Your Chamber is Here for You, 24/7

Ever wish you could take care of business on your time frame, when you’re ready?

During the next few months, the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce will make doing business 24/7 a reality. New tools designed to enhance your ability to do business with us - even when we, and you, are not in the office – are on the horizon.

What will these changes mean for you? As a Chamber member, you will have the ability to make changes to your membership information, track committee meetings and notes, instantly find contact information for other members, and so much more.

We’ll be rolling out these upgrades in stages. First up: you will soon have the ability to register for Chamber events online. Next, we’ll offer registration and payment options for all Chamber events, activities and items online.

In order for these features to work for you, the Chamber will need your email address in the system. So please ensure we have your updated information by emailing it to chambercontact@
columbusgachamber.com.

By U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson

Columbus and Muscogee County have experienced enormous growth and development over the last few years, thanks in large part to the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the leadership of Mike Gaymon and the board. You also have great things in store over the next several years and many changes with the additional troops coming to Fort Benning as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s (BRAC) last round.

These additions at Fort Benning – the largest employer in the Columbus area – will require improvement in the community’s infrastructure. In 2005, I was able to put specific funding in the reauthorization of the highways and surface transportation bill for just this purpose. The funding can be used for road improvements, engineering and studies associated with BRAC troop increases at our military installations in Columbus and throughout the state. In addition, I secured more than $800,000 in bus funding for METRA to give increased mass transit alternatives to the residents of Columbus and Muscogee County.

Through my seat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am in a position to ensure that the Environmental Impact Study continues to move forward and to ensure that Fort Benning, Columbus and Muscogee County are able to complete the required infrastructure construction projects in a timely manner to accommodate the unprecedented growth in the area.

I am committed to seeing that our men and women serving at Fort Benning have the resources and the equipment they need to do their jobs. To that end, I have supported pay raises for military personnel, the extension of special pay and bonuses to bolster retention of personnel with critical skills, and continued incremental increases in the basic allowance for housing.

As a member of Congress, it is my duty to ensure the healthcare our soldiers and military retirees receive is the best our country can offer. In the past few years, Congress has increased access to Tricare for military retirees and members of the Guard and Reserve. I will work with my colleagues to continue to improve access to healthcare for our military.

In other priority projects for the chamber, you will be pleased to know that the National Infantry Museum is expected to receive a total of $5.4 million through the highways bill. I understand that the funds for the Museum have not flowed as quickly to the Museum as we would like, and I am working with Ben Williams, Executive Director of the National Infantry Foundation, on a solution to this issue.

In addition, the study of proposed Interstate 14 is set to begin soon and will determine the feasibility of building the interstate and the possible route for I-14 through Columbus. I will follow that study closely as it takes shape.

On another note, last year the U.S. Senate refused to proceed with debate and allow an up-or-down vote on permanently repealing the estate tax, also known as the death tax. It is wrong that when the tragedy of death comes, family members are immediately confronted with one of the most punitive and confiscatory taxes that has ever been devised in the history of taxation. A full repeal of the estate tax will let our hard-working taxpayers pass along their savings to their children and grandchildren tax-free. That’s good for families and small businesses, and it’s good for our economy. I will continue to do everything I can to see that we take action and repeal the death tax permanently.

I will also continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the Bush Administration to alleviate the tax burden placed on a growing number of individuals by the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). I believe the AMT is an overly burdensome tax that was originally enacted to ensure that all taxpayers, especially high-income taxpayers, paid at least a minimum amount of federal taxes. However, the AMT is not indexed for inflation, and this factor combined with the recent reductions in the regular income tax mean that more and more Americans will feel the burden of the AMT.

I appreciate the work of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce and all you do for the citizens of Muscogee County and the surrounding area. Please do not hesitate to contact my office any time we can be of assistance.

In future issues we will have other elected officials providing columns. If you would like to make a suggestion of who you would like to hear from use the Comments and Suggestions form on our web site.

More than 450 participate in the Partners In Education Awards banquet Naming top three "Partnerships of the Year"

"We are celebrating partnerships between educators and business, civic groups, churches
and military units," said Kent Fleming, chair of Partners In Education. "We are celebrating the positive impact that all the volunteer hours are having on the children in our region. The Partnership's have a direct impact on children's successes. I would like to thank all of you for your hard work this school year. Each year the competition for Partnership of the Year gets more creative and tighter. Congratulations to each of the Partnerships of the Year and winning Partnership grant applications."

