Getting the Illinois business message out: How can your chamber help Governor Rauner? Chamber Sponsorship: Paducah Main Street Organizes 'Meet the Artists' Event for June 18; La Porte chamber event: U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly expresses optimism in future of county, nation; Chamber interest: Leadership Grand Rapids Celebrates 30 Years; El Dorado Arkansas Chamber: Administrative Professional of the Year Award; Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber: Deadline nears for Pinnacle Award nominations; Heart of Wisconsin Chamber looking for sponsors; Jackson County Chamber Spotlight: SuperTalk 103.1 brings conservative news to coast; Barbour Chamber, State Board VP Encourage PBHS Students To Plan For Future; #FamousChamber Person Greatest Lesson You Teach:

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Getting the Illinois business message out: How can your chamber help Governor Rauner?

Governor Rauner Visits the Chicagoland Chamber; Has he been invited to your chamber?

  

Governor Rauner visited the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to meet with members of the Executive Committee on Monday, April 6th to discuss his ‘Turnaround Agenda’ for Illinois.

The Governor’s Illinois Turnaround Agenda highlights include:

• Economic Competitiveness & Job Growth: Worker’s compensation; tort reform; unemployment insurance; local employee empowerment zones; minimum wage phase-in.
• Taxpayer Protection & Property Tax Freeze: Free property taxes for two years and vote by referendum to raise them; issues to be collectively bargained determined by voters or local government; repeal prevailing wage law; and eliminate project-labor agreements.
• Transforming Government: Term limits; prohibit ‘fair share’ dues; prohibit unions with state collective bargaining agreements to contribute to those who negotiate contracts.

Our elected officials at the city and state level have many challenges ahead, and it will be difficult to satisfy all stakeholders on either or all sides of an issue. Solutions will likely include a mix of tough budget cuts, possible revenue enhancements, and broad government ethics and business reforms.

Chamber Sponsorship: Paducah Main Street Organizes 'Meet the Artists' Event for June 18

Meet the Artists, a Celebration of Art and Community will be held from 4 until 8 p.m., Thursday June 18 at the historic and recently rehabilitated Coca-Cola building located at 3141 Broadway.
Meet the Artists is an opportunity for Paducah artists to connect and reconnect with the public, build relationships, share their stories and show their art. Many of the artists also want it to be a time to show their appreciation of the community that has supported them. The public will be able to mingle with the artists to talk about their work, the community and their inspirations.
Downtown Development Specialist/Paducah Main Street Director Melinda Winchester says, "It is an opportunity for the public, art lovers and art collectors to celebrate Paducah's art and culture and meet those artists up close and personal. At this time, 51 local artists have committed to attend this free event for the public." Individual artists and art groups including the Paducah Arts Alliance, the Art Guild, Yeiser Art Center, Bricolage Art Collective, Paducah Wastelanders and PAPA Gallery will be in attendance. Read more: Surf ky

La Porte chamber event: U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly expresses optimism in future of county, nation

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly said he sees growth for La Porte County and has optimism in the nation's economy.

"I think La Porte is on a growth pattern. I think the chamber is doing a great job," Donnelly said of La Porte County. "I think we're going to see continued economic growth in La Porte County and I think the years ahead are going to be good ones."

Donnelly spoke at the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at the Best Western Inn in La Porte on Friday.

"It was just a great day for our chamber to have the Indiana United States senator come and talk to us," said Mike Seitz, president of the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce, who introduced Donnelly. "We are just proud to have him here." Read more: Michigan City News-Dispatch

Chamber interest: Leadership Grand Rapids Celebrates 30 Years

At the heart of Grand Rapids are dynamic individuals sparking greatness within our community. Without these people, Grand Rapids wouldn’t be the growing city we know today.

Join us on Thursday, April 30 as we celebrate 30 years of the Leadership
Grand Rapids program and honor 30 extraordinary leaders who are working to make Grand Rapids a vibrant community.

You’ll have the opportunity to connect with over 300 CCL alumni and leaders and enjoy a fun evening that includes a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar.

