Chamber Board Approves Program for Small Businesses
Seven New Members Added to Chamber Rolls
“Chamber Chat” Geared to Prospective Members
“Chamber Check-Up” is for Members Wanting to Learn More
Small Business Seminar Target Risks, Rewards of Social Media
GRYP Lunch ‘n’ Learn to Address Business Etiquette
Leadership Alumni Breakfast is Thursday at The Casino
Meeting Scheduled to Discuss New Healthcare Insurance Option
Great Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Television Programs
McClure Approved as Chair of “Buy Here. Live Here.”
Help Pay Tribute to the Bigelow Family
"Down on the Farm" Event Heads to Roaring Spring
Business Hall of Fame Dinner Slated for October 21st
Home & Garden Show Committee Continues Booth Selection Process
Chamber’s China Trip Will Be Third in Four Years
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Board Approves Program for Small Businesses
The Chamber Board of Directors has approved the organization’s participation in a new program being offered by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry. That program would make it possible for any member of the Blair County Chamber with ten employees or fewer to become members of PCBI as no cost. “This program will provide valuable information to our smaller businesses as they deal with issues of great importance,” explained Chamber Board Chair Doug Mingle. “From what we see, there is no ulterior motive by the State Chamber other than being able to reach out to a segment of the business population that has been difficult from them to reach in the past.” The Chamber Board approved a similar program at its August meeting that made it possible for members in certain categories to gain free membership in the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Any Chamber member-business with ten or fewer employees that would not wish to participate in the PCBI program should contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him.
Seven New Members Added to Chamber Rolls
The Blair County Chamber Board of Directors last Thursday approved seven new members who had made application to the organization. The new members are: Community Connection of Duncansville; DVJ Enterprises of Duncansville, D/B/A Slinky Action Zone; Express Employment Professionals of Altoona; Local Mobi Social, LLC of East Freedom; Myers-Somers Funeral Home of Altoona; Wilkes University of Wilkes-Barre; and Woodmen of the World of Bedford.
“Chamber Chat” Geared to Prospective Members
Today at 2:00 p.m., a “Chamber Chat” will be held at the Devorris Center for Business Development. This interactive forum will allow non-Chamber members to learn more about the organization. There is no obligation to join The Chamber. Chamber Chat will last approximately one hour. There is no cost to attend and no need to pre-register.
“Chamber Check-Up” is for Members Wanting to Learn More
Many members of The Chamber were unable to attend a New Member Orientation session when they first joined. To help them learn more about the organization and some ways that they can more actively participate, The Chamber is holding a “Chamber Check-Up” program today at 3:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. This free program will last no more than one hour and there is no need to pre-register.
Small Business Seminar Target Risks, Rewards of Social Media
Social media carries both risks and rewards for small businesses. To learn the difference, plan on attending the next seminar being offered by The Chamber’s Partners in Small Business to be held tomorrow from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Angie Keating, CEO and co-founder of Reclamere, Inc., will be the guest speaker. Keating will address the risks that security and compliance officials need to be aware of in today’s business world. The cost to attend this seminar is just $5.00-per-person but attendance is limited to the first 40 registrants. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
GRYP Lunch ‘n’ Learn to Address Business Etiquette
On September 25th, Outback Steakhouse will be the site of GRYP’s next Lunch ‘n’ Learn program. That program will address “Business Etiquette.” Marc Warren, President of Customer Follow-Up, Inc., will be the presenter. Warren has 25 years of marketing, sales and research experience. His firm helps businesses assess and improve their client services. The cost to attend the Lunch ‘n’ Learn is $22 for GRYP members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Leadership Alumni Breakfast is Thursday at The Casino
The Leadership Blair County Alumni Association will hold its annual Breakfast Meeting on Thursday from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. For more information on the event, contact Judy Juda at The Chamber at 943-8151 or email her.
Meeting Scheduled to Discuss New Healthcare Insurance Option
If you are a small business that has never been able to offer affordable healthcare insurance to your employees, your ship may have come in. The Blair County Chamber is partnering with Empower3 Center for Health on a program designed solely for the uninsured. If you’d like to learn more, an informational session will be held on Tuesday, October 22nd from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. There is no cost or obligation to attend but pre-registration is encouraged. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 to register.
Great Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Television Programs
The Chamber’s “Issues” programs have been featured on the Altoona Public Access Channel for many years. The programs look at those aspects of the business community and the Blair County community in general that impact how we live and work. The Chamber will be doing three programs this Fall. The first highlights Blair county agriculture: the second, Leadership Blair County; and the third, young professionals in our county. Not only will these one hour programs, moderated by Carolyn Donaldson, be interesting to watch, they also provide great sponsorship opportunities for businesses that are looking for ways to get their names out while also supporting The Chamber’s effort to better educate and inform the public on key topics. The cost to sponsor an “Issues” program is just $100 a show. Sponsor all three and it’s just a total of $250. It’s an inexpensive way to get a whole lot of exposure. Interested? Call Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him.
