Recently in the Advocacy Category

President Barak Obama announced a new plan that would reform the way government agancies work for small businesses and announced a move to elevate the position of SBA Administrator to a cabinet-level position. The plan will consolidate the various departments focused on business, commerce and trade to a single, streamlined department.

WIPP strongly supports this effort and released a statement applauding the President's plan.

This reform should help make the government work better for small businesses by consolidating the efforts fo such agencies as the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Commerce Department, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Trade and Development Agency into a one-stop shop for business needs.

The plan, which will require Congressional approval, also aims to rpovide a more accessable, more efficient resource for small business owners. SBA Administrator Karen Mills pointed out that the small business arm of this consolidated department would provide a greater range of programs and opportunites for small businesses and assured that small business interests would be at the core of this new department. WIPP has strongly advocated on behalf of its members for reduced regualtions and simplified resources for small business owners and fully supports this major step in that direction.

WIPP also applauds the Presidents' related move to elevate the position of SBA Administrator to a cabinet-level position. WIPP is pleased to see the President's recognition of the vital role that small businesses play in growing jobs and growing the economy and looks forward to seeing the additional progress that the elevation of the SBA can bring to the small business community. With this move, small businesses will have a stronger voice to advocate for change on the policies and issues that affect them. During this time of economic recovery, it is more important than ever that small business has a seat at the policy-making table.

Today, by request of the U.S. Department of State, WIPP President, Barbara Kasoff, joined by WIPP Board Member Dr. Ann Blackburn, met with the Honorable Katalin Csobor, a Member of Parliament for the Republic of Hungary.  Hon. Csobor, a former small business owner, was appointed to the Committee for Human Rights, Minority, Civil and Religious Affairs.

Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor discussed women in politics and their impact on public policy. They focused on diversity issues, specifically concerning leadership and advocacy for minority and women business owners. Moving forward, Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor will continue to collaborate for the wellbeing of women business owners.

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TAKE ACTION TODAY - HOUSE VOTE IS SET FOR SUNDAY!

With the US House of Representatives set to vote on Healthcare on Sunday, it is imperative that we make sure the voice of women small business owners is heard! Please complete the following ACTION ALERT now, urging members of Congress to act on much needed small business healthcare reforms.

TAKE ACTION NOW by writing your Congressional Representatives today to ask for their support on key healthcare reforms that will greatly benefit small business.

While the future of comprehensive healthcare reform is uncertain, small business owners need access to more insurance plans and better insurance rates. We are asking Congress to move forward with reforms small businesses need even if it does not move forward with a major overhaul of the healthcare system.

Click here to learn more about what these crucial small business healthcare reforms include and to contact your Congressional Representatives to move these reforms forward!

Please contact Angelin Barrios at abarrios@wipp.org with any questions.

I just read a new analysis of job gains and losses from the SBA Office of Advocacy that indicates small businesses created some 65 percent of the net new jobs in the private sector over a recent 15-year period. Although many of the new jobs are in new business startups, even more are in expanding firms - most especially mid-sized firms with 20-499 employees.

New startups and continuous high-growth firms were found to play an essential role in the labor market - allowing for an environment to create a large share of jobs.

Click here to read the complete article. Click here to visit WIPP's Economy policy page and learn more about our recent activities.

For more information and a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.

Social Media is being used by a lot of businesses to build relationships, strengthen their brands, increase prospects and even provide better customer service!

As a member of WIPP, using information you get from WIPP can help you solidify your branding. A lot of social media users do not understand the importance of creating a conversation in social media. It is important to RT (re-tweet) posts from other people to show that you are paying attention and are part of the discussion.

Because WIPP is bi-partisan, its tweets are the perfect opportunity to RT without getting involved in partisan bickering or political discussions which might be a turn-off to clients, potential clients and colleagues. (It is a personal decision for each business owner to decide how much of their personal opinions are public in the business arena).

As an example, what would you think of someone who RTs the following messages?

1. WIPP Releases Statement on Accelerating Job Growth
2. President and First Lady Obama Announce White House Fellows Program
3. Women, Business and Opportunity: A Seminar for Women Business Owners - 1/29/10. REGISTER NOW:
4. White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth briefing on Dec. 10:
5. Be sure to watch my new #PBS feature "Reinvent URself Now". 12-3 http://bit.ly/4vSF7S Hope U will consider pledging too. #smallbiz
6. We received the award for Best New Building Construction from the Queens Chamber of Commerce! http://tinyurl.com/yjgskjr
7. Grow Your Business through Government Contracting. http://bit.ly/8aS9Ad

Do you think that person is:
• a leading woman business owner?
• an advocate for small business and women business owners?
• someone who keeps up on current events?
• a business owner who cares about others?
• a good colleague to work with?

I found the tweets above in less than 10 minutes. Besides RTing from WIPPWeDecide, look for other WIPP members to RT, as well as corporate sponsors.

The first four Tweets are by @WIPPWeDecide. #5 is from @susansolovic, a WIPP board member and owner of SBTV.com. #6 is by @nancygoshow, the co-chair of WIPP's Energy Committee and owner of Goshow Architects in New York City, and #7 is from @OPENForum, a corporate sponsor of WIPP. Plus the article cited in that Tweet mentions WIPP.

Commenting on other people's tweets, blogs and activities helps build our own awareness, and brand. The more valuable your comments are to others, the more it reflects on your abilities and your character.

Social media allows us to brand through story telling. Sharing what we know and what we've learned from others is a big part of that. As a WIPP member, WIPP offers invaluable information to use to let people know who you are -- and what you value.

We would like to invite you to join us on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 4pm EST for the webinar:  Benefits of WIPP Membership:  Use Social media to amplify Your Voice and Brand.  Learn how WIPP's state Instant Impact Teams and individuals can use Social Media for Advocacy:
• Organize around policy issues to gather support for a particular issue
• Deliver a consistent message to a larger audience
• Get the word out to existing members about what's going on at WIPP
• Spread the word to others about the great things WIPP is doing

You can register by going to:  http://www.wipp.org/events/event_details.asp?id=85986