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In its continuing effort to engage members in the Chamber and to provide them with opportunity to be involved in the issues that effect business and the larger community the Chamber has created several new Chamber Councils.
The core function of a Chamber Council is to be a forum for discussion and a jumping off point for action on a topic of interest and importance to the business community or the community overall. Structurally, Chamber councils assist staff in their function of achieving the strategic goals of the Chamber and are chaired or co-chaired by a staff person. However, if a group of members wish to form a council on a topic that does not support staff efforts they are welcome to do so but without staff involvement unless the topic is deemed to be contrary to the mission, values and strategic goals of the Chamber.
Councils are expected to spend the bulk of their time gathering information and/or discussing the issues surrounding the topic of reference for that council. Depending on the topic and the proclivity of the Council, stimulating discussion and great network building may be the sole purpose of group while others may wish to do research, prepare reports and present these to the Chamber for further action.
For example, the Business and the Arts Council may invite in speakers on the topic of sponsorship of the arts and source research on that topic and then make a recommendation to staff that the Chamber publish a guide to sponsorship of the arts. They may also recommend that the Chamber adopt a policy regarding the tax treatment of arts sponsorship.
While the work of Councils is very important it should be understood that that no Council will create neither Chamber policy nor speak on behalf of the Chamber. The purpose of a Council is to engage members in stimulating discussion, create awareness and knowledge and to bring together people who share a common interest while demonstrating community leadership. Policy formulation is the mandate of policy committees. However, by their nature the number of policy committees is limited to issues that have been selected as Chamber priorities. Councils serve to fill the void between the desire of the people to be involved and the challenges involved in the operation of full policy committees. For example Chamber Councils are operationally less formal than Policy committees and as such encourage anyone to attend when they are able or interested.
The first Councils that have been created and that we are now recruiting members for are:
The Business & the Arts Council – This council will explore the relationship between the arts and business, the arts as a business and what each can learn from each other.
The Professional Sales Network – helps our members in the sales, marketing and business development fields stay on top the issues and trends that effect this profession.
The Green Business Council – one of the hottest topics today for business is the environment, environmental sustainability, and alternative energy. This group will start work the Chambers policy work on Energy security and help us help our members make their way through this vital area of interest.
Not for Profit Council – devoted to the issues that surround the unique world of not for profit corporations and charities.
For more information or to sign up for one or more Chamber Councils please contact:
Brian Rose at 481-1230 or brian@halifaxchamber.com
