March 2020

Helping Businesses Prosper and our Community Thrive!

Your investment in the Oceanside Chamber is making a difference in our community! The Chamber's mission is to "stimulate economic prosperity and foster a vibrant community." Here's a quick overview if what your investment in the Chamber allowed us to accomplish in the recent weeks...

Public Policy & Business Advocacy

• The Chamber's Public Policy Task Force met with representatives from the National Veteran’s Group to discuss legislation in support of a Veterans Retirement Income Tax Exemption. The Task Force also discussed the issue of “reciprocity” on training and licensing as it impacts transitioning military and non-military members of the workforce. The following policy platforms were recommended and were adopted by the Chamber’s Board…
  • Support measures that reduce tax burdens on veterans and veteran-owned businesses.
  • Support licensing reciprocity in industries where training/licensing standards are substantially similar.
• Chamber staff sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding dredging and the pending shoreline study in support of Oceanside City leaders’ trip to Washington, DC in early February. The Chamber continues to work with City leadership and business/community leaders toward solutions for our beach erosion issue.
• Joined a California Chamber coalition in opposition of SB850. This bill would eliminate flexibility in the workplace for both employers and employees by requiring employers to provide “modification pay” for changes made to an employee’s schedule with fewer than 7-days notice. Requires a 21-day work schedule that must be given to an employee no fewer than 7 days in advance before the first shift.
• Chamber CEO, Scott Ashton, participated with a group of Southern California Chamber leaders in meeting with Isabella Guzman, Director, Office of the Small Business Advocate with the Governors Go-Biz office. We discussed a variety of concerns and issues faced by our small business owners.

Political Action

• Chamber leaders worked in support of the “Yes on Measure K” campaign which will be on the March 3rd Ballot. Measure K would convert Oceanside’s City Treasurer and Clerk positions from elected to appointed positions, allowing for a process of properly vetting candidates based on experience and qualifications.
• The Chamber continued its opposition to ballot-box planning by advocating for the “No on Measure A” and the “Yes on Measure B” campaigns.
• Chamber’s Business and Community Political Action Committee (BACPAC) continued fundraising outreach to prepare to support the candidates we endorse for Oceanside Mayor and the District 3 and 4 races. The Chamber expects to announce its candidate endorsements early this summer.

Workforce Development

• The Chamber’s Workforce Development Task Force, continued work on the development of a pilot program to provide middle school students with exposure to emerging industries in our city and region. This program will be done in partnership with MiraCosta College’s Gear Up Program and will include tours of local businesses as well as MiraCosta’s Technical Career Institute. The program is expected to launch this Spring.

Military Outreach

• Delivered 60 welcome bags containing promotional materials from over 30 Chamber members to newly stationed servicemembers during the Welcome Aboard Briefings.

Professional Development​​​​​​

• On Thursday, February 20^th, the Oceanside Young Professionals Network and Carlsbad Young Professionals co-hosted a North County Young Professionals Mixer at Pacific Coast Spirits. This venue featured adventurous grain-to-glass spirits and farm-to-table appetizers in a sustainability focused atmosphere. Attendees were greeted by the new distillery owner, Nicholas Hammond, who stressed the importance of tracking finances for both business and personal expenditures. Financial experts Dana Albert with Merrill and Chad Marentette with Edward Jones shared their best tips for young professionals to navigate savings strategies, investments and planning for the future. This event was sponsored by Business Payroll Service and Diamond Valley Insurance Services.

​​​​

Thank You to Our Partners:

Emerald Partner:

​​​​​

Platinum Partners:

Silver Partners:

Bronze Partners:

Investors:

The Chamber & the Community!

Oceanside Chamber CEO Graduates from W.A.C.E. Academy

Oceanside Chamber CEO, Scott Ashton was among the 28 chamber executives to graduate last Friday from Academy, a professional development program presented by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) The graduation took place at W.A.C.E’s Annual Conference in Portland OR, attended by nearly 400 industry professionals.

Academy is a three-day (three-year) intensive program on chamber management essentials geared for today’s chamber executives and professional staff.  It has become the leading training program totally devoted to chamber professionals in the West.

More...

Upcoming Chamber Events:

3/3/2020
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
First Tuesday Coffee

3/5/2020
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Emerging Issues Forum

3/5/2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
OYPN Committee Meeting

3/6/2020
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Plates for 8 at Pacific Coast Spirits

3/10/2020
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Business After Hours at Kilowatt Brewing

3/12/2020
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Military Affairs Forum​​​​​​​

3/25/2020
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Plates for 8 at Anita's Fine Mexican Restaurant

Forward This Email

Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter?