Tulsa Metro Chamber :: Newsletter Archive

10.04.10
IN THIS ISSUE No way to pay for SQ 744 Last chance to advertise in the membership directory Chamber launches CEO Roundtable initiative Area business leaders are invited to sign up for the no-cost personal advisory groups Thunder offers discounted tickets to Chamber members What we’re working on Chamber welcomes new businesses		PRESENTING SPONSORS

No way to pay for SQ 744

The key to State Question 744 may well be in the last line of the ballot: “nor does it provide new funding for the new spending requirements.” The truth is, you can’t get something for nothing. While SQ 744 will mandate more than a billion dollars in more spending, the proponents have offered no way to pay for it. With Oklahoma’s constitutional requirement of a balanced budget, there are only two ways to pay for SQ 744: cutting spending or raising revenue through tax increases.

If SQ 744 were to be paid for out of tax increases, it would cost an Oklahoma family of four $1,200 a year in increased taxes. A billion dollars equates to $300 for every man, woman and child in Oklahoma. This is not a one-time fee, but an annual increase that would only go up and could never go down under SQ 744.

But what if other government is cut? The magnitude of this increase is so great that even if every other part of government took an across the board cut of just 20 percent (the lowest estimate of what would be necessary), it would cause hospitals to close and doctors to leave the state as more than $300 million in federal matching dollars would be lost in healthcare. Tuition to our colleges would necessarily skyrocket and programs would be cut; and our public safety would be endangered as more than 8,400 criminals would be released and eight or nine prisons would be closed.

“Some call these scare tactics,” said Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal. “But we should be scared. Just ask those in Colorado who saw rampant problems when the stagnating economy came in conflict with their mandatory education spending.

We encourage you to vote NO on November 2. For more information about State Question 744 or the One Oklahoma Coalition, please visit nosq744.com.

Last chance to advertise in the membership directory

Advertising sales for the Tulsa Metro Chamber's Membership Directory and Community Profile will close this week making this the final opportunity for business’s to get their products and services before Chamber members, regional partners, potential newcomers and the community at large.

The directory and profile is the most requested publication and is also found online where it's available to the more than 100,000 visitors the Chamber site receives each year. Chamber membership entitles each company to one listing in the alphabetical section by company and one in the classified section by type of business, but display advertisements will help a business stand out from the competition.

Advertising space is available to fit every budget with display ads starting as low as $315.

If you'd like to discuss opportunities with a Lawton Publications sales rep, please contact Tracy Pope at (918) 560-0249 or email tracypope@tulsachamber.com before Friday.

Chamber launches CEO Roundtable initiative
Area business leaders are invited to sign up for the no-cost personal advisory groups

The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Small Business Council is starting a new program for leaders of companies of any size. CEO Roundtables are groups of eight non-competitive CEOs (or equivalents) who serve as each other’s advisory board and support unit. Roundtables are self-governing groups that meet monthly to share best practices and exchange ideas in a confidential setting.

“The goal of the CEO Roundtable is simply to make all participating CEOs more effective personally and professionally,” said Sean Kouplen, Small Business Council member and president of Regent Bank. “Participants can get much-needed encouragement, feedback and resources to potentially make them more successful as business leaders in this challenging environment.”

Tulsa Metro Chamber will provide facilitator and group training but will not participate directly in the groups. To participate in CEO Roundtables, applicants must hold the position of CEO or the equivalent in his or her company; the company must have been in existence for at least two years; the company must be a Tulsa Metro Chamber member in good standing; and the company must have minimum annual sales revenue of $250,000.

Groups are now forming. Roundtables will be ongoing and training dates will begin this month with others announced throughout the year.

Sign up today
Further criteria and an application can be found by clicking here. There is no cost to participate.
For questions or to submit an application, contact Warren Unsicker at warrenunsicker@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0235.

Thunder offers discounted tickets to Chamber members

The Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team will play the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the BOK Center and they are offering discounted tickets to Chamber members.

Get a sneak preview of the Thunder and Kevin Durant live in action before their regular season begins at the only game they will play in Tulsa.

The deal is good for $10 off a regularly priced $37 ticket for a total single ticket cost of $27. There is no limit to quantity and tickets can be purchased by following this link and entering the password “Durant.”

