Greetings! 

 
Hoping your day is filled with extra love, friendship & fun!

The Western Association of Chamber Executives annual conference was a great experience and wonderful opportunity to pick the brains of colleagues embracing change and making their chambers more and more relevant to today's workforce & entreprenurial economic climate we live in.

Did you know that by 2014, there will be more Generation X & Yers in the workforce than Boomers? I knew things were changing quickly - but WOW!

Here are a some things a talented professional Gen Xer shared with us about how the majority of the workforce and soon-to-be business owners view the world and membership:

• Stop talking about your history - who cares? Tell us where you are and where you are going!
• Be prepared to take us somewhere no other organization can take us.
• Networking is not a benefit - connecting us is - really, really connect us.
• Prove how advocacy benefits us cause we know we'll benefit one way or another.
• Stop treating "young professionals" as different or separate....we are NOW!
• Businesses/organizations must be authentic, trustworthy, and innovative if we are going to hang around.

We have to look at everything we do through different lenses and it is exciting.

A few snippits for business and organizations that are going to succeed:

• We must solve problems before they happen;
• We must be highly flexible course correctors;
• Have a high disregard for conventional thinking;
• Real leadership is managing change;
• Average is over done...History..whatever!
• This is a "Bring it Economy";
• Never rest, not for a minute, on what you've built;
• Push past "emotional equity" - the reason we don't make change......

Ideas are overflowing this week as staff, the executive committee and board start talking about how we prepare to lead change and benefit our members.  

First up is YEA! The Beaverton Chamber, as we've shared the past three months, is preparing to be the first Chamber in Oregon to launch the Young Entreprenuers Academy. Absolutely Mission-centric and we are about to push off. Stay closely connected on this one :).

Again - Happy Valentines Day.

Finish your week strong & productively!
 

Sincerely,

Lorraine Clarno, President/CEO, ACE
Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce
503.350.2006  

Our Business Advocacy Council focuses on issues that directly impact businesses that most owners/managers do not have time to stay on top of but count on the Chamber to do so and be their voice.

2013 Legislative Priorities & Agenda ....RELEASED

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 7th, 2013

We meet monthly on the first Thursday at 7:30am - 8:30am in our down stairs conference room. Feel free to contact Lorraine if you have any questions. We'd love to have you.  

All Business Advocacy Council Meetings are open to all members (appointed or not!). If you "get" the connection between monitoring regulations, ensuring business has input at the table on issues such as transportation, taxation and more...you should come and participate. All ideas and opinions are welcome. 

Your Chamber is a Lead & Support Partner
 

_______________________________________________________________

Join the Beaverton Better Buildings Challenge!

Buildings throughout our country waste energy because they are not efficient. This greatly contributes to the amount of fuel we purchase and to America's energy independence. Taking simple steps can reduce energy use, and the money saved can be spent on growing local businesses, investing in new technologies, and creating jobs in our community. The City of Beaverton, in collaboration with PGE, Energy Trust, and NW Natural invite you to join the Better Buildings Challenge and receive a free energy consultation and more. For more information visit our wesbsite or call 503-526-2474