December 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Letter from the Chairman January Legislative Day Membership Renewals 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities 2011 Legislative Priorities Atlanta Business Chronicle State of the State GEDA Holiday Hours Savannah Harbor Deepening 2011 Events Calendar New Members  2011 Sponsorships Available Act FAST Before They're All Gone! Each year GEDA offers sponsorship opportunities for events. We have sold out of monthly luncheon sponsorships for each of the past three years.  We are almost always full on Platinum Sponsorships at our Conferences.   NOW is the time to contact the Sponsorship Committee to reserve your spot for 2011! Our sponsorship brochure is available online, of course. Pick out your marketing niche for next year and let us know! Legislative Priorities Major Themes for 2011 The 2011 Legislative Session is right around the corner.  it is time once again for GEDA and its members to educate our elected officials as to what our Legislative Priorities are for 2011.  The following is a brief list of what the Board has drafted for 2011.  PLEASE LET US KNOW if you think these are the right issues for GEDA to be pursuing this year: Increased funding mechanisms for transportation (including the port deepening.) New competitive incentives Increased appropriations for REBA, One Georgia, Quick Start and ICAPP. Prospect information and competitiveness.  (Timely release of prospect information) Funding for vital state programs and departments GEDA Partners with Atlanta Business Chronicle EXCITING State of the State Issue Coming Soon Atlanta Business Chronicle is proud to introduce its first State of the State special section, which will be devoted to covering nine key areas of Georgia: Albany/Tifton, Augusta, Columbus/ West Point/ LaGrange, Dalton/ Rome/ Cartersville, Gainesville/ Athens, Macon/ Warner Robins, Savannah/ Brunswick, Valdosta and Metro Atlanta. This section represents a unique opportunity to advance your area's key economic and demographic strengths, positioning it as a major player for for new business attraction and company relocations/ expansions.  With the vast majority of the 210,000 readers being business owners or top management, you can believe all eyes will be glued to this important section.  It's a powerful place to run an ad that positions your company as a player for 2011 and beyond. For more information, click here and contact the Atlanta Business Chronicle.   GEDA Offices Closed Holiday Office Hours GEDA Offices will be closed for the holidays on the following days: Thursday, December 23 Friday, December 24 Monday, January 3   Savannah Harbor Expansion Project Your Comments Needed ASAP The US Army Corps of Engineers has released its study documents for the Harbor Deepening.  (This project must occur to be able to allow for the new larger ships to access Georgia's ports.)  There is absolutely no doubt that this is a VITAL project for all of Georgia. The Army Corps is now open to receiving formal comments on the project.  They need to know why the public thinks that deepening the river to 48 feet is a good idea.  NOW is the time to submit your comments! The deadline for comments is January 10, 2011.  Please send comments via email or snail mail to: Mr. William Bailey ATTN: PD, US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District 100 West Oglethorpe Boulevard Savannah, GA 31401-3640 To read more on the project, click here.

A Look Back at 2010 - Chairman Pat Topping It’s December, 2010 is almost gone and I know you hear this every year, especially when you get to my age, but “Man, where did the year go?” 2010 was another busy year for GEDA as we continue to strive to fulfill our mission to “promote and provide networking and professional development opportunities and to shape public policy issues that relate to economic development” for our 700 members.   Nearly 2,000 of you attended our monthly luncheons, Spring Workshop, Annual Conference and Legislative Reception.  Bob Simmons, Development Authority of Fulton County and Timothy Wang, Alston and Bird conducted the first comprehensive review of our By-Laws in several years.  Substantial changes were made to modernize your org anization and our processes.  Approved by the membership at the May Spring Workshop, the new By-Laws better reflect the corporate world we operate in.  Bob White, Henry County Development Authority, will be your new Chairman, formerly President, in January while Mike Pennington assumes the title of President, formerly Executive Director.  Your new By-Laws are posted on our web site. We bid Chevelle Wilson good luck in her new venture with the Federal Reserve of Atlanta and welcomed Candice Crossfield as our new Manager, Member Services professional.  2010 presented challenges for our state and for our members.  Economic pressures have forced many of us to reconsider how we allocate resources.  Your Officers and Board understand that and pledge to continue tooffer our members value in our programming, events and our activities.  Our fiscal house is in good order, despite declining membership revenues. However, Spring Workshop and Annual Conference continue to be very successful events.  All of the thanks go to JoAnne Lewis, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority, Misti Martin, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, their committees and our sponsors.  The Sponsorship Committee led by Missy Kendrick, Barnesville-Lamar County DA, blew it away this year, thanks to all the many different sponsors for your support this year and in the past.  Your Officers, Board and staff will continue to work next year to make sure our programs and activities are timely, relevant to our profession, provide networking opportunities and are fiscally sound. 2011 will present a unique set of opportunities for GEDA.  Many new General Assembly members and a new Commissioner at the Department of Economic Development make it even more vital that GEDA work with our partners to maintain Georgia’s pro-business posture that will encourage our existing companies and allow us to attract new business and industry to our state.  Now more than ever GEDA needs to reinforce our role as the ‘leading economic development organization’ in the nation. The GEDA family passes along our thanks and best wishes to outgoing Commissioner Heidi Green.  