VOLUSIA DAY on March 24 had approximately 200 attendees that traveled by bus. Upon arrival, participants heard 13 speakers  including Reps. Pat Patterson, Dwayne Taylor, Dorothy Hukill, Sandy Adams, Alan Hays; Senators Evelyn Lynn, Tony Hill, John Thrasher, Make Haridopolos, Jeremy Ring, Dave Aronberg; OTTED Director Chris Hart and Governor Charlie Crist.

            The focus of the day was economic development….more so Jobs for Volusia! Other topics included   state budget and education. After hearing from our speakers, participants then went to the Capitol to meet with legislators.

            The Chamber would like to thank our sponsors…Camp Dresser and McKee, DB Kennel Club & Poker Room, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Unv, Daytona State College, Unv of Central Fla – Daytona, Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, Publix, Coca Cola, Southern Paint, and Food Supply of Daytona Beach, and Boy Scout Troop 455.

            We would also like the thank Mary Swiderski, Betty Holness, Karen Jans, Susie Macon, Cheryl Coxwell, and Joni Hunt for their hard work in making this event happen. A special thanks goes to AJ Byrnes for photographing the event.

            News Channel 13 provided live coverage. Click Volusia Jobs Convoy for article and video. No doubt about it…Volusia SENT’EM A MESSAGE!

On Tuesday, April 6^th Chamber members were treated to a window into China as Alexandra Harney, author and investigative journalist, spoke to a lunch group at LPGA International.

Harney noted that both China and the U.S. posses the educational institutions and talent for global competitiveness. But, China’s labor force is shrinking due to their one-child law, and they lack America’s expertise, especially in health care and social issues. She said that China and the US are inexorably linked through our shared necessities of trade.

Additionally, Harney believes that American manufacturers could do a great deal of business with the Chinese. The Chinese are certainly recognizing that connection, as more people study English in that country that there are people in the United States.

Harney’s extensive research and investigation into business and economics led her to these and other conclusions made in her book, The China Price: The True Cost of Chinese Competitive Advantage. She spent nine years at the Financial Times, covering China, Japan, and the UK, and helped launch a flagship analysis section. She was the newspaper’s youngest foreign correspondent when she joined the staff in Tokyo in 1998. In 2003, she began covering China for the paper, until February 2006 when she took a leave of absence to research and write her book.

With a focus on business and community partnerships, this program was made available through the Daytona Regional Chamber and UCF Daytona Beach, UCF Global Perspectives, and special funding through the UCF Global Connections Foundation.

Investigating the opportunities for trade with China and other nations has been the focus for the Chamber’s Global Trade Missions. Our most recent trip was to Tuscany, Italy with additional trips planned for the fall of ’10 and spring of ’11.

Our Global Trade Mission to China in the fall of 2010 is scheduled for October 15-23. The trip combines memorable sites and a multitude of first-hand unforgettable cultural experiences with an opportunity to better understand the Chinese system of business. For more information, visit the Chamber’s website at www.daytonachamber.com/china2010.html or call Suzy at (386) 255-0981, ext. 222.