Eugene Events

The A Champion in Education (ACE) Awards program is a collaborative effort between the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce and the Eugene, Bethel, and Springfield School Districts with support from local businesses. The purpose of the ACE Awards is to recognize excellence in education among local teachers, administrators, classified staff and volunteers while reinforcing the important connection between education, business and a healthy local economy.

Twelve awards are presented each year with winners receiving a $1,000 monetary award for a project or program in their school. Winners are also honored at an elegant event at the Hult Center in Eugene on Thursday, May 6th. Over the past four years local schools have received over $45,000 through this program.

How can you support this program?

·         Nominate a deserving local educator

·         Participate as a Supporting Sponsor

·         Attend the event

Call Kim Clark, Events Manager at (541) 242-2354 or e-mail kimc@eugenechamber.com for more information.

The ACE Awards wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses including our 5th annual presenting sponsor Oregon Community Credit Union, reception sponsor Pacific Source Health Plans, nomination software sponsor All Academic, and supporting sponsors SELCO Community Credit Union, brass/Media Inc., Horace Mann Insurance, and Hamilton Construction.
 

Please join us at the Eugene Chamber as the Springfield and Eugene Fire Chiefs outline their proposal for a functional consolidation of key fire and life safety services between the two cities' departments to save taxpayer costs and provide more efficient service. Currently, some of the support functions are already merging and if the steps prove to be successful, a complete merger for the two departments will follow. Learn more during this educational luncheon on Friday, Mar. 12 from 12-1pm at the Eugene Chamber office located at 1401 Willamette Street. A light lunch will be provided and there is no cost to attend. Seats are limited, so you must register to attend please.

Last week, the City Council adopted, or gave direction to pursue a series of recommendations from the Downtown Safety Taskforce designed to improve the safety and appearance of Downtown.  Dave Hauser, Chamber President, served on the Task Force, and the Chamber supported the recommendations.

Things began to look dicey, after Councilor Betty Taylor moved and passed a motion to discuss  each of the twelve items one by one, but all of the recommendations ultimately passed by a wide margin, with only councilors Taylor and Brown opposing solutions put forward by the majority of the council. 

Among the projects included in the package are increased police officers downtown,  increased lighting and surveillance, the purchase of dedicated jail space from Springfield, and funding of added human services and mental health programming.  The Chamber and Downtown Eugene, Inc. will also work with the city to improve delivery of security services, and seek to expand opportunities for more revenue devoted to Downtown.  Finally, the proposals call for using money from the Urban Renewal District to help support the Lane Community College Downtown Center at 10th and Charnelton, and the VA Clinic on Willamette, if the VA selects that site.  Both of these projects would make a marked difference on the level of activity downtown.

Find the entire staff summary for the measures here:  http://tiny.cc/RaFHJ

To share your thoughts with the Mayor and City Council about the city’s support of Lane Community College and the VA Clinic, or to thank them for taking steps to improve Downtown,  write to mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us

Major community decisions are being made that will affect the future vitality of our downtown, and of our city as a whole. The planning process for the overall design concept for the EWEB Master Plan is coming to a head and the project consultants are preparing to present the overall design concept at a public meeting TONIGHT.   

Please attend the public meeting on TONIGHT, Wednesday, Mar. 3, at the Eugene Hilton at 6:30pm to make your voice heard, and give your input about what you would like to see happen on the EWEB site.

You don’t have to be a land use expert. Just show up, and share your perspective on this site. Register by email at eweb@rowellbrokaw.com or visit www.eugeneriverfront.com for more information. As you likely know, the Eugene Water & Electric Board is creating a new master plan for its riverfront property, much of which will be sold after they move their operations to Roosevelt Blvd, in west Eugene. 

Rowell Brokaw Architects, based in downtown Eugene, and a Chamber member, is leading the master planning process.

The process has been assisted by a nine-member Community Advisory Team, made up of community members from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds, and co-chaired by Eugene Chamber President, Dave Hauser.

The outcome of this master plan process will have a major impact on the ability to connect our downtown to the river, and to allow increased river access by citizens and visitors. The success of this project could not have greater implications for our city’s livability, the vitality of our downtown, and the success of the business community.

