Election Alert: Only One Ballot- Only One! 
Remember, the rules have changed in the primary election. You must choose only one party’s ballot – Democrat, Republican or nonpartisan. On all ballots there will be a place to vote for nonpartisan offices like the Supreme Court. This is especially important to remember this if you are voting by mail. Choose one ballot, vote, put it in the sealed security envelop, sign the back, and mail it with a stamp by September 19. Unsigned envelopes and envelopes without postage will not count.  

2006 Northwest Environmental Summit – Register Now!
AWB, the Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC) and the Washington Dept. of Ecology will bring our state’s most comprehensive environmental conference to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Oct. 18-19. Register at www.envsummit.com. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Register for the Regional Board Meetings in Early September—Give Us Your Two Cents Worth! They Start This Week!
AWB’s Regional Board meetings are being held in September so we can gather your input on issues before our Board meets on Sept. 22. Meetings are at Moses Lake (Sept. 12) and Tri-Cities (Sept. 13). The input you provide is essential for the Board. Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

Infrastructure in Washington: Growth and Change
The Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy has issued a new Competitiveness Brief titled: "Infrastructure in Washington: Growth and Change." Read it at http://researchcouncil.blogs.com/weblog/files/washace_infrastructure_cb_0605.pdf.

Candidate Interviews Continue This Week. You Need to Participate.
AWB is interviewing candidates who either did not have a voting record of 80 percent or better or who are challengers. We need your input! Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.

AWB Policy Summit Sponsors Needed - Call Now!
AWB’s Policy Summit will happen Sept. 20–22 at Semiahmoo. As a sponsor, your company receives acknowledgement before, during and following the event in marketing materials, signage and in Washington Business. In addition, you’ll attend a special reception for keynote speaker Weekly Standard editor William Kristol. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

Environmental Excellence Awards Coming in October – Deadline for Nominations: Sept. 15
AWB’s Environmental Excellence Awards will be presented Oct. 19. Deadline for nominations: Sept. 15. For nomination forms, visit www.envsummit.com. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Puget Sound Partnership Meeting – Recommendations on Puget Sound by Nov. 15
AWB is coordinating the business community’s work on the governor’s plan to have a series of recommendations on the Puget Sound ready by Nov. 15. Track this one at www.pugetsoundpartnership.org. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org, or AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Small Business Regional Issue Forums – Coming September and October
The Washington Policy Center’s Fall 2006 Small Business Regional Issue Forums (Wenatchee – Sept. 21; Yakima – Oct. 11; Tri-Cities – Oct. 12; Everett – Oct. 17; Vancouver – Oct. 19; and Spokane – Oct. 26) are designed to educate small business owners about public policy. Contact Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.

Health Insurance and Building Codes on Next Washington Business Weekly – On the Air and Online at www.awb.org 
We will have a complete how to on health insurance and an overview of the process of creating these regulations on the next Washington Business Weekly, Thursday on Tacoma’s KLAY-AM 1180, 11 a.m.-12 noon and Spokane’s KSBN-AM 1230, 5-6 p.m..

Reduce Your Risk of Costly Fines and Penalties of Non-Compliance!
Learn all you need to know about OSHA at the OSHA 10-hour certification course, Sept. 13-14, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Standard fee is $149, but AWB CompWise members get a discounted fee of $119. Register online at www.awb.org/events/seminars/osha10hrcert.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Great Values With AWB’s Freight Program - SAVE 67 Percent or More On Your Next Freight Bill
You may now rollover your current discounts with some of the nation's best service freight carriers in the AWB freight program and receive a minimum 67 percent discount directly off these carriers' base rates for all LTL shipments. See www.awb.org/services/freightsavings.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

2006 Salary & Benefits Information for Washington Employers Now Available!
Compdata Surveys has the answers to your pay and benefit questions. Call (800) 300-9570 or visit www.compdatasurveys.com.

Reporting New Hires Could Put Money Back in Your Pocket
Reporting new hires to the State Division of Child Support helps kids, and now it may help employers too. When employers report new hires, the information is used by Employment Security and L&I to detect and stop fraudulent benefit payments. When fraud is detected, employers can receive a credit on their next quarterly ES or L&I bill. See www.dshs.wa.gov/newhire or call (800) 591-2760.