Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Chamber Confidential

www.metrochamber.com
 May 24, 2005

Volume 2, Number 18 
Department Updates

C.A.R.E. Awards Nominations Forms available on-line!  Click here.

Upcoming events and Membership news, click here.

2005 Major Events! Click here to view the current schedule.

ChamberPlus, Inc. news, click here.

Governmental Relations news, click here.

Workforce Development news, click here.

Economic Development news, click here.

Community Development news, click here.

Leadership Jackson news, click here.

Updated list of new members, click here.

New Photo Gallery Pictures, click here.

Did you know that the Chamber could save you money on Office Products? Click here to find out how!

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

Click here to view the 2005 Executive Committee & Board of Directors

Special Thanks to our Diamond Level Investors

    Platinum Level Investor

Top Five Keywords Searched for the Week:

  1. Real Estate

  2. Lodging

  3. Utilities

  4. Entertainment

  5. Employment

 

 

Memo from President Duane O'Neill

Proud to Call Mississippi Home

There is an exciting new project in the works to promote pride in Mississippi.  A new publication capturing the beauty of our state and telling the stories of our people will be unveiled in a few months.  While it will be a wonderful read for us, it will also serve as a tremendous promotional tool to the outside world. 

Mississippi has struggled for decades with overcoming the stereotypes of our past. Fortunately, those days are behind us and now we can celebrate Mississippi and our pride in the accomplishments of her people. We claim a rich history in music, literature, statesmanship, entrepreneurship and athletics.  The beauty of our state and our quality of life are a well-kept secret and this book will reflect the true essence of our state and its people.

Image Publishing’s new venture entitled Proud to Call Mississippi Home will profile celebrities who have deep roots in Mississippi and whose talents have been nurtured by their birthplace.   This project will include a section on Mississippi’s various geographic regions written and photographed by the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Department.  Oscar winning actor Morgan Freeman will write the introductory narrative of the book.  A major portion of the book will highlight famous individuals and true visionaries from our great State. 

Image Publishing has established a “Pride Committee” to promote the project and also to select those individuals to be profiled in the book.  I am humbled to Chair this committee and to have First Lady Marsha Barbour as the Honorary Chairman.  Others serving on the Pride Committee are Bill Brown, Brown Bottling Group; Mayor Yvonne Brown of Tchula; Jeff Dahl, Beau Rivage Casino; Noel Daniels, Gray Daniels Auto Family; David Dennis, Specialty Contractors and Associates;  Gene Edwards, MS Public Broadcasting; Jim Flanagan, Desoto County EDC; Scott Hamilton, MDA; Mayor Robert Smith of Meridian; David Rumbarger, Tupelo Community Foundation; Maggie Wade, WLBT-TV; Scott Waller, Clarion-Ledger; and Dolphus Weary, Mission Mississippi.

This is where we need your help!  The committee is taking nominations for individuals who might be good choices for inclusion in the publication.  We are asking you to contact us with names that you feel should be included in the book.  We need these nominations by June 7th.  This deadline is necessary in order to have the book printed and available by Christmas of this year.

This is going to be an exceptional publication depicting the unique character of Mississippi and the stories of why these celebrities are proud to call our State home.  Paid business profiles and sale of the books will make this project financially feasible.  A portion of the potential proceeds will go to the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.

Please contact me or any of the Pride Committee to offer your thoughts on who should be included in this promotional publication.
Community Development Update                          

Cynthia Buchanan, Vice President, Community Development

Learn How to Find and Finance Sales

to Foreign Buyers

Discover how to find international buyers and use trade finance tools to win international sales and grow your business.  Let trade and export finance professionals guide you through the maze of expert challenges and demonstrate how to minimize risks, improve cash flow, and enter new markets.

This symposium is designed for small, women and minority owned businesses that are exporting or interested in exporting.  The seminar will focus on challenges specific to these businesses.  The Department of Commerce Commercial Service and the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. will review their products and services that provide solutions to these challenges.

At this Symposium, You’ll learn How to:

  • Find Buyers
    • Locate and screen buyers, distributors, and partners to meet your business needs
    • Tap into foreign market information from experts in 84 countries
    • Use e-commerce tools and on-line export declaration filing

     

  • Secure Export Financing Support
    • Obtain working capital loans to fulfill your sales orders
    • Offer competitive credit terms to your foreign customers
    • Protect against nonpayment
    • Finance capital equipment exports

     

  • Expand Your Business Overseas
    • Learn how to establish a footprint in an emerging market
    • Obtain medium and long-term financing for your overseas project
    • Manage political risk in your international ventures

The symposium is sponsored by the Networking Committee and the Export-Import Bank of the United States and will be held on Thursday, June 16, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Clarion Ledger Meeting Room (201 South Congress Street).

Register now for only $29.00 (includes training materials)

Seating is Limited.

For more information contact Cynthia Buchanan at 948-7575.

To send any comments regarding this e-memo, click here.