We hope you will make time to participate on TONIGHT, Wednesday, Mar. 3rd. We look forward to seeing you at the Hilton at 6:30pm.
 

The Local Government Affairs Council (LGAC) is a committed group of business leaders that meet nearly every Friday morning to study, discuss, and take action on the many pressing public policy issues that impact our community’s economic prosperity.  From enterprise zones to Downtown development to public safety funding, LGAC has led the charge for policies that encourage increased livability and economic vitality at the city, county, and state levels.

In January,  LGAC had several vacant positions, which attracted a tremendous level of interest, resulting in nearly fifteen applications from business leaders interested in helping chart the Chamber’s course and take a more active role in the Chamber’s public policy and advocacy work.   The Chamber works hard to maintain a broad representation of our membership.   We are excited to announce the following new Local Government Affairs Council members, who bring a wealth and breadth of perspectives and expertise:

o   Wendy Baker- Wendy J. Baker, Attorney at Law

o   Rob E. Bennett- Downtown Athletic Club

o   Julie Daniel- BRING Recycling

o   Jeanine Jackson- Pacific Benefit Planners

o   Ben Sappington- Pacific Continental Bank

o   Tenille Woodward-  Kernutt Stokes Brandt &Co.
 

We congratulate these members for their appointments, and thank them for their willingness to serve their Chamber and their community.
 

Learn how to measure and improve your business’ customer service. Join the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Holdings for this informative seminar on Tuesday, March 2 from 1-4 PM at the Lane Community College Center for Meeting and Learning. Discover how to:

·         Create a customer service culture

·         Make a big impact in a small window of time

·         Manage what you measure

Then join us for a Q&A session with some of this area’s top leaders in customer service including: George Rogers of Valley River Inn and Steve Smith of Les Schwab Tire Center. There are a limited number of seats available, so don’t miss out! Register early at the Eugene Chamber website.


            
 

For well over 60 years, the Eugene Chamber has honored a Eugene area high school senior with the Future First Citizen Award. Each year, six area high school students are recognized for making outstanding contributions to their school and their community. Each high school selects one senior from its student body.

Once the top seniors are nominated, a panel of judges selects a winner after reviewing each candidate’s application and interviewing each one. The “Future First Citizen” is selected based on who the judges believe best exemplifies the leadership qualities that will inspire us all regarding the future stewardship of our community.

Two of these recipients have gone on to "higher callings" and are now NASA astronauts.

Dr. Stan Love, 1982 Future First Citizen, graduated from Churchill High School in 1983. He made his first space flight on the STS-122 Atlantis (February 7-20, 2008) during which he made two space walks.

Col. James Dutton, Jr., 1986 Future First Citizen and 1987 graduate of Sheldon High School, will go into space on March 18, 2010 when he pilots the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station during one of the shuttle program’s final voyages.

Read more about the special items Dutton will bring aboard the space shuttle Discovery.

Join the Eugene Greeters during the month of February for business and social networking and a chance to learn more about area businesses and events including:

2/12 Alyssa Barth: "Princess for a Day" with the Lane County Foster Group - designed to be a gift for nearly 200 foster children in the community.

2/19 Bev Smith: Kidsports – Children and Families Understanding the Value of Physical Fitness, Sportsmanship and Teamwork.

2/26 Jeannie Staton: How Business Success, Career Achievements and Contributions to the Community Made Her the 2009 Women Business Leader of the Year.

The Eugene Greeters meet every Friday morning at Mallard Hall from 7:30 – 9AM. Learn more.
 

Recently the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce received the City’s Community Recognition Award for two separate categories. The Community Recognition Award, a standard based on the goals of City Council, is awarded once a year to a group or organization that advocates and supports goals set out by the City Council. For their hard work and contribution to the drafting of form based code for the Walnut Station Node, the Chamber, along with the University of Oregon and the Fairmount Neighbors Association, received the Community Recognition Award for contributing to “Effective, Accountable Municipal Government.”

In a partnership with Downtown Eugene Incorporated, the Chamber received the Community Recognition Award, recognizing their commitment to making Eugene a safe place to live and work. For the downtown guides; a Chamber-sponsored program, we are honored to accept this year’s Community Recognition Award for contributing to a “Safe Community.” We are pleased to have the opportunity to help improve safety in Eugene.

