Missouri Chamber: Payment cuts lead Missouri hospitals to reduce staff, services and capital investments; Illinois Chamber of Commerce Leads National Letter Urging Congressional Action on Transportation; Michigan Chamber of Commerce Applauds Bi-Partisan Effort To Reform Business Personal Property Tax; Indiana Chamber of Commerce Week May 5-9; 5 Ways to Start a Business Plan - A Top Five Article for 2013; Equipping & Empowering Your Chamber Staff!- By Chuck Ewart

3/26/2014 - A new survey of Missouri’s hospitals finds that nearly 1,000 full-time equivalent positions have been reduced in the last six months, and a hiring freeze has been implemented for another 2,145 positions. The reductions are in response to federal funding cuts, high uncompensated care costs and changing utilization patterns.

Between 2013 and 2019, payments that Missouri hospitals receive from the federal government will be reduced by nearly $4 billion. Without Medicaid reform, the state’s hospitals will be left without the new revenue from expanding health insurance coverage to the uninsured and will continue to experience increased uncompensated care costs. Hospitals’ provision of charity care in 2012 was up 32 percent since 2010. The survey shows that hospitals are beginning to address the fiscal imbalance by reducing staff, delaying and canceling planned capital investments, and reducing service lines. Moreover, the cuts likely will become more pronounced later in the decade. Read More: Missouri Chamber

Illinois Chamber of Commerce Leads National Letter

Urging Congressional Action on Transportation

Springfield, IL - Today the Illinois Chamber of Commerce joined over 30 state chambers in co-signing a letter to Congress calling for action to address America’s critical transportation infrastructure needs. This letter, organized by the Illinois and Georgia Chambers of Commerce, reminds Congress there is an urgent need to keep federal funds flowing to address the demands upon the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Illinois Chamber President and CEO Doug Whitley said, “It is a common goal among numerous state chambers of commerce that members of our respective congressional delegations understand that their constituents are eager for them to move beyond the partisan posturing that permeates Capitol Hill and actually do something about fixing the nation’s transportation networks. Read more: Illinois Chamber  

Michigan Chamber of Commerce Applauds Bi-Partisan Effort To Reform Business Personal Property Tax

Mar 26, 2014 - The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today commended both the State House and Michigan Senate for displaying overwhelming bi-partisan support to begin phase-out of Michigan's burdensome business personal property tax while protecting local communities with full reimbursement revenue.
Senate Bills 821-830 were passed in both houses with overwhelming bi-partisan support and will soon be headed to the Governor's desk where he is expected to sign the package. The package finalizes the legislative effort to fully exempt small business owners from the tax and to begin phase-out of the tax on manufacturing. The package is also carefully crafted to provide full reimbursement to local governments, schools, police, firefighters, ambulance services and jail – all of whom rely on this local revenue for operations. Read More Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Indiana Chamber of Commerce Week May 5-9

May 5 - 9 is the inaugural celebration of Chamber of Commerce Week in Indiana, a chance for our organizations to celebrate chambers of commerce and their contributions to Indiana's economic climate.

ICEA supports all 168 chambers of commerce in establishing promotional materials and activities to help raise awareness about chambers and their accomplishments in the community.  Chamber of Commerce Week is open to all chambers of commerce, regardless of ICEA affiliation.  For more Information, contact Shelli Williams of ICEA

Source: www.ICEAonline.com  

5 Ways to Start a Business Plan - A Top Five Article for 2013

How do you get started on a business plan? It depends on who you are, what you like, what you do well and how you think. People are all different. I say think of a business plan as a collection of components or modules, and start wherever you feel like it. Here are five specific suggestions, based on the idea that people should start with what’s best for the individual, depending on style. Which one is best for you?

1. Do a SWOT analysis.
2. Do a simple sales forecast.
3. Do the big picture in a vision statement, mission statement or mantra.
4. Develop your core market story.
5. Talk to 10 customers.

Get more information about each step here at the Small Business Administration

Equipping & Empowering Your Staff! - By Chuck Ewart

Your most important resource is your staff. You must spend the time and resources necessary to train, motivate, inspire, and care for these important people. One of the critical roles of a leader is to hire well, train effectively, and provide the tools that each member of the staff needs in order to be successful.

Every staff position is important to the success of the organization. Jim Collins writes in his best-selling business book, "Good to Great", that we must have the right people on the bus to ensure effectiveness and success. Collins also emphasizes that it is imperative that you have the right people in the right seats on the bus. Remember, your receptionist may well be the most critical position in the organization. That staff person very often presents the first impression of the organization. Whether it is by phone or in face-to-face interactions, the receptionist can make or break a number of possibly important relationships. Make sure you have the right people in the right positions.

I am aware of local chambers of commerce that have made executive hires simply based on the fact that the individual was the son or daughter of a bank president, plant manager, or board member... and was "a good, likable person". I've also known chamber executives who have been "forced" to hire a staff person because of who the mother or father happened to be.

Hiring requires a thorough understanding of a well-developed job description, along with the talents and skill sets that the position will require. Even in smaller organizations, you must ensure that you hire the best possible people to carry out the meaningful work. Should a staff position allow for a person with no previous experience, make certain you hire someone with personality, demonstrated business etiquette, and personal style that you can mold into an outstanding professional. Contact Chuck at The Ewart Group [cewart@theewartgroup.com].