ACCE Horizon Task Force: Chambers 2025

•Crowd-sourced white paper – “living” document • 15 Activist members & Directors (scores of others)

• Failed attempt to define “chamber of the future”

•Re-start: Define universal factors that will influence chambers

Eight Influences

1. Nature of Belonging & Gathering

2. Communications Technology

3. Scarcity & Abundance

4. Global Impacts

5. Composition of Populations

6. Social & Political Fragmentation

7.Resource Alignment

8. Leadership

#1: Nature of Belonging & Gathering

#1: Nature of Belonging & Gathering

•Revolution in Who and How• Joining v. Associating•Millenniaphobia•Value = but also ≠ Events •Audiences do not a network make

#2: Communications Technology•Wave upon wave of new tools

• Mass customization

•Tech won’t differentiate you• Human support will• Feedback loops critical• Fantasy Football

• Information value declining• Analyst & filter rising

#3: Scarcity & Abundance• Tip: It’s all about abundance•Water, energy, talent, land, leadership, sex appeal•Rapid swings• supply, demand, value

•Cruel Migrations•Chambers as K.A.P.S.

•World will come to your door•Not just about trade•Reliance on chamber awareness & relationships• Stars will exploit every opportunity

Port/airport; member contacts; trade shows, etc.

#4: Global Impacts

•Demographic reality in 2025•“Old White Guys in Suits” – • Demographics affects everything•Few chambers have acted

#5: Composition of Populations

#6: Social & Political Fragmentation

#6: Social & Political Fragmentation

• It’s not just “Polarization”•Politics, society AND your business•Trend won’t reverse by 2025•Chambers and the sane center•Desperation, inspiration, practice

#7: Resource Alignment

• Intentional funding of the mission•Reduction in cross-subsidization•Chambers as fundable catalysts (anti-gridlock)• Investor ROI unlikely to be “engagement”•Find & nurture volunteer leaders who care•Addressing Motivations

GET DONE [thru the chamber]

(Community Focus)

GET FROM [the chamber]

(Enterprise Focus)

INVESTED INVOLVED

Community Builders

Business Builders

Business Investors

Community Investors

i.e. Attends events for sales contacts

#8: Leadership

“the combination of the forces within big cities, great universities & powerful local leaders.” Jim Clifton, Coming Jobs War

•Non-hierarchical•Networked•Aligned•Catalytic

Possible 9th Influence. . .

The Shortcomings of Governments

Inability to deal with . . . well, with anything

I hate/love Horizon Initiative because. . .

Dead-on in these ways:

Messed up in these ways:

Influences are right – some to-do advice is wrong

How to use Horizon Initiative . . .WITH STAFF1. Everyone read the fat version2. Determine the four most likely

to affect YOUR chamber3. As a group, pick 1 or 2 more4. Score yourselves 1-5 on ability

to address them5. Identify changes required in

order to address them well

WITH BOARD/COMMUNITY1. Include your top 5 in board

agendas for next 5 meetings2. Next strat planning cycle, work

on what you must become in order to handle these factors (not what you’ll do)

3. Advise community/govt leaders that you must address these influences (you want their help)

Suggested discussion questions available online!

mfleming@acce.org