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Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce

 800 South Third Street, Laramie, WY 82070     307.745.7339

e-news

02/01/2008

In this issue

Why Pay, When It's Free?

Upcoming Events

Help yourself find government contracts

Jumpers Needed for the 'Coolest' Event of the Year!

UW Honored for Communications Excellence

Worker Movement Among States

Barrasso: "U.S. Can’t Walk Away From Coal"

Member-to-Member

Who we are

Director

Marketing Director Simon Harrison

Account Executive

Office Associate

Carolee Jones

Why Pay, When It's Free?

A cautionary tale from Michael B. Willard

I got it again -- the notice from PCI compliance in the official-looking envelope telling me I  MUST, as a registered employer of the state of Wyoming, update my now out-of-date Fair Labor Standards Act, OSHA's "its the law", and whatever IRS notices, for just $42.95.

STOP!  The local Workforce Development Office has them ordered and will have them when they are printed for FREE! Until the Government actually prints them you are not out of compliance. Meanwhile, if you want to download and print your own, which is also legal, go to www.wagehour.dol.gov

I double checked this with Maria Martinez at Workforce Development this morning.

Michael B. Willard  IOM
Executive Director
Worland-Ten Sleep
Chamber of Commerce
120 N 10th Street
Worland WY 82401
307-347-3226
www.worlandchamber.com
www.tensleepworlandwyoming.com

Check out these FREE printable posters:

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/minwagep.pdf

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster (pdf):

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/fmlaen.pdf

OSHA "It's the Law" poster (large, 7Mb pdf file)

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3165.pdf

Upcoming Events

Today - Friday February 1st	Groundhog Day with Phil and the Realtors!   Realty Executives of Laramie are celebrating Groundhog Day with donuts and coffee, and you're all invited!  Stop by their office at 318 Bradley between 10.00am and 2.00pm today (Friday).    And the fun with Punxsutawney Phil never ends: after 4.30pm there will be pizza and "an assortment of libations".    But beware: If Phil can't see his shadow, we're in for another eight months of winter!  (Hold on - that's normal for Laramie, right?)   For further details call 755.5200
Monday, February 4 9.00am	Ribbon-Cutting: Hilton Garden Inn & UW Conference Center 2229 Grand Avenue
Thursday, February 7 5.30pm	Business After Hours: Staples 4037 East Grand Avenue   Please RSVP by 02/05/08
Wednesday, February 13 12.00pm	Networking @ Noon: The Holiday Inn 204 30th Street Please RSVP by 02/12/08
Throughout 2008, Networking @ Noon will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise announced.  Business After Hours usually will be held on the 2nd Thursday, unless otherwise announced.
various dates & times	FREE Income Tax Filing Assistance Program Albany County Public Library   Contact: Paul at 721-2580 ext 5428 or pheimer@will.state.wy.us
January 22 – March 7, 2008	Cowboys on the Range: Photographs by Adam Jahiel  Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne Over 25 black and white photographs will be on exhibit in "Cowboys on the Range: Photographs by Adam Jahiel" at the Wyoming State Museum beginning January 22 through March 7. There is a talk by the artist on February 21 at 4:00 pm. The public is invited to a reception on February 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. Mr. Jahiel is based in Story, Wyoming and has photographed the working cowboy in the Great Basin region of the U.S. since the early 1990s. For more information call 307-777-7977
Chamber events calendar
Albany County Tourism events calendar
Centennial Library Community Calendar
University Daily Planning Calendar
Chamber of Commerce and Albany County Tourism calendars graciously provided by

Help yourself find government contracts

By Tom Lacock

We’ve all heard the myths about the government buying $800 hammers. While they may not be able to help you find million-dollar nails, the folks at GRO-BIZ - the Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center – can help you get your chunk of available government money.

      Whether you are interested on selling the government something as big as missiles or something as small as ink pens, there is a process to go through and the staff at GRO-BIZ has the roadmap to get through it. GRO-BIZ is offering their services at their 2008 Conference Feb. 20-21 at the Holiday Inn of Cheyenne. The event is being sponsored by the office of U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the Wyoming Business Council, and GRO-BIZ.

El Belish, Regional Director for GRO-Biz, said his organization helps Wyoming businesses sell services and products to federal, state and local governments. Their services are free of charge to Wyoming companies. GRO-BIZ has helped Wyoming companies secure a total of 434 government contracts more than $79 million since the year 2000.

"There is a process involved and we know that process," said Belish.

The GRO-BIZ conference will kick off at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20 with opening remarks from Sen. Enzi. The breakout sessions will cover topics such as doing business with the state of Wyoming, the U.S. General Services Administration's Buyers and Vendors Program as well as how to market to the government. Sue Payton, assistant secretary of Air Force procurement, will be the keynote speaker on Feb. 20.

