Glossary of ACCE Terms & Acronyms (12-20-13)
ACCE = American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Never referred to as “Ace.” About to become “Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives”
ACCE U = ACCE’s online university, launched in 2012
ACE Awards = Awards for Communication Excellence, referred to as “Ace.” The program has been in existence more than 20 years, and provides national recognition for chambers of commerce with exemplary communications and marketing materials and campaigns.
Alliance for
Regional
Stewardship = Also referred to as “ARS,” it became an affiliate of ACCE in June of 2007 and was folded into CGEF (see below) in 2009.
AMS = Association Management Software. ACCE’s membership database. The CMS is the Content Management System, the tool we use to build our websites.
ARS = See “Alliance for Regional Stewardship”above.
Benefits = The insurance and retirement plans available to the employees of chambers through ACCE. More than 450 chambers are enrolled in at least one plan.
The Board = ACCE’s Board of Directors. Since we have many boards, this can be confusing, but all other volunteer leadership groups use their longer affiliation name. Only ACCE’s Board of Directors is referred to as “The Board.”
CCE = Certified Chamber Executive. The highest professional designation in the industry. The CCE is bestowed by ACCE, but an independent Commission determines criteria, reviews applicants, administers tests and decides who receives the CCE designation.
CGEF = See “The Foundation” below.
Chairman’s
Award = Each year, the Chairman of ACCE’s Board of Directors honors one or more individuals who have made a significant contribution to ACCE and the chamber profession during the Chairman’s term of service.
The
Chamber Commonly used shorthand when referring to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber
Executive = ACCE’s award-winning magazine, covering all aspects of chamber management, including leadership, sales, communications, economic and workforce development, government relations, and more. It is sent to members four times per year. Also called “the magazine.”
Chamber of
the Year = Also known as COY, this Award was launched in August 2007 and is bestowed annually on up to four chambers (by size), in recognition of superior overall chamber performance (numerous criteria).
Chamberpedia = Label used by ACCE’s HERO team to identify the ever-growing online collection of topical information on chamber issues available for members to use.
Circle of
Champions = This peer group is part of the Membership Development Division. It is composed primarily of sales professionals, though membership is open.
CMS = Content Management System, the tool we use to build our websites.
Commission = The Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) Commission. The Commission determines criteria, reviews applicants, administers tests and decides who receives the CCE designation.
Committee of 100 = US Chamber’s exclusive membership subgroup, which meets twice yearly. Involved many of the larger members of ACCE and the ACCE CEO.
Convention = ACCE’s annual meeting of chamber professionals, the largest gathering of chamber executives in the world.
CPG = Community Peer Group. These are well-organized and staffed networking groups of CEOs of the same community size (by population) or type. Current CPGs are Metro Cities, Major Cities, Emerging Cities and Hometown Chambers.
D & I = Diversity & Inclusion Division, a subgroup focused on minority business development, minority professionals and economic inclusion.
Divisions = Peer groups of like-minded professionals. Current Divisions are: Communications, Membership, Government Relations, Economic Development, Education Attainment and Diversity/Inclusion. No added cost to belong
ED Division = Economic Development Division. This Division launched in 2007.
FBI = Fringe Benefits Inc. ACCE’s for-profit subsidiary, which administers the insurance and retirement programs offered by the organization.
Ford Fellowship = also RSD (Regional Sustainability Development) Fellowship. A year-long executive leadership training program that ran from 2007-11.
The Foundation = Community Growth Educational Foundation. ACCE’s supporting foundation, CGEF works to enhance the role of chamber and association executives as community builders by providing education, research and scholarships.
GR = Government Relations or government affairs. ACCE has a Government Affairs Division
HERO = Help. Expertise. Resources. Online. ACCE’s resource center of knowledge, awareness and ideas offered by ACCE members and staff. HERO is staffed by trained information specialists and provides accessible data, links and answers 24/7.
IEDC = International Economic Development Council. This entity serves economic developers in many of the same ways ACCE serves its members. There are many shared members between the two groups.
Institute = The Institute for Organizational Management. (IOM) is a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ACCE may provide faculty and curriculum support from time to time and a member of the ACCE staff sits on IOM Board.
JobWatch = ACCE’s online job and resume posting service for the chamber profession.
Life Member = Historically “Honorary Member,” this pinnacle award is bestowed by ACCE on those who retire after stellar careers in chamber leadership. The “Life Member” name recognizes both the lifetime of success in the chamber profession as well as the member-for-life status afforded to each honoree.
LinkedIn = ACCE convenes five active subgroups for thousands of its members on the social media site, LinkedIn. Members exchange Q&A, Advice, advisories.
Major Cities Council = Group of CEOs from the 75 chambers representing MSA regions with populations between 250,000 and 500,000.
MarketWise = A comprehensive package of free advertising materials for chambers of commerce to use in promoting membership, events and services – provided through CommunityLink, a marketing consulting firm.
Metro Cities Council = Sometimes called the Metros or the Metro Council, it is the oldest community peer group (see CPG). Composed of the CEOs of the chambers representing the top 75 MSAs. Sometimes used in reference to larger subgroup that includes Major Cities (see above).
MDD = Membership Development Division. A subgroup of ACCE members focused on chamber efforts to get, keep and serve members. Formerly organized as NAMD prior to merger with ACCE (see below).
NAMD = National Alliance for Membership Development. NAMD merged with ACCE in August of 2003, becoming the Membership Development Division (MDD).
Operations
Survey = ACCE’s annual survey of chamber membership, finance, and general operations is also called the Ops Survey. The results are free to participants and are used to determine which chambers are eligible to enter the Chamber of the Year (see above) competition.
Pew = Pew Charitable Trusts, a content and funding partner in the government affairs arena since 2008.
The Principal = ACCE’s retirement plan provider, chosen by the Benefits Trustees after extensive due diligence. Principal handles $200+ million in assets of chamber employees enrolled in our 401(k) and 457(b) plans.
Sponsor = An organization like ours has many sponsors, but the term “Sponsor” as used in board meetings refers to ACCE’s Official Corporate Sponsors. The companies pay ACCE at least $30,000 annually for this designation and receive an array of benefits for their financial support.
Team = ACCE operates internally under “matrix” style management, which means that teams of staff come together from departments to address specific short- and long-term goals. The “convention team” for instance, involves people normally assigned to four different departments.
The Trust = ACCE Benefits Board of Trustees – These eight individuals craft and oversee the retirement and insurance benefit programs we offer to our members. It reviews options and selects carriers, as well as taking on a fiduciary role for each participating chamber.
USCIB = The United States Council for International Business. ACCE works with USCIB on issues related to the International Chamber of Commerce and several global initiatives.
WCF = The World Chambers Federation organizes the World Chamber Congress, a bi-annual gathering of 1,500 chamber leaders from over 100 countries. ACCE CEO is Vice Chair of WCF.
Webinars = Free to members, these teleconference roundtable sessions have become a favorite learning method on a variety of topics
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