Belonging and Gathering

The nature of belonging and gathering has transformed dramatically in recent years. Today, communities exist both physically and virtually, unrestricted by geography or traditional social boundaries. Yet, many feel isolated and alone, especially as many of our community institutions no longer serve as gathering places of connection for our communities.

Chambers showed how their convening power extends beyond in-person meetings during the pandemic, when they helped navigate the crisis and rallied the community to support local businesses and restaurants. We can capitalize on the collective eagerness for reconnection, while also providing a blueprint for leveraging cross-sector partnerships to tackle big challenges. 

These changes create both an opportunity and a challenge for chambers.

  • How can place-based, membership-driven organizations that rely on volunteers create a sense of belonging when people can instantly connect worldwide without intermediaries?

 By The Numbers

ACCE Insights

  • Chamber Spaces: Many chambers of commerce are transforming their office spaces to meet the needs of their members and foster new opportunities for convening and collaboration.
  • Pruning to Power Innovation: Chambers of commerce conduct programs, initiatives and events to meet member needs and address community challenges. The pressure is always on chamber leaders to create new initiatives, but it can be difficult to know when to abandon old ideas to allow space for new ones.
  • Make Meetings Matter: You’ve likely sat through a less-than-exciting meeting. Maybe it was even a meeting of your chamber’s board of directors. Here are a few best practices from chamber industry professionals to add fresh energy to the boardroom.
  • Reenergize Volunteers: As chambers capitalize on their increased relevance and stature, now might be the time to invest in reengaging and reenergizing chamber volunteers at all levels.

 

Chamber Examples

  • The Grand Rapid Chamber's collaborative office space was designed to be the epicenter of business downtown. From a work cafe to event space and meeting rooms, the chamber provides great value to its members, providing more regional connectivity and access to its team of subject matter experts. 
  • The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has established a 24-member Housing Council to address housing challenges in the Mahoning Valley. The council will focus on improving the quality, accessibility and attainability of local housing.
  • The Cobb Chamber is creating targeted roundtables to meet different needs of regional professionals. The roundtables include CEO Roundtables. and HR Roundtable and a new Chief of Staff Roundtable. 
  • OKConnect, presented by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and LeadershipOKC, is an orientation program designed to help business leaders become more familiar, connected and involved with the community.

 

Smaller Chamber Examples

  • The Mason City Chamber’s Community Concierge program is a service to help employers recruit and retain high-value employees by providing resources to promote a smooth transition into Mason City and help the employee and their family forge lasting connections in the community.
  • The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce launched relocatetovermont.com, a web portal for individuals and families considering a move to the area. The website is part of the state’s Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW) program in which the chamber participates to attract, retain and empower a diverse workforce in Southwestern Vermont.
  • The Westminster Chamber launched Business Launchpad, an incubator program designed to foster entrepreneurship, drive economic growth and support small businesses in the community. Launched in partnership with real estate management firm Sherman Associates, the incubator will be housed in Sherman’s Ascent mixed-use development.

 

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