Illinois Chamber Economic Development Council Charter
PURPOSE
The Board of Directors of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce considers economic development a fundamental public policy issue significant to Illinois business. The Board of Directors believes economic development is a high priority that demands the attention of responsible elected officials and opinion leaders due to the significant impact this subject has on the civic, social and economic future of the people and employers who reside and do business in Illinois.
The Board of Directors established the Economic Development Council to serve as the Chamber’s primary resource for obtaining the benefit of members’ intellectual capital, experience and resources to help the Chamber educate, respond to and be a leader in influencing economic development policy. The Board of Directors relies upon the Economic Development Council to develop credible, reliable and timely issue-related materials, and to develop and recommend policy positions for the Board’s consideration and action.
The purpose of the Economic Development Council is to gain and provide perspective and understanding of the competitive needs of Illinois’ businesses and to advocate for responsible policies and practices to address those needs and strengthen the economic position of Illinois in the global economy.
The Council provides a forum in which Illinois Chamber members with similar subject matter interest and expertise can work together to undertake and advance issues, develop action plans, provide programs and influence policies to achieve the Chamber’s strategic goals. The Council offers an opportunity for business coalitions, connections, collaboration, promotion and alliances.
The Economic Development Council members are the Chamber’s primary sources for information, guidance, bill review and testimony regarding legislation that may be pending before the Illinois General Assembly, the United States Congress, or local Illinois governments. The Chamber looks to Council members for information, insight and analysis on initiatives and statements offered by the state’s public officials. As each Chamber council develops policy and recommends positions, the Board of Directors with input from the Government Affairs Committee will review and approve any policy or position prior to its release as an official position of the Illinois Chamber.
The Chamber recognizes that Council membership may reflect diverse organizations and may occasionally result in conflicting or competitive business interests and views, but that is by design: the Chamber seeks consensus solutions that address the common concerns and interests for what is best for the future of Illinois. The Council’s role is to look for solutions, build consensus, formulate action plans and offer leadership in facilitating positive change for Illinois business.
STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS
Leadership/Oversight: The Economic Development Council is led and its activities overseen and coordinated by an executive director, who serves as lead staff liaison to the Council. The executive director shall be hired and supervised by the Chamber. As a member of the Chamber staff, the executive director reports to the Chamber Vice President for Government Affairs or his/her designee. Coordinating with the Council Chair, the executive director oversees, coordinates and facilitates Council activities including the formulation of policies, draft legislation, review and proposal of changes to state rules, policies or procedures. The executive director, working directly with the Council Chair, is responsible for managing the activities, programs and communications of the Council. When working with the Council on matters relating to legislative activity or policy statements of the Council, the executive director will ensure compliance with protocols and procedures for gaining approval of the Chamber Government Affairs Committee.
The EDC may, at any time, create or eliminate issue-focused committees as determined by the Council.
The Chairperson and executive director will:
- prepare notices, agendas, and minutes of all meetings of the membership;
- assemble, compile, and disseminate information;
- oversee the work of any additional Chamber employees assigned to the Council;
- recommend to Chamber administration the selection and retention of and supervise outside counsel, advisors and other professional service providers;
- prepare and distribute an annual report of the results of the undertakings and accomplishments of the Council for each calendar year;
- work with the Chamber financial services staff to coordinate maintenance of Council member dues revenue and expenses;
- coordinate policy statement and legislative affairs with the Chamber Government Affairs Committee,
- make recommendations to the Council members and Chamber regarding the level of funding and other necessary resources for council activities, and
- perform such other duties deemed important for the functioning of the Council.
Membership in good standing: a member is any person, entity or business engaged in commerce or any professional activity(ies) consistent with or directly or indirectly related to the area or practice of economic development, who pays annual Chamber membership dues plus annual Council membership dues. The member must pay their dues within six months of passage of their anniversary date.
