October 1, 2004
Vote for Jobs Index released . . .
This week, The Business Council released its first-ever rating system for New York State legislators: the Vote for Jobs New York Index.
This scorecard is the result of months of work in calculating and formatting the scorecard system, and candidly reports the actions—and non-actions—that each Senator and Assembly member took over the course of this session.
It was developed at the urging of many chambers of commerce, and was spurred by a resolution adopted by the CANYS Board of Directors in January. The resolution called on The Business Council to develop a scorecard for state legislators, and it passed unanimously.
If you’d like to become a Vote for Jobs New York partner chamber, e-mail maggie.moree@bcnys.org for web graphics and additional materials to promote Vote for Jobs New York among your members.
The Montgomery County Chamber, the Southern
Saratoga County Chamber, the Greater Watertown-North
Country Chamber and the Genesee County Chamber
are among the first to link the Vote for Jobs New York Index
directly from their chamber web pages.
CANYS at the Sagamore wrap-up . . .
If you weren’t among the chamber executives at the CANYS program on September 22, you missed what one exec called “one of the best meetings we’ve held in a long time.”
Karen St. Hilaire of the Saint Lawrence County Chamber reported on a wildly successful partnership she established with EBay, with the help of Senator Hillary Clinton’s office. The goal of the project was to open a broader marketplace for small businesses in and around Saint Lawrence County. The effort took 15 small businesses, trained their owners through EBay University programs, gave them access to capital, computer equipment and digital cameras, provided business and technical support, and helped their businesses take off! One successful business saw a 60% increase in sales, hired four more people, and is currently buying land for construction of a new manufacturing operation. Another saw her soaps featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as a result of the new exposure. 25 new participants began their training last week.
Garry Douglas of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber, Randy Peers of the Brooklyn Chamber, and Todd Shimkus of the Adirondack Regional Chamber participated on a panel for workforce development issues. Garry discussed his experiences in working with his local Workforce Investment Board and maintaining quality employer input in WIB activities. He also detailed one of his chamber’s niche programs, the Spousal Employment Network. Randy spoke of the employer-driven need to find “good help,” and the birth of Brooklyn’s Good Help program of job posting and applicant screening, among other things. The program obtains funding through the Center for Workforce Preparation at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and has grown to integrate workforce development with economic development, and provide some Brooklyn-specific labor market data. Todd outlined a comprehensive community report on workforce needs in relation to local education. He noted that companies looking to come to New York State are now looking at 5th grade math scores—not necessarily college graduation rates. One of the program’s components has employers meeting directly with vocational high school students on what technology skills and soft skills they’ll be looking for in future employees.
Peter Molinaro and Carla Silverstein of the State Insurance Department
provided updates on a number of issues. With regard to the 29% and 9.5%
proposed increases in workers’ comp premiums, it was reported that
the Insurance Department would not approve an increase without receiving
requested data on fraud and prevention and use of “Section-32”
settlements. One goal of the Department is to revolutionize the way CIRB
collects data. On Healthy New York, it was reported that 110,000 participants
have enrolled since 2001, and a new ad campaign will run through the beginning
of October to spur enrollment. Legislative efforts to place a limit on
the percentage of premium increase allowable without Insurance Department
approval did not pass both houses. Follow-up information on this issue
will be distributed.
Tell us about it . . .
Congratulations to Tammy Carnrike, CCE of the Chenango County Chamber, who will take over as Chairwoman of ACCE—the American Chamber of Commerce Executives—at its annual meeting in Alexandria, Va., on October 29, 2004. Those wishing to attend the meeting must register in advance by contacting Maryann Niner at 703-998-3547 or mniner@acce.org.
Linda Hillman of the Rensselaer County Chamber needs your help: We have been reviewing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. How are other chambers complying with it? What have they done to educate their Boards? E-mail Linda at: lhillman@renscochamber.com.
Rob Robinson of The Otsego County Chamber needs your help: Does any CANYS member have a membership renewal incentive program that they feel has been successful and cost effective? Secondly, does anyone have a renewal incentive program that rewards current members for recruiting new members -- if they bring in a new member when they renew theirs? E-mail Rob at:rob@otsegocountychamber.com.
The Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce is seeking a President. Resumes for the position are currently being accepted. Please send them to the attention of Elmer Adkins, Canandaigua Area Chamber of Commerce, 113 South Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. For more information, visit www.canandaigua.com/chamber_home.asp.
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 maggie.moree@bcnys.org.
