China Trip Meeting Tonight at Devorris Center
Small Business Partners Program on Marketing Set for Wednesday
Foundation Board Seeking Approval for “Pre-K Counts”
Chamber Board to Consider Subcommittee Assignments
Advanced Chiropractic to Host Thursday’s “Business After Hours”
"Business After Hours" Hosting Available for Nov. 2013, Jan. 2014
Ribbon-Cutting Scheduled at Bell Mansion Tea House
“Business Before Hours” to Highlight Altoona Beauty School Renovations
LBC Alumni Workshop to Focus on Experiential Learning
London is Next Chamber Trip Destination
Sign-Ups Continue for “Hiring Our Heroes”
Penn State Altoona Students, Faculty to Assist Job Fair Applicants
Chamber Members Can Access Lower Residential Electric Rate
Save the Date: WE-LEaD Spring Workshop
Chamber Golf Classic to Include Ball-Drop
Applications Available for 2014 LBC Youth Class
It’s Important to Update Your Business Information
Promote “Buy Here. Live Here.” With Door Prize Donation
Blue Card Discounts
China Trip Meeting Tonight at Devorris Center
A meeting will be held tonight beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for the people who will be traveling to China with The Chamber next month. The meeting will shore-up all details concerning the trip and will review the itinerary. All those signed-up for the April 12-20 trip should attend the meeting or should send a representative. For further information, contact The Chamber at 943-8151.
Small Business Partners Program on Marketing Set for Wednesday
The Blair County Chamber’s Small Business Partners will present a program on “Search Engine Optimization and Online Marketing” this Wednesday from 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Topics include website design, social media, local online visibility and much more. The featured speaker is Casey Macioge, independent media consultant for PRC Communications. Cost to attend is only $5 for Chamber Members, $10 for non-members. Space is limited. Call The Chamber today at 943-8151 or register online.
Foundation Board Seeking Approval for “Pre-K Counts”
When the board of directors of the Blair County Chamber Foundation meets on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center, one particular item of discussion will focus on an application to be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that would grant permission for the Foundation to accept contributions to benefit Early Childhood Education. Such contributions, made through the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, would be directed to the Pre-K Counts initiative. The request to make application was submitted to the Foundation by the Early Childhood Education Subcommittee of the Blair County Chamber’s BASICS program. The subcommittee is overseeing an effort to help pre-school students to gain greater access to quality educational programming. For further information on the Foundation, contact Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her.
Chamber Board to Consider Subcommittee Assignments
The Chamber’s Board of Directors will meet on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center. Among the agenda items that the board will discuss will be the formation of subcommittees to deal with specific issues facing the organization. “We have a variety of things that we’d like to accomplish during 2013 that speak to our processes as well as our mission,” explained Board Chair Doug Mingle. “We’re confident that we have the people in place who can move The Chamber forward and tie-up some loose ends.” To bring an issue to the Board, contact Joe Hurd by Tuesday at noon at 943-8151.
Advanced Chiropractic to Host Thursday’s “Business After Hours”
Thursday’s Chamber “Business After Hours” will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Advanced Chiropractic, located at 322 West Plank Road in Altoona. The event will feature a variety of networking opportunities, food and drink and valuable door prizes. The cost to attend is $6.00 for Chamber Members in advance and $7.00 at the door. Non-members may attend for $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
"Business After Hours" Hosting Available for Nov. 2013, Jan. 2014
Scheduling conflicts have created an opportunity for a Chamber-member business or organization to host the “Business After Hours” in November, 2013 and January, 2014. The next available date to host an After Hours isn’t until 2015. “This is a rare opportunity,” explained Stacy Hoover, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Events & Technology. “Openings for After Hours don’t come along often, so take advantage of these openings while you can.” These open dates will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Anyone interested in being considered should call Stacy at 943-8151.
Ribbon-Cutting Scheduled at Bell Mansion Tea House
The Chamber Ambassadors head-off to Bellwood on Friday to cut a ribbon at Bell Mansion Tea House, located at the corner of Main Street and Stadium Drive. The ribbon cutting begins at 9:00 a.m. and all Chamber Members are invited to attend. For further information, call The Chamber at 943-8151.
