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November 2023 E-Newsletter
The mission of GACCE is engaging, educating, and empowering chamber professionals.
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GACCE 2024 Conference Dates | |
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Be sure to save the dates for our 2024 conferences:
2024 GACCE Staff Development Conference
(for all chamber staff professionals)
Wednesday - Friday, March 6 - 8, 2024
Columbus Iron Works - Convention & Trade Center
Columbus, GA
2024 GACCE Executive Leadership Conference
(for Executive Director/President/CEO only)
Tuesday - Friday, July 9 - 12, 2024
Sea Palms Resort
St. Simons Island, GA
2024 GACCE Board Development Conference
(for Chamber Executives and volunteer leadership)
Thursday & Friday, November 14 & 15, 2024
Marriott Macon City Center
Macon, GA
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Grant Writing 101
Wednesday, December 6 - 10:00am
Anissa Starnes, YGM Total Resource Campaigns
In this webinar, Anissa will provide you with the basic knowledge and understanding of how to find potential grants to apply for, how to reach out to build relationships with Grantmakers, and ultimately craft a grant application that will be successful in securing funding. We will walk through the basic best practices of these three steps in the grant life cycle: research, relationships, and writing. We hope this will help you feel more confident as you seek grant revenue for your chamber. During this webinar you will learn:
- The key elements of the grant life cycle;
- Why some grants do not receive funding;
- How to determine which Grantmakers are a strong fit for your organization;
- How to best tell “your story” on why you need the funding; and
- How to use your research and relationship efforts to customize your grant applications.
CLICK HERE to register for the hour-long session. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the full membership after the session if you aren't able to join us that day.
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Save the Date - 2024 Eggs & Issues Breakfast
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, GA
Every January, Georgians from all areas of the state make their way to Atlanta for the Georgia Chamber’s annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast. The event serves as the official kick-off to the state’s legislative session. Held concurrent to the convening of the General Assembly each year, this annual event attracts over 2,500 Georgians, including many of the state’s top-level elected officials and business leaders. Each year, the overall goal is to generate discussion providing attendees with a broadened perspective when it comes to the status of Georgia’s economy. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
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GACCE Associate Member Updates | | |
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goBeyondProfit research revealed that 70% of the Georgia workforce and two-thirds of executives are managing burnout. In this interview series with a Chief Wellness Officer, we explore how to recognize burnout, simple and scalable ways to address burnout and the cost of doing nothing. Click here for the series. | | |
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J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development | Registration is open for our 2024 Community Leadership Conference. This virtual conference will take place on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is free to attend. The 2024 CLC will provide an opportunity to dive into best practices for leadership programs and learn how communities across Georgia are prioritizing leadership development. Each year, the Community Leadership Conference brings those individuals at the forefront of developing that culture in their communities together to share best practices and learn about recent trends and innovations that they can take back to their communities and organizations to re-energize leadership programs. Register here for the 2024 CLC. | | |
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As we rapidly approach the culmination of another year, it's imperative to ask ourselves: are our small businesses equipped and poised for success in 2024? Now is the opportune moment for reflection, strategy refinement, and embracing innovative tools and practices that can propel small businesses forward. Let's join hands in ensuring every member of our chambers starts the new year not just ready, but thriving and at the forefront of their respective industries. Elevate your chamber member's potential in 2024 by offering my exclusive workshop "The BRAND Framework" – secure a spot today and start your chamber's new year with confidence and a strategic edge! | | |
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Louder NonProfit Strategies | |
Promoting Volunteer Success
No one volunteers because they want to do a bad job - yet it happens. How do you prevent it? First it helps to understand what motivates people to volunteer. A passion for your organization or mission, interest in accomplishing a specific goal, helping the organization, and making a difference in the community are the reasons most cited for volunteering. Less altruistic reasons include recognition, business connections, honor or prestige, obligation, and guilt. Click here to read the full article.
