Notes from February 2, 2016
Posted by Tony Compton
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce byDoug LoonDoug Loon (pictured here to the right of Dan O'Brien) spoke to Eden Prairie AM Rotarians on Tuesday at our temporary home, Bent Creek Golf Club. Loon is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held since September 8, 2015. Doug talked about the business communities' priorities for the 2016 legislative session.
The Minnesota Chamber represents more than 2,300 Minnesota companies (80% of which are small businesses), 130 local chambers, and 65 business trade associations at the Minnesota Legislature on a variety of issues that impact Minnesota’s economy. According to Loon, the Minnesota Chamber represents businesses across the entire state, which includes about 500,000 employees. Loon says the Minnesota Chamber works closely with local chambers across the state.
The organization’s vision is to strengthen the business environment to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. Loon says they want to make sure businesses stay in Minnesota and grow. Loon spoke about the upcoming Minnesota legislative session, the $1.9 billion surplus, and the Chamber’s lobbying priorities in influencing how the surplus is allocated by the legislature.
Loon says that Minnesota is seeing modest growth in GDP. He says there is opportunity for the Minnesota Chamber to shape a more tax-friendly environment and attract more businesses to the state. In lobbying the legislature, the Minnesota Chamber would like to see business property tax relief, estate tax relief, a transportation bill that reinvests in our infrastructure, and a research and development credit for businesses, among other priorities.
Loon is the husband of Eden Prairie AM Rotarian Jenifer Loon. Loon received his bachelor’s degree in government and international affairs from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Prior to assuming leadership of the Minnesota Chamber, he spent 20 years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 17 of those in Minnesota. Before joining the U.S. Chamber staff in 1995, Loon was legislative director to Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
He is a graduate of the Congressional Research Service’s Institute for Legislative Staff as well as the Federal Election Commission’s program on campaign finance laws for incorporated trade associations and membership organizations. He also graduated from Leadership Minnesota, an exclusive program of the Minnesota Chamber addressing the economic and public policy issues of Minnesota businesses. He is past chair of the Eden Prairie Foundation Board of Directors.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AWARDS
HAPPY FINES
Visiting Rotarian (club) : Jack Kuehn (Burnsville) and Asst. District Governor Jeff Ohe (Edina)
Students: Interns Jake Leibold, Alex Modeas, and Natalie Page PLUS Swimming and Diving Team co-captains Steve McMahon and Griffin Back talked about their season.
Loon says that Minnesota is seeing modest growth in GDP. He says there is opportunity for the Minnesota Chamber to shape a more tax-friendly environment and attract more businesses to the state. In lobbying the legislature, the Minnesota Chamber would like to see business property tax relief, estate tax relief, a transportation bill that reinvests in our infrastructure, and a research and development credit for businesses, among other priorities.
Loon is the husband of Eden Prairie AM Rotarian Jenifer Loon. Loon received his bachelor’s degree in government and international affairs from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Prior to assuming leadership of the Minnesota Chamber, he spent 20 years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 17 of those in Minnesota. Before joining the U.S. Chamber staff in 1995, Loon was legislative director to Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
He is a graduate of the Congressional Research Service’s Institute for Legislative Staff as well as the Federal Election Commission’s program on campaign finance laws for incorporated trade associations and membership organizations. He also graduated from Leadership Minnesota, an exclusive program of the Minnesota Chamber addressing the economic and public policy issues of Minnesota businesses. He is past chair of the Eden Prairie Foundation Board of Directors.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Meeting location change due to Biaggi's closing- will meet at Bent Creek again next Tuesday - Search committee in process - Watch the website for location updates
- Latha lyer has resigned due to other commitments.
- Feed My Starving children - Feb 23rd. Sign up sheet went around - talk to Pei Ling for more details
- Sew-a-thon Service Project February 18th at Immanuel Lutheran, 5-8pm
- Registration has opened for the 2016 District Conference being held May 12 & 13 at Mystic Lake Conference Center. Click here for details and registrations for the conference and golf tournament. Early bird pricing available, and EPAM will reimburse you for 50% of your registration fee.
AWARDS
- Glenn Olson was recognized with his first ruby - a Paul Harris fellow six times over
- Roger Jorgensen was recognized with a membership pin for sponsoring new members, including Nick Eyvindsson
HAPPY FINES
- Mark Weber - happy to announce the upcoming PROP Empty Bowls event on Feb 23rd.
- Roger Jorgensen - happy to see how the leadership rallied when Biaggi’s closed.
- Jan Eian - happy and thankful for the support with the Biaggi news as well as for Bent Creek opening its doors for us
- Bev Aho - happy to have all of their kids at home with their spouses and dogs. reception in EP for Daughter’s wedding -
- Jeanne Zetah - happy that she and Glenn finished writing a global grant for $86K for adding bathroom at a high school in Olanchito
- Rod Anderson - happy about the working microphone in the room!
- Robb Hiller - is thankful to have his last kid out of the house with his own place.
Visiting Rotarian (club) : Jack Kuehn (Burnsville) and Asst. District Governor Jeff Ohe (Edina)
Students: Interns Jake Leibold, Alex Modeas, and Natalie Page PLUS Swimming and Diving Team co-captains Steve McMahon and Griffin Back talked about their season.