Chamber Updates Policy Making Process

In recent months leadership of this organization wanted to adjust (re-calibrate) the process by which we decide which public policy issues we address, how we analyze those issues, and how we arrive at a position that best represents the collective view of the Chamber.

In our Community Chambers on local matters, there is no change.  Their Boards are empowered to examine any local issues and to take a position if they so decide. On matters of regional or statewide policy (Tax Reform, Workers Compensation, Education, Health Insurance, etc) we now have a much more inclusive process, as well as a nimble one. Here’s the process:

1-     The Regional Board will determine what issues or legislation we will review and whether the issue goes to a task force, or, typically, to our Public Policy & Legislative Affairs Committee, (PPLA)

2-     PPLA will be comprised of 30 voting members, and will make recommendations on policy issues to our Board’s Executive Committee, (Presidents’ Council)

3-     To ensure broad based discussion, the voting members are as follows,

a.     Each Community Chamber appoints/approves 4 members from its Board or other local chamber members. (20 votes)

b.    Regional Board Appoints 4 members

c.     Presidents’ Council appoints 6 members

d.    Other interested members may participate in policy reviews and discussion, but not in a vote.

4-     The Presidents’ Council will review the recommendation and determine if it should go to the Regional Board. Since the large majority of this committee  are community chamber Presidents, it is expected that the recommendation would parallel the PPLA recommendation

5-     The Regional Board will review the recommendation and will require a 60% supermajority vote which can include email votes if cast prior to the Board meeting.

6-     Should the Regional Board be unable to get a 60% vote, it may either take no position or call an all boards meting (roughly 95 members of the entire organization’s boards) who would also require a 60% majority.

7-     Any vote of the Regional Board would be binding, as would a vote by the All Boards.

A lot of thought and input from all chambers has gone into this new process, and we believe it will make for much better decisions of what issues are to be addressed, and comprehensive communications, input and involvement of all chambers through their boards. This policy has been voted unanimously by all our Community Chambers and the Regional Chamber Board.