AWB regional meetings, candidate interviews continue
AWB members and their staff are invited to attend this week’s round of regional meetings and candidate interviews in Vancouver (Sept. 9) and Tacoma (Sept. 10). Next week, AWB Government Affairs staff will be in Mount Vernon (Sept. 15) to conduct legislative candidate interviews, then off to Everett (Sept. 16) and Bellevue (Sept. 17) for more regional meetings and additional candidate interviews. The tour will conclude Sept. 18 with candidate interviews in Gig Harbor and Puyallup.

Remember, this is your chance to participate in the formation of our 2009 Legislative Agenda and learn more about legislative candidates and issues of importance to business in this election year. Click here to find the date and time for regional board meetings and legislative candidate interviews in your area. For more information, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600.

Communications survey closes this Friday, Sept. 12
By now you should have received an e-mail from AWB President Don Brunell inviting you to participate in our online survey about AWB communications practices and materials. As an AWB member, you will be asked to give us your thoughts on the association’s print and electronic collateral, including the Web site, magazine (Washington Business), blog (Olympia Business Watch) and this e-newsletter (Fast Facts). Responses will be used to evaluate AWB’s communications efforts and inform the development of a new communications plan. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Questions still needed for AWB’s 19th Annual Policy Summit
AWB needs your input for the candidate debates at Semiahmoo later this month. Send us your questions for the debates for governor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and lands commissioner. All questions must include the name, title and organization of the individual submitting the question. For more information, e-mail AWB’s director of communications, Jocelyn McCabe. The gubernatorial debate is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25. Debates for other key elected positions, including superintendent of public instruction, attorney general and public lands commissioner are also scheduled. For a full agenda and to register, click here.

New candidate videos on AWB’s Decision 2008 Web site
If you haven’t had a chance to learn more about the candidates running for attorney general, be sure to check out the  attorney general candidate videos by Rob McKenna and John Ladenburg on the AWB Decision 2008 Web site. These brief videos are designed to give voters a quick glimpse of the candidates discussing issues of importance to Washington’s business community. Next week, watch for presentations by candidates for lands commissioner.

Register to vote, then plan to cast your ballot!
Remember the 2000 election where it came down to a few hundred votes in Florida and then the U.S. Supreme Court had to decide that George Bush won the presidency? Remember the three — count them — THREE recounts in the Washington governor’s election before Chris Gregoire was declared the winner? Now think about how important your vote is! The presidential election will be predictably close this year and the 2008 gubernatorial election in Washington is a rematch between Gregoire and Dino Rossi. Register to vote by Oct. 4.  For more information, go to the Secretary of State’s office. Whatever you do, vote this year!

Don Brunell, AWB recognized for support of National Guard
AWB President Don Brunell was recognized by longtime AWB Board Member Larry Stanley, CEO of Empire Bolt & Screw Inc., last week for his ongoing support for the National Guard and Reserve. The award, presented at the Sept. 3 AWB Regional Board Meeting in Spokane, highlights the association’s support for volunteer forces and recognition of the Uniformed Armed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Brunell served in the U.S. Army as part of the Special Forces and retired as a major in the Washington Army National Guard. During his tenure in the Washington National Guard, he commanded the 122nd Public Affairs Detachment, which won consecutive Thomas Jefferson (Department of Defense) and Keith L. Ware (Department of the Army) awards (1985 and 1986) for its publication, The Evergreen.

September is National Disaster Preparedness and Weather Radio Awareness Month in Washington
Special events and promotions are scheduled during the month of September across Washington to observe National Disaster Preparedness and Weather Radio Awareness Month. Special materials, including drill instructions for the Sept. 24 statewide Drop, Cover and Hold earthquake drill and 72-hour comfort kit fact sheets are available online from the Washington Emergency Management Division. Several NOAA weather radio sale events will be held at retail stores in Pacific, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Clallam counties. For more information, contact Rosanne Garrand, EMD public education program coordinator, at (253) 512-7419.

How would you like an extra $34,000? Read about it this week in Olympia Business Watch
The Boeing machinists are on strike. If you want to know what the latest company contract offer was, go to AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.  You can also get to the latest take on Washington politics and related news from around the country.

Health Care Committee meeting on Sept. 11
The AWB Health Care Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 11, from 9-11 a.m., at AWB. Agenda topics include a report from the subcommittee on health reform issues. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.

