Business Weekly E-Newsletter
December 8-12, 2008
State Chamber Continues Efforts to Defeat EFCA
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce continues its efforts to defeat the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act.” State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Zook has been traveling throughout the state recently speaking to local chambers and civic groups about the dangers of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Zook and other representatives of the State Chamber have been featured speakers at the Little Rock Rotary Club, Clarksville Rotary Club, and Fayetteville Economic Development Group in recent weeks. They have also spoken to the Little Rock chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and a number of association leaders, as well as groups in Russellville and Altus. The Chamber’s compelling message, combined with the interactive Web site www.yoursecretballot.com, has helped to grow a coalition of over 600 Arkansans opposed to the measure.
The coalition, named “Arkansans for the Secret Ballot” seeks to encourage members of Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act through an aggressive communication campaign.
If passed, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA or “Card-Check) would overturn 70 years of precedent in labor relations by taking away the long-held tradition of using secret ballots for union elections. Instead, national labor union leaders have proposed a card-check system — a process where votes cast in private are replaced by signatures collected in public by union leaders at workers’ jobs, homes or online.
This deceptively named proposal would expose workers to intimidation, deception and coercion from union officials. It would also force binding arbitration of the contract terms if the employer and union cannot agree on a contract within 120 days.
The Employee Free Choice Act is widely opposed by the business community of Arkansas. Business leaders and associations alike have vowed to do everything in their power to prevent its passage. So far, over 400 letters have been written urging members of Congress to vote against the Act.
Upcoming meetings about the Employee Free Choice Act are scheduled for Conway and DeQueen on December 11, and Stuttgart on December 19. To learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act or to schedule a speaker contact Coalition Coordinator Natalie Smith at 501-975-8344.
State Chamber Lifetime Board Member Roy Murphy Dies Following Brief Illness
Roy Murphy, a recently elected lifetime board member of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, died November 30 following a brief illness.
Murphy, a longtime Hot Springs resident, was born May 6, 1927 in Smackover. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management. After graduation, he worked for Dierks Forest until he co-founded Mid-South Engineering in 1969, acting as senior consultant and professional engineer for the forest products industry. Her continued to serve as chairman of the board of Mid-South and advisor to company officers until the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Sullivan Murphy, their four children: Dana M. Murphy, Lee Murphy, Susan Murphy Humphries and Kelly Murphy McQueen, 11 grandchildren and his brother, George Murphy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Boy Scouts of America, the National Park Community College Foundation or Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hot Springs.
Leadership Arkansas Class III Tourism Session Held
Leadership Arkansas Class III held a Tourism Session on December 4-5 at the Best Western in Eureka Springs.
Presented by Southern Bancorp, the Session was sponsored by the Arkansas Workers Compensation Commission, the City of Arkadelphia, Arvest Bank, the Arkansas National Guard, the Arkansas Hospitality Association, CJRW, Best Western Inn of the Ozarks and the Basin Park Hotel.
The Tourism Session featured presentations by Wildman Steve Wilson of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Richard Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism; Walt Coleman of Coleman Dairy and National Football League referee, Montine McNulty of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, and Wayne Woods, president of CJRW.
The Leadership Arkansas class met for a reception and dinner at the Basin Park Hotel Downtown on Thursday, December 4 with entertainment provided by Mike Bishop of Pine Mountain Theater. The session wrapped up on Friday, December 5 with Leadership Arkansas Tourism Session Group Activity, which included six teams representing a different tourism region of the state. Each group was led by a Tourism Director. Teams were charged with putting together ways to drive tourism to their region. Activities included PowerPoint presentations, commercials, family trips and movie trailers.
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Additional sessions planned for the coming months throughout the state include:
- Session III – South Arkansas Economy, January 22-23, 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.
- Leadership Class III Graduation will be held June 26, 2009 in Fayetteville.
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.
The Chairman for this year’s Leadership Arkansas class is program founder Paul H. Harvel. Curriculum Chairman is Michele Bond. Leadership Arkansas Class III is sponsored by Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia.
If you would like to be a session sponsor or need further information about Leadership Arkansas, please call Susie Marks at 501-210-4206.
Next Small Business Council Meeting Scheduled for January 22
The State Chamber/AIA Small Business Council will hold its next meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 22 at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce.
Eric Munson, Region VI advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will provide a presentation on “Federal and State Governmental Regulations.” There will also be a legislative update.
We are seeking a sponsor for the lunch portion of the meeting. If your company would be interested in sponsoring lunch, please contact Jeff Thatcher at 501-210-4205 or jthatcher@arkansasstatechamber.com .
Small Business Council meetings are open to all members of the State Chamber/AIA.
Below is the schedule for future Small Business Council Meetings through May 2009. Future 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, March 19, 2009 - Employee Benefits
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - Information Technology
State Chamber to Host Procurement Conference
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the state congressional offices to bring the Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference to Little Rock in June 2009.
