News & Updates

Community Partner of the Month: ElderHelp of San Diego

Community Partners

April 27, 2017

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Seniors are our parents, grandparents, tFran awardeachers, friends, neighbors and our veterans. They deserve our best attention, our utmost respect and compassion from our community. In San Diego, there are more than 400,000 seniors over the age of 65. Nearly half struggle without adequate income or family resources to make ends meet. They need solutions for living, and ElderHelp delivers them.

For 44 years, ElderHelp has filled a unique niche in the San Diego community, helping older adults live independently in their homes, reducing the likelihood of a significant health event and improving their quality of life.

Evelyn& OneetaWhat do our seniors need? Our biggest request is transportation. We provide that, door-through-door, to medical appointments, the grocery store, and even social activities. Many with chronic medical conditions rely on our degreed social workers to provide medical advocacy to stabilize their health and keep them in touch with their doctors. Others just need a helping hand with home maintenance, so our skilled volunteers show up to fix things. And because so many live alone and are isolated, we match them with compatible friendly visitors who brighten their days and even develop long-term relationships with them.

Because all of our services are donation based, ElderHelp relies on community philanthropic partners for support. We’re grateful for many who sponsor our annual Essence of Life event and all who work together with us throughout the year to help San Diego seniors age with dignity.

Contact:
Gretchen Veihl
Director of Philanthropy
gveihl@elderhelpofsandiego.org
http://www.elderhelpofsandiego.org/

We Olive and Wine Bar La Jolla

Member Stories

April 27, 2017

weolive-300x300We Olive is a culinary and wine destination that features olive oil tasting and education, artisan foods for sampling, gourmet gifts, wine tasting, and a delicious menu designed to pair with our small-production wines and featuring our extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

We Olive is a unique combination of upscale retail, wine bar, and tasting experience. Our retail store features a gorgeous olive oil tasting bar where guests are treated daily to complimentary olive oil tasting and education. Our highly-knowledgeable staff will recommend favorite pairings of olive oil and artisan vinegars and help guests discern tasting attributes of our certified California extra virgin olive oil. Our wine bar features artisan California wines that guests can order by the taste, half glass, glass and bottle. Monthly wine tasting events are held with a featured winery where guests can learn and taste wine with the winemaker. Throughout the week, We Olive offers featured specials in the wine bar, food samples and product demos to encourage guests to taste.

We Olive’s retail store features certified California extra virgin olive oil and vinegars sourced We Olive platedirectly from the producer that guests can purchase in bulk. Our fustino system allows guest to choose a bottle size they like and fill with their favorite olive oil or balsamic vinegar. We also offer a variety of gourmet foods including small-batch pestos, tapenades, mustards and jams. The rustic modern décor carries through to the collection of artisan olive wood pieces we offer along with beautiful gifts for the kitchen and home. In addition to our food retail, all of the wines from our wine bar are available for retail purchase.

Learn more about We Olive and Wine Bar La Jolla, visit www.weolive.com/la-jolla/

We olive view

America’s Finest Corporate Dash 5K

Member Stories

April 13, 2017

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San Diego’s Biggest Corporate Run and Party!

High Performance Movement, one of San Diego’s premier race management companies, is thrilled to announce that America’s Finest Corporate Dash 5K will be back in San Diego for its 2nd year on Thursday night, June 22nd at Qualcomm Stadium.

The inaugural event in 2016 hosted over 80 companies and 1,000+ attendees, bringing employees together for one amazing night of fitness, team bonding and celebration. It was awarded the “Best Corporate Run for Employees” by San Diego Magazine.

Corp Dash Enge PhotoEric Marenburg, co-founder of HP Movement, said “San Diego has one of the healthiest, happiest and most vibrant business communities in the country. In 2016, we exceeded our goal to create an event that would bring those amazing companies together for a night of health, wellness and celebration. After an incredible inaugural event last year, we cannot wait to bring even more companies and participants together this summer!”

The 2017 America’s Finest Corporate Dash will start at 5 PM on June 22nd and will host a 5K run where companies will build teams of co-workers to walk, jog, or run the 5K course. Following the race, all participants are welcome to the after-party festivities at Qualcomm Stadium, which will host a craft beer garden, food, lawn games and live music.  Company teams are encouraged to invite guests (clients, family and friends) to join in on the action.

The event will be benefiting Challenged Athletes Foundation: Operation Rebound, a San Diego-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans, military personnel and first responders with permanent physical injuries. CAF: OR provides them opportunities to use sports and fitness to re-integrate into our communities and by empowering them through sports.

Corporate Dash Event Page photo“The Corporate Dash was a great experience for myself and my colleagues,” said Erica Ullman, Manager of Benefits & Wellness for Mitchell International. “It was a great way for us to socialize, network, and show our company spirit while doing something healthy outside of the office. Next year, we expect to get an even bigger team together!”

To learn more or register, head to www.thecorporatedash.com or contact Kyle Mellor at info@thecorporatedash.com.

San Diego and Tijuana Mayors Give Joint Binational Unity Message at Chamber Board Meeting

InternationalPolicy

April 10, 2017

Mayors

Mayor Gastelum of Tijuana & Mayor Faulconer of San Diego

Leading up to the Chamber’s annual advocacy trip to Mexico City, both Mayor Faulconer of San Diego and Mayor Gastelum of Tijuana addressed the Chamber Board of Directors to express their commitment to binational collaboration. A week before addressing the Board, the Mayors renewed the agreement between the City of San Diego and the City of Tijuana which establishes frequent communication and collaboration among department heads in both cities.

