Workers’ comp firm offers
discount to drug-free workplaces
Good news Tuesday from the
Governor’s Workdrugfree Employer
Task Group, which met in Eugene
(Kathy Nielson of U.S. Bank, a
member of the Bend Chamber’s
Healthcare Council, is a member
of the group): Liberty
Northwest, which underwrites
workers’ compensation insurance
in Oregon, now is offering new
and renewing businesses a 5
percent premium credit if they
have established and maintained
a qualifying alcohol and
drug-free workplace program
during the policy period. Among
the requirements: A business
must have a written alcohol and
drug policy, the policy must
include at least one or more of
the following types of tests:
baseline, pre-employment,
post-accident, random, and/or
reasonable suspicion. For more
information, go to Liberty
Northwest’s Web site,
www.libertynorthwest.com, or
call 503-736-7233.
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Rare legislative Ways and Means
hearing set for Bend tonight
The Oregon Legislature’s Joint
Ways and Means Committee is
holding hearings around the
state on the 2007-09 state
budget, and the only hearing
east of the Cascades will be
held beginning at 6:30 p.m.
today at Central Oregon
Community College. Anyone is
welcome to testify, but it is
expected that a long line of
people will want the opportunity
and seats are limited, so early
arrival is recommended. The
hearing also will be broadcast
via video connection to The
Dalles, Ontario and Pendleton.
Like previous legislative
sessions, the Ways and Means
Committee is juggling priorities
such as K-12 and secondary
education, transportation and
human services. This is a good
opportunity to make your voice
heard.
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Spots still available
for Chamber events
This month’s Legislative Council
Breakfast will be held Friday,
April 13 at Bend Golf & Country
Club. Speakers will be Bend
Mayor Bruce Abernethy and
Redmond Mayor Alan Unger, who
will talk about issues common to
Bend and Redmond and what the
cities are doing about them.
Seats still are available for
the Chamber’s County Forecast
Breakfast, scheduled from 7:30
to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 17
at Bend Golf & Country Club.
Cost is $29.50 each for Chamber
members and $49.50 for
non-members. Speakers are County
Commissioner Mike Daly and
County Administrator Dave Kanner,
who will discuss 2007 countywide
goals and objectives. Also,
there are openings for the
annual Business Showcase on
Tuesday, May 22, at Bend Golf &
Country Club. This is an
opportunity for small and/or
home-based businesses to co-host
a Business After Hours to
highlight their products and
services. The cost is $125 for
new Chamber members and $150 for
others. For information about
any of these events or to
register, call the Chamber
office at 382-3221.
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Businesses
cautiously optimistic about
summer season
Last week’s survey question was,
“As we head closer to the annual
tourist season, do you expect
your business to be better,
worse or the same as last year?”
The businesses that replied all
were optimistic in varying
degrees. Some comments:
“We had an excellent year last year and the first
quarter was very good. We expect
the rest of the year to be
good.”
“Our business has grown very nicely these last two
years. So far the indicator is a
big “yes” for busy. We already
have a good amount of bookings
for this summer.”
“As long as we don’t get one of those evil crummy
weather summers or gas goes to
$4 a gallon, we think business
will be great this season. We’re
crossing our fingers.”
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Interested in public office?
Think about candidate school
Have you ever considered running
for public office but didn’t
know where to start? You might
think about attending a one-day
seminar to listen to political
experts and government leaders
who will share their experience
about such subjects as election
and campaign finance law,
getting started, fundraising and
working with the media. The
event is scheduled from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at
the Central Oregon Association
of Realtors, 2112 NE Fourth St.
in Bend. The cost is $25, which
includes breakfast and lunch.
Information: 382-3452.
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