ChamberWorks
March 2005

 » Sen. McCain to Hold Hearing on Tribal Recognition
 » Building Momentum in the Fight Against Gridlock
 » Showcase Keynote Focuses on Workplace Stress, Obesity
 » Business Community Shows a 'Very Human Soul'
 » Member Drive: Calling All Volunteers
 » Another Winning Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

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Sen. McCain to Hold Hearing on Tribal Recognition

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that United States Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has agreed to her request to hold a hearing on problems surrounding the tribal recognition process. Senator McCain chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

"Senator McCain personally called me last week to say he agreed to my request and will schedule a public hearing this spring," Governor Rell said. "This is encouraging news in our fight to put an end to flawed recognition decisions by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). By agreeing to hold this hearing, I have no doubt that Senator McCain's committee will uncover many instances where the lack of strict adherence to guidelines for federal tribal recognition has allowed some tribes to manipulate the system."

Last month, Governor Rell wrote Senator McCain urging him to expand his current investigation into the lack of transparency at the BIA. "The recognition process is presently broken," Governor Rell said in that letter. "Without question, the process needs to be made more stringent and less vulnerable to corruption. The only way to win this fight is to be relentless in our demand for improvements to BIA procedures. I appreciate Senator McCain's prompt and personal response to my request and I am confident we will continue to make progress in cleaning up the system that is currently in place. We should accept nothing less than total transparency.

"The recognition of tribes has far-reaching consequences for our local communities and state and local government agencies," Governor Rell said. "However, the decision is made solely in Washington at the BIA. This reality, combined with the allegations of corruption at the BIA, as well as inconsistent applications and standards, leaves states and communities without a voice and without confidence in the process."

Governor Rell, the Attorney General and members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation have questioned investigatory findings by the Inspector General's Office of the Department of the Interior, which determined that there was no wrongdoing in the controversial federal recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribe in Kent. The Governor particularly thanked Reps. Johnson, Shays, and Simmons for their hard work and advocacy.

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Building Momentum in the Fight Against Gridlock

In January the Connecticut Citizens Transportation Lobby led a rally in Hartford to put Fairfield County's transportation woes in front of a statewide audience. But change won't happen unless we can build momentum behind those efforts. Our congested highways and aging commuter trains are not just a regional problem, and legislators from all corners of the state need to understand that.

For every tax dollar that we send to Hartford, the county gets back 14 cents. The other 86 cents amounts to billions of dollars going into state coffers. Gridlock is harming the economy of Southwestern Connecticut, and that affects Hartford, Waterbury, Middletown, Litchfield -- the entire state.

That's the message we need to put across as commuters, residents and business people in Fairfield County. Please take a few minutes to phone, email and/or fax your local legislators and urge them to enlist the help of their fellow legislators from other counties. Urge them to caucus, share a coffee, hold lunch discussion sessions -- whatever works -- but get them talking and thinking about practical solutions to a statewide problem.

Contact your state representatives and senators via email, phone or fax:

www.ct.gov
www.cga.ct.gov

Senate Switchboard
Democrats: 800-842-1420 or 860-240-8600 (Fax: 860-240-0208)
Republicans: 800-842-1421 or 860-240-8800 (Fax: 860-240-8306

House Switchboard
Democrats: 800-842-8267 or 860-240-8500 (Fax: 860-240-0206)
Republicans: 800-842-8270 or 860-240-8700 (Fax: 860-240-0207

Contact your US representatives and senators via email at:

www.dodd.senate.gov
www.house.gov/shays/

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Showcase Keynote Focuses on Workplace Stress, Obesity

Noted author, lecturer and TV medical correspondent Dr. David L. Katz will keynote the twelfth running of Business Showcase, the region's largest collaborative trade show, May 18 at the Sacred Heart University Pitt Center. Dr. Katz's remarks will focus on managing stress in the workplace and on the staggering effect of the nation's obesity epidemic.

Dr. Katz is the director of the Yale Prevention Research Center housed at Griffin Hospital and the director of Medical Studies in Public Health at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is also founder of the Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital, a holistic medical program used as a model at hospitals throughout the U.S. The author of eight books, including The Way to Eat and Cut Your Cholesterol, Dr. Katz will offer the business audience detailed advice on workplace stress reduction including proper nutrition.

Don't think this program is for you or your company? Think again. According to Obesity Journal, the annual health care costs linked to treating ailments such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and arthritis, are nearly 40% higher than for companies whose employees are not overweight. PLUS, the annual number of lost workdays due to obesity- related conditions is estimated to be 39.3 million according to a recent study by the Washington Business Group on Health.

For more information on Business Showcase, visit www.biz-showcase.com.

Interested in exhibiting? Booth space is now available!
For more information, contact the Fairfield Chamber office, 203-255-1011.

