Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

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LACCE

The OBJECTIVE of LACCE is...
To promote the improvement of management skills, techniques and proficiency of Chamber Executives, to encourage the training of present and prospective executives, and to act as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of improved methods, practices, and plans for administration of such organizations.

St. Tammany West Chamber

Message from the Chairman Regarding the BP Oil Spill

Once again our region is facing an unprecedented challenge. Five years ago we faced the largest natural disaster in our nation's history and now we face what is shaping up to be the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history. Thankfully as a business community we learned many things from Katrina, specifically, we learned the importance of working together as a region to face our challenges.

The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce joins with our region's Chambers and economic development agencies in opposing President Obama's moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It is estimated that up to 22,000 jobs may be lost in the oil and gas industry alone. This does not take into account potential job losses in the seafood industry, tourism industry or the multiplier effect of direct job losses.

Click here to find information from our partners and GNO, Inc. regarding the potential economic impact of and solutions to the OCS Moratorium.

In addition, click here to find information from the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.

The moratorium, opposed by the president's own advisers, will only make a bad situation far worse. Consequently, we are urging our members to join the Chamber in contacting President Obama and Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar and voice your opposition to the moratorium. This can very easily be done by signing the State of Louisiana's official on-line petition at this link http://www.gest.la.gov/. The petition currently has over 70,000 signatures. At this website you can also send your own message to the President and to the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Salazar.

Over the past several years St. Tammany has developed a thriving oil and gas sector. Companies such as Chevron, LLOG, Hornbeck, LOOP, Marine Technologies, and Woodside Energy have all chosen our community for their headquarters and regional offices. The Chamber recognizes the importance of this industry to our community. We are in the process of forming an Oil and Gas Industry Task Force. This task force will be reaching out to our local oil and gas industry and standing by them during this crisis.

We are also very aware that this disaster's impact is not limited to the economy. Our environment and wildlife our suffering horribly. However, the wildlife rescue is inundated with volunteers and can't put them all to work. Dealing with all the inquiries is reportedly slowing them down so they asked that people do not contact them. If you want to help, simply sign the online petition at http://www.gest.la.gov/.

As the Chamber office receives critical, factual information, we will be regularly sharing those facts with our members.

Sincerely,

Michele Avery
2010 Chairman of the Board
St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce