NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2006

Hello and welcome to the first newsletter via the Chamber’s web site.  The new Board elected in October at the Annual General Meeting and the new Executive Officers elected at the November board meeting are now in position and you can see the details on our new web site at www.amsamoachamber.com.

At our December meeting  we formalized our basic strategy for 2007 and this includes meetings with the Governor, the Senate President, the Director of the Department of  Commerce and other senior Government officials to outline some of the ideas and  suggestions that the Chamber has formulated to assist with the development of the  Territory’s economy.

We have set up sub committees each chaired by an Executive Officer to address issues such as increased Membership, Government relations, Tax  Reform, problems facing the beverage industry, and the more effective use of the American Samoa Visitors Association.  Other matters such as immigration, the minimum wage hearings, economic data production and closer dialogue with the Samoa Chamber are all on the agenda.

Quarterly meetings for the general membership  will be held, hopefully with an appropriate guest speaker, and we are looking at the end of February for the first one.  Please keep tuned into the web site for details.

I encourage all members to make use of our newly established web site which we shall continue to up-grade. Please provide information and details about your  services and products so that we can list them on our web site and promote them for you in overseas countries via the internet through our increasing  network of commercial and political contacts in the Pacific region.

The year 2007 will be a very productive year for the Chamber and I look forward to your  continued support and input into issues that affect your business and our economy.

On behalf of the Board may I wish you all a very Happy and Safe Christmas and a Prosperous and Successful New Year.

David Robinson

President