Partnering with Georgia Power, Georgia EMC, Electric Cities of Georgia, our communities and others, Team Georgia, we have added over 18,000 new jobs resulting in over $3.4 billion new investment in the last fiscal year.  The most important thing we do, that which brings us the most amount of satisfaction in our jobs is finding someone a job. I want to personally thank the Officers, Board, staff and the membership for your support during my term as President now Chairman of our great organization.  We do make a difference in Georgia and we should be proud. Pat Topping, soon to be Past Chairman  Legislative Day at the Capitol We have completely changed the format for the GEDA Legislative Day at the Capitol on January 26, 2011 Over the past several years, GEDA has joined dozens of other communities, groups and associations in hosting an Annual Legislative Reception in January.  These events must be planned literally months in advance in order to reserve the prime event facilities.  However, each of the past three years have seen the Legislature go into recess unexpectedly during the time that we host our reception.  Obviously, that has been a major factor in our decreasing attendance at the event in recent years. As such, GEDA has decided to completely change how we handle the event this year!  Instead of an evening reception, we will revert to an event centered around lunch, like we used to do years ago.  This time, we are working to create the BEST opportunities for one-on-one time for YOU and YOUR legislators.  The day will start with some photo opportunities in the Capitol Building as early as 10:00 am (details are still to be finalized.)  ALL GEDA MEMBERS are encouraged to send personal invitations to YOUR legislators between now and the event, inviting them to lunch.  GEDA will provide the food for the event; Legislators will enjoy the meal free of charge; GEDA members and guests will pay a fee to enjoy lunch.  We have a room set up right next to the Capitol that will serve as the luncheon venue.  Instead of everyone descending on that room at once and fighting for food and space, we will encourage people to come on THEIR schedules, so we will be able to accommodate much larger groups of people. This is a drastic change from what we have done in the past and I know that some of it may seem confusing.  But here are the MAIN details to remember: You are encouraged to invite your legislators to lunch,  We will help you deliver GEDA's message to the Legislators, regarding our Legislative Priorities for 2011 (see the article at left),  We will have the ability for photo opportunities that morning in the Capitol and then at lunch as well,  You will register for the event in much the same way that you normally register for luncheons, You are certainly encouraged to bring guests! More information will be coming to you shortly on this event.  But go ahead and mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 26th!  We will send registration information out very soon. Membership Renewals All members should have recently received an e-mail regarding your Dues Renewal.  Renewal is very simple!  Go to the Renewal Page and follow the simple steps.  (You will need to log into the system to do this.  As a reminder, GEDA cannot see your passwords.  If you cannot remember your password, you will need to click the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen.)  Once logged in, you can choose your membership type and whether or not you'd like to prepay for the 7 luncheons in 2011.  (A savings of $25!)   You can either choose to pay online with a credit card or you can choose to "Pay by Invoice."  From this point, you can print an invoice and then mail a check into the GEDA Offices.  We look forward to your continued support of the state's leading professional association dedicated to enhancing Georgia's economic vitality!

2011 Events Calendar January 26  Legislative Day at the Capitol February 21  Luncheon at Georgia Tech Hotel March 21  Luncheon at Hotel Palomar April 18  Luncheon.  Location TBD. May 18-20  SPRING WORKSHOP at Sea Palms - St Simons Island June 20  Luncheon at Georgia Tech Hotel July  NO PROGRAM August 15  Luncheon at Hotel Palomar September 21-23  ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Savannah Riverfront Marriott October 17  Luncheon.  Location TBD.  November 14  Luncheon.  Location TBD.  December  NO PROGRAM Welcome New Members Jeremy Corbett, Evans General Contractors Shayla Harris, City of Union City Eric Nicholson, Filter Innovations New and Improved GEDA.ORG! Big Changes Coming in Early 2011 Be on the lookout for more information about the new and improved GEDA.ORG.  Our web services company is adding a great deal more functionality and YOU will be the beneficiary! The look will not change all that much for now, but we will add a lot more power, better search functions and some new pages that YOU have been asking for! We will add a "Member Portal" page that will have a great deal of your personal GEDA information it, including: Events you have registered for, And payments that are due Receipts for past payments Invoices for events Log in information Biographical information Photographs MUCH more!! This page will be the place to go to answer many of your questions, saving you the time it takes to email or call GEDA.  (Of course, we still welcome that contact from you!) We will also be adding a new store feature, where you can order GEDA-logo shirts, hats, bags - you can do all of your holiday and birthday shopping with us!I know your loved ones will be ecstatic to unwrap a GEDA shirt! All of this (and a great deal more) will be coming your way soon.  Keep watching this space for more details.    Have An Idea? Is there a topic you think we should cover in the Gazette?  Is there something missing from our website?  What can we do to make your membership experience better? Email us and let us know!     HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Candice and Mike would like to thank the GEDA members for what you do each and every day.  You make our world a better place and provide jobs and wealth for Georgians.  We continue to be thankful for all that you mean to us.   Here's wishing you a  WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! We look forward to what should be a fantastic 2011!