ACCE News
2008 Chamber of the Year Award Finalists Named
Alexandria, VA -
The American Chamber of Commerce Executives announces the finalists competing for the 2008 Chamber of the Year award, the nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in creating both leading businesses and communities. This year's award is being sponsored by Microsoft.
Finalists have demonstrated their success in community leadership and organizational strength by being among the top in the nation for financial and membership growth as well as making a demonstrable impact on key community priorities in areas like economic opportunities, education, transportation, healthcare, and cultural vitality.
The chambers that will compete for the Chamber of the Year award are:
Under $200,000 Dues Income Category
Laurens County (SC) Chamber of Commerce
West Fargo (ND) Area Chamber of Commerce
$200,000 to $499,999 Dues Income Category:
DavenportOne (IA)
Glenwood Springs (CO) Chamber Resort and Association
Joplin (MO) Area Chamber of Commerce
$500,000 to $1 Million Dues Income Category
Bowling Green (KY) Area Chamber of Commerce
Lubbock (TX) Chamber of Commerce
Oak Ridge (TN) Chamber of Commerce
Over $1 Million Dues Income Category:
Cincinnati (OH) USA Regional Chamber
St. Petersburg (FL) Area ChamberTulsa (OK) Metro Chamber
Up to four chambers will be named “Chamber of the Year” – one for each of the four dues categories – during ACCE’s Awards Show and Presentation to be held August 1, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Penn.
“Being named a finalist for the Chamber of the Year awards is a testament to new and expanded role chambers play in strengthening the economic vitality of their communities,” says ACCE Chairman Douglas Kinsinger, CCE, president of the Greater Topeka (KS) Chamber of Commeerce. “We want to recognize those chambers who are leaders in helping their member businesses to grow and their communities to succeed.”
The process to qualify, apply, and win the Chamber of the Year award involves a multi-stage process. During all stages chambers compete amongst peers from similar dues income levels: under $200,000, $200,000 - $499,000, $500,000 - $1 million, and over $1 million. Two hundred seventy five chambers from across the United States were qualified to enter the Chamber of the Year competition by meeting or beating the national average or median for their dues income level in four of these seven points: net income, current ratio, net assets, net assets as a percentage of total annual expenses, net gain in membership sales dollars, retained members dollars, retained member accounts.
Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Representing more than 7,000 individuals, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber executives and their staff through education, benefits programs, trend analysis, benchmarking, and network development. ACCE supports and develops chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities.
Source: ACCE
Publication Date: July 10, 2008