In addition to local small businesses, Belish said nearly 50 government procurement officers have been invited to the conference with around 30 agencies typically attending. Among the agencies who will be participating in the conference are the General Services Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the State of Wyoming and the National Parks Service.

Cost of the conference is $150 per person and $90 for each additional person from the same business. The registration fee includes breakfast and lunch both days of the conference. Vendors are also encouraged to set up display booths for procurement officers attending the event for $325 per booth. For more information, contact Belish at 307.672.3700 or gro-biz@actaccess.com. Registration for the event can be done on-line at www.gro-biz.com.

GRO-BIZ will host a pre-conference workshop, "Wide Area Workflow (WAWF):  The Latest in E-Invoicing Compliance" on Feb. 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn. Rob Annicellia from the Defense Contract Management Agency's E-Business Directorate will train participants on WAWF version 3.9, which increases invoice submission accuracy, reduces payment cycle time and keeps contractors compliant with mandated and imminent E-Invoicing requirements.

To register, email grobizdirector@wyoming.com or call 866.253.3300. The workshop is free to anyone registered for the GRO-Biz Conference. There is a $50 fee for non-conference attendees.

Tom Lacock

Senior Marketing and Public Relations Specialist

Wyoming Business Council

214 West 15th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82002

307-777-2834

Cell:  307-631-0958

Email:  tom.lacock@wybusiness.org

Web site:  www.wyomingbusiness.org

Jumpers Needed for the 'Coolest' Event of the Year!

Do you know someone who would jump into icy Wyoming waters to raise money for a good cause?
 

Would YOU?

Experience the 2008 Jackalope Jump and you'll be exposed to a spectacle like no other! Take a quick dip in some icy Huck Fin Pond waters in LaPrele Park to raise funds for Special Olympics Wyoming, a year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with cognitive disabilities.

Anyone can participate!

Cool Prizes For Jumpers

Jumpers get the official Jackalope Jump t-shirt, a post-jump party and of course bragging rights over all the people who couldn't bear it! Plus, the more money Jumpers raise, the more cool prizes they win!

Win prizes for:

• Most Money Raised by an Individual

• Most Money raised by an S.O. Athlete
  Most Money Raised by a Group

• Largest Group Jump
  Best Group Theme/Costumes

Personal Jumper Page

Jumpers can create their own Jumper Web Page so that friends, family and co-workers from anywhere
can visit and sponsor their jump right on line.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
http://www.sowy.org/jackalopejump.shtml

The event is open to the public, and all spectators are welcome free of charge.  All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Wyoming.

LARAMIE JACKALOPE JUMP
AT HUCK FIN POND IN LaPRELE PARK
MARCH 8, 2008
Registration @ 1:00 p.m.
Jump @ 2:00 p.m.
Party @ 3:00 p.m.
(Additional Jumps scheduled in Casper and Sheridan/Buffalo)

We're also in need of community-based volunteers to join the committee to organize the event!
Please contact the Special Olympics Wyoming office if you're interested!

Erin Gamroth
Director of Special Events and PR
232 East 2nd St.
Suite 201
Casper, WY 82601

UW Honored for Communications Excellence

UWyo, the University of Wyoming’s general interest quarterly magazine, was named the top news publication and UW public relations professionals earned several other awards during the Wyoming Press Association’s annual associates’ group communications contest. Winners were chosen from more than 105 total entries and awards were presented at the WPA’s annual winter meeting in Casper.
 

UW Announces the Hiring of Carrie Yerty as Head Women's Volleyball Coach

University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced on Tuesday that Carrie Yerty has been hired as the new women's volleyball coach at Wyoming.

Success Continues for UW Policy Debaters

Four University of Wyoming debate team members combined to defeat teams from seven universities at the Val Browning Round Robin at Weber State University Jan. 19-20.

Report Released on Worker Movement Among States

By Shelli Stewart

CHEYENNE - In the Spring of 2006, the Wyoming Workforce Development Council and Department of Workforce Services launched an effort to gather information about the movement of Wyoming's workers. As the unemployment rate continued to decline, and economic indicators suggested substantial future demand for more labor, it became clear to the two organizations that information on labor availability within Wyoming would become increasingly important in developing strategies to meet the growing demand.

The Council and Department engaged the Department of Employment's Research & Planning section to examine the question, "What can we find out about workers who originated in one state and are now working in Wyoming?"  In this report, the answer to this question shows where people are moving from and the industries that are attracting them to our state. 

Knowing the origin of workers allows business owners, policy makers, and economic developers to explore these areas as potential sources of labor.

Economic developers in Wyoming can use these data to assist recruiting efforts in other states. If workers already migrate to Wyoming for work, it is reasonable to assume that others will follow if their experiences are pleasant. Conversely, states of origin that exhibit minimal inflows are less desirable recruiting locations.

