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Blair Business Mirror Hits the Streets Tomorrow
WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn on Social Media Sold Out
Chamber Board Meets Thursday at Devorris Center
GRYP to Hold Networking Event at The Altoona Hotel
Safety Program to Address Workers' Comp Liability
"Buy Here. Live Here." - The Work Has Just Begun
Register Your Cell Phone for "Alert Blair County" Today
Chamber Sets Meetings on "Navigating the Electricity Market"
Scheeler to Speak to Coalition on Wind Energy
Blue Card Discounts

Blair Business Mirror Hits the Streets Tomorrow
Chamber Member businesses that provide staffing for local companies are the industry sector featured in this month’s Blair Business Mirror, which is a supplement to tomorrow’s Altoona Mirror. The publication also features an interview with JoAnn Nardelli, a look at a popular small business Franklin Frames and an informational piece on The Chamber Ambassadors. If you don’t receive the Altoona Mirror (and even if you do) a copy of the Blair Business Mirror is mailed to each Chamber-member business within a few days of its actual publication date.

WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn on Social Media Sold Out
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce WE-LEaD (Women Encouraging Leadership, Education and Development) Lunch ‘n’ Learn program on March 15th at The Blairmont Club in Hollidaysburg is sold out. A waiting list has been compiled and interested people can call The Chamber at 943-8151 to be added to that list. The program, “Solving the Social Media Puzzle,” will be presented by Amanda McClellan of Magnetic Marketing Unlimited. McClellan will explain the key components of an effective internet and social media marketing program as well as how to easily update platforms. Cost to attend is $22 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members.

Chamber Board Meets Thursday at Devorris Center
The Board of Directors of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce will meet on Thursday beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Any Chamber Member who would like to address the Board should contact Joe Hurd by noon on Tuesday at 943-8151.

GRYP To Hold Networking Event at The Altoona Hotel
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals will hold a networking event on Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Altoona Hotel. There is no cost to attend for GRYP Members and a $5.00 charge for non GRYP -members. To register call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

Safety Program to Address Workers' Comp Liability
“Limiting Liability on Workers' Compensation Claims” will be the next program hosted by The Chamber’s Safety Committee. The program will be held on Friday, March 16th from 7:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott and will focus on reducing recordables, ultimately reducing employer cost. Speakers will be Monica Meyer of East Coast Risk Management who will talk about the OSHA 300 Log; Darin Lusch of Phoenix Rehabilitation and Health Services who will touch on HIPAA, post/pre-employment screening and direct access. Corporate sponsor for the program is Blair Orthopedics. The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

"Buy Here. Live Here." - The Work Has Just Begun
Last week’s successful launching of The Chamber’s “Buy Here. Live Here.” program has drawn rave reviews from businesses and consumers and pledge cards are being signed both in hard copy and online. The various work groups associated with BHLH are planning to get back together for strategy sessions and the groups welcome anyone from The Chamber membership who would like to volunteer time to assist in the many important tasks still to be undertaken. If you or one of your employees would like to help, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or email Linda Stotler. If you still haven’t pledged to direct 10% more of your purchasing to local vendors, you can still do that by going to www.buyherelivehere.com.

Register Your Cell Phone for "Alert Blair County" Today
The Chamber has partnered with the Blair County Local Emergency Planning Committee to alert Blair County residents and their families of important local level emergencies. In all probability, your residential and business telephones are already on the contact list. But your cellular telephones and smart phones are not. To register them, log on to www.blairco.org and click on the “ALERT BLAIR COUNTY” icon. Persons without Internet access can contact EMA Administrative Assistant Cris Stacey at 940-5901 for assistance.

Chamber Sets Meetings on "Navigating the Electricity Market"
Since The Chamber introduced its ChamberChoice program on electric savings through OnDemand Energy, more than 300 member-businesses have saved considerable dollars. “The savings on commercial electricity rates have been so significant that the burning question is why more of our members haven’t signed-on to the program,” admitted Chamber President Joe Hurd. If the reason is that they weren’t aware of the program, that has a chance to change. The Chamber is holding two meetings on March 20th for members (and non-members) to attend to learn more about the program. The first is at 9:00 a.m.; the second at 1:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Neither meeting should last more than one hour. Cheryl Hefft, Senior Energy Advisor with OnDemand Energy Solutions, will be the presenter. “If your business’s savings on electricity aren’t what you’d like them to be, it’s important that you attend one of these meetings,” Hurd pointed out. It is not necessary to register for the meetings and there is no cost to attend.

Scheeler to Speak to Coalition on Wind Energy
Max Scheeler, Coordinator-Community Wind Project at Saint Francis University’s Renewable Energy Center, will speak to The Chamber’s Coalition on Sustainability at its next meeting, set for March 28th at 11:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The Renewable Energy Center was awarded a grant from the USDA and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies to provide wind resource reports to farmers/agricultural producers and rural small businesses in Pennsylvania. Scheeler will talk about the project and explain ways that wind power may be a cost effective answer for any of several locations in our area. All Chamber Members are invited to attend the Coalition meeting. Advance registration would be helpful. Call The Chamber at 943-8151.

Blue Card Discount offers
Here are a few of the discounts you can receive with your Chamber Blue Card. Click here to see the full list of Blue Card Discounts. To have an offer listed contact Stacy Hoover at The Chamber at 943-8151.

Sylvan Learning Center

Present your Blue Card to receive a free diagnostic assessment and one free week upon enrollment.

Peter C. Pham, DDS, PC

Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive 10% Discount on Major Restorative Work OR receive Free X-Rays. (New Patients Only) OR receive $50 off Zoom Whitening.

Phoenicia Mediterranean Restaurant

Present your Blue Card to receive 10% off your bill. Discount excludes alcohol purchases.

Quantum Health & Wellness

Present your Blue Card for 10% off any corporate wellness program or tool, includes screening, educational programs, electronic medical records, health management coaching. Offer also applies to individual clients.

Ramada Altoona Conference Center

Present your Blue Card to receive 20% off in any of the Ramada's restaurants - The Cosmopolitan, The Renaissance or the Tropical Courtyard OR receive 10% off of sleeping rooms (based on availability) or 10 percent off on any banquet room or meeting room.

March 12, 2012

Upcoming Events

Register online

Safety Presentation

Friday, March 16, 2012
Courtyard by Marriott
7:45 - 10:00 a.m.

Topic: Workers' Comp Liability

Sponsored by:

Register Here

Business After Hours
Thursday, March 29, 2012
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

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Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 3/12/12

Chamber Staff Meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 9:00 a.m.
The Chamber

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