Business Weekly E-Newsletter
50th Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner Set for April 18-21
The State Chamber/AIA will host the 50th Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner from April 18 – 21 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The Congressional Reception and Dinner will be held Monday evening, April 20. We expect record participation due to the importance of the issues that will be in play this year, including the proposed “Employee Free Choice Act” and the federal economic stimulus program.
The Fly-In is organized to afford maximum opportunity for our members to meet and greet our senators and representatives and to discuss state and federal issues at their offices, at separately scheduled luncheons and breakfasts, and at the reception and dinner.
We are seeking sponsors to partner with us as hosts for this event. This governmental affairs activity provides an excellent opportunity for productive contact with our senators, representatives and their staffs.
Sponsorship opportunities are listed below, all of which include recognition in the printed materials for the event. Please call us at 501-372-2222 for additional benefits available with specific sponsorships.
- Presenting Sponsor $10,000 (two available)
- Dinner Sponsor $5,000 (multiple)
- VIP Reception Sponsor $2,500 (multiple)
- Gold Sponsor $1,500 (multiple)
- Silver Sponsor $1,000 (multiple)
- Bronze Sponsor $750 (multiple)
- Patron Sponsor $500 (multiple)
- Contributor Sponsor $250 (multiple)
Next Leadership Arkansas Session Slated for Little Rock
Leadership Arkansas Class III will hold its next session covering Legislative Affairs on Monday, February 23 in Little Rock.
The previous session, covering South Arkansas, was held January 22-23 and sponsored by Albemarle Corp. of Magnolia. Held at the Donald W. Reynolds Center of South Arkansas University and the Magnolia Business and Industry Training Center, the session was led by Celia McQuiston of Albemarle.
Session highlights included:
- A Welcome by Magnolia Mayor Lane Jean;
- A Southwest Arkansas Economy Overview featuring Robbie Taylor, director for Southern Arkansas University Grants; Leslie Lane of Connect Arkansas, and Debra Lewis of the Golden Triangle
- Thursday lunch remarks by Dr. Brian Canfield, EDD, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southern Arkansas University
- A class exercise covering What Drives Our Economy consisting of Group Magnolia, Group El Dorado and Group Camden
- A field trip to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover followed by a World Championship Steak Dinner
- A Friday morning group activity covering Local Economy Solutions, and
- A Training Center Overview featuring Robert Gunnels, Vice Chancellor for Extended Education at Southern Arkansas University – Tech and a Training Center Tour provided by Paul Hold, Career Academy Trainer
Additional sessions planned for the coming months throughout the state include:
- 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.
Maximum Impact Simulcast Planned for May 8
Community business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of 10 internationally acclaimed leaders by attending the Maximum Impact Simulcast hosted by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Leadership Arkansas program at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Friday, May 8, 2009.
The Maximum Impact Simulcast is a one-day leadership training event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, Georgia, to approximately 500 host sites throughout the nation. Speakers for the event will include Tony Blair, John Maxwell, Jack Nicklaus, Bill George, Al Weiss, Linda Kaplan Thaler, Kevin Carroll, Mark Sanborn and Liz Murray and Ernie Johnson, professional sports announcer and host of TNT’s Inside the NBA, who will also serve as master of ceremonies for the event. The 10 speakers will speak on subjects such as leading in difficult times, converging people and purpose, building strong teams by understanding and embracing change, overcoming personal and professional adversity, utilizing the power of passion and creativity, and balancing the needs of customers, employees and company shareholders.
"The Maximum Impact Simulcast provides extremely valuable leadership insights from world class communicators,” said David Hoyt, vice president of Maximum Impact. “It's a rare opportunity to hear these experts within your own community and simultaneously develop business relationships with other local leaders. It's a must-attend event for people in all stages of their leadership journey."
Sponsorship and ticket order information are available. For additional information, contact Susie Marks at (501) 210-4206 or smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com .
State Chamber to Host Procurement Conference
The Arkansas State Chamber is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state congressional offices and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) to bring the Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference to Little Rock on June 2 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
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.
IRS Holding TAP Community Town Hall Meeting
On Thursday, February 12, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is holding a Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) Community Town Hall Meeting. Arkansas residents are invited to attend in order to share feedback on IRS customer service practices with local TAP members and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).
TAP is a federal advisory committee created to listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayer issues and propose suggestions for change to the IRS.
What: TAP Community Town Hall Meeting
Event highlights include:
· One-hour dialogue with taxpayers to solicit taxpayer concerns about IRS customer service.
· Opportunity for taxpayers to meet TAP members from their area who will listen to their comments and drive change in IRS service practices.
· Attendance by TAP members, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, and local taxpayer advocates to speak with taxpayers about their concerns.
· Focus group session to further explore the IRS customer services taxpayers would like to receive.
· Free and open to the public.
When: Thursday, February 12, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
School of Law
Friday Courtroom
1201 McMath Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72202
Please join IRS representatives as they answer the question, “How can the IRS better serve you?”
For additional information or questions, contact Sarah Chavez at sarah.chavez@irs.gov or 954-423-7979.
IRS Rolls Out Web Products for Small Businesses and the Self-Employed
In order to provide the most timely and up-to-date tax information, the Small Business Resource Guide (SBRG), formerly a CD-ROM, is now availableexclusively online here .
Designed to equip small business owners with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully start and manage a business, IRS has ensured the SBRG 2009 Web site offers the same quality of information the SBRG CD was known for, covering a wide range of tax topics, Web links to business forms, publications, other useful governmental Web sites, and much more.
A new page here on IRS.gov features video and audio presentations on a variety of topics for small businesses and self-employed taxpayers, highlighted by an audio podcast reenactment of the May 2008 IRS National Phone Forum for first-time Schedule C filers. Also included are:
· Adjusting Employment Taxes: New for 2009
· Backup Withholding for Form 1099-MISC
· Bartering Income
· Choosing a Tax Preparer
· Employer Identification Numbers
· Small Business Tax Workshops
· Schedule C: Who needs to file and how to do it
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA:
American Composting, Inc.
Bryce Corporation
Change Agents, Inc.
Clearwater Paper
D1 Sports Training and Therapy of Little Rock
Goss Management Co., LLC
Hodge Fabrication
IHP Industrial, Inc.
Success in Fitness, Inc.
That French Salon
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
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
Kraft Foods
Oaklawn Jockey Club
SemGroup LP
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Southland Park Gaming & Racing
Southwestern Energy Company
State Farm Insurance
Verizon Wireless
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 a SourceGas Company
Bank of the Ozarks
BP America, Inc.
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
Nabholz Construction Corporation
National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR)
Nucor-Yamato Steel
OG+E
Petrohawk
Philander Smith College
Potlatch Forest Products Corporation
Rheem Air Conditioning Division
Riceland Foods, Inc.
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Stephens, Inc.
Storm Cat Energy
Suez Energy North America
The Clorox Company
The Trane Company
US Bank
Waste Management
Weyerhaeuser Company
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Calendar of Events
February 23 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Legislative Session
Little Rock
March 19 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Conference Room
State Chamber Building, Little Rock
March 26-27 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Economic Development Session
Fort Smith
April 18-21 Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
Arlington, Virginia
May 6 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Conference Room
State Chamber Building, Little Rock
May 8 Maximum Impact Simulcast Leadership Conference
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
May 21-22 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Northeast Arkansas Economy
Jonesboro
June 2 Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
June 2 Nineteenth Annual Arkansas
Small Business Awards Luncheon
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock
June 25-26 Leadership Arkansas Class III
Northwest Arkansas Economy
Fayetteville
June 26 Leadership Arkansas Class III
