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Don't Miss the Fall Cornerstone Executive Briefing with Richard McSpadden
As part of our continuing effort to connect the Georgia Chamber's Cornerstone Members with business leaders from throughout the nation, we have invited Richard McSpadden, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and former Commander/Flight Leader of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, to be the featured speaker at the Fall Executive Briefing Luncheon.
“A Good Investment,” Business Leaders Telling Campaign Volunteers
Early returns from the Team Georgia Chamber ’08 membership and total resources campaign are encouraging. Just six weeks into the drive, volunteers are pleased with the reception they are getting from business leaders across the state. One business owner in south Georgia, who kept up with the accomplishments of the state chamber in the legislature, told a volunteer that membership gave him what he needed, a solid return on his investment.
Achieving goals during the critical first phase of the campaign can often predict the outcome and those preliminary goals are being met. While the campaign’s strong start is clearly good news, its early success is not a mystery to the hundreds of volunteers marshaled for the statewide effort. Repeatedly, campaign workers are hearing prospective members praise the state chamber for its vigilance in supporting pro-business legislation during the recent term of the Georgia Legislature.
An early producer summed it up this way: “People like to be associated with a winner and right now, the Georgia Chamber is viewed as a winner.” But, the real winners coming out of the two-year legislative term were the citizens of Georgia, who will benefit from a series of new laws that will make the state a better place to live and work. “We tackled some mighty big issues over the past two years, a few of which were looming as major threats both to our economy and the welfare of our citizens. What we quickly learned was that, if the Georgia Chamber had not been part of the process, not much would have happened,” said George Israel, Georgia Chamber President & CEO, “We were successful in the General Assembly,” he added, “because we had a strong and committed membership of more than 4,000 businesses behind us, from virtually every county in the state. We spoke for them, but they deserve the credit for our success.”
With this comment, Israel underscored the importance of not only maintaining a strong membership, but also growing it. And, that is the mission of the Team Georgia Chamber campaign.
This year’s drive marks the 12th consecutive year that the state chamber has waged an aggressive campaign to add dollars and members. All previous campaigns have hit their goals, resulting in a nearly 150 percent increase in membership, just since 1997. The funds raised have been used to enhance the organization’s lobbying efforts, from additional research capabilities to new staff members.
Georgia Chamber Kicks Off Statewide Membership Campaign
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is set to grow again. With the help of more than 500 volunteers, representing 35 companies and organizations, the state business organization has begun canvassing the state for new members and additional resources. The goal of this year’s campaign is $1.8 million and 800 new members.
The drive officially started on Wednesday, June 11th, at a luncheon at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. Headlining the luncheon was keynote speaker, David Nour, Founder - Relationship Economics® and CEO of BeOne Now, Inc. David is a social networking strategist and one of the foremost thought leaders on the quantifiable value of business relationships.
12th Statewide Membership Campaign Kicks Off June 11th
What began in June of 1997, as a way to attract a few new Georgia Chamber members and raise some much needed funds to serve those members better, grew into what would become the most successful membership campaign of any state chamber in America.
The drive, known as Team Georgia Chamber, set what was, at the time, an ambitious goal eleven summers ago of $600,000 and 700 new members. It succeeded that year – and every year since – for two main reasons. First, the product is sound. Membership in the Georgia Chamber has significant measurable value. Members get a return on their investment.
Team Georgia Chamber ’08 Taking Shape as June Kick Off Nears
A small army of business leaders from all parts of the state is quietly forming in anticipation of the start of Team Georgia Chamber ’08, the state chamber’s annual drive for new members and revenue.
The campaign will mark the 12th consecutive year that the Georgia Chamber has conducted an aggressive statewide drive. All of them, since the first one in 1997, have hit their goal, resulting in an infusion of more than $12 million in new funds to help upgrade member services and benefits. During this same time period, the campaign has been responsible for a nearly 150% increase in membership.
Big Victory! ’07 Membership Campaign Sets Two New Records
The Team Georgia Chamber ’07 statewide membership campaign, a team effort by more than 500 volunteers, will enter the record books as the most successful campaign in the history of the state chamber. It roared past its new member goal of 700, ending with 819 (an all-time high) and it raised $1,767,508, beating its objective by 101%.
In summing up the drive, Campaign Chairman Charles K. Tarbutton, called its success a tribute to the reputation and track record of the Georgia Chamber and to the hard-working volunteers. “We start with two zero’s on the board in June and it’s up to our volunteers to slowly and methodically add to our totals until we reach goal,” he said. Tarbutton, who took over as the ’08 Chair of the Georgia Chamber on January 14th, added that this was the eleventh Georgia Chamber campaign in a row to hit and exceed it dollar goal. Tarbutton is Asst. Vice President of Sandersville Railroad Co., in Sandersville.
