Make Your Reservations Today for The Chamber's Annual Meeting!
On Friday, January 27th, The Chamber will hold its 2012 Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation beginning at 7:30 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The event will include the swearing-in of The Chamber Board of Directors as well as the Board of the Blair County Chamber Foundation. Awards to be presented that morning are the Athena Award, the George Award, the Joseph P. Rosenhammer Chamber Spirit Award, the GRYP Impact Award, the Donna D. Gority Servant Leadership Award and the Small Business Person of the Year Award. The Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award, presented last October, will be re-presented at the Annual Meeting. To nominate someone for one of these awards, simply go to The Chamber website and access the nomination form for that award. The cost to attend the Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation is $20 for Chamber Members and non-members. To make reservations, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

County Commissioners to Address January "Breakfast Club" 
The first Chamber “Breakfast Club” of 2012 will take place on January 12th at The Casino at Lakemont Park beginning at 7:45 a.m.  Following tradition, this Breakfast Club welcomes the Blair County Commissioners who will participate in a question-and-answer session on issues of interest to the Blair County business community.  Matt Stuckey of Stuckey Ford, who chairs The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, will ask the questions which are provided by Chamber Members who submit them. If any time remains once the submitted questions are completed, the Commissioners may then take questions from the audience.  This will be the first time that new Commissioner Ted Beam will be a participant in the Q&A so come hear what his opinions are on the issues of the day. To submit a question for consideration, please email it by January 4th to jhurd@blairchamber.com. The cost to attend Breakfast Club is $16 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members.  To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate host for the January Breakfast Club is M&T Bank.

Legislative Action Committee Planning Agressive Advocacy Role
One of The Chamber’s most active and effective committees is gearing-up to tackle a number of important advocacy issues during 2012.  The Legislative Action Committee will look at issues at the local, state and federal levels and will explore ways to impact legislation in favor of business outcomes.  “There are an incredible number of issues on our plate,” remarked Committee Chair Matt Stuckey.  “It’s important that we prioritize those issues and move aggressively to address them.”  Stuckey is hopeful that more Chamber Members with a passion for advocacy will join the committee.  “We have an outstanding group of committed volunteers,” he pointed out.  “But with so many tasks to accomplish, we could really use some additional people.”  To join the Legislative Action Committee, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151.

"Blue Card" Offers: What's the Hold-Up?
The Chamber’s “Blue Card” program has successfully helped Chamber businesses to access new customers and Chamber Members to save money on the purchase of products and services.  That would constitute a win-win for everyone.  However, many Chamber Members are still hesitant to place a Blue Card offer on the list of offers that appears on The Chamber Website.  Why the hesitation?  There’s no minimum offer that a business must provide and there’s no cost to posting.  For further validation, contact someone you know who’s already posted an offer and ask how they’ve done.  We’re betting that the answer will surprise you!  If your business would like to make a Blue Card offer, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or email Jessica Meck.