AmCham and its Czech Industry Coalition for Data Protection (CICDP) would like to inform you, that January 28 is a Data Privacy Day. DPD is an international effort to recognize the importance of protecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust. Data Privacy Day's goals are to:

• Raise awareness and educate consumers to better understand how their personal information may be collected and the benefits and risks of sharing personal data.
• Empower consumers to express their expectations for the use, protection and management of their personal data.
• Inspire consumers through concrete, simple and actionable tips to more actively manage their online lives.
• Encourage and motivate consumers to consider the privacy implications of their online actions for themselves and others.
• Encourage businesses to be data stewards by being open and honest about how they collect, use and share personal information and clearly communicating any available privacy and security controls.

For more information, click here.

Statement of Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Jourová: Concluding the EU Data Protection Reform is essential for the Digital Single Market

AmCham started new serie of GM activites in 2015 by organizing Wine tasting for GMs/CEOs with spouses. Excellent wines were provided by an AmCham member House of Wine. Thank you to our hosts - Asten Groups & House of Wine. See photos from the GM Evening HERE

Look at the current issue of "Visit Europe Guide" highlighting upcoming events and featuring special offers to the members of AmChams in region.

AmCham members voted in Jeanne Trojan, Executive Presentation Trainer & Coach, as new HR Committee chair for 2015-2016. Jeanne won in a competition of Hana Bachárová of Change Partnership who was the other candidate.

Thanks to both candidates and congratulations to Jeanne!

Members of Marketing Committee met to discuss and plan upcoming activities. Full lenght minutes can be downloaded here.

Short summary from the Committee meeting:

1. Next Marketing Committee will be held on February 26, starting at 9am and will be followed by a workshop focused on social media usage called Brand Me - using social media for personal/professional branding.
2. For March/April the Committee prepares the panel discussion on Internal Communication of companies. As soon as the event is finalizes, it will be published on AmCham web in Activities Schedule section.
3. Marketing Committe focuses its attention to help AmCham to improve its LinkedIn Page and Group. Committee members are asked to fill the document with their ideas and to send it by February 15.

‘Public Affairs’ is a notoriously poorly defined term, meaning many different things to different people. Sometimes also known as Corporate, Government or Regulatory Affairs, Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham calls it “the most important function that nobody understands”.  

Pinkham is right that it is often misunderstood, but is he also right about its importance? And if he is, what role exactly can Public Affairs play in creating a healthy environment in which your business can operate?

Members of AmCham Real Estate Committee met to discuss and plan upcoming activities. Full lenght minutes can be found attached (available under your company´s username and password).

Short summary from the Committee meeting:

• Next Real Estate Committee meeting (24 March 2015) will include the discussion on Prague Building Regulations (PSP) and connected question on how companies should be working now without PSP in place.
• In April Real Estate Committee will organize a discussion on implementing the new ways of working featuring Doug Lowrie, EMEA Regional Workplace Strategist at Microsoft as a key note speaker. Event will be published soon at AmCham´s Activities Schedule.
• Real Estate task force presented an update of its efforts:
  • Update on Building Code amendment – communication with the Ministry
  • Update od EIA – Senate proposal
  • Prague building regulations

AmCham members met on January 20 to discuss and plan further activities. MINUTES attached. Areas discussed/Next steps:

• Lightning talks/Edu brief (10 minutes without slides) - click on the title to see topics for Feb17
• AmCham Discussion on Cloud/preparation: Please send your inputs before Jan31 - see Minutes
• 2nd Discussion: Startup businesses – What startups need from corporations? , planned for April2015. Deadline for suggesting/contacting potential speakers: February 15
• Conference on Digital Economy  - February 12 - organized by the Economic Committee of the Chamber of Deputies
• Register to our discussion: „Innovate or Die! Why Corporations Must Prepare for Positive Disruption.„ - March 25, 9.00am – online or at registration@amcham.cz. See more info about content/speakers: HERE, moderated by Jeanne Trojan.

Click on the title to see more.