Climate Change Subcommittee meeting on Sept. 29
The next AWB Climate Change Subcommittee meeting will be Monday, Sept. 29 in the AWB large conference room from 10 a.m. - noon. The main item on the agenda will be to hear from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Janice Adair and Matt Steuerwalt from the governor’s office regarding the Western Climate Initiative’s final design of the regional cap and trade program (scheduled to be released later this month) and the agreement that will be signed by WCI partners. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.

L&I releases administrative policy on Brink’s drive-time issue
Last week, the Department of Labor and Industries released its long-awaited administrative policy interpretation of the compensability of employee time when driving between home and the first or last jobsite of the day in a company-provided vehicle. The policy, which became effective on Sept. 2, 2008, is meant to provide L&I’s interpretation of last fall’s Brink’s Home Security decision in which the Washington Supreme Court held employees must, under certain circumstances, be compensated for commuting between home and a jobsite in a company-provided vehicle. The policy can be obtained here. For more information, e-mail AWB’s Kris Tefft or call (360) 943-1600.

Army Reserve program helps employers find qualified candidates
Employers looking for new hires with specific training and skills may want to consider the new Employer Outreach program developed by the Army Reserve. Shortages for trained workers in both the civilian and military worlds prompted the innovative new program. The military can offer a labor pool of background security-screened applicants with specific skills across all industries (e.g., medical, automotive and logistics). This unique partnership agreement between businesses and the Reserve provides opportunities for skilled soldiers and businesses that need experienced employees. For more information, contact Col. Lee Kirby, chief of staff, at (206) 301.2015. Or, visit the Army Reserve Web site.

Applications now being accepted for Don Brunell Scholarship
AWB members with children or grandchildren in college or planning to attend college in 2009 are encouraged to apply for the 2009 Don Brunell Scholarship for Future Business Leaders. The scholarship was established by the AWB Board and funded by AWB members in honor of Don to inspire and aid Washington’s future business leaders. Recipients may receive up to $2,000. The scholarship is targeted to undergraduate, graduate or career/vocational students currently pursuing or who intend to pursue a course of education that will lead to a degree or certification in business from any public or private university, community or technical college or private career school. In 2008, four scholarships were awarded for a total of $2,500.

The deadline for submitting applications for the 2009 school year is Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. Scholarships will be announced and awarded on or about Jan. 15, 2009. For complete details on eligibility, application packet and instructions to complete the application, please contact the scholarship administrator, Mike Hudson.

Coming soon: AWB’s 2008 election preview in Washington Business magazine
Get AWB’s take on the 2008 presidential and statewide elections. Our September/October issue will soon be out with an array of stories on this fall’s big races and election issues. Not receiving the magazine? Contact J-Anne Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 to request a copy.

Healthy Worksite Summit
As the direct and indirect costs of poor employee health continue to grow, employers must develop strategies and utilize tools to reverse this trend. The 22nd Annual Healthy Worksite Summit will help your organization develop new programs, revitalize an existing program and share best practices that will motivate and sustain a healthy and productive work environment. The summit is set for Oct. 1-2 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue and on Oct. 3 at the Deaconess Health and Education Center in Spokane. For more information, visit the Association of Washington Cities online.

Improve your knowledge and skills in the field of safety
AWB and Sedgwick CMS have jointed together to sponsor a Safety Academy for all AWB members at no charge. This program offers an opportunity for you to obtain Certified Safety Coordinator status upon completion of seven required classes and five electives. Click here for more information and to download a brochure and view the schedule of classes nearest to you. Or, contact Bob Meyer with any additional questions.

Remain Competitive with Current Compensation Data
In today’s changing economy, HR professionals are faced with the challenge of cutting costs while still retaining their best employees. That’s why AWB has partnered with Compdata Surveys to offer Compensation Data - Pacific Northwest, the largest pay and benefits survey in the region. This resource includes data on benefits, pay practices and salaries for more than 600 job titles.

Significant savings are available when you order a two-year subscription! Receive the 2008 results now for $489 and the 2009 results next summer for only $349. Note: Participation in the 2009 survey is required. As a member of AWB, you’ll also receive an additional $20 off your order. To order the Compensation Data - Pacific Northwest survey results, contact Compdata Surveys at (800) 300-9570. Mention the promo code AWB to receive your full discount.