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Looking for a way to get more involved? The Austin Chamber offers current members many opportunities to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the community. It is a good way to build relationships and get more out of your membership. Our current volunteer task forces and committees are listed below.

Each week beginning December 21, 2009 one of these volunteer opportunities will be featured in the Chamber's weekly electronic newsletter, @theChamber. To help you Pick Your Place the articles are archived for your reference.

Contact: For more information on these various opportunities please contact Laura Carpenter at 512.322.5682 or lcarpenter@austinchamber.com.

Advocacy: Government Relations and Regional Infrastructure

    Local Issues Committee
    Meets generally on the second Wednesday of the month at 4 pm
    Analyze policy issues at the local level of government and develop recommendations to the Board on positions that represent the priorities of the Central Texas business community.

    Policy areas include:

    • City of Austin Comprehensive Plan
    • City of Austin or Travis County bond proposition and charter amendment elections
    • Regulatory climate

    State Issues Committee
    Meets generally once a month
    Analyze policy issues at the state level of government and develop recommendations to the Board on positions that represent the priorities of the Central Texas business community. Recommendations adopted by the Board become the Chamber’s State Legislative Agenda which is the platform for advocacy with State elected and government officials by Chamber volunteers and staff.

    • Committee members will be briefed by, and engage in, relationship building with legislators and staff from the region during presentations to the committee
    • Past issues have included clean energy, innovation and emerging technology, economic development, healthcare, and transportation

    Federal Issues Committee
    Meets generally once a month
    Analyze policy issues at the federal level of government and develop recommendations to the Board on positions that represent the priorities of the Central Texas business community. Recommendations adopted by the Board become the Chamber’s Federal Legislative Agenda which is the platform for advocacy with Congressional elected and government officials by Chamber volunteers and staff in Central Texas and in Washington, DC on the annual DC Federal Advocacy Initiative.

    • Committee members will be briefed by and engage in relationship building with elected officials and staff from the region during presentations to the committee
    • Past issues have included clean energy, innovation and emerging technology, employer issues, healthcare, and transportation

    Transportation Committee
    Meets generally on the first Thursday of the month at 4 pm
    Meets monthly to hear from experts on projects and policy issues. Develops recommended positions for the Chamber Board on transportation issues. Proactively works to influence transportation policy that supports Opportunity Austin 2.0 objectives and economic vitality.

    Policy areas include:

    • Long Range Transportation Planning: CAMPO 2035 Plan, City of Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, Capital Metro’s Service Plan 2020
    • Implementation of major projects
    • Enhanced transit facilities and service
    • State/Federal transportation policies and funding

Business Retention and Expansion

    BR&E Advisory Council
    Advises and guides the Business Retention and Expansion program towards their goals of assessing the regional business environment, company relationship building, identification of economic trends and drivers, supporting the growth of target industry sectors, facilitating business assistance solutions to specific company requests, increasing collaboration between regional businesses and institutes of higher education, and increasing funding and commercialization opportunities for regional start-ups and entrepreneurs. Members are selected by invitation only.

    BioAustin
    Goals: Fosters biotechnology as an important and growing industry for Greater Austin by fostering an environment that attracts and supports bio-related companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Open to executives of Life Sciences companies.

    Air Service Task Force (Limited)
    Goal: To assist the Austin Bergstrom Airport with gathering support for retention and expansion of airline service to our region. Open to any company representative/executive who oversees travel arrangements for their company.

Economic Development

    Economic Development Council (Open to those who invest at least $100,000 in Opportunity Austin)
    Goal: The EDC is comprised of the lead investors (those who invest at least $100,000) in Opportunity Austin, the region’s economic development strategy to create 117,000 jobs by 2013. The EDC meets every month where they receive reports and updates on prospect activity. Also each EDC member is invited to participate in our marketing missions as well as getting invites to key economic development events.

    Target Industry Committee – Corporate HQ
    Goal: Committee members are comprised of lead investors ($100,000+) in Opportunity Austin. This particular committee provides input on issues impacting HQ operations in Central Texas.

    Target Industry Committee – BioAustin
    Goal: Committee members are open for those involved in the Bio / Life Sciences / Medical Device industries. Susan Davenport, Vice President, Business Retention & Expansion is responsible for organizing the Council. The BioAustin Council meets quarterly to discuss issues impacting the industry in central Texas.

