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The Chamber's Pick Your Place series, a program to increase member engagement, was launched December 21, 2009 with a feature article in @theChamber about the actvities performed by Chamber Ambassadors. Each week a different opportunity to participate on a council or committee within the Chamber has been featured. To help you Pick Your Place an archive for these articles is presented here.

March 1 , 2010 — State Issues
Texas State Representative Mark Strama to Brief State Issues Committee
The Chamber and the 2010 State Issues Committee are intently focused on ensuring that the voice of Central Texas business is an active part of the State’s policy making process. To further build on our relationships with State government and capitalize on opportunities to connect our members with elected officials, the State Issues Committee engages a different State office to participate in the first part of each of their full meetings. Committee members are briefed by the Legislator and staff on the current policy priorities and any upcoming issues of importance to business community, and participate in discussions about possible cohesion and collaboration on shared issues.

At their last meeting, the Committee was joined by State Representative Donna Howard who shared her continuing commitment to nursing, other healthcare professional training and shortage issues, and education. Representative Howard also offered insight into how a projected budget shortfall and redistricting effort could come into play during the upcoming 82nd Legislative session.

State Representative Mark Strama, Chair of the House Technology, Economic Development, & Workforce Committee and member of the House Energy Resources Committee will brief the Committee at their meeting on Tuesday, March 9 at Jackson Walker LLP.

If you are interested in joining the Committee or attending a Committee meeting to learn about Chamber policy work, please let us know! Contact Erika Sumner, Vice President of Public Policy, with additional questions or comments at esumner@austinchamber.com or 512.322.5638.

March 1 , 2010 — Local Issues
The Chamber’s Local Issues Committee engages on the issues that matter to businesses at the City of Austin and Travis County. What’s your vision for Austin and how will it be included in the comprehensive plan? What are your thoughts on Austin Energy’s proposed generation plan?

Council Member Chris Riley will visit with Local Issues Committee members at their meeting on Wednesday, March 10 at 4 p.m. in the Chamber Board Room. Any Chamber member is welcome to attend and participate. August Harris, Principal of Covenant Financial Solutions, serves as the Chamber’s 2010 Local Issues Committee Chair.

If you would like to serve on the Local Issues Committee or learn more about the Chamber’s government relations volunteer opportunities, please let us know by contacting Jeremy Martin at 512.322.5630 or jmartin@austinchamber.com.

February 22 , 2010 — Ambassadors
The Austin Chamber Ambassador Committee, led by Mark Verrico, President of Cocard Austin, serves as the welcome “arm” of the Chamber and has the privilege of extending the hand of friendship to new members. Chamber Ambassadors also inform new members of the resources the Chamber has available to help their business grow.

"Austin Chamber Ambassadors are always eager to assist new and old members to help them understand how the Chamber can assist with business ventures and what they can do to get involved," said Mark Verrico, 2010 Ambassador Chair. “We are a dynamic group with business backgrounds spanning all industries, commonly bound by the desire to help Chamber members get the most out of their experience, helping to foster a long-term loyalty to the Chamber.”

February 15 , 2010 — Communications Council
The Austin Chamber Communications Council, led by Allyson Peerman, Vice President of Public Affairs for AMD, supports all aspects of Chamber communications activities. The Communications Council works to communicate the objectives and successes of events and initiatives of the Chamber, to promote the Chamber brand as well as the Greater Austin area as the best place to locate or expand a business.

The Council serves as an advisory group to the Austin Chamber on all communications matters, including media relations, public relations, online and print member communications and the Chamber website. Volunteers have the choice of Branding and Membership Marketing, Greater Austin Business Awards, Education and Talent Development Marketing, Media Appreciation Event and Website Redevelopment Committees to help with.

The Communications Council meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Austin Chamber Boardroom. If you are interested in joining the Communications Council please email Donya White, Director of Public Relations at dwhite@austinchamber.com.

February 8 , 2010 — Small Business Advisory Group
Do you want to have a voice in the Small Business programs here at the Chamber? Would you like to learn from and share ideas with other small business owners? If so, you should come and participate in the Small Business Advisory Group. This group provides small business volunteers with educational presentations, business development through relationships and networking, and a forum for voicing and recommending new small business programs.

