Business Weekly E-Newsletter
February 18-22, 2008
Membership Directory,
Leadership
The State Chamber/AIA’s inaugural Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide is in production, and we want to take this opportunity to convey our appreciation for the outstanding response we have received from our membership in supporting this important new product. Fifty-five companies, organizations and state agencies will be represented with advertising in the publication that will aid State Chamber/AIA members in doing business with each other while also serving as a membership manual and guide to becoming more involved in our organization. It will also be an excellent resource that provides practical information and key contacts for business-related associations and government agencies. Thank you for investing in the Membership Directory, and a big thanks as well to our dedicated Reach the Top Total Resource Campaign volunteers for doing such a great job in promoting it and securing advertising commitments. Non-dues revenue income, such as that derived from ad sales in the Membership Directory and our Annual Report, plays a big role in the success of the State Chamber/AIA, enabling us to do more on behalf of the Arkansas business community. Like these publications, our successful Leadership Arkansas program is still relatively new and is having a big impact, both on the State Chamber/AIA and the state as well. Leadership Arkansas Class II, which is sponsored by Southern Bancorp, Inc., has three sessions remaining before its June graduation, which is being sponsored by Harps Food Stores, Inc. These
remaining Leadership Arkansas sessions present outstanding investment
opportunities in which companies and organizations can participate. Leadership
By helping sponsor one of the remaining activities – sessions in Fort Smith, Jonesboro/Paragould and Northwest Arkansas as well as the graduation – companies and organizations have the chance to personally meet and get to know these individuals who will be leading Arkansas in the future. Our sponsorship goal is $20,000 for each of these four events. Economic
development and manufacturing are on the agenda for the March 27-28
Partner sponsorships at $1,000 include an invitation to a reception and dinner with Leadership Arkansas class members, signage at the event and inclusion in the promotional and printed materials for the session. Presenting sponsorships at $2,500 include all of the above plus an opportunity to present during the session and an opportunity to place a company brochure or message in the participants’ notebooks. Sponsors to date for the
During
the session in
The
You are invited to join other business and community leaders for the State Chamber/AIA’s 49th Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner. The Crystal Gateway Marriott
Hotel in
Click here for our Web site calendar and to access hotel and contact information for the event. The registration form is also on our Web site. Business can make an impact on legislation and regulation, but first we must be heard. The Washington Fly-In provides an excellent occasion for productive contact with members of our congressional delegation and their staffs. This governmental affairs activity is organized to afford maximum opportunity to discuss not only national issues that affect our state, but those of local importance as well. Workers’ Comp Committee Will Consider Issues to Negotiate With Labor Workers’ Compensation
Committee members are urged to attend tomorrow’s committee meeting at 10
a.m. in our
State Chamber/AIA Committee leaders met with representatives of labor in January to discuss a format for conducting negotiations over proposed workers’ compensation legislation for the 2009 legislative session. Labor proposed a schedule of negotiations that included a June deadline for new items to discuss with a mid-August deadline for complete negotiations. The committee will discuss this proposal as well as begin identification of issues to negotiate. Participate in Political Process by Contributing to State Chamber/AIA PACs With the candidate filing period just around the corner, the State Chamber/AIA is already in the process of evaluating prospective candidates and reviewing the possible legislative races. You can participate by contributing to our Political Action Committees. The Arkansas
State Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Associated Industries of
Arkansas PAC were founded to elect business-minded candidates
who will fully support
A
“person” may contribute up to $5,000 per calendar year to each
Checks should be made payable
to either the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce PAC or the Associated
Industries of Arkansas PAC and mailed to
You can also help by providing
information on pro-business candidates and your knowledge of all potential
candidates in your district. Please send this information to
Harvel
Named to
State Chamber/AIA President and CEO Paul H. Harvel was recently named by Governor Mike Beebe to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. His term will last until January 14, 2012. Harvel brings significant
economic development experience to the AEDC. Prior to joining the State
Chamber/AIA, Harvel served as president and chief executive officer of the
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce for more than 21 years. In
addition to his position with the Little Rock Regional Chamber, he served
as executive director of Fifty for the Future. He has also served as chief
executive officer of the
Welcome to Our New Members Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA: ASI E Commerce Services, Inc. Sage Partners
Two New Pinnacle Members AnnouncedThanks to Pulaski Technical College and Simmons First National Corp. for their investment at the Pinnacle level.We wish to express special thanks to all of our Pinnacle investors, the respected companies that support the State Chamber/AIA at the highest annual investment levels. We appreciate all that they do for us. APEX Alltel Corporation Entergy Arkansas, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Chesapeake Energy, Inc. Cox Communications
Tyson Foods, Inc. PEAK Arvest Bank AT&T Arkansas CenterPoint Energy Electric
Cooperatives of
FedEx Freight - East Georgia-Pacific Corporation Harps Food Stores, Inc. Kraft Foods Oaklawn Jockey Club Pathfinder Exploration LLC Petrohawk Energy Corporation SemGroup LP Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Southwestern Energy Company State Farm Insurance Weyerhaeuser Company Windstream Corporation XTO Energy, Inc. CROWN Acxiom Corporation AEP Southwestern Electric Power Albemarle Corporation Alta Resources LLC American Greetings Corporation American Insurance Association
Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation Arkansas Western Gas Company Bank of the Ozarks Deltic Timber Corporation Dynegy Entegra Power Group LLC Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc. Forest Oil Corporation Glad Manufacturing/a Clorox Company Golden Ventures International Paper Company Kimberly-Clark Corporation Lion Oil Company Metropolitan National Bank Murphy Oil Corporation Nabholz Construction Corporation Nucor-Yamato Steel OG+E Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Philander
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC Potlatch Forest Products Corporation
Rheem Air Conditioning Division Riceland Foods, Inc. Signature
Bank of
Simmons First National Corporation Stephens, Inc. Storm Cat Energy
The Clorox Company The Trane Company US Bank Wright Lindsey & Jennings Calendar of Events March 27 – 28 Leadership
Economic Development and Manufacturing
March 27 State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting 3:30 p.m.,
April 27 – 29 Annual
District Dinners, Lunches and Breakfasts
April 28 State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting Crystal Gateway Marriott
May 22 – 23 Leadership
Education and
Jonesboro/Paragould June 3 Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon 11:45 a.m., Embassy Suites Hotel
June 26 – 27 Leadership
Fayetteville/Springdale June 27 Leadership
Presented by Harps Food Stores, Inc. |