Suspension and Termination of Membership: Membership of a person, entity or business may be suspended or terminated by a three-fifths vote of those members present at any regularly constituted meeting of the Council at which a quorum is present. Membership may be suspended or terminated for conduct determined by the Council to be detrimental to the mission and purposes of the Council or if a member becomes ineligible for membership. A member who is in default in payment of annual dues may be suspended or expelled by the President and CEO of the Chamber. A member that misses three consecutive meetings, without approval for those absences, may be removed from the Council.
Resignation: A member may resign by filing a written resignation to the Council Chairperson.
Annual Dues: Economic Development Council membership dues are to be paid annually to the Illinois Chamber. The level of membership dues is established by the Chamber, which may, from time to time, review and change the amount of the annual dues and establish the amount of any other assessments or charges. The Chamber will consult with the Economic Development Council before making any changes to the annual membership dues level.
MEETINGS
The Council will meet monthly according to a calendar established by the Council. Issue focused committees shall meet as needed and according to schedules established by each committee.
A calendar of the Council and issue focused committee meetings shall be published and posted on the Chamber web site’s EDC page.
Minutes of the meetings shall be maintained by the chairs of the EDC and its committees, respectively. Those minutes shall be available to EDC members, Chamber staff and the Chamber Board of Directors upon request.
Notice of Meetings: Written notice stating the place, date and time of Council and committee meetings will be emailed not less than five days before the scheduled meeting.
CHAIRPERSON AND COMMITTEES
The EDC functions are overseen and led by a chairperson, who must be an employee of a dues paying member of the Council.
Chairperson: Subject to the direction and will of the Council, the Chairperson shall be in charge of the business and affairs of the Council. He or she shall, in cooperation with the executive director, ensure that the resolutions and directives of the Council are implemented, except in those instances in which that responsibility is assigned to some other person. In addition, the Chairperson, working closely with the executive director, shall discharge all duties of the office of chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Council or the Chamber. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Council unless that authority is expressly delegated to another. The Chairperson also serves as a member of the Chamber Board of Directors.
Election and Term of Office: Each year and at the December meeting of the Council, at which a quorum must be present, the Council will elect a Chairperson to serve for the subsequent year. The Council will forward the name of the individual elected to the Illinois Chamber Board Executive Committee for review and formal approval.
The term of appointment of the Chairperson is one calendar year. A Chairperson may serve an unlimited number of terms.
The Chairperson, may be removed whenever, in the judgment of the Council, the best interests of the Council would be served thereby. Removal of an officer by the Council requires a 2/3 (two-thirds) majority vote of the Council at a regular or special meeting of the Council at which a quorum is present.
Committees: The chairperson may, from time to time, designate and appoint one or more committees comprised of members of the Council for any purpose. Illinois Chamber staff or staff of any affiliate of the Illinois Chamber may be assigned to assist the Council executive director in her/his support for any committee or subcommittee meetings.
Each committee will be led by a chairperson. The Chairperson will be chosen by the committee members and recommended to the Council for appointment. The members of the Committee will be comprised of representatives from business sectors related to each committee’s focus or other individuals with specific expertise or backgrounds as desired by the Council or the committees themselves.
Public Policy and Economic Analysis Committee: This Committee is responsible for compiling, analyzing and reporting to the Council on economic trends, economic development policies, programs and plans of the state including those of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and best practices in economic development policies, programs and plans for surrounding and benchmark states.
Committee members will be comprised of representatives from various business sectors, economic development professionals and consultants, and academic disciplines and institutions with research and instructional interests in areas related to economic development.
The Committee works with both the Chairperson, executive director and the Council to develop a list of data series, programs, policies, plans and benchmark states of interest to the Council. From time to time, the Committee will invite authoritative organizations to make presentations to the Committee and the Council: e.g. the Coalition for Jobs, Prosperity and Growth and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to provide added perspectives, data and information.
Ultimately, the Committee is responsible for assessing the policy, resource, and incentive needs to further stimulate or assist with growth in those sectors of the Illinois economy targeted for examination and focus by the Council.
