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Weekly Wrap-Up: February 19, 2021

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The Weekly Wrap Up

February 19, 2021

 

Your MEMBER ONLY email on all things the Chamber worked on this week 

and what you need to know to get the most out of your membership.

Thank you for being a member.

During this time of national crisis, when information and connections are so important, 

the Weekly Wrap-Up will be made available to members and non-members. 

We are here for you and in this together. 

CEO Brief

Did you get to enjoy your snow day in the virtual world we have been working in? I like the old days where snow meant you didn’t have to work and the world really did shut down. I was able to slip away from the desk to enjoy the snow and a little sledding, I hope you got to have some fun and take a snow break too. 

 

Our hearts and support go out to our friends and colleagues at the Texas LGBT Chambers and their members that have been impacted by the storms and power outages that followed. We hope that all Texans get the help they need as soon as possible. 

 

Work did not stop for us at the Chamber and we had a busy week, especially regarding the Legislature and actions we need you to take. If you are a business member of the Chamber, you have already received the Action Alert to sign the open letter of Tennessee Businesses Against Discrimination. Thank you to all the members that have already signed. You do not have to be a member to sign, and we are asking everyone to share the letter with your employer and other businesses that you are in touch with. We are hoping to highlight as many businesses as possible that are opposed to discrimination against LGBT people and protect the state as a welcoming and accepting place to live and work. See more details in the Legislative Report section below. 

 

We have a lot of info for you regarding advocacy and we need everyone to take the actions you can in several areas. I spoke to WPLN for their podcast the Tri-Star State that will release on Sunday. It will be a great primer for anyone that wants to know what we are facing at the Capitol and why businesses are engaged and concerned about the bills they are seeing. 

 

We had a great connection event with Brewing Up Business on Thursday. I realized in speaking with a CEO advisory group I am a part of, how much self-care and a re-charge I get from those connections events. Getting to hear from and talk with fresh faces and longtime members and friends really does recharge me. I hope you will join us for one if you have not already. 

 

Lauren is coming to you with a brand new program Monday all about making the most of your membership. Benefit Connect will show new and current members the tips and tricks of maximizing your membership with the Chamber. Props to Lauren for coming up with this programming and doing all she can for the members she manages! 

 

Coronavirus Response

We are working with a large coalition of community groups to bring you information regarding vaccinations. As vaccines become more available, information will be key on where to get them and what businesses and organizations can require with having employees and customers get vaccinated. We will be bringing you more information about this soon.

 

Another reminder that the U.S. Small Business Administration has designated $15 billion for the Shuttered Venues Grant program that was added to the latest COVID relief package. Eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to receive up to a $10 million grant under the program.

 

Legislative Update

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We are asking for signers of our open letter of Tennessee Businesses Against Discrimination

 

The letter this year makes the same case as years past, that anti-LGBT discriminatory legislation impacts the ability for businesses to attract, develop, and retain talent and harms the image of Tennessee as a welcoming place to live and work, and do business. 


There are over 15 bills we are tracking that clearly are or could be discriminatory. The bills targeting transgender youth are back again and have been in the news. Things are moving fast this year in the Legislature. With your help, we can hopefully stop it. 

 

You do not have to be a member of the Chamber or in the Middle Tennessee region to sign.  We are hopeful that all of our business members will sign. Please share this opportunity to sign the letter with other businesses that you know that support this.

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TAKE ACTION

 

The anti-trans student-athlete bill will be up in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The Nashville LGBT Chamber will be testifying against the bill. We need you to help stop this bill in this committee. 

 

Please use the links below to contact the committee members to express your concern and encourage them to vote NO on this legislation:

 

Local Metro/Nashville information - 
#DeclineToSign: Stop the New Referendum Attack on Nashville
You may have received a postcard recently soliciting you to sign onto a petition about Davidson County’s budget and several tax issues. We strongly urge you to decline to sign it and wanted you to have some additional information:

  • This petition is similar to the one that was presented in early fall and was found to be legally questionable. We opposed that referendum as well. 
  • It’s a waste of resources and time regarding issues affecting our city and a distraction from our city’s recovery efforts from last year’s tornado, downtown bombing, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
  • A study of the city’s budget in which it was discovered that the city’s expenses were largely in line with peer cities, while the city’s revenue was insufficient. This has been further exacerbated by COVID-19.
  • If the items on the petition are approved at referendum, the city will face a deficit of $332 million and will require cuts that impact our quality of life (specifically the city’s educators, public health and safety, cuts to police officers, firefighters, first responders and trash pickup). Marginalized communities will feel these impacts at an even higher level. 

We are committed to keeping Nashville the great place it is to work, live, and play. 
We encourage you to share this information with your networks who may have an interest. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us. 

 

New and Renewing MEMBERS!

Please join us in welcoming the following businesses that JOINED our Chamber this week:

 

What We Did

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We hosted another great networking event this week. We saw new members, old friends, and even a few pets at this program! You can catch up on the announcements from February PM Brewing Up Business here. Make sure you join us for our upcoming Chamber events, including networking opportunities, educational webinars, and a new program about membership benefits. Register now!

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Congratulations to our board member Terry Vo (Comcast) who was named to Nashville Business Journal's 2021 Women of Influence! We are proud of her amazing work for LGBTQ+ business and so many other communities. Great work, Terry!

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Joe's Leadership Tennessee Class met this week. Their discussion centered around the topic of polarization and how leaders from across the state can come together, despite differences in opinions, to work together to build a stronger Tennessee. Collaboration is key!

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Joe spoke with WPLN for their Tri-Star State podcast, which will air on Sunday. This interview is a great overview of activity at the Capitol and why businesses are taking action. We will share this podcast next week.

 

Connections

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Nashville Black Pride and OUTSpoken's LGBTQ+ Black History Program was postponed due to weather and connectivity issues. Please check back on Nashville Black Pride's Facebook page for updates!

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Do you have time and talent to dedicate to the Nashville LGBT Chamber? Consider becoming a VOLUNTEER for one of our working committees! You can find more information here. Get connected!

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The Nashville Area Chamber in Partnership with Amazon, First Horizon Bank, Google, and the Music City Center are hosting a Small and Diverse Business Forum on Wednesday, February 24thThis half day virtual forum will engage small and diverse businesses serving Middle Tennessee by providing educational sessions, networking opportunities and best practice dialogue for business growth. Find more information here.

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Our member OZ Arts Nashville will host "Conversations at OZ", a salon-style evening celebrating the art of conversation with community leaders and vibrant personalities across Nashville, virtually on Wednesday, February 24th. Don't miss this opportunity! Learn more here.

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Our member Southern Word will host "Write with Pride Lift Off" on Thursday, February 25th at 5 pm. The Write with Pride Lift Off is a conversation and celebration supporting Write with Pride, a project to create brave spaces for LGBT+ teens to write and share in Davidson and Rutherford Counties. Register and learn more here.

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Join our member Fairfield Inn & Suites at UP, a rooftop lounge for Hospitality Industry Appreciation nights. UP is open from 5pm-10pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, and every Tuesday will be Hospitality Industry Appreciation. Show proof that you work in the hospitality industry for 30% off food orders! Join Trivia Night as well!

 

Member Benefit Check-In

Join Lauren on Monday, February 22nd at 9 am for Benefit Connect. She will refresh you on all of your membership benefits! Register now!

 

 The ability to post Banner Ads is a valuable benefit for our business members. These website adverstisement include a clickable image to the landing page of your choice. 


Ready to upload your Banner Ad? Fill out this form now.

 

Reach out to Lauren if you have any questions!

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