We appreciate our special guests, Dru Ealons, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Jeanette Brown, Director of Office of Small Business Programs, and EPA Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, for taking time to address President Obama’s State of the Union and solicit USBC’s input.

As promised, see the summary of the conference call below:

President Obama’s Goal is to develop an America that is “Built to Last”
I. U.S. Black Chamber, Inc. News – President, Ron Busby
· New website! www.usblackchamber.org Keep updated with latest news, events and business related information
· Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to shut down. Read about it here . USBC will have a voice in discussion on how this affects black business
· USBC School of Chamber Management Announcement – Annual USBC Conference which promotes chamber growth and efficiency. An event to enhance each chamber’s skills, resources and relationships. Will be held July 24th-28th in Washington, D.C. More details in upcoming e-mails.

II. EPA’s Progress with National Goal for Small Business Contracting & Important Points
· Goal for Federal Agencies is 23% procurement with small business
· EPA has conducted <42% of small business contracting. Surpassed goal
· EPA must meet HUBZone goals – EPA is eager to work with HUBZone businesses!
· HUBZone Small Business Summit, April 11, 2012. Led by National HUBZone Council. Free and open to the public. Participating agencies include; Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, Lockheed Martin and more. More info here
· How “Green” is your company? Some contracting proposals have environmental requirements. Businesses must be ready to meet these requirements if interested in contracting opportunities! Businesses can be evaluated in terms of management and technology.
· Regulations have the potential to create markets! Need 21st century manufacturing and creativity to excel. For example, if a law is passed which requires Mercury (Hg) testing, a smart business owner would invest in the supplies needed for Mercury testing technology
· Read more about EPA and the Office of Small Business programs at www.epa.gov/osbp

III. Questions & Answers
· Q) EPA has reached procurement goal and beyond. What percentage of that business is done with black owned businesses?
· A) EPA cannot categorize businesses by ethnicity. HUD places minority owned businesses under “Small Disadvantaged Businesses” (SDB). National goal for SDBs is 3%, EPA has 15% contracting with SDBs.

· Q) In Miami Florida, $150 million has been directed to dredging. Is EPA aware, and in partnership with army corps on this?
· A) EPA was not fully informed of this. They do know they often work closely with the army corps, but on this particular project they will have to do more research.

· Q) How can small businesses be considered for contracting?
· A) Know your niche! Be honest with yourself and your capabilities. In order to be granted a contracting opportunity, you must know what you can provide and at what level of efficiency. Government needs high quality contracting with high quality businesses to ensure the efficiency of their organization as well as the satisfaction of their consumers. Stick to what you are best at. What do you bring to the table? Be willing to take some calculated risks.

· Q) Can you speak on Grant opportunities?
· A) CARE Grant – Community Action for a Renewed Environment. Designed to create partnerships with communities which reduce pollution in a local environment. Read more here. Also available; Environmental Justice Grants, Brown Fields Grants.

· Q) What upcoming “positive” legislation can we speak of to our members?
· A) Black communities are often faced with the dilemma of “having a job” or “having a healthy environment.” Often times it seems hard to do both. EPA suggests we speak on upcoming legislation that requires Mercury (Hg) testing, as well as smog and soot limits. Having these requirements in our communities mandate that our air and water stay clean. Will curb the high asthma rates in the black community.

Thank you to all of those who were able to participate, and for those who missed it we look forward to hearing from you on the next one! If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns feel free to e-mail me at david@usblackchamber.org.

Take care,

David Smith
Chamber Relationship Manager
U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.
1156 15th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202.552.2954
david@usblackchamber.org
www.usblackchamber.org

http://www.professionaltraintoday.com/26U/0/2/p6VVLCc/p74QUXT5i/p0e

Since 2006, Claudia McBride has been president of the World Affairs Council of
Philadelphia. She is personally responsible for bringing national and
international political leader’s to the Council’s podium. She has broadened the
Council’s menu of programs to include the world’s top business leaders, pop
culture icons, top selling authors, and numerous opinion leaders, journalists,
and scholars. She will present her secret to success in this exclusive live
virtual event when you and your colleagues will learn:

Keys to Leadership Success in 2012
* How to be persistent with what you want with confidence.
* How to gain the courage to ask & how to accept the word “no”.
* How to “accept” leadership.

What Essential Tools You Will Need To Ensure Your Success
* How to be resilient: mistakes = learning.
* How to find the right mentor that fits your own style.
* How to find new experiences & opportunities that can help you grow.

How to Maximize Your Potential as a Woman Leader
* How to discover “good people” & how to surround yourself around them.
* How to “really” enjoy what you do.
* How to be part of life’s amazing opportunities.

Live Question & Answer Session – Talk directly with Claudia on your specific
questions!

