I've been spending a lot of time talking with other Chamber executives across the nation about the state of economic times we are now facing and the impact on our own business communities.  There is no doubt it is a scary time for all of us.
 
I really appreciated hearing from one of my colleagues, Mick Fleming, who is the president of the American Chambers of Commerce Executives Association (ACCE).  Mick reminded us that "we must continue the critical work, carry the message of hope, and fight for the principles and goals we know to be right with whatever resources we have available. It's what we do."

"Think of it this way: Everything you have ever learned . . . every skill you've developed, every network you've nurtured and every experience you've stored in your personal and organizational arsenals must now be put to use in the most important challenge of our time", Mick said. "The chamber of commerce movement has an obligation to push, pull, steer and drive the economic recovery of this country. Others will weigh in too, of course, but can they succeed without your regional and street-level leadership? Impossible."

 

 

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Gilbert Police Department, has implemented the Business Watch program. This program encourages Gilbert's business community to come together and learn valuable information to safeguard their businesses.
 
Businesses can attend one of the three remaining lunchtime training sessions offered by the Gilbert Police Department. These trainings will focus on a variety of public safety issues affecting business owners, managers and staff. All trainings are open to the public and will be held in the Gilbert Police Department Amphitheatre - 75 East Civic Center Drive from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Visit our website, www.gilbertaz.com, for a listing of upcoming workshops.
 
The next training will cover the topic of business alarms and will be held Thursday, November 6. To register for this training and others please contact Vickie Owens at vickieo@ci.gilbert.az.us  or 480-635-7521.
 
To begin a business watch program for your business, please contact the Gilbert Police Department Crime Prevention unit 480-635-7521 to schedule an appointment. 

 

 

EVVCA Voter Recommendations:

 

Oppose - Proposition 100 - Protect Our Homes 

Oppose - Proposition 101 - Medical Choice for AZ

No Position - Proposition 102 - Marriage

Oppose - Proposition 105 - Majority Rules

Oppose - Proposition 200 - Payday Loan Reform Act

Oppose - Proposition 201 - Homeowners Bill of Rights

Oppose - Proposition 202 - Stop Illegal Hiring

Support - Proposition 300 - State Legislator's Salaries

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce endorses the following District 22 candidates for election:

 

      Thayer Verschoor                     Andy Biggs

Class XVII kicked off Social and Orientation on Thursday, September 25 at the Gilbert Historical Museum and then met the next day at Big League Dreams for Team Building day. The class is off to a great start and is looking forward to the upcoming issue days.
 
Welcome Class XVII:
Nikki Blanchard, Gilbert Public Schools
Marianne Pekala, CHW Foundation 
Peggy Thompson, Union Bank of Arizona
Judy Richitelli, Gilbert Municipal Court
Julius Kelller, Living Water United Methodist Fellowship
Christopher Marcrum. Apollo Group
Greg Watkins, SRP
Mark Clavell, Boys & Girls Club of East Valley
Dr. Maria  Orozco, Orozco Living Chiropractic DBA
Jeromy Sjolseth, Aeon Development, Inc
Rudy Apodaca, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Suzzanna Greer, Gilbert Public Schools
Pamela Nenaber, Banner Gateway Medical Center
Theodora Schiro, Higley Unified School District
Luis Heredia, Union Pacific Railroad
Michael Overson, APS
Elizabeth Howell, Okland Construction
Charmaine Gudgeon, Chandler/Gilbert YMCA
Racel Aleman, Gilbert CAP
Alonzo Russell, A.L. Russell & Associates
Anthony Braaten, Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Chantel Ellsworth, Higley Unified School District
Joanna Morrow

Patricia Krueger, Recipient of the Jackie Cole Memorial Scholarship
 

The Wellness Challenge, sponsored by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, is coming to an end. Come join us for our final walk on  November 8, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. and "Walk your Way to Wellness". The 5-mile walk will start and end at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. For more information about joining our walk or sponsoring a table at the event please contact Grace by calling  (480) 892-0056 or send an email to grace@gilbertchamber.com.

 

 

 

 

 

· We've partnered with the Town of Gilbert Business Development Department to provide a 10-week entrepreneurial program for 20 businesses (with the next program scheduled for January);
· We've partnered with the Gilbert Police Department to host lunchtime workshops on business safety issues;
· We've held three focus groups of small businesses to find out what additional programs they need from the Chamber;
· We are the first chamber to enter into an agreement to offer free Club E Network membership benefits for our Chamber members which provides much more sophisticated technology-based networking and one-on-one mixers with fellow entrepreneurs;
· We are promoting the newly formed  eFactory which will help first-time businesses get a start in an "incubator on steroids" environment; both Club E Network and eFactory programs will serve as a model for a nation-wide program that is garnering lots of interest from chambers, cities, and state governments.
· We've added a healthcare task force to promote additional benefit options to our members.
 
We've got a lot to share on the small business front which will be coming to you through our paper and on-line newsletters, weekly eReview and website. 
 
Thank you to our members, the Board of Directors, and the Small Business Council, for your leadership that has taken our Chamber to a new level of service!