NCCBI News

Panel revises format for Annual Meeting

NCCBI members gave the association high marks on the satisfaction survey conducted this spring. Nearly 500 members returned questionnaires, for a healthy 23 percent response rate. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest possible, members gave NCCBI a score of 6.0 on the statement, “Overall, I am satisfied with NCCBI.” Members also gave the association high marks for delivering timely information on legislative activities, for publishing a high-quality magazine and for delivering good value for the dues paid.

This was the first time that NCCBI has systematically taken the pulse of the entire membership. The survey was a project initiated by NCCBI Chair Jim Hyler of Raleigh, the First Citizens Bank executive, who said he felt feedback from members would help the association judge how good a job it was doing, and make adjustments. NCCBI commissioned Insight Research in Greensboro to conduct the survey, whose $6,500 cost was paid by First Citizens.

In unveiling the survey results to the NCCBI Executive Committee on Sept. 4 at the Triangle Area Meeting, Hyler said the data show members have positive views on most aspects of NCCBI but they also have some ideas for improvement. One area that needs improving is the Annual Meeting, which members gave a relatively low score of 5.0. Members’ written comments on the survey indicated they thought the day was too long and that something should be done to shorten the program.

Hyler told the Executive Committee that, after discussions with the NCCBI staff and consulting several members for their input, he recommended that the dinner portion of the Annual Meeting be discontinued in favor of expanding the evening reception held on the floor of the Expo trade show. Both the Citation for Distinguished Public Service and the Citation for Distinguished Citizenship would be presented at the luncheon. The afternoon seminars and other related meetings that normally occur after the luncheon still would be held. The entire program would be over by 7 p.m. following the expanded reception.

“Reading the comments, I think this type format is the kind of program a lot of our members are telling us they would prefer,” Hyler said. That feeling was echoed in the comments of several Executive Committee members. While they were reluctant to change the format used at the Annual Meeting for decades, they said it was important to listen to members’ views because they buy the tickets.

Phil Kirk agreed. “Members have told me for years that the part of the Annual Meeting they like best is the reception. Networking is important to them. This change means we will be giving them more of what they already like.”

A motion was adopted directing the NCCBI staff to plan the 2003 Annual Meeting along the revamped format.

Here are more results from the survey. Members gave the association 6.0 scores on these questions:

“I feel NCCBI’s staff is effective in working with the legislature. I feel NCCBI’s staff is effective in working with its members. I feel NCCBI is an effective advocate for business and industry interests. I feel NCCBI is an effective advocate for professions. We expect to continue our membership in NCCBI.”

Hyler tempered that last item in nothing that the data show that NCCBI’s largest members gave less-positive responses about their continued membership in the association, a fact he said the staff and the board should keep in mind.

Asked to rate the importance to them of several issues NCCBI focuses on, members ranked them this way:

1. Reducing regulation on business.
2. Lobbying representation.
3. Controlling healthcare costs.
4. Reducing taxes on business.
5. Improving K-12 public schools.
6. Improving higher education.
7. Organizing statewide campaigns and coalitions.
8. Improving the environment.
9. Publishing the magazine.
10. Networking opportunities.

The survey shows NCCBI has members of all sizes; 28 percent of respondents work at companies with just1-9 employees; on the other hand, another 25 percent are at companies with 250 or more. Manufacturers continue to be the largest type of member, at 20 percent, followed by professionals (15 percent), educational institutions (13 percent), non-profits (12 percent, including local chambers), financial services (9 percent), wholesale and retail (6 percent) and governmental (5 percent).

Member Candidates: The following candidates for public office in North Carolina are members of NCCBI.  “This is not an endorsement of these candidates, but it does provide an indication of their general support for business,” NCCBI President Phil Kirk said. “Because of the primary results not being known at the time of publication and because we do not have the occupations of those running, we realize that we are missing some NCCBI members. If we left anyone out, please let us know and we will publish them in our weekly e-mail bulletin and in next month’s magazine.”

U.S.Senate—Erskine Bowles; U.S. Congress—Cass Ballenger and Robin Hayes; State Senate—Marc Basnight, Linda Garrou, Tony Rand, David Hoyle, John Garwood, Kay Hagan, Dan Clodfelter, Bob Carpenter, and Allen Wellons. State House: Bill Owens, Ronnie Smith, David Redwine, Jim Crawford, Arlie Culp, Harold Brubaker, Frank Mitchell, Eugene McCombs, Wilma Sherrill, Drew Saunders, Ed McMahan, Martha Alexander, Connie Wilson, Stan Fox, Joanne Bowie, Alice Underhill, Phil Baddour, and Leslie Cox.

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