On March 24, the Greater Akron Chamber held its 104th Annual Meeting and Elizabeth Bartz was reappointed for a second term on the Board of Directors.

Hundreds attended the grand event. Joe Kanfer, Chairman and CEO of GOJO Industries, was awarded the H. Peter Burg Award in recognition of his business and community leadership in Akron.

The evening’s festivities included a large-screen video presentation with testimonials from leaders of the Akron business community.

We enjoyed this segment featuring Elizabeth Bartz:

Video courtesy of the Greater Akron Chamber YouTube Channel.

A proposed executive order requiring vendors submitting offers for federal contracts to disclose political contributions and expenditures has sparked a legislative response.

An amendment was added to HR1540, a fiscal national defense authorization bill, which passed last week, precluding an executive agency from requiring a vendor to disclose political contributions as a condition of contract participation.

Additionally, two companion bills opposing the proposed executive order were also introduced into the house and senate. SB1100 and HR2008, titled “Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011”, explicitly prohibit an executive agency from requiring submission of political information, and prohibit an agency from using political information as a factor in consideration of whether to award a contract. The bills’ definition of political information means information relating to political spending, including contributions, independent expenditures and electioneering communications.

Previously, a congressional hearing was also held concerning the proposed executive order.

Photo of the United States Capitol with the flag by Florian Hirzinger on Wikipedia.

OKLAHOMA: The Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on May 27, 2011.

ILLINOIS: The Illinois General Assembly has recessed. The senate will reconvene on October 25, 2011. No date has been set for the house to reconvene.

Scott Wong from Politico reports how Twitter is responding to concerns on Capitol Hill that the Twitter accounts of legislators are vulnerable to hacking.

A representative from Twitter is sending them advice on how to keep their accounts secure.

Here is the article called “Twitter e-mails Congress safety tips.”

A special election has been scheduled for August 9, 2011 to fill a seat left vacant in Assembly District 48.

In an executive order, Governor Scott Walker ordered the special election to fill the seat left vacant after the resignation of Joe Parisi, who was elected Dane County Executive in April.

If a primary is necessary in the district, it will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

Photo of the Wisconsin Capitol by Dori on Wikipedia.

Another proud moment for State and Federal Communications, Inc. occurred recently when Ren Koozer, I.T. Director, accepted the United Way of Summit County award for State and Federal Communications, Inc. for Highest Corporate per Capita giving by employees (for employers under 49) for the eighth year straight.  Attending the event was [l to r:]  George Ticoras, Joe May, John Cozine, Ren Koozer, Amber Fish Linke, Myra Cottrill, Steve Quinn, Ken Kelewae, and Nicolette Bartz Koozer, photographer.

Ren Koozer is accepting the Campaign Excellence Award for State and Federal Communications, Inc. for outstanding excellence in giving.

In the photo with Koozer are William Feth [AESCO Electronics] and Katie Rennard [United Way].

State and Federal Communications, Inc. treated the administrative staff to a luncheon sponsored by Superior Staffing on Administrative Assistants Day.  Founder of Superior Staffing, Fran Doll, was the guest speaker.  Her dynamic life story truly inspired the sold out crowd at Portage Country Club.

In attendance was:  [front] Leah Hadgis, Susan Stofka, Val Blake, and Sarah Gray, [back] Megan Huber, Nicole Davis, Becky Campbell, and Justin Quinlan.

June 8, 2011 NCSL/SGAC, Washington, D.C.

June 16, 2011 WASRG, Washington, D.C.

June 27 – 30, 2011 BIO International Convention, Washington, D.C.

July 12 -15, 2011 Social Media for Government Conference by Advanced Learning Institute, Washington, D.C.

August 8 – 11, 2011 NCSL Legislative Summit Booth 217, San Antonio, Texas

We have added three new jurisdictions for which our online clients will find comprehensive, timely, and accurate information that includes: complete calendar of reporting deadlines; critical statutory citations; extensive directories of contact information; summaries of each state law; detailed reference charts on goods and services contributions; highlights of every statute; copies of all required forms; and much more.

The new jurisdictions are:

• Doral, FL
• Henderson, NV
• Spokane, WA

The image of North America by Bosonic dressing on Wikipedia.

