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April 4, 2003 Message from the Chairman . . .Small Business Day activities went very well in Albany. Thanks to those Execs who took the time to make the trek, and especially to those who brought along real business people. As one legislator said, “It is the business community who gives us a reality check and keeps us on our toes as we try to legislate for the good of all New Yorkers.” Attendance was about 400 people with the majority coming from the hard grassroots work of our Chambers. At our Board meeting we discussed the second wave of E-Advocacy (now playing out across the state), firmed up plans for NY Day in Washington on May 13-14th, discussed the role of our new membership committee headed up by Peter Aust, were briefed on the applications for our $1,000 Institute Scholarship, and brainstormed how we would work a discussion on NY’s Center for Excellence initiative into the Business Council’s Annual meeting at Bolton Landing, September 17-19th. Finally we had a long discussion on Association Health Plans (AHPs) and their status as legislation introduced in the Congress. AHPs would enable National Associations, such as the U.S. Chamber and many others, to offer stripped down health insurance programs across the country that would essentially bypass most state mandates that drive up health care costs. Without a lot of definitive information, we are arranging a conference call with the U.S. Chamber to get a handle on whether this legislation might be beneficial to our members and to local Chambers us as primary providers of group health insurance benefits to small business. Stay tuned; we may have a statewide conference call on it to fill you in. --- Ray San Fratello E-Advocacy Update: Stop the Corporate Tax Hike! . . .As
of Friday morning, April 4, more than 1,100 of
your colleagues and neighbors had used the E-Advocacy system
to send some 5,500 faxes
to legislators, urging them to reject the "New Jersey Plan" of
tax hikes. New York Day in Washington 2003 . . .CONFIRMED SPEAKERS include: U.S. Senator Charles Schumer Registration and information at http://www.canys.org/pdf/2003/NY-DC-03Registration.pdf or go to http://www.canys.org/news.htm We can't stress enough the importance of booking your hotel rooms now! New York Day in Washington, D.C. is May 13-14. A block of rooms is being held at the Washington Terrace Hotel on Rhode Island Avenue. To register you may call at 1-202-232-7000 and use CODE CHA0513 or online at http://www.reservations@washingtonterracehotel.com. The room block is only good until April 14, so book your rooms today! This is your chance to lobby on Capitol Hill for issues important to your local business community. The event kicks off with a Legislative Reception May 13th on “The Hill” with our New York delegation. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton will join us for our Congressional Breakfast May 14th, along with others in the New York delegation of Representatives. Then you’ll hear the latest developments on issues of importance to New York businesses from experts in the field, during our Issues Briefing. The afternoon provides ample opportunity for your group to meet one-on-one with your own Members of Congress and their legislative staffs. Please plan to join us and give your members the date, so they can plan to participate. Would you or one of your member businesses like to help sponsor the Legislative Reception? Sponsors get excellent visibility and prestige in helping to celebrate New York business right on Capitol Hill, with the movers and shakers of the political arena. Click here for a sponsorship form: http://www.canys.org/pdf/2003/Washington Reception Sponsor form.pdf Tell Us About It . . .Joyce Minard at the New Paltz Chamber wants to know what you think: has any Chamber Alliance member ever completed a feasibility study? What kind of questions were asked? E-mail Joyce at joyce@newpaltzchamber.org Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Send it to maggie.moree@bcnys.org |
