The document discusses several topics related to chambers of commerce and business associations, including: 1) Generic roles of chambers including improving competitiveness, policy advocacy, providing information to members, promoting exports, and ensuring good governance. 2) Challenges faced by boards and CEOs such as remaining ethical, improving skills, hiring quality staff, and building a professional organization. 3) Key issues affecting business associations including inability to operate professionally and lack of strategic planning, financial management, networking, and staff capacity.

1. CIPE’s
South Asia Regional Program
Lahore 20 & 21 September 2013

2. Generic Roles of a Chamber/Association
• Work proactively to improve the sector's / region’s profitability and
competitiveness (R&D)
• Work effectively to represent the sector's interests at all levels of
the legislative regulatory process (Policy Advocacy)
• Supply sound information and advice for members (PR &
Communications)
• Promote exports and other market opportunities (Trade facilitation)
• Promote training and education (Training)
• Work to ensure practice of principals of good governance (Ethics)

3. Vision/Mission
Goals, objectives & strategies
Action Plans & Accountability
Strong and Vibrant Organization

4. Your Challenges as Board and CEO
• Remain ethical
• Improve Skills
• Hire quality HR
• Train and Retain
• Be creative
• Make Profits
• Build a professional organization

5. Role of Office Bearers
• Develop specific objectives and business plan.
• Support and Execute business plan.
• Proactively participate in policy advocacy
initiatives.
• Promote Chamber’s image.

6. Key Issues with Business Associations
• Inability to run chamber as a Business
• Lack of Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategic Plan
• Poor financial management (budgeting, fund
raising, expense projection)
• Poor networking (no membership drive)
• Lack of staff capacity (inability to attract and
retain quality staff)
• Inability to attract member attention / support
• Inability to attract donor funds
• Lukewarm efforts for organizational development

7. Association Governance

8. 21st Century Business Associations
1. Expectations - What our members expect from our association?
2. Vision – is our mission is member driven or board driven?
3. Mission – is our mission aligned with our vision?
4. Communication with Board members – do we communicate
vision/Mission with board members?
5. Trustworthiness – do we do what we say?
6. Communication – do we communicate effectively with our
stakeholders?
7. Partners – are our partners are satisfied?
8. Board members – Are our broad members credible?
9. Committees – how effective and empowered our committees are?
10. Performance – Do we have a performance review system?
11. Monitoring – Do we have an effective monitoring system?
12. Leadership Development – Do we have succession planning in place?
13. Financial Management – Do we have a financial management system?
14. Governance and Ethics – Do we have any codes and do we implement?
15. Appreciation – Do we rejoice success?

9. Is survival a challenge for your
organization?

10. Chamber Survival Challenge
Chamber’s survival depends upon how well you can
prioritize items in a relatively unfamiliar environment.
This exercise will be based on ranking and will be
compared with results of the other groups.
• Your Task
You have 25 items. Your task is to rank these items
according to their importance in aiding your Chamber
to come back to the normal footing…! Start ranking
below boxes with "1" the more important, to "25" the
least important. You should assume that your team is
your group, you have agreed on priorities you set.

11. • Vision, Mission and Objectives
• Organizational Structure
• Code of Conduct
• Staffing and Empowering secretariat
• Member Services
• Effective Board Members
• Membership Development & Retention
• Revenue Generation
• Financial Management
• Effective Communication
• Reputation, Recognition and Branding
• Strategic Planning
• Regulatory Compliance
• Physical Infrastructure
• Leadership Development & Succession Planning

12. Membership Development

13. Why Focus on Members?
Why Members Subscribe?

14. Why Focus on Members?
• Members are the first element of an
organizational structure.
• A member voluntarily invests money by
payment of dues on a regular basis in
exchange for a perceived value from the
chamber.
• Members are both owners and customers.

15. Members Subscribe for…
• Prestige
• Work / Services
• Networking
• Improving business environment
• Business development
• Knowledge sharing
• Community development

17. There are More Choices – Less Time!
Choices
Time
Can you hit this point
again and again

19. Be Creative!

20. Creativity is not about
Creating Something
new, its about giving a new
experience
Richard Branson

22. To attract More Members
You Need 3 Key Skills
Ability to
Innovate
(or create)
Ability to
Implement
your Ideas
Ability to
Outreach

23. KYC

24. Membership Development Process
Identification
Introduction
Making a Pitch
Addressing Concerns
Membership
Renewal

25. Retention
Development

26. What is the retention process?

27. Retention
Satisfaction

28. Membership Life Cycle
28

29. Member Services

30. What Services does your
organization offer to
members?

31. Chamber Services
• Networking opportunities
• Advocacy
• Member to Member Discount Program
• Learning opportunities
• Community development through effective CSR
• Trade leads
• Referral services
• Employment exchange
• Subsidized consultancy services
• Promotion and advertising