The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has announced the publication of a new study detailing the credit scores and payment behavior of ten local chambers of commerce across the United States, comparing their member businesses with other regional, state and national business averages. The study was produced by Cortera™, a community-driven business credit bureau, on behalf of ACCE. According to the study, chamber of commerce members possess an average credit score of 629, compared to a 557 average score for businesses at large. Such scores - the payment behavior from which they are derived - play a significant role in attracting lines of credit and securing favorable terms from lenders and suppliers.

A complete copy of the study, which includes both the aggregate findings, as well as the individual commercial credit scores for each of the ten local chambers, is available on the ACCE website at www.acce.org.

"Chamber members have long been seen as responsible and reliable members of their community," said Mick Fleming, president and CEO of ACCE. "What this study indicates is that the perception is right. From a credit standpoint, chamber members on average are better businesses, and as a result they have significant advantages in obtaining the funds they need. In this economy and the tight credit environment we are experiencing, that's especially important."

As we welcome in 2010 we do so with a new name and a new logo.

The Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce has recently implemented a strategy that will change the overall structure of the organization in an effort to better serve our members. The first of those structural changes involves an effort to better serve specific segments of our membership through our Industry Councils. The first three of these councils will concentrate on Hotels & Lodging; Restaurants, Bars & Catering; and Manufacturing.

We are in the process of developing marketing materials to highlight these and other changes in the organization with the goal of introducing them in the first quarter of 2010.

The President’s Scribbles - Jim Tobin, President

When I was a little boy, I would sit down about this time every year and write a letter to Santa Claus.  I had learned from experience not to wait until too close to Christmas to do so.  My letters began in the usual way, with some claims to having been good during the previous twelve months and therefore deserving of recognition.

Of course, I knew in my heart I hadn’t been all that good, but then I didn’t ask for widely extravagant toys either.  I had learned to be modest in my requests, asking only those things that I thought I might actually receive – kids are smart and somehow know that there are limits even to Santa’s benevolence. 

          It has been a long time since I’ve written a letter to Santa Claus, but every now and then I have an urge to do so – because I still wish for things, just as I did when I was little.

          Maybe it’s the time of the year, so close to Christmas and the beginning of a new year.  There is such a sense of expectancy and hope at this time of year that it is easy to dream once again about receiving your heart’s desire.

          What are the things on my “wish list” as we approach a new year?  Probably the same things that are on your list: the health, safety, and happiness of my family; greater balance and order in my life; the welfare of others, especially those in want and suffering in our economy.

          Somewhere near the top of my list, for myself and maybe for you too, would be the desire to make a difference.  Perhaps more than anything else, in 2010 I would like to make a difference in some person’s life, and would like for our Leadership Council to increase our efforts to make even more of a difference in our community – I hope that wish is on your list as well.

          I wish for our new Leadership Class that we have a huge number of outstanding applicants.  I wish we fill the Hilton for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2010, with Sarah Palin (and remember we have Leadership tables).

I also want to take this opportunity to wish each of you a wonderful Holiday Season with those you love.  I hope you can slow the pace long enough to enjoy each other and the real meaning of this blessed season.  It will be history so very quickly.

          God’s blessing to you-all.  Thank you so much for allowing me to be your President. I am grateful for the friends who work to make our Leadership Council, our Chamber, and our community a wonderful corner of the earth.

          May the Spirit of the Season permeate your home and your hearts in the days ahead.

Jim Tobin

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CHAMBER STILL SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP XXIX... we're looking for volunteers to become leaders in the Daytona Beach/Halifax community.  Applications must be in by January 15. 

We're also seeking ideas for community class projects. Do you have something in mind for the next class? Here’s your chance to have 30+ members roll up their sleeves and help your organization or cause.  Send ideas to Jim via email - jim@daytonachamber.com

No need to worry, the Chamber's got you covered!

The Chamber recently partnered with the Volusia County Health Department's Dr. Bonnie Sorensen and her staff to produce a new Business Preparedness Flu Guide. The flu season is upon us, and with H1N1 making its way across the country, you can't be too careful.

Access the Chamber's guide here. For more information, visit the County's website at www.volusiahealth.org.
 

On September 24th, in an unprecedented move, the Daytona Beach Area Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept the blueprint of a transformative proposal by Chairman Ted Doran and President Larry McKinney.

The comprehensive proposal includes member dues, physical location, bylaws, customer service programs and more. At their regular September meeting, the Directors discussed at length three of the initial items: Strategic Member Councils, Tiered Dues and Corporate Name.

Chairman Doran began the meeting with a discussion of the need to service our membership in specific tangible ways and to give them a direct say at the highest levels of our organization. He suggested that a review of our 1141 members would show that we have significant groups of members in large segments that share many of the same issues and needs within their industry, where we could definitely assist. Three of the identified groups were singled out for initial designation as a "Council", and these councils would have Vice-Chairmen that would sit on the Executive Committee of the Chamber. The first three formed are Restaurants and Bars, Hotels and Lodging, and Manufacturers. Each of these councils will meet regularly with their peers and Chamber staff, and develop programs and initiatives to ultimately increase their business success. The Board voted unanimously to create these first three and more will be discussed in the future.

McKinney then began a discussion that would eliminated the 14 member dues formulas used currently and convert them instead into Tiers where the members decide what they want to pay, as long as generous minimums are met for their industry and total number of employees. For instance, the five Tiers would be Entrepreneurial, Professional, Executive, Corporate and Elite. Currently members either pay the dues formula or they can't join. Under the Tiered structure, if a member were facing hard times and had to drop their level from Executive to Entrepreneurial that would be acceptable. Of course the member would receive less tangible benefits, but they would still receive significant benefits and remain a member. The rollout of this Tiered program will begin in November and take approximately 24 months to complete.

Finally, in light of the extensive structural organization under discussion, Chairman Doran asked if it might be appropriate to consider a name and/or logo change to represent the rebirth of our corporation. Acknowledging the worldwide brand recognition of Daytona BEach, it was agreed that "Halifax Area" means very little to those outside our area and would be dropped. The name approved is the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the same one we used in 1965, and a reflection that focusing on the engine of Volusia County, i.e. Daytona Beach, is core to our mission and core to the future growth of Volusia. We will prepare an RFP for Chamber member PR firms and consider a logo change at a future meeting. Over the next several months, the Board will debate additional structural items, arguably none more significant than the Business Development Partnership (the Chamber's Economic Development Department) at the October board meeting.