In addition to honoring several outstanding Grand Rapids leaders, the Annual Fundraiser directly benefits the scholarships that enable many to participate in CCL’s various community leadership and skill-building programs. Over $20,000 in scholarships were granted in 2014.

Date | Thursday, April 30, 2015
Time | 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location | JW Marriott, 235 Louis St SW, Grand Rapids
Cost | $60 per person
Registration | www.grandrapids.org/ccl-fundraiser/

If you’re unable to attend the event, but would like to support our leadership programs, please contact Kim McLaughlin at 616.771.0317 or mclaughlink@grandrapids.org.



El Dorado Arkansas Chamber: Administrative Professional of the Year Award

Individuals are nominated by their colleagues for their outstanding service, superior performance, exceptional efficiency, integrity and dedication to their company and to fellow employees. The winner receives a plaque and recognition at the Administrative Professionals Appreciation Luncheon on April 22.

Those eligible for nomination by colleagues or co-workers must be a current, full-time administrative support staff that have been in his or her position for at least one year. Nominees may be nominated by more than one person. The recipient of this award will be an individual who:

·         Shows concern for and helpfulness to others.

·         Has pride in his/her job.

·         Consistently exhibits excellent job performance.

·         Performs actions above and beyond the call of duty.

·         Has a cooperative attitude.

·         Displays company involvement.

·         Has been in his/her current position for at least one (1) year. 

Upon receiving the nomination forms, a committee will conduct a review and select up to three finalists. One winner will be selected from the finalists. The three finalists will be announced prior to the luncheon. The award recipient will be announced at the Administrative Professionals Appreciation Luncheon on April 22.

Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber: Deadline nears for Pinnacle Award nominations

The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce is soliciting nominations for its Pinnacle Award which is presented to a business or organization whose outstanding achievements serve as a model for success.
A nominee for the Pinnacle Award should be distinguished as an influential business or organization that has made a strong local economic impact.

The recipient’s leadership and dedication to a variety of interests should contribute significantly to the socio-economic prosperity of the Danville-Pittsylvania County region. Read more: WORK IT SOVA

Heart of Wisconsin Chamber looking for sponsors

The Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce is offering local businesses the opportunity to sponsor graduation for the Community Leadership Program class of 2014-15. Promote your business to existing and emerging leaders of the Heart of Wisconsin area. The Leadership Program class Graduation will be May 21. For more information and to give a sponsorship, contact Kerry Krambeer, Director of Communitcations for Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce at 715-422-4856 or email communications@wisconsinrapidschamber.com. Source: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

Jackson County Chamber Spotlight: SuperTalk 103.1 brings conservative news to coast

• Why did you go into business?

SuperTalk Mississippi is a Mississippi-owned company with 38 years of history and radio stations throughout the state. I am a native of Pascagoula and in 1971, I started my career in radio. About 14 years ago, I had the concept for a talk show that would reach every county in Mississippi.

•  What do you offer your customers?

At SuperTalk Mississippi Gulf Coast 103.1 we offer conservative talk, news and information that the public otherwise would not get. A lot of communities do not have local programming but rather have news formatted outside of the state. SuperTalk Mississippi Gulf Coast 103.1 allows Mississippi listeners to know what is happening in their area and throughout the state. It is Mississippians serving Mississippi. There is local news in the communities as well as news that is transmitted statewide. At SuperTalk Mississippi Gulf Coast 103.1 we have made upgrades to our transmitter and overall signal to cover all six coastal counties.  Read more: GulfLive.com

Barbour Chamber, State Board VP Encourage PBHS Students To Plan For Future

The Barbour County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging students to plan for their future.
The Chamber held its annual career day at Philip Barbour High School.
The event pairs chamber members with students to teach them about applying for jobs and planning for a career.
State school board Vice President Michael Green said students should focus on their education with an eye to the future. Read more: 12 WBOY.com

#FamousChamber Person Greatest Lesson You Teach: 

Be generous. Be kind. It's no skin off your nose and you never know how a compliment, bit of encouragement or good word might change someone's life. People tell me all the time how I've influenced them without my ever realizing it.

   

Marianne Virgili, IOM, CCE, President & CEO, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association Source: Chambermentor.com  

.