We know several of our communities were impacted by Hurricane Helene, so please reach out if your Chamber and community have specific needs, and we’ll share that with the membership ASAP as we’ve heard from several of you that you’d like to assist. Here are some resources that may be helpful to our members:

Georgia Chamber

CLICK HERE for a list of resources for businesses and families that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please feel free to share however you can. Add your logos to it and share far and wide. If you become aware of specific needs or additional resources please let me know and we will update our info.

The Georgia Chamber will hold a virtual briefing from elected officials and business leaders, to provide more information on statewide recovery efforts. The virtual briefing will be held on Wednesday, October 2. More detailed information will be published shortly.

Please continue to follow the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency on social media, and visit the official GEMA Hurricane Helene webpage here. 

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King has a list of resources available to help Georgians in the aftermath of Hurricane, including tips on to avoid predatory scammers. More information is available on the Insurance Commissioner’s website here.

Farmers can contact their local US Department of Agriculture service center for information on damage recovery. Service center contact information is available on the USDA website by clicking here.

The Small Business Administration has disaster assistance programs for businesses, homeowners, renters, and non-profit organizations. Click here to learn more and see if you qualify.

US Chamber Foundation – National Disaster Help Desk

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation manages the National Disaster Help Desk. They activate to support disaster-impacted communities and their businesses, if needed in your recovery effort. The Disaster Help Desk can be reached at 888-MY-BIZ-HELP (or 888-692-4943). The Help Desk will provide coordination of information among businesses, local chambers of commerce, nonprofits, government, and disaster recovery specialists. They also have disaster quick guides that may be helpful:

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/solutions/disaster-response-and-resiliency/disaster-quick-guides

These guides provide local chambers and small businesses with practical tools and resources to help your chamber and businesses better understand what steps to take after an event occurs.

Make Plans to Join Us in Macon!

The GACCE Board of Directors is pleased to invite you to join us at our 2024 Board Development Conference to be held:

Thursday & Friday, November 14 & 15, 2024

Marriott Macon City Center

Macon, GA

This conference is designed for the Chamber Executive and your incoming volunteer board leadership - you can invite your incoming chair, Executive Committee, and/or your full Board. Our event this year will feature the following sessions:

The Impact of Chambers and their Boards - Bob Harris

Board Responsibilities and Strategic Direction - Bob Harris

2024 GACCE Chamber Operations Survey Results - Anissa Starnes

The Renaissance of the Macon Mall & Amphitheatre - Alex Morrison

Advocacy Initiatives - Panel Discussion

New Georgia Economy Update - Chris Clark

For more information and to register, please CLICK HERE.

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to discover Portugal! This is a unique chance for our GACCE members to experience Indus Travels firsthand and discover how they can enhance your chamber's non-dues revenue programs. If you've been curious about chamber travel or already have a program in place, join us to see how Indus Travels can take your program to the next level.

November 28 - December 5, 2025

Atlanta to Portugal

$1,549 per person (double occupancy) | $449 single supplement

Details for the trip are below:

• This trip is exclusively for GACCE members only.
• Only one (1) Chamber Executive (or designated staff person) per chamber may attend, along with their spouse/guest.
• First-come, first-serve basis - secure your seat early; spaces are limited - maximum of 40 seats
• Reservation deposit: seats will be reserved and confirmed with a $300 deposit per person
• Reservation deadline: July 31, 2025



The tour package includes:

• International roundtrip airfare from Atlanta
• 6 nights hotel lodging in Lisbon, Fatima, and Porto
• Daily breakfast
• Airport transfers in Lisbon
• Private transportation by deluxe AC vehicles
• All sightseeing tours in Lisbon and Porto
• English-speaking tour guide

For more details, please CLICK HERE for the trip flyer.

To reserve your seat, please click here to email Tiffany.

Once you indicate your interest in joining the trip, Tiffany will send you the official link to register with Indus Travels.

GACCE is pleased to partner with Teri Smiley and Starfish Partnerships for a new 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. 

CANCELLED - 2024 Rural Prosperity Summit

Following the tremendous damage caused by Hurricane Helene throughout Georgia and the necessity to prioritize resources for frontline emergency workers, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of the 2024 Rural Prosperity Summit in Tifton.

The two-day event was scheduled to take place October 2 and 3 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. That space that will now serve as temporary housing for Georgia Power linemen working to restore power to communities across South Georgia. Registrations for the 2024 Rural Prosperity can be refunded or donated on behalf of the registrant to support the Red Cross’ Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Georgia. CLICK HERE to read more.

The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Chief Workforce Officer. Please see the GACCE Careers page for more information.

