Resources for Chamber Event Planners

Guides

FAQ I need examples and guidance on how to manage ribbon cutting events.

5 Event Management Principles Every Planner Should Know (But Most Don’t) - Event Leadership Institute
14 Keys to Hosting Events Your Members Will Love (PDF) - Free ebook guide for Association professionals from WebLink International (provider of Association Database Management Software and Chamber of Commerce Software for Member-Based Organizations).
ACCE's whitepaper on Chamber Revenue Models, Events chapter
42 Tips For Producing A Memorable Small Business Event - by Jamillah Warner, SmallBizTrends
Corporate Event Planning from Keynote Resource providing online tools to streamline event planning, including checklist and template downloads.
Event Planners Guidebook - Blog-style guidebook from the Event Planner's Association
Event Planning Guide - How to Plan an Event - Resource from Wild Apricot
Event Planning Resources & Templates - Downloads available from the UC Irvine Special Events department
The Ultimate Guide to Event Planning - Free guide from the Lane End Conference Center (located in Buckinghamshire, England)

Samples

Event Audit to help you determine if your event was a success!
Program Audit questionnaire
Sample Events Worksheet from the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce - This form is used to close out an event, provide specific monetary data, and then is turned in to a Board for review and/or approval.
Sample Outsourcing Contract: Programs & Events - Sample outsourcing contract for a programs and events independent contractor from ACCE.
See more resources on Evaluating Programs

Research

Community Events chapter with examples on running festivals from the ACCE Chamber Revenue Models Whitepaper (published December 2013).
Quickpoll on Chamber Events

Articles & Blog Posts

The Secrets to a Successful Off-site Meeting - Insperity blog post
4 Things Event Planners Fail to Do After an Event - Bizzabo blog post (May 2016)
Ten Event Planning Associations Organizers Should Know - Associations News Feed (April 2016)
The One Magical Question to Measure Event Success - Associations News Feed (March 2016)
Gathering Feedback at Events: Best Practices - Associations Now (January 2016)
Increasing Chamber Event Attendance - blog post by Christina Green, FrankJKenney.com
EVENTS - From community-wide local festivals to a caucus room on Capitol Hill, chambers are creative promoters and producers of profitable events. By Katherine House, Chamber Executive magazine (Spring 2014).
17 Ways to Guarantee Nobody Misses Your Next Webinar or Webcast - A guide to raising awareness, excitement, and attendance for your next webinar. Blog post by Lindsay Kolowich, HubSpot, September 4, 2012.
Preventative Planning: Avoiding Common Legal Pitfalls in Hotel, Convention Center and Meetings Contracts - Presentation from Venable, September 26, 2011.
Make Meetings More Profitable - Are your meetings and events leaving profits on the table? By Associations Now, February 2011.
7 Tips to Produce a Cost-Effective Meeting - Conducting effective events within a modest budget is more important than ever. By Scott Cullather, November 2010. Note: If you are not a member of ASAE, please email hero@acce.org for a copy of this article.
Design a Sensational Event - Learn how the creative director of the 1988 Olympic Games closing ceremonies and other high-profile events designs a program to evoke an “a-ha” experience, and get a glimpse of his seminar. By Kevin Cottam, July 2010. Note: If you are not a member of ASAE, please email hero@acce.org for a copy of this article.
Careful Contract Review Is Crucial for Cost-Effectiveness - By Robin Roth, Convene

Convention & Seminar Resources

The Events Chopping Block - Presentation by David Brown, President & CEO; Anne Branigan, Senior Vice President, Innovative Services; Diane Poots, Director, Member Services; Greater Omaha Chamber (NE) from the 2016 ACCE Convention.
Best Practices in Events - Roundtable Discussion (March 18, 2015). Della Schmidt of the Winona Chamber and Les O'Dell of the Carbondale Chamber relayed their experiences in planning chamber-sponsored events including milestone anniversaries and annual banquets.
Internal Performance Assessments for Chamber Events - Presentation handout from Tom Kern of the Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, at the 2015 Chamber Events Training Conference.
Lessons Learned: The Trials and Tribulations of an Event Manager - Presentation handout from Tiffany Olson of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce, at the 2015 Chamber Events Training Conference.

Videos, Webinars & ACCE U Resources

No More Events for Events' Sake - Shawna Burton, Executive Director of Engagement & Marketing of Greater Louisville Inc., discusses how to tie your chamber's event calendar to strategic goals, create (and keep) a stop list, and build a programming schedule valued by your members. (6/27/2016)