Chamber Advocacy | Shaun Lumachi | Chamber of Commerce Consulting

March 2006

Chamber's new Web site gets political

By Robert Rodriguez, The Fresno Bee

The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce is stepping up its advocacy role with a new Web site and a new attitude.

Chamber members unveiled their new site — www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com — on Wednesday as they talked about the need to become more politically active.

"Eighty percent of our members are small businesses, and they have a tough time seeing what is coming down the pike legislatively," said chamber CEO Al Smith. "This new Web site is a way to get the information they need and help them become more active."

The Web site provides updates on business-related legislation, legislators' voting records and ways for chamber members to become more involved.

Along with the Web page, the chamber has recently formed a Government Affairs Council. The 17-member group will track issues affecting business at the local, state and federal levels.

Ruth Evans, former chamber chairwoman, heads the new council.

"We will focus our attention on job killer bills, fee increases and new laws and regulations," she said.

The council also will work to educate legislators about issues important to business.

"We also want to legislators to know that we will be watching their votes," Evans said.

Evans promised that the chamber will take a more visible role, including news conferences, letter-writing campaigns and trips to Sacramento.

Among the topics the chamber's council will soon be discussing are: a proposal to increase the state's minimum wage, workers' compensation legislation and immigration.

The council is also expected to hear from the office of Assembly Member Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, on several pieces of proposed legislation.

Chamber members believe that getting more politically involved could make their organization a more potent force.

"We have 1,900 members," Smith said. "We could be one of the larger political organizations."

Steve Geil, chamber chairman, said the effort is part of the organization's theme of reconnecting to its members.

"We will continue to fight for business at all levels of government, and the new Web site will increase the number of people involved in that effort," Geil said.