Ritchey Selected as 2012 ACE Honoree
Blair Business Mirror to be Published Tuesday
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Thursday's Breakfast Club
GRYP to Hold Lunch 'n' Learn on Personal Responsibility
Leadership Youth to Experience Session on Heritage
Chamber Members Eligible for Discounted Concert Tickets
Members Invited to Attend "Chamber Check-Up" Session
Non-Members Invited to Attend "Chamber Chat"
Workplace Safety Workshop to Focus on Employee Training
"Down on the Farm" Event Heads to Williamsburg
Early Childhood Summit to Put Focus on Future Workforce
"Buy Here. Live Here." Seeking Prize Donations
Chamber Looking for BHLH Success Stories
Blue Card Discounts
Ritchey Selected as 2012 ACE Honoree
Kelly Ritchey, a 30-year employee of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, is the 2012 recipient of the Blair County Chamber’s Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award. Ritchey has been an account supervisor and farm consultant who has helped literally hundreds of people in the agriculture community to more effectively handle some of the financial challenges associated with doing business. Ritchey will receive the ACE Award at The Chamber’s Annual Farm-City Dinner which will be held on October 30th at The Park at Morrisons Cove.
Blair Business Mirror to be Published Tuesday
Blair Candy Company of Altoona will be the cover story in the September issue of the Blair Business Mirror, published tomorrow as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. Inside features will include stories on Window World and Valley Auto Service as well as a detailed report on the impact that non-profit organizations make on Blair County’s economy. Be sure to pick-up a copy of Tuesday’s Altoona Mirror so you stay in the business loop. And if you are unable to get the Mirror, we mail all Chamber member businesses a copy so you’re covered!
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Thursday's Breakfast Club
State Senator John Eichelberger will be the featured speaker at this Thursday’s Blair County Chamber Breakfast Club. The format for the presentation will be a Q&A conducted by Matt Stuckey, chair of The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee. The questions for the Senator will have been submitted by members of The Chamber and will be prioritized by the committee. The Breakfast Club begins at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The cost to attend is $16.00 for Chamber members and $30.00 for non-members. A buffet breakfast is included. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor for the September Breakfast Club is Mount Aloysius College.
GRYP to Hold Lunch 'n' Learn on Personal Responsibilty
Join GRYP and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce for a Lunch 'n' Learn this Wednesday, September 12, 2012 from Noon - 1:30 at The Blairmont Club. Cost to attend is $22 for GRYP and Chamber Members and $30 for Non-Members. The price drops to $17 per person if three or more attend from the same Chamber-member business. Lunch is included. Angie Yasulitis will present "Make Your Life a FEAST” and evaluate how you can become more successful both personally and professionally through a holistic approach. Register here or call The Chamber at 814-943-8151. The corporate sponsor for this presentation is Quantum Health and Wellness.
Leadership Youth to Experience Session on Heritage
The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County Youth class will have its first session of 2012 this Wednesday beginning at 8:00 a.m. The session, which focuses on History/Heritage/Arts, will convene at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center and will then move to the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Mishler Theatre, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and Gospel Hill. Following lunch, the students will complete the session at the GACTC with a review of the county’s heritage and other related discussions. For more information on Leadership Blair County Youth, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or visit The Chamber website.
Chamber Members Eligible for Discounted Concert Tickets
As part of the ongoing marketing efforts of Buy Here. Live Here., The Chamber has arranged for members to purchase discounted tickets for a concert featuring Nashville recording artist Ricky Lee. The concert will be held on Friday, September 21st from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. However, Chamber Members can purchase them at The Chamber office for just $7.00 each (limit four-per-member). Besides Lee, the Johnny Cash Tribute Band and the Ultimate Elvis Experience will also perform.
Members Invited to Attend "Chamber Check-Up" Sessions
There is much to know about the Blair County Chamber. The organization has a wide variety of programs, events, committees and member benefits. And it’s not just non-members who aren’t aware of them. For that reason, The Chamber is holding a program called “Chamber Check-Up” on two days in September for current Chamber Members only. The hour-long sessions will focus on how the organization operates and what members can do to more effectively utilize The Chamber to improve their own businesses and experience greater personal and professional growth. The first session will be held on Tuesday, September 18th at 8:00 a.m. The second session is on Tuesday, September 25th at 1:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Since the sessions will be identical, it is only necessary to attend one. There is no cost to attend Chamber Check-Up but pre-registration is encouraged. Call Marilyn at 943-8151 to register.
Non-Members Invited to Attend "Chamber Chat"
Often, businesses and organizations that are not members of The Chamber have a difficult time deciding whether to join because they know so little about what The Chamber does. To help clear-up any confusion, The Chamber has created “Chamber Chat,” an opportunity for non-members to learn about the organization in a fact-filled one hour session. The next "Chamber Chats" will be held on Wednesday, October 17th at 8:15 a.m. and Wednesday, October 24th at 1:30 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the Devorris Center for Business Development and will last no longer than one hour. There is no cost to attend "Chamber Chat" but pre-registration is encouraged. Call 943-8151 to register. There is no obligation to join The Chamber if you attend.
