Letter from Phil Kirk

NCCBI's Role as the State Chamber of Commerce

Have you heard or asked the question, “Does North Carolina have a state chamber of commerce or a state manufacturing association?”

The answer to both questions is “yes” and it’s North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry (NCCBI).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce designated NCCBI as its state affiliate nearly 20 years ago, and the National Association of Manufacturers named us as its state affiliate four years ago.

Winston Churchill once said, “There is nothing wrong with change as long as it is in the right direction.” That certainly applies to local and state chambers of commerce. I meet with the heads of state chambers each January and September and with the CEOs of state manufacturing associations each August. In fact, we will host that meeting in Pinehurst in 2005.

At the annual meeting of the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, one of the group sessions I attended was a discussion of the changes in local chambers. We have all seen changes in the title of the top professional in local chambers — executive secretary, executive director, executive vice president, president and president/CEO. We have witnessed a huge change in the gender makeup of the chief executive from overwhelmingly male to perhaps majority female in North and South Carolina.

Not too many years ago, local chambers were where you went if you needed a map or information about the area. They were often the driving forces behind the creation of local economic development and convention and visitors bureaus. Now most are independent of local chambers, but are often located in the same building.

Chamber executives are much more professional than was often the case in the early days. They are constantly involved in staff development activities, as are many of their staff members.

Called “the dream makers of the future,” chamber executives often provide the vision for their local communities. Increasingly, the local chamber is the one vehicle that can bring the various players to the table in a community. Coalition and consensus building is an important leadership function for the local chamber.

That is also true at the state level. NCCBI organized and led the campaign for the two largest bond issues in the history of our state — $2.7 billion for K-12 schools and highways in 1996 and $3.1 billion for the UNC and community college systems in 2000. The latter was the largest higher education bond in the history of the United States!

Local chambers are generally very involved in legislative, government and public policy issues. They typically organize forums for candidates and then lobby them after they are elected. Most chambers do not endorse nor contribute to candidates and work hard to maintain a non-partisan reputation.

At the state level, NCCBI has organized coalitions for tort reform, workers compensation reform, education reform and for the abolition of ergonomics regulations for the past decade. We are not involved in partisan elections. That is the role of NC FREE, a very effective pro-business organization.

Membership in chambers is optional, and during recessions, membership often suffers as business and industry have to reduce expenses. Mergers, out-of-state acquisitions, and lack of knowledge about the importance of chambers also present challenges to chambers. In some areas, volunteers are becoming scarcer for various reasons.

Increasingly, members are questioning what value they get for their membership dues. No longer do chambers have a monopoly on information that is helpful to their members. Technology presents challenges, but also opportunities for the modern day chamber of commerce.

With the news media’s focus on the recent horrible greed and dishonesty of a relatively few CEOs, the advocacy role for business and industry is increasingly an important one for local and state chambers.

NCCBI and the more than 100 local chambers of commerce are committed to being the strongest, most effective VOICE for business, industry, education, and the professions. We are always open for your suggestions!


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