We would like to give a special thanks to Tim Campbell, Bruce Mulligan, and Gary Wildish, from the Chamber’s Local Government Affairs Council, who spent hours working through the various aspects of the draft code language to ensure that developers will have the leeway they need in order to build, and existing businesses are protected in their current locations.
 

EUGENE – Geffan Pearlson, a senior at South Eugene High School, was named Eugene’s Future First Citizen for 2009 by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. Each year the chamber honors six area high school students who have made outstanding contribution to the community and their respective schools.

As a National Honor Society member and team leader, one of Geffen Pearlson’s roles is to encourage community service among her peers. Students at South Eugene High School get plenty of real-life encouragement, as Geffen is a student who models the saying: “Lead by example!” At Centro Latino Americano, Geffen uses her Spanish-speaking skills to do translation for Latino families seeking jobs and birth and marriage certificates. She also volunteers for the Eugene Middle East Peace Group, organizing events, providing childcare, and giving speeches at programs promoting peace in the Middle East.

As involved as Geffen has been on issues of community and international importance she also has worked on peer education, which she says has taught her “the value of respecting people from all different backgrounds.” Geffen’s volunteerism and her gifts for language have meant she has, as a high school student, given mightily back to her local community. But as Geffen speaks English, Hebrew, Arabic, and Spanish, her college plans include the study of international relations and conflict resolution in the hopes that she may continue that contribution on a larger level, working as a diplomat to engage world leaders and international communities in peaceful resolutions to international strife.

The other candidates for Future First Citizen were Moira Cary, Marist; Lindsey Swensen, Willamette; Amber Lengele, Churchill; Oresta Tolmach, Sheldon; and Lisa Hiura, North Eugene. All candidates received scholarships whose funds were given by past Eugene First Citizens and KeyBank, sponsor of the chamber’s Celebration of Business 2010. The awards were presented at the chamber’s annual Celebration of Business on Wednesday, January 20.
 

Images Eugene offers opportunities for local businesses to gain exposure through print and online advertising avenues. Distributed throughout the year and available online at all times, Images Eugene provides relevant community information, highlights Eugene’s progressive business climate and showcases the region’s quality of place while also reinforcing advertiser credibility.

View the current online edition of Images Eugene at imageseugene.com.

For more information on becoming a part of Images Eugene contact Brian Sutton at (541) 484-1314, Toll-free at (800) 333-8842 or by e-mail at bsutton@jnlcom.com.

Geffen Pearlson, a senior at South Eugene High School, has been named Eugene’s Future First Citizen for 2009 by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. Each year the Chamber honors six area high school students who have made outstanding contributions to the community and their respective schools.

As involved as Geffen has been on issues of community and international importance she also has worked on peer education, which she says has taught her “the value of respecting people from all different backgrounds.” Geffen’s volunteerism, and her gifts for language, have meant she has, as a high school student, given mightily back to her local community. Her college plans include study of international relations and conflict resolution in the hopes that she may continue that contribution on a larger level, working as a diplomat to engage world leaders and international communities in peaceful resolutions to international strife.

The other candidates for Future First Citizen were Moira Cary, Marist; Lindsey Swensen, Willamette; Amber Lengele, Churchill; Oresta Tolmach, Sheldon; and Lisa Hiura, North Eugene. All candidates will receive scholarships whose funds are given by past Eugene First Citizens and by KeyBank, sponsor of the chamber’s Celebration of Business 2010. The awards were presented at the chamber’s annual Celebration of Business on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
 

Next week the 2009-2010 class of the Leadership Eugene-Springfield program will reach the midway point in their community education experience.  The class, made up of up-and-coming leaders from businesses and nonprofits throughout the community, has studied leadership and communication styles; learned how to interact with the media; worked on meeting facilitation; learned about economic development challenges and opportunities in our region; investigated the management styles and government and cultural history of Eugene and Springfield; and examined local systems for meeting community health care and social service needs. 

Before the year is out, the class will have improved understanding of local public safety systems, land use planning and education, and been introduced to a variety of volunteer and appointed leadership opportunities.

