By Richard Luehrs
President and C.E.O.
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced their strong opposition to the Governor’s proposal to extend the increased tax rates on sales, personal income and vehicle license taxes for an additional five years to help balance the State’s $25 billion budget shortfall.

In its position announcement, the Chamber identified a general lack of fiscal restraint on the part of lawmakers as the chief reason for their opposition. “The level of spending is simply out of control” stated Chamber Chief Executive, Richard Luehrs. Two years ago the legislature and then Governor Arnold Schwarznegger asked taxpayers for a Chamber opposed “one time temporary tax increase” to solve the state’s chronic structural deficit. Here we are before the most recent tax increases expire asking taxpayers for yet another extension to solve the state’s growing budgetary problem – and we are told “if we don’t agree… the state will have no alternative but to drastically cut state funded services such as higher education, public safety and health and welfare spending.”

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has consistently maintained that only a strong economy will generate the level of tax revenues needed to sustain the state’s necessary programs. The state needs continued investment in economic activity and jobs in the private sector to enhance state revenues. The Chamber is all about investment. Investment in our businesses will encourage employers to stay and expand in California.
In order to achieve and warrant investment in our state, business needs a stable, predictable tax environment in which to operate. There must be a restoration of the public’s trust in the stewardship of taxpayer dollars through transparency, spending restraint and accountability.

Taxes matter to business. Business taxes affect business decisions, job creation and retention, plant location, competitiveness, the transparency of the tax system, and the long-term health of a state’s economy. Most importantly, taxes diminish profits. If taxes take a larger portion of profits, that cost is passed along to either consumers (through higher prices), workers (through lower wages or fewer jobs), or shareholders (through lower dividends or share value). Thus a state with lower tax costs will be more attractive to business investment, and more likely to experience economic growth.

The Chamber recognizes the severity of the problem and encourages the legislature and the Governor to avoid the popular temptation to want to inflate revenue projections or borrow money from the future. The State’s Legislative Analysts office has a solid track record of predicting revenues. The legislature and Governor should work with the realistic projections and once and for all solve the problem.

The Chamber suggests that in the near term the state should use an across the board reduction in spending levels rather than targeting education or public safety specifically. The state should look to payments to those citizens who are here illegally as a source of more drastic reductions in spending. Additionally, the state needs to begin to address the issue of pension reform as it looks to balance future budgets.

The bottom line is that the proposal simply does not dramatically and fundamentally address remedying the problem itself. It merely seeks to apply yet another bandaid to the illness.

Article written by Richard Luehrs
President and C.E.O.
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

This year’s Boat Parade theme was “Lights…Camera…Christmas in Newport Beach!” and what a parade it was. At our recently held Awards Dinner and Auction, attended by nearly 400 people, it was a night of celebration and honor, not only of the parade and Ring of Lights winners but also of the successful teamwork of so many to create this world-famous event here in Newport Beach. What happens when, even during one of the most hectic times of the year with the holidays, boat owners, homeowners, business professionals, civic leaders, residents, tourists, volunteers, multiple civic and government agencies all come together? Only in Newport Beach could we create such a spectacle on the water, one with over a century of tradition. This community event called the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. One of the longest running, most hailed holiday events anywhere. It was also a time to pause and recognize just how fortunate we are to live, work and play in Newport Beach.

In our past 102 years, in our postcard to the world, Newport Beach has played host to millions of lights, thousands of decorated boats, homes and businesses, and millions upon millions of viewers and tourists. This year, despite some rain, our parade and Ring of Lights participants came out in full force and delivered once again. Our boats and homes looked fantastic this year and helped spread holiday cheer to the world.

As a Chamber of Commerce, the host organization for the Parade, without the countless volunteer hours from our participants, sponsors, businesses, committee members and leaders to successfully host this event each year, we wouldn’t have a parade. Not only would we lose a signature local tradition, but also one that represents vast amounts of business with our boat charters, restaurants and hotels. On behalf of the Chamber and the City of Newport Beach, we want to publicly say ‘Thank you.”
 
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a signature event viewed across the nation and even the globe, garnering unprecedented media coverage every year. This year, it is reported that this year’s broadcast audience increased over 4 million viewers over last year, with over 51.4 million total audience in broadcast, online and print coverage with a value of over $561,000. Through Facebook and Twitter alone, we reached over 23,000 people.

Local and National news coverage reaches millions from coast to coast. Televised clips of the Parade appeared on all the major networks, and in the past, there have been full blown Christmas specials on the parade featured on the Travel Channel and the Learning Channel. The parade was even featured in a special 10 -minute segment on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno a few years ago. Needless to say, this sort of coverage for Newport Beach helps bring viewers to our community, shopping in our stores, sleeping in our hotels and dining in our restaurants.

Thanks to the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and its staff, the Commodores Club, the City of Newport Beach and especially Gary Sherwin and the hard working staff at Visit Newport Beach) for their hard work continuing to put us on the map.

