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February 2007

Vol. 6 No. 2

MCCE Executive
Online
Don't Miss Out!
MCCE Annual Meeting, February 7-9
February 7 is approaching fast! Don't miss your opportunity to
attend the MCCE Annual Meeting!

We have an excellent agenda planned, including two presenta-

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tions from guest speaker Cathi Hight, Hight Performance Group,
three formal networking opportunities, two high level break-out
Mark your sessions, and presentations on chamber & community branding;
Calendar workforce development initiatives led by local chambers; employ-
ee benefits for local chambers and more!

Download the registration form and meeting agenda from the

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Web at, www.mnchamber.com/mcce/index.cfm. For more infor-
mation, contact Lisa Engdahl, (651) 292-4699, (800) 821-2230
Nat’l Guard or e-mail lengdahl@mnchamber.com.
Troop
Reintegration We look forward to seeing you at Grand View!

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber

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Legal Update
Starts New Program
The Albert Lea-Freeborn County
Chamber of Commerce is starting a new program, called
"Positive People - Progressive Community". This program is
designed to help advance communication between the com-

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munity and local businesses.

The program kicked off its first event Thursday, January 18, with
Managing speakers from the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.
by the
Numbers The focus of this program is to inform the Freeborn County com-
munity about area businesses and try and communicate all the
positive things going on in the county and city. Susie Petersen,
Chamber executive director, hopes companies
will share their stories of where they come from,
what they do, and why they are in the area.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!


2007 MCCE Fall Conference is Set!
The location has been decided for the 2007 at this two and a half day conference are
MCCE Fall Conference! This annual event developed and led by our fellow members
will be held September 19-21, 2007 at The and this year, our host, the Detroit Lakes
Lodge on Lake Detroit in Detroit Lakes. Regional Chamber of Commerce is helping
to plan a terrific conference!
This event, held each September in a greater
Minnesota community, is designed to con- Co-Chairs for the conference are: David
nect Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Hochhalter, Detroit Lakes Regional
Executives (MCCE). The Fall Conference Chamber of Commerce; Kallie Briggs,
provides MCCE members the opportunity International Falls Chamber of
to share ideas and network in a relaxed Commerce; Jennifer Gale, River Heights
atmosphere. The majority of the programs Chamber of Commerce.

Great Lakes/Midwest Regional Government Affairs Conference-September 12-14


Is your chamber's advocacy program meet- tices and trends -- from government
ing the demands of your members, elected affairs 101 to advanced activities for the
officials, and community stakeholders? political veteran.
The U.S. Chamber's regional government Network with colleagues and share

affairs conference will provide the informa- best practices.


tion, tools, and resources you need to har-
ness your political potential and take your The conference will be held at The
government affairs program to the next InterContinental Chicago starting with
level of effectiveness. lunch on Wednesday, September 12 and
ending Friday, September 14.
Program highlights include:
● Dr. Kelton Rhoads (invited) is a profes- MCCE and the U.S. Chamber offer a joint
sor and psychologist who approaches scholarship for this event. Watch your
influence and persuasion from a unique email for an application this spring.
perspective. Dr. Rhoads has delivered
highly effective and thought-provoking To make room reservations at the U.S.
presentations to private and public sector Chamber of Commerce conference rate of
groups throughout the world. $220 per night, please call (312) 944-4100
● Learn from the experts about cutting and mention the U.S. Chamber of
edge issues confronting businesses Commerce or event code DG4.
nationwide and how chambers are
addressing them. Visit the U.S. Chamber Web site this
● Discover the latest government prac- spring for more information on this event.
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Army National Guard Troop


Community Reintegration
The Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead has a number of military units
and organizations as members and has been actively supportive of military per-
sonnel for many years. The local chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve is a member of the Chamber and the Chamber is an ESGR Five-Star
Award winner for its support of military units, organizations and personnel.

More than 3,000 Minnesota Guard and Reserve personnel are currently
deployed around the United States and across the globe while their families and
employers remain in our community. When a soldier goes to war, their family is
significantly impacted as well, and so are their employers and communities. As
one local example, the Clay County Attorney is currently deployed and his
deployment has just been extended by four months. He has a wife and two
young children, too.

