Message from the Chamber President
The business community continues to be plagued by implementation of heavy regulation, affecting all organizations. To address these issues, your Chamber of Commerce is working to create relationships and be a voice for Campbell County and Wyoming, by taking a seat at the table in as many venues as possible.
Earlier this month, I attended the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Environment and Agriculture, and Energy, Clean Air and Natural Resources Committees Joint Meeting in Washington, D.C., as well as the Wyoming Chamber Partnership (WCP) spring conference in Saratoga. Both events had knowledgeable speakers who were able to provide insight on a myriad of current issues as well as provide more information on programs and services that directly benefit our members.
At the U.S. Chamber meeting, I heard Wyoming’s own U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, M.D., discuss how burdensome, expensive and time consuming regulations are negatively impacting businesses nationwide. In March, Sen. Barrasso released a report, Red Tape Making Americans Sick, which details the health impacts of high unemployment. The report specifically cites several studies that show that extreme regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cost Americans their jobs and their health. Unemployment from these regulations:
- increases the likelihood of hospital visits, illnesses, and premature deaths in communities due to joblessness,
- raises ealthcare costs, raising questions about the claimed health savings of EPA’s regulations,
- and hurts children’s health and family well-being.
Download Sen. Barrasso’s report here. There were also presentations on the:
- Recent guidance to redefine waters of the U.S. and what this means for business.
- Federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing from the American Petroleum Institute.
- U.S. Chamber's involvement in the November elections.
If you would like more information on these presentations, click here.
Chamber staff is hard at work to make your business more visible in the region and the state. I am very happy to tell you that, as a member of the Campbell County Chamber, you will be listed on the WCP Wyoming Business Database, which provides an excellent resource for referrals and advocating your business. We recently supplied our list and your business should be listed on the site shortly.
Not only does the Chamber put your business in front of others, it also brings top-notch educational opportunities to the community. For those of you who are interested in leadership programs, please take a moment to check out the Standing Tall in an Upside-Down World workshop. The Chamber is holding a teaser for this three-hour seminar at the Cowboy Ethics Luncheon on May 30 with Brent Hathaway, dean of the University of Wyoming College of Business. The goal of this seminar is to inspire business people to become principled leaders in their companies, industries and communities. The seminar will help professionals create their own business and personal code to live and work by.
We are also going to be accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Gillette Area Leadership Institute (GALI) program. For those of you who don’t know, GALI is a nine-month program designed to promote a better understanding of the community, build and enhance leadership skills, and develop a strong network of community leaders. The program provides Campbell County with informed, dedicated individuals prepared to assume positions within the community and enhance quality of life for all. If you’d like more information about the program, please come see the current session participant’s graduate on June 20.
My door is open to hear your ideas and to help find the information and resources your business needs to be successful. Thank you for your trust and investment in the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce.
Sincerely,
Julie Simon, IOM
President and CEO
Campbell County Chamber of Commerce
julies@gillettechamber.com
(307) 682-3673