The Leadership Eugene-Springfield class runs from October to May each year, with enrollment and admission each summer.  For more information about the program, or for an application for the 2010-2011 year, contact Jared Mason-Gere, Director of Business Advocacy, at (541) 242-2355 or JaredM@eugenechamber.com.

 

Over the past ten years the Eugene Chamber Economic Forecast event has become the region’s most comprehensive economic outlook conference each year featuring a panel of leading economists along with local experts presenting insights and predictions on the economic future for the region for the year ahead. This year’s event is set for Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at the Eugene Hilton and Conference Center. Set for 2:30-5pm, this year’s event will feature three components:

• Joe Cortright, President and principal economist for Impresa, a Portland consulting firm specializing in regional economic analysis, innovation and industry clusters will offer insights into community and university collaboration in economic development.
• Timothy A. Duy, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Director, Oregon Economic Forum, Department of Economics, University of Oregon and author of the University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators will offer his insights into the economic future of the region.
• The event will conclude with the well-known economist panel of experts offering predictions on what’s to come in 2010 including: Bill Conerly, economist and financial consultant; Tom Potiowsky, former state economist; Brian Rooney, local economist for Oregon Employment Department; Timothy A. Duy, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Director, Oregon Economic Forum, Department of Economics, University of Oregon Ed Whitelaw, president of ECONorthwest; and John Mitchell, M&H Economic Consultants of Portland,

Chamber member costs include $450 Table for 10 - Preferred Seating; $40 Individual seat at table (non-reserved); $30 Individual seat - theater style. Non member costs $50 Individual seat at table or $40 Individual seat - theater style.

Economic Forecast is sponsored by Oregon Community Credit Union and Providence Health Plan. Register now.

The staff of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to:
 

• Providing promotion and networking opportunities for our members,
• Advancing responsible economic development projects, and
• Advocating for business-friendly public policy

for the Eugene/Springfield business community in the coming new year.

Happy New Year!

Poet Rita Dove summed it up well when she said, “There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.”

When it comes to the topic of public safety in downtown and other commercial districts, a good part of the community dialogue often focuses on what is going wrong. In this issue of Open for Business we focus on the actions of business leaders who are facing the public safety challenges in their respective commercial districts. Examples of what is going right.

There is no denying the public safety challenges in downtown and other commercial districts. As a member of the Downtown Safety Task Team, a group of downtown and community interests formed to develop recommendations to city leadership, I helped identify four main areas that contribute to the problems in the city core, many of which could, at one time or another, could have applied to either the University District or Midtown area. They are:

• A lack of consequences for criminal behavior because of an inadequate police presence downtown and a shortage of jail beds, which served as a sanction for criminal activity.
• The presence of behaviors ranging from illegal to obnoxious.
• The lack of a cohesive, coordinated downtown public safety plan, including resources such as staff, facilities and treatment.
• The debilitated state of many physical spaces in the downtown (e.g., empty storefronts, dark corners), which invite illegal activities.

These are significant challenges. At the same time, there are positive stories to tell about how business and property owners have stepped up to address public safety challenges:

• Businesses in the downtown formed a special services district more than a decade ago, voluntarily agreeing to tax themselves to create resources to fund, through Downtown Eugene, Inc., the Downtown Guides, graffiti abatement and other strategies to make downtown clean and safe.
• University District businesses also formed a special services district to fund a portion of a police officer dedicated to providing community policy services in the district, West University Guides and more. Over the last decade the collaborative efforts of the University Small Business Association (USBA), the City of Eugene, University of Oregon and PeaceHealth Oregon Region have made significant strides in turning around a significant public safety challenge in the commercial district adjoining the University.

Through commitment, collaboration and good strategic thinking, I am confident that as a community we can make a difference in our downtown. The business community, through the Chamber and Downtown Eugene, Inc., has and will continue to move beyond complaining and, instead, actively participate in finding solutions to the public safety challenges in our commercial districts.

Dave Hauser is president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. As the area’s leading business advocate, the Chamber works to create an environment in which business will thrive. The Chamber works with partners in business, government and education to improve the quality of life for local residents.

The key trends shaping cities and region are fairly well-known: More baby boomers are planning to retire; the number of women joining the workforce has stabilized; and college attainment levels have plateaued. As a result, young professionals are becoming increasingly important to the economic health of growing cities, according to one national report.