To see pictures and more from the Auction, please see this article written by Donna Bunce…

Jennifer owns a small Organic Airbrush Tanning business, Beauty Mark Tanning, which is based out of Corona Del Mar. Recently, she diversified and now has a certification as an Eyelash Extensionist and is working with an Eco-Friendly chemist in the beginning stages of an organic, chemical free skin care line. Jennifer finds balance with her daily regimen of yoga, Pilate’s, or running. She has been happily married for two years, and aside from her entrepreneurial business pursuits, she loves to cook, read, walk her dogs and sing in the choir at Our Lady Mt. Carmel Catholic Church.

One  of the category’s of the Ms. America Pageant is the Peoples’ Choice Award. She is asking for everyone’s vote. This is an online voting contest. Visit www.MsAmericaPageant.com under Peoples’ Choice Award to cast your vote.

Good luck, Jennifer!

The Chamber will be closed Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Have a great and safe weekend. It’s supposed to be beautiful - especially on Saturday.

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

photo via here.

In this day and age, video conferencing is becoming more and more common. So what is the correct etiquette when you’re not engaging in a (non-virtual) face-to-face meeting? Perhaps the best advice I read in Inc. Magazine’s “11 Do’s & Don’ts of Video Conferencing” is to treat a video conference call the same way you would treat an in-person meeting. Some rules are more obvious than others (you’d think so anyway), such as being sure to dress professionally. We’d like to imagine fellow professionals out there would change out of their flannel PJ’s before getting in front of the web cam. But more specific rules include avoiding wearing colors like red, white, or black and to avoid wearing patterns since they can be distracting. Other rules include not typing on your keyboard and putting your phone on silent to avoid background noise. Sounds fairly simple and straightforward, right? Read more to avoid pulling a video conferencing faux-pas.

Photo via Inc. Let’s hope this guy is wearing a collared shirt and tie! Looks like he’s also breaking another video conferencing cardinal rule. Can you guess what that is? Hint: It has four legs and could potentially interrupt the call by barking.

If you’ve attended the OC Economic Forecast with Dr. Esmael Adibi in the past, you know it’s a great opportunity to hear a recap on what happened in Orange County’s economic climate over the last year and hear about some projections for the coming year. Don’t miss Dr. Adibi this year. The OC 12th Annual Economic Forecast 2011 is set for Tuesday, January 25th at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.

Contact Pam Smith at the Chamber for more details or to see about sitting with the Chamber! psmith@newportbeach.com or 949.729.4411.

The Chamber wrapped up another busy week. Business License Sub-committee, Membership Council meeting (where we brainstorm ways to improve membership benefits), a Government Affairs committee meeting where we welcomed the City of Newport Beach new Community Development Director, Joel Fick, a membership reception (where we welcome new members and invite potential members to learn about the Chamber), an Ambassadors meeting, Leadership Tomorrow Executive meeting, and an Awards Dinner & Auction committee meeting. Wow! That was a lot. The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is lucky to have great volunteers and committee members who help us tremendously. Where would we be without them?

The public is welcome to join us for several of these committees. Be sure to check the calendar on www.NewportBeach.com for details. Up next: a Marine Committee meeting on Tuesday, Commodores meetings, and Education committee meeting, and don’t forget to join Pam and Jim for their Networking Lunch at the Radisson. National speaker, Dennis L. Morgan will explain why “Attitude is Everything.”

The California Chamber of Commerce is reminding employers once again that there was a change to a required poster and pamphlet during the year.

These changes were to the workers’ compensation poster and pamphlet. The requirement that employers display the new poster and give an updated pamphlet to new employees went into effect on October 8, 2010.

Updates for 2011
For 2011, the following poster has changed:

• The Safety and Health Protection on the Job (CalOSHA) poster has updated contact information.

In addition, the following pamphlets have been updated for 2011:

• State Disability Insurance pamphlet;
• Unemployment Insurance pamphlet.

The state disability insurance pamphlet must be given to all new hires and to all employees who take a leave of absence for pregnancy disability, or any non-occupational illness or injury.

The unemployment insurance pamphlet must be given to employees who are terminated or who quit.

Contact Kathleen Sanchez at the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce to purchase your updated posters: 949.729.4403.

The University of California Berkeley’s Career Center explains “How to Work a Room.” Many of us are eager to attend networking events yet feel nervous about interacting with people. Here are a few important things to keep in mind before attending a mixer:

“Because your attitude often guides your behavior, you must overcome any negative self-talk that could hinder you from reaching out to others…Such negative thoughts prevent you from pushing past any social roadblocks standing in your way. The truth is that many, if not most, people have similar thoughts in group situations and are just as hesitant to initiate conversations. But if you change your attitude from negative to positive, you can instead take the lead. Remember:

• People enjoy talking about themselves. Ask them questions to get them started.
• People feel flattered when you show an interest in them and their work/organization. And they will reciprocate your demonstrations of sincere interest.
• You have more to offer others than you might think; just believe it.”

Read more.

Whitney Davies Photography recently connected with the Newport Beach Hotel through the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and was contracted to take some really great photos (seen above) of the hotel. If you’re a Chamber member, get in the habit of visiting the “Members Only” section of NewportBeach.com. See what fellow members are offering. Attending networking events is also another great way to meet Chamber members and local community businesses. Visit our calendar section to learn more, or contact Pam Smith!