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Monday, January 12, 2026
How to Stop Passive Aggressive Employees (& Even Board Members) Dead in Their Tracks - Glenn Shepard
How to Stop Passive Aggressive Employees (and Even Board Members) Dead in Their TracksBy Glenn Shepard Make a dog mad, and he’ll bite you. Two seconds later, he’ll be licking your face in adoration. Dogs are so forgiving that it’s impossible to ruin your relationship with one. Cats, on the other hand, play by a different set of rules. Make a cat mad, and it won’t react right away. It’ll wait until you leave the house, then spray the walls with urine just to remind you who’s in
Wednesday, December 10, 2025Membership as a Journey, Not a Transaction - Avi Olitzky
By Avi S. Olitzky Every chamber faces the same annual cycle: invoices go out, reminders follow, renewals trickle in, and someone inevitably asks, “Who haven’t we heard from yet?” That pattern—predictable, procedural, and exhausting—treats membership like a transaction. You pay dues, you get access. It’s clean, it’s measurable, and it’s uninspiring. The truth is that membership was never meant to be a transaction. It’s a relationship—and like any relationship, it evolves. People join for one reason,
Wednesday, October 29, 2025Ten Ways to Tell If You Have a Sociopath on Your Board - Glenn Shepard
Ten Ways to Tell If You Have a Sociopath on Your BoardBy Glenn Shepard If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “This person is brilliant but something feels off,” you might not be imagining things.Some of the most destructive boardroom conflicts don’t come from incompetence or laziness, they come from personality disorders masquerading as leadership. In chambers where volunteer leaders often hold real influence over policy, finances, and reputation, having a sociopath on your board isn’t just
Wednesday, October 08, 2025Leadership in the Gray Zone - Pamela Green
by Pamela J. Green, MBA, SPHR, PCC, ICC Chamber leaders know what it feels like to sit in the middle of competing priorities, multiple stakeholders, and a world that seems to change by the minute. From member expectations to community crises, from workforce shortages to legislative battles, chamber executives are constantly navigating the “gray zone” of leadership. In this zone, the old playbooks don’t always apply. Problems are not neatly defined, and solutions are rarely straightforward. That’s why
Wednesday, September 17, 2025Rethinking Benefits and Value: Delivering What Members Really Need - Avi Olitzky
Rethinking Benefits and Value: Delivering What Members Really Need By Avi S. Olitzky For years, Chambers of Commerce have promoted membership by pointing to a long list of activities and programs: networking events, ribbon cuttings, newsletters, and advocacy opportunities. These are important, but they are not what truly differentiates membership. At their core, these are features—and features are available to everyone, irrespective of membership. Anyone in town can attend a public event, see a ribbon
Thursday, July 31, 2025Agenda Design - Bob Harris, CAE
August 2025bob@rchcae.comAgenda Design Bob Harris, CAEThe NonProfit Center Ask a board why the agenda looks like it does, and the answer is, “It’s always been this way.” The purpose of an agenda is to facilitate the work of the board of directors. It is the prerogative of the chief elected officer to create an agenda that will enable a high performing board. Design is a partnership with the board chair and executive director. Both have an interest in significant outcomes when the board meets. Reports