    Target Industry Committee – Clean Energy
    Goal: The Clean Energy Council was established by the Chamber to promote the area’s clean energy companies. The CEC meets on a quarterly basis and is open to Chamber members who are interested in making Austin one of the greenest cities in America.

    Showcase Austin Committee
    Goal: This committee is open to lead investors only in Opportunity Austin. Showcase Austin is our annual signature event where ten to fifteen of the nation’s leading site selection consultants are invited to a red-carpet event in Austin, showcasing our great human and natural assets.

Education &Talent Development

    Education and Talent Development Council
    Goal: Enhance capacity of K-12 education systems to graduate academically prepared students; ensure greater numbers and a broader spectrum of students graduate from post-secondary or higher education institutions; and ensure effective talent training programs exist to train or retrain residents for continually evolving employment sector. Members are selected by invitation and meet five times per year.

    Austin Community College Progress Report Card Task Force
    Goal: Identify key indicators most important to regional economic growth and talent development; inform Austin business leaders on ACC alignment and progress on the key indicators most important to regional economic growth and talent development; identify where more rapid performance gains may be needed; highlight areas where the business community and Chamber can provide support to help ensure ACC’s continuing success. Members are selected by invitation (this group is closed).

    College Enrollment Managers Working Group
    Goal: To provide the best management tools and professional network for Central Texas college enrollment managers to increase the region’s direct to college enrollment rate to 64% in 2010. Members are selected by invitation and meet ten times per year.

    Community Education Progress Report Card Task Force
    Goal: Identify key indicators most associated with preparing students for higher education and employment; examine school district progress on key indicators in order to support strategic planning and identify where more rapid gains may be necessary to achieve the task force purpose and goals to assist the Metro Austin region in effectively participating in the global economy. Members are selected by invitation (this group is closed through June 2010).

    Legislation
    Goal: Promote sound public policy at local and state levels by promoting Chamber policy recommendations as approved for 2009 legislative agenda. The Education/Talent Department seeks your assistance to:

    • Ensure Texas regulators provide graduation reports no later than 150 days after May graduation.
    • Ensure Texas regulators increase “college ready” standard to reflect actual college readiness expectations.
    • Work with Legislature to align accreditation in K12 accountability system with student college readiness.
    • Work with Legislature to align college readiness with state $550 million TEXAS Grant financial aid program.

    Task Force on Matriculation Financial Aid Subcommittee
    Goal: Increase financial aid application submission rates by 7.5% for Q1 2009 compared to Q1 2008 from 10 target school districts in Metro Austin. Members are selected by invitation.

    Task Force on Matriculation Financial Aid Marketing Subcommittee
    Goal: Identify and execute marketing plan to increase financial aid application submission rates by 7.5% for Q1 2009 compared to Q1 2008 from 10 target school districts in Metro Austin. Members are selected by invitation.

    Financial Aid Community Outreach
    Goal: Assist college enrollment managers with community outreach by placing phone calls to students and parents/guardians to inform them of the importance of completing the FAFSA and the free, personal assistance available during the ‘Financial Aid Saturdays’, ultimately encourage them to attend at least one event.

    Financial Aid Saturdays
    Goal: Increase financial aid application submission rates by 7.5% for Q1 2009 compared to Q1 2008 from 10 target school districts in Metro Austin. Financial Aid Saturday volunteers will provide integral technical support to students and families with filling out their college financial aid forms. Training provided.

    Foundation Communities - Community Tax Centers
    Goal: Assist hard-working low income families with tax preparation and ensure they get the maximum tax return they are eligible for. Training provided. For more info, contact Jackie Blair at jackie.blair@foundcom.org or visit www.communitytaxcenters.org.

    Austin Partners in Education (APIE) College Readiness Program
    Goal: Execute on plan to increase 15% annually college-ready. College Readiness volunteers will guide small collaborative study groups of 3-4 students grouped by their specific academic needs to prepare for college entrance exams at select Austin ISD high schools. For more info, contact Jessica Story, APIE College Readiness Program Coordinator at jstory@austinpartners.org or 512.637.0985 or visit www.austinpartners.org.

