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January 23, 2008News for association and chamber leaders
 
  Business Leadership 
  • Employers raise relocation benefits to lure new hires
    Employers have raised their relocation benefits in recent months to persuade new hires to move, according to a new Harris Interactive survey. Employers are extending the housing allowances they give new hires to give them time to sell their homes and in some cases are buying their old houses. USA TODAY (1/20)
  • Successful marketing jumps at opportunity
    Ralph Klein, who turned from salesman to marketing consultant, now focuses on teaching marketing strategies to small businesses through seminars and workshops. Small businesses have difficulty talking with prospective customers, and failure to communicate is a primary reason many of them fail, he says. Financial Post (Canada) (1/21)
  • Expert offers direction for taking risks
    Risk can make or break a company, and if it's too good to be true, it probably is, says Robert Mittelstaedt, author and dean of Arizona State University's business school. Mittelstaedt offers a list of warning signals to keep risk-taking healthy, including understanding your own biases toward risks; thinking in a rounded, unanchored way; avoiding keeping things the way they are; and understanding forecasting's imperfections. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Tribune Media Services (1/21)
  • Wanted: Skilled workers who want good pay, benefits
    Like many precision manufacturers around the country, Hamill Manufacturing near Pittsburgh has more orders than it can fill for high-end precision parts for military helicopters and nuclear submarines. Hamill and small businesses that make up the majority of U.S. manufacturers cannot maintain optimum production because they cannot attract enough younger workers to replace the ones who are retiring. "We could make more GDP if we could find some hands to do it," says Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business. USA TODAY/Reuters (1/21)
  Quick Poll 
  • Poll: Do you consider yourself a risk-taker?
    Look for the results from today's poll in the Editor's Note section of next week's U.S. Chamber SmartBrief.
Sure -- you can't succeed without being able to take risks.
It depends on how you define risk-taker, but I tend to bet only on sure things.
I consider myself lots of things, but a risk-taker isn't one of them.

  CEO Update 
CEO Update and U.S. Chamber SmartBrief partner to bring you exclusive association and other nonprofit reports and career listings.
  • CEO search

    CEO searches under way at these organizations: Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, National Conference on Citizenship, Oral Health America. More information at CEO Update.

    Nonprofit Recruiting Fact: Which types of organizations use executive recruiters most frequently? Find out here.

    New at the Top: American Council on Education, National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association. Find out who they are and where they came from at CEO Update.

  Chamber Spotlight 
  • Critics: SBA still keeps government contracts from women
    Rules announced by the Small Business Administration in December still fail women-owned businesses because they give preference to women in only four of of 140 industries, say critics. "The government says it champions women, but it continues to lock us out," says Margot Dorfman, who heads the Women's Chamber of Commerce. The New York Times (1/16)
  • Debate moderators disappoint Hispanic business group
    The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had hopes that black-brown issues would dominate last week's presidential debate when it signed on to co-host the event. However, moderators Brian Williams and Tim Russert from NBC kept steering the talk away from black-brown issues and small-business concerns were not addressed, according to this article. Inc.com (1/16)

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  Association Watch 
  • NRF predicts 3.5% sales growth in 2008
    The National Retail Federation forecasts a 3.5% increase in sales this year compared with 2007, which would be the slowest growth rate recorded since 2002. The federation cited higher fuel costs, the housing sector slump and slow employment and income growth as drivers for the sluggish prediction. "We don't know whether it will be a recession or not," Rosalind Wells, NRF's chief economist, said. "It's just not going to feel good to anyone." Yahoo!/Reuters (1/14)
  U.S. Chamber News 
  • U.S. Chamber addresses the transportation challenge: Moving the U.S. Economy
    The U.S. economy is fighting to stay atop the global marketplace, but businesses require a key component to stay competitive: a modern and well-maintained transportation system that moves people and goods quickly, reliably and cost effectively. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition, will rise to meet this "Transportation Challenge" on Jan. 30 with key industry leaders to discuss the most critical areas in the U.S. transportation system and the improvements that must be made to support the U.S. economy. Register here.
  • Attend the premier corporate citizenship conference this spring
    The BCLC National Conference on Corporate Community Investment is being held April 27 to 29 at the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa featuring businesses and other innovators looking to shape the future of their communities through their contributions. Increasingly, companies are seeking new ways to align their corporate citizenship activities with the future competitiveness of the regions, cities, and towns in which they do business. The national conference will provide an environment aimed at helping businesses set and achieve their community investment goals. For more information or to register for the discount before Feb. 22, visit www.uschamber.com/bclc/events.
  U.S. Chamber Member Benefits 
  • Grow with Monster
    As you grow your business, you need to find top-quality help to keep things humming. Reach the best candidates by posting your jobs online at Monster. Monster makes hiring online easy -- no matter where you're located or what type of employee you need. Try Monster today! Chamber members receive a 14-day job posting free.
  Editor's Note 
  • Poll results: Would you select an employer that offered a four-day work week over one that did not?

    Last week's poll asked readers if they preferred a four-day work week.

    • 65% said yes, four-day work weeks would allow me more free time. 
    • 33% said maybe, although other variables would also be important.
    • 2% said no, I am happy with my work schedule.
  SmartQuote 
God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try."
--Mother Teresa,
Catholic nun and Nobel Peace Prize recipient

  

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Editorial Team
Contributing Editor:  Ashley McMaster
     
 
 
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