Chippewa Valley Rally will be virtual in 2021

2021 Chippewa Valley Rally Week

March 8-11 Virtual Event
Presented by the Chippewa Valley Chamber Alliance
Chippewa Falls * Eau Claire * Menomonie
​Click here to register
 
For 26 years, Chippewa Valley business and community leaders have traveled to Madison each winter to visit lawmakers in the State Capitol to advocate for our region's economic priorities. In February 2020, more than 100 people participated in this annual event organized by the Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie Chambers of Commerce.

Because of restrictions on large groups and the need for safe practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rally will look a bit different in 2021. But just as always, it will bring critical area priorities to policy makers as decisions are made about the 2021-23 state budget.

How it works
The 2021 Chippewa Valley Rally will take place virtually in bite-sized portions over Monday-Thursday, March 8-11. There will be an optional advance issues briefing on Friday, March 5. The event will kick-off with two sessions for all attendees on Monday afternoon, then continue with a variety of sessions and small group legislative visits on the mornings and lunch hour on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All events will be conducted via Zoom.

Presenting the issues
The heart of the Chippewa Valley Rally is presenting critical economic issues to policy makers as they deliberate on the 2021-23 state budget. Issues this year include key regional priorities like broadband expansion, the UWEC Science & Health Sciences Building, UW-Stout's Heritage Hall, opening up land for economic development in Chippewa Falls, and the need for state leadership on workforce challenges.
Click here to read the 2021 Chippewa Valley Rally Issues
 
What registration includes
 * Access to various all-attendee events, including presentations from the Governor (invited), cabinet secretaries, policy experts, and more.
 * Advance issues briefings with information on the 2021 key issues being presented by the Chippewa Valley Chamber Alliance
 * Legislative visits: You’ll be asked to participate as part of a small team in 3-5 total virtual visits with legislators (scheduled with 30-min time slots), which will be scheduled in the mornings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, based upon your availability.
       After you sign up, you’ll be contacted to confirm your schedule availability. You'll be asked to participate on a
      small group team on one of the mornings.
 * Registration this year is at a reduced fee of just $39 per participant, since we will not have transportation, facility and food expenses.
Click here to register
 
Schedule
Events times subject to change and will be updated as schedules are confirmed
 
Friday, March 5
 11:00 a.m. Advance Issues Briefing and Q&A
 
Monday, March 8
  1:00 p.m. Issues Briefing and Q&A (same content as Friday)
  2:00 p.m. All-attendees event:  Political experts panel - how to be effective in talking to lawmakers
                     With seasoned experts Bill McCoshen, Capitol Consultants; Shawn Pfaff, Pfaff Public Affairs
 
Tuesday, March 9 
  9:00-12:00 Legislative small group visits (as noted above, you'll be asked to participate on one morning)
  1:00 p.m.    All-attendees event: Workforce Issues Discussion
                        Rep. Warren Petryk, Assembly Workforce Committee Chair, Rep. Katrina Shankland, Ranking
                        member, Chris Reader, Senior Director of Workforce & Employment Policy, WMC
    2:00 p.m.   All-attendees event: WEDC Secretary & CEO Missy Hughes

Wednesday, March 10
  9:00-12:00 Legislative small group visits (as noted above, you'll be asked to participate on one morning)
  1:00 p.m.    All-attendees event: Address by Governor Tony Evers, with follow up discussion with Sen. Jeff Smith
                       and Rep. Jodi Emerson
  1:30 p.m.    All-attendees event: Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan

Thursday, March 11
  9:00-12:00 Legislative small group visits (as noted above, you'll be asked to participate on one morning)
 12:00 noon All-attendees event: WisDOT Secretary-designee Craig Thompson
  1:30 p.m.    All-attendees event: Wrap-up Session with Chippewa Valley area legislators
                       Sens. Kathy Bernier, Jeff Smith, and Rob Stafsholt (invited); Reps. Jodi Emerson, Jesse James
                       (invited), Clint Moses, Warren Petryk (invited), and Rob Summerfield.

Click here to register now. Schedule is subject to updates and additions. 

If you have questions or comments, contact Scott Rogers at: rogers@eauclairechamber.org