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Receiving bad checks?  Click here to find out how the chamber can save your business time and money on check recovery!

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Memo from President Duane O'Neill

EDUCATION STILL THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE

In how many meetings have we all participated that focused on identifying the main issues prohibiting this metro community from greatness?  During those meetings we generally identify economic development, public safety, regional cooperation, financial resources, housing, negative perceptions and other areas that seem to hold us back.  If you were present in many of those meetings that I attended, you would find that the focal point usually comes back to Education.  All these other issues are important, but education is the key component that influences all of the others. 

So what is the Chamber’s role in education?  While the answer to the question is multifaceted, the short answer is “getting involved in the process.” The process begins with the Chamber in the role of facilitator.  The MetroJackson Chamber first formed our Education Advance Committee in 1991.  It was a historic effort in the tri-county area to bring educational leaders such as superintendents, private school headmasters, presidents of universities and colleges as well as business leaders to one table to communicate with one another.  This dialogue had an immediate impact.  Private schools like Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep publicly supported a successful Jackson Public School Bond Issue.  Another achievement for the diverse group was the formation of an annual common calendar for all local educational institutions.

Today, while the participants have continued to communicate, their work is often sidetracked by the pressing needs of their individual institutions.  The business community seems to be less involved than we once were. Clearly the time has come to rededicate our support for this core need in our community.   The rallying cry for this renewed support is based on the staggering statistic that forty percent (40%) of all students in our community DO NOT graduate from high school.

With all of this in mind, it was particularly encouraging to view the enthusiastic involvement in the Education Advance meeting this past week.  With a healthy turnout of educational leaders present, the business community was also present in full force.  Dave Boyer of Nissan joined many other corporate representatives- including area financial, health care, technology and energy-based firms. The topic of healthy competition between schools and how best to provide opportunity for equal playing fields sparked a spirited dialogue.  Curriculum, accountability and funding also entered the discussion.  But in the end, it was Dr. Henry Johnson, head of the MS Department of Education who clearly stated that the solution lies in “corporate involvement.” He cited North Carolina as a shining example.  There the education reform was a unified effort fueled by corporate leadership.  The critical elements of business community involvement are first- understanding the problems, then helping with direction and resources, and finally holding schools accountable.  The committee embraced that analysis and has a task force working with the suggestions generated from the half-day meeting to formulate an action plan.  This action plan will be presented to the comprehensive group for review in the very near future.

Once again, leaders from across the lines of jurisdiction of our tri-county region, with meaningful business community involvement, seem to be opening possibilities for a very difficult, but significant key issue for our community’s future.  Our Metro Community cannot expect to compete with the rest of the world if we accept the current status as satisfactory.  The Education Advance effort of this Chamber is committed to meaningful change.  If you would like to become a part of the solution, contact Cynthia Buchanan at the Chamber Office.

                                    
Niki Carr Lowery, Executive Director, ChamberPlus, Inc.

ChamberPlus adds 2 New Affinity Products:

Bad Check Recovery & Discounted Office Products 

Does your business struggle with receiving bad checks?  Are you a restaurant or merchant in need of help with collecting these checks?

F.A.R.S. Marketing has a check recovery program that was formed to help merchants, professionals and any organization that accepts checks to successfully recover those checks that are returned NSF or otherwise dishonored.  They will also collect any bank fees received during this time.  A $79 lifetime fee is all the business will incur and F.A.R.S. will do the rest.  You may call 601-948-7598 to learn more about this service. 

Would your business like to receive discounted office products?

Office Products Plus is now offering an exclusive discount off their office products.  This discount allows Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership members to save from 25-80% off the list price for the top 500 most frequently purchased office supplies.  The discount varies with the items you purchase.  There are several ways of placing your order to accommodate your style of business.  Office Products Plus will accept orders placed through their website, by fax, or telephone.  Call 601-898-2600 today to find out why 134 new businesses, and 35 existing businesses have signed up to receive their exclusive discount through the ChamberPlus program!

ChamberPlus is covering over 1,350 businesses enabling us to insure over 19,000 lives.  This outstanding number would not be possible without the valuable partnership that we have with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.  We also value our relationship with the agents that promote our products around the state, and the 52 chambers of commerce that we rely on in each community.

Please visit our website at www.chamberplus.org.  You may contact us at 601-948-7598, or by email at ncarr@metrochamber.com.