The Small Business Advisory Group is made up of Chamber Members looking to get involved with the Small Business programs at the Chamber. These volunteers ideally work for or own companies that employ 50 or fewer employees. Each volunteer is asked to be an objective member of the group and serve in the best overall interest of the Chamber’s small business community. This group is led by our 2010 Vice Chair of Small Business, Trey Salinas with 3 Point Partners. We encourage you to come and check us out on at our next meeting on Wednesday, March 3 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Chamber Boardroom. For more information please contact Robert Heidt at rheidt@austinchamber.com.

February 1 , 2010 — Local Issues
Would you like to have regular meetings with local elected officials and community leaders? What’s your vision for Austin and how it may be included in the comprehensive plan? Do you want to voice your opinion with other Chamber members on the issues that matter at the City of Austin and Travis County?

If so, please join the Chamber’s Local Issues Committee. The first meeting of the 2010 Local Issues Committee will be on Wednesday, February 10 at 4 p.m. in the Chamber Board Room. Austin Council Member Sheryl Cole will discuss her vision for Austin including the City’s comprehensive plan, development of Waller Creek, and improving regional transportation.

August Harris, Principal of Covenant Financial Solutions, serves as the Chamber’s 2010 Local Issues Committee Chair. Mark your calendars for upcoming meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m.

If you would like to serve on the Local Issues Committee or learn more about the Chamber’s government relations volunteer opportunities, please let us know by completing this short form or contacting Jeremy Martin at 512.322.5630 or jmartin@austinchamber.com.

January 25 , 2010 — State Issues
2010 will a be a deliberate and strategic year for the Central Texas business community as we prepare for our legislators to return to the Capitol during one of the most fiscally imposing economic climates in the State’s history.

In anticipation of what is likely to be a complex and challenging 82nd Legislative session, the Austin Chamber of Commerce is remobilizing the State Issues Committee. The Committee will study and assess issues important to the region’s businesses that could benefit from Chamber advocacy. State Issues Committee Chair, Mike Nasi, Partner, Environmental & Legislative Practice Group, Jackson Walker L.L.P. will work with this industry-diverse group over the next months to identify recommendations for presentation to the Board this fall.

Board-approved priorities become the Austin Chamber’s State Issues Agenda. This Agenda will be advocated for by Chamber volunteers and staff with legislators and State officials in advance of, and throughout, the upcoming session. Critical Central Texas business issues the Committee focused on during the last legislative season included tax policy, clean energy, innovation and emerging technology, transportation, and research & development. In addition, the Austin Chamber will again partner with the State’s major metro Chambers of Commerce, where appropriate, on a joint agenda, coordinating and consolidating our advocacy to leverage our respective political power in advancement of business concerns.

The first meeting of the State Issues Committee will be on Wednesday, February 10 from 8 to 9:30am in the Chamber Board Room. At the beginning of each session, Committee members will be briefed by State legislators and staff on current and past initiatives before beginning official issues deliberation. If you would like to serve on, or learn more about, the State Issues Committee or any of the other Chamber policy and government relations volunteer opportunities, please let us know by completing this short form or contacting Erika Sumner, Vice President of Public Policy at 512.322.5638 or esumner@austinchamber.com.

We Want to Hear From You! The Austin Chamber is committed to ensuring that business participates in the policy-making process. Your input is important to the creation of strong business policy initiatives for the coming year! If you haven’t filled it out already, please share your priorities with the Chamber through our brief Policy Issues Survey. Issues suggested may be considered for recommendation to the Board.

January 19 , 2010 — Diplomats
Chamber Diplomats work with members in their second and third years of membership to ensure full utilization of the many opportunities at the Chamber. They focus on membership retention, making personal contact with members to ensure complete satisfaction with the Chamber and solving issues that are important to the member. Diplomats help members discover how they can get involved and give back to the business community through the Chamber.

“Diplomats build on the foundation that is created in the first year of membership by another Chamber volunteer group, the Chamber Ambassadors,” said Deb Mosley, 2010 Diplomat Chair, Mercury Communications. “We establish relationships and promote member involvement in the Chamber’s activities and initiatives with the intent to build long lasting partnerships within the business community.”

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Diplomat, please let contact Jessica Conner, Vice President of Member Services at jconner@austinchamber.com.

January 11 , 2010 — National Issues
The Austin Chamber and its members have a critical opportunity to expand federal advocacy on behalf of the Central Texas business community. Chaired by life sciences entrepreneur Rick Hawkins, with membership from a wide range of industry sectors and sizes, the Chamber’s 2010 Federal Issues Committee will be charged with identifying federal priority issues for the region’s business environment. The Board will review and vote on the committee’s policy recommendations for inclusion in the Chamber’s Federal Issues Agenda.

