Government Affairs

The Government Affairs Committee of the Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce is led by Executive Director, Karen C. Thompson with committee members representing small, medium and large sized businesses.

The committee is a vital link between the Sea Islands area and the local, state and federal elected officials...and governmental agencies...who make the taxation, regulatory and policy decisions that affect the business community. The committee assures that chamber members are heard...that they have a forum and a voice to make their views known to their government representatives.

MISSION:

The primary goal for the Government Affairs Committee shall be to help foster a mutual and beneficial relationship between Government Policy Makers and members of the Chamber. To that end, special programs will be organized and promoted that will assist facilitating the exchange of information relating to issues or matters of mutual interest and benefit.

ADVOCACY:

It's the intent of the Sea Islands Chamber to consider the interests of business in its regulatory, tax, and policy deliberations.

SERVICES:

Other important services provided to Chamber members by the Government Affairs Committee include;

• Hosting the Chamber networking meeting once a quarter, providing a speaker on a timely government affairs issue. Chamber members attending these AM meetings have an opportunity to meet at ask questions of elected officials, heads of government agencies and other policy-makers.
• Sponsoring candidate forums to assure that Chamber members get to know the people seeking election to public office, and that they can let candidates know the issues that are important to business people in the Sea Islands area.
• Educating Chamber members on upcoming issues and policies, especially as they will impact the Sea Islands, so that business people know ahead of time what is being planned and can communicate their concerns and desires early enough to influence governmental decisions before they are made or implemented.

REPRESENTATION:

Recognizing that most business people do not have the time or resources to become experts in the many governmental issues that may affect them, the Chamber Government Affairs Committee have identified key governmental advisory committees on which to have representation -- a pair of "eyes and ears" -- to let Chamber members know what is being planned, and how to provide feedback before those issues are translated into government policies and actions. 

GOALS:

Given the uncertainty and challenges of the current economic climate, the Government Affairs Committee is focusing on two key goals in 2011.

• Jobs. The Sea Islands Chamber must work relentlessly with our federal, state and city political leaders to assure that the Sea Islands Chamber receives its fair share of governmental stimulus programs designed to maintain and create jobs.
• Infrastructure: The Sea Islands Chamber must be a vocal advocate for a greater and more equitable share of the areas infrastructure.

The Government Affairs Committee's work on behalf of the Sea Islands Chamber members and the business community will be an ongoing effort. To be successful, the Chamber's government affairs program requires that:

• Chamber members attend in the forums,
• Educate themselves about the issues,
• And provide feedback to the Government Affairs Committee, so the Committee can advocate for the Chamber and its members.

FRIENDS & ALLIES:

The Sea Islands Chamber Government Affairs Committee welcomes feedback and support from other business groups, organizations and individuals who share similar goals and interests with the Chamber -- and a common commitment to the betterment of The Sea Islands Area.