1984-1993 Progress and partnerships: the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce grows its membership and moves into a landmark building.As one of the largest organizations of its kind in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce faced a quandary as it began its ninth decade. With membership growing and programs expanding, the Chamber clearly had outgrown its cramped headquarters in the 150 Michigan Building. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Providentially prov·i·den·tial adj. 1. Of or resulting from divine providence. 2. Happening as if through divine intervention; opportune. See Synonyms at happy. , the dilemma was solved when the Evening News Association, owner of The Detroit News, generously donated the former WWJ WWJ Walk with Jesus radio and television studio, designed by Albert Kahn in 1936, to the Chamber. With 87,650 square feet of space, the landmark building at 600 W. Lafayette Blvd. had more than enough room for the Chamber plus space for tenants. A Foundation for Progress campaign led by Charles T. Fisher Charles Thomas Fisher (1880-1963) was an American businessman and an automotive pioneer. Born in Norwalk, Ohio, Charles was the second son of Lawrence and Margaret Fisher. The family would grow to include seven boys and four girls. III netted nearly $3 million from more than 350 member firms to remodel re·mod·el tr.v. re·mod·eled also re·mod·elled, re·mod·el·ing also re·mod·el·ling, re·mod·els also re·mod·els To make over in structure or style; reconstruct. the historic building and create a modern, efficient work environment. On Jan. 27, 1986, the Chamber officially occupied its new building, complete with a main lobby featuring a terrazzo terrazzo Type of flooring consisting of marble chips set in cement or epoxy resin that is poured and ground smooth when dry. Terrazzo was ubiquitous in the 20th century in commercial and institutional buildings. floor, brass railing and Art Deco lighting fixtures reflecting the building's original design. This would be the Chamber's home for the next 12 years. In the latter half of the 1980s the Chamber continued to expand its scope by forming a new Environmental Policy Committee, a Task Force on Neighborhood Crime and an Advisory Group on Gun Control. The Chamber also advocated on behalf of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, led a campaign for lower water rates and went on record in opposition to casino gambling in Detroit. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In August 1989 the Chamber launched the innovative Detroit Compact program in collaboration with Detroit Public Schools Detroit Public Schools (DPS) is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is 116,800. and a number of leading businesses. Participating DPS Minicomputer series from Bull HN. 1. (language, text) DPS - Display PostScript. 2. (language) DPS - A real-time language with direct expression of timing requests. ["Language Constructs for Distributed Real-Time PRogramming", I. students who met specified performance standards in reading, math, attendance and discipline were rewarded with job opportunities or college tuition assistance upon graduation from high school. Addressing the critical issue of workforce development, the Greater Detroit Alliance of Business, a Chamber affiliate, entered into an agreement in 1990 with the Michigan Employment Security Commission to implement a joint venture aimed at reducing unemployment in Detroit. On the public-policy front, the Chamber turned its attention to the medical malpractice Improper, unskilled, or negligent treatment of a patient by a physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care professional. insurance crisis, supported "schools of choice" legislation, monitored the high cost of unemployment insurance, endorsed the Brady gun-control bill and acted to avert the shutdown of SMART bus service. In 1992 the Chamber achieved a memorable milestone when it welcomed its 10,000th member firm--twice the number of members in 1990. In recognition of this outstanding effort, the National Association of Membership Development presented four of its top five awards in 1992 to the Chamber. Writing in the Detroiter as the Chamber's ninth decade drew to a close, Chamber President Frank Smith noted: "More and more, central cities and their suburbs are coming to recognize that their economic survival is dependent upon cooperation." This theme would increasingly dominate the Chamber's agenda in the coming years. The Chamber mourned the death of Richard C. Van Dusen in 1991. Van Dusen had served as Chamber chairman for two consecutive years, 1987-88 and 1988-89, and continued to serve on the board of directors and as chairman of the Greater Detroit Chamber Foundation until his death at age 65. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Chamber honored its 5,000th member in 1990, the Bloomfield Hills law firm Howard & Howard. Chamber account manager Michael Cassa (center) welcomes managing partner J. Michael kemp (seated) and partner Daniel King. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sneak Preview In October 1984, the Chamber hosted a sneak preview reception at its new 600 W. Lafayette headquarters. Exchanging the keys to the building are (1-r) Peter Kizer, executive vice president/Broadcast Division, The Evening News Association; Peter Clark, president, The Evening News Association; Chamber Chairman Don Becker (Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep". Some still refer to it locally as "The Friendly" -- a slogan from an ad campaign in the '70s. ); Detroit Mayor Coleman Young; and Chamber President Frank Smith. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Toast to Us Chamber directors toast the new boardroom at their first meeting in the 600 W. Lafayette building in August 1986. Standing is Richard C. Van Dusen, chairman of the Headquarters Committee. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Detroit Compact Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young was joined by representatives from more than 50 community organizations to formally sign the Detroit Compact. Pictured with him are Horace L. Sheffield of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations and Mary Dismuke of the Detroit Compact. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jack Steiner: Information Please! Richard Bruneau's record 44-year career (see page 78) was matched by John R. (Jack) Steiner, CCE CCE Cornell Cooperative Extension CCE Corporate and Continuing Education CCE Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. CCE Commission de Coopération Environnementale CCE Centre for Continuing Education CCE College of Continuing Education CCE Certified Computer Examiner , who joined the staff in 1949 and retired in 1993 as research director of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. At the time of his retirement, Steiner estimated that he had answered 225,000 requests for information about the Detroit area and its economy during his tenure. He is credited with forming what is known today as the Chamber's Research & Information Center. He also served as executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. (BOMA Boma (bō`mə), city (1984 pop. 197,617), Bas-Congo province, W Congo (Kinshasa), on the Congo River estuary. A port and railhead, it exports tropical timber, bananas, cacao, and palm products. ), was in charge of economic development for the Chamber for a time and filled many other assignments over the years. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steiner spent his entire career with the Chamber, earning a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Detroit while working. Over the years he won the Economic Forum's Forecast Award three times, once beating the former governor of the Federal Reserve of the United States. He also met President Gerald Ford in the White House for an economic overview of the country with other chamber of commerce executives and signed the Declaration of Free Trade in Montreal as the Chamber's representative. John R. (Jack) Steiner lives in St. Clair Shores. Check This Out Chamber President Frank E. Smith accepted a $20,000 check in 1994 from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of African American trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO. CBTU was started in September of 1972 when more than 1,200 black union officials and rank and file members from 37 for the Van Dusen/Compact College Fund. Holding the oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. check are (I-r) Geneva Geneva, canton and city, Switzerland Geneva (jənē`və), Fr. Genève, canton (1990 pop. 373,019), 109 sq mi (282 sq km), SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva. Williams, chair person of the Detroit Compact Stakeholders Council; Horace Sheffield, CBTU CBTU Coalition of Black Trade Unionists president; and S. Martin Taylor, vice president of Community and Government Affairs, Detroit Edison Co. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Time Line: 1984-1993 1984: Indira Ghandi assassinated 1985: Titanic wreckage discovered 1986: Space shuttle Challenger explodes 1987: NWA Flight 255 crashes in Detroit 1988: George H.W. Bush elected 41st president 1989: Tianenmen Square massacre in China 1990: Berlin Wall falls 1991: Soviet Union collapses 1992: Bill Clinton elected 42nd president 1993: NAFTA signed |
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