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Weekly News Update > Week of 8/18/2009
Weekly
News Update
Presented by the
Oakland Metro Chamber
August 18, 2009
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Upcoming Chamber
Events
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Click
here to see the
complete list of
interesting &
informative Chamber
events.
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Joining the Chamber is a
smart business decision!
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Our team works for
your business in the
following ways:
Public Policy:
Representing the
Interests of
Business to
Government
Economic Development:
Creating a Strong
Economy
Membership Development:
Providing Quality
Networking
Events:
Keeping you Connected
and Informed
Leadership Oakland:
Join for the networking,
knowledge and know-how!
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Letter from the
President
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Dear Chamber
members,
Chamber Staff sends
it appreciation to
all members for
their support and
assistance with our
events and
committees. The
strength of our
organization and our
ability to represent
you is greatly
enhanced by your
participation and
for that we thank
you!
Many activities are
scheduled for the
coming weeks...read
below for more
details!
An again thank you
for your support!
God Bless
America!
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Update Your Chamber
Membership Information
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Make sure your contact
information is correct!
The Chamber will soon
produce the
2010 Membership
Directory & Buyers Guide,
and we want to publish
the most up-to-date
information on your
company. Is there a new
Chamber contact? Have
you changed your email
or mailing address? You
will receive another
email this week with a
link to the information
currently listed in the
Chamber database. If you
haven't already updated
your information, please
make any appropriate
changes online by this
Friday, Aug. 21. Thank
you.
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News About Town
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Learn to bid on Caltrans and
other public works contracts
Don't miss an opportunity to be
part of building California's
roads and highways. Attend the
sixth in a series of seven free
seminars on Wednesday and
Thursday, Aug. 26 and 27 in the
2009 California Construction
Contracting Program, "Developing
and Using Business Connections."
The series is for construction
contractors and consulting
professional services firms
interested in learning about
what it takes to bid on Caltrans
and other public works
contracts. The seminar will be
held at the Cal State East Bay
Training Center, 1000 Broadway,
Suite 109. To register, visit
www.acsbdc.org or call (510)
208-0410.
New Prescription Drug Discount
Card Program
The East Bay Community
Foundation and Ramsell Public
Health are presenting a
prescription drug discount card
benefit program for nonprofit
staff and clients, and employees
of small businesses, on Tuesday,
Sept. 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. at
the James Irvine Foundation
Conference Center, 353 Frank
Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. This
discount drug program can be
used by employees of small
businesses who do not have a
medical plan, or do not have a
comprehensive medical plan, and
also clients and employees of
nonprofits who often have more
restricted medical plans or who
are uninsured. It also allows
online price comparisons for
prescription and some
nonprescription drugs. To
register, or for more
information, contact Luis
Aguilar at
laguilar@eastbaycf.org or at
(510) 208-0845.
Workers' Compensation Action
Governor Schwarzenegger recently
signed a package of bills aimed
at addressing a $24 billion
deficit in the California state
budget. As part of this package,
California employers are now
responsible for paying all the
operational costs for the
Division of Occupational Safety
and Health (DOSH) and the
Division of Labor Standards
Enforcement (DLSE) through new
assessments on their workers'
compensation costs. The Workers'
Compensation Action Network says
that these new and increased
assessments total $67 million
and come on top of the more than
$311 million in annual workers'
compensation assessment
employers currently pay. Of
note, the Workers' Compensation
Rating Board came out with a
recommended rate increase of
22.8 percent on Aug. 12. Stay
tuned for updated news on this
subject.
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Make Plans Now for These
Upcoming Chamber Events |
Breakfast at the Chamber -
The highly popular
Breakfast at the Chamber
will be held on Thursday
morning, Aug. 20, from 7:30
to 9 a.m. This month's
sponsor is Myisha Pena of
Pretty Much. Whether you're
a new or a long-time member,
this breakfast program is a
must. Bring lots of business
cards and get ready to meet
fellow members - and at the
same time hear about the
many issues and programs
that the Chamber is involved
with on your behalf. RSVP.
Inside Oakland Breakfast
Forum - This Chamber
of Commerce public policy
program brings to our
offices important speakers
from the private and public
sector to discuss issues
that directly affect
Oakland. It's free to
Chamber members and runs
from 8:30 to 10 a.m. This
week, on Friday, Aug. 21,
the Chamber welcomes a
"Focus on Public Safety:
Practical Tips for
Individuals and Businesses,"
featuring Oakland Police
Department personnel who
will offer practical
suggestions for being aware,
recognizing problems, and
responding appropriately.
OPD's Neighborhood Services
Supervisor Paul
Brekke-Miesner will discuss
personal safety tips for
individuals. Also, Eddie
Simlin, Police Services
Technician, will explain how
to make your business or
home more secure by
reinforcing areas easily
targeted by would-be
criminals.
RSVP.
Chamber's 2009 Golf Classic
& Academy - Monday,
Aug. 31, Claremont Country
Club. The tournament brings
together some of the top
business leaders in the city
for lunch, a shot-gun start,
and a subsequent awards
reception.
Sign up now!
Chamber Day with the A's
- Monday, Sept. 21, Oakland
Coliseum, when the Oakland
A's face their division
rivals, the Texas
Rangers.For a ticket price
of only $29, Chamber members
can reserve a seat in the
Coliseum's Home Run Plaza in
left field and enjoy
unlimited food and drink
(water and soft drinks).
Besides the opportunity to
watch Major League baseball
and cheer on the A's, the
event will present an
excellent opportunity to
network with other local
businesspeople in a fun,
relaxed atmosphere.
Purchase tickets here!
Take a look at Bay Bridge
construction - from the
water - On Friday,
Sept. 25, Chamber members
are invited to join us for a
cruise on the bay featuring
a close-up look at Bay
Bridge construction from
Will Kempton, the director
of Caltrans. Besides
learning the latest
information, enjoy wine and
hors d'oeuvre during the
three-hour trip (5 to 8
p.m.). The cruise will cost
$75 per person. RSVP by
contacting Morgan Crow at
mcrow@oaklandchamber.com
or (510) 874-4800x319.
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Change of Venue Notification
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The
Chamber's Coliseum Commerce
Center Advisory Committee
(CCCAC) will now meet on the
fourth Thursday of every
month from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
free of charge at the
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites
- Oakland Airport at 77
Hegenberger Road. The next
meeting will be held on
Thursday, Aug. 27. Please
contact Karen Engel for more
information at
kengel@oaklandchamber.com
or (510) 874-4800x320.
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A Special Chamber Offer
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Special A's Plaza Outfield
offer
(Two for one - any game)
- Tickets for Plaza Level
seats at ANY Oakland A's
home game during the
remainder of the season are
now on sale at the Chamber,
and at an extraordinary
bargain. Although individual
seat prices are normally $18
per person, the Chamber will
sell two tickets for only
$20, a tremendous savings.
For more information
concerning the A's
two-for-one offer and other
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber
of Commerce events and
meetings, visit
www.oaklandchamber.com
or contact Morgan Crow at
the Chamber at (510)
874-4800, ext. 319 or at
mcrow@oaklandchamber.com.
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The Chamber of Commerce has
a number of exceptional
networking and informative
events throughout the year.
For sponsorship, volunteer
and participation
opportunities for these
events, please contact
Morgan Crow via telephone at
(510) 874-4800x319 or via
email at
mcrow@oaklandchamber.com.
Sincerely,
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Hank Masler
Communications Director &
Oakland Business Review
Publisher
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber
of Commerce
hmasler@oaklandchamber.com
(510) 874-4808
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