April 5, 2004
Last chance to register: Chamber Financial Management 101 . . .
Have you signed up for ACCE's Regional Education Seminar on chamber financial management, hosted by CANYS and the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce? Time is running out!
Join Ed McMillan, CPA, CAE, on Wednesday, April 14th, as he leads you through the practical and critical components of successful chamber financial management. The cost of registration is for a full-day (9:00 am–4:00 pm) seminar and includes continental breakfast, networking lunch and course notebook. Participants will also earn 3 credits towards their CCE. Registration is $179 for ACCE and/or CANYS members, and $229 for non-members.
Register online at http://www.acce.org/profdev/regional/loginNY.asp, or call ACCE at 800-394-2223.
CANYS governmental affairs committee update . . .
The CANYS governmental affairs committee held another of its monthly conference calls with Business Council leadership on March 31. Discussion focused on workers’ comp reform efforts. Governor Pataki’s early announcement of a reform package brings attention and urgency to the fight for reform. The business community will continue to push for passage of S.5320/A.8862, the Libous-Schimminger reforms. As soon as the Governor’s bill is introduced, side-by-side bill comparisons will be made available to chambers. Chambers and associations have led the charge in contacting legislators, and more work needs to be done. Chambers are specifically encouraged to have local business leaders make phone calls to their Senator and Assembly Member. Talking points for these calls on comp reform are available HERE.
Cost-cutting Medicaid reform efforts were also discussed on the call. Recent efforts by the Rochester Business Alliance and Buffalo Niagara Partnership include two op-ed pieces recently published. One from Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and RBA CEO Thomas T. Mooney can be found HERE. Another from David Klein, CEO of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, can be found HERE. Recent efforts by the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce on Medicaid and pension relief can be found HERE.
Please return the CANYS GAC issues survey by April 20th. Extra copies of the fax-back survey can be accessed HERE.
Comp reform E-Advocacy still strong . . .
As of Monday, April 5th, more than 1600 business people had sent more than 7600 faxes to legislators’ desks in Albany. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber, Chautauqua County Chamber, and Greater Syracuse Chamber continue to be our top-producing chambers in this effort. Numerous other chambers, small or not, such as the Orleans County Chamber, Queens Chamber, Rome Area Chamber, Lancaster Area Chamber, and Rensselaer County Regional Chamber have also made special efforts in this push. Keep up the good work! Please continue to direct your members to the e-advocacy system. Legislative aides continue to tell Business Council staffers that these faxes demonstrate the depth and breadth of business support for reforms.
Tell us about it . . .
Tim Hulbert, formerly at the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber and now at the Charlottesville (VA) Chamber, is undergoing treatment for lymphoma and sends along his thanks for the prayers and wishes he's been receiving.
The Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce with offices located in Watkins Glen, NY is seeking a President who is responsible for providing the leadership, direction and administration for all aspects of Schuyler County Chamber activities. Resumes should be forwarded to: Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce, Attn.: President Search Committee, PO Box 268, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 or E-mail to coocoo53@stny.rr.com, no later than Wednesday, April 21, 2004.
Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Job opening in your chamber? Great idea you’d like to share? Send it to cathy.jimenez@bcnys.org.