What we’re working on

Executive
• Participating in the Chamber Fall Golf Classic
• Attending the Tulsa City Council Meeting
• Meeting with ODOT officials regarding comprehensive transportation plan
• Attending the OEDC Annual Meeting at the Hard Rock Casino Tulsa
• Attending the 2nd Annual Return on Inclusion Summit
• Hosting Tulsa’s Future Investors CEO meetings

Education and workforce
• Attending National Talent Dividend Network Conference in Cincinnati to facilitate a session.
• Co-sponsoring the Return On Inclusion Summit; facilitating a breakout session.
• Finalizing survey for Talent Dividend information from community, education and business partners.
• Finalizing details for the first event in the Workforce Roundtable Series, Best in Class Culture.

Economic development
• Attending Industrial Asset Management Council bi-annual conference.
• Touring DMI with Oklahoma Economic Development Corporation members.
• Submitting two RFP’s - one for a call center and one for a manufacturing company.
• Attending the OEDC Annual Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel and touring participants to two local manufacturing companies.
• Meeting with ODOT officials to hear about their plan for the Tulsa region.
• Meeting with a start-up high-tech firm to talk about potential state incentives and future growth plans.
• Meeting with INCOG to discuss potential opportunities for EDA funding for The Forge and entrepreneurial programming.
• Attending the LaFarge Public Meeting in Catoosa in support of their fuel quality waste effort.
• Attending the IDA annual conference in Ft. Worth, Texas.
• Attending a Downtown Coordinating Council meeting.
• Hosting a group of visitors from Belarus to discuss the Chamber’s best practices in developing small businesses and creating a successful business climate.

Government Affairs
• Spearheading Tulsa area fundraising efforts opposing SQ 744.
• Fundraising for the OklahomaBizPac and TulsaBizPac.
• Securing endorsements for the 2011 OneVoice agenda.
• Monitoring legislative interim studies.
• Attending U.S. Chamber’s Government Affairs Regional Conference.
• Coordinating 2011 joint legislative events with Oklahoma City Chamber.

VisitTulsa
• Attending the Tulsa City Council Urban and Economic Development Committee meeting.
• Hosting the Appaloosa Horse Club for a site visit.
• Welcoming Oklahoma Economic Development Commission to Tulsa.
• Finalizing plans for the Arabian Horse Association US Nationals at Expo Square.
• Attending Oklahoma Society of Association Executives luncheon.

Tulsa Sports Commission
• Submitting bid to the USA Rugby Championship Series.
• Reviewing, budgeting and brainstorming for 2011.
• Suggesting final tweaks to the newly launched website.
• Confirming plans and determining next steps for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships.
• Attending youth wrestling event owner meetings.
• Reviewing the requirements and potential for Tulsa to host Am Le Mans Series.
• Reaching out to community partners.

Marketing and Communications
• Creating a marketing piece for The Forge business incubator.
• Finishing design of direct mail pieces targeting site consultants across the U.S.
• Completing collateral materials for Tulsa’s Future II.
• Writing articles for the Chamber Report newsletter.
• Writing search engine advertisements for ChooseTulsaJobs.com.
• Reviewing feedback on the new Tulsa Sports Commission website to implement changes.
• Preparing monthly media reports.
• Creating collateral for VisitTulsa and Tulsa Sports Commission sales calls.
• Creating materials for use at the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. Nationals coming to Tulsa.

Chamber welcomes new businesses

Each month the Tulsa Metro Chamber's Hospitality Club welcomes new businesses and new Chamber members to the community by assisting with ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking announcements.

New Members:
Advanced Record Storage
Associated Builders & Contractors of Oklahoma, Inc.
Jay Rambo Company
Kabloom of Tulsa
Perrine, McGivern, Redemann, Berry & Taylor, PLLC
Saint Francis Hospital South
State Farm Insurance - Shannon Morris
Triad Eye Medical Clinic
Tulsa Engineering Alliance
Withos.com

Ribbon Cuttings:

Hampton Inn and Suites Tulsa/Catoosa
Elizabeth Beilhartz, General Manager
100 E. McNabb Field Road
Catoosa, OK 74015
Phone: 739.3939
www.tulsacatoosasuites.hamptoninn.com

Newman Roofing
Glen Newman, Owner
Phone: 550.0155
www.newmanroofing.net

IN THIS ISSUE