1. Wealth Building Tour:  We have developed a comprehensive curriculum to present to business owners and the Black middle class of America on how to properly and prudently invest your money and build wealth for the future.  The NBCC has formed a partnership with Lord Abbett and New York Life Insurance Company to deliver this extremely valuable information.  The baby boomer generation has been given an opportunity to accumulate income and generate cash flow.  This is a first for African Americans.  The most critical thing to do now is to learn how to keep it and make it grow so that true wealth can be realized and actual legacies can be created for our children and grandchildren.  The first three venues will be Washington, DC, Chicago and Los Angeles happening in early December.  The Tour will visit 2 – 4 venues per month during 2005.  NBCC affiliated chapters may join in this by requesting a Tour visit to their venue.  We will also honor requests by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and nonprofits.

2. Web Sites for Beginners:  We are happy to announce that we now have the capability of providing web sites for nonprofits and small businesses that do not yet have one.  During the next six months we will construct up to 1,000 such web sites.  For the price of $30 (for a URL) and a hosting fee of $34.99 per month (minimum one year), we will provide the construction and training free. Sites can be up within a week.  Two samples of such sites are:  www.ghanacouncil.org and www.worldconferenceofmayors.com.  It has now become easy!  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

3. Fair and Balanced Interests:  The campaign is nearing and opposing views have been voiced.  Harry likes George W. Bush (here) and he has written to the NBCC (here).  Fred touts Senator John Kerry (here) and he has also written to the NBCC (here).  For the first time in the history of the United States both competing presidential candidates have put in writing their support for minority business development.  Thus, minority business cannot lose and it becomes an issue of which is the best.  The NBCC is proud to have been the convener of this historical milestone.

4. New Board Members:  The NBCC Nominating Committee has made four recommendations and the vote will take place at our Jamaica Summit, October 28 – 30, 2004.  The nominees are:  Timothy Adams, Oxnard, CA/Lanham, MD; Gene Hale, Los Angeles; Prosper Abdalla, Accra, Ghana.  The terms of these new members will begin January, 2005.  There will be 4 more nominees presented at the February board meeting.  Anyone owning a business doing $10 million annually in sales is invited to apply to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5. A Leader Steps Forward:  We have been in total support of viable alternatives to the Internal Revenue Code (IRS).  There are the Flat Tax and National Sales Tax as the two most popular alternatives.  Recently, the Honorable Chaka Fattah (Congressman, Philadelphia) has introduced another alternative.  It is the Transaction Fee.  His bill H.R. 3759 states “To require a study on transforming America by reforming the Federal tax code through elimination of all Federal taxes on individuals and corporations and replacing the Federal tax code with a transaction fee-based system.”  The NBCC finds this fascinating.  We are going to work with Congressman Fattah’s office and promote H.R. 3759 at every opportunity.    We applaud his leadership and greatly appreciate his vision.  The IRS is antiquated and has outlived its usefulness in America.  It’s time to move on.

6. The Ultimate Compliment:  Some of our better chapters have been able to receive precious funding from their elected officials.  Our Toledo chapter receives funds from their Mayor.  Jacksonville receives federal funds thanks to Congresswomen Corrine Brown.  St. Petersburg, FL receives annual funding from its City Council.  Last summer, Senate Majority Leader Senator Bill Frist made a visit to our Chattanooga African American Chamber of Commerce.  After two hours he stated to local President Sherrie Gilchrist, “I like the good work this organization is doing”.  Two days ago the CAACC received notice that significant federal funding has been appropriated through Senator Frist’s office.  Congratulations to Sherrie, her board and all the members of our dear Chattanooga, TN chapter.

7. Radio via Our San Antonio Chapter:  “The Alamo City Chamber of Commerce is pleased to partner with Clear Channel Worldwide to present streaming audio of KSJL, home for the Tom Joyner Morning Show and Hits and Oldies all day long, on our website.  We will make commercial airtime available to our members on the web broadcast that is not heard on the regular broadcast.  Rates are:  $30 per month for 1 minute spot which runs daily for the month (minimum of 3 spots); $15 per month for 30 second spot which runs daily for the month (minimum of 5 spots)”.  Contact Llew Fambles, President, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

8. New Chambers All the Time:  We would like to acknowledge the emergence of two strategically located new chapters.  Welcome to the Charlotte – Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc.  Whose next?

Until next week,

Harry C. Alford

President/CEO

Fred Jordan

Chairman