Business Weekly E-Newsletter
September 1-5, 2008
State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting, Governor’s Summit, Other Events Slated
The 80th Annual State Chamber/AIA Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 15, in conjunction with Arkansas Works 2008: The Governor's Summit on Education and Economic Development , whichwill be held October 15-16. Both events will take place at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. For your convenience, we have scheduled these events back-to-back.
Check-in for the Annual Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. on October 15. For our lunch at noon, we are working on a very exciting program. We are confident that the world-class, keynote speaker will be someone you do not want to miss. Following lunch, we will convene at 1:30 p.m. to present for approval State Chamber/AIA positions on the upcoming 2009 Legislative Session. That will be followed by the general business session, which will end at 4:30 p.m. The reception, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center, will open the Governor’s Summit.
Other scheduled events include:
- The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- Leadership Arkansas Class III Session I on Wednesday morning, October 15, at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- The Governor’s Quality Awards from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, October 15, in Wally Allen Ballroom A of the Statehouse Convention Center. For Governor’s Quality Awards ticket or event information, contact Sue Weatter at 501-372-2222 or sweatter@arkansasstatechamber.com .
On Thursday, October 16, the Governor’s Summit will begin at 8 a.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center and will conclude at 3:30 p.m. The Summit will assemble business, education and policy leaders from all 75 counties to develop a vision for every community and the leadership to implement the vision. The Summit has the potential to be an extraordinary gathering. Together we will assess our strengths, define our weaknesses and determine our opportunities.
The registration cost for both the State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting and the Governor’s Summit is $175 or $100 for one event. To register, click here .
Take Action Against Proposed Union Card Check Legislation
The so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), aka Card Check, is a drastic and dangerous piece of legislation that if passed will be the most radical change to labor law in more than 60 years. It will be brought before Congress in early 2009. The proposal takes away the long-held tradition of using secret ballots for union elections. Instead, the union leaders propose using a card check system – a process where votes are cast in public and can be collected by union leaders at a worker’s job, home or on-line.
To address this legislation, the State Chamber/AIA formed a coalition, named
Arkansans FOR The Secret Ballot to aggressively and strategically work to defeat EFCA. Additionally, the State Chamber/AIA has partnered with Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, a Little Rock-based advertising agency, to develop a comprehensive communications campaign. The plan incorporates a wide range of communications tactics that include polling, editorials, messaging, possible advertising and coordination of public appearances. Glenn Spencer, executive director of the Workforce Freedom Initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will make a presentation on behalf of the effort at the next Steering Coalition meeting on September 17, in Little Rock, at the State Chamber/AIA building.
What you should know:
What does EFCA/Card Check really do?
· Tramples workers’ privacy by forcing them to publicly declare their support for a union.
· Forces employees to publicly sign a binding contract without seeing the “fine print” or hearing both sides of the union-employer positions.
· Exposes workers to intimidation, deception and coercion.
· Forces mediation if the employer and union cannot agree on a contract in 90 days.
· Allows union organizers ONE FULL YEAR to collect signatures.
What you can do:
· Join the coalition by calling the State Chamber/AIA office and ask to be added to the Arkansans FOR The Secret Ballot.
· Send a letter (by fax or to district offices) to Senators Lincoln and Pryor.
· Make an appointment to see Senators Lincoln and Pryor and tell them how this will affect your business and the community.
· Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
· Spread the word about EFCA and ask other members of your community to join the Arkansans FOR The Secret Ballot..
All State Chamber/AIA members are strongly encouraged to spread the word about this issue to fellow members of the business community as well as to employees. It is vitally important that our members of Congress hear the business perspective on this issue.
If EFCA passes, it will strip workers and businesses of critical rights and protections. Please join the Arkansans FOR The Secret Ballot and help us protect privacy and promote democracy in the workplace.