Workplace Safety Workshop to Focus on Employee Training
The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will begin its 2012-13 educational series with a workshop on Workplace Safety conducted by Tony Samento, one of the top training providers in the country. The workshop will also feature a special guest, Tony Delph, who experienced a serious industrial accident that resulted in a traumatic amputation that ultimately changed his life. The workshop will be held on Friday, September 21st from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at ProCare Health & Fitness in Altoona. ProCare will serve as corporate sponsor for the workshop as well. The cost to attend is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. Breakfast is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
"Down on the Farm" Event Heads to Williamsburg
The Annual Business After Hours “Down on the Farm” will be held on Thursday, September 27th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Clover Will Farms, 245 England Lane in Williamsburg. The event will feature a pig roast provided by AgChoice Farm Credit and Holland Brothers Meats, kids activities, farm tours, Ritchey’s ice cream and live entertainment by Zupe. The cost to attend is just $5.00-per-person and kids under 12 are free. To register and for directions to the farm, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Early Childhood Summit to Put Focus on Future Workforce
Blair County’s future workforce will depend heavily on the willingness of those in hiring positions to better understand and respond to the challenges of Early Childhood Education. To jumpstart that process, the Blair County Chamber’s BASICS Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education will host an event on September 28th from 7:15 to 9:30 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The event, entitled “Our Future Workforce: Early Childhood Education Summit” features an impressive array of speakers on topics of relevance to employers, providers and legislators. Panelists include Judy Cameron, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh who will address, “The Science Behind the Policy: Why is Starting Early So Important?” and Attorney Dave Freed, Cumberland County’s District Attorney, whose presentation is called “Pay Now or Pay Much More Later: Linking Early Learning and Crime Prevention.” Freed will be introduced by Bruce Clash, State Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania. The Summit’s keynote – “Early Education . . . the Foundation for Learning” will be offered by Barbara Minzenberg, Ph.D., Deputy Secretary of the PA Office of Child Development & Early Learning. The cost to attend the Early Childhood Education Summit is just $20/person and includes a buffet breakfast. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
"Buy Here. Live Here." Seeking Prize Donations
To encourage more people to sign pledge cards for The Chamber’s “Buy Here. Live Here.” initiative, prizes will be awarded each month to people who have already signed cards and whose email addresses are randomly drawn. If your business is one that is willing to offer such a prize, please call The Chamber at 943-8151.
Chamber Looking for BHLH Success Stories
Too often, recognition bypasses people who deserve it most. The Chamber is attempting to change that through its “Buy Here. Live Here.” program. “We’re encouraging people to change their buying habits,” remarked Randy Green of McCartney’s, who chairs the BHLH Steering Committee. “When they do, we want to point that out to others. And we want to thank the people who are showing consideration for the future of their community.” If you are one of those people or your business has taken steps toward local buying, call Joe Hurd at The Chamber today (943-8151) or email him.
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.
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C&G Savings Bank
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Open a new checking account with direct deposit and receive a FREE coffee mug when you present your Chamber Blue Card at any one of our six locations!
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Elmcroft of Altoona
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Present your Chamber Blue Card and receive $500 off 1st month rent.
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Envision Laser Centers
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to save $300 OFF PER EYE on Custom Lasik Lifetime Package. *Not combinable with any other offer including financing and insurance discounts.
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Fellabaum & Co., Inc./dba Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
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Present your Blue Card to receive 15% off of tax preparation services. (Offer is valid at Blair County locations: Station Medical Center, Greenwood and Claysburg.)
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Firestone Complete Auto Care
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Present your Blue Card to receive a standard lube, oil & filter change for $21.99 + tax OR receive a PA state inspection and emissions test for $39.99 + tax.
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For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
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September 10, 2012
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Upcoming Events
Register online
GRYP Lunch 'n' Learn
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Blairmont Club
Topic: "Make Your Life a FEAST"
Speaker: Angela Yasulitis
Sponsored by: Quantum Health and Wellness
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, September 13, 2012
7:45 - 8:55 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Speaker: Sen. John H. Eichelberger, Jr.
Sponsored by:
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, September 20, 2012
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Register Here
Down on the Farm
Thursday, September 27, 2012
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Clover Will Farms
245 England Lane, Williamsburg
Bring the whole family for an evening on the farm.
Register Here
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 9/10/12
BASICS Steering Committee Meeting
Monday, September 10, 8:00 a.m.
Greater Altoona Career & Tech Center
Chamber Staff Meeting
Monday, September 10, 10:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Home & Garden Show Committee
Tuesday, September 11, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
Regional BASICS Coalition
Tuesday, September 11, 10:00 a.m.
ABCD Conference Room
Buy Here. Live Here. Committee
Tuesday, September 11, 2:00 p.m.
Devorris Center
Attractions Roundtable
Thursday, September 13, 2:00 p.m.
DelGrosso's Amusement Park
Blair County Business Coalition
Friday, September 14, 9:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Farm-City Committee
Friday, September 14, Noon
Hoss's - Duncansville
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