The Chamber will have several events in October:

• Networking Over Lunch, October 3, 11:30 - 1:30 pm at THERE, a bar & eatery in Brookhaven
• Brookhaven Chamber Young Professionals present: Sweets & Social Networking, October 9, 5:30 pm - 7 pm at Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Brookhaven Chamber Young Professionals present: Brewing Up Contacts at Zambawango, October 25, 8:30am - 10am
• Coffee & Contacts Networking, October 29, 8:30 am - 10 am at Serendipity Labs

All of the events can be found here.

The Chamber is hosting a Retirement Celebration for Fred Boscarino on Thursday, October 17 at Scot Ward Funeral Services. Please join us in celebrating Fred, a true Chamber legend, as he retires with 42 years in the Chamber business with 21 of those years with the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber!

The Donalsonville/Seminole County Harvest Festival will be held October 19 in downtown Donalsonville. The featured entertainment will be Jason Michael Carroll. Festival attractions will include an art show, food vendors, arts & crafts, informational booths and more!

The Chamber has several events lined up for October:

• October 1 - NonProfit Council's Marketing Your Non-Profit 101
• October 2 - Young Professionals - Every Day Manners
• October 3 - Women's Network - Revival Wines & Dessert Bar
• October 10 - Golf FORE Ladies - Putters
• October 15 - StartUp Fayette - Preparing for Growth and Scaling Up
• October 16 - Balancing Growth and Sustainability: The Path to a Resilient Economy

The Chamber must share the news that after 43 years of serving the Chamber, Phyllis Stephens has retired! Phyllis serves as our Chief Operating Officer and has happily facilitated our leadership programs, Leadership Dalton-Whitfield and the Emerging Leaders Institute, throughout her years with the Greater Dalton Chamber. Beyond that, she is a well of knowledge and has been such a valuable asset to our team. While we hate to say goodbye, we know that she will be spending her retirement doing what she loves most: traveling the world and spending time with her family. After 43 years, it is very well deserved! Thank you to Phyllis for everything you have done for us!

The Chamber will host its Annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast on December 12, 7:30 AM, Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference. Nine Hall County legislators will participate...500 guests are expected to attend.

The Chamber invites everyone to join us as we celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of our Great Beaver Creek Duck Race & Festival in downtown Montezuma on Saturday, October 26^th. Ducks will float at 2 p.m. Please call the Chamber at 478-472-2391 for details.

We’re excited to share the priorities and dynamic programming that make our Chamber the heartbeat of Coweta! Our latest issue of the THRiVE quarterly publication is packed with insights and stories featuring some of the Chamber’s and Coweta’s most influential movers and shakers. These leaders may be young, but they’re seasoned pros who are driving change and making a lasting impact in our community! Read about the tremendous success of our Total Resource Campaign (TRC) as well as a variety of member-centric initiatives. Learn how small businesses are thriving with our Digital Aid program. Check out one of our most popular TRC offerings, Expert Articles, where industry insiders share their knowledge. And don’t miss our hit social media campaigns, Try It Tuesday and Where Are We Wednesday—perfect ways to keep your members connected and engaged. No matter the Chamber size, these programs work for everyone! Don’t miss out—click here to explore the latest issues of THRiVE and see what’s fueling the future of business in Coweta! Happy to share or answer any questions. 

The Chamber is pleased to welcome Christi Pitts as their new Director.

Dive into a world where melody meets the coast at the iconic Great Ogeechee Music + Seafood Festival! The event will take place Friday & Saturday, October 25 & 26. Celebrate the best of coastal cuisine and live music under the stars at one of the most anticipated events of the year. Whether you're a die-hard music enthusiast or a seafood aficionado, this festival promises an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages. With a music lineup designed to delight and entertain, and a seafood selection that’s second to none, this is your chance to be part of a tradition cherished by the community and visitors alike.

The Chamber is gearing up for their Christmas Celebration to be held December 14. They also have a student, Laura Kate Cody, who is helping with their Chamber's social media. She is one of the students involved in the Empower Program offered by the Chamber and Flint Energies. She is a big help!

The Chamber has kicked off our second Total Resource Campaign, Elevate, with YGM. The RFC also hosted our inaugural Seven Hill Series: State of Education presented by Atrium Health Floyd. 

The Chamber will host Taste of Warren County on October 17 - an evening of culinary delights you won't want to miss!

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!

Join your peers who currently use GrowthZone as their CRM for an upcoming classroom training opportunity. The event will be held October 29 & 30, 2024 in Opelika, AL. Please note that this is a slightly more advanced curriculum than previous sessions; having a solid working knowledge of GrowthZone is essential for this training. Click here for more information and to register.

We look forward to another amazing year at Tucson. Click here to go to the general Institute registration page, or continue reading for individual site information and registration pages.