About our presenter:
Claudia McBride, CEO & President of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
During the past decade, the Council’s annual conferences and special events have
received wide acclaim.
* Ms. McBride has led several international trips to Southeast Asia, Europe, and
Cuba. She has also served on national delegations to the headquarters of the
European Union, NATO, and Japan.
* Ms. McBride is a member of the advisory committee of Radnor Trust.
* She is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles.

HRCI CREDIT
This program has been approved for 1 recertification credit hour toward PHR,
SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute
(HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please
visit the HRCI homepage.

WLC CREDIT
This program has been approved for 1 credit hour towards the WLC certificate
through the Womens Leadership Certificate (WLC). For more information about
certification or recertification, please visit the WLC homepage at
womensleadershipcert.com.

Prerequisites: Basic Skill Level Required
Program Level: Intermediate
Advance preparation: No prerequisites
Credit Measurement: One Credit (60 minutes)

** Women’s Leadership: How I Became President **
** Live,(60)-Minute Webinar Conference **
** Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 – (1:00-2:00 p.m. ET) **

Register now for this exciting event by clicking the following link or
calling 1-800-830-0799:

http://www.professionaltraintoday.com/26U/0/2/p6VVLCc/p74QUXT5i/p0e

We hope you’ll join us.

Sincerely,

Women’s Leadership
201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15235

P.S. If not satisfied, a full refund will be given from now until
7 days after the event.

If you do not wish to receive further notices about this conference or
future conferences, please click here:

http://www.professionaltraintoday.com/26U/39/2/p6VVLCc/p74QUXT5i/p0e

Please do not reply directly to this e-mail, as we are unable to
process it. We sent this using a “send only” address.

If registering by phone, please refer to your priority
code: 28858

Invites you to meet Congressman*Mike*Thompson
& Special Guest
Congressman Jim Clyburn
Assistant Democratic Leader

Please join us for a Pasta Dinner
Saturday, February 18, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
USA*World*Classic*Car*Museum
1525*Sonoma*Blvd.,*Vallejo,*CA
$20*per*person

For more information call Mary Jane Bowker at 707-226-8989 or email mjbowker@sbcglobal.net
or Laurence Lea at 707-322-7880 or email Laurence@mikethompsonforcongress.com

Hilton Garden Inn
1309 Rancho Vista Blvd – Palmdale
$15.00 Member
$17.00 Non-Members

Please RSVP 661-674-7557

Featuring: YOU! Our Members get 5 Minutes Each
Topic: Your Business or Organization

Come out and join us for our 1st Luncheon of the New Year!!! This Luncheon is about YOU! To show our appreciation, we would like for each of our members to tell us about your business or organization. We want to hear from you… Let’s NETWORK!!!

Sincerely,

Celaundra Raspberry,
AVBCC

Date: February 23, 2012
Time: 9am — 3pm
Location:
Courtyard Marriott
4422 Y Street
Sacramento, CA 95817

Member Tickets:
$75.00– Full Day
$60.00– Lunch Only

Non-Member Tickets:
$85.00– Full Day
$70.00– Lunch Only

*For more information and to register for this event contact the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation at (916) 231 -0416

Presentations by:
Darcel Lee, CA Black Health Network
Debbie Muramoto, California Capital
Tina Reynolds, Uptown Studios
Shanita Williams, University of Phoenix

Topics Include:
 Running a successful small business
 Accessing capital
 Marketing and communications plans for your small business
 Your business and your health
 Challenges of business ownership

January 26, 2012
Arden Hills Resort Club and Spa
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
continental breakfast and lunch included

REGISTER: www.sactoid.com

Why you should attend
• Understand the changing demographics in the Sacramento Region and the impact they will have on your business
• Gain knowledge of who is involved in inclusion in the region
• Identify a ready-made group of like-minded professionals
• Share ideas on how inclusion is being used across multiple industries
• Be at the forefront of developing a regional inclusion network
• Gain insight from nationally renowned speaker Dr. Steve Robbins. His client list includes: Microsoft, Toyota, PepsiCo, Nordstrom, NASA,
General Mills, Pizer, and the National Cancer Institute Sacramento Regional Inclusion and Diversity Conference

CLICK HERE to reserve your webinar seat now.

Overview
Would you like to be more comfortable asking for money from borrowers? If you answer yes to this question, Martin Sher can be a service to you. Due to the state of the economy, accounts receivable (AR) management is one of the most pivotal and valuable traits for companies and organizations nationwide. Every 30 days receivables go down 12% in value. As lenders, effective AR Management can be the difference in your growth as an organization. In this webinar you will learn specific ways to improve your revenue cycle while at the same time gain experience in good collection techniques. Join us in taking a deep dive into the heart of valuable AR management and collection skills.

