This event is brought to you by our Premier Sponsor:

Remember to mark your calendar for this year's Fall Gala and Auction, Biddin' on the Banks (formerly Rollin' on the River). This wonderful event is scheduled for Friday, September 14 at the RiverMill Event Centre. Don't miss out on an evening of elegance, excitement, bidding, dancing and friendship!

A sneak preview of auction items . . .

Congressional Club First Lady's Luncheon - Dine with First Lady Laura Bush and other members of the Congressional Club in Washington D.C. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in May, 2008 includes truly unique commemorative gifts, a one-night accommodation at the Washington Hilton plus airfare. Value: priceless

Under Your Own "Tuscan Sun" Dream Vacation - A magnificent 7-day stay at a private Tuscan villa in the ancient hill town of Manciano, Italy. Enjoy views of the rolling countryside, gardens and the Tuscan hillside. The villa is located in the Maremma area within the magnificent Tyrrhenian Sea and Fiora River, silver mountains and natural thermal spas. Value $4,550

Quail Dinner for Six - A dining experience to remember at Fielder's Mill in Talbotton, the home of Mike and Debbie Buckner. This home, built in 1840, still has an operational mill. Dinner will consist of quail, wild rice, vegetable and dessert. Rolls will be made from the wheat ground at the family mill. Value $600

For more information click her to visit the auction's information page.

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland that's who!

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland's bio:

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, of Grantville, entered Congress in January 2005 after serving 12 years in the Georgia House. He represents Georgia’s 3rd District, which stretches from the southern suburbs of metro Atlanta into Middle Georgia.

In Congress, Lynn serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Small Business and Government Oversight and Reform committees.

Serving on the Small Business Committee affords Lynn the opportunity to consistently focus on ways to enhance the business climate for one of our nation’s most important economic engines. Within the Small Business Committee, he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care, and Trade. This subcommittee examines the regulatory activities of issues that affect small businesses, as well as oversight on health care coverage and trade issues. He is also a member of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. This subcommittee works to oversee the Small Business Administration.

Lynn also serves on the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, created to ensure government accountability. The panel is considered the chief investigative and oversight committee and exercises government-wide oversight and expanded legislative authority. Within the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, Lynn is a member of the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over national security, homeland security, and foreign affairs.

Lynn was also honored with the opportunity to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, an industry important to the people of the 3rd District. The Aviation Subcommittee oversees funding and organization of the Federal Aviation Administration, safety and security programs, and oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He was also selected to serve on the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, which oversees railroad infrastructure programs, reauthorization of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Safety Program, and reauthorization of Amtrak.

In the state House, Lynn served three years as Republican leader, fighting for low taxes and less government. He played a major role in delivering a Republican majority in the state House for the first time.

Link:

• Register for the Eye Opener Breakfast by calling the Chamber or by clicking here to register online before August 22nd at NOON.
• http://westmoreland.house.gov/ - Website for U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

bio source: http://westmoreland.house.gov/biography/

Partners In Education kick-off conference set for Aug. 30

The Kick-Off Conference will be held Thursday, August 30 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

The conference includes breakfast, lunch, resource manual and a variety of break-out sessions. Some of the PIE Partners at Large (PAL) will have booths set up to provide information on the resources they have available. A new sponsorship opportunity was added for the first time this year to non-PAL. For $200, partners can reserve a table at the conference to market their wares.

The guest speaker this year is Mark Strunk from the Business Resource Center. Anticipated attendance is about 400.

Special Thanks goes out to our sponsors:

• Columbus Bank and Trust
• Pratt & Whitney
• Muscogee County School District
• Premier Martial Arts
• TIC Federal Credit Union
• New Horizons Community Service Board
• Heritage Hills Alzheimer's Specialty Care Center
• Spring Harbor
• Junior Achievement

Downloads:

• Kick-Off Conference Invitation
• Partners In Education 2007 Kick Off Conference Sponsorship Flyer

Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding visits

David Arrington, deputy city manager, talks with Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center Aug. 13.

The Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding visited Columbus on Aug. 13-14. Co-chaired by Georgia House of Representatives Transportation Committee Chairman, Rep. Vance Smith and Senate Transportation Chairman, Sen. Jeff Mullis, the committee is holding hearings around the state to tackle the tough question on how to meet Georgia's transportation needs for the next decade.

Your Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception Aug. 13 for the Joint Study Committee on Transportation and regional leaders followed by a dinner. Transportation is a critical factor in attracting businesses to the region. It was important to provide leaders formal ways to communicate with the Joint Study Committee on Transportation as well as informally.

Why is this important to you the member? Columbus and the Valley Partnership Region has a huge interest in this issue as the region look for help in funding the local infrastructure needs in light of the significant economic development expansion in the region.

The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Joint Study Committee with a reception at the Marriott sponsored by Robinson Paving Company. Later that evening the Chamber hosted a dinner attended by key members of the legislature and Georgia Department of Transportation leadership. The dinner was sponsored by USA Couch Ready Mix – Chattahoochee Valley Division and DMJM Harris.  Chamber Chair, Stella Shulman, spoke at both events and expressed appreciation for the work being done by the legislature and Georgia Department of Transportation to address the transportation needs of the State.

(L-R) State Senator Jeff Mullis of the 53rd District, CJ Robinson of Robinson's Paving, Kenny Powell of Robinson's Paving, and State Representative Vance Smith of the 129th District participated in the Joint Study Committee on Transportation reception. Robinson's Paving Company sponsored the Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding evening reception. The Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding Listening Session was a 2-day event where Georgia State Legislators heard from Department of Transportation officials from other states identifying unique strategies to increase revenue available to meet the growing demand of Transportation Projects as Georgia grows exponentially. Other elected officials in attendance were State Senators: Seth Harp, Ed Harbison, Tommie Williams-Senate Majority Leader, Valencia Seay, and State Representatives: James Mills, Jay Shaw, Donna Sheldon, Carolyn Hugley, Calvin Smyre, Debbie Buckner, and Richard Smith.

The first round of public meetings to discuss the progress of the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) and impact of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) have begun in the 7 counties participating in the study. Each meeting is led by EDAW, the prime contractor and study leader, who has extensive experience in developing land use compatibility strategies around military installations. Many citizens attended the first round of meetings in the various counties as the communities realize these studies are essential in making sure everyone is knowledgeable of the potential for changes.

The study analyzes Fort Benning operational impacts in an open forum, taking into consideration both community and military viewpoints. Recommendations from the JLUS will be used to safeguard the installation's military mission while ensuring that local economic development can prosper without degrading the public health, safety and welfare of surrounding communities.

Sponsored by the Valley Partnership, the JLUS is a regionally coordinated effort to prepare the Chattahoochee Valley Region for expected growth on Fort Benning due to the 2005 BRAC decision and Army Transformation.

For more information about the JLUS, please contact Shelley Dean at sdean@columbusgachamber.com or at 706-327-1566 ext.61 or visit the website at http://www.thevalleypartnership.com/jlus.

Ft. Benning Joint Land Use Study
Schedule for Remaining Meetings In First Round

Marion County
date: Monday, August 20
time: 6:30 p.m.
location: Marion Middle School, 
100 Burkhalter Ave., Buena Vista

Talbot County
date: Tuesday, August 21
time: 6:00 p.m.
location: Board of Commissioners Office, 
74 W. Monroe St., Talbotton

Schedule for September meetings will be in the next issue of the Chamber Express Aug. 30