The Procurement Opportunities Conference will include the Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon, networking, training and procurement opportunities. It will also feature a business exposition/matchmaking event, pairing small business owners with prime contractors, federal agencies and major corporations in a one-on-one setting.
Some 350 local and regional small business owners (SBEs, MBEs, WBEs and DBEs) will come together for a full day of procurement opportunities with 150 buyers from federal agencies, prime contractors and major corporations.
Sponsorship opportunities for this event are possible. For further information, please contact the State Chamber/AIA office at 501-372-2222.
ARCF Announces Community Giving Stimulus Program
Arkansas Community Foundation (ARCF), a State Chamber member, recently announced a unique Community Giving Stimulus Program: for every $2 donated by Arkansans to a list of approximately 150 nonprofit organizations that address hunger throughout Arkansas, ARCF will donate $1 up to a total of $100,000. Donations from $25 to $2,000 must be made on the organization’s web site, www.arcf.org , December 14-20, with matches on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Nonprofits that provide food to the hungry are experiencing record demand this season because of our economic downturn,” said Heather Larkin Eason, ARCF president and CEO. “This situation calls for a stimulus to encourage the citizens of our state to make donations to hunger relief charities, so we created the ARCF Community Giving Stimulus Program.”
To participate in the program, click here and make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card to the community hunger charity of your choice. For further information on the program, contact Eason at 501-372-1116.
Mitchell Williams Holding 2009 Employment Seminar
Mitchell Williams, a Little Rock-based law firm and State Chamber member, is holding a 2009 Employment Seminar on January 23 at the Crowne Plaza located at 201 S. Shackleford in Little Rock and on January 30 at the Embassy Suites located at 3303 Pinnacle Hills in Rogers.
The seminar will cover the following topics: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Determining the Legal Status of Potential Employees (and other immigration issues), Religious Discrimination – EEOC Compliance Guidance and Other Issues, Sexual Harassment Review, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Review and Preview, American Disabilities Act (ADA) Review and Preview, and Conducting Effective Investigations into Employee Complaints.
There is no charge for the seminar. To register for the seminar or for more information, contact Jessica Townley at Mitchell Williams at 501-370-4208 or e-mail her at jtownley@mwsgw.com .
Baldor’s Ozark Plant Named Survivor USA Plant of the Year
Baldor Electric Co.’s Ozark plant was recently named Survivor USA Plant of the Year by PLANTSERVICES.com. Baldor is an Associated Industries of Arkansas member.
In a PLANTSERVICES.com article entitled “A Model for American Manufacturing,” Baldor’s success was attributed “to the actions of the maintenance, engineering and facility management personnel in its 25 manufacturing plants. Baldor Electric Co. is a ‘local company’ in a global market. The $1.8 billion producer of industrial electric motors, power transmission products, drives and generators is consistently profitable and growing. The company is a proud American manufacturer, and about 95 percent of its products are produced in the United States. It’s also a successful exporter, with 17 percent of production exported to more than 70 countries around the world.”
The article went on to say that the Ozark plant stood out: “In 1994, a 15-acre tract in a small town in Franklin County, Arkansas, was selected for a new Baldor motor plant, Ozark’s population of 3,600 welcomed the jobs and economic opportunity the new 60,000-square-foot facility offered.
“Today, the Baldor plant in Ozark measures 151,800 square feet and is capable of producing 15 hp to 75 hp NEBA Premium 210, 250 and 280 electric motors. With 265 employees, it’s the largest employer in Ozark and the second largest in Franklin County.
“The plant is the market leader in the motors it manufactures and has the shortest lead times in the industry … Its actions serve as a model for any manufacturer seeking to strengthen its competitive position.”
For more information on Baldor’s manufacturing model or its facilities, click here .
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA:
Arkansas Physicians Hospitals Association
Capital Hotel
Capitol Smokehouse and Grill
Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt
Microtel Inn & Suites
MH Marketing
Reynolds Packaging
Rogers Group Inc.
Troutman Sanders Public Affairs
Wright Line
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.
XTO Energy, 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
Verizon Wireless
Weyerhaeuser Company
Windstream Corporation
CROWN
Acxiom Corporation
AEP Southwestern Electric Power
Albemarle Corporation
Alcoa Inc.
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
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
National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR)
Nucor-Yamato Steel
OG+E
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Philander Smith College
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
January 12, 2009 87th General Assembly Convenes
January 22, 2009 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce
January 22-23, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
South Arkansas Economy Session
Magnolia
February 23, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Legislative Session
Little Rock
March 19, 2009 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Conference Room
State Chamber Building, Little Rock
March 26-27, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Economic Development Session
Fort Smith
April 18-21, 2009 Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
Arlington, Virginia
May 6, 2009 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Conference Room
State Chamber Building, Little Rock
May 21-22, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Northeast Arkansas Economy
Jonesboro
June 25-26, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Northwest Arkansas Economy
Fayetteville
June 26, 2009 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Graduation
Fayetteville