Leadership Arkansas Class III Schedule Announced
Leadership Arkansas Class III will kick off its third class with a retreat presented by Murphy Oil Corporation on September 14-15 at Mountain Harbor Resort near Hot Springs. The Arkansas Community Foundation is also helping sponsor the session
Other planned sessions include:
Session I – Arkansas State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting, October 15, Little Rock
Session II – Tourism, December 4-5, Eureka Springs
Session III – South Arkansas Economy, January 29-30, 2009, Magnolia
Session IV – Legislative, February 23, 2009, Little Rock
Session V – Economic Development, March 26-27, 2009, Fort Smith
Session VI – Northeast Arkansas Economy, May 21-22, 2009, Jonesboro
Session VII – Northwest Arkansas Economy, June 25-26, 2009, Fayetteville
Graduation – June 26, 2009, Fayetteville
We are seeking sponsors for all sessions at the $2,500 presenting level and the $1,000 participating level. Sponsors will be recognized in signage and materials and have the opportunity to network with Leadership Arkansas members at the appropriate session reception.
Southern Bancorp, Inc. is the overall sponsor for Leadership Arkansas Class III.
If you would like to be a session sponsor or need further information about Leadership Arkansas, please call Susie Marks at 501-210-4206.
Small Business Council Meeting Scheduled for September 17
The State Chamber/AIA Small Business Council will hold a meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17 in the Bob Lamb Conference Room.
Glenn Spencer, executive director of the Workforce Freedom Initiative, will provide a short presentation on the proposed federal Union Card Check Legislation.
Ramsey, Krug, Farrell & Lensing, a long-time State Chamber member, will provide a presentation on “Insurance Issues Facing Small Business.”
Jeff Everetts with Background Information System of America is the lunch sponsor. If you wish to attend, please contact Jeff Thatcher at 501-210-4205 or jthatcher@arkansasstatechamber.com . Since this is a catered event, we ask that you R.S.V.P. no later than Monday, September 15 in order to have as accurate a count as possible for lunch. Small Business Council meetings are open to all State Chamber/AIA members.
Below is the schedule for future Small Business Council Meetings through May 2009. The meetings will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bob Lamb Conference Room at our Little Rock office unless otherwise indicated.
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Congressional Presentation
Thursday, January 22, 2009 - Government Regulation
Thursday, March 19, 2009 - Employee Benefits
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - Information Technology
Fed’s Consensus: No Recession
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis presented an Economic Forum on August 27 in Little Rock with presentations by Jim Bullard, president and CEO, and Michael Pakko, a research officer.
Despite on-going problems with the federal economy, Bullard and Pakko said that the nation is not going through a recession.
Bullard, who discussed the economy and Fed policy, noted that despite anemic real GDP growth during 2008, the economy is predicted to improve in 2009. Issues of concern that will continue to impact the federal economy include an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and an increase in unemployment.
Based upon the results of a Little Rock Economic Survey that the Fed conducted among 79 local businesses, results are mixed for the coming year:
- 10 percent believe that local business conditions are stronger today than they were a year ago, 77 percent disagreed and 13 percent were not sure.
- 21 percent believe that local business profits will probably increase over the next 12 months, 61 percent disagreed and 18 percent were not sure.
- 25 percent plan to maintain or increase staff over the next 12 months, 48 percent disagreed and 27 percent were not sure.
- 16 percent plan to boost capital spending over the next 12 months, 64 percent disagreed and 20 percent were not sure.
- 62 percent think that interest rates will increase over the next 12 months, 4 percent think they will decrease, 27 percent think they will stay the same and 7 percent had no response.
- 39 percent believe the Federal Reserve’s target fed funds rate will increase by at least 25 basis points over the next 12 months, 27 percent believe it will increase by at least 100 basis points, 0 percent believe it will increase by at least 200 basis points, 20 percent believe it will stay the same, 4 percent believe it will decrease and 10 percent had no response.
- 41 percent believe that inflation will be greater than 4 percent over the next 12 months, 38 percent believe it will be between 3 and 4 percent, 8 percent believe it will be between 2 and 3 percent, 5 percent believe it will be between 0 and 2 percent, 0 percent believe it will be negative and 8 percent had no response.
- 9 percent feel optimistic about the regional economic condition, 38 percent feel cautiously optimistic, 34 percent feel neutral, 11 percent feel pessimistic and 8 percent had no response.
Projects cited by respondents as having positive effects on the Little Rock area included industrial plants at the Little Rock Port and Conway, Heifer International building a new educational center, UALR and Hendrix having new expansion plans, expansion of Dassault Falcon Jet. LM Glassfiber in Little Rock, the UAMS Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Research Center, Garver Engineers’ new North Shore Park headquarters and various other industrial projects.
