April 14, 2006
New York Day in Washington—May 10-11
Only three weeks remain until CANYS' New York Day in Washington, May 10-11, 2006. The registration form and event agenda are available HERE.
New York Day provides chambers and business people an opportunity for meaningful contact with Congressional legislators and staff. Your colleagues on the New York Day planning committee are working hard to bring you a Legislative Reception on Capitol Hill featuring made-in-New York refreshments, a Congressional Breakfast highlighted by addresses from Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Hillary Clinton, an Issues Briefing with high-level policymakers and political activists, and more.
Sponsorships for the Legislative Reception are now being accepted. The sponsorship form is available HERE.
The CANYS hotel room block has closed. Late registrants must now make their own lodging arrangements. Plan now to bring your members and join us in New York Day in Washington!
CANYS Institute Scholarship Winner
Congratulations to Teri Hess, President & CEO of the Sullivan County Chamber, winner of the 2006 CANYS scholarship to the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management. Terri will receive a $1,000 scholarship to help offset the costs of attending her first year of the 3-year U.S. Chamber-sponsored program. The selection committee of Rob Gladden (Geneva Area Chamber) and Nancy Conley (Orchard Park Chamber) thanks each of the eight strong applicants for their submissions.
Pandemic Flu Planning
As part of comprehensive Pandemic Influenza Plan, the New York State Department of Health has a checklist for use by business in preparing a response plan for an influenza pandemic. This business guide was developed as part of the state's overall pandemic influenza plan, announced in late February. The Business Council is supporting the Department of Health's efforts to distribute this material to businesses statewide. The checklist will provide businesses with a blueprint for dealing with both business continuation issues and dealing with issues involving employees and customers.
For the Pandemic
Flu Business Packet, click here.
To read the Business Council's
letter on pandemic flu preparedness, click here.
For additional information, also see www.pandemicflu.gov/.
A note on Unshackle Upstate
The following is a guest submission from Sandy Parker, President & CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance.
Upstate New York – once a proud manufacturing center with robust
job and population growth and salaries to match – now is in deep
trouble. The loss of manufacturing jobs at major employers, along with
crippling tax rates have placed Upstate New York at or near the bottom
of the nation’s growth chart. In addition to high tax rates NYS
has cumbersome laws, (Scaffold Law, Workers Comp, Wicks) that add to the
burden business must endure.
To address this deeply troublesome economic scenario and to improve the
prospects for growing and attracting business to Upstate NY, a coalition
of 19 chambers and other business organizations has begun a movement called
Unshackle Upstate.
Unshackle Upstate proposes the following:
1. Recognize New York State’s economic diversity.
2. Focus community and economic development funding on investment not
consumption.
3. Shift a portion of economic development spending authority to the regions.
4. Unshackle Upstate from anti-competitive laws and regulations to cut
taxes and business costs.
For more information go to www.UnshackleUpstate.com.
We welcome additional members!
Tell us about it
Congratulations to Schuyler County Chamber’s new president, Cynthia Kimble. She spent nearly 14 years at the Canandaigua Area Chamber of Commerce as Vice President - Financial Manager and has also worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Paychex. To send a note of congratulations, e-mail Cindy at ckimble@schuylerny.com
The Guilderland Chamber has a Membership Coordinator position now available. 30+ hours/weekly. Must have customer service background, computer skills in Microsoft Office suite. Resumes are now being accepted and can be e-mailed to info@guilderlandchamber.com or mailed to Jane Schramm, Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, Pega Plaza, Suite 105, 2021 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203.
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.
