GAC Application

Government Affairs Committee (GAC)

In 2004 the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce Board formed a Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) to better accomplish the organization’s mission. This committee is responsible for monitoring and facilitating discussion related to local, state and federal governmental impact that may affect the business community.

COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

  • To serve as the voice of business at all levels of government to include monitoring, drafting, and advocating on behalf of business. 
  • To ensure that governmental decisions and actions positively impact and support our member’s businesses, allowing them to prosper and grow. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

  • The committee is non-partisan and is open to all Chamber members (excluding representatives of government entities or municipalities) regardless of political beliefs.
  • The committee will be comprised of no more than eight voting members appointed by the Chamber Board to serve a calendar year of January 1 to December 31.
  • All issue-related recommendation to the Board will be voted on by the voting members of the committee.
  • The committee chair (appointed by the Board Chair) may cast a tie-breaking vote.
  • Any Chamber member may attend the meetings; however, members of government entities or municipalities must receive permission from the committee chair prior to attending each meeting.

COMMITTEE ACTION

The committee is to be a broad-based committee representing the diverse sectors of the Chamber’s membership. GAC can work through business issues up to the point of requiring a public policy position by the Chamber and may recommend positions on local, state and federal issues to the Chamber Board.  Action on issues presented will be based upon the following rationale:

  1. How the issue directly and/or indirectly affects the Shelton/Mason County business climate?
  2. If the issue is industry specific, how does it affect the Shelton-Mason County economy as a whole?
  3. How will the Chamber’s involvement affect the issue and/or its resolution?
  4. How does the issue promote aggressive, sustainable, and responsible economic growth?

COMMITTEE ISSUES

  • GAC will manage business related issues and may request members to include a form; Request for Chamber Action.
  • GAC and/or Chamber staff can fill out the form with/for a member requesting assistance.
  • The Committee Chair has the authority to require or not require a form, as it not necessary for action but may be useful for better understanding and reporting to the Board of Trustees.

CHAMBER POSITIONS AND COMMITTEE COMMUNICATION

  • All Chamber positions statements voted and approved by GAC will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for vote.
  • The CEO is the designated spokesman for the committee’s efforts and projects.
  • The Board Chair may also appoint a “Board Liaison” to the committee.