|
December 2011
In This Issue:
If you have any comments about this e-newsletter, or would like to recommend news items or reports for future issues, please email Chaaron Pearson at ACCE.
Based on your ACCE interest area selections, you ve been subscribed to this newsletter.
To edit your subscription to this
e-newsletter, click here and go to "Your Membership."
NOTE: If your email system uses a filter or spam blocker, please add news@newsacce.org to your address book to ensure you receive emails from ACCE. |
|
Letter from the Chair
If the political events of 2011 are any indication, 2012 will be a busy and important year for our profession. We will listen for political candidates to offer real solutions for education reform, international trade, transportation funding, immigration, energy policy, balanced budgets, deficit reduction, public pension reform and other federal and state issues important to our businesses and communities.
Whether your chamber has a PAC or endorses candidates, the upcoming election year will be busier than usual for many of us. I urge you to keep an eye out for program announcements from ACCE. We'll be doing a lot that you won't want to miss. Plan to join us next week for the Government Relations division conference call. This is the perfect opportunity to pick the brains of your peers and let ACCE know what content you're looking for in 2012.
Lastly, on Dec. 3 the chamber and government relations profession lost a great friend. Shaun Lumachi was president of Chamber Advocacy, a government relations firm representing more than a dozen southern California chambers and the former vice president of government affairs at the Long Beach Chamber. He also was a frequent contributor to ACCE, most recently as a workshop speaker at the convention in Los Angeles and a webinar presenter in October. He was a rising young star in the profession who really understood the political power of a civically engaged business community. He will be missed.
ACCE News: Chamber Community Mourns the Death of Shaun Lumachi
Mary Graham, CCE
Senior Vice President, Business Advocacy
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Announcing: the GR Toolkit is Now Available
Just today we launched a new toolkit in our Information Office - Government Relations 101: Making Your Chamber Make a Difference. This toolkit builds off Mick Fleming's book of the same title and also offers sample documents and templates to get your chamber started on government relations work. Check it out today!
Upcoming Events
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 20, 2 p.m. Eastern time for the first monthly conference call of ACCE's Government Relations Division. Here's what you need to participate:
Dial: (605) 475-4800
Enter Access Code: 625619#
Join Government Relations Chair Mary Graham, CCE, in an open, roundtable discussion of what's working (or what's not working) in chamber government relations and public policy. Use these calls to share tips, tricks, ideas and best practices, and to expand your network. Your participation also helps staff develop content that ACCE can offer in Chamber Executive Magazine, convention sessions, webinars and other programs.
Contact Chaaron Pearson if you'd like to lead a 5-minute discussion on a success story or a problem in need of a solution. Thanks in advance for your participation. Please call or write if you have questions or comments.
Tribute to Shaun Lumachi
 On Dec. 3 the chamber and government relations profession lost a rising star and great friend, Shaun Lumachi, who was fatally injured in a car crash in Florida.
Shaun was a frequent contributor to ACCE. Here is a round-up of his memorable posts and articles:
Blogs:
Articles:
A public celebration of Shaun's life has been set for Dec. 17.
Policy Clearinghouse Blog Digest
-
What it means when a municipality files Chapter 9 bankruptcy
In the wake of Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg, and Alabama's largest county, Jefferson County, declaring bankruptcy, other communities may be looking to Chapter 9 bankruptcy to restructure debt.
-
Talking policy in Nashville
"The gathering had the perfect mix of peer-to-peer discussions for those of us in the trenches every day running campaigns and crafting policies that support economic vitality, said George Allen, senior V.P., Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. " We shared backstage secrets for victories and hard-earned lessons from disasters. I left Nashville with new political tools and engagement strategies, not to mention some country music CD's that simply blow me away. Thanks Nashville!"
-
Amazon deals with California
After years of refusing to collect sales tax from online purchases, Amazon.com has struck a deal in California. Retailers and state governments elsewhere are hoping for similar treatment.
-
Milwaukee sick leave mandate voided
At the end of July, Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Thomas Cooper handed the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) another victory in their fight against the Milwaukee sick leave mandate.
-
Business getting involved in education policy debate
Colorado's governor, John Hickenlooper, is pushing forward with an aggressive educational policy agenda despite that school districts are being handed cuts of $400 per student.
For more policy-focused commentary and links, check out the Policy Clearinghouse Blog.
Looking for Policy Clearinghouse news on twitter? Follow @ChaaronACCE for the latest information from ACCE's Policy Clearinghouse.
|
