Consider Serving the Chamber as a Member of the Board
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS Aug 15, 2010 for the Sep 2010 Gen'l Elections.
Apps Available Below.
Your Board of Directors works hard in many ways to make sure your Chamber of Commerce runs successfully and in your best interest. The Board is the governing body elected by the Membership that assures the Chamber makes progress in fulfilling our Mission on your behalf.
Thanks for expressing interest in serving as a Director, a voting member of the Chamber’s Board. Each September, the Board decides the size of the Board for the following year, an odd number between 15 and 25, of Members-in-Good-Standing. On September 30, ballots are sent to the General Membership, with election results counted in mid-October.
A Challenging and Rewarding Experience!
If elected, you would be one of the individuals charged with governing the Chamber’s efforts in making sure the Chamber remains a growing, viable and relevant force for positive change for our Community and for our Area Businesses. You’ll be part of a winning 29-plus year tradition of growth and success!
It is a big commitment, though very manageable time-wise, and a rewarding one at the same time. Some say that “you haven't met your best friend yet until you serve on a Chamber Board“.
Qualities of a Successful Chamber Board Member
Although open to any Member in Good Standing and their employees, here are some essential qualifications for a successful Chamber Board member:
- Recognize that people will look to you as a business leader in our Community.
- You will be representing not only yourself and your business, but the Chamber, the Business Community and our General Community as well.
- You should have a professional position with a Member business in which you exercise leadership.
- Your leadership skills will be used and enhanced, too, as you use your enthusiasm and motivational abilities to encourage and organize your Chamber team to success.
- We are enthused about the background experiences and coaching skills that you can bring to the Board, but it is equally important that you remain teachable and coachable yourself.
- Your willingness to always remain a student of the Chamber and to learn about the unique terms and processes about how this organization functions specifically, and non-profits in general, is very important.
- This will serve you and Chamber well as your leadership skills improve and as you rise through the leadership ranks - both at the Chamber and at your day job!
- There is a saying in the Chamber world - “When you've seen one Chamber, you've seen one Chamber.“
- Your leadership skills will be tested and improved as you work with some of the best Volunteer Members (& Staff) in West Michigan.
- In motivating Volunteers, you'll find that your leadership skills are all you have to work with
- It will be helpful if you have some experience in volunteer work, preferably with a non-profit organization and especially with the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
- Experience Chairing one of the Chamber’s Committees or Projects is a huge plus.
- To remain current, you must attend a 90-minute Chamber Leadership Orientation workshop each year.
- You'll also need to participate in regular Division meetings as determined by your Division Vice-Chairperson, as well as the Annual Planning meeting in December.
- You or your employer must remain a Member in good standing of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber.
- Though technically not required, it will be most helpful if you have been an active WKACC Member for 15 months or more.
- You will also find it helpful to understand the basics of reading financial statements.
- You need to be willing to attend and support with your Sponsorship as many Chamber events and activities as possible all year.
- A major role as a Board Member is to continually be promoting the WKACC in your daily interactions
- A big part of that will include
- Always recruit WKACC Members to Chamber projects and Committees
- Always be looking to refer individuals and organizations outside the Chamber to become a Member of the WKACC
- You must have some discretionary time to
- devote to Board meetings, about 2 hours once per month, mid-day;
- Division and Committee meetings at various times, about 2 hours per month;
- about 30 minutes each month of phone work; and
- a few hours to attend various Chamber functions, which include a few evenings throughout the year.
- Average time commitment for a Board Member is between 8 and 12 hours per month, with “gusts” to 15 or more.
- Directors, about 8 hours per month
- Division Vice Chairs, about 12 hours per month
- Board Chair, about 15 to 18 hours per month
- You must be ready to serve from time to time on other projects or committee from time to time, and should be willing to assume leadership of a Division sometime in the future.
- Division Vice Chairs are elected by the full Board each October
If nominated, your name will be placed on a written Ballot and mailed to the entire Chamber Membership. Voting is conducted by mail (as of this writing), with Ballots being counted the 3rd week in October. As a Candidate, you are allowed to send one mailing at your expense to the Membership expressing your views and seeking their vote. If elected, be aware that each Board Member is invoiced for about $130 to offset the annual administrative expenses of operating the Board, including monthly luncheon meetings.
If you are interested in becoming an active, participating member of our Board, please fill out the brief form which you can download from this page and forward it to us along with an up to date resume.
Board membership is very gratifying work and very much worthwhile! We hope that you give it serious consideration.
For the September 2010 elections, please send this on or before Aug 15, 2010 to
Sue Bynum at The Chamber Office at 590 32nd Street SE, Wyoming, 49548
Email: sue@southkent.org; fax is (616) 531-0252
|