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Northland Chamber happy with trip to Washington
By: Gene Hanson
When a delegation of officials from the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce traveled to Washington, D.C. last month, members were just hoping against hope that they would make contact with the elected officials that were on their agenda to meet.
They met with all of them, including U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
They covered the subjects important to the area, including transportation, education, economic development and small business.
“Our intention was to make a footprint at that level of government,” said Northland Chamber President Sheila Tracy. “I think we achieved that and more. Our congressional delegation has been very supportive of us in the past. They really understand our needs.”
She said the group learned that government at the federal level is very complex. “We found out a lot of things we did not know about the process,” she said.
“We had a chance to put the pieces together on some things in the process that we weren't aware of,” said Chris Byrd, a member of the chamber board who made the trip. “We certainly got a better insight into transportation and light rail. But anytime you have the chance to express to your representatives and their staffs your commitment on certain issues, you have had a successful trip.”
“Sam Graves got us in touch with House members who serve on the transportation, education and economic development committees, and we really had an opportunity to express our views and find out if what they are doing will help us,” said Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose. “We had a receptive audience. I certainly know who to call now if I have a concern.”
And it gave educators a chance to talk about the No Child Left Behind Act at a time when lawmakers are considering reauthorizing it.
“It gave us an opportunity to talk face-to-face with our representatives and senators on the matter,” said Dennis Fisher, superintendent of the Park Hill School District. “We were able to express our views on how the act impacts on high performing districts.”
This was a first-of-a-kind trip for the group, and it came on the heels of a similar trip made to Jefferson City earlier this year in a “Northland Day at the Capitol” venue.
“We will be doing the Jefferson City trip annually, Tracy said. “Whether we go to Washington every year is another matter, but I think at some point we will do it again. This one was worth it.”
Business Editor Gene Hanson can be reached at 389-6638 or at ghanson@npgco.com.
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They met with all of them, including U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, U.S. Sens. Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
They covered the subjects important to the area, including transportation, education, economic development and small business.
“Our intention was to make a footprint at that level of government,” said Northland Chamber President Sheila Tracy. “I think we achieved that and more. Our congressional delegation has been very supportive of us in the past. They really understand our needs.”
She said the group learned that government at the federal level is very complex. “We found out a lot of things we did not know about the process,” she said.
“We had a chance to put the pieces together on some things in the process that we weren't aware of,” said Chris Byrd, a member of the chamber board who made the trip. “We certainly got a better insight into transportation and light rail. But anytime you have the chance to express to your representatives and their staffs your commitment on certain issues, you have had a successful trip.”
“Sam Graves got us in touch with House members who serve on the transportation, education and economic development committees, and we really had an opportunity to express our views and find out if what they are doing will help us,” said Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose. “We had a receptive audience. I certainly know who to call now if I have a concern.”
And it gave educators a chance to talk about the No Child Left Behind Act at a time when lawmakers are considering reauthorizing it.
“It gave us an opportunity to talk face-to-face with our representatives and senators on the matter,” said Dennis Fisher, superintendent of the Park Hill School District. “We were able to express our views on how the act impacts on high performing districts.”
This was a first-of-a-kind trip for the group, and it came on the heels of a similar trip made to Jefferson City earlier this year in a “Northland Day at the Capitol” venue.
“We will be doing the Jefferson City trip annually, Tracy said. “Whether we go to Washington every year is another matter, but I think at some point we will do it again. This one was worth it.”
Business Editor Gene Hanson can be reached at 389-6638 or at ghanson@npgco.com.