Campaign Hits $1.4 Million, 555 Members; Final Push Underway
Zero to $1.4 million in 21 weeks! Not a wish; a reality. And, it’s not over yet. In fact, every day, campaign workers in all parts of the state are adding dollars and new members and watching overall drive totals rise.
Mindful of several significant campaign incentive deadlines, they are using the closing days in November to lock in deals and round up members who have been lingering on the “call back” list. It’s paying off.
Week 21 saw some spectacular numbers added to the board, including three volunteers reporting five-digit production for the period. Frank Boyd (Georgia Power) topped the list with $10,500, followed by Mendel Lay (Wachovia Bank), also turning in $10,500. Kevin Sessions (TalentQuest) was just inches behind with $10,000. Also on the top five list for the week was Teresa Greenwood (Atlanta Gas Light) reporting $5,920 and Jack Morris (Wachovia Bank), with $1,175.
Fifth Annual 'Reception on the Rooftop' Biggest, Best Ever
 are: Jennifer Wilcox; Ronald McGee; Team Captain Swann Seiler; and Stan Sparks. Their team was one of the first to hit both their dollar and new member goals in this year\'s drive.</FONT>'); "<FONT size=1>Proud both of the job they have done in the 2007 membership campaign and the success of this year's 'Reception on the Rooftop', four members of the Georgia Power Coastal Region Team relaxed after hosting this year's big event. Shown above (L-R) are: Jennifer Wilcox; Ronald McGee; Team Captain Swann Seiler; and Stan Sparks. Their team was one of the first to hit both their dollar and new member goals in this year's drive.</FONT>")
If you were a member, prospective member or friend of the Georgia Chamber and you were anywhere near the historic district in beautiful Savannah on Tuesday night, October 30th, the place to be was at the Georgia Power Headquarters to meet, greet, take in the view and enjoy Southern hospitality as only the folks in Savannah can do it.
A Team Georgia Chamber campaign tradition, the reception is held each fall high atop the power company's building, which sits adjacent to the busy Savannah river. In fact, if anyone needs proof of the vitality of this city and region - or the immense importance of the Georgia Ports Authority - one visit to this campaign event will confirm it all.
As Total Nears $1 Million Mark, Pace of Campaign Quickens
In his report last week to the officers of the Georgia Chamber, 2007 Chair Dr. J. David Allen used a now politically incorrect advertising slogan from the past to describe the success of the Team Georgia Chamber ’07 statewide membership campaign, “We’ve come a long way, baby.”
He was referring to the fact that the campaign, which began in late June with a balance of zero, has climbed to within a few dollars of a million. But, Dr. Allen was quick to point out, “We can feel good about it, but we can’t celebrate. We’ve still got a long way to go.”
Membership Campaign Takes Cue from Weather: Both are Hot!
If we are lucky, the high temperatures will moderate, but the Team Georgia Chamber '07 statewide membership campaign shows no sign of cooling down. And, that's good news for campaign planners who say they are right where they wanted to be going into Labor Day.
"Our dollar goal this year is $1.7 million," said Campaign Chairman Charles K. Tarbutton, of Sandersville, "and we all wanted our target number to fall below a million by Labor day and I am confident that it will. That gives us a solid ten weeks to raise the remaining dollars, with a volunteer force of 500 that is getting better every day. It won't be easy, but I am encouraged with our progress so far," Tarbutton added.
Older Stories
- A Team Georgia Chamber '07 Message from Skin Edge and Haydon Stanley August 2, 2007
- Team Georgia Chamber '07 Membership Campaign Roars Into Week 3; Volunteers Say Message is Resonating Statewide July 16, 2007
- Confident Beginning For Georgia Chamber’s 11th Campaign June 20, 2007
- 2006 Membership Campaign Tenth in a Row to Hit Goal December 27, 2006
- Final Days See Membership Campaign Gathering Momentum November 5, 2006
- Fair Tax Topic at Georgia Chamber Cornerstone Luncheon October 25, 2006
- Statewide Campaign Reaches 75%, with Four Weeks to Go October 23, 2006
- Campaign Dollars Move Past 60% Mark; Big Finish Expected October 10, 2006
- Campaign Inches Near $1 Million; October Critical to Victory October 3, 2006
- Israel Cites Need to Get Manufacturers Involved in Campaign September 25, 2006