McClure Approved as Chair of “Buy Here. Live Here.”
Diana McClure of Keller Engineers is the new chair of The Chamber’s “Buy Here. Live Here.” Committee. McClure replaces Randy Green of McCartney’s, Inc. whose term as chair expired.
Help Pay Tribute to the Bigelow Family
Randy & Twila Bigelow & Family are the 2013 recipient of the Blair County Chamber’s Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award. The Bigelow family serves as outstanding ambassadors for agriculture. The ACE Award will be presented to the Bigelow Family at the Annual Farm-City Dinner, set for October 29th at The Park at Morrisons Cove. Sponsorships and advertising can be secured by contacting Christine Perkins at The Chamber, 814-943-8151 or emailing her.
"Down on the Farm" Event Heads to Roaring Spring
The Annual “Down on the Farm” will be held on Thursday, October 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Triple R Farms, 1450 Cabbage Creek Road, Roaring Spring. The farm is a cow/calf operation raising only pure bred Scottish Highlander beef cattle. 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.
Business Hall of Fame Slated for October 21st
The Chamber’s Annual Business Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Monday night, October 21th at the Blair County Convention Center. The event begins with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception at 5:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:45. To make reservations, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Cost to attend the Dinner is $65 a person. Hall of Fame honorees are: Bellwood-Antis School District, Stuckey Ford and Subaru in Hollidaysburg, and Tom and Joe’s Diner in Altoona. In the category of Excellence in Small Business, the honorees are: Altoona Lung Specialists, Kooman & Associates and Stoney Point Events. The Altoona Curve is the Community Service honoree. Three businesses will be honored in the category of Sustainability. They are: Hollidaysburg Area High School, Sheetz, Inc., and Word Processing Services, Inc. EcoIslands, LLC and Gwin, Dobson & Foreman, Inc. are the Technology honorees and the Committee Choice Award recipient is The Nehemiah Project.
Home & Garden Show Committee Begins Booth Selection Process
Although the Blair County Home & Garden Show will not take place until February 28, March 1 and 2 of next year, the committee overseeing that event has already started the booth selection process. Exhibitors from the 2013 show get the first crack at renewing the booth at their previous location if they do so by September 27th. Beginning October 7th, unsecured booths will be made available to new exhibitors. To renew a booth or be put on the list to receive information, contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151. Payments can be made with cash, check, Discover Card, Master Card or VISA. The Blair County Home & Garden Show is a partnership of the Blair County Chamber and the Blair-Bedford Builders Association.
Chamber’s China Trip Will Be Third in Four Years
The Chamber’s next China Trip (April 4-12, 2014) is an opportunity for people to broaden their perspectives on what is happening in the world. It is also a whole lot of fun. If you haven’t secured information on what the trip entails and haven’t marveled at its ridiculously low price, simply stop-by the Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development. This will be the third trip to China in the past four years and the cost is just $2,399 pp/dou.occ., which includes all flights, meals and 5-star hotels. It’s the trip of a lifetime!
Congratulations . . .
. . . to FirstEnergy Corporation, which was named by Site Selection magazine as one of the top utilities in the country for promoting economic development. The award is the company’s tenth in the past twelve years. First Energy is the parent company of Penelec.
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 Christine Perkins at The Chamber at 943-8151.
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Home Helpers/Direct Link
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive a 15% discount for any Direct Link Services.
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Indoff - Lori Beck
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Present your Blue Card to receive a free box of letter size, 1/3 cut, manila folders (item # UNV-12113). Excludes ink and toner purchases.
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Iron Masters Country Club
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive 10% off at Legends Golf Shop at Iron Masters Country Club
AND OR
$33 green fee and cart Mon-Fri and weekends after 2:00 p.m.
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K&C Denture Center
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Present your Blue Card to receive $50 off a set of deluxe line of dentures with Gift Bag (starter kit). Blue card must be presented on first visit. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.
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Keystone Business Support
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Present your Chamber Blue Card and receive 10% off the first 3 months for all new commerical cleaning service.
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For more information, visit the website
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September 23, 2013
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Chamber Chat
Monday, September 23, 2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Chamber Check-Up
Monday, September 23, 2013
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Small Business Partners Workshop
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
GRYP Lunch 'n' Learn
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Outback Steakhouse
Register Here
LBC Alumni Breakfast
Thursday, September 26, 2013
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Soho Room
Register Here
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 9/23/2013
WE-LEaD Committee
Wednesday,September 25th, 8:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Retail Roundtable
Wednesday, September 25, 8:15 a.m.
Devorris Center
Follow The Chamber
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