“Business Before Hours” to Highlight Altoona Beauty School Renovations
Altoona Beauty School, located at 1554 Valley View Blvd. in Altoona will host the next “Business Before Hours” this Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the school. The event will feature breakfast and tours of the school. There is no cost for Chamber Members to attend. Non-members may attend for $10.00 each. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
LBC Alumni Workshop to Focus on Experiential Learning
The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County Alumni Association will hold a special workshop on March 27th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. “Experiential Learning With a Purpose” will feature team building exercises that foster a sense of leadership with a team focus. The guest speaker will be Dr. Robert Ricketts, a senior lecturer for Kinesiology at Penn State University. The cost to attend is $15.00 for Paid Dues Alumni, $20 for Non-Paid Dues Alumni and $20 for interested Chamber Members. The event includes a full buffet breakfast. To make reservations, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
London is Next Chamber Trip Destination
The Blair County Chamber is headed to London! The Chamber, in cooperation with Heritage Travel of Altoona and Chamber Discoveries, will feature an eight-day trip from October 26th to November 2nd. Trip brochures are available at the Chamber Office and Heritage Travel and an informational meeting will be held on April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. To register for that meeting, call The Chamber at 943-8151.
Sign-Ups Continue for “Hiring Our Heroes”
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce will partner with the U.S. Chamber on a major event that is expected to have considerable impact on local employers and military job seekers. “Hiring Our Heroes” is a nationwide effort initiated by the U.S. Chamber in March of 2011 to help veterans and military spouses to find meaningful employment. Since that time, 220 hiring fairs have taken place in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia resulting in more than 10,400 hirings. On April 10, 2013, a Hiring Our Heroes fair will be held from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona. The event is free for both employers and job seekers. Job seekers are limited to military veterans and their spouses. Employers will not be required to pay for exhibitor space, they must at least verify that they have legitimate jobs to offer. Any employers interested in reserving exhibitor space should go to HOH.greatjob.net. Job seekers can register on that same site. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Penn State Altoona Students, Faculty to Assist Job Fair Applicants
The Enactus team at Penn State Altoona, through its “New Beginnings Project,” will have students, faculty and community leaders on hand at a workshop on March 30th from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, located at 1309 Eleventh Avenue in Altoona. Invited to the workshop are any of the job seekers registered to attend Hiring Our Heroes who would like to brush-up on a variety of skills that should prove helpful when interviewee meets interviewer. Each of the workshops will be about twenty minutes each. Participants will then repair to a computer lab where they’ll receive assistance in putting together a polished resume. To register for the workshop, call (814) 940-3400. There is no cost to employers or job seekers to participate in Hiring Our Heroes or in Penn State Altoona’s workshop.
Chamber Members Can Access Lower Residential Electric Rate
On the electric front, the good news is that the Penelec “Price-to Compare” rate has dropped once again to 7.05 cents-per-kilowatt hour. The really good news is that The Chamber’s Residential Electric Program through OnDemand Energy has also dropped to 5.64 cents/kh. But the great news is that anyone who had locked-in the 7.25 rate through the ChamberChoice program previously can now switch to the 5.64 rate without a penalty. To make that switch, either call 866-699-9968 or go to www.ondemandenergy.com.
Save the Date: WE-LEaD Spring Workshop
The Chamber’s WE-LEaD – Women Encouraging: Leadership, Education and Development – will hold its annual Spring Workshop on Thursday, April 25th from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. Nationally-recognized speaker Marsha Pdetrie Sue will present “Decontaminate Toxic People Without Sharp Objects or Duct Tape.” The cost to attend is $65 for Chamber Members, $70 for non-members and $60-per-person in groups of five or more from the same company. Continental breakfast and full buffet lunch are included. Corporate sponsor for the event is Blair Medical Associates. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber Golf Classic to Include Ball-Drop
Registration is underway for the 2013 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield / Chamber Golf Classic. The popular event is set for Monday, May 13th at Iron Masters Country Club in Ore Hill. The price of participating remains the same -- $150-per-golfer and $600 for a foursome – and that includes golf, a delicious luncheon, a special gift for each golfer, a post-Classic reception and Comfort Carts that keep the golfers hydrated. For the second consecutive year, the event will feature a ball drop, coordinated through Pine Bottom Aviation Services of Martinsburg. To reserve a team or an individual spot in this year’s event, contact The Chamber at 943-8151.
