CAHU' PAC's Chairman Sam Smith Honored by the California Chamber of Commerce

The California Chamber of Commerce honored four small business executives today with its "2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year" award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses. The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 400 attendees at the CalChamber Business Summit in Sacramento.

2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:

• Brian Hawley, Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer, Luminex Software, Inc., Riverside;

• Dr. Les Malo, Founding Partner, Director of Medicine, Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital, Garden Grove;

• Jerry Miller, Managing Partner, IMC Municipal Consulting, Long Beach;

• Myron "Sam" Smith, President, Genesis Financial/Creative Employee Benefits Inc., Los Angeles.

Leron Gubler, president and chief executive officer of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, nominated Sam Smith, saying, "Sam is the ideal nominee for this award. Sam's tireless efforts to promote the interests of the Hollywood business community have been unparalleled. While Sam is well respected throughout California for his advocacy efforts, it is his passion and commitment to any cause he champions that is apparent to anyone he meets."

Smith served as the 2010 chair of the Hollywood Chamber Board of Directors. He worked to secure endorsement of two significant political reforms, redistricting and the open primary, by the Los Angeles and California associations of health underwriters, in addition to educating and spreading the message to Californians and the media. He was instrumental in the creation of the Hollywood Chamber PAC, which hopes to raise $100,000 in 2011 to support business-friendly candidates in Hollywood. As chairman, Smith has been deeply involved in the chamber's efforts to promote California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reform, including working with the author on state legislation that will help reform the CEQA process to spur development in Hollywood. Smith is on the board of directors of Young and Healthy, a non-profit organization that provides free health care to children of the working poor and which has enrolled more than 21,000 children in the Los Angeles area in the state's Healthy Families program. He also serves as the long-time co-chair of the chamber's health care committee. With his help, the chamber has conducted several health care-related events for its members, including a 2010 "Business Boot Camp," which focused on how health care reform legislation will affect small businesses in Hollywood. In addition to his work with the chamber, Smith also is very involved with the Los Angeles Association of Health Under Writers and with the California Association of Health Underwriters Political Action Committee.

Source: Excerpted from the California Chamber of Commerce News Release, June 1, 2011

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law. CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California's economy and create jobs. Please visit www.calchamber.com.

Congratulations to the 2009 CAHU PAC Award Winners!

CAHU PAC is proud to announce its 2009 CAHU PAC Award winners which were presented at the 2010 CAHU President's Reception held on Wednesday, October 20th in Burbank, CA:

Goal Attainment Award

1st Place

Kern Association of Health Underwriters

In recognition of the local chapter with the highest percentage goal attainment for the year.

2nd Place

Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters

In recognition of the local chapter with the second highest percentage goal attainment for the year.

Heavy Hitter Award

1st Place

Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters

In recognition of the local chapter with the highest amount contributed per Chapter Member.

2nd Place

Golden Gate Association of Health Underwriters

In recognition of the local chapter with the second highest amount contributed per Chapter Member.

Outstanding Service Award

Chuck Trogdon

In recognition of extraordinary service and leadership for many years.

Governor Declares Prop 11 Victory-CAHU Grass Roots Involvement Acknowledged

By

Sam Smith CAHU VP Public Relations

At 10am on Wednesday, November 5th, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gathered the key leaders of the Yes On Prop 11 Campaign on the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall and declared victory in his fight to bring redistricting reform to the California legislature. Flanked by Campaign Co-Chairs Jeannine English, California State President, AARP; Janis R. Hirohama, President, League of Women Voters of California; Gary Toebben, President/CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Allan Zaremberg, President/CEO, California Chamber of Commerce; Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Common Cause; Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and LA City Controller, Laura Chick, Governor Schwarzenegger said "We never give up and the 6th times a charm!"

Standing with the Governor was CAHU Vice President of Public Affairs, Sam Smith, and a number of other representatives of grassroots organizations that helped pull together a strong campaign at the community level. At Wednesday's news conference, the California Association of Health Underwriters was singled out as one of the most effective partners in the YES on Prop 11 Campaign and was thanked by all the campaign co-chairs for their outstanding effort. LA Chamber of Commerce President, Gary Toebben, was particularly appreciative of CAHU's efforts and thanked them for their volunteer efforts and their financial participation in the YES on Prop 11 Campaign.

While declaring victory, the Governor acknowledged that at this time, the margin of victory is still very slim, but the trend is in favor of the YES forces. As of 3:49pm on Wednesday, the California Secretary of State website showed that the vote was:

YES: 4,646,128 (50.6%)

NO: 4,549,434 (49.4%)

Margin of 96,694 votes

Precincts reporting: 25,318 of 25,423 (99.5%)

The margin in favor of Prop 11 is expected to continue to grow as absentee ballots are counted. On Tuesday, November 11th, at the invitation of CAHU, campaign sponsoring organizations are scheduled to meet to discuss the campaign experience and to explore areas of common ground for future efforts.

Congratulations, CAHU, for a job well done!

CAHU PAC Awards 2008

CAHU PAC wishes to acknowledge the following Chapters and members whose success as celebrated at the 2008 Annual Sales Conference for their leadership and support of CAHU PAC:

Goal Attainment Award:
In recognition of the local chapter with the highest percentage goal attainment for the year.

1st Place
Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters

2nd Place
North Coast Association of Health Underwriters

Heavy Hitter Award
In recognition of the local chapter with the highest percentage goal attainment for the year.

1st Place
Golden Gate Association of Health Underwriters

2nd Place
Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters

Outstanding Service
Ulrich Storz, PAC Chair
Silicon Valley Association of Health Underwriters