TMCC holds first JTED subcommittee meeting… The Tucson Chamber has been appointed to lead the “Business Management Administration and Services” (BMAS) segment of the JTED Advisory process. One of 10 disciplines, BMAS has been rated the second-most important employment need (healthcare providers being first) in the entire state. Last week, the Chamber’s Paula Stuht brought a team of volunteers together for a training class on JTED’s purpose, plans and current status as well as an understanding of the role this committee will play going forward. This advisory group will be visiting classes in 25 high schools throughout the area that currently offer subject matter including Business Management and Administrative Services; Design and Merchandising; Marketing; Management and Entrepreneurship; Accounting and Related Services; and Financial Services. The Chamber has selected as members “experts” from each of these disciplines to provide up-to-date and cutting-edge industry information to the instructors and the JTED staff, thereby providing the best-trained and -equipped future workforce.

Mission to China… It’s not too late to sign up to join with fellow Chamber members on a Mission to China that will take place Nov. 8-16, 2007. Temples, pagodas, palaces, tea houses, Tian An Men Square – they’re all part of the eight-day trip. Cost for this exciting trip is $1,399 per person, based on double-occupancy. The fee includes roundtrip air fare from Los Angeles to China, five-star or four-star hotel accommodations, deluxe tour bus, a knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide in each city, three full meals every day, fees for all attractions and any applicable taxes. Transportation to and from Los Angeles International Airport is up to those taking the tour. For more information or to sign up, contact Shirley at 792-2250 ext. 132.

Arizona-Mexico Commission… In June, the Business Development Division participated in the Vamos a Tucson quarterly breakfast; the topic was “Is Your Business Mexico Ready?” Jacqueline Kochvar, Executive Director, Office of the Governor, Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC), provided an update on Arizona’s projects with Mexico. Due to the Tucson Chamber’s recent business contact with the American Chamber of Commerce in Guadalajara (AMCHAM) and the Business-to-Business meetings which took place in Tucson in May, the Chamber was able to promote and be directly involved in regional economic development between AMCHAM and Tucson Chamber members. In order to continue to capitalize on economic opportunities for business growth with our southern partners in Mexico, the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has submitted the names of two staff members to join the AMC as Individual Members: Kathleen Skinner, Manager of Governmental Affairs; and Cheryll Frazier, Manager of Business Development. The Chamber is looking forward to becoming partners with AMC to strengthen ties and forge new relationships.

Literacy: Town Hall’s next topic… The Tucson Chamber has partnered with the Community Foundation to coordinate the creation of the “Literacy Committee.” Within the next few weeks, a new survey will appear on the web at www.tucson.com/townhall that will allow community members to weigh in on this important topic. Survey respondents can rate whether they agree or disagree with a list of 14 statements, and also answer two open-ended questions about education and literacy. The statements run the gamut from innocuous (e.g. “It should be a goal of the Tucson region to make everyone in the community literate.”) to controversial (e.g. “Literacy programs need to be available to illegal immigrants as well as legal residents.”). One of the open-ended questions asks what Southern Arizona can do to make literacy a priority. Once this survey has closed, the answers will be tabulated and the results analyzed. The resulting report will be provided to the volunteers of the Literacy Committee to help build meaningful and actionable plans to improve the level of literate citizens in our community.