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Business Community Shows a 'Very Human Soul'

The following is a letter that the Chamber received from Chris Donnelly and Tom Wickert, expressing their families' gratitude to the business community:

The Donnelly and Wickert families would like to express our great appreciation to the business communities in Fairfield and Bridgeport for all of the support they gave to us following the tragedy at Tim and Kim's store, Donnelly Jewelry. The outpouring, the sympathy and the kind words that came from so many of the store owners and business people from around the area, and the many very kind favors done for us, are all deeply appreciated. Indeed, we know they would also be appreciated by Tim and Kim -- after all, they felt themselves to be very much a part of this same business community.

At the risk of leaving someone out, let us mention a few specific kindnesses. Yoga for Everybody opened their doors on a recent Saturday afternoon so that friends could share one of Kim's passions -- yoga -- while also raising money to be donated to a charity in Kim's name. The Gaelic American Club basically turned their facility over to the friends and family of Kim and Tim -- so that we could mourn and share and remember, in the proper fashion. FedEx Kinko's could not have done more for us -- as they helped us with the design and printing of many items, and then refused to even consider payment as an option. Schaughnessey's and Larson's Funeral Homes together were just marvelous, ensuring that we had the space and comfort to decide correctly in a difficult time. Joseph's Catering, Woods End Deli, News Express, the Carleton Chronic and Convalescent Hospital and Harborview Market all made sure that we did not need to worry about things like food and refreshment, when so many people were stopping by, helping us to share our grief. And Tim and Kim's neighbors -- Las Vetas, La Moda and Park Lane Opticians -- they all helped greatly, by reaching out to us, by helping the police and by just being neighbors, at a time when that simple thing was so important.

Of course, the Fairfield and Bridgeport Police Departments, the staff in the Bridgeport Hospital Emergency Room, the AMR Ambulance crew and Fairfield University, who hosted a deeply moving memorial service, all deserve our deepest thanks.

We hope we have not missed anyone. The business communities in Fairfield and in Bridgeport are strong and vital entities that, when the chips are down, show a very human soul. Not that that was ever doubted (we can hear Tim saying to us, "but, of course!"), and not that isn't always there to see. It is just that, in this time of great personal loss, the Wickert and Donnelly families got to experience this warmth and caring in a very important and personal way. And we wanted to be sure to let your organization know.

Sincerely,

Chris Donnelly
Northford, CT

Tom Wickert
Fairfield, CT

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Member Drive: Calling All Volunteers

We need to fill slots for the upcoming Chamber Membership Drive. Here's what's available as of March 23:

Call the chamber office to help -- 255-1011.

Remember: The Board of Directors agreed to the campaign. The contract signed with Joan Testa states that if we don't produce the volunteers needed for the drive, Joan walks away with $5000 of our money. (This fee is covered as soon as collections cross the $15,000 mark, as Joan will get 1/3 of all dollars collected during the days of the program, plus airfare, car rental, hotel, etc.)

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Another Winning Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

Wow! Sixty-plus auction packages to choose from. Where to begin... Should I buy the doggie sweaters (cashmere, of course) or stick to gift certificates to local restaurants? Or maybe I should try the new hair salon, or join the gym, or buy a basket of goodies from SuperCuts. But then, there's that new golf club, the tickets to box seats at a Knicks game, and a party for the kids at Leno's Pizza.

A big thanks to the Wine Tasting & Silent Auction committee for all their help. Priscilla Haslob chaired the event, and along with committee members Bob Sussman (Fairfield Center Jewelers), Shelley Llewellyn (Universal Printing), Lisa Miro (Leno's Pizza), Greg Beno (Adecco), Chuck Sussman (Town Planner Calendar), Lance Herman (Westport Inn), Rob Leiphart (ICG Investment Consulting Group) and Patricia L. Ritchie, the group brought in about $5,000 in auction income.

Thank you again to Denise Johnson, who always manages to find time to chair the food table for the event. There was steamed salmon, a giant spiral ham, cakes and other goodies to go along with all the wines presented by Harry's.

And don't let me forget to say a great big thanks to Harry's Wines and Liquors; the Greenwich Workshop Gallery, which so graciously loaned us the space; and to Nicholas Young of Fairfield University, who provided the evening's background music. Thanks also to Mary Hoyt (Leask and Leask) for stepping up to the plate at the last hour and helping Linda account for the income from the auction items. And to Mary Ellen McLean, public relations consultant, for her tireless efforts in tweaking the merchandise -- which means putting together those clever words on the easel boards that make the tables look so professional.

And for all of you who always ask the question: Did we make any money? Yes, we did! A successful evening by all accounts, attended by 115 paying guests in addition to the wine sellers and other helpers throughout the evening.

Next up: a beer tasting in October! If you enjoy the "tasting experience," put October 25 on your calendar.

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