Wednesday, April 30, 2003

The Chamber's invitation

[Editor's note: The following letter was sent April 16 to at least two members of the Peachtree City Council.]

Re: Government Liaison Committee.

We are announcing the first meeting of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce's Government Liaison Committee. Several years ago the Chamber identified the need for improved communications between elected officials and the Chamber. In furtherance of this goal, the Board of Directors has created a new committee ­ Government Liaison.

The structure for the Government Liaison Committee will consist of a meeting between the Chamber's Executive Committee and local elected officials, who will be invited to attend on a rotating basis.

Due to "sunshine laws," we will only be inviting two members from each council/commission, but we will rotate which two individuals will be invited. We plan on meeting on a quarterly basis, so each council person or commissioner will meet with us, on average, two times per year.

Attendance will only be at the invitation of the Chamber. If an invited elected official cannot make a particular meeting, then the Chamber will invite another elected official. If an invitee is unable to attend, we ask that they notify the Chamber as soon as possible so that Chamber can extend an invitation to the next invitee.

There will be no official structure of these meetings. Rather, we want to have a relaxed forum where we can frankly share our concerns and ideas with you and vice versa.

We intend this meeting to be an opportunity for blunt, open and honest discussions without the spectre of public attendance or press involvement. This is a private, not public meeting.

We believe that this program is vitally important in continuing to build and improved relationship between the business community and local governments.

The meetings will be held at the Chamber of Commerce and will not be a part of any other meeting of the Chamber. We will be providing lunch. The meetings will last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The first meeting of the Government Liaison Committee will be held at noon on May 9,,2003. The remaining dates for 2003 are August 8 and November 14, 2003.

We look forward to the following elected officials joining us on May 9. Brooks: Mayor Bob Butler and Council Person Jackie Carson; Fayetteville: Mayor Ken Steele and Council Person Larry Dell; Peachtree City: Mayor Steve Brown and Council Person Dan Tennant; Tyrone: Mayor Sheryl Lee and Council Person Mike Smola; Woolsey: Mayor Gary Laggis and Council Person Frank Carden; Fayette County Commission: Chairman Greg Dunn and Commissioner Herb Frady. We are also enclosing the invitation schedule for the remainder of the year so that you may work these into your schedule now.

We ask that those of you invited to this first meeting confirm your attendance with Elissa Hall at the Fayette County Chamber office by May 2, 2003. If you are unable to attend, the Chamber will extend an invitation to another member from your council or commission.

We look forward to seeing you at noon on May 9, 2003.

Mike Hofrichter

Government Liaison

Committee Chairman