    Skillpoint Alliance
    Goal: Help students prepare for college during the “Countdown to College” summer program scheduled June 20 to July 17. Partnering organizations College Forward, Con Mi MADRE, Breakthrough, E3 Alliance, Communities-In-Schools, and Skillpoint Alliance invite you to volunteer. The program is designed to ensure students are prepared for and enroll into college. A variety of shifts are available. The next fair is scheduled for October 7, 2010. For more info, contact Carol Wright, Skillpoint Alliance, Vice President of Educational Services at cwright@skillpointalliance.org or 512.323.6773 x 102.

    Annual College & Career Fair
    Goal: Participate in Skillpoint Alliance’s Annual College & Career Fair which provides an opportunity for thousands of juniors and seniors from regional high schools to explore career opportunities as well as obtain information on postsecondary education. For more info, contact Scout Carr, Special Projects/Events Coordinator, cwright@skillpointalliance.org, 512.323.6773 Ext. 115 or visit www.skillpointalliance.org.

Events

    Signature Events Committee
    Goal: Oversees production of four signature events, including assembling volunteers and promoting the events. Open to all members. Time Commitment: Varies based on event

    Business Awards Nominations Committee
    Goal: To assist with bringing in nominations for the Chamber’s annual Business Awards event. The group, which consists of members covering a wide variety of industries, reaches out to contacts in the business community in an effort to ensure all award categories are well represented in the nomination process. Open to all members.

    Business Awards Judges Committee
    Goal: To assist in evaluating all of the nominations the Chamber receives for its annual Business Awards event. This committee is comprised of approximately 21 individuals who are each tasked with reviewing the received nomination forms for a particular award category. Open to all members.

    State of Education Design Committee
    Goal: To support the Chamber’s Business Awards by assisting in developing a theme and design concept for the event. The Design Committee helps to generate creative ideas regarding the overall look and feel of this prestigious event. Open to all members.

    Economic Forecast Committee
    Goal: To assist in planning the Austin Chamber’s signature Economic Forecast event, typically held in early December. The Economic Forecast committee meets to discuss plans concerning the design, marketing, and content of this event. Open to all members.

    Annual Meeting Committee
    Goal: To assist in planning the Chamber’s signature Annual Meeting event, typically held in early February. This committee meets to discuss plans concerning the design, marketing, and content of this event. Open to all members.

Membership

    Ambassador Committee
    Goal: To serve as the welcome arm of the Chamber, to welcome new members and promote member involvement. Time Commitment: Monthly meeting along with personal visits to new members on a monthly basis; applications accepted on a rolling basis.

    Diplomat Committee
    Goal: Diplomats are the “retention” arm of the chamber in visiting with existing members (two- to-three years) in establishing relationships and involvement that lead to long-term members. Diplomats move members from “what can you do for me?” to “How can I give back to the community and be part of an organization that is critical to the business community of Central Texas.” Time Commitment: Monthly meeting along with personal visits to existing members on a monthly basis; applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Small Business

    Small Business Advisory Group
    Goal: The Small Business Advisory Group is open to all small business members of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and the group discusses small business program ideas and provides insight to the Austin Chamber and the Building Blocks of Business Committee. This is a free volunteer group and its encouraged for all of our small business members to participate. Time Commitment: Bi-monthly Meetings

    Building Blocks of Business Committee (Limited)
    Goal: To assist with the topic/speaker ideas for small business programs, and also assist the day of the event with set-up and greeting attendees. This is an opportunity to build relationships among committee members and with attendees at each event. Time Commitment: Monthly Meetings

    Area Business Council Boards (Limited)
    The Area Business Councils are volunteer organizations, comprised of Chamber members and located in two specific geographical areas (Northwest and South Austin), which provide a channel for their members to get involved in solving problems, discussing issues, and implementing special projects and events. They offer members a unique opportunity to bring a focus to the business needs of the area, and to take community leadership roles in addressing these needs. Time Commitment: Monthly Meetings

Technology

    AusTech Alliance
    Goal: The AusTech Alliance operates as part of the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Division, led by Vice Chairman of Technology Jack McDonald, president of Perficient, Inc. The AusTech Alliance works with the Chamber’s economic development efforts to grow the Central Texas technology sector, both by supporting existing companies and by attracting new technology companies. The AusTech Alliance is dedicated to creating a shared vision of the future of Austin’s technology community. Open to all members.

    Annual Brain Party
    Goal: This is an exclusive event celebrating the Central Texas engineers and is hosted by the Austin Chamber.