chamber At Work news

UPDATED 5\01\12

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Applications taken now for Leadership Rowan!

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is now taking applications for the 21st edition of its highly acclaimed leadership development program “Leadership Rowan.” The program runs August until May and begins with a weekend retreat followed by nine monthly one day sessions. It is designed to prepare committed and qualified individuals to assume leadership roles in the community.  The program will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about the needs of the community and meet individuals responsible for providing services to meet these needs.  Communities which will thrive and prosper in the next century will need dedicated leaders with new ideas to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Applications are online at www.rowanchamber.com  

Chamber awards 2012 CTE Student of the Year

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and the Rowan-Salisbury School System recently recognized the 2012 Outstanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student of the Year during the annual CTE Banquet at the Holiday Inn of Salisbury. Jan Moffitt Sitterson is this year’s winner.

The Chamber awarded Ms. Sitterson a $500 scholarship for her accomplishments in CTE related coursework and the extra-curricular involvement at Jesse Carson High School and in the community. Sitterson plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or North Carolina State University majoring in Biological Sciences. Sitterson is in the National Honor Society, President of the Junior Civitans, a Future Farmers of America (FFA) member and chapter Secretary, and the Jesse Carson High School Cross Country and Track Team Captain.

Congratulations to this year’s winner!

Deadline for Leadership Rowan applications is May 15!

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is now taking applications for the 21st edition of its highly acclaimed leadership development program “Leadership Rowan.”

The program runs August through May and begins with a weekend retreat followed by nine monthly one day sessions. It is designed to prepare committed and qualified individuals to assume leadership roles in the community.  The program will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about the needs of the community and meet individuals responsible for providing services to meet these needs.  

 Applications are online at www.rowanchamber.com

Chamber urges Congress to make changes in Medicare Decisions

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce recently wrote our Washington delegation in support of H.R. 452, the "Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011." This would eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) , an appointed commission that would have the authority to make recommendations to cut Medicare spending. Currently, the proposed IPAB could make decisions on Medicare cuts without conventional legislative process, administrative or judicial review. If cuts are made through this process, medical costs would rise for private payers.

The Chamber encourages Congress to work together to improve patient choice and ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare by pursuing meaningful reforms to the healthcare system.

Chamber supports Investments and Jobs
Recently the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the White House expresssing disappointment in the Administration's decision to reject TransCanada's Permit Application to build the Keystone XL Pipeline Project ( Canada to the Gulf Coast .)

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline will create 20,000 well-paying jobs in the short term, thousands more in the long term, and generate $20 billion in new spending to benefit our economy. Rejection of the project sent a signal to all Americans that jobs and energy security are not a priority.

It also sends a signal to investors and our allies, including Canada , that America is not open for business. Denying the pipeline project was just another blow to thousands of out-of-work Americans and our nation's energy security.

The Chamber will continue to support projects that create jobs and reduce the dependency on foreign oil.
 

Chamber Workforce Development Alliance

is helping high school graduates!

The Chamber’s Workforce Development Alliance (WDA), chaired by Julie Gainer (Rowan Regional Medical Center), consists of educators and business people interested in ensuring today’s children and adults are ready for the jobs of the future. The Alliance is getting the word out with our Graduate Assistance Project (GAP) by explaining that there are good jobs in Rowan County but the needs of employers and the workplace are changing.

(GAP), a product of the successful partnership between the Chamber, Rowan-Salisbury Schools and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, includes exit interviews before graduation followed by a personal telephone call by High School Career Counselors immediately after commencement to each graduate. The counselors ask students about their future education plans and offer their assistance in the students’ decision-making process by guiding them into continuing education, assisting with scholarship/grant information and answering any questions the graduate may have.

As a direct result of the calls to 2011 graduates-18% of the students who did not have any future plans for continuing education were referred to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College who, in turn, worked with students.

CHAMBER TAKES STAND ON Workforce Democracy 

and Fairness Act

The Chamber recently wrote a letter to U.S. Representative Mel Watt expressing concern over harmful proposals and decisions made by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and asked him to support H.R. 3094, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act. The NLRB is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices.

Recent actions by the NLRB could be detrimental to workers, businesses and our economy. Union organizers would have the freedom to gerrymander union representative elections by excluding employees that do not support the union from the unit and the election process.

One of the reasons why the Chamber is supporting H.R. 3094 is because employees who work side-by-side in similar jobs would have separate wage schedules, benefits, work rules and contract administration. Employers would also not have flexibility in staffing, scheduling or training. This will significantly and negatively impact employees' skill and career development opportunities and damage our nation's productivity.

Another NLRB proposal also denies employees' access to critical information about unions and robs the company of free speech and due process rights. H.R. 3094 would stop the NLRB from issuing its harmful ambush election rule.  The bill has passed the house and is awaiting Senate vote.

The Chamber has taken this position to help America's businesses and workers.

CHAMBER supports REINS Act of 2011

As the nation and our state rebound from the worst recession in several generations, North Carolina employers need a competitive business climate that promotes growth and job creation.  The Chamber recently wrote to U.S. Representative Watt and U.S. Senators Burr and Hagan about the concern of mounting, costly regulations imposed on businesses by federal agencies.

Regulations cost Americans $1.7 trillion a year.  Federal agencies continue to impose numerous, costly regulations on businesses without thoroughly examining their impact. Currently, major rules implemented by federal agencies take effect unless Congress passes and the President signs a joint resolution disapproving them.  The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011 would require congressional approval of all regulations with an estimated annual economic impact of more than $100 million.

Businesses need a greater certainty and predictability, not the additional burden of excessive rules and standards.  The REINS Act provides a more comprehensive set of checks and balances to the regulatory process.

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tunities, and scholarships & grants links.

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