CHAMBER EXECUTIVES IN CAPE FOR CONVENTION

Legislative updates, emerging trends of "cutting edge" chambers of commerce, regional planning, economic development and a number of other topics will be on the agenda of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri fall conference today through Tuesday in Cape Girardeau.

More than 60 chamber executives are expected for the four-day event.

The CCEM conducts conferences in the spring and fall in different areas of the state.

The fall conference marks the first time it has been in Cape Girardeau since spring 1992.

The first official session is scheduled Sunday, with a directors meeting at 3 p.m. at the Holidome in the Holiday Inn, conference headquarters.

But a special Louisiana Cajun dinner has been arranged at Broussards Restaurant at 7 tonight for early arrivals.

Visitors can also visit the Black Forest German Village.

Cape Girardeau Chamber president John Mehner, Chamber board chairman Doug Groesbeck and Mayor Al Spradling III will appear at a welcome session at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will address the group at 9 a.m., discussing legislative issues. Also on the Monday program is Kip L. Lilly of Lilly Foresight Dynamics, who will discuss the cutting edge chamber at 10 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. where chamber representatives discuss new programs.

Other speakers during the conference include David Limbaugh, a Cape Girardeau attorney; Jerry Uhlmann, director of the Missouri Emergency Management Agency; Mitch Robinson, director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association; Chaunchy Buchheit of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission; Laurie Hobgood of Farmington Training Institute; Bev Hickam of the SEMO Regional Training Group; Lowell Peterson of Mercantile Bank; Donna Womack of Precision Care; Bruce Williams of U.S. Tool and Grinding; and Lisa Nally of the Cape Girardeau Chamber.

Programs include:

Monday

-- 9 a.m., U.S. Legislative Issues Update, Rep. Emerson.

-- 10 a.m., Cutting Edge Chamber, Emerging Trends, Lilly.

-- 11 a.m. Cutting Edge Chambers, continued.

-- 1:30 p.m., Why We are Great, chamber representatives discuss new programs, with Lilly.

-- 2:30 p.m., Our U.S. Constitution: A Tribute, Limbaugh.

-- 3:30 p.m., Disaster Mitigation and Business Resumption Strategies," Uhlmann.

-- 6 p.m. -- Tour Black Forest.

Tuesday

Choice of three concurrent sessions at 9 and 10:30 a.m.:

-- Beginning Economic Development, Robinson and Buchheit.

-- Workforce Development, Hobgood and Hickam.

-- Staff Evaluation and Reviews, panel discussion with Lowell, Womack and Williams.

-- Event Management, Nally.

-- 11:30 a.m., Closing comments.