This Agenda will be advocated for with our Congressional offices in Central Texas and DC, and later this spring, a delegation of the region’s top leaders and elected officials will take the Agenda to Washington during our annual DC Federal Advocacy Initiative. They will meet with Texas elected officials and staff, key Congressional committee offices, and high-ranking government officials. Last year, delegates met with and were briefed by key leaders from the Department of Energy, the Office of Health Reform, the Department of Labor, and the Federal Railroad Administration.

In July, Congress asked for our support based on the 2009 Agenda and Advocacy Initiative when a piece of legislation important to innovation and emerging technology went to the House floor. The 2010 Federal Issues Committee members will continue to identify policy issues that both benefit your ability to do business and expand the presence of Central Texas in Washington, DC.

The first meeting of the Federal Issues Committee will be held on January 28 at 3:30pm at the Chamber. The group will hear an update from Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s office before official issue deliberation. If you would like to serve on, or learn more about, the Federal Issues Committee or any of the other Chamber policy and government relations volunteer opportunities, please let us know by completing this survey or by contacting Erika Sumner, Vice President of Public Policy at esumner@austinchamber.com.

We Want to Hear From You! The Austin Chamber will be sending out a brief Policy Issues Survey to our members this Thursday. Your input is vital as we create our policy initiatives for the coming year! Issues suggested may be considered for recommendation to the Board.

January 4 , 2010 — Financial Aid Saturdays
Help Our Region Meet Its 20,010 by 2010 College Enrollment GoalsYour business runs on talent. The Chamber’s role is to make sure you have the talent you need to grow your business. 

Beginning in February, nearly 450 Chamber volunteers will help 2,500 local high school seniors access college grants and scholarships to pay for college through Financial Aid Saturdays. This focused effort has helped increase Metro Austin college financial aid submission rates by 48% over the last two years.

With one hour of training and four hours of volunteering on a Saturday in February or March, you can directly impact the college plans of local seniors by helping them submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

FAFSA submission increases a Metro Austin high school senior’s likelihood of directly enrolling in college by 350%, according to the UT-Austin Ray Marshall Center annual survey of 10,000 local seniors. 

Your volunteer efforts will be part of a coordinated Financial Aid Saturdays marketing plan, led by JHL President Jennifer Lustina, aimed at increasing local FAFSA submission rates by 7.5% for 2010. The marketing effort will include radio, TV, print, movie theater and internet ads.

Volunteer for one of the 29 Financial Aid Saturdays by emailing Cyndi Contreras.

Success this year will mean 20,010 additional Metro Austin students will have enrolled in college, 30% more than the 2005 baseline…the talent you need for your company to grow.

December 28, 2009 — Transportation
The Chamber’s 2010 Transportation Committee has been restructured to include a Transportation Executive Committee and four Policy Groups. Policy Groups are collections of volunteers in the areas of State/Federal, CAMPO/Regional, City of Austin/Local, and Transit. Task Forces will be formed from Policy Groups as needed. Anticipated transportation areas of focus for 2010 include: diverting trucks from IH 35 to SH 130 during peak hours, CAMPO’s 2035 Plan, City of Austin’s urban rail project, City of Austin’s Strategic Mobility Plan, Federal/State legislative agendas and advocacy/regionalism. Terry Mitchell of Momark Development, LLC is the 2010 Transportation Committee Chair. The Transportation Committee is open to all Chamber members and generally meets the first Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. in the Chamber Boardroom. However, the first meeting will be January 14, 2010. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Beth Ann Ray, Vice President, Regional Infrastructure at bray@austinchamber.com for more information.

December 21, 2009 — Ambassadors
The Pick Your Place series promoting volunteer opportunities with the Austin Chamber begins with the Chamber Ambassadors, a volunteer group of members who want to help inform other members of the resources the Chamber has to help their business grow.

Ambassadors oversee members in their first year of membership. They follow up with the new members by calling them, welcoming them to the Chamber and setting up a time to meet to deliver new member information. Ambassadors are always available to answer any questions members might have about the Chamber.

"Ambassadors enjoy the opportunity to educate the community about all of the wonderful things the Chamber is up to and how it benefits the Austin area. We are continuously recruiting new Chamber members and helping existing members find ways to make the most of all that the Chamber has to offer. We're a dynamic and energetic group and are proud to have the opportunity to represent the Chamber and help grow membership," said Stephanie Silver, 2009 Chair of the Ambassadors.

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