Bruce Rossmeyer

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bruce Rossmeyer. He was an incredibly giving person, an outstanding businessman and an ambassador for our community. He was a one of a kind maverick and the catalyst that helped shape bike events in the Daytona Beach area. His impact on the motorcycle community both locally and nationally is undeniable and only matched by his charitable pursuits. He will be greatly missed and we offer our deepest condolences to the Rossmeyer family.

Larry McKinney, President, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce

No Meetings on the Table - Interesting article by Ben Stein

Actor & writer Ben Stein recently wrote his take on the Wall Street Journal's recent issue about the government "clamping down on business meetings." The government is urging organizations not to spend money on business meetings (meetings including travel and taxpayer dollars) when they could use technology such as video conferencing to conduct meetings.

Stein's bottom line: Business meetings had/have nothing to do with our current downturned economy. As he points out at the end of the article, "Meetings and business travel did not cause this recession. Kicking the hospitality and travel industry in the face and not allowing smart people to share their intelligence will not do anyone any good at all."

View the entire article here.

Chamber Board fights for small business

Recently, the Board of Directors of the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber took positions on two critical issues facing the business community.

Issue: Employee Free Choice Act
Background: The original Employee Free Choice Act before Congress would give union representatives greater access to private businesses. EFCA language would also eliminate the private ballot process (Union Card Check), opening workers up to the pressure of unions and their membership.

• Two sided signature cards: this would allow workers to check one side of a card if they want a private ballot or the other side if they wanted to organize by signatures only.
• "Quickie" elections: this retains secret ballot elections overseen by the National Labor Relations Board but it requires them to be held within a 5-14 day timeframe after a union files their petition.
• Access to employees: allowing unions to come into an employer's property to confront workers in lunch rooms, break rooms or other locations can be disruptive to the operations of a business.

Position: The Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber opposes an EFCA "compromise" that threatens to water down the protection of a private ballot, interfere with an employer's right to communicate with their workers, impose binding arbitration, or puts in place one-sided penalties.

Issue: Federal Health Care Proposals (HR 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009)
Background: Congress is seeking to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system in an effort to cover uninsured individuals. These proposals could mean rationed health care, employer mandates in addition to higher taxes. Of the new proposals, the most contentious issues are:

• Creation of a "public plan": a government-run plan that would compete with the private sector. The Lewin Group estimates 130 million people would move from private to public insurance, a short step from a single-payer system. This is unfair competition as it ultimately shifts costs to the private sector.
• Employer mandate: a pay or play requirement of mandated health insurance for all employers. Employer mandates limit flexibility and innovation - the foundation of voluntary employer provided health care.
• Minimum coverage: proposing a Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) i.e., specific mandates to be included in health insurance packages. One option being considered to generate revenue for this program is to impose a small business surtax. However, dealing with a sluggish economy and having difficulties obtaining bank loans, a surtax would hit these businesses especially hard.

Position: The Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber opposes legislation that would enact a government-run, public health care plan. Instead, Congress should reform the insurance market and find ways to control costs. People should not be forced to buy into an unaffordable system: the solution should focus on improving the quality and affordability of health care through market-based changes. Market forces and employer autonomy should determine what benefits employers provide rather than Congress. Without serious steps to decrease healthcare spending, any such plan would accelerate the onslaught of a health care financial meltdown.

Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group Update

YPG has had a busy summer so far!

Following the Creative Corridor Charette and working with the City of Daytona Beach on its Riverfront Master Plan, YPG has been hard at work creating a document that emcompasses our concerns and opinions on the future of downtown development in Daytona Beach. Thanks to Scott Polikov of Gateway Planning Group and Jason Jeffries of the City of Daytona Beach for working with YPG in this area. The Riverfront Master Plan and the Creative Corridor are critical components to YPG's mission of attracting and retaining young professionals in the greater Daytona Beach area.

YPG's Local Government Committee has continued their efforts of placing young professionals on city and county advisory boards, as well as local civic boards. This group has attended every Daytona Beach City Commission meeting, and continues to expand the group to other cities as well, so young professionals throughout the county can participate in local government. Thanks to Maja Sander at Cobb Cole for leading this group!

Finally, YPG has scheduled its Annual Gala for Saturday, August 22nd, and dubbed it a "Summer White Party." The event will be scaled down and more informal, and will be held at the Speedway's Boardwalk Community Club, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Heavy appetizers, along with drinks, dancing, and a few awards will provide for an enjoyable evening for the group. The cost is $40 for YPG members, $60 for non-members. RSVP to Katie Conrad at (386) 255-0981, ext. 237 or kconrad@daytonachamber.com.

State Attorney R.J. Larizza to address Chamber members

Florida State Attorney R.J. Larizza will address Chamber members at the next Eggs & Issues breakfast on Friday, July 17th.

The breakfast will be held at Pelican Bay Club, 350 Pelican Bay Drive, Daytona Beach. The cost is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. To register, contact Gail Miller at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229 or e-mail gail@daytonachamber.com.

Please note that all reservations are considered guaranteed and all no shows will be billed. Cancellations accepted no later than 5 pm Wednesday, July 15. Remember that you can substitute another person from your company if you are unable to attend.

Social Media & The Chamber

It seems the world is all-a-Twitter these days, and it can be overwhelming learning which social media tools are effective and worth a company’s time and money.

The Chamber Advantage Seminar Series will present "Social Media for the Small Business Owner" on Tuesday, July 28th. The Chamber is partnering with the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College, and will be bringing in Allen H. Kupetz, a recognized leader on the present and future impact of technology in business. Kupetz is president of Kpartnerz, Inc., a management consulting firm, and Executive-in-Residence at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.

The seminar will include information on social media and other web-based technologies and their impact on businesses, including blogs, social networking, Twitter and Wikis. Participants will also receive a demonstration on free technology available to small business owners. All attendees will receive a free copy of Kupetz’s book, The Future of Less.

The seminar will be held in Bldg 110 at Daytona State College and will run from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. The cost is $45 for Chamber members and $65 for non-members. To register, contact Gail Miller at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229.