2006 Northwest Environmental Summit Almost Here – Register Now at www.envsummit.com!
Our state’s most comprehensive environmental conference is coming to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Oct. 18-19. Famed mountain climber Jim Whitaker will be the keynote speaker. This is an event you don’t want to miss! Register at www.envsummit.com. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Dick Davis Coming to AWB
With AWB’s Vice President of Communications Lex Nepomuceno heading to Garlic Jim’s Gourmet Pizza as its chief marketing and information officer, Washington Research Council President Dick Davis is joining AWB to head up our communications department starting in early December. Dick is an exceptional professional. While we will miss Lex, we all look forward to working with Dick. 

Remember - TODAY is Deadline for Campaign Contributions in Excess of $5,000

Yes on I-920 and No on I-937 Campaigns Need Your Help 
Now is the time to contribute to help pass I-920 and end the state death tax. The only question is: Will it have enough money for a campaign to win?  Visit www.yeson920.com/takeaction.asp or contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org. Same goes for I-937, the government energy mandate.  Again, the anti-I-937 campaign needs your support to get the message out.  Visit www.nooni937.com or contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Judy Schurke Appointed Acting Director of L&I
Gov. Gregoire has appointed Deputy Director Judy Schurke acting director of L&I while a nationwide search for a new director is conducted.  Schurke’s appointment is effective Oct. 18.

AWB’s Don Brunell on Trade Mission to Korea and Taiwan
AWB President Don Brunell is in Korea and Taiwan with Gov. Gregoire and the Washington delegation. This trade mission’s goal is to open new markets for our agriculture products, find educational opportunities and develop markets for small and medium exporters.  Don sent the following message from Korea: “Imagine building a new company town with 25,000 workers on the hillsides of Snoqualmie Pass?  Try doing it in a couple of years! Then think about going to the top of a 10 story building, going into a visitor lounge and looking 10 kilometers to the north and seeing North Korea. Yesterday, as part of the Washington trade delegation in Korea, we visited the LG Philips LCD complex in Paju. They make the LCD monitors up to 100 inches for our high definition televisions.” 

Important Voter Registration Deadline 
If you are not already registered to vote in Washington and you missed the Oct. 9 deadline to register by mail, you can register in person at your county elections department until 15 days before the election.  That deadline is Oct. 24. The general election is Nov. 7.

Multiyear PBT Chemical Action Plan Proposed
Under a proposed rule by Ecology, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and perfluorooctane sulfonates will be selected for state action during the next three years. AWB’s PBT Workgroup will meet Oct. 17 to discuss the proposed rule and development of comments due Nov. 20. See the rule at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0607025.html. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

AWB Files Brief in Supreme Court on Tax Fairness Case
AWB has filed a brief in Aaro Medical, Inc. v. Department of Revenue, a case involving the ability of the state to require businesses who sell durable medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries to remit the retail sales tax to the state, even though the sale to the federal government is immune from sales taxation. AWB argued that businesses should not have to pay a sales tax they cannot legally collect from the buyer. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Puget Sound Partnership Makes Final Recommendations
The Puget Sound Partnership has made its final recommendations, available at www.pugetsoundpartnership.org. The draft recommendations include the creation of a new governance structure – a 7 to 9 member group appointed by the governor. Comments on the draft are due Oct. 26. Final recommendations are scheduled to be delivered to the governor Nov. 28. AWB will be working with members on a letter to be sent to Ecology by the comment deadline. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Workers’ Compensation Coalition to Meet – Voc Rehab on the Agenda
On Oct. 23 (9:30-11:30 a.m,) the Employers’ Workers’ Compensation coalition, focusing on legislative reform topics for workers’ comp, will be meeting at the AGC offices in Tacoma. There will be a presentation on L&I’s vocational rehabilitation reform proposals. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Creating an Employee Handbook- What You Need To Know to Keep You Compliant
The Creating an Employee Handbook Seminar (Nov. 7, Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison Street, Seattle, Registration: 8-8:30 a.m.  Seminar: 8:30 a.m.-12 noon.) will help maximize your communication with your employees and minimize your liability. Register at www.awb.org/events/seminars/employeehandbook.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Initiatives and Infrastructure on Next Washington Business Weekly Online at www.awb.org 
We will discuss 1-920 and I-933, and look at the state of Washington’s infrastructure on the next Washington Business Weekly, Thursday on Tacoma’s KLAY-AM 1180, 11 a.m.-12 noon; Spokane’s KSBN-AM 1230, 5-6 p.m.