Upon analyzing a tremendous effort, Winston Churchill once said: “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” Albeit originating from a different context I believe the same could be said about the relentless efforts of the Carlsbad Chamber's Government Affairs Committee (GAC) in 2010.
Historically, the Chamber's annual survey concludes that 35 to 40 percent of Chamber members join because they want their business interest to be represented in legislative issues. Simply put, they want to be included in a united and effective voice when it comes to issues that can, and do, affect their viability as a company doing business in Carlsbad.
The Government Affairs Committee provides the platform to do just that. In fact, it is at the very heart of the GAC's mission: “To represent the interests of the business community in local, state and federal legislative issues and to communicate those interests to members, the community and elected officials.”
As 2010 was an election year, the GAC had a full agenda of issues to thoughtfully consider each month. They included:
• Forming an energy task force (in part to evaluate AB1106 – Feed-in Tariff)
• Adding a number of new committee members from a broad range of industries
• Contributing the “Political Pulse” columns for the Carlsbad Business Journal to help communicate to Chamber members, the community and elected officials how the GAC was representing the interest of the business community on various legislative issues.
• Participating in the exploratory efforts to form a North County Legislative Alliance
• Discussing and consequently presenting a recommended action to the Chamber Board of Directors for the following items: AB 2126 (Franchise Tax Reduction); 1833 (Economic Impact Analysis); AB 2280 (Sales and Use Tax Exemption); Proposition 13 (Seismic Retrofitting); Proposition 18 (Water Bond); Proposition 22 (Ban on State Borrowing from Local Government); Proposition 23 (Suspension of AB32); Proposition 24 (Repeal of Corporate Tax Breaks); Proposition 25 (Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget); Proposition 26 (Supermajority Vote to Pass New Taxes & Fees); AB1998 (Legislation to Ban One-Time Use Plastic Bags); Proposition A (SD County Fair & Open Competition); and, Proposition G (Carlsbad Pension Reform)
• Discussing the new 1099 Reporting Requirements and resolving to support the efforts to repeal the requirements
• Helping create the mayoral and city council candidate questions.
• Facilitating the mayoral and city council candidates forums event.
Although the Chamber's policy is not to endorse any particular candidate, the candidate forums served as an opportunity to help educate the Chamber members and the Carlsbad community. Both forums were taped by Time Warner Cable and were available to watch in their entirety on the Chamber Web site. Additionally, Carlsbad citizens were able to view them on Time Warner Cable's Video on Demand and the City of Carlsbad's government channel in a number of time slots. As a matter of fact, the Chamber was instrumental in assisting the City to help ensure these viewings were available.
When you quantify the many that benefitted by the GAC's efforts in 2010, it's a big number! The Carlsbad Chamber is the second largest in San Diego County and the tenth largest in the Golden State, with more than 1,600 member businesses employing more than 65,000! It is my distinct honor to present to you the names of the 2010 Government Affairs Committee – the few, as it were: Jim Brubaker (GAC Co-Chair); Kolan Hairston (GAC Secretary); Ernie Bray; Joe Charest; Don Christiansen; Dale Condy; John Culea; Jack Cumming; Mike Doerr; Cindy Erie; Belynn Gonzales; Michelle Herrera; Rob Houston; Mike Howes; Chuck Hunter; Marie Joyce; Cliff Kaiser; David Lloyd; Andrew Lund; Gina McBride; Ralph Morgan; John Osborne; Tracy Perusse; Jennifer Polk; Stan Prowse; and Claudia Valenzuela.
The GAC benefitted from the experienced guidance of Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen, as well as the diligent assistance of the Chamber's COO Toni Padron.
As an advisory committee to the Chamber Board of Directors, the 2011 GAC eagerly awaits its given priorities for the year and will once again endeavor to provide “so much to the so many.” If you are interested in serving on the Government Affairs Committee, please join us the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 at the Chamber office.
Historically, the Chamber's annual survey concludes that 35 to 40 percent of Chamber members join because they want their business interest to be represented in legislative issues. Simply put, they want to be included in a united and effective voice when it comes to issues that can, and do, affect their viability as a company doing business in Carlsbad.
The Government Affairs Committee provides the platform to do just that. In fact, it is at the very heart of the GAC's mission: “To represent the interests of the business community in local, state and federal legislative issues and to communicate those interests to members, the community and elected officials.”
As 2010 was an election year, the GAC had a full agenda of issues to thoughtfully consider each month. They included:
• Forming an energy task force (in part to evaluate AB1106 – Feed-in Tariff)
• Adding a number of new committee members from a broad range of industries
• Contributing the “Political Pulse” columns for the Carlsbad Business Journal to help communicate to Chamber members, the community and elected officials how the GAC was representing the interest of the business community on various legislative issues.
• Participating in the exploratory efforts to form a North County Legislative Alliance
• Discussing and consequently presenting a recommended action to the Chamber Board of Directors for the following items: AB 2126 (Franchise Tax Reduction); 1833 (Economic Impact Analysis); AB 2280 (Sales and Use Tax Exemption); Proposition 13 (Seismic Retrofitting); Proposition 18 (Water Bond); Proposition 22 (Ban on State Borrowing from Local Government); Proposition 23 (Suspension of AB32); Proposition 24 (Repeal of Corporate Tax Breaks); Proposition 25 (Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget); Proposition 26 (Supermajority Vote to Pass New Taxes & Fees); AB1998 (Legislation to Ban One-Time Use Plastic Bags); Proposition A (SD County Fair & Open Competition); and, Proposition G (Carlsbad Pension Reform)
• Discussing the new 1099 Reporting Requirements and resolving to support the efforts to repeal the requirements
• Helping create the mayoral and city council candidate questions.
• Facilitating the mayoral and city council candidates forums event.
Although the Chamber's policy is not to endorse any particular candidate, the candidate forums served as an opportunity to help educate the Chamber members and the Carlsbad community. Both forums were taped by Time Warner Cable and were available to watch in their entirety on the Chamber Web site. Additionally, Carlsbad citizens were able to view them on Time Warner Cable's Video on Demand and the City of Carlsbad's government channel in a number of time slots. As a matter of fact, the Chamber was instrumental in assisting the City to help ensure these viewings were available.
When you quantify the many that benefitted by the GAC's efforts in 2010, it's a big number! The Carlsbad Chamber is the second largest in San Diego County and the tenth largest in the Golden State, with more than 1,600 member businesses employing more than 65,000! It is my distinct honor to present to you the names of the 2010 Government Affairs Committee – the few, as it were: Jim Brubaker (GAC Co-Chair); Kolan Hairston (GAC Secretary); Ernie Bray; Joe Charest; Don Christiansen; Dale Condy; John Culea; Jack Cumming; Mike Doerr; Cindy Erie; Belynn Gonzales; Michelle Herrera; Rob Houston; Mike Howes; Chuck Hunter; Marie Joyce; Cliff Kaiser; David Lloyd; Andrew Lund; Gina McBride; Ralph Morgan; John Osborne; Tracy Perusse; Jennifer Polk; Stan Prowse; and Claudia Valenzuela.
The GAC benefitted from the experienced guidance of Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen, as well as the diligent assistance of the Chamber's COO Toni Padron.
As an advisory committee to the Chamber Board of Directors, the 2011 GAC eagerly awaits its given priorities for the year and will once again endeavor to provide “so much to the so many.” If you are interested in serving on the Government Affairs Committee, please join us the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 at the Chamber office.