Women in Business and Business @ Breakfast Joint Meeting Tuesday, July 16 Û 11:30 a.m. - Pullman Hall

Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox will be speaking July 16 at a combined meeting of Women in Business and Business at Breakfast. The topic will be election reform. As part of her reform efforts, Secretary Cox has published campaign disclosure reports on her web site, leading the Council of State Governments to name her agency1s web site the best in the nation in 2001. Also, as a result of Secretary Cox1s electronic voting initiative, electronic voting equipment will be in every Georgia county in time for the November general election. Prior to her election, Secretary Cox, who holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Mercer University Law School, served as Assistant Secretary of State and as a Representative in the Georgia House.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Pullman Hall. Wachovia Bank and the National Electrical Contractors Association/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NECA/IBEW) are sponsoring the meeting. Presenting sponsors will be BellSouth and University Hospital.

Please Join Us!

Call the Chamber at 821-1312 to RSVP your attendance, OR mail this coupon to: Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, 600 Broad Street Plaza, Augusta, GA 30903-1837, OR fax to 821-1330.

Opportunities to Support Fort Gordon

More and more businesses and individuals are asking how they can show their support for the military and for Fort Gordon, not only due to strong feelings of patriotism, but because of the increased threat of base closure and the potential impact it would have on the community. Military communities across the nation are posturing for what will surely be a long, painful and potentially expensive process of protecting their installations from downsizing or closure.

Augusta1s support for the military has always been strong, but over time it has become passive, with the assumption that Fort Gordon has always been there and always will be. Community support for and acceptance of the military will be one of the factors considered as the base closure commission conducts its review.

Fort Gordon and Eisenhower Army Medical Center enjoy many partnerships with area businesses, agencies and institutions and many more are being discussed. These partnerships span many areas to include education, information technology, medicine and telemedicine, dentistry, sports and recreation, environmental awareness and protection, and even the use of training areas and facilities for recurring events such as the Soap Box Derby.

So what can you do? As a business you can show your appreciation for service members by offering military discounts on goods and services, even if you only offer military appreciation one day a week. Does your business or agency participate in the Fort Gordon quarterly recognition ceremonies for those soldiers, civilians and volunteers selected as outstanding performers? This is a great way not only to say thanks, but to receive publicity as a true supporter.

Is your business or agency a corporate member of the Association of the United States Army? AUSA is the largest private, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring today1s soldiers are well trained, well equipped and adequately compensated for their service. The community around Fort Drum in upstate New York recently received national recognition for their outstanding relationship with the installation, fueled by a core of 250 AUSA corporate members. Although Augusta once had similar membership numbers, those numbers have dwindled to a mere 35, in a community with more than twice the population of Jefferson County NY where Fort Drum is located. AUSA corporate membership is very inexpensive and applications can be completed online at www.ausa.org. Service members are encouraged to frequent those businesses that offer discounts or are AUSA corporate members. Finally, your business or agency needs to stay abreast of base closure discussions and to get involved without hesitation when called upon.

What can you do as an individual? First and foremost, thank a service member every time you see one for the sacrifices he or she makes to protect this country. Let them know how proud you are to have them as members of this community. Participate in Fort Gordon events and utilize Fort Gordon facilities. The Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, dinner theater, bowling center, riding stables and Fort Gordon club are open to the public. These important quality-of-life activities are self-sustaining, meaning they exist through customer patronage, not taxpayer dollars. It may take a little longer to enter the installation, but remember that is the result of the world environment today and not the fault of the military police manning the gates. Thank the Fort Gordon service members and civilians for the thousands of hours they volunteer in the schools as tutors and mentors, at the food bank, hospitals and nursing homes and for their band performances and countless other community activities. Invite a service member into your home for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas when many service members are unable travel long distances to be with their families.

Your support as an individual, business or agency is important as the relationship between Fort Gordon and the community continues to flourish. If you would like more information on partnerships, service member recognition, AUSA, Fort Gordon facilities or how you can get involved, contact Thom Tuckey at ttuckey@augustagausa.com or 706-651-0018/19.