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Thank you for joining us in October for our introductory webinar on how to get started with advocacy at your chamber. If you missed the training, click here to watch the recording. We are honored to be an associate member of GACCE and look forward to providing you valuable tools and education to help you build and grow your advocacy program. | | |
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Affordable Care Act: 2024 Compliance Checklist
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made a number of reforms to group health plan coverage when it was enacted in 2010. Since then, changes have been made to various ACA requirements that employers should be aware of. These changes include annual cost-of-living increases to certain ACA dollar limits, extensions to ACA reporting deadlines and updates to preventive care coverage guidelines. Changes to some ACA requirements will take effect in 2024 for employers sponsoring group health plans. Significantly, the affordability percentage under the ACA’s employer mandate rules for applicable large employers (ALEs) will be at its lowest point for plan years beginning in 2024, which may require many ALEs to lower their employee contribution rates. To prepare for 2024, employers should review these ACA requirements and develop a compliance strategy. Employers should ensure that their health plan documents, including the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC), are updated to reflect any new plan limits and that up-to-date information is communicated to employees at open enrollment time. Click here for the checklist.
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The Institute for Performance Improvement | |
Are your members tapping employers' secret assets for talent development - older workers? Click here for more information.
Click here for the presentation from the Rural Collaborative Coalitions on how to Use Logic Models to Plan, Communicate, and Develop Funding.
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GACCE Chamber Member Updates | |
The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of President. Please see the GACCE Careers page for more information. | |
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The Chamber is pleased to announce the hiring of Harrison Gresham as their new Membership Growth Manager. As the owner of an independent business HGSR Services, LLC for over a decade, Harrison improved business perception and increased customer satisfaction through exceptional service and “customer first” ideology. The Chamber believes Harrison will bring this same level of expertise and organizational success to his role as the Membership Growth Manager.
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The Chamber will host a luncheon with guest speaker Josh White, new Executive Director of Peachtree Creek Greenway on November 16th at 11:30 am. The topic of the luncheon: Charting the Course: Peachtree Creek Greenway's Regional Blueprint. The Peachtree Creek Greenway is a multi-modal path that will not only connect Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Unincorporated DeKalb County, and Doraville but also promises significant benefits to the local business community. With its strategic alignment, the Greenway will drive foot traffic to nearby commercial areas, increase opportunities for new and diverse businesses, and offer attractive alternate transportation for employees. Currently spanning 1.3 miles from North Druid Hills Road to Briarwood Road in Brookhaven, Josh will provide insights into the current status, progress in each of the five jurisdictions, and how we can collectively ensure this project becomes a regional success story. | |
Darien-McIntosh County Chamber | The Chamber is in full swing prep for our Annual Chamber Auction that will take place November 14 at Skippers Fish Camp. It's a wonderful night of casino themed fun and is our biggest fundraiser of the year. If anyone is interested in swapping Coastal experiences for ones across the state, please let us know! | |
The BIG PIG JIG® is an award-winning festival and Georgia’s oldest and largest BBQ Cooking Competition celebrating over 40 years of Family, Friends and BBQ! Competition teams from all over the eastern United States compete for the coveted Georgia BBQ Cooking Championship Title judged by certified Judges from all over the United States and Canada! The event features music, a variety of vendors with art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, candles & more plus a Kids Zone with Inflatables and games! Featuring specialty food vendors serving, BBQ plates, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, turkey legs, chicken, nachos, tacos, tamales, pork skins, fried green tomatoes, boiled peanuts, sweet treats, delicious sides & more! For all you BBQ enthusiasts, there’s Taste of the Jig on November 4 at 2 p.m. where YOU have an opportunity to try several free samples of Championship Barbecue! Follow the Smoke to 350 Pig Jig Blvd in Vienna, GA on November 3 & 4! For more information contact Rhonda Lamb at (229) 322-1596 or visit www.bigpigjig.com. | |
Dublin-Laurens County Chamber | The Chamber is accepting resumes for the position of Membership Services Manager. Please see the GACCE Careers page for more information. | |
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Following a nationwide executive search for a visionary leader to lead the organization, the Chamber announced that Leonardo McClarty, CCE, IOM has been selected as its new president and chief executive officer. McClarty will take the helm of the Chamber on Monday, November 6. Click here for the full press release.
