber of Commerce has just built a third speculative building. She discusses how her chamber has gone about constructing speculative buildings and the types of businesses they attract. Carolyn Hutchenson can be reached at (770) 684-8760 or by e-mail at polkcty(at)bellsouth.net

Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Camden, S.C. Chamber of Commerce president Buddy Clark has joined forces with the community newspaper to provide advertising for new members. The newspaper gives him discounts, and the chamber members essentially get a free ad with their membership dues. For more information, contact Buddy Clark at (803) 432-2525 or buddyclark1(at)bellsouth.net.

Best Practices - Marketing

Bridget Johnson of the Conway, S.C. Chamber of Commerce has been teaming up with the local newspaper to publish a weekly column as well as using the newspapers resources to publish a news letter. In addition to other methods, her background has kept the Conway Chamber of Commerce a valuable marketing resource in her community. For more information, contact Bridget Johnson at (843) 248-2273 or by e-mail at bjohnson(at)conwayscchamber.com.

Best Practices - Volunteer Leadership

Linda Williams, President of the Gotham County Chamber of Commerce, discusses ways to get jobs done through the aid of volunteers when staff is limited. For more information on this program, contact Linda Williams at (706) 265-6278 or by email at L.Williams@dawson.org.

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Best Practices - Economic Development

Thom Robinson, president of the Morristown, Tenn., area Chamber of Commerce speaks about job development and recruitment efforts for those chambers that have this subject as part of their mission. Thom Robinson can be reached at (423) 586-6382 or by e-mail at ThomR@charter.net.

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Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Tracey Longboat of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce discusses a commision structure for members, and a way to apply these commisions to their yearly dues. Tracey Longboat's email address is tracey@ken-ton.org.

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Best Practices - Investor / Member Relations

Fred Boscorino of the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce discusses "12 at 12" luncheons - a retention program designed to get feedback from chamber members and maintain retention goals for the year. For more information on this program, Fred Boscorino can be reached at (770) 483-7049 or by email at fred@conyers-rockdale.com.


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