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| Keeping an Eye on Washington For this Chamber, the majority of our advocacy is spent at the city, county and state levels. Some might cynically note that since nothing seems to be happening at the national level, there is no need to turn an eye in that direction. Certainly this has been the case with the never finalized Transportation bill, but there are other areas to watch to insure that Congress does not cause harm by undoing something.
Such is the case with the US Census and its American Community Survey. In an editorial last week, the NY Times explains the situation well. "An accurate census is essential to determining the correct number of representatives from each state, the effectiveness of voting laws and the allotment of federal aid to states. In fact, information from the census and other surveys by the bureau is crucial to anyone -- policy makers and businesspeople, researchers and citizens -- who wants to understand the United States, assess where it is headed and influence its course on the basis of hard data."
"At a recent hearing on the census budget, the Republican leader of the House appropriations subcommittee, John Culberson, indicated that spending on the 2020 census should be less than the total for the 2010 census. That makes no sense. In addition to upfront costs for technology, an adequate budget has to account for 10 years of inflation and population growth."
"Mr. Culberson also criticized as overly intrusive the bureau's American Community Survey, the nation's most important source of socioeconomic data. Begun at Congress's urging in 2005, the community survey is a long poll that goes to a few hundred thousand households monthly. It allows the bureau to keep the decennial questionnaire short and still ensure accuracy through follow-up surveys."
Organizations, including this one, that benchmark community performance measures, would be "flying blind" without this information. We have no choice but to take this threat seriously. We are currently circulating a letter to chambers across the country asking them to sign on in support of census funding. The Saint Paul Area Chamber has joined us in this effort and I expect dozens more will as well.
You Can Help
The Minnesota delegation is not united on this issue. I have spoken with Senators Klobuchar and Franken and they appreciate the importance of this survey. Please call or email your US House Representative and let them know this information is business critical. Tell them not to cut census funding and to please continue the mandatory American Community Survey. I have learned from experience that our elected officials pay attention to their constituent's feedback, so know your efforts will have impact. Thank you. Baseball Around the Corner The Minnesota Twins home opener is April 13th. We still have some of our great third baseline, second row tickets for some games. Contact Linda Sue for details: [email protected]. Our annual Minnesota Twins Welcome Home Luncheon is Friday, April 17th. Co-hosted with the SPACC, this event always sells out so register now.
The Saint Paul Saints opener is Monday, May 18th. I toured the new ballpark last week and it is truly phenomenal; a great new venue for Saint Paul and the region as a whole. 
Happy spring, Todd Klingel
President & CEO
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce |
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
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Gray Plant Mooty
Gray Plant Mooty has the following changes:
- Maxwell J. Bremer, Samuel W. Diehl, Ashley M. Bennett Ewald, Loren L. Hansen, Jessica B. Johnson, and Monica A. Kelley,were elected shareholders of the firm, effective January 1, 2015.
- Principal Anne Bjerken has been named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's "40 Under 40" list for 2015. Bjerken concentrates her practice on estate planning for complex estates, estate and trust administration, and preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
- GPM's Franchise & Distribution Practice Group has been recognized as one of the top practices across the globe in the 2015 edition of Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business. Three Gray Plant Mooty principals, Elizabeth Dillon, Gaylen Knack, and Carl Zwisler, were also noted for their creativity, guidance, and solid reputation in the international franchising arena.
Welsh Companies
Matt Johnson, Senior Vice President and Director of Architecture for Welsh Companies, was named the 2015 President-Elect for the Minneapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). A prominent member of the Minneapolis architectural community, he brings over 25 years of experience to his new role. Johnson also serves on the Minneapolis Regional Chamber's Board of Directors.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts announced an $8-million gift from the Duncan and Nivin MacMillan Foundation to endow the position of Director and President. It is the largest endowment gift ever to the museum for a staff position. Also as part of the centennial celebration, the MIA announced the long-term loan of more than 550 works from the personal collection of the late Myron Kunin (1928-2013). On extended loan from the Kunin family, the 396 paintings, 64 prints and drawings, 21 sculptures, and 77 photographs comprise one of the foremost collections of American modern art in private hands. And the MIA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC will split approximately 1000 artworks (from Japan & Korea) from the estate of Mary Griggs Burke. Each museum also receives a cash endowment of $12.5 million.
Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly LLP
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP announced the election of two partners Archana Nath (Business Litigation Practice Group) and Jon Stechmann (Finance & Transactions Practice Group.) |
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RECENT RIBBON CUTTINGS & GRAND OPENINGS
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Captain Canine
9730 Irving Ave. South
Bloomington, MN 55431 www.captain-canine.com Everyone was all smiles as Bloomington welcomed Captain Canine-its newest dog daycare, hotel & grooming facility. |
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UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS & GRAND OPENINGS
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 Minnesota Twins Welcome Home Luncheon
Friday, April 17, 2015 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
$80 per person
$800 per table of ten
$1,000 per table of nine with a player or coach
Target Field Carew Atrium
353 N 5th St
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Celebrate the start of a new season of baseball at Target Field! The Minnesota Twins Welcome Home luncheon, presented by U.S. Bank, is a long standing Chamber tradition and we invite you to join us. This fun event, emceed by Dick Bremer, includes player introductions, remarks by Minnesota Twins President, Dave St. Peter, an interview with new head coach Paul Moliter, comments from a few roster stars, an appearance by TC Bear, a silent auction and much more. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Twins Community Fund.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor: US Bank
Thank you to our event sponsors: CenturyLink Business, Mortenson Construction, Bryant Graphics, Inc., Summit Brewing Company, University of St. Thomas and Xcel Energy
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Chamber Referral Program
Do you know of a business that would benefit from membership?
Click on the link below and provide the business name and contact. When your referral joins the Chamber you will receive a $50 gift certificate to the member restaurant of your choice.
*There is no limit to the number of referrals you can submit. The more referrals you provide, the more gift certificate you receive!
Here is how it works:
- Contact the business you are referring and let them know that you have submitted them as a potential new member
- Complete the online referral form
- Chamber staff will contact your referral about membership and mention your name
Sharing how your Minneapolis Regional Chamber membership has helped your business can make a big difference!
Contact Lisa Myhre at (612) 370-9137 or Rhonda Bernard at (612) 370-9121 today!
Got the Urge to Network?
ConnectForLunch Dramatically Updated
Our ConnectForLunch program has just been dramatically updated. Instead of the current version, which offered only one day each week, the new version will now be available three days every week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 52 weeks a year.
And there's more improvements. Lots more:
- You'll have more choices: Now you can choose which restaurant you'd like to go to, instead of being assigned to a particular restaurant by the software. French cuisine? Italian? Vegetarian? A restaurant that's close by? The choice is yours.
- And more choices: You can choose to meet new contacts, renew contacts with businesspeople you've met before, or both. Just pick the group you'd like to join... or start your own group.
- And more flexibility: Instead of the current twice-a-month subscription which restricted you to only two lunches a month, you'll be able to buy packets of five, ten or twenty lunches which can be used at any time. Any unused lunches are fully refundable within six months after purchase.
- And even more flexibility: Have an opening in your schedule? No more waiting until next week to go to lunch: you can go to lunch as early as the next day.
Click here to see upcoming lunches.
Enhanced Listing Opportunity
Click here for details.
Did you know that over 31,000 people visit the Chamber's website every month? And that for as a little as $150 you can show off your company to thousands of potential clients? The Chamber now offers Enhanced Listings in our Online Membership Directory. Your company is immediately bumped to the top of your category in search results and includes a YouTube video, a photo gallery, 1,600 character description, 20 additional keywords and much more!
You can check out the Minneapolis Regional Chamber's Enhanced Listing by clicking here and compare it with your listing in our online directory.
Contact Lisa Myhre at (612) 370-9137 or Rhonda Bernard at (612) 370-9121 today!
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Chamber Community Connections: JA BizTown
 Tuesday, March 24, 2015
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. / Junior Achievement Thank you to our supporting sponsor: Thrivent Financial |
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B.E.E.R. William Cope Moyers
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. / Interlachen Country Club Thank you to our sponsors: Xcel Energy, Insperity, Promotion Select, CenterPoint Energy and RBCU |
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Chamber Town Talk
Wednesday, April 9, 2015
8 to 9:30 a.m. / Jax Cafe Thank you to our sponsors: Comcast, Eastside Food Cooperative. Wells Fargo and Jax Cafe |
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Public Affairs Forum: Erik Paulsen
Monday, April 13, 2015
8 to 9:30 a.m. / Bloomington Chamber of Commerce |
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DRIVE Roundtable: Saint Paul Saints
Friday, April 17, 2015
7:30 to 9 a.m. / the Local Thank you to our series sponsors: Foley & Mansfield, PLLP, Wells Fargo, Cara Irish Pubs and Xcel Energy |
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