The awards were presented at the Partners In Education Awards Banquet May 1 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Taking top honors:

McBride Elementary and their Partners in Education, the Basic Combat Training Brigade, was awarded Partnership of the Year amongst elementary schools on May 1. McBride Elementary received a keepsake banner for display in their school along with a check for $1,000.00. Pictured accepting the award: (L-R) Phyllis Parker, Principal, Capt. Adam Bradford, Margaret Koger, Capt. Noelani Razian, Capt. Seth Griep.

Morris R. McBride Elementary School and their partner the 192d Infantry Brigade provided soldiers to serve as mentors, Partners and Adopted Learners (PALS), Army Values trainers and Leadership Academy instructors. Mentors assist students who have been identified as having specific needs related to achievement. These needs may be due to the student having a deployed parent, a blended family, and other emotional issues as well as specific academic needs. Mentors worked through the year to build relationships with students while they provided tutoring, homework and class work help and organizational/time-management skills. The Leadership Academy program involves few students directly, but it has school-wide impact. Students who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential are carefully selected for participation in the program and are held to exacting standards. These students attend rigorous training sessions led by the commander of the 192d Headquarters Service Company. Throughout the year Leadership Academy students assume leadership roles in other areas of the school. They serve as greeters for school functions, work on the flag team and learn to be servant leaders. On any given day at McBride school, you will see soldiers from the 192d in various classrooms tutoring, mentoring, assisting, or sometimes just visiting. The students form bonds with the partners that continue long after the soldier has been deployed or gone to another duty station. It is common to receive e-mail from partners two or three years after the soldier has left Fort Benning.

Faith Middle School won Partnership of the Year for middle schools on May 1. Their Partners in Education are: Military Police and Troy State University-Ft. Benning/Columbus. The school received a $1,000 check and a keepsake banner for display in their school. Pictured (L-R) Lt. Col. Moore (Commanding Officer, Military Police, Angie Cotton (Assistant Principal- Chairperson PIE Committee), Bill Glisson, Troy Sate University, Dr. Susan Parsons, Troy State University, Capt. Nolt (MP Unit), Dr. Julio Gonzalez, Faith Middle School Principal.

Faith Middle School, Troy University and 988th MP Company has successfully implemented READ180. This is a remedial reading program supported by Troy University to recognize students quarterly for achieving their reading goals. In the first quarter, Troy University sponsored a breakfast for the READ180 students and parents and for the PIE staff partners. In the third quarter, Military Police provided 45 soldier mentors; Troy provided bowling and pizza for READ180. The partnership also built a climbing wall for the school and MP's volunteered on weekends to assemble it. Over the summer, MP's and the Fire Department renovated the Faith Front Computer Lab. This lab is now technology savvy and considered a gem in the school district. The lab is constantly booked and the kids love it. These students are the targeted beneficiaries of a well-oiled, hardworking partnership.

On May 1, Partnership of the Year amongst high schools was awarded to Spencer High School and their Partners in Education: 29th Infantry Brigade, BellSouth (AT&T), H&R Block and Urban League of Greater Columbus. This award provided Spencer a keepsake banner for display in their school and a check for $1,000. Pictured (L-R) Malinda Shamburger (BellSouth/AT&T), 1st Sgt. Darrin Jones, Sgt. 1st Class Christian Vanlaarhoven, Capt. Kenneth Brophy Jr., Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Leggette (all from the 29th Infantry), Queen Spivey (Spencer High Administrative Assistant), Maxine West (Spencer High Guidance Director), Susan Cooper, Jeanette James, Reginald Pugh (all from Urban League of Greater Columbus), Lt. Col. Thomas Jones (Spencer PIE), and Dr. Issac Neal Jr.

Spencer High School and its partners BellSouth (AT&T), Columbus Urban League, 29th Infantry Regiment and H&R Block all worked together to improve academic performance. This year the partners coordinated their efforts in order to implement a full scale honor and recognition program. The Urban League sponsors the 3.0 Honor Roll celebrations, BellSouth sponsors the A/B Honor Roll celebrations and H&R Block and the 29th Infantry Regiment joined together to reward the Principal's List students with special field trips and gifts. The 29th Infantry Regiment provided a great deal of time assisting the JROTC program. When Spencer's Academic Decathlon team competed on the state level in Atlanta, BellSouth provided snack bags and the Urban League provided breakfast. H&R Block taught seniors a valuable life skill when they conducted a workshop on completing the 1040EZ form and how to file taxes. BellSouth conducted a communication skills workshop with Spencer's junior level students and the Urban League of Columbus provided a $500 scholarship to a qualifying Spencer senior.

An unprecedented four partnerships this year received $1,000 grants for specific projects including: Fox Elementary, Fox Publishing Company; Arnold Magnet Academy, CRCT Coach Books; Carver High School, Improving Passing Rate on GHSGT and Teenage Parenting Center, Successful Science Strategies.

The Northside Jazz Band performed for the guests of the Partners in Education Awards Banquet May 1 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

Partners In Education was established in 1987 (as Adopt-A-School). Partnerships provide for increased educational enrichment opportunities for students aimed at improving levels of achievement, self-esteem, and understanding of the expectations of the work world. Partnerships also provide for school staff education recognition thereby increasing staff morale and enthusiasm.

PIE covers Chattahoochee, Harris, Fort Benning, Muscogee and Talbot school districts as well as many private and church affiliated schools. There are 84 individual schools and 220 partners made up of business partners, military partners, civic partners and church partners.

What is the impact?

• More than 26,700 volunteers participated in the partnerships.

The Wynnton Arts Academy Chorus and Show Choir performed for the Partners in Education Awards Banquet. Partners in Education is a program of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

There were 32 partnerships who achieved the gold partnership level. In order to become a gold partnership, the partners are fully engaged with a commitment to human and financial investments targeted at sponsoring programs that address four "key success factors." The key success factors include: enriching the life experience for the student, improving academic performance, growing career opportunities and providing faculty development and enrichment.

There were 20 silver level partnerships. To achieve a silver level the partners have a specifically defined role and limited resources concentrating on sponsoring one or more programs in support of two of the key success factors: enriching life experience for students and improving academic performance.

More information about PIE can be found at www.partnersineducationcolumbusga.com.

Membership Golf Tournament 

Michael Lemieux, pours out hundreds of ping pong balls but only one ball 21 won $1,000 prize at the Great Ball Drop. First place in the Tee Sponsor competition went to Valley Hospitality for their cantina including a miniature donkey. The competition was fierce with 23 Tee Sponsors on the course. Placing second was Hilton Garden Inn and third place went to Clear Channel. More than 450 golfers participated in the Membership Golf Tournament held at Maple Ridge Golf Course

1st Place - Valley Hospitality
2nd Place - Hilton Garden Inn
3rd Place - Clear Channel

Overall Winning Team:
Medical Management Services: Mark Manning, Matt Manning, Keith West, Leigh Turner

GROSS a.m.:

1. Bowles Builders: Don Bowles, Kevin Leroy, Brian Lucas
2. Clear Channel: Jim Martin, Dick Minter, Jimmy Yancey and Bill Ploeger
3. Columbus Regional: Mike Hill, Sam Wellborn, Jay Lewis and John Wofford

GROSS p.m.:

1. Regions Bank: Rodney Barfield, Brian Lucas, Sammy Hewitt and Floyd Merritt
2. Aflac: Trip Reynolds, John Welborn, Stokley Pound and Charlie McDaniel
3. Valley Hospitality: Mark Brown, Brian Plemmons, Don Edmondson, John Giglio

Net a.m.:
1st Office Max: Greg McKinney, Jeff Marshal, Terone Harris and Todd McBride
2nd Atmos Energy: Doug Gordon, Laury Franmell, Chris Wynn and Harold Woods
3rd Batson-Cook: Chunk Newman, Randy Hall, Frank McRay and Adam Delk

Net p.m.:
1st Regions Bank: Paul Collins, Daniel Stein, Paxton Arnette and Lance Alred
2nd Knology: Bill Sharp, Jack Tidwell, Royce Ard and Dan Parkh
3rd Wachovia: Greg Allmendinger, Tim Stokes, Mike Sanda and Ken Culpeer

Longest Drive:

• a.m. - Brian Lucas 
• p.m. - Brian Lucas

Closest to the Pin:

• a.m. - Jeremy Gordon 
• p.m. - Peter Finnerty