OSCC MEMBER NEWS
February 22, 2017
Register now for Chamber Day at the Capitol

Join us for a day of legislative advocacy in action. Chamber Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2017. Presentations from legislative leaders, action and mobilization strategy training and an update on OSCC legislative priorities will take place during the morning session from 8am-12:30pm. The second part of the day will be free for you to meet with your legislators and discuss issues important to your business community. We encourage you to bring your Board and key leadership.
Provide feedback on Legislative Framework Budget

As you know from our discussions about the Governor's and Legislative Framework budgets, Oregon's legislature is required by law to adopt a balanced two year budget. It is no easy feat and requires difficult trade-offs between competing programs and services. Here's is your opportunity to tell the Legislature what really matters to you.

Take a moment to look through the Ways and Means Committee budget framework ( Full Version) or ( Summary Version).

Tell Legislators: Before making cuts to education, healthcare and other essential services for Oregonians, they must curb Oregon's rapidly rising Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) costs and high government employee healthcare costs.

Your feedback can be provided by:
  • Sending your input to Ways and Means members via email
     
  • Testifying at a hearing in your community (see schedule below) Learn more

Friday, February 24 - Ashland: 5 to 7 p.m.
Rogue River Room
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland

Saturday, February 25 - Eugene: 1 to 3 p.m.
Rooms 308-309 Building 17 (The Forum)
Lane Community College
4000 E 30th Ave, Eugene

Friday, March 3 - Tillamook: 6 to 8 p.m.
Officer's Mess
Port of Tillamook Bay
6825 Officers Row, Tillamook
Scholarships available for professional development training

One of OSCC's goals is to support professional development training for Chamber executives and staff. Each year, the Board budgets amounts to be distributed to OSCC members for scholarships for US Chamber Institute, WACE Academy, and annual conferences for ACCE, WACE and OSCC. Learn more about the application process  
Institute scholarship opportunity

The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Institute for Organization Management, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's professional development program for non-profit executives, and offer two $500 partial tuition scholarships to one of Institute's 2017 sites. The two scholarships, available to our members, will be awarded to students attending Institute for the first time to assist with enrollment fees and cannot be combined with any other Institute scholarships. Learn more
Take your Chamber's advocacy to the next level

Regardless of where you are with your advocacy work, OSCC is here to help you take it to the next level. In house trainings are available if you are looking for help in developing policies and procedures. Board trainings are also available. If you are interested in scheduling a training, please contact Alison Hart.
2017 Legislature begins its work

On February 1, 2017, the 79th Legislative Assembly formally begans its work. This marks the beginning of Oregon's 160-day legislative session. We anticipate the legislature will grapple primarily with difficult budget and revenue decisions given the state's $1.8 billion budget hole. The legislature will also consider 3,500-4,000 policy and budget bills. The Constitutional adjournment deadline is July 10th.

Here are some key dates for the calendar:
  • February 24: Legislative Counsel will return measures that were requested by January 13.
  • February 28: Deadline to file bills with the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Clerk.
  • April 7: Deadline for committee chairs to schedule work sessions in the bills' house of origin.
  • April 18: Deadline for committee chairs to hold work sessions in the bills' house of origin.
  • May 19: Deadline for committees to schedule work sessions on measures that originated in the opposite chamber.
  • June 2: Deadline for committees to hold work sessions on measures that originated in the opposite chamber.
  • June 23: Target adjournment of 2017 Legislative Session.
  • July 10: Constitutional deadline for adjournment of 2017 Legislative Session.
RFP to support Education for Job Readiness

The Ford Family Foundation has issued a Request for Proposal for projects and programs that encourage the education and preparation of rural residents as they transition from high school and prepare for work. Through the Foundation's Education for Job Readiness program, the Foundation seeks to support partnerships in rural communities focused on meeting workforce needs through the preparation of young people to fill them. Please feel free to share this RFP with others for whom it may be of interest. Will begin accepting applications for the RFP on Monday, January 16. The RFP will close at noon on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Read the RFP here: http://www.tfff.org/general-article-news-stories-etc/request-proposals-support-education-job-readiness
In This Issue
Communications Tip

Annual Reports are a great way to show the value of your Chamber and the impact you have on the business community. Not only are they a great retention piece, but they are also a good recruitment piece. Share your Annual Report with potential members to show the value you bring and the work their membership supports.
Thank you to our renewing members

Ashland Chamber of Commerce
Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Baker County Chamber of Commerce
Bandon Chamber of Commerce
Banks Chamber of Commerce
Bend Chamber of Commerce
Boardman Chamber of Commerce
Canby Chamber of Commerce
Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
Chehalem Chamber of Commerce
Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce
Coquille Chamber of Commerce
Corvallis Chamber of Commerce
Creswell Chamber of Commerce
Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce
Depot Bay Chamber of Commerce
East Portland Chamber of Commerce
Estacada Area Chamber of Commerce
Forest Grove/Cornellus Chamber of Commerce
Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center
Heppner Chamber of Commerce
Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
Hood River County Chamber of Commerce
Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
LaPine Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce
Madras-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce
McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce
Milton-Freewater Chamber of Commerce
Monmouth Independence Area Chamber of Commerce
North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce
North Plains Chamber fo Commerce
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Pendleton Chamber of Commerce
Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce
Redmond Chamber of Commerce
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce
Seaside Chamber of Commerce
Sherwood Chamber of Commerce
Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce
South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce
Sutherlin Area Chamber of Commerce
Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce
Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce
Toledo Chamber of Commerce
Tualatin Chamber of Commerce
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce
West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
Woodburn Area Chamber of Commerce
Save the Dates

 

  • Chamber Day at the Capitol - March 27, 2017: Register now
     
  • Regional Meeting - Eastern Oregon - Rescheduled: April 21, 2017, 8:30am-12:30pm at the Hermiston Conference Center
     
  • Annual Conference - October 25-26, 2017 at Three Rivers Casino Resort, in Florence, OR
  Have news you'd like to share?

  Email Jessica Chambers by March 10th to have your news included in the next OSCC
  Member Newsletter.