What is CACM?
Compellingly Attractive Chapter Meetings
Shifting to Priorities that Vitalize
and
Building a Great Barbershopping Organization
These workshops are based on the principal that both members and prospective members, when considering whether to renew membership with or join a chapter-based organization, desire and look for Attractive Value Characteristics* that make an organization “compellingly attractive” enough to give of their time and energies.
What is good enough, compelling enough and gives a high return on my investment of time, that I want to return every week and become a member?
What is interesting enough to keep my attention, and varied enough that I want to see what the next rehearsal will bring?
How can I contribute to this organization?
First, Some History
In 2001, frustrated with declining membership and the challenges of both director and member “burnout”, Chuck Greene set out to change the future of Barbershop. He began with research, then writing, and then was challenged to prove his ideas. He chose to bring new actions, activities and thinking to barbershop chapters; ones that would keep pace with changes in our society, shift meeting nights to include “priorities that vitalize” and provide a vehicle that would bring back the excitement, camaraderie, fun and desire to be part of this organization. A barbershopper since his early 20’s, Chuck had a rich history of membership, competition, leadership, and respect for both the organization and the hobby. It became his goal to bring his knowledge and experience to help create something better, more compelling, rich and viable to the organization he so loved. It all began then, with research and recommendations in 2003 focusing on a resurgence of the Society he loved, and this vision lead to taking actions to prove theories, expand the possibilities, and share his experiences.
Then, using the Asheville chapter as his test site, Chuck’s methods succeeded in realizing both enhanced chapter leadership and interesting, fun and exciting meeting activities, increased membership, a drop in the average age and increased satisfaction levels. “CACM is there so that when the chapter’s recruiting program brings men into the door they find a compellingly attractive organization that they want to join, and an environment that stays invigorating so they won’t want to leave.”
The Challenge
The fun, thrills and uplifting emotions innate to Barbershop harmonies are genetic rights for all human beings to enjoy. As champions, we have the stewardship responsibilities, and it’s really important we get it right.”
~ [genetic rights-July/August 2008 edition of American Scientist magazine: “The Psychoacoustics of Harmony Perception”]
- Challenge—The challenge is chapter and Society effectiveness as champions for Barbershop—for the value it can feed into our lives and communities.
- Opportunity—Our great opportunity is becoming such good champions that our chapters and the Society grow and flourish, and the value of Barbershop becomes widely known, cherished and respected.
What Happened Next
Challenged to prove his success was reproducible, it was time to take the work on the road. So Chuck and Beverly combined their talents to develop the “Compellingly Attractive Chapter Meetings” workshops and provide resource materials; what followed was 6 years of successful CACM workshops across the US and Canada and at Harmony University for BHS and SAI members, with a Phase II in development.
Chuck passed away in 2012, but what continued unabated were requests for a sounding board, review and advice on current chorus and board/leadership situations, methods to enhance meeting night excitement and results, how to “restart” the process of CACM workshops and most of all, the question of new availability. Members already following the principles wanted updates; newly named leaders were curious about what others were discussing and wanting in a workshop-what was the process, and how can a chapter get this workshop and information? So after many conversations…
Enter Supercharged CACM (ver.2.0)
In 2015, Beverly Greene and Paul Ellinger got together, and agreed it was time to bring back a newly updated series of workshops, and could be best served by becoming affiliated with both his Supercharging Your Chapter and Wave Box Singing workshops. The two have common ground for leadership development and the pursuit of strong organizations that understand the need for, among other things, FUN for this avocation. So, the new Supercharged CACM (Compellingly Attractive Chapter Meetings) workshops began.
The workshops are based, first, on the principal that both members and prospective members, when considering whether to renew membership with or join a chapter-based organization, desire and look for Attractive Value Characteristics* that make an organization “compellingly attractive” enough to give of their time and energies. What is good enough, compelling enough and gives a high return on my investment of time, that I want to return every week and become a member?
*Download the pdf for more about Attractive Value Characteristics.
We’ve included a blog to keep the ideas fresh and flowing, and this format will be used to share participant’s questions and comments, as well as new concepts. Expect excitement, controversy and challenges (which is just a good way to brighten any day).
Why a Workshop format?
A lecture doesn’t give the hands-on experience of how it feels when the group is energized by the new activities. Facilitating a hands-on workshop means that attendees can participate in the activities, and see first-hand results of the enthusiasm. They can all get a feel for both the new rolls of the director as well as the membership. It contains a great variety of items reinforcing the idea there is no single starting point for a chapter, and no limits to the ideas and creativity. A chorus can immediately begin to experience the variety and rewards of the activities and ideas set in CACM principles.
It also means a workshop can be hand-crafted to fit a specific chorus, if needed. The workshops can be chapter-specific, or a regional pull of members, including BHS, SAI and HI membership.
Contact Beverly for more information about hosting a workshop.