Applications Available for 2014 LBC Youth Class
The application process has begun for the 2014 Class of Leadership Blair County Youth. Current high school freshmen at Blair County schools are eligible to apply for the program. Applications must be accompanied by two referrals from non-family members (teachers, guidance counselors, employers, etc.). Students can obtain an application from the guidance office at their schools, by clicking here or by stopping at The Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development. Deadline to apply is April 22nd.
It’s Important to Update Your Business Information
The Blair County Chamber’s database contains information about our members that we use to promote their efforts or which makes them eligible to gain certain business advantages. It’s important that all information regarding our members is updated when changes occur. If you have any changes regarding items such as business address, employee count or significant contact information, contact Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her.
Promote “Buy Here. Live Here.” With Door Prize Donation
As The Chamber continues to solicit support to sustain the Buy Here. Live Here. initiative, it has identified ways that local businesses can make a positive difference at a reasonable cost. “We need door prizes that we can award to people who sign pledge cards,” explained Linda Stotler, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Communication & Marketing. “By signing the cards, they indicate a willingness to support local businesses and also put themselves in position for personal gain when we draw winning door prize tickets.” There’s an upside for the businesses that provide the prizes as well, according to Stotler. “We publicize the prizes and their sponsors in the Buy Here. Live Here. newsletter so that people are aware of who’s stepping up to assist in the effort of building a better community.” To donate a door prize, contact Stotler at 943-8151 or email her.
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 Jessica Meck at The Chamber at 943-8151.
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Enterprise
Rent-A-Car
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive discounts on your next vehicle rental through Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. Call 814-942-7000 for details and mention acct. # 40A4359
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Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries
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Present your Chamber Blue card to receive 10% off rate for first month of services from ALSM at Home for new program participants OR receive 10% off rate for first month of services at the Senior Daily Living Center for new program participants.
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Altoona Beauty School, Inc.
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Present your Chamber Blue Card and get 10% off any retail item. Altoona Beauty School carries Dermalogica, Wella, Nioxin, Sebastian, OPI and Kryolan Professional Makeup.
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ARC Federal Credit Union
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Present your Blue Card and your first book of checks are FREE when you open a new checking account at ARC Federal Credit Union.
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B2B CFO Partners, LLC - Steve Koval, Partner
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive a complimentary Discovery Analysis and Strategy Process, which includes: Confidential meeting with business owner and accounting staff, assessment of financial info & computer systems, benchmark financial info against Industry averages, confidential report of findings and present strategy game plan to address company needs.
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For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
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March 18, 2013
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Online Marketing Program
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Developement
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, March 21, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Advanced Chiropractic
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Altoona Beauty School
Register Here
LBC ALumni Workshop
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
GRYP Indoor Golf
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Golf-A-Round America
Register Here
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 3/18/2013
Business Opportunities Committee
Tuesday, March 19th, 8:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Buy Here. Live Here. Committee
Tuesday, March 19th, 2:00 p.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Foundation Board of Directors
Wednesday, March 20th, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Board of Directors
Thursday, March 21st, 7:30 a.m.
Devorris Center
Non-Profit Coalition - Advocacy
Thursday, March 21st, 9:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Non-Profit Coalition - Internal Education
Thursday, March 21st, 10:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Non-Profit Coalition - External Education
Thursday, March 21st, 11:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Non-Profit Coalition - Collaboration
Thursday, March 21st, 1:30 p.m.
The Chamber
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
Click here
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