September 1, 2005
Hurricane Katrina aftermath. . .
As noted by many officials and agencies, a tragedy of this magnitude
will require the assistance of the entire nation in rebuilding the communities
that were in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Below are several links to
resources chambers can use in providing aid.
From the Department of Homeland Security’s SouthWest
Emergency Response Network: The Department of Homeland Security,
through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is coordinating
response efforts to provide necessary assistance to communities affected
by Hurricane Katrina. (See www.swern.gov.)
The Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) serves as the nation’s nerve center for information sharing and domestic incident management. At the request of the HSOC, the National Emergency Resource Registry has been activated. The NERR stands ready to assist the coordination efforts between the resources that are needed and the resources that may be available both from the HSIN-CI Membership and the public.
If you or your organization/agency/corporation have resources that may be made available to the response agencies, please list them in the Resource Registry at https://www.swern.gov/emergency/.
From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The U.S. Chamber's Center for Corporate Citizenship (CCC) is serving as a hub for businesses and their partners to find and share information, coordinate with each other, and collaborate to promote effective disaster aid. You can support and participate in these efforts by visiting the CCC Web site at: www.uschamber.com/ccc/0508katrina.htm.
From ACCE: For chambers and regional associations in the affected area, the eventual recovery challenges will be huge. Their survival as organizations may well depend on the assistance they receive from their colleagues around the country, and their work will determine whether communities and individual businesses ever recover. When ACCE determines how best we can all help, the call will go out. Watch the front page of the ACCE website for details: www.acce.org.
The Shirtsleeves Session – back by popular demand. . .
Spend an afternoon with CANYS at the Sagamore before the Business Council’s Annual Meeting. Don’t miss the CANYS Shirtsleeves Session on Wednesday, September 21 from 3–5 p.m. One of the most highly-rated sessions of the January Conference is back ... with warmer weather and all new challenges!
The program kicks off with a brainstorming session on promoting "Made in New York State" goods and educating our members on opportunities to expand their businesses state-wide. Where the conversation goes from there is up to you! Whether you’re change-managing at your chamber, trying to find some non-dues revenue to close your budget, or seeking some confidential advice from somebody who’s "been there," the Shirtsleeves Session will help you tackle your most pressing problems in chamber management.
CANYS has some of the most diverse, experienced and creative chamber folks in the country – tap into that knowledge and power to benefit your chamber. To sign up for the Shirtsleeves Session, simply check the box on your Business Council main registration: http://www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/events/amchamberreg.pdf
Not attending the full Annual Meeting? Come join CANYS for the afternoon. Contact maggie.moree@bcnys.org for seminar-only registration.
Quebec-New York Economic Summit, October 4-5. . .
The Third QUEBEC-NEW YORK ECONOMIC SUMMIT is set for October 4-5 in Albany, co-hosted by Governor Pataki and Quebec Premier Jean Charest. The first two highly successful Summits were in Plattsburgh and Montreal, but this year’s Albany venue is designed to broaden awareness and involvement. The program begins with an evening reception at Albany Nanotech on Tuesday, October 4th, followed by a full-day conference at Empire State Plaza on Wednesday, October 5th. There are several substantive sessions: Technology, including homeland security technology; Transportation & Border; Energy; Tourism; and a crossborder venture capital collaboration session.
More information on the program and registration can be found at: www.quebecnewyorkcorridor.com/index1.asp. Please make your interested members aware of this opportunity.
CANYS 2005 membership programming survey. . .
Take the quick membership programming survey today. What do you look for in CANYS conferences? Seen a great speaker lately? Would you rather drive an hour for a membership retention seminar or a workshop on life/work balance? The CANYS Board and its committees need your valuable answers to these questions.
Your survey responses will help provide constructive programming for upcoming meetings and events. We appreciate your feedback.
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. . .
The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) becomes effective in January, 2006 and the Retiree Drug Subsidy is designed to provide funding to employers who offer retiree drug coverage. The deadline for the Retiree Drug Subsidy application is September 30, 2005, and enrollment for the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit will begin November 15, 2005. Linked HERE is an article on the Retiree Drug Subsidy. Linked HERE is a list of helpful Web sites where businesses can get important information on the new Medicare program.
Tell us about it. . .
Congratulations to the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, which just got a $55,000 Small Business Development Software Grant from Microsoft. The Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative (NATC), an e-commerce initiative established in 2002, will use the software to support its mobile training lab and business resource center.
NATC currently has 37 businesses that are engaged in e-commerce primarily using various online marketing strategies. In September, the project expects to facilitate two more groups of 15 businesses in the endeavor—one in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks and the other in the St. Lawrence Valley.
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.