The Chamber's November B2B Breakfast will be held November 8 and will feature special guest Dr. Tutterow who will be presenting a focus on the 2024 business outlook.
Strive Engineering is hosting an informative Community Development event scheduled for November 9, 2023. They will bring together a diverse group of investors, architects, engineers, and other professionals who share a keen interest in contributing to the future development and prosperity of Fayetteville. The speakers will provide a clear understanding of the processes, opportunities, restrictions, and challenges associated with the development and growth in Fayetteville.
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Greater North Fulton Chamber | The Chamber hosted its first annual North Fulton Futures Summit on October 26. The Summit brought together partners from our six distinct cities with a goal of moving forward as one outstanding region. This event featured a regional Mayors panel and complementing panels from our economic development partners as well as a discussion of what's on the horizon for electric vehicles in North Fulton. | |
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The Chamber just had our Third Annual Cemetery Ramble with about 20 volunteers as “actors” depicting residents in our historical cemetery. We sold over 150 tickets @ $40 each with minimum expenses (swag bags, tiki oil and security), had sponsors to also add to the non-dues revenue. It was such a nice event!
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Monticello-Jasper County Chamber | Jennifer Lassen, President/CEO, has announced her last day with the Chamber was October 12. Jacki Garland will be the acting President & CEO. | |
Workup Coweta, a career readiness training program developed by the Chamber and funded through a sub-award of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act Funding, launched its first cohort in partnership with West Georgia Technical College, Georgia Tech Innovation Institute Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and a host of local employers including Newnan’s Yamaha and Hello Fresh. The program, which launched October 17, includes sessions every Tuesday and Thursday evening and concludes with a graduation on November 16th. Applications are currently being accepted, with a maximum of 18 participants included per cohort. The 40-hour Workup program is designed to equip job seekers and career changers with the skills they need to succeed in today's dynamic labor market. Participants will gain crucial insights into various industries, learn critical soft skills, and acquire practical knowledge to help them navigate their career paths confidently. The no-cost program comprises career exploration, interactive workshops, expert-led safety and forklift training, blueprint reading, and limited classroom instruction focusing on soft skills like creative problem-solving and critical thinking. Workup curriculum also includes several hours of hands-on experience through Buzz, a Georgia Tech Development Institute program employing tangible kits to create a simulated business operation with staff, shifts, and expenses, among other considerations. Following participation in each hands-on round, there is a debrief to examine the approach and refine the process. Applications for the program are open to individuals who experienced harm due to the COVID-19 public health emergency through either un- or underemployment. Visit the Workup Coweta website at www.workupcoweta.com to learn more. | |
The Chamber recently announced the appointment of April Cameron as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. | |
Other Updates of Interest | |
Did you know ACCE has a Non-Dues Revenue resource section on their website? They also have a Revenue Models Resource Guide, which is a white paper showcasing chamber of commerce dues structures and non-dues revenue streams, highlighting the latest trends, sharing relevant case studies and providing practical tools to help you explore revenue opportunities at your chamber. Click here for more information! | |
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The Power of Storytelling
Joseph B. Henning, IOM, ACE, CAE - President & CEO, Henry County (GA) Chamber
Before podcasts and TikTok, before newspapers and broadcast media, storytelling was key to sharing information and passing down history. Stories celebrate achievements, share insights, and create meaningful connections. Unlock the storytelling potential of your membership organization. This webinar will touch on sharing compelling stories to highlight your organization’s strengths and benefits. Click here to watch the webinar.
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U.S. Small Business Administration | |
Disaster Recovery Efforts - Hurricane Idalia
We would like to share information about what the SBA is doing in Georgia to help out with disaster recovery efforts. To be more specific, we are offering physical damage loans for any homeowners, renters, small businesses, or private non-profit organizations that suffered damage to their property and economic injury disaster loans for any small businesses and private non-profit organizations that suffered any financial injury due to Hurricane Idalia. CLICK HERE for an SBA fact sheet, press release, flyer, and the locations of current SBA centers that can explain our program in better detail. Should you have any questions, please contact Andrew Toussaint at 202-945-7507 or andrew.toussaint@sba.gov.
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