• Chamber Events
• Columbus Region Day at the Capitol
• Chamber Board Retreat
• January Eye Opener Breakfast
• Ribbon Cuttings
• Business News
• Small Business Committee
• News For Government Contractors
• HR Minute: Employee at Will
• SBDC Grow Smart Program
• Celebrating Columbus' History: Black Owned Small Business

Last chance to get your business ad in the 2012 Membership Directory!

We only have a couple of spaces available. This will put your ad in front 3,000 people for a year!

New this year, will be a digital addition of the full color quality of life section which will be linked to our web site.

Call Michael Dunbar at 706-257-1189 for more information.

 THANK YOU to our Continuous Sponsors for your support.

     

  

   

   

 

     

  

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOIN A CHAMBER COMMITTEE

Joining one of the many committees of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a great way to expand your business network by building contacts throughout the business community.

Click here to sign up for a committee today!

Welcome New Chamber Members

• Andrew Rose & Associates, LLC
• Crepe Myrtle in the Landings
• Keller Williams-Commercial
• P & J Search Group
• Ross & Levy LLC
• Seaboard Advisors
• Security Finance
• Serenity Hospice
• Wingate Inn

Quick Links

• IAmTheChamber.com
• Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development
• Fort Benning and the Valley Region

During the Board Retreat members decided:

• To support TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax)

• To support TAD (Tax Allocation District)

Board Members review Chamber information at the Board Retreat on Jan. 24.

Mark your calendars and plan to come out and join this committee as the Small Business Outreach Committee (SBO) will meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Chamber in the Saunders Board Room from 8:00am - 9:00am beginning Tuesday, February 14th (Valentine's Day) at the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Chair Cedric Hill and the committee's leadership team welcome your participation and involvement on this NEW and exciting outreach committee! Our topic of discussion will be "Love It or Leave It ... Professional Presence: The Power of Business Protocol", presented by Lori Auten, Area Director at University of Georgia SBDC.

Additionally, we'll be having a small business spotlight from Mr. Paul Vorhees, owner of Ranger Joes. Mr. Voorhees was selected as "Small Business Giant, 2003" by the Greater Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce, and is an honorary member of the Ranger Training Brigade, and consistently donates to the Ranger Memorial Foundation.

Mr. Vorhees will share his small business testimony and candidly share the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial success!

If you can't make it, by all means send someone in your organization. Who couldn't use a little "Professional Polishing" or learn a few "tricks of the trade" from a small business owner who's gone from Good to GREAT?

See you on Tuesday, February 14th at 8 a.m. in the Saunders Board Room! Who knows, you may just meet that special someone ... who can help you grow your business! Get involved and get noticed!

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently published a proposed new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having seven percent (7%) of their workforces be comprised of individuals with disabilities. The new rule is a significant revision of the affirmative action regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The proposed rule also:

• Incorporates the expanded definition of "disability" under the final regulations to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA);
• Imposes new data collection responsibilities and five-year record-keeping requirements;
• Provides for new applicant self-identification of disability status pre-offer;
• Provides for employees to self-identify annually;
• Sets out written reasonable accommodation request procedures;
• Requires increased and documented recruitment efforts; and
• Suggests that contractors may be required to submit an annual report to OFCCP regardless of whether they have been selected for a compliance evaluation.

Recently, I was told by a person in human resources that their organization was advised by an attorney that they should never put in writing why a person was being terminated. The attorney advised the HR professional to tell those being terminated that they are" at will employees" and that their employment was being terminated. That no reason was necessary.

"Employment at Will" was originally brought to the American colonies as a part English law.

It simply means that an employee is free to quit whenever they want to do so, and an employer can terminate the employee's employment whenever they want to do so.

Through the years "employment at will" has continued to deteriorate or erode because of poor or outrageous employment practices on the part of some companies.

For instance: A company terminated an employee for missing work who had answered a subpoena to appear in court. They were an "at will" employee and technically could be fired for any reason. What do you think happened to this company? Based on 30 years of experience in dealing with employment law I will guarantee you that if you casually terminate employees with no written record of what they did to warrant being terminated you will be leaving your company or organization open to law suits that you will most likely lose. Any reputable law firm that specializes in employment law will tell you documentation of poor job performance in writing is the key mitigating any damages that can arise from wrongful discharge cases. Using "employment at will" as a reason for termination is extremely weak and also legally locks in a company and gives them no defense to use if the actual reason for the termination was poor job performance. All companies should have a written rules and a progressive discipline policy that are clear and understood by all employees. Using "employment at will" as the reason for terminating employees as the sole reason for a termination of employment is extremely weak and will open your organization up to serious problems.

Questions? Contact Strategic HR Partners. www.strategichrpartners.com

Celebrating Columbus' Small Business History: Black Owned Small Businesses
First Black American Bank of Columbus, GA

Our first celebrated small business is the former Laborers' Savings and Loan Company located at 9th Street and Fifth Avenue in a corner space on the ground floor of the Sconiers Building. This business was the very first African American owned bank in Columbus, GA. It was founded in 1921 by John L. Sconiers, Sr., who also, at that time, served as the company's President. The Laborers' Savings and Loan Company offered regular banking services in addition to savings accounts, checking accounts, vacation club, and Christmas club. The Laborers Savings and Loan Company stood as an unmistakable sign of progress and gave promise of even greater future prosperity for Columbus.

Read More about the The Laborers' Savings and Loan Company.