The Moorhead National Guard's 2-136 HHC Family Readiness Group meets
monthly to help assist 250 families affected by the current deployment. Chamber
member firms have provided financial support for the group and its support
efforts, including a Military Kids program that connects dependent children and
schools with supportive resources in the community. The Minnesota Extension
Service and local colleges have been an ally in this and community reintegration
efforts.

As local chambers and communities and as a nation, we should be proud of and


grateful to our citizen soldiers and their families as they serve our nation both
here and overseas. Local chambers, their members and community organiza-
tions can all play a role in helping them both now and when they return home,
soon, please.

If you would like to learn more, contact David Martin at David@fmchamber.com


or (218) 233-1100.

Welcome!
Diane Klaers - Information Coordinator, Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of
Commerce & CVB
Miranda Anderson - Communication & Events Director, Brainerd Lakes
Area Chambers of Commerce
Amanda Zurn - Administrative Assistant/Receptionist, Detroit Lakes
Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Legal Update
What are the responsibilities of a chamber which son-
pors an event where injuries are suffered by participants
or guests; or when when property damage occurs?

A: If your Chamber sponsors an event, the Chamber may


be held liable for personal injury or property damage
occurring in connection with the event. You should insure
to protect the Chamber from the risk of such liability.
Check the coverage of your Chamber's liability insurance policies to determine
whether such events are covered under the policies, and whether the amount of
coverage is sufficient. If the Chamber's current policies do no cover such an event,
sometimes additional coverage can be obtained through a policy rider.

Is Directors’ and Officers’ insurance necessary? Do the “immunity” provisions of the


Minnesota nonprofit corporation act apply?
A: The Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act requires that a Chamber must indem-
nify officers, directors and agents of the Chamber unless the Articles or Bylaws pro-
vide otherwise. Thus, a Chamber has the right to refuse to indemnify individuals
who are sued on behalf of the Chamber.

The "immunity" provision of the Act provides that a person who serves without
compensation as a director, officer, trustee, member, or agent of a Chamber is not
civilly liable for an act or omission by that person if the act or omission was in good
faith, was within the scope of the person's responsibility as a director, officer,
trustee, member of agent of the Chamber, and did not constitute, willful or reckless
misconduct. This exemption does not apply, however, to: (1) an action or proceed-
ing brought by the Minnesota Attorney General for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director; (2) a cause of action to the extent it is based on federal law; (3) a cause of
action based on the person's express contractual obligations; or (4) an action or pro-
ceeding based on a breach of public pension plan fiduciary responsibility. Nor do
the provisions of this statute limit an individual's liability for physical injury to
another person or for wrongful death which is personally and indirectly caused by
that individual.

In sum, a Chamber may decide whether or not it chooses to indemnify officers,


directors and members against liability, or simply rely upon the immunity provi-
sions of the Act. Remember that the immunity provision applies only to uncom-
pensated persons, thus, it would not protect any compensated directors, officers, or
employees. Under the Act, the Chamber may choose to indemnify only certain
classes of persons, for example, only officers if it chooses to indemnify, it should
seek insurance to cover the indemnification promise, since it would be misleading
to officers and/or directors to support such a promise. If the Chamber does not wish
to indemnify any person, this must be explicitly stated in the Articles or Bylaws.
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Managing by the Numbers


Best Practices

1 One Page reports are adequate for our busy volunteers. If a document requires
a staple it's too long for the board of directors. Brief is best.

3/24 Answer phones within 3 rings to promote member service excellence.


Satisfy and respond to all member requests within 24 hours.

1/4/7/9 A simple member retention plan: In the 1st month of joining, mem-
bers get a welcome kit. In the 4th month a member of staff calls to introduce his
or himself as a source of contact. In the 7th month, a member of the board calls
to inquire about member satisfaction. In the 9th month a membership committee
member calls to encourage renewal (as bills will soon be mailed in the 10th or
11th month).

By Bob Harris, CAE. For free tips and templates on strategic planning, board gover-
nance and nonprofit management visit wwww.nonprofitcenter.com. (bob@rchcae.com)

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