PRESS RELEASE:  For Immediate Release June 14, 2005

For more information, contact the Chamber at 989-723-5149

Shiawassee Regional Chamber Awarded 5 Star National Accreditation

The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce (SRCC) recently became a member of an elite group of 14 Chambers of Commerce in the United States that have achieved 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

SRCC President Joe Borgstrom was delighted to hear the news of the Chamber’s five-star status:  “This is a tremendous honor for our chamber and a tribute to the outstanding quality and dedication of the chamber team.  This is very much reflective of the 5-star region we are honored to serve.” 

Accreditation, a continuous improvement program based on the Baldrige Organizational Excellence Award criteria, requires that a chamber meet minimum standards in operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. Accreditation demonstrates that a chamber has defined, reached, and maintained basic operational performance standards, has developed a meaningful and broad-based program of work, and has significantly contributed to the good of their community, region, state, and country.  

“Accreditation is one of the highest honors bestowed on local chambers fighting for pro-growth and jobs policies at the federal, state, and local level,” according to Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber President and CEO. “We are proud to recognize the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and its members for helping to advance the principles of free enterprise – the bedrock of this prestigious award.” 

There are four levels of accreditation:  Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars.  The final rating depends on the chamber’s ability to successfully meet additional criteria, including accountability, financial transparency, employee involvement, political advocacy, and community involvement. The accrediting board is a panel of U.S. Chamber board members, many of whom are the CEO’s of major U. S. corporations. 

The U. S. Chamber of Commerce began offering the continuous improvement program in 1964, and accreditation is available on a five year cycle.  The U.S. Chamber Board regularly evaluates and updates the accreditation requirements, providing new and often more challenging criteria.  The three-, four-, and five-star ratings were added in 2002.  To achieve five stars, a chamber must meet at least 90% of the minimum requirements in each of the areas of assessment.

The Owosso-Corunna Area Chamber of Commerce received its first accreditation in1964 and again in 2000.  The process of re-accreditation as the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce, using a 65-page application that required answering essay questions and comprehensive documentation, was begun in the fall of 2004 and submitted in March 2005 under the leadership of Board Chair Jim Civille and Chamber President Carol Vaughn who retired on April 15, 2005. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

Accreditation Fact Sheet

The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce was awarded 5-Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

Only 14 Chambers in the United States have achieved 5-star accreditation. 

The SRCC is one of eight chambers in Michigan to be accredited, and is the only Michigan chamber to be awarded the prestigious 5 star accreditation. 

There are 6936 local Chambers of Commerce in the U.S.  At present, only 295 are accredited. 

Chamber accreditation is a continuous improvement program for local chambers based on the Baldrige Organizational Excellence Award criteria. 

Accreditation defines organizational excellence.  It demonstrates that a chamber has:

• Defined, reached, and maintained basic operational performance standards

• Developed a meaningful and broad-based program of work

• Significantly contributed to the good of their community, region, state, and country

The eight areas of organizational review are:  Governance, Finance, Human Resources, Government Affairs, Program Development, Communication, Technology, and Facilities. 

Accreditation ratings depend on a chamber’s ability to meet comprehensive requirements in each area including accountability, financial management and transparency, employee involvement, political advocacy, and community involvement. 

There are four levels of accreditation:  Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, and 5-Stars.  To achieve 5-Star accreditation, a chamber must be at least 90% of the minimum requirements in each of the areas of assessment.  The star rating system was put in place in 2002. 

The accreditation program was offered by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce in 1964.  The Owosso-Corunna Area Chamber of Commerce received its first accreditation at that time, and again in 2000. 

Accreditation is available on a five-year cycle.  The Shiawassee Regional Chamber began the comprehensive organizational review process in the fall of 2004 and submitted the accreditation application in March 2005 using new guidelines that included the star rating system. 

The U. S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.