And so I'm proud to introduce the Chamber's first e-newsletter, an evolution that fulfills all three of those goals.

The tradition of a printed Chamber newsletter dates back over a hundred years, to the organization's founding in 1904. It's bittersweet to say farewell to such an enduring tradition, but it's also an exciting change with numerous advantages.

The monthly, email newsletter is accompanied by a re-invented web site, www.slo-business.com, designed to bring you timely information and keep you better up to date with the San Luis Obispo business community. The site features news about the Chamber members, the local economy and policies affecting business, Chamber initiatives and activities, ribbon cuttings, links to stories of local interest and more, updated daily.

As the site grows and evolves, we'll add interactive features aimed at keeping you connected with other members and the local business community, something we could never do in a printed newsletter.

This new direction is also better for the environment. It saves the paper needed to produce over ten thousand newsletters each year. (The paper industry is the fourth-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and more than 40 percent of trees harvested are for used to make paper.) And by sending the newsletter electronically, we avoid any vehicle pollution associated with mail delivery.

Finally, it reduces our costs, meaning we can focus more of your dues on the Chamber's efforts to promote a prosperous, balanced community. These days, stretching your dollar is another form of sustainability!

Information and perspective are central to the Chamber's mission of promoting a healthy business community in San Luis Obispo. By embracing innovation and technology, the Chamber can deliver those objectives electronically, through the fresh newsletter and robust web site. We hope you enjoy and find value in them.

Please direct any questions or feedback to our newsletter and web site editor, Sally Buffalo, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .