Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce ::: E-newsletter

Welcome to The Phoenix, the Chamber’s e-newsletter.

In this edition, you’ll hear about how business leaders, professional athletes, celebrities and other civic leaders recently served as “Principals for a Day” in Atlanta's 89 public schools. You'll also hear a recap of the first Sister City Economic Development Conference hosted by the Chamber.

See and hear a video clip of Kevin Green, the Chamber’s vice president of environmental affairs, in an Atlanta Regional Commission program about the importance of clean air for doing business in the region.

We'll also tell you about how the Chamber is bringing small and large businesses together by hosting the upcoming “How to Do Business With Big Business” breakfast, and the release by the Committee for a Better Atlanta of updated scorecards for the Fulton County Commissioner candidates.

Thanks for reading. We will continue to keep you informed on the issues you care about.

More than 150 Atlanta businesses, political and civic leaders-- including Mike Garrett, Georgia Power President and CEO and 2006 Chamber Chairman, and Equifax Chairman and CEO Rick Smith-- fanned out across the city on Monday to find out what it’s like to be “Principal for a Day” of an Atlanta Public School. This was the strongest turnout ever for the Principal for a Day program.

The program, now in its seventh year in Atlanta Public Schools, is sponsored by the Atlanta Partners for Education, a longstanding partnership between the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Public Schools. It is designed to forge long-term partnerships between Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta community.
MORE>>

2006 Chamber Chairman and Georgia Power President and CEO Mike Garrett reads to Venetian Hills Elementary School students while serving as a "Principal for a Day" on Oct. 30.

2006 Chamber Chairman and "Principal for a Day" program participant Mike Garrett (right) and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young (left) present Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall (center) with a Frabel glass named the "Flame of Excellence." It honors all who bravely go out front and light the way for others. The award was given on behalf of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 30 in honor of Dr. Hall recently being named the 2006 National Urban School Superintendent of the Year by the Council of the Great City Schools.

Chamber President Sam A. Williams speaks at the opening of the first annual Economic Development Global Partnership Conference Sponsored by the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission on Oct. 19.

The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission (ASCC) welcomed 11 of Atlanta’s international sister cities for the first Economic Development Global Partnership Conference on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Participants shared best practices and innovative strategies that will help metro Atlanta and other sister cities across the world plan ahead for future economic growth.

Participating sister cities include: Ancient City of Olympia, Greece; Daegu, Korea; Fukuoka, Japan; Lagos, Nigeria; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nuremberg, Germany; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Ra’anana, Israel; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Salcedo, Dominican Republic; Toulouse, France; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tbilisi, Georgia. Other invited cities include: Bangalore, India; Dalian, China; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Chamber Vice President of Environmental Affairs Addresses Importance of Clean Air for Doing Business in the Region

Kevin Green, vice president of environmental affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, recently participated in “Clearing the Air,” the latest episode in the Atlanta Regional Commission's “The Shape of Things to Come” quarterly public affairs series.

The goal of the series is to better inform regional citizens about the key challenges, opportunities and positive initiatives happening in metro Atlanta. This episode focused on the impact of clean air to the metro Atlanta region.

Green comments: "If you’re going to have an economically competitive region, you’re going to have to have clean air. People demand it. Breathing is not optional."

Click here to view the program
Note: Windows Media Player or Real Player is required to view this clip.

The Committee for A Better Atlanta Releases Updated Scorecard for Fulton County Commission Candidates

The Committee for a Better Atlanta is comprised of representatives from 28 businesses and business organizations that are concerned about the future of Atlanta.

The Committee for a Better Atlanta recently released an updated composite scorecard for Fulton County Commission candidates. The CBA partnered with the South Fulton and Greater North Fulton Chambers of Commerce during the scoring process.

“The Committee for a Better Atlanta’s scorecard is an important tool to help guide voters,” said Hank Almquist, chair of the committee and executive vice president for AmericasMart. “This year it is an even more important tool as Fulton county faces big questions like municipalization."

Click on the below icon below to get the complete Committee for a Better Atlanta updated scorecard.
Click here for a link to the press release

Please visit www.betteratlanta.org for more information on the candidates including their written responses to CBA questions, biographies and detailed scoring breakdown.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce will launch a series of events to highlight the importance of small to mid-size business in the metro Atlanta region on Nov. 14. Joseph R. Hinrichs, North America Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company, will be the first speaker in the series.

“Small Business Matters” will be the theme of this series where the Chamber will give small to mid-size businesses insight and a better understanding of how larger business works.

This will facilitate stronger small businesses in a region where 94 percent of businesses are made up of fewer than 50 employees.

The series will include expert speakers, panel discussions, and educational programs highlighting the skills necessary to compete in the big business marketplace.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce provides the single best opportunity for small to mid-size businesses to come together with larger business to be a catalyst for change in the region.

For more information on the Nov. 14 event and on this series, please email events@macoc.com.

The Chick-fil-A Youth Bowl Championship Series (CYBCS) begins this month. The CYBCS is the culmination on the Chick-fil-A Bowl Youth League program.

Each of the bowl’s four youth football partners’ championship games will take on the look and feel of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Each game site will be decorated with the signature Chick-fil-A Bowl “Look of the Game.”

Participants in each game will be wearing the official Chick-fil-A Bowl uniform patch; this same patch will be worn by the participating ACC and SEC schools in the Georgia Dome on December 30th. Each team will also receive a gift package from the bowl, in addition to the gift pack each champion will be recognized at Coca-Cola Presents the Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest in front of 20,000 fans.

Make sure you support Metro Atlanta’s Youth Athletes at the following game sites on Nov. 18: Georgia Youth Football Conference-Honeysuckle Park (Doraville), United Youth Football Conference- Stockbridge High School and the Gwinnett Football League-Brookwood High School.

The final championship in the series will be Dec. 2 with the North Georgia Football League at Kennesaw Mountain High School. For more information, log on to www.chick-fil-abowl.com.

On Dec.14 the Chick-fil-A Bowl will host the head coaches of the participating Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Atlanta.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl Coaches Luncheon is the first in a month full of activities leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 30th. Last year Larry Coker of Miami and Les Miles of LSU were on hand to break down the X’s and O’s between the Hurricanes and Tigers. With an upgraded number two pick in the ACC and a top pick in the SEC, attendees are sure to have great coaches giving them exclusive insight.

Host Chuck Oliver from Sports Radio 790 the Zone will also be on hand to give his expert analysis. To order tickets to this luncheon or for more information please call 404-586-1923 or visit www.chick-fil-abowl.com.

1 Wednesday
Member Orientation
Members are invited to this monthly session to learn the ways to get the most out of their Chamber investment.
Time: 10:15 a.m. Registration/Networking
10:45 a.m. Program
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch/Networking
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce- 235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Lunch Sponsor: Carole Parks Catering
Please RSVP.

7 Tuesday
Metro Atlanta Chamber Technology Day
Computer novices and geeks alike won't want to miss this information packed program. Come see how you can benefit from the latest technological breakthroughs from speakers and displays on a wide range of technology topics.
Sponsored by: Microsoft and Sam's Club
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce- 235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Time: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Please RSVP.

9 Thursday
Business Growth Expo
The Atlanta Business Chronicle in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, present an opportunity to help your business grow. The day will be filled with the must see speakers and exhibitors of all varieties. Come grow your business like over 1,800 Atlanta business executives did last year only this year's event will be bigger and better.
Location: Cobb Galleria Center
Time: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost: $49 - For ticket information please contact Michael FitzGerald of the Atlanta Business Chronicle at 404.249.1065

15 Wednesday
The Arthur M. Blank Family Office hosts Member Reception
Members are invited to visit the Arthur M. Blank Family Office for an evening of business to business networking at its best.
Location Grand Salon - 3223 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta GA 30327
Time:5:30 - 7 p.m.
Please RSVP.

1 Friday
Annual Meeting
Please join us for the 147th Annual Meeting where we will introduce our 2007 Chairman.
A Special Thanks to our Sponsors: Bank of America, BellSouth, GE Energy, Delta Air Lines, Wachovia, Georgia Power, The Coca-Cola Company, Cousins Properties, Exact Target, Speakeasy, AGL Resources, TBS, Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Gas South, Pattillo Construction, RBC Centura Bank, SunTrust
Location: Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Noon Luncheon and Program
$85
For more information, contact Cecile Gussack at events@macoc.com or 404.586.8428.

6 Wednesday
Member Orientation
Members are invited to this monthly session to learn the ways to get the most out of their Chamber investment.
Time: 10:15 a.m. Registration/Networking
10:45 a.m. Program
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch/Networking
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce- 235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Event sponsored by Bank of America and Office Depot
Please RSVP.

Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Location: Georgia World Congress Center
Special Guest Speaker: Steve Forbes, CEO of Forbes Inc. and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine
Time: Registration starts at 11:00 am Luncheon 12:00 – 2:00 pm Online Registration: http://www.terry.uga.edu/exec_ed/economic_outlook/registration.php

Please click the icon below for detailed information on this event.
To register, please visit: www.tiaw.org.