Chamber Board Invites You To The 131st Annual Meeting
On February 4, 2009 at the Hilton Austin, 500 E. 4th St., the Austin Chamber of Commerce will present the successes and accomplishments in 2008 and the plans and goals for 2009. The Annual Meeting also marks the official change in leadership. Paul Bury, President, Bury + Partners, will take his position as the new Chairman of the Board.
Each year at the Annual Meeting the Austinite of the Year and Volunteers of the Year are announced. Be on hand to see Austin Independent School District Superintendent Pat Forgione, Jr., Ph.D., as the 2008 Austinite of the Year and other deserving individuals honored for their efforts in making Austin a better place to live and do business.
Reserve your table by January 30 to ensure premiere seating at this sell-out event. Ticket prices are $55 for members, $70 after February 2, and a table of 10 for $600, $750 after February 2. Future member ticket prices are $90 or $1,000 for a table of 10. Purchase tickets HERE.
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Central Texas Economy In Perspective
by Beverly Kerr, Chamber Vice President of Research
While, nationally, residential permits for 2008 will be at their lowest level in decades, if Austin ends the year with approximately 14,000 units permitted, it will be in a realm similar to the annual totals of the late 1990s. As difficult as the last two years of double digit declines in new housing activity have been, some of the indicators housing market analysts monitor are, relatively speaking, fairly balanced for Austin.
[FULL STORY]
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Business Connections at Carmelo's Ristorante on January 7
Enjoy one of Austin’s oldest landmarks as you connect with businesses and develop new opportunities at the next “Business Connections After Hours” event at Carmelo’s Ristorante. This event takes place Wednesday, January 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with appetizers and drinks being served. Carmelo’s combines authentic Sicilian dining with a romantic old world feel in a distinctive Austin atmosphere. Built in 1872, the "Railroad House" accommodated passengers traveling to other railroads and stagecoach lines. The bar and private rooms occupy the area of the original building, recorded on the National Register as a Texas Landmark. Don’t delay register today!
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Chamber Committee to Discuss Nonattainment
In November the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced its recommendation that Travis County be designated as a nonattainment county. The TCEQ recommendation is based on the EPA’s 2008 eight-hour ozone standard measuring emissions sources from within the county and commuter traffic into the county. Ultimately, the EPA must make a final determination on whether Travis County will be designated as nonattainment, along with their severity classifications and compliance deadlines. EPA determination is expected by early 2010. TCEQ’s determinations and support information can be found on their web site: www.tceq.state.tx.us.
Jim Marston of Environmental Defense Fund will discuss the impacts of a potential nonattainment designation at the next meeting of the Chamber’s Transportation Committee. Their first meeting of 2009 will be Thursday, January 8 at 4 p.m. in the Chamber Board Room, and any Chamber member may attend. For more information, please contact Jeremy Martin at jmartin@austinchamber.com.
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Grow Your Business through Referrals
The Chamber is gearing up to begin another round of the popular Business by Referrals series starting January 14. This group meets every other Wednesday over lunch for three months (six sessions total) in the Chamber boardroom, and it incorporates educational tools to help professionals meet their sales goals. Space is limited to five companies per industry and one representative per company. This series always sells out and we will stop taking registrations after the first 60 attendees. To register, please download and complete the application and return it by fax to Dustin Woodhead at 512.479.5045 or scan and email to dwoodhead@austinchamber.com.
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Navigating the Current Economy
On January 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Inn the South Austin Business Council will welcome keynote speaker Carl Stuart. Stuart, owner of Carl Stuart Investment Advisor, Inc. and Registered Investment Advisor, will give his perspective on the current economy. In 2008, Stuart was listed in Fortune Magazine as one of the top 50 independent advisors in America. This will be a great chance to hear how the economy got where it is now and what should be expected moving forward. This will also be the first South Austin Business Council event of the year and those wishing to purchase SABC tickets for the entire year will receive a special discounted price. Register Today!
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Calling all Small Business Volunteers
Our newly formed Small Business Advisory Group will be having its second meeting to help plan out the year 2009. The Small Business Advisory Group is for those individuals looking to have a voice in the small business programs facilitated by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. This group assists the Chamber by providing an objective viewpoint on what programs and events would benefit our members with 50 employees or less. This council meets quarterly and reports to the Small Business Steering Committee with their findings. This council is open and free to all members and our next meeting will be on January 5 at the Chamber, 210 Barton Springs Road from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up to attend please contact Dustin Woodhead at 512.322.5613 or dwoodhead@austinchamber.com.
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Why I Joined the Chamber...
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"To learn more about the Austin business environment, to expand our networking opportunities." Kimberlee Augustine, President— DMS & Associates, Inc.
Join now and start receiving the full benefits of the networking business community. Call 322.5618 or email Member Info.
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Check out new members and articles submitted by Chamber Members here.
Guidelines for submissions.
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