As part of Governor Deval Patrick’s reforms for small businesses operating in the state, starting July 1 the Operational Services Division will no longer charge the annual $275 fee for businesses participating in the Commonwealth’s Procurement Access and Solicitation System (Comm-PASS). The state is also eliminating the fee it charges businesses to shop for health care under the independent state agency Commonwealth Choice. Another announced reform increases the upper threshold of Massachusetts’s preferential small procurement competitive bidding range from $50,000 to $150,000.

Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez said the reforms are focused on “creating opportunities for small businesses, creating jobs for our residents, and containing health care costs so businesses can survive and thrive.”

Photo of Governor Devol Patrick by Scott LaPierre on Wikipedia.

However, the Legislature was immediately called into special session by Governor Rick Perry due to the failed effort to finalize the state budget.

The special session is set to begin Tuesday, May 31, and cannot last longer than 30 days.

Other items are expected to be added to the special session’s agenda.

Photo of the Texas State Capitol by Kumar Appaiah on Wikipedia.

A federal judge has ruled a section of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [FECA] prohibiting direct corporate contributions to federal candidates is unconstitutional. In United States v. Danielczyk, a criminal case being heard in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge James C. Cacheris found corporations have an equal right to make political contributions under federal law as do human beings.

In the decision dismissing one of the counts against the defendants, the judge writes, “But for better or worse, Citizens United held that there is no distinction between an individual and a corporation with respect to political speech. Thus, if an individual can make direct contributions within FECA’s limits, a corporation cannot be banned from doing the same thing. So because individuals can directly contribute to federal election campaigns within FECA’s limits, and because [2 U.S.C.]§ 441b(a) does not allow corporations to do the same, § 441b(a) is unconstitutional and Count Four must be dismissed.”

Currently, during an election cycle, individuals may contribute $2,500 for a federal candidate’s primary election and an additional $2,500 for the general election.

Marketing Assistant Leah Hadgis gave me today’s Highlighted Site of the Week. It is Sporcle.com, an online collection of quizzes and brain exercises.

Leah is a fan of quizzes and brain teasers. She gave me a challenge – to try out Sporcle’s “U.S. Presidents quiz” and “the U.S. States geography” quizzes. I will be honest with you. I failed to finish the presidents quiz. All I had to do was fill in all of the names of presidents that I could remember and Sporcle popped them into their proper time slot. Oh yes, and I needed to do it in 10 minutes.

I was able to remember all of the presidents in the 20th century and all of the ones in the 1700s. But I I got lost in the 1800s and found just over half of the presidents from that century. Then all went blank, oh well. But I love geography and I was able to name all of the states in the 10 minutes given to me.

If you like quizzes, then Sporcle is the website for you. You can even download an app for your iPhone or Android. Let me know how you do!

Have a terrific weekend.

The following was announced on the Federal Election Commission’s “Tips for Treasurers” page on May 23:

“The FEC’s Public Records Office and Press Office have launched a web page to track new committee registrations. Updated daily at 7:00 a.m. Eastern, it is available at http://www.fec.gov/press/press2011/new_form1dt.shtml.

A similar page launched earlier this year tracks Presidential Statements of Candidacy.”

Growing up in a musical family taught me to appreciate the impact music has in every aspect of my life. My father, a music instructor, would explain to me the importance of “Taps,” a specific military bugle call, and the honor one should take when performing Taps. Ironically, the simplicity and slow speed of Taps is what makes it one of the most difficult and challenging pieces to play. Every note, every breath, and every pause must be articulated perfectly and with feeling.

If you have heard Taps performed, you will agree that it is the only piece of music, aside from the National Anthem, able to render universal emotion and connection from all Americans. The melody is both eloquent and lingering and never fails to bring a tear to one’s eye. But more importantly, it is the symbolism of the music that I value most when observing Memorial Day.

When Taps is played, it is a time for reflection, honor, and peace. A person may think, feel, or appreciate this moment of recognition in any way he/she sees fit. That is what I love the most about Memorial Day, as well. Memorial Day is not a day where universal tradition calls for universal action. Every American is able to show respect and commemoration for the honorable fallen in a unique way. Some visit the graves of relatives or friends who have died protecting our country. Some worship and participate in religious ceremony, blessing those who have made a difference serving our country. Some simply choose a moment of silence in their busy day to pause and reflect on not only of the lives of our soldiers, but also on their own life.

Regardless of how you celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, remember save a small bit of time to think about this holiday and how it has affected you. And, if by chance you hear Taps performed—whether at a cemetery, church, or government ceremony—listen to the music and the emotions behind the composition. It may be the most meaningful Memorial Day you’ve had in a long time.