February 17, 2006
Small Business Day is March 28th
Most chambers are now finalizing their plans to bring delegations of small business people to Albany on March 28th for the annual lobbying event, Small Business Day. Don’t be left out! Co-sponsored by CANYS, The Business Council and NFIB, the day is wholly devoted to advocacy and education for your small business members. The day begins with a series of issue briefings and topical discussions, complete with opportunities for audience interaction with the policy experts presenting. The luncheon usually draws high-level state officials, and then chamber delegations scatter across the capitol to meet one-on-one with their Assembly Members and Senators. It’s a day you don’t want your chamber members to miss—especially with issues like health care costs, workers’ compensation, business taxes and energy hot on the radar screen this year.
More information on the day can be found here: www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/events/sbdinfo.htm
Workers' Compensation Reform: Make it Happen!
The Business Council has launched its first e-advocacy campaign of the 2006 legislative session on workers’ compensation reform. Chambers’ consistent hammering of the comp reform message over the past few years has paid off—this year, conditions have never been riper for real programmatic change in the workers’ compensation system. That means we need your voice—and that of your members—more than ever.
The top-producing chambers in the first two weeks of the campaign include the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber, the Orange County Chamber, the Chautauqua County Chamber, the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber, the Orchard Park Chamber, and the Wyoming County Chamber. Just over 3,000 faxes have been delivered to lawmakers’ desks in Albany, urging comp reform. We need another 3,000 faxes to build a drumbeat in advance of Small Business Day in March. Get your memberships engaged now!
For questions or help in getting the comp reform message out there, please e-mail maggie.moree@bcnys.org. Additional information and resources can be found at: www.bcnys.org/inside/wc/compwatch06.htm, the Business Council’s Comp Watch ’06 home page, and www.fixworkerscomp.com/, the New York Workers’ Compensation Action Network homepage. Get involved!
Pathfinder award winners announced
The Business Council has announced the 2006 Pathfinder Award Winners. Twelve elementary schools from around the state have won this award for outstanding educational improvement. The Council hopes that chambers too, will honor and recognize these schools and join in the celebration of their accomplishment. Local award presentations are being scheduled, and area chambers will be alerted to those details.
Here is the link to the press release that will give you the names of the winners and more information about the award. www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/2006/0131pathfinder.htm
CANYS Board members for 2006
The following chamber executives will serve as Directors for 2006:
Peter Aust, The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County,
CHAIRMAN
Nancy Ploeger, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce,
CHAIR-ELECT
Todd Shimkus, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce,
VICE CHAIR
Rob Robinson, The Otsego County Chamber, SECRETARY-TREASURER
Lyn Taylor, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce,
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
James Batsford, Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Conley, Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce
John D’Ambrosio, Orange County Chamber of Commerce
Bill Egan, Queens Chamber of Commerce
Marsha Gordon, Business Council of Westchester
Rob Gladden, Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce
Wally Hart, Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Keeley, Chemung County Chamber of Commerce
Cynthia Oswald, Livingston County Chamber of Commerce
Matthew Stubley, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce
Terms began in January and run through December. Congratulations to these new Board members. CANYS appreciates your service!
Tell us about it
Congratulations to Nancy Ploeger of the Manhattan Chamber, who was just appointed to the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center.
The Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hiring of John Scarano as the chamber’s new Executive Director. Mr. Scarano is a resident of the City of Little Falls with his wife and sons, and has lived and worked in Herkimer County all his life.
The Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce four new members to its staff. Tammy Cilione is the organization's new Communications Director, and recently retired Dutchess County Legislator James Hammond has been brought on as the Chamber’s government liaison. The Chamber also welcomes Amy Fitchett as the Community Relations Specialist and Vincent DiMaggio as Youth Employment Mentor.
Congratulations to Ward Todd of the Ulster County Chamber, who was presented with the Spirit of the Catskills award for his lifelong commitment to community, leadership development, and his successes in economic and business development projects.
The Chemung County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the
100th Annual Meeting of Members on January 26, 2006. The Chamber marked
its centennial year of service, and the program featured a retrospective
by veteran journalist Glenn Lambertz. Senator George Winner and Assemblyman
Tom O’Mara presented a NYS resolution recognizing the Chemung County
Chamber of Commerce as the leading voice of business in the county. Through
its efforts in local, state and federal legislation, small business concerns,
tourism promotion and economic development, the Chamber works daily to
enhance the economic well-being and quality of life in Chemung County.
The Mayor of Elmira, John Tonello, also recognized the Chamber with an
official proclamation in honor of the Chamber’s 100th Anniversary,
and declared the week of January 30, 2006 as Chemung County Chamber of
Commerce week.
Copies of the Chamber 2005 Annual Report were distributed and are available
at www.chemungchamber.org/SupportingFiles/documents/2005_Annual_Report.pdf.
Skye Heritage, of Business Council and CANYS fame, is expecting a baby at the end of June. It’s the first for the Heritages.
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.
