Notes from the December 8, 2004 Chapter Officers Teleconference:

How to attract a diverse audience and Working together

How to attract a diverse audience

Problem: Several chapters are struggling with membership comprised of retired economists and few younger members.

Suggestions:

1. Reach out to all who USE economics, not only economists . Some chapters mentioned that a number of their newer members include business people such as lawyers.
2. Partner with other organizations. Organizing events in conjunction with Society of Financial Analysts (CFA holders) usually brings a good draw. Other chapters have jointly sponsored events with American Planning Association, for instance. The Gateway Chapter in St. Louis partnered with Washington University to produce an economic debate about the Democrat/Republican agendas.
3. Change your venue time or place. The Dallas chapter hosted an evening meeting, rather than its usual luncheon meeting, and was pleased to attract new people.
4. Roundtable discussions. Two chapters said they had chosen this format for a luncheon rather than a single-speaker format. First, have a question for each table of attendees to discuss. Then ask one person from each table to come to the front and present the question and his/her table's ideas. This discussion is the program for the day and met with very positive feedback. Questions? Contact officers from the Dallas and Hartford chapter.
5. Press can help, because it will increase your chapter's visibility. If you get your event posted in the calendar section – it is free advertising. If you get reporters to know you, they may write about your event – also great exposure and more legitimacy for you in your community.
• You will want to be organized and consistent in reaching out to the press. Perhaps assign one officer primary responsibility for getting to know media people in your area and getting the information about your events in a timely fashion, including follow up.
• Chapters might consider allowing one person from each major media outlet to attend free of charge.
• See www.nabe.com within Chapters>Resources for leaders for more suggestions on working with the press.
6. Speakers. Make sure your topic is timely and of interest to your particular members.
Suggested speakers
• John Silvia, Chief Economist of Wachovia Bank and NABE board member, will be speaking at a number of chapters in the eastern United States.
• Rosemary Marcuss, Deputy Director of BEA and NABE president, is willing to talk about new development in data.
• Also, John Ruser of the BEA has given excellent talks on regional data to several chapters.
• Kathy Camilli of Camilli Economics and a NABE board member will be speaking in Los Angeles in January and is willing to talk to other chapters about the national economic outlook.
• Ken McCarthy, chief economist of vFinance talks about innovation and how it relates to the overall economy and job creation. Contact Vincent Catalano (917) 848-7378.
• Get ideas from NABE roundtable teleconferences.

Working together: chapters and national

1. Joint membership fees are being discussed by the NABE board.

•  One issue: can we find a permanent joint rate rather than the one-time discount chapter members get when first joining national.

•  Second, can we develop a process whereby national collects the dues and reimburses chapters.

2. How to let national know what your chapter is doing.

•  Inform Bruce Kratofil, NABE's webmaster, and Susan Doolittle, NABE's executive director, of your upcoming events and officer updates.

•  Some chapters have a NABE liaison to coordinate the flow of information.

3. How to let chapters know about national

•  Trisha of the San Antonio Chapter gave a presentation covering her participation at NABE's annual meeting. Presentation materials all generated a lot of interest in knowing more about NABE.

•  Idealink. Send us your members' e-mail addresses and we'll send out Idealink twice per month. Susan Doolittle and Laurie King are working on a short proposal that you may use with your board and/or chapter members for approval. Idealink keeps members up-to-date with all of NABE's activities.

Reminder

Presidents and vice presidents: Please send in your membership dues if you have not already done so. And encourage your fellow officers to know and join NABE as well.

Participants on today's call:

Chapter officers

Randie Stein, Arizon Economic Roundtable, randie_stein@msn.com
Mine Yucel, Dallas Chapter, mine.k.yucel@dal.frb.org
Mark Ford, Dallas Chapter, mford2@txugas.com
David Teolis, Detroit Assoc for Business Economics, davod.teolis@gm.com
Bryan Bezold, Gateway (St. Louis), bbezold@stlrcga.org
Dan Kennedy, Hartford Area Business Economists, dwkenne@attglobal.net
Pete Wynkoop, Economic Roundtable-Jacksonville, economicroundtable@earthlink.net
Lynda Lo-Hill, Los Angeles Chapter, lyndalohill@akingmusic.com
Patricia Runyan, San Antonio Chapter, parunyan@sanantonio.gov

NABE Chapter Committee members

Laurie King, Chair lajk@capgroup.com
John Silvia, Co-chair john.silvia@wachovia.com
Rosemary Marcuss Rosemary.Marcuss@bea.gov
Kathy Camilli camilli1@msn.com

NABE

Susan Doolittle, Executive Director, doolittle@nabe.com
Bruce Kratofil, webmaster, brucek@bjkresearch.com

 

Chapter Leader Handbook