The study by Portland economist Joe Cortright indicates that young, college-educated workers are capable of counteracting this impending economic shift because of their entrepreneurial nature and willingness to relocate. The key to growing cities will be to attract and retain young professionals, Cortright says in “The Young and Restless in a Knowledge Economy.”

Recognizing that opportunity, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce is leading and supporting efforts to retain, engage and attract young professionals:

•Young Professionals Network (YPN). The focus of YPN is to provide programs specifically targeted to meet the needs of young professionals for networking, professional and personal development, community involvement, awareness and influence.
•Entrepreneurial programs. Through Chamber initiatives such as the entrepreneurial support group SmartUps and the investor-focused Willamette Angel Network and conference, we’re supporting new ideas and business success.
•Partnership with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Since 1986, we’ve worked together to promote and foster the development of volunteer leadership. While not exclusively for young professionals, Leadership Eugene-Springfield (LES) has attracted participants who have used the program to establish meaningful volunteer leadership roles in our community that meet the area’s need for the active participation of informed, skilled and motivated community leaders.
•A central role in the creation of the Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE). This new group enriches the cultural life of our community by acting as a catalyst for creating dynamic partnerships between the art, culture and business sectors.

Eugene-Springfield’s well-deserved reputation for outstanding livability, coupled with efforts to hold on to and attract talented young people, will be an important piece of an economic strategy that drives a prosperous future.

Dave Hauser is president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. As the area’s leading business advocate, the Chamber works to create an environment in which business will thrive. The Chamber works with partners in business, government and education to improve the quality of life for local residents.

 

The Joint Elected Officials, including the Lane County Commissioners, Eugene City Council, and Springfield City Council, recently voted to send the issue of a functional consolidation to the respective city councils for public input and council discussion. While both the Eugene and Springfield city councils expressed general support for the cost savings and increased efficiencies that could come of such a move, both are looking for feedback from citizens, and an opportunity to explore the best process for merging administrative functions. Unless schedules change, the Eugene City Council will consider this issue in January.
 
The Eugene Chamber has weighed in supporting proposal for cooperative services increases, or a form of merger between the Eugene Fire Department and Springfield Fire and Life Safety. Regardless what form the merger takes, the Eugene Chamber believes the increased collaboration will deliver an improved level of services and cost savings to improve overall community safety and free up funds for other essential services long term.

Independent consultants and fire department staff have estimated cost savings and cost avoidance that could add up to a total of $850,000 in savings annually through streamlined administration and staff attrition. The Eugene Chamber of Commerce in the past has congratulated Fire Chiefs Dennis Murphy and Randy Groves for thinking outside the box to try to best serve their communities and the region; while it is still early in the process, the city councils are to be commended for their willingness to take steps forward in considering these new methods of service delivery, and we encourage them to continue searching for cost savings and improved efficiencies. 

The Mayor and City Council can be contacted at mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us to express support for the consolidation.   

The full background and report can be found HERE.
 

John Sheppard, owner of Sheppard Motors, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2009 First Citizen Award. Sheppard will receive the award at the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Celebration of Business on January 20, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Hilton Eugene & Conference Center.

The First Citizen Award is given annually to an individual who made notable contributions to our community through business and community service efforts. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has presented the award each year since 1938. Sheppard was selected by a panel of former First Citizen honorees.

John Sheppard has been owner and partner of Sheppard Motors since 1972. Sheppard has long dedicated his time to the community, including serving as Chair of the Board of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in 1990. He’s been a major supporter and contributor to the Rotary Duck Race for the past 15 years in an effort to help fight child abuse in Lane County. Sheppard has been a large supporter of the Arts, including the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Opera, The Shedd Institute, and the Oregon Bach Festival.

• The Celebration of Business is one of the area’s premier professional events, with over 650 business and community leaders in attendance each year.
• The event includes celebrating the Future First Citizen: local high school students at top of their class pursuing their dreams as well as the best interests of others.
• Recognition of extraordinary Chamber volunteers, our Shining Stars.

Contact the Eugene Chamber of Commerce at 541-484-1314 for reservations. Tickets are $75 each, which includes dinner and the evening program.