Governor Corbett to Speak at Thursday’s “Breakfast Club”
Leadership Adults, Youth to Come Together for Joint Session
Return to Work is Focus of Safety Program
WE-LEaD Networking Event is March 24th
Low-Cost Healthcare Option Available to Chamber Members
Discount Extended on Chamber Trip to Tuscany
Chamber Golf Classic Set for May 12th
Knickerbocker to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
Weather Causes Latest Dale Carnegie Date Change
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts

Governor Corbett to Speak at Thursday’s “Breakfast Club”
Governor Tom Corbett will be the keynote speaker at this Thursday’s Chamber “Breakfast Club” to be held at The Casino at Lakemont Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. The Breakfast Club will once again be a collaborative event between The Chamber and Operation Our Town. The Governor will speak on the impact that Operation Our Town has had in addressing drug-related issues in Blair County during the past seven years. The event will also include the presentation of the 2014 Community Partnership Award and several Law Enforcement Awards. The cost to attend the Breakfast Club is $16 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate Sponsor for the March Breakfast Club is Begin With Us Child Care & Preschool, Inc.

Leadership Adults, Youth to Come Together for Joint Session
The Leadership Blair County adult and youth classes will take part in a joint session on Thursday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center. Among the topics of discussion will be personal economics, time poverty, harassment and social pressures. For more information on either LBC program, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or visit the Chamber Website.
 
Return to Work is Focus of Safety Program
While accident prevention is the best route that employers can take when prioritizing safety concerns, equal priority should be given to effectively returning employees to work after an injury occurs. To help meet that objective, the Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will be offering a workshop entitled, “How to Develop an Effective Return to Work Program.” The workshop will be held on Friday, March 21st from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Hampton Inn Altoona. The presenters will be Sarah Tayts, AIC, ARM, Return to Wellness Specialist for Eastern Alliance Insurance Group; Barbara Hoover, AIC, Workers Compensation Specialist at Teeter Group; Stephanie McFarland, Account Manager at PGW/Tipton; and Don Imler, Director of HR Administration at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House. Among the topics covered by the presenters will be: Reasons to offer Return to Work, direct cost versus indirect cost of work injuries, elements of a strong Return to Work program, roles and responsibilities of an insurance carrier, preparing a cost-benefit analysis, common challenges and real-life scenarios. The cost to attend the Safety Workshop is $15 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. A continental breakfast will be included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
  
WE-LEaD Networking Event is March 24th
The Chamber’s next WE-LEaD networking event will be held on Monday, March 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Marzoni’s in Duncanssville. The cost is $15 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. WE-LEaD is Women Encouraging Leadership, Education and Development. Sponsor of the WE-LEaD Networking is Fanelli Willett Law Offices.
 
Low-Cost Healthcare Option Available to Chamber Members
The Blair County Chamber has partnered with Empower3 Center for Health to offer Chamber-Member employers an affordable community-based health plan for their employees. The plan features level group rates, no deductibles, no pre-existing condition exclusions, substantial prescription drug coverage with co-pays of $10 or less and the opportunity to add dental and vision coverage. Call Maureen Frucella for details.  Her number is (814) 317-5063.
 
Discount Extended on Chamber Trip to Tuscany
The Blair County Chamber, in cooperation with Classic Travel and Chamber Discoveries, has scheduled a trip to Tuscany from October 20 to 28. An informational meeting took place on February 18th. A large number of people attended and we expect to have a large contingent of travelers. If you’d like to be one of them, call The Chamber at 943-8151 for a brochure. The deadline to qualify for the $100 discount has been extended to April 1st. We’re hoping to have another informational meeting next month so keep in touch. This is a great trip at a terrific price!
 
Chamber Golf Classic Set for May 12th
The Annual Chamber Golf Classic will be held on Monday, May 12th at Iron Masters Country Club in Ore Hill.  Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will once again be the main sponsor for this popular event which routinely sells-out several weeks prior. The Chamber’s Golf Committee is still finalizing plans for a couple special features to this year’s Classic. Registration for sponsors and golfers, however, is already underway. For more information or to register, contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151 or email her.
 
Knickerbocker to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold its next networking event on March 20th at The Knickerbocker Tavern, 3957 Sixth Avenue in Altoona. The evening will feature appetizers, a cash bar, and many opportunities to get to know other young professionals. The event is free for GRYP members and $5.00 for non-members. For more information or to make reservations, contact the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at 943-8151 or register online.

Weather Causes Latest Dale Carnegie Date Change
The Dale Carnegie “Skills for Success” course, which had been scheduled to begin March 13th, has been postponed until March 20th at the Comfort Inn in Duncansville. The course is being offered in cooperation with the Blair County Chamber. For more information or to register for the course, call Jeff Davis at (814) 931-1963 or call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.

Congratulations . . .
. . . to Carl Brendel, funeral director at The Good Funeral Home, who is one of only fifty directors in North America to be selected to participate in an educational program coordinated through the National Funeral Directors Association.
. . . to Dr. Alan Kanouff, a partner in Altoona Lung Specialists of Central Pennsylvania, who was recently awarded Sleep Medicine Certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine.
. . . to Patricia Savage, President/CEO of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries and Karen Duffet, an elementary counselor in the Altoona Area School District who will be among those honored on April 16th at the WISE Women of Blair County Tribute. Savage will be honored in the Business & Professional category; Duffet in Education.

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 The Chamber at 943-8151.    

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