Manufacturing Committee: This Committee is responsible for compiling information and perspectives and analyzing and providing reports to the Council on:
- critical issues facing manufacturers in Illinois,
- trends in manufacturing employment, cost of doing business, regulation and other matters impacting a thriving manufacturing sector and
- possible remedies and state-level best practices (policies and programs) for addressing issues identified.
Committee members will be representatives from manufacturing firms across Illinois and economic development practitioners with a specific interest in identifying and advancing means for creating a strong manufacturing sector.
The Committee may, from time to time, plan and conduct public forums to identify, present and discuss major issues and remedies required for an economically healthy manufacturing component to the Illinois economy.
Emerging Technologies Committee: This Committee is responsible for compiling information and perspectives and analyzing and providing reports to the Council on:
- trends in areas of emerging technologies,
- Illinois competitive advantages in various fields of the emerging technologies, and
- policy, program and planning needs to develop and sustain Illinois as a leading state for the creation and operation of businesses and other organizations involved in emerging technology endeavors.
The Committee will also periodically plan and conduct public forums to identify, present and discuss major issues and development needs for Illinois to take full advantage of trends in emerging technologies and to create and sustain a strong and vibrant technology sector.
Committee members will be representatives from technology firms across Illinois, economic development practitioners, representatives of quasi-public research and technology institutions and representatives from major academic research institutions with specific interest in identifying and advancing ways to place Illinois as the leading state for creating, supporting and growing the technology sector.
COUNCIL OUTPUT
The Council routinely oversees and directs the identification, collection, review, analysis, and reporting of various data sets and information on the “business climate” and other indicators of the economic health and well-being of the state. The Council will also review, assess and evaluate economic development programs, initiatives, and governance, and the impact of such factors on the state of Illinois and its various business sectors.
The principal output of the Council will be in the form of periodic reports. These reports will be issued semi-annually. From time to time, the Council may issue special written reports, convene hearings or offer conferences and seminars for information-sharing, fact-finding and education that highlight topics requiring special attention.
Any member of the Illinois Chamber may without additional dues payment have access to the output and newsletters through the Chamber web site, www.ilchamber.org. Any Illinois Chamber member with a special interest in economic development may be added to the EDC publications distribution and conference announcement list as a means to keep abreast of economic development issues and activities.
- Research Reports, White Papers, Legislative Policies and Bills: Such products may be issued as the work on a subject issue is completed, reviewed and endorsed by the Council and the Chamber Government Affairs Committee. Should the publications or legislative proposals contain specific policy statements, those statements must have achieved Chamber Board approval prior to release as an official position of the Illinois Chamber.
- Conferences and Public Forums: Such meetings and sessions may be held as freestanding subject events or in conjunction with issuance of research reports or white papers. Conferences or forums may also be conducted in various regions or Chamber Board Districts across the state to ensure adequate coverage and that businesses and interested individuals across the state are provided with opportunities to participate.
It is expected that the Council will hold at least one major conference annually and will sponsor or host issue forums throughout the year as desired.
- Publications: The major periodical of the Council is the EDC Report. The editor of the Report will be a member of the Council. The Report will be published monthly and distributed electronically. Distribution of the Report will include Chamber members, members of the Illinois Development Council (IDC), individuals who subscribe online (other than Chamber and IDC members), and others identified by the Council as appropriate recipients.
All publications of the Council will be available on the Chamber web site.
COUNCIL FUNDING SUPPORT
Beyond the Council products and outputs expected, a primary objective of the Economic Development Council is to assure sufficient funding to adequately finance a staff and program budget that ensures the Illinois Chamber has the necessary resources to effectively engage government decision makers in the development and administration of Illinois economic development law.
AMENDMENTS TO THIS CHARTER
The operating guidelines set forth herein may be altered, amended or repealed by a vote of three-fifths of the members at any regular or special meeting of the members, provided that a copy of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal shall be furnished to each member at least twenty days prior to the meeting at which the alteration, amendment or repeal is to be acted upon by the membership. The twenty-day notice provisions may be waived by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members at any regular or special meeting.
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