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President & CEO's Message - The Hope of a New Year January is the best time of the year. New beginnings, a feeling of hope for the future and strategic planning mark the calendar in January as we enter 2010. At the Chamber, we are excited about new, creative endeavors that we will implement to continue to bring services to our members, support to our community and broaden the connection to the world around us. Creativity is the operative word. Are you doing more with less in your business? Are you finding new ways to attract customers, support your employees, communicate, connect and grow? We are, and it’s kind of exciting. In January we’ll celebrate our members and our leadership at the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, January 27th. Come meet the incoming directors, help us say thanks to directors ending their terms, recognize our Ambassadors, say hello to our professional staff and meet some old and new friends. Register here. Make this the year you attend one Issue and Policy Roundtable luncheon, if you’ve never been to one. This year, we’ll be meeting monthly at the Elephant Bar, so you can have a nice lunch, connect with other business attendees and participate in roundtable discussion on the hot topics in Goleta in 2010. Check your membership renewal status and make sure you are renewing your membership in the Goleta Chamber. Dues investments are affordable and whether you actively participate in our programs, or rely on us to represent your interests while you run your business, the investment you make will come back to you doubled. Go to www.B2BBreakfast.com and utilize the Chamber’s newest online networking resource. This site is where our members connect, comment and engage. If you haven’t yet tried any social media sites, like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, start with the Chamber and you’ll soon find that it’s easy, fun and productive. Yes, I said productive. Try one new thing with the Goleta Chamber of Commerce this year. Follow us on Twitter, attend a new event, link to our website, volunteer for a committee, sponsor a program, respond to a survey, forward this newsletter, or send us some feedback. A small investment in the only business advocacy organization is an investment in your business as well. So keep up the good work, keep it simple and keep in touch.Ambassador Profile - Spotlight on Michelle Bischoff Each month on the first Tuesday morning, before the Business 2-Business Breakfast begins, she’s greeting newcomers at the door and making them feel welcome. You can find her in the background at every Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce event—whether it’s the Lemon Festival or a business workshop—helping out with a smile. In fact, Michelle Bischoff is one of the Chamber’s most generous and tireless volunteers, having served as co-Chair of the Ambassadors program for the last year, along with Drew “Mr. Ramada” Wakefield. A Santa Barbara native, Michelle graduated from Bishop Garcia Diego High School in 1994 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from San Diego State in 1998. She then decided to travel the globe as a flight attendant for United Airlines, based out of Washington, D.C. After two years, this fearless adventurer and world traveler moved overseas to Melbourne, Australia, where she worked as a pharmacist technician and Shiseido counter manager, learning the ins and outs of sales in the cosmetics, skincare, nutrition, vitamins and healthcare categories. Upon returning to her hometown, Michelle got involved in Mary Kay Cosmetics (MK) through a family friend, determined to succeed in this direct sales business from the start. Drawing on her beauty sales background, she became an Independent Sales Director in only four months, performing in the top 2% of producers and earning herself a charcoal grey Pontiac G6. Michelle now helps lead a team of 30+ local MK representatives, supporting them to be just as successful. She shares that she is continually inspired by her clients, which in turn drives her to achieve even more on their behalf. “I am a giver by nature and very focused on customer service,” says Michelle. “I particularly love talking to other women, complimenting them and helping them to recognize their inner and outer beauty. There is nothing more fulfilling than the look of amazement on a client’s face when she sees her reflection after a makeover.” She credits her involvement in the Goleta Valley Chamber with expanding her customer base, resulting in an increase of sales over the last year. Her personal MK website at www.marykay.com/mbischoff, also makes her products very accessible for her customers because they are able to shop on their time and their products are delivered the next day, “I have certainly added more customers through the Chamber, including personal clients and corporate/executive gifting customers, which is my specialty. People are often surprised to hear that MK is not just a cosmetics company with a #1-selling skin care line, but also offers many great business gift ideas, for holidays, birthdays, recognition awards and more.” In closing, Michelle says, “I feel like I am so fortunate to have a career where I can make money while working with my friends, at the same time enriching women’s lives.” Santa Barbara County Recognizes New “Green” Businesses The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC) invites you to attend a breakfast event to honor those businesses in the County that have achieved certification as “green” businesses during 2009. The event will be held on Friday, February 5, 2010 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. at the Santa Maria Inn. The cost is $15.00/person (pre-registration) and $20.00 at the door. The GBPSBC is a multi-jurisdictional program to certify businesses as “green” businesses if they have complied with all applicable regulations and have taken additional actions to protect, preserve, and improve the environment in such areas as solid waste reduction and recycling, energy and water conservation, environmentally preferable purchasing, and pollution prevention e.g. air quality, alternative forms of transportation, and storm water runoff. The GBPSBC is designed to educate businesses on ways to incorporate resource conservation into their practices, make the public aware of businesses that are environmental stewards, and foster a positive relationship among governmental agencies, the business community, and the public. It is a voluntary incentive program for environmentally conscientious businesses. The program allows environmental regulators and advocates to provide support and to recognize participating businesses that implement good environmental management practices. For more information about the GBPSBC, please call (805) 705-1686, send an e-mail message to coordinator@greenbizsbc.org or visit www.greenbizsbc.org. RSVP for the event by January 25, 2010 to the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, at (805) 925-2403, extension 824 or send an e-mail message to Barbara@santamaria.com. http://www.greenbizsbc.org/feb5-2010breakfast.html Regional Chambers Reorganize for 2010 Advocacy Efforts Local chambers of commerce in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties have announced a renewed partnership to collaborate on pro-business advocacy efforts at the state and local levels of government. Previously known as the Regional Legislative Alliance, the Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties has changed its name and identified the priority issues for which to advocate in 2010. “Now more than ever, the business community needs to hold our lawmakers accountable on improving our business climate and creating jobs,” said Alliance Chair Kristen Amyx, who is president and CEO of the Goleta Valley Chamber. “The Alliance stands ready to increase our presence in Sacramento and rally local chamber members to help us advocate for pro-business legislation.” The Chambers Alliance also announced its 2010 officers and its policy platform for the upcoming legislative session. Besides Amyx, Tom Kelley of the Camarillo Chamber will serve as vice-chair as Nancy Lindholm of the Oxnard Chamber will continue to serve as the organization’s treasurer. Zoe Taylor of the Ventura Chamber had served as 2009 chair and had overseen many of the recent changes. “We are excited about our 2010 team, which is determined to make advocacy even more of a priority,” said Amyx. “It is essential for chambers to stay on top of legislative issues, and the Alliance serves as a tremendous resource for all local chambers interested in public policy.” Established in 2003, the Alliance has helped local chambers in both counties collaborate on a variety of issues of mutual concern such as transportation and higher employer costs. The Alliance employees a professional executive director who helps Alliance members take positions on bills and effectively communicate with key decision makers. “At a time where California is plagued with a severe recession, drought, budget deficit and uncompetitive business climate, it is imperative that chambers of commerce be involved in the legislative processes,” said Alliance Vice-chair Tom Kelley of the Camarillo Chamber. “The Alliance exists to enhance such efforts through partnership,” said Kelley. Visit the Alliance website at http://www.chamberalliance.biz.Additional Funding for SBA Recovery Lending Programs will Support $4.5 Billion in Small Business Lending President Obama signed the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations bill, which included $125 million to continue through Feb. 28, 2010, the enhancements made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to SBA’s two largest loan programs. The SBA estimates the additional funding will support $4.5 billion in small business lending. New approvals of loans with the higher guarantee and reduced fees made possible by ARRA were expected to begin by Dec. 28. Loan applications from borrowers who chose to be placed in the SBA’s Recovery Loan Queue will be funded first, followed by new loan approvals beginning on or before Dec. 28. SBA created the Recovery Loan Queue as part of its transition back to pre-ARRA lending on Nov. 23 because previously approved loans are sometimes canceled or never disbursed for a variety of reasons. Eligible small businesses, in consultation with their lender, could choose to be placed in the queue for possible approval of an ARRA loan if funding became available. Currently there are 1,069 loans totaling almost $530 million in the Recovery Loan Queue. The extension included in the DOD bill authorizes the higher guarantee levels through Feb. 28, 2010. The fee relief is authorized until this additional funding is exhausted or the end of the fiscal year, whichever comes first. As was the case in November, SBA will transition into a queue system as the funds start to wind down in order to ensure the maximum simulative effect of the programs and disbursement of funds. For non-ARRA 7(a) or 504 loans funded during the transition period, this extension does not provide a retroactive guarantee or waived fees. Loans that were funded under non-ARRA terms cannot be canceled and resubmitted to take advantage of the ARRA extension provisions. This extension does not affect other SBA ARRA programs, including the America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program or the agency’s microloans. ARRA funding still remains for both of those programs. Holiday Hangover Hat Party – January 22 at Oreana Winery Oreana Winery in Santa Barbara is proud to promote the liberation of the constraints of New Year’s Resolutions with the annual Holiday Hangover Hat Party on Friday, January 22 from 6-10 p.m. with three local live bands and gourmet foods from Chef Jake Reimer. Oreana Winery is located at 205 Anacapa Street, two blocks from the beach and two blocks off of State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. The tasting room phone number is 805.962.5857. SBCAG Asks: How Can the Bus Better Serve your Needs? The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments would like to hear what new bus routes or service schedules are needed in north Santa Barbara County to get local residents where they need to go. The public is invited to attend an Unmet Transit Needs public hearing on January 21st at 10:00 am to let our local government leaders hear your ideas on ways to improve local and regional community bus service. The hearing will be held at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at the County Government Center in Santa Maria, 511 East Lakeside Parkway. If you cannot attend the meeting, you may call the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments at 961-8900 or e-mail comment@sbcag.org to add your comments to the record.We Draw the Line – Apply for the Citizens Redistricting Committee TodayBefore the Voters FIRST Act, California lawmakers were charged with drawing their own legislative and Board of Equalization districts. But California voters changed all that when they authorized the creation of the Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) in the November 2008 General Election. Now YOU can apply to serve on an independent Commission that will draw district boundaries for the state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization. Learn more about how you can apply to be one of the 14 members of the commission at http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov. MTD Names Board of Directors At a recent Board of Directors meeting, David Davis was elected to serve an additional year as Board Chair; Roger Aceves was nominated to Vice Chair; Charles McQuary was elected to Board Secretary. The MTD Board is made up of seven directors. Two are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors, two are appointed by the Santa Barbara City Council, one is appointed by the Goleta City Council and one is appointed by the Carpinteria City Council. The seventh member, also known as the at-large director, is appointed by the other six members of the board. MTD provides over 31,000 passenger trips each weekday resulting in 22,676 cars being left at home on weekdays. MTD provided more than 8,300,000 passenger trips last fiscal year. Santa Barbara is recognized as a transit intensive community and is ranked in the top ten in the nation for per capita bus usage. Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar January 21, 2010 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
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