Reason #4 - Influence.

As a Chamber member, you have influence over public policy decisions impacting business and the quality of life in Corvallis.  The Chamber monitors policy at the City, County, and State levels, working to ensure a fair and balanced environment to conduct your business.

The Chamber's Government Affairs Committee meets monthly to review public policy, meet with elected officials, and plan important informational programming, such as the Legislative Affairs Breakfast, Advocacy Reception, and government-focused Forums.

If you would like to be part of the Government Affairs Committee, contact Erin at the Chamber - (541) 757-1505, or ewiedeman@corvallischamber.com .

Last week your Chamber introduced a new polling feature on our website.  Our hope is that this polling tool will give us insight into our members perspectives and help us make some decisions on direction of the Chamber, from programs and promotions to public policy.

Our first question asked participants whether they supported or opposed the proposal to ban single-use plastics bags that will be coming to the Corvallis City Council. Not surprisingly, the results were mixed: 54% in favor, 38% opposed, and the rest wanting to know more. 

Now this certainly wasn't a scientific poll as participants self-selected, and it doesn't numerically reflect the majority of our membership much less the voters of Corvallis.  But it does tell us how people are thinking on issues facing our community, and therefore it's an important data point as we begin looking into this issue. 

Your Chamber's Government Affairs Committee will most likely be discussing this issue as many of our members utilize plastic bags for products they sell.  We will need to know more specifics of the proposal and who will be affected.  We will need to know how the ban impacts them and what their alternatives are.  Hearing first hand from our members will help us evaluate if the Chamber takes a position on this issue., and will comunicate what decision is made.

We take your business seriously and want to work with City, County, and State goverments to make doing business a little easier. We are your advocates every day.  We're all for business!