New Executive Orders on Trade

InternationalPolicy

April 10, 2017

On March 31, President Trump signed two Executive Orders related to trade. The first requires the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to prepare a report examining trade with countries with which the United States had a significant 2016 trade deficit in goods. The second order directs the Department of Homeland Security to enhance the collection of antidumping and countervailing duty orders by improving bonding requirements and other policies addressing risk assessment procedures. For more on the newly signed orders, see this article from The Washington Post.

NAFTA has had a positive impact on the growth of our region for 23 years; Mexico is San Diego’s No. 1 export market, with $5.5 billion in goods exported to Mexico last year. The Chamber is in agreement that NAFTA is due for an update to provisions including e-commerce; the need for a trilateral investment in border infrastructure and workforce training; a strengthening of enforcement; and eliminating barriers to services exports.

With formal negotiations expected to begin this summer, we are engaged in efforts to communicate the benefits of trade and the trilateral relationship with Canada and Mexico with decision makers. Join our efforts by speaking with your government representatives and share your trade stories with us.

To learn more about the trade relationship view the following infographic:

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click to enlarge image

 

Annual Delegation to Mexico City

InternationalPolicy

April 10, 2017

The Chamber’s 12th Annual Binational Delegation to Mexico City brought nearly 90 business and community leaders as well as elected officials from San Diego and Baja, California to Mexico’s capital. The focus of our trip was to reaffirm our region’s commitment to binational collaboration, strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, and advance the policies that benefit both economies. And great success was achieved on all fronts.

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2017 Binational Delegation to Mexico City

Trip highlights and successes include:

  • Signing an MOU with the Mexican Senate.
  • Received support from Luis Videgaray, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, SRE, to re-establish the cross-border railroad.
  • Received confirmation of Mexican land concession and an operating date of 2020 for Otay II port of entry.
  • Enjoyed a reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador Roberta Jacobson at her residence.

For more information on the trip, read the full recap here.

 

#OneBorder Meeting in Tucson

InternationalPolicy

April 10, 2017

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The Chamber is a founding member of the #OneBorder coalition. Founded in 2016, the group brings together individuals, organizations, and communities from the United States and Mexico to strengthen the shared goals of security and prosperity and deepen the bonds of friendship.

Last month, OneBorder held its fourth stakeholder meeting, this time in Tucson, Ariz. The meeting covered a variety of topics focused around trade and the U.S.-Mexico relationship in general. Meeting attendees discussed the agricultural and manufacturing sectors which generate jobs in the U.S. as a result of partnership with Mexico. Did you know U.S. agricultural exports have increased by 400 percent since NAFTA was implemented? Key members of Congress and the administration were identified as target meetings to incorporate in the next OneBorder meeting which will take place in Washington D.C. in June.

Sign up to receive information on the June meeting in Washington D.C. on the OneBorder website: http://oneborder.org/

Baja California Railroad Updates

InternationalPolicy

April 10, 2017

BJRR

Baja California Railroad (BJRR) continues its work to rehabilitate the desert line. The Garcia Station has improved commercial operations by providing increases in storage, cold rooms, and refrigerated deconsolidation areas. BJRR has optimized commercial operations of local companies with the United States noted by an increase in freight rate of 14 percent last February. This goes hand-in-hand with the newly paved loading/unloading cargo docks and the Garcia Bridge rehabilitation of bank number 3 at the 14th kilometer. Also, BJRR discussed investment opportunities during its recent participating in the Chamber’s recent delegation trip to Mexico City.

The Chamber is a proud supporter of the Cali-Baja Rail Binational Forum on June 9th in UABC Tecate, where rail and transportation experts from the U.S. and Mexico will speak on the opportunities that rail transportation offer our region. The event is open to the public. For more information click here.

Governor’s Transportation Plan Approved by Legislature

Policy

April 10, 2017

Governor Brown was joined by Democrat legislative leadership to introduce a 10-year, $52 billion proposal to address the state’s abysmal infrastructure system. A self-imposed deadline for passage of the bill was declared for April 6th, and the bill passed out of the Senate with two Democrats voting no, and one Republican voting yes, with the remainder of the votes along party lines. The proposal includes a gasoline tax, diesel tax, and vehicle license fee to raise just over $5 billion annually. This bill would deposit the revenues attributable to 50 percent of the $0.20 per gallon increase in the diesel fuel excise tax imposed by the bill into the Trade Corridors Enhancement Fund, to be expended on corridor-based freight projects. Much needed road improvements in our own border region, such as those used by commercial trucks to access the Otay Mesa port of entry, would be eligible for funding.

Opposition cites distrust that funds for road maintenance and other transportation costs have routinely been diverted to the General Fund during tough financial times for the state, and existing taxes should already be maintaining infrastructure.

VA Secretary Honors VCC at 2-1-1

Policy

April 10, 2017

Former U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Robert McDonald joined San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Jerry Sanders and other local elected officials to celebrate the one year anniversary of Vets’ Community Connections (VCC). The Chamber funded the original research that led to the creation of VCC, and maintains leadership roles on the executive committee. VCC continues to gain momentum providing veterans in the region the opportunity to engage in their communities as a civilian. For more information on VCC, including how you can get involved, visit http://www.vetscommunityconnections.org/#sandiego.