Board Retreat produces ideas for 2008

Stella Shulman, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the board to the board retreat at the Cunningham Center Dec. 13.

Your Board of Directors held its planning retreat at the Cunningham Center on the afternoon of Dec. 13 and morning of Dec. 14. Stella Shulman, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, kicked the event off with an overview of 2007 accomplishments.

The first day of the event covered items suggested at last years board retreat and provided status updates of their ideas. The board members then met as small groups to discuss ideas for the Chamber to pursue in 2008. Areas discussed included Regional Growth Plan, Workforce Development, Public Relations, Management Information Systems, Small Business, Membership Services and Special Events, Military Affairs, Economic Development, Finance and Inter City Leadership Conferences. Ideas from the group discussion were consolidated and 2008 takeaways were identified.

Friday morning was kicked off with the video Shift Happens followed by Group Discussion of Major Items for 2008, Young Professionals Overview, Chairman's Circle, Key Policy Positions - Air, Water, etc, Budget Issues.

Friday morning of the Board Retreat focused on Growth of Fort Benning as it relates to the Chamber & Fort Benning Futures Partnership, Young Professionals, Environmental-water/air, CARI- Chamber Foundation, Budget, Chairman's Circle and Public Affairs items-referendums, active participation of membership, enhanced political engagement in determining key issues and developing positions that are focused and appropriate for the organization.

After briefings from staff and volunteers Dec. 13 the board met as small groups to discuss department reviews and take a ways from 2007 Retreat.

Carmen Cavezza, (C), talks about the development of a Young Professionals organization during board retreat Dec. 14.

The Fifth Annual "Eagle for Education" golf tournament was held at Bull Creek Golf Course on November 30, 2007. Twenty six teams enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as they played 18 holes of golf in support of the Partners In Education Program.

The tournament was a huge success thanks to our many supportive tournament sponsors such as: CB&T, Jay Auto Mall, Pratt & Whitney, American International Movers, Carmike Cinemas, Cott Beverages, SMW Engineering Group, Buffalo Rock, Georgia Power, A-Com, Alltell, Andras Allen Starr Architecture, Cott Beverages, Building and Earth Sciences and Serenity Events.

This tournament helps fund the award winning Partners In Education program whose purpose is to improve education by stimulating meaningful business and community involvement in public schools. Through individual partnerships with businesses, professional organizations, churches, and civic clubs, public and private schools are now able to tap resources to meet the individual needs of each student body, provide excellent educational programming, and recognize achievement. There are more than 230 partnerships serving 87 schools in Fort Benning, Harris County, Muscogee County and Talbot County.

Thank you sponsors, golfers and volunteers for your support!

Family Friendly Awards presented to three area organizations Fort Benning, Voicelink and David Rothschild Company, Inc. 

The Family Friendly Awards were presented to Fort Benning, Voicelink and David Rothschild Company, Inc. presented at the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eye Opener Breakfast (December 18).

(L-R) Col. Keith Lovejoy, Fort Benning Garrison Commander, Stella Shulman 2007-08 chair presents the Family Friendly Award for large organizations to Lovejoy and Chuck Walls, Fort Benning Deputy Garrison Commander.

The large organization category winner was Fort Benning. Long known locally for its economic impact, now at over $4.3 Billion annually in salaries and contracts alone, and total population served; now at 110,000 to 120,000, Fort Benning is a world-class place for families. Fort Benning's MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) wide-ranging programs, whose motto is "For All Your Life", include The Exceptional Family Member for family members with physical, emotional, or intellectual disorders with special needs; the Mobilization & Deployment Program with licensed professionals called Military Family Life Consultants to assist families before, during, and after deployment by the soldier spouse/parent; the Army Family Team Building Program, where there are three levels of training for personal, professional, and leadership development for family members; the Army Family Action Plan, the Army's super-sized, suggestion box; and many more. These are the reasons that Fort Benning families are among the primary beneficiaries of the recognition Fort Benning has received as the Best Army Installation in the World four times and the Army Community of Excellence Award in 2002.

(L-R) Ron Hinze, Sr. Vice President Small & Minority Business Development presents Family Friendly Award medium sized business to JoAnne Fussell, CEO/founder/owner/operator at Voicelink.

The medium-size business winner was Voicelink. One of the area's leading call centers, Voice Link was plagued by security concerns for its employees in a former location. JoAnne Fussell, CEO/founder/owner/operator, built a new building for her employees with security cameras viewable by all. Fussell's successful experiences with handicapped and disabled employees caused her to include extra large computer monitors, wider halls, more expensive indirect lighting, and secure parking facilities for her employees. Moreover, as quoted from a letter from a Voice Link employee, Donald Ellis, who is legally blind, "Voice Link has been open-minded about hiring the handicapped or disabled. They treat us equal and go out of their way to accommodate an employee's needs." Ellis went on to say that Voice Link's flexible hours really help employees with children or who are students. Voice Link was selected in large part because it is family-friendly in its policies and employee programs but because its employees consider themselves "family".

The small business winner was David Rothschild Company, Inc., a 122 year-old Columbus-based manufacturer of fine fabrics. Its dozen permanent employees and several seasonal employees enjoy being "the best company assets, though not listed on the balance sheet". This small employer has a profit sharing plan, a 401K plan and pays all the costs of health and life insurance on each team member. Personal leave benefits include six weeks for maternity, eight days paid sick leave, personal leave time, two or three weeks vacation, eight paid holidays, and flextime for team members with school-age children. The company pays tuition, fees, books, and permits for attending class during business hours. There is a celebration for every team member birthday and each holiday, also. Not surprising, its team members are almost all long-term employees who consider their work as their careers.

A committee of volunteers will select winners. Selections will be based on the contributions the company and its leadership make toward development and implementation of family-friendly employee policies. Leave policies, flexible hours, family related benefits, and employee testimonials will be primary considerations.

The nominations for the awards are made by employees, business associates and customers. The sponsors of this event include the The Family Center, the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and One Columbus.

A family-friendly business is one that has policies that promote environments where the feeling of family includes an employee's home life. Company practices may include time off for a family related illness, assistance given for a personal catastrophe (fire etc.), providing childcare in the workplace and a liberal policy on family related absenteeism.

Past Winners have included:
In order Large, Medium and Small

Some of the items that are new this year include:

• New questions on selected forms (franchising, outsourcing, health and pension benefit expenses)
• New industries in NAICS 2007 (executive search services, biotech R&D, consolidation in telecommunications)
• New technology (E-reporting, on-line help site,...)
• New features in publication plans for 2007 Economic Census data

What does the Economic Census ask, and why?

See the list of census questions along with a description of the applications of each type of information. If you specialize in a particular industry, look at the census form for that industry. There are over 500 variants of the census form so that businesses are asked to respond in terms most meaningful to them.

What makes the Economic Census so important?

The Economic Census provides the foundation for many of the key economic indicators America uses, like GDP and monthly retail sales. Economic policy makers in Federal, state, and local governments use Economic Census data to project trends, plan for development, assess the impact of changes in the economy. Businesses study their own industries and look for business markets, as illustrated in How People Use Economic Census Data.

In business since 1810

Think the Economic Census is a new federal program? The Economic Census traces its roots to the 1810 Decennial Census, when questions were asked about manufacturing along with questions about the population. See an article about the history of the economic census.

Chamber home page . . . click here