"Movies under the Stars," originally scheduled for July 17th, was cancelled due to inclement weather. The event has now been rescheduled for Saturday night, August 8th, at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreational Complex.

Several changes have also been announced.

Upgrades include a larger screen and a newer movie. The originally scheduled "Night at the Museum" has been upgraded to "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." This movie is yet to be released on home video.

Co-sponsored by the Chamber and The Forest-Blade, the event is free. Moviegoers should arrive around 8:30 p.m. for 9 p.m. show time. Families are encouraged to attend together.

Popcorn and drinks will be offered by the Emanuel County Pageant Association.

In an effort to keep a fresh new look, the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce has recently completed a redesign of the organization's website, www.emanuelchamber.org.

The new look features modern appealing graphics, movement, optimal balance between graphics and text, and easy navigation throughout the website.

"We have the same basic, important information on our community and chamber, everything from our membership listing to our community calendar. It's packaged differently," stated Bill Rogers, Jr., president of the organization.

"It had been three years since our last redesign and technology now allows us to do so much more. We hope our members will visit the site and let us know their thoughts and opinions on the new design."

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce will offer a very limited number of advertising spots as part of the organization's new website redesign. The banner ads will be offered on only three pages-the homepage, the membership listing, and the community calendar.

"A number of businesses have approached us about advertising on our website since this site is normally among the first places a visitor explores when gathering information on Swainsboro and Emanuel County," stated Bill Rogers Jr., chamber president. The banner ads are offered on a "first come" basis.

Businesses interested should contact the Chamber.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce has received some 30 applications for this fall's 2009 leadership program. The class participants will be named shortly by the Leadership Emanuel board of directors.

Entitled "2009 Leadership Emanuel," the program will consist of ten topics offered on Tuesday nights from September 1st through November 3rd. The University of Georgia's Fanning Institute, along with local leaders, will facilitate the courses and program.

The goal of the program is to create a new level of leadership in Emanuel County with program goals focused on community growth & economic development. Session topics include understanding community leadership, knowing your community, community leader's role in economic development, and local governance.

"We are very excited about the number of applications we have received. The response has been tremendous and bodes well for the future of our county," stated Milton Gray, chamber board chairman.

A $5,000 grant was awarded early in the year to the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce by the University of Georgia's Fanning Institute to conduct the renowned leadership program this fall. This marks the second grant awarded to the local chamber by Fanning Institute.

Serving on the Board of Directors for "2008 Leadership Emanuel" are Elizabeth W. Gilmer, Desse Davis, Erma Jenkins, Kenny Griffin, Ken Warnock, Mark Crosby, Wade Johnson, Bobbie Collins, Andy Riley, and Bill Rogers Jr.

Thursday, October 8th, is the date set for the annual fund raising campaign for East Georgia College. On this date, EGC Foundation members, staff, faculty, alumni and other volunteers will be visiting individuals and businesses in the area to solicit donations for the work of the Foundation.

"With recent state budget cuts, the dollars raised become even more critical for EGC to remain true to the mission of providing a quality education at an affordable price," added Elizabeth Gilmer, EGC's Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

For more information on this important date call 478- 289-2037 or email egilmer@ega.edu.

The Georgia Forestry Commission has notified the Swainsboro- Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities that they are the proud owners of Georgia's largest known "sawtooth oak tree." The tree is located off Hwy 278 near the Rayonier sawmill.

Known as a Quercus accutissima, the tree was nominated by Jimmy Hadden. The tree is now listed among the Commission's "Champion Trees." A list of champion trees can be viewed at http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/ForestManagement/Champi onTree.cfm.

It's a social phenomenon--the hot new trend to have your own "Facebook" page on the internet.

The Chamber recently joined the ranks, launching its own page. Facebook is a social internet utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study, and live around them. People use "Facebook" to keep up with friends by sharing photos, comments on events or notices, and more.

The chamber will use it as another means of notifying people of events in our community and sharing pictures from ribbon cuttings, ground breakings, and other chamber events.

The results have been phenomenal, the chamber has over 300 "friends" in less than three weeks.

It's official! Swainsboro Technical College and Southeastern Technical College have merged, effective July 1, 2009.

In ceremonies at the local institution, Dr. Kathy Mitchell welcomed over 100 people including local dignitaries. The new president stated considerable planning and effort had gone into the process.

Eight counties including Emanuel, Candler, Johnson, Jenkins, Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall, and Treutlen are within the college's new service area. New programs and services are now available to each county.

Do you have a great idea for a business but need help getting your idea off the ground? There is no better time than now to make that dream a reality.

The City of Swainsboro, Downtown Development Authority, Swainsboro-Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities and the Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a contest to determine the best business ideas.

Called the Creative Marketplace Competition, three winners will receive a wide-range of incentive to assist them. The incentive packages for the new ventures include capital seed money, subsidized rent, free advertising and more.

Applications are available for the business plan contest at Swainsboro City Hall, 101 South Main, or online at www.cityofswainsboro.org.

Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce President Bill Rogers, Jr. has been elected to a three- year term on the board of directors for the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE).

The GACCE consist of Chamber of Commerce executives and staff, as well as those members of business and community organizations who are directly interested in or allied with Chamber of Commerce work in Georgia. The GACCE has a long history of serving chamber professionals in the state of Georgia. The organization exists to advocate the role of the local chamber of commerce in economic and community development and to provide GACCE members with exceptional service in the area of professional development.

GACCE currently has 142 chambers as members and 28 associate members.

On July 7, the Georgia Court of Appeals overturned five of six findings in a 2008 lower court ruling that, if upheld, would have significantly hindered Georgia's ability to meet the energy needs of its residents and businesses, increased energy prices, and placed draconian restrictions on new development across the state.

In a 34-page order, the court reversed a requirement that state authorities begin regulating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which the judges determined would "impose a regulatory burden on Georgia never imposed elsewhere" and subject the state to "far- reaching economic hardship."

The judges noted that--contrary to the opinion of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore--CO2 is not currently regulated under any state or federal law (including the Clean Air Act and the Georgia Air Quality Act) and determined that Moore far exceeded her authority in ruling on a federal issue still under debate in Washington.

These are the same arguments the Chamber has made ever since Moore's ill-considered ruling over a year ago. The Chamber filed two amicus briefs in the case, each of which was co-signed by more than 100 businesses, trade groups and local chambers of commerce from across Georgia.

The issue is not yet completely resolved; an administrative law judge must review a permit for the Early County power plant at the heart of the case, and the Sierra Club is expected to appeal the decision. But the appeals court decision is an encouraging step in the right direction, and a major victory for Georgia businesses and consumers.-From "Insights from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce", July, 13, 2009