Objectives
The purpose of this webinar is to provide participants with an understanding of the following:
Collection Techniques: 8 steps of a collection call. You will learn valuable skills that will improve your collection efforts while making you feel more comfortable doing so
Good A/R Management: Participants will learn the right timeline in good A/R Management and how these traits will create a more successful organization
Options for Lenders: We will discuss options outside of your own collection efforts to use when trying to collect your receivable

About the presenter
Martin Sher is ACA International’s Immediate Past President for 2011-2012. With more than 5,000 members, ACA is the credit and collection industries international trade organization. Martin has more than 30 years experience in the credit and collection industry. He is co-owner with his brother, David, of AmSher Receivables Management in Birmingham, Ala. Martin has co-authored 3 books about collections: How to Collect Debts and Still Keep Your Customer, Championship Collections, and The Masters of Impact Negotiating.

Both Martin and his company have received many awards recognizing their leadership. AmSher has appeared on the Inc500 list of the nation’s fastest growing companies. In 2006, Martin was selected Entrepreneur of the Year by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Catalyst Monthly Webinar Series
Title: Accounts Receivable Strategies and Tactics
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2011
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST

To join: https://aeoworks.webex.com/aeoworks/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=661237438

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.Accounts Receivable Strategies and Tactics
Webinar: February 16th from 1:00-2:00pm EST

CLICK HERE to reserve your webinar seat now.

Overview
Would you like to be more comfortable asking for money from borrowers? If you answer yes to this question, Martin Sher can be a service to you. Due to the state of the economy, accounts receivable (AR) management is one of the most pivotal and valuable traits for companies and organizations nationwide. Every 30 days receivables go down 12% in value. As lenders, effective AR Management can be the difference in your growth as an organization. In this webinar you will learn specific ways to improve your revenue cycle while at the same time gain experience in good collection techniques. Join us in taking a deep dive into the heart of valuable AR management and collection skills.

Objectives
The purpose of this webinar is to provide participants with an understanding of the following:
Collection Techniques: 8 steps of a collection call. You will learn valuable skills that will improve your collection efforts while making you feel more comfortable doing so
Good A/R Management: Participants will learn the right timeline in good A/R Management and how these traits will create a more successful organization
Options for Lenders: We will discuss options outside of your own collection efforts to use when trying to collect your receivable

About the presenter
Martin Sher is ACA International’s Immediate Past President for 2011-2012. With more than 5,000 members, ACA is the credit and collection industries international trade organization. Martin has more than 30 years experience in the credit and collection industry. He is co-owner with his brother, David, of AmSher Receivables Management in Birmingham, Ala. Martin has co-authored 3 books about collections: How to Collect Debts and Still Keep Your Customer, Championship Collections, and The Masters of Impact Negotiating.

Both Martin and his company have received many awards recognizing their leadership. AmSher has appeared on the Inc500 list of the nation’s fastest growing companies. In 2006, Martin was selected Entrepreneur of the Year by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Catalyst Monthly Webinar Series
Title: Accounts Receivable Strategies and Tactics
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2011
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST

To join: https://aeoworks.webex.com/aeoworks/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=661237438

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Saturday, January 28 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

Saturday, March 10 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, April 14 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

Saturday, April 14 (SPANISH) 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

Saturday, May 5 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, June 9 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

Saturday, July 14 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, September 8 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

Saturday, September 15 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, October 13 (Spanish) 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, November 3 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vacaville Housing Counseling Center
Town Square Library- One Town Square, Downtown Vacaville
Call for registration and class fee information: 707-449-5610

Saturday, November 10 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Fairfield – Unity Council Presents- 1000 Kentucky St. Fairfield
$25 Refundable Deposit to Register; $20 Work book Fee
510-535-7189 or email homeownership@unitycouncil.org

______________________________________________________________________________

USDA Announces Disaster Assistance Sign up for 2010 Crop Losses

(DAVIS, CA) – October 26, 2011 – California USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Val Dolcini today announced that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses begins November 14, 2011.

“The SURE program provides a safety net of assistance to producers when disaster strikes, so I encourage California farmers and ranchers with 2010 crop losses to contact their county FSA office to learn more about the program,” said Dolcini.

There are two basic qualification methods for a SURE payment.  In the first method, the producer’s operation must be located in a county that was declared a 2010 disaster county by the USDA Secretary or in a contiguous county and the natural disaster must have caused at least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance in the operation. In the second method, all producers in all counties are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss equal to or greater than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to any qualifying natural disaster.

In California, the counties receiving a Secretarial disaster designation during 2010 included Lassen, San Joaquin and Tuolumne.  Contiguous counties were Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Stanislaus.

Washoe County in Nevada was a contiguous county and in Oregon, the following counties were either primary or contiguous: Benton, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Jefferson, Josephine, Lane, Linn, Marion and Polk.

Further eligibility requirements include the stipulation that producers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. For crops without insurance programs, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage must have been obtained from FSA. Eligible farmers and ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet this risk-management requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits.

For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements contact your nearest county FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.