June 8, 2007
CANYS Membership Directors Teleconference June 14
Are you interested in growing your membership base? Learning new sales ideas to get out of a rut? Hearing from wildly successful membership sales professionals on how they make their chambers soar?
Thanks to a great idea and legwork from CANYS Chair-Elect Todd Shimkus, the second CANYS Membership Directors Teleconference will take place on Thursday, June 14 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This teleconference is open to paid membership directors and Chamber presidents/executive directors interested in membership sales and retention strategies. June's special one-hour agenda will include a best-practices roundtable discussion aimed at generating fresh ideas and sharing success strategies.
To participate in the teleconference—open to paid membership directors and chamber chief execs—dial 866-866-2244 and enter code 1530969. Take advantage of this special CANYS member benefit!
New York Day in Washington wrap-up
Nearly 100 people from 15 New York chambers of commerce gathered at the Chamber Alliance of New York State’s annual New York Day in Washington, May 9-10 in Washington D.C. Photos of the event are available at www.canys.org and at www.jeffreyholmes.com/mccevents.html, password: mccbiz.
"This was a terrific year for all of us, with a packed chamber alliance reception bringing chamber execs and members together to network and share thoughts," said Nancy Ploeger, CANYS Chairwoman and president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. "Not only did both Senators Schumer and Clinton address New York State needs in Washington, but both the Business Council and Chamber Alliance visited congressional leaders as a team to push for elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and restoration of SBA funding to benefit all our state's businesses. It was great to have the Business Council involved this year and we hope it has set a precedent!"
The agenda included a breakfast meeting hosted by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer during which Senator Schumer spoke about one federal issue having a large impact on the state – the AMT.
“It’s a killer for New York because we have such high state and local taxes,” Senator Schumer said. “We’re going to have to get rid of it, period. It’s truly essential. That’s our highest priority.”
Senator Hillary Clinton, who spoke separately at the breakfast, said she was also working on AMT relief and said it was an important issue for many New Yorkers.
Chamber members present also expressed concern about a proposal to change the way workers choose to become part of a union—by eliminating secret ballot workplace elections and allowing union representation to be decided through just a “card-check process.”
“I see that from Manhattan to Saratoga that people are concerned about this,” Senator Hillary Clinton said during the breakfast. Senator Schumer said employers’ concerns about the bill are legitimate.
Derek Douglas,
director of the New York State Office of Federal Affairs, also spoke at
the breakfast and took the opportunity to introduce himself to chamber
members.
Douglas said his door was always open to New York businesses who had concerns
about federal issues.
Special
thanks to Garry Douglas of the Plattsburgh-North
Country Chamber and Deb Warner of the Greater
Syracuse Chamber for their key roles in organizing the events.
New York Day in Washington 2008 has been scheduled for May 14-15.
Scholarship winners announced: ACCE Convention and Institute
The CANYS Board congratulates the following members on their selection as 2007 Scholarship winners:
Patti Pepe of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Peter Aust of The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County are this year’s winners of the $737 CANYS/ACCE joint scholarships to ACCE’s national convention in Sacramento, California.
ACCE Conventions provide education, information, and networking opportunities for all chamber professionals. More information on the conference can be found HERE.
Terri Hess of the Sullivan County Chamber and Cynthia Oswald of the Livingston County Chamber are this year’s winners of the $1,000 CANYS scholarships to the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management.
The Institute curriculum is a four-year course of study designed by experts in association, chamber, and non-profit management. Northeast Institute is held at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, July 29 through August 2, 2007 For more information, go to www.uschamber.com/institute.
Celebrating 25 years in the chamber profession
CANYS joins ACCE in recognizing and celebrating professionals who have dedicated their lives and careers to the chamber community. The following members have achieved the 25-year service landmark during the 2007 year:
Colleen
C. DiPirro
President and CEO
Amherst (NY) Chamber of Commerce
Robert
M. Richards
President
Jamaica (NY) Chamber of Commerce
John
A. D'Ambrosio
President
Orange County (NY) Chamber of Commerce
Terri
Tommell
Controller
Saratoga County (NY) Chamber of Commerce
Tell us about it
Bill Guglielmo of the Rome Area Chamber needs your help: Our local convention bureau passed a resolution requiring a Conflict of Interest statement be created and signed by board members. Is this something that other chambers in NYS are also doing? E-mail Bill at: wkg@romechamber.com.
Congratulations to Garry Douglas and the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber on the selection of Plattsburgh, New York as one of North America's top ten "micro cities of the future" by fDi Magazine, a global publication dedicated to foreign direct investment. fDi's April/May edition ranks Plattsburgh ninth among all of the micro cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in terms of its position for future progress and growth. Plattsburgh was also ranked third in North America for "best human services" and fourth for being "the most cost-effective location."
A big CANYS welcome to Frank Elias, who began as President of the Mohawk Valley Chamber in mid-May. He previously served as Executive Director of the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Congratulations to Karen St. Hilaire of the St. Lawrence County Chamber, who has been tapped to lead St. Lawrence County government as its Administrator. She begins in July. Karen has served on the CANYS Board, and was awarded the CANYS Excellence in Leadership Award in 2005. She took over as president of the chamber in 1999, and since then she has brought a world-renowned carp fishing tournament to the area; been appointed by Senator Hillary Clinton as a board member of New Jobs for New York; and spearheaded the creation of an E-Bay project that now allows many of her member businesses to tap into the 15-billion dollar selling market on E-Bay. Best wishes, Karen!
The St.
Lawrence County Chamber has posted the following job opening:
CEO of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce -- Exciting career
opportunity to lead the County Chamber of Commerce. Successful candidate
will represent 700+ member businesses: lobbying on their behalf; establishing
and managing services and assisting members in business affairs; fostering
an environment conducive to economic growth and tourism. Qualifications
desired: strong business, operations, creative planning and budgetary
background combined with grant writing experience. Bachelor's degree required,
Master's preferred. Appropriate work experience may be substituted for
up to two years of education. Salary: commensurate with experience. Submit
resume, cover letter along with three names of reference by June 18 to:
CEO Search Committee, Attn: J. Wicke, Penski, Inc., PO Box 5075, Potsdam,
NY 13676; email: jobs@penski.com
visit: www.penski.com.
CANYS 2007 GOLD SPONSOR:
