uschamber.com Magazine October 2005

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• Cover Story: Bury the Death Tax
  Like thousands of other business owners, Heather Harlow worries how her family’s company will afford the $1.2 million tax bill when it comes time to transfer ownership from her grandmother to her mother, Betty Ellis.
• In Your Backyard
  News across the nation.
• Special Report: Businesses Offer Hurricane Relief
  The U.S. Chamber is working to match the specific needs of communities affected by Hurricane Katrina with companies and chambers nationwide that are prepared to help.
• In Your Corner: The Worst Brings Out the Best
  One month after Hurricane Katrina, the people in the affected region continue to try to piece together their lives and will continue to do so for months, perhaps even years.
• Stop Fakes Before They Start
  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently launched a new campaign to educate small business owners about their intellectual property (IP) rights.
• Protecting Small Businesses’ IP
  Are you doing everything that you can to protect your products, brands, and slogans from counterfeiters and intellectual property (IP) thieves?
• Procurement Reforms Needed
  The U.S. Chamber is attempting to beat back several provisions in DoD legislation that would dramatically complicate the government procurement process for small businesses and impose significant new burdens on companies bidding for contracts.
• Are You America’s #1 Small Business?
  The U.S. Chamber has created a national award to pay tribute to the small business community.
• Doing Business in China
  Whether it’s unbridled enthusiasm to rush into the Chinese market—or wariness over rising Chinese economic influence—small businesses face mixed messages when it comes to trade with Asia’s powerhouse.
• Welcoming Soldiers Back to Work
  Courage to Care is offering a fact sheet and other materials to help business managers reintegrate employees returning from active duty in the National Guard and Reserve.
• Katrina Shuffles Congress’ Agenda
  Lawmakers scrapped their plans to vote in early September on repeal of the death tax, legislation to address the asbestos litigation crisis, and immigration reform to focus on the enormous challenges presented by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
• Helping Businesses Hire Effectively
  In a recent survey of chambers of commerce, trade associations, and businesses, respondents identified “hiring entry-level workers” as one of three critical short-term needs.
• Chamber Leads Medicare Rx Education Effort
  The new Medicare prescription drug benefit will begin on January 1, 2006, and the U.S. Chamber is working vigorously to ensure that seniors are aware of the program and that it is implemented according to original congressional intent.
• Finding Office Space to Rent
  Last month, uschamber.com explored how to find the right office space. This month, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two types of spaces: executive suites and shared office space.
• Institute: A Smart Investment for Business
  It’s more important then ever that companies have the protection of well-led chambers of commerce and trade associations. One way that the U.S. Chamber supports these organizations is through its Institute for Organization Management.
• Small Businesses Among Award Finalists
  Six small and midsize businesses are among the finalists for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship’s sixth annual Corporate Citizenship Awards. The awards recognize businesses and chambers of commerce that have made extraordinary co
• Success Insight: A Chamber Member's Story
  Lynn Gordon keeps her ear to the ground. As the president and founder of French Meadow Bakery, Gordon stays ahead of the health food curve by listening to people in line at the grocery store and reading letters from her customers.
• ECON 101: Will the Economy Weather Katrina’s Blast?
  The first Monday in September this year will be a Labor Day that workers can celebrate because economic growth is solid, inflation is under control, and more jobs--and good jobs--are being created every month.
• Small Business Matters:The Laws of Aggregation
  Sakrete is one of the handiest products ever developed for those small do-it-yourself construction projects. It’s basically a bag of rocks and dust. But to a weekend warrior with a honey-do list, it can be a sack of magic.
• Tech Tools: Local (Business) Search
  Each month more than one billion people use search engines to research a product or service online and to find a local business where they can walk in and make the actual purchase.
• Working For You: Expanding Opportunities in China
  Keeping pace with China, the fastest-growing country in the fastest-growing region of the world, is no small feat.
• e-sources October 2005
  Links of interests for the October 2005 edition of uschamber.com