Manufacturing Matters 2008 Conference Slated
Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions is hosting Manufacturing Matters: 2008 Conference: Maximize Results Minimize Waste on September 17-18 at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock.
Robert Smith, senior vice president of industrial programs for Dassault Falcon Jet, and Hank Cox, vice president of media relations for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), are the keynote speakers during the conference on September 18. Also scheduled are a number of workshops, panels and resource exhibits.
For further information or to register, click here .
Governor’s Quality Award Program Recognizes Excellence in Arkansas Businesses
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with the Governor’s Quality Award Program in recognizing excellence in Arkansas businesses and organizations. The Awards Celebration on October 15 in the Wally Allen Ballroom will be held in conjunction with the Governor’s Summit on Education and Economic Development and the State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting. The event will showcase this year’s applicants from all across the state at the Governor, Achievement, Commitment, and Challenge Award levels. Industries including manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and insurance will be represented.
The Malcolm Baldrige-based program uses teams of trained examiners to assess businesses using written applications and site visits. Thousands of hours each year are donated by examiners - top professionals within their own industries - to determine what level each applicant has achieved in their goal of performance excellence. A written feedback report is provided to applicants with the examiners’ conclusions.
In an effort to continue fulfilling its vision of contributing to the success of Arkansas organizations and the communities they serve, the Governor’s Quality Award program is excited about expanding its program services both to applicants and examiners in 2009. If you’re interested in attending the Awards Celebration or would like more information about becoming an applicant or an examiner for the program, please contact Sue Weatter, 501-372-2222, or sweatter@arkansasstatechamber.com .
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA:
Arkansas Educational Television Network
Bad Boy Inc.
Environmental Technical Sales, Inc.
Freeliance
Leopard Productions
Lighting & Power Solutions Inc.
Petromark, Inc.
Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
We are pleased to welcome our newest Pinnacle member, McKee Foods Corporation, which recently upgraded their membership to the Crown 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.
SUMMIT
Chesapeake Energy, Inc.
Cox Communications
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods
Tyson Foods, Inc.
PEAK
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Arvest Bank
AT&T Arkansas
CenterPoint Energy Southern Gas
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
FedEx Freight - East
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Harps Food Stores, Inc.
Kraft Foods
Oaklawn Jockey Club
Pathfinder Exploration LLC
SemGroup LP
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Southland Park Gaming & Racing
Southwestern Energy Company
State Farm Insurance
Weyerhaeuser Company
Windstream Corporation
XTO Energy, Inc.
CROWN
Acxiom Corporation
AEP Southwestern Electric Power
Albemarle Corporation
Alcoa
Alta Resources LLC
American Greetings Corporation
America's Car-Mart, Inc.
Arkansas Employees Federal Credit Union
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation
Arkansas Western Gas Company
Bank of the Ozarks
CardinalHealth
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company
Crossland Construction Company
Deltic Timber Corporation
Dynegy
Entegra Power Group LLC
Evergreen Packaging Company
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc.
Forest Oil Corporation
Glad Manufacturing/A Clorox Company
Golden Living
International Paper Company
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Lion Oil Company
McKee Foods Corporation
Metropolitan National Bank
Murphy Oil Corporation
Nabholz Construction Corporation
Nucor-Yamato Steel
OG+E
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Philander Smith College
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Potlatch Forest Products Corporation
Pulaski Technical College
Rheem Air Conditioning Division
Riceland Foods, Inc.
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Simmons First National Corporation
Stephens, Inc.
Storm Cat Energy
Suez Energy North America
The Clorox Company
The Trane Company
US Bank
Waste Management
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Calendar of Events
September 14-15 Leadership Arkansas Class III Retreat
Mountain Harbor Resort
September 17 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
State Chamber/AIA Conference Room
September 17-18 Manufacturing Matters 2008 Conference
Doubletree Hotel
Little Rock
October 14 Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives Annual Meeting
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
Little Rock
October 15 Leadership Arkansas Class III Session I
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
October 15 80th State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
October 15 Governor’s Quality Awards
7 – 9 p.m.
Wally Allen Ballroom A, Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
October 15 -16 Arkansas Works 2008:
The Governor’s Summit on Education and Economic Development
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
