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The Chamber works closely with other Chambers, businesses, and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce to develop a Legislative Agenda.
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| Public Policy - Chamber Grassroots |
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The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Grassroots Network is a winning team, comprised of members who help identify the concerns and needs of the business community and then communicate them to elected officials. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce's Grassroots Network could be the most important team you join this year.
At the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, our job is to communicate the interests of our members on broad-based issues affecting the business climate. We can't do it without your help. Everyday, somewhere in the state or federal government, an issue is being discussed and a decision is being made that affects your business. When you join the South Carolina Chamber, you move from spectator to player.
The Grassroots Network ensures that the business community speaks with a unified voice, and it ensures that General Assembly listens. When you join the Chamber's Grassroots Network, you become a member of the team that identifies and develops business issues, receives regular reports and calls to action on legislative issues, communicates individually and collectively with members of the General Assembly, Congress and regulatory agencies, and participates in activities that demonstrate the strength of the business community.
Members of the Grassroots Network guarantee that the voice of business is being heeded at the State House. |
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There is a buzz resonating across the Palmetto State. It is the unified voice of the business community – the voice of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Grassroots Network.
Working together to improve the business climate in our state, Grassroots Network members help identify the concerns and needs of the business community and communicate them to elected officials and other decision makers. And when the business community’s Grassroots Network speaks, the state’s leaders listen.
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and industries that exists for one reason – to represent its members. And a unified message from the business community, delivered through mobilized efforts, makes things happen. The Chamber’s job is to communicate to decision-makers the interests of members on broad based issues like workers’ compensation, education, taxes, employment issues, immigration, infrastructure, and a host of other issues.
Of course the Chamber can’t do it without the help of the Grassroots Network. Every day somewhere in the state or federal government, an issue is being discussed and a decision is being made that affects the future of businesses in the state. Members of the South Carolina Chamber add their powerful voices to the mix by enrolling and staying active in the Grassroots Network. |
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Members of the Grassroots Network: |
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- Identify and develop legislative and policy issues for the South Carolina Chamber to address
- Receive the weekly Competitiveness Update and Calls to Action on legislative affairs
- Communicate with representatives of the General Assembly, Congress, and regulatory agencies
- Participate in activities that demonstrate the strength of the business community.
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The General Assembly is in regular session from January to July, and that’s when the Chamber’s Grassroots Network is most valuable. This Grassroots Network CD should provide many tools to aid in becoming an active member of the Grassroots Network. |
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The Toolkit CD contains: |
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- An overview of the state and federal legislative processes
- Contact information for members of the General Assembly including Constitutional Officers and contact information for members of South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation
- The 2007 BIPEC Legislative Scorecard
- Tips on communicating your message to decision-makers
- User information about the South Carolina Chamber’s online tools for grassroots
- The 2007-08 Grassroots Network sign-up form.
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Grassroots Network Regional Meetings |
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Each fall, the South Carolina Chamber in conjunction with local chambers across the state conducts nine regional Grassroots Network meetings across South Carolina. These open forum meetings are designed to create discussion and collect member views on issues to consider during the development of the annual Competitiveness Agenda, the Chamber’s list of legislative priorities. In 2007, the Chamber’s legislative efforts on behalf of the Competitiveness Agenda benefited members by more than $422 million! Local business leaders and legislative delegations are invited to each Grassroots Meeting, making this forum one of the best exchanges of ideas in South Carolina and one that South Carolina decision makers value. In 2006, more than 900 business leaders gathered throughout the Palmetto State at these meetings. |
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Competitiveness Agenda Development Process |
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Following the annual Grassroots Network Regional Meetings and contact with other allied organizations including the Palmetto Institute, the Palmetto Business Forum, and New Carolina, the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda Task Force (LATF) begins drafting legislation and finalizing positions for January using the input and expertise from the Grassroots Network. From there, the Chamber’s Board of Directors finalizes the annual Competitiveness Agenda, which is released in late December or early January. |
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Important Online Tools |
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One of the most effective ways the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce communicates with members is through the online tools provided by the Grassroots System. Accessed easily from the Chamber’s Web site, www.scchamber.net, the online tools keep members informed and up to date on daily legislative happenings.
During the legislative session, through email alerts, Grassroots members are notified of important actions or legislative contacts the business community must initiate to ensure that business-friendly legislation passes and combat any business-negative legislation. The Grassroots Network’s online tools make this process easy. Members are able to simply follow directions and click a button within the electronic message they receive to send their legislator a note regarding policy issues. It is that simple.
In addition, Grassroots Network members are able to find their legislator’s contact information, see how their elected officials voted on specific business-related issues, monitor business-related bills, and post comments related to those bills. The Chamber makes it extremely easy for Grassroots Network members to get involved and stay involved.
Time and again, the business community has seen the power of a mobilized grassroots network. Willingness to contact a legislator before a final vote can undoubtedly change the fate of important legislation. |
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Networking Opportunities |
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Besides the annual Grassroots Meetings, other opportunities available to Grassroots Network members are invitations to events during the legislative session, including: |
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- Business Speaks at the State House - A gathering of some of the state’s most influential legislators, Business Speaks is an opportunity for business leaders to meet with members of the General Assembly. Business Speaks not only provides an in-depth look at the final Competitiveness Agenda, but it also provides an occasion to socialize with lawmakers.
- Washington Night in South Carolina - A gathering of the state’s Congressional Delegation, Washington Night provides business leaders the opportunity to interact with national decision makers.
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You will need Adobe Reader to view the documents above.
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