At a recent best practices session with a dozen of seasoned chamber CEOs, the topic of mergers was addressed.
With a sluggish economy it was suggested that there will probably be more mergers or outright closings of chambers in the future, not less.
Let’s start with a couple of facts:
- There are over 7,000 chambers of commerce in this country.
- Local chambers are in competition with each other.
Now that we can agree that mergers are inevitable in our business, as discussed in this session, I thought I’d share a few comments from the panel.
The following statements we’re made about mergers:
- Most difficult thing I’ve ever done!
- Put people on your board who can be change agents.
- You may not have a job at the end of it.
- It’s emotional.
- In today’s global economy there will be more mergers in the future
- Address all the issues.
- You must believe in the merger.
- Potential companies don’t look at community lines, it’s bigger than that.
At the end of the day, you need to do what’s best for the organization and the surrounding community.
Can you come up with any partnerships with surrounding chambers of commerce?
I managed an initiative that involved 60associations.
it is possible to have mou/Moa for collective work.
Sana Global
Interesting comments regarding chamber mergers. I may be "the last guy standing" that played a leadership role in dissolving 5 chambers in a region and creating what is now the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. My thoughts on the subject have changed somewhat since those days in the early 80's. We dissolved Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the Suffolk Chambers to create the new entity. I could and should write a book. We retained Dick Baily and followed the Accreditation areas as a guide.