VACCE August 2024 E-Newsletter
The mission of VACCE is to equip Chamber of Commerce professionals with leadership skills and tools to build innovative Chambers.
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2024 VACCE Executive Leadership Conference |
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The VACCE Board of Directors is pleased to invite you to join us for our
2024 VACCE Executive Leadership Conference to be held:
Thursday & Friday, August 22 & 23, 2024
The Bristol Hotel
Bristol, VA
Hosted by the Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce
It is not too late to register - CLICK HERE to see our agenda and to register!
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Monday, August 5 – 2:00pm
Introduction to The Networking Institute
Basile Lemba, Founder & CEO
The Networking Institute was created to teach business professionals how to network properly and to do it well. His goal is to make sure that our chambers across Virginia know that there is a place where business people can learn how to network. Join us to learn how to offer these sessions for your members!
CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you complete the short registration form, the system will share the Zoom meeting link, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.
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Tuesday, August 27 – 2:00pm
Ambassador Training Program – Opelika (AL) Chamber
Ali Rauch, President & CEO
Are you looking to create an Ambassador Program for your Chamber or looking to re-vamp your current program? Do you struggle with how to get your Ambassadors up to speed on how to talk about your Chamber? Do you have relevant roles, policies, and expectations for your Ambassadors? Be sure to join us as we hear from Ali with the Opelika (AL) Chamber – and new ACCE Chamber of the Year! – about their program and how they handle Ambassador orientation.
CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you complete the short registration form, the system will share the Zoom meeting link, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.
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VACCE - All Things Chamber Webinar Series |
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VACCE is pleased to partner with Teri Smiley and Starfish Partnerships for an All Things Chamber Webinar Series. This is perfect for new staff members or a refresher for current staff.
The All Things Chamber bundle provides pre-recorded material, averaging a hour per module, plus downloadable notes pages of the PowerPoints and additional PDF documents. Participating chambers will have access to the website through December 2025.
The fee for the program is $195 per chamber. CLICK HERE to register. Participating chambers will also be invited to a private Facebook group for Q&A and connecting with fellow chamber members across the country.
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Virginia Forum on Infrastructure and Its Impact on Economic Development
September 18, 2024 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
The Williamsburg Lodge
The Virginia Chamber Foundation and Hampton Roads Alliance are pleased to present the 2024 Virginia Forum on Infrastructure and Its Impact on Economic Development. In its second year, the 2024 Forum will convene business leaders and industry experts to discuss the connection between energy and economic development, as well as the infrastructure challenges and opportunities in planning for future economic growth. Click here for more information and to register.
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WiseChoice / Anthem Update |
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WiseChoice / Anthem Program
The Virginia Chamber is pleased to work with our VACCE members to inform and enroll the business community regarding the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance. If you are interested in receiving additional information on the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, or need tips on how to market the Alliance to your membership, please email Hannah Emerson.
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VACCE Associate Member Updates |
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Are you really the voice for business in your community? With the Virginia legislature reconvening on January 8th, now is the perfect time to assess your advocacy program and make plans for next year. Need help taking stock of where you are and where you need to be? Take our free online advocacy assessment or schedule a 30 minute call with our team.
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Gallup research shows that when people focus on their strengths, they are more engaged, are happier at work and have a better quality of life. Imagine a workplace where everyone understands their unique strengths and how to leverage them for greater success. As a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach, I can work with individuals and staff teams as well as larger groups including boards, leadership classes and your members through workshops or conferences. The CliftonStrengths assessment is a powerful tool that helps people identify their natural talents and develop them into strengths. Ready to elevate your staff teams, board of directors, leadership programs and member workshops? Contact me at teri@starfishpartnerships.com to explore how we can unlock the potential of your groups.
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VACCE is pleased to welcome a new Associate Member:
The Networking Institute
Basile Lemba, Founder & CEO
571-263-4190
The Networking Institute was created to teach business professionals how to network properly and to do it well. His goal is to make sure that our chambers across Virginia know that there is a place where business people can learn how to network. Find out more below:
How does networking differ from marketing? These two subjects have been mixed up for a long time. Are they the same thing? Are they different? Click here to read the full article.
