Business Hall of Fame Judges to Meet Tuesday
Coalition on Sustainability to Feature SIFE Presentation
Home Nursing Agency to Host "Business After Hours"
2014 Business After Hours Dates Starting to Fill-up
Deadline is Saturday to Apply for Leadership Blair County Class
Forum Scheduled to Change Foster Care System
Have You Received Your "Buy Here. Live Here." Newletter?
Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
Great Electric Rates Still Available from Chamber Energy Program
Does Your Business Qualify for a Ribbon Cutting?
Blue Card Discounts 

Business Hall of Fame Judges to Meet Tuesday
The honorees for the 2012 Blair County Business Hall of Fame will be selected tomorrow as the panel of out-of-county judges convenes at the Devorris Center. They will have some tough decisions to make, according to Judy Juda, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Programming & Membership Education. “We had a huge response to this year’s nomination process,” Juda reported. “In some categories, we had more than twice the nominations that we usually get. It will be interesting to see how everything shakes-out.” The Business Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on October 15th at the Blair County Convention Center.

Coalition on Sustainability to Feature SIFE Program
The joint project on energy conservation between The Chamber’s Coalition on Sustainability and Penn State Altoona’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) has already yielded one success story for a local business and the Coalition is inviting other businesses to come and hear about that success story this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center. “Once other businesses hear how they can potentially save money and be good stewards of the environment at the same time, they’ll be very impressed,” acknowledged Katrina Pope, chair of the Coalition. “It’s really a great start to a project with a huge upside.” It’s not necessary to register to attend Thursday’s meeting and there’s no obligation to commit to any type of involvement. “Just be prepared to hear about something that makes sense for any business, large or small,” stated Pope.

Home Nursing Agency to Host "Business After Hours
The Home Nursing Agency will host Thursday’s “Business After Hours” at its Sheraton Drive location (the former Ethan Allan building) in Altoona. The event runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The cost to attend is $6.00 for Chamber Members in advance and $7.00 at the door. Non-members can attend for $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

2014 Business After Hours Dates Starting to Fill-up
In the ever-changing world of business, one thing never seems to change – the popularity of hosting Business After Hours. Not only are all dates for hosting After Hours filled for the remainder of 2012 but for all of 2013 and a few months in 2014. If you’re interested in hosting in 2014 (or beyond), contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151 or email her.

Deadline is Saturday to Apply for Leadership Blair County Class
The 2013 Class of The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County program – the 19th class overall – will be assembled in early July following candidate interviews. Will you be one of those candidates? Apply today so that you can join other servant leaders in helping to make Blair County a better place to live and work. The deadline to apply is June 30th. Contact Judy Juda for an application at 943-8151.

Forum Scheduled to Change Foster Care System
Blair County Children, Youth & Families is sponsoring a Community Forum tomorrow, June 26th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. The Forum focuses on changing America’s foster care system and will attempt to build awareness, create a sense of urgency and move people to action. There is no cost to attend and no need to register.

Have You Received Your "Buy Here. Live Here." Newsletter?
First the Buy Here. Live Here. website and now the Buy Here. Live Here. online newsletter. If you haven’t received the newsletter it means that you haven’t yet signed a pledge card saying that you will attempt to buy at least 10% more of your products and services from local providers. By signing a pledge, you will be entered into monthly prize drawings. You can access a pledge card either by visiting The Chamber Office or by visiting the website at http://www.buyherelivehere.com/. 

Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is seeking an intern for the Fall Semester. The intern should be majoring in Business Management, Marketing or Communications. The internship can be either for credit or personal enrichment. Interested students should contact Linda Stotler at 943-8151. 

Great Electric Rates Still Available from Chamber Energy Program
If your business is a member of the Blair County Chamber and you haven’t enrolled in a discount program for electricity, you’re already losing money. To remedy that situation, check out The Chamber’s commercial energy program through OnDemand Energy. The rates are great and the service is outstanding. Simply visit the website at http://www.ondemandenergy.com/ and see what you’ve been missing!

Does Your Business Qualify for a Ribbon Cutting?
Has your business recently re-located, renovated or changed its appearance in any way? Then call The Chamber at 943-8151 and ask for Linda Stotler to schedule a ribbon-cutting. The Chamber Ambassadors, along with Chamber staff and any available elected officials will come to your location, cut a ribbon and take a photo that will then appear in an upcoming issue of the Blair Business Mirror. And the best thing is, there’s no cost involved. Don’t miss-out on an opportunity to promote your business. Call today!

Blue Card Discounts
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.    

Bellissimo Pizza & Pasta	Buy two scoops of Ritchey's Ice Cream and get one scoop free when you present your Chamber Blue Card.
Damin Printing Company, LLC	Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive a 15% discount on wedding invitations.
Dr.'s Centar & Imler	Present your Blue Card to receive 20% off of spectacle lenses and frames OR receive 20% off of an exam and contact lens fitting.(Discount cannot be combined with any other insurance programs, coupons or courtesies.)
Edward Jones Investments	Present your Blue Card to receive a FREE Business Retirement Plan Assessment from Edward Jones Investments, Altoona and Edward Jones Investments, J.T. Tidd, Hollidaysburg.
Elmcroft of Altoona	Present your Chamber Blue Card and receive $500 off 1st month rent.