Comments on: To Merge or not to Merge. That is the Question. http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/ Awareness, Development and Action in the Twin Cities Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elizabeth Swanzy-Parker http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Elizabeth Swanzy-Parker Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:09:50 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-282 Even the chambers need to consolidate in an age where industries and companies are consolidating globally. This is what the current and future business environment demands of both the private, public, non-profit and combinations of these sectors. Scale is important. The business trend is to leverage resources and eliminate duplication (ex: back office activities) and I'm sure there are several functions which both chambers duplicate for the advancement of their respective constituencies in the Twin Cites metropolitan area. Organizational survival is going to be increasingly dependent on strategic mergers which aim to: 1) achieve strategic and operational synergies and 2) building a new platform for growth by rebuilding core businesses and identifying opportunities for sustained growth. The Twin Cities must think in terms of a united metropolitan area and still recognize its unique differences on both sides of the Mississippi River. But then too, I'm a newcomer to MN with no historical attachments or loyalties to this area. Elizabeth Even the chambers need to consolidate in an age where industries and companies are consolidating globally. This is what the current and future business environment demands of both the private, public, non-profit and combinations of these sectors. Scale is important. The business trend is to leverage resources and eliminate duplication (ex: back office activities) and I’m sure there are several functions which both chambers duplicate for the advancement of their respective constituencies in the Twin Cites metropolitan area. Organizational survival is going to be increasingly dependent on strategic mergers which aim to: 1) achieve strategic and operational synergies and 2) building a new platform for growth by rebuilding core businesses and identifying opportunities for sustained growth. The Twin Cities must think in terms of a united metropolitan area and still recognize its unique differences on both sides of the Mississippi River. But then too, I’m a newcomer to MN with no historical attachments or loyalties to this area.

Elizabeth

]]> By: Karen Waldron http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Karen Waldron Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:00:28 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-242 I am a newer resident of Minnesota and the metropolitan area as I have lived here for 3 years. I am currently a participant in Leadership Twin Cities and am very grateful for all the opportunities, connections and education it has given me. However, being from the "outside" I see both Minneapolis and St. Paul as one large metropolitan area when discussing it as being a chamber of commerce. It is my belief that the chambers should be as one voice, in fact, I thought Leadership Twin Cities was both MSP and St. Paul (how does one know that is new to the area?) The metropolitan area consists of both cities and should be united in a voice advocating for the best interests of all its residents and the community it serves. I am a newer resident of Minnesota and the metropolitan area as I have lived here for 3 years. I am currently a participant in Leadership Twin Cities and am very grateful for all the opportunities, connections and education it has given me. However, being from the “outside” I see both Minneapolis and St. Paul as one large metropolitan area when discussing it as being a chamber of commerce. It is my belief that the chambers should be as one voice, in fact, I thought Leadership Twin Cities was both MSP and St. Paul (how does one know that is new to the area?) The metropolitan area consists of both cities and should be united in a voice advocating for the best interests of all its residents and the community it serves.

]]> By: Ellen Watters http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Ellen Watters Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:50:11 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-239 For as long as I have been involved with Chambers of Commerce, some 15 years now, the question of Chamber mergers has been talked about. When I ran the Midway Chamber there was talk about merging with the Saint Paul Chamber. When I was at the Saint Paul Chamber there was talk about merging with Minneapolis. While Wendy mentions me in this blog and we have a consulting business together, I have to say I disagree with her on this issue at this time. While many communities do have a dominant, regional Chamber or similar entity, the fact is that Minneapolis and Saint Paul are different. We have two major cities, not one. While there is strong evidence that regional leadership works, I haven't seen it work where there are two major cities. And, as a Saint Paul loyalist (no offense to my colleauges across the river), there is a long-standing perception among East Metro folks that when we do join with the West, the East Metro gets less than is its fair share. Several years ago, for example, we did an analysis of regional infrastructure investment and found that despite a roughly 60-40 split in population, the West Metro had attracted closer to 70% of that investment. So given that history, if there is a regional Chamber, how do we ensure that the East Metro isn't relegated to second status? To me, that is the critical question. For as long as I have been involved with Chambers of Commerce, some 15 years now, the question of Chamber mergers has been talked about. When I ran the Midway Chamber there was talk about merging with the Saint Paul Chamber. When I was at the Saint Paul Chamber there was talk about merging with Minneapolis. While Wendy mentions me in this blog and we have a consulting business together, I have to say I disagree with her on this issue at this time. While many communities do have a dominant, regional Chamber or similar entity, the fact is that Minneapolis and Saint Paul are different. We have two major cities, not one. While there is strong evidence that regional leadership works, I haven’t seen it work where there are two major cities. And, as a Saint Paul loyalist (no offense to my colleauges across the river), there is a long-standing perception among East Metro folks that when we do join with the West, the East Metro gets less than is its fair share. Several years ago, for example, we did an analysis of regional infrastructure investment and found that despite a roughly 60-40 split in population, the West Metro had attracted closer to 70% of that investment. So given that history, if there is a regional Chamber, how do we ensure that the East Metro isn’t relegated to second status? To me, that is the critical question.

]]> By: Chad Brown http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-229 Chad Brown Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:05:24 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-229 Yes, it's time. Back office integration makes sense as does unified programming, marketing and regional advocacy. Your council model is an interesting one that will be fraught with political challenges in planning and implementation. The river between the two cities is narrowing....and will only hasten when the LRT begins operation. Lean times offer opportunities for creative change. We are in the midst of one of those opportunities. It's time for the two chambers to leverage it. Yes, it’s time. Back office integration makes sense as does unified programming, marketing and regional advocacy. Your council model is an interesting one that will be fraught with political challenges in planning and implementation. The river between the two cities is narrowing….and will only hasten when the LRT begins operation. Lean times offer opportunities for creative change. We are in the midst of one of those opportunities. It’s time for the two chambers to leverage it.

]]> By: Don Fromme http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Don Fromme Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:52:03 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-212 Wendy: I would support a logical combination of the two that preserves the integrity of the mission of both. From a corporate perspective, I agree with the with the challenges potential opportunities you have outlined. Don Wendy:

I would support a logical combination of the two that preserves the integrity of the mission of both. From a corporate perspective, I agree with the with the challenges potential opportunities you have outlined.

Don

]]> By: Jay Lindgren http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/12/28/to-merge-or-not-to-merge-that-is-the-question/comment-page-1/#comment-210 Jay Lindgren Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:01:48 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=639#comment-210 Thank you, Wendy, for once again raising this important issue. The MRCC and the SPACC both provide valuable services to their members. I've enjoyed being active in each. I've also enjoyed their succesful joint program, the InterCity Leadership Visit. I think the core question is whether the entire business community in the metropolitan region will be even better served if there is a "Single Voice for Business in the Metropolitan Region." I think the answer is YES. There may (and should) always be a reason for specialized advocacy groups that serve certain geographical portions of our region (just as other Chambers of Commerce in addition to the MRCC and SPACC continue to do today). However, we need a unified voice for the Region. We compete in the world as a region. We would all benefit from a single voice advocating for us. The time is right for a Metro Chamber. Thank you, Wendy, for once again raising this important issue. The MRCC and the SPACC both provide valuable services to their members. I’ve enjoyed being active in each. I’ve also enjoyed their succesful joint program, the InterCity Leadership Visit. I think the core question is whether the entire business community in the metropolitan region will be even better served if there is a “Single Voice for Business in the Metropolitan Region.” I think the answer is YES. There may (and should) always be a reason for specialized advocacy groups that serve certain geographical portions of our region (just as other Chambers of Commerce in addition to the MRCC and SPACC continue to do today). However, we need a unified voice for the Region. We compete in the world as a region. We would all benefit from a single voice advocating for us. The time is right for a Metro Chamber.

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