Business Weekly E-Newsletter
September 15-19, 2008
Arkansans FOR the Secret Ballot Holding Meetings in State This Week
“Arkansans FOR the Secret Ballot—Protect your Privacy at Work,” the coalition formed by the State Chamber/AIA to oppose the proposed federal Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), aka Card Check, is holding outreach meetings this week to educate businesses throughout the state.
Glenn Spencer, executive director of the Workforce Freedom Initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will be in Arkansas this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to provide presentations on EFCA.
Meetings are scheduled for:
Wednesday, September 17:
11:30 a.m. State Chamber/AIA Small Business Council, Conference Room, State Chamber/AIA Building, Little Rock
2 p.m., Card Check Coalition, Conference Room
Thursday, September 18:
11:30 a.m. Rogers/Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, 317 West Walnut, Downtown Rogers
2 p.m. Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce, 123 West Mountain St., Downtown Fayetteville
Friday, September 19:
12 noon, Allens’ Technical Center, 530 East Main, Siloam Springs
If you are interested in attending any of these meetings, contact Jeff Thatcher ASAP at 501-210-4205 or e-mail him at jthatcher@arkansasstatechamber.com .
EFCA 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.
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 and your Congressman.
· Make an appointment to see Senators Lincoln and Pryor and your Congressman 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.
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. This is an event held in conjunction with the State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting that requires separate registration. If you are interested in attending this event or would like more information about it, please 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, Governor’s Hall I and II, 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 .
Leadership Arkansas Class III Announced; Retreat Held
Leadership Arkansas Class III kicked 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 also helped sponsor the session.
A total of 77 individuals from throughout the state were selected to participate in Leadership Arkansas Class III. More than 130 applications were received for the coveted spots in the class. For the class list, click here .
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
Southern Bancorp, Inc. is the overall sponsor for Leadership Arkansas Class III.
Leadership Arkansas is a program designed to take a statewide view of the economic and political challenges that face Arkansas. The program offers leadership opportunities that expand the impact of community leaders across the state. Created by the State Chamber/AIA, Leadership Arkansas builds a sense of statewide community by identifying and training individuals with the passion and commitment to become personally engaged in issues, programs and activities aimed at building a better Arkansas.
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.
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 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. 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 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
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:
Accelerate Arkansas
APS Healthcare, Inc.
FCC Environmental
Goldman Recycling
Human Resource Management Association of Arkansas
Risk Reducers
Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
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 17 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
State Chamber/AIA Conference Room
September 17 Card Check Coalition Meeting
2 p.m. State Chamber/AIA Conference Room
September 17-18 Manufacturing Matters 2008 Conference
Doubletree Hotel
Little Rock
September 18 EFCA Presentation featuring Glenn Spencer
11:30 a.m.
Rogers/Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
317 West Walnut, Downtown Rogers
September 18 EFCA Presentation featuring Glenn Spencer
2 p.m.
Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce
123 West Mountain St., Downtown Fayetteville
September 19 EFCA Presentation featuring Glenn Spencer
12 noon
Allens’ Technical Center
530 East Main, Siloam Springs
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, Governor’s Halls I and II
Little Rock
October 15 Governor’s Quality Awards
7 – 9 p.m.
Wally Allen Ballroom A, Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
October 16 Arkansas Works 2008:
The Governor’s Summit on Education and Economic Development
Statehouse Convention Center, Governor’s Halls I and II
Little Rock