You can find the "Road to Work: Commuting in Wyoming" report at the Wyoming Workforce Development Council's website www.wyowdc.org   For questions related directly to the data of the study, contact Research & Planning at (307) 473-3807.  For additional information regarding the Wyoming Workforce Development Council, please contact (307) 777-5629 or visit www.wyowdc.org

Shelli Stewart
Public Information Officer
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
122 W. 25th Street, Herschler 2-East
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307.777.6911 /p/
307.777.5857 /f/

"U.S. Can’t Walk Away From Coal"

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., had the following reaction to President Bush’s energy-related remarks in the State of the Union Address:

“In his State of the Union Address, the President properly noted ‘we must fund new technologies that can generate coal power.’ Wyoming produces a third of our nation’s coal. In fact half our nation’s electricity is generated from coal.

“We need all of our nation’s traditional energy sources, and Wyoming’s coal is an important part of that. We simply can’t walk away from coal.

“I believe the President takes a step in the right direction. It needs to be a bigger step. We need to take immediate action on ideas such as tax credits for clean coal technologies and dollars for gasification technology.

“Developing innovative technologies is critical. I believe government and private enterprise both have prominent roles in research and funding. Now is the time for the federal government to engage in energy research.”

Ryan J. Taylor
Deputy Communications Director
U.S. Senator John Barrasso
Washington, D.C.
202.224.6441 (Office)
202.380.6760 (Cell)

Member-to-Member

Grand Newsstand Launches New Web Site

Chamber Member The Grand Newsstand - voted True West's "Best Western Bookstore" -  has launched it's long-awaited online store.  The site will enable customers from around the corner or around the world to browse and buy books on Wyoming and the West, Wyoming Hiking & Climbing (including some books no-one else carries), Wyoming photo books, books on Wyoming hunting and fishing, and a full range of Wyoming maps.  "Along with our 4000-plus magazine selection available at our two Laramie locations, we have something for everyone!" says owner Mike Scott.

You can check out the Grand Newsstand web site at the following address:

http://www.grandnewsstand.com/index.php

Valentine's Day at the Elk Mountain Hotel

We are offering a romantic and intimate dinner for couples in love!

Crab soufflé and lobster ravioli starters, followed by a choice of Beef Wellington, Chicken Kiev, Lamb Medallions, and Pan fried Halibut. Strawberry shortcake, coffee, and truffles to finish. 

Priced from $29 to $39. Menu extends to Saturday for those that cannot make it on Thursday evening.

click here for a history of the Elk Mountain Hotel

Jazz, skiing & poker at the Trading Post

Feb 9, Saturday.  Eric Jerardi Blues Band entertains at the Trading Post 8:30 pm.  This nationally known band is currently on tour through our area.  His rockin' blues is a real treat.  He played at the TP three years ago and, due to a cancellation, we feel very fortunate to have him back. Bring your dancin' shoes!

Feb 23, Saturday.  19th Annual Murf the Surf's Cross Country Ski Poker Run.  This community fund raiser is tons of fun!  Shuttles to and from Barber Lake Trail (a great ski), cash prizes for the 6 best poker hands, T-shirts, Murf's famous BBQ, Danno and Friends play 4pm.  Registration is from 10am to 1pm at the Trading Post in Centennial. $12.  Proceeds after expenses go to community needs.  Info

For full details call 742-7731

1st Open House Week for Music Together of Albany County

Monday, January 28th  to Friday February 1st = Open House Week for Music Together of Albany County, LLC.  Attend a FREE Music Class for Children ages birth to kindergarten and a parent or caregiver. Call 721-2968 for class schedule or visit www.music4wyokids.com

To include announcements in the Member-to-Member section, please email details to Simon at publicist@laramie.org.  I will endeavor to put your announcement into our next e-news.

Please support our sponsors:

If you are interested in becoming a Chamber Member, or learning more about what your Chamber can do for you and the community, please contact us today

Funded by your Membership Investments, the Chamber works for a healthy economic climate of good jobs, capital creation, and honest, efficient government. A Chamber’s strength lies in the number and diversity of its membership. Because the Chamber collectively embodies the vast experience of the many businesses and professionals in its membership, it has the knowledge and insight to identify issues of importance to the business community, and the combined means to devise and implement strategies to address them. Chamber members are the most responsible, innovative, and conscientious business and professional people in Albany County. The Chamber accomplishes collectively what no one business or professional can accomplish alone.

There is power in the partnership with the members of the Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce. If you were to put a dollar figure on the publicity, referrals, business leads, political contacts, marketing services, economic development projects, research information, etc., it certainly makes your membership decision worth the investment.

      Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce      307.745.7339      chamberofcommerce@laramie.org