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ChamberRVA
The Chamber is hosting conversations with our legislators throughout the year that connect and inform our members on issues that impact business and the RVA community called Connect with Congress 2024. ChamberRVA will present an in-person conversation with Congressman Rob Wittman on August 16 at McGuire Woods. This event is a wonderful opportunity to engage directly with your elected official and gain insights into the pressing issues currently being discussed in Congress.
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Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber
The Chamber is honored to partner with Danville Community College to develop, implement, and provide cybersecurity training to local learners through the Cybersecurity Short-term Training Initiative. Our mutual goals are to develop a thriving cybersecurity workforce and industry in our region and to provide future-forward, sustainable employment opportunities for our community members. Jason Hughes is a recent graduate of the program and is now employed full-time for a local school system as an IT Support Specialist. Jason's story is what this program is about - transforming lives! Learn more about the program and Jason's experience here!
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Greater Augusta Regional Chamber
The Chamber is pleased to announce that Courtney Thompson, President & CEO, earned her IOM designation at Southeast Institute in Athens, GA at the end of June.
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Hampton Roads Chamber
Members of the Chamber Team recently attended the ACCE Conference in Dallas, TX, and we enjoyed connecting with our many friends from Virginia also in attendance! We greatly enjoyed our time at the conference and look forward to implementing the many ideas we took away!
Also at the end of July, we held our annual Valor Awards Ceremony which honors our region’s brave men and women who go above and beyond their call of duty. This year, we honored 27 individuals ranging from acts of valor to investigative merits as well as awards for our community heroes and outstanding citizens!
Up next for the Chamber are several events including our golf outing and our newly announced Power of Women Event featuring the Commanding Officer of Naval Station Norfolk, Capt. Janet Days. Looking ahead, we will also be hosting our annual State of the Region Address and our Annual Meeting this fall/winter. Find all of our events on our calendar.
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Highland County Chamber
There’s no shortage of family fun and excitement at one of Virginia’s oldest fairs! Come on out to the Highland County Fair from August 28 – 31, 2024 (Horse show kickoff a week prior on August 24), and spend your extended Labor Day weekend with a parade, carnival rides, games, demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, live entertainment and so much more. Learn about this and many other local happenings here.
Highland County’s Hands & Harvest Festival returns October 11 - 13, 2024! Take advantage of an increase in visitors as we welcome back our annual celebration of the beauty and bounty of fall in our rural mountain community! If you’d like to be an arts & crafts vendor or apply as a sponsor, please click here for full details.
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Lexington Rockbridge Chamber
The Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 12 noon - 6 PM at Lime Kiln Theater. Info and tickets here.
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Martinsville-Henry County Chamber
The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Deputy Director. Please see the VACCE Careers page for more information.
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The Chamber ALX
The Chamber held it’s ninth annual 40 Under 40 Awards, presented by US Senate Federal Credit Union on July 18th. This annual awards celebration recognizes 40 emerging business leaders, 40 and under, for professional accomplishments, scholastic achievements, and community impact. In addition to the 40 honorees, the Chamber selects a youth honoree. This year’s youth honoree was selected by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as one of 15 nationally recognized young women in the inaugural “Girls Leading Change” program. The event brought together 250+ community members, families, and friends for an evening celebration on the rooftop at the American Physical Therapy Association headquarters in Potomac Yard, Alexandria.
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Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
The Chamber is pleased to announce the following staff changes:
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Other Updates of Interest |
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ACCE
Events and Communications Conference - Registration Open
Join us for ACCE’s Events and Communications Conference, October 16 through 18 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We will welcome both new and more experienced professionals from chambers of all sizes working in the events, programs and communications areas. Learning and discussion will take place in workshops, general sessions, smaller breakouts, and peer-led roundtables. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
Mark your calendars for #ACCE25 scheduled for July 22 - 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA. Check out the video here for the new host city!
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Bob Harris Resource - Guide to Governance
Please CLICK HERE for Bob's latest material on Guide to Governance: Board Performance.
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IOM - 2025 Winter Institute Scholarship Application
We are thrilled to announce that the scholarship application for 2025 Winter Institute is now open! The application can be accessed HERE. The deadline to apply will be Friday, August 9 at 5:00pm ET. All applicants will be notified of their application status prior to registration launching.
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