Chamber Membership Hits All-Time Record
Thompson to Receive 2014 Business Excellence Award
Chamber Board Approves 15 New Members
WE-LEaD Networking Event is Tonight at Marzoni’s
Altoona Center for Nursing Care to Host “Business After Hours”
GRYP to Hold “Give Back Night” at Chili’s
“Breakfast Club” to Pay Tribute to Leadership Blair County
Stayer to Chair Chamber Ambassadors
GRYP Collecting Donations for BCRDS
Bill Sell’s Bold to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
Chamber Members Urged to Nominate Individuals as “Role Models”
Low-Cost Healthcare Option Available to Chamber Members
Discount Extended on Chamber Trip to Tuscany
Registered for the Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic Yet?
Blue Card Discounts

Chamber Membership Hits All-Time Record
The Blair County Chamber has more members than at any time in its 121-year history. With the fifteen new members approved by the Board of Directors on March 20th, Chamber membership now stands at 1,009. The previous high-water mark was 1,006, accomplished in 2007. “We’re delighted that people in the business community see the value of being part of the organization,” acknowledged Chamber Board Chair Doug Mingle. “To approve twenty-seven new members in just the past two months is phenomenal. It hopefully is a trend that will continue.”

Thompson to Receive 2014 Business Excellence Award
Bill Thompson, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Thompson Pharmacy, will be the 2014 recipient of the Blair County Chamber’s “Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence.” The award will be presented at the Annual Business Excellence Dinner, set for June 9th at The Casino at Lakemont Park.
 
Chamber Board Approves 15 New Members
The Chamber’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved the following new members to the organization: Allegheny Real Estate Closings Company of Hollidaysburg; Alternative Fuel Solutions of PA of Mahaffey; Altoona Independent Youth Baseball League of Altoona; Apex Wellness Center of Altoona; Ron Beatty Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning of Altoona; Blair Regional Security & Investigations of Altoona; Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services of Altoona; Creative Expressions Florist / Deb’s Anteeks of Altoona; Edward Jones Investments of Altoona; JM Folcarelli,dba Honeybaked Ham & Café; Nikki’s Nearly New of Altoona; North American Communications of Duncansville; Prime Design Solutions of Johnstown; Radiance Day Spa of Hollidaysburg and Southern Care, Inc. of Altoona.

WE-LEaD Networking Event is Tonight at Marzoni’s
The Chamber’s next WE-LEaD networking event will be held tonight, 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 before noon today. WE-LEaD is Women Encouraging Leadership, Education and Development. Sponsor of the WE-LEaD Networking is Fanelli Willett Law Offices.
  
Altoona Center for Nursing Care to Host “Business After Hours”
Join The Chamber as we go to Amber Terrace at Altoona Center for Nursing Care for the March “Business After Hours” this Thursday, March 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. You will not want to miss this Business After Hours that is themed "Casino Night". Enjoy beverages, food, entertainment, just-for-fun gaming tables, networking and prizes! Cost to attend is $6.00 for Chamber Members pre-registered and $12 for Non-Members pre-registered. To make your reservations, call The Chamber, 943-8151 or register online.
 
GRYP to Hold “Give Back Night” at Chili’s
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will be hosting a Give Back Night at Chili’s on Sunday, March 30, from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. The goal is to be able to provide a grant for a non-profit at the end of the year. Those attending will need to make sure they bring along the coupon (see attached) so that GRYP can get credit for their purchases. GRYP will receive 10% back on all purchases made that evening. GRYP members will not be able to hand out coupons at the door so they will need to be picked up ahead of time. The coupon can be sent out by email or can be found on the Blair County GRYP Facebook event page.

“Breakfast Club” to Pay Tribute to Leadership Blair County
The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County program is celebrating its 20th year and the first phase of the celebration will take place at the next “Breakfast Club,” set for April 3rd at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. Donna Gority, a member of the original LBC Steering Committee and Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, a longtime supporter of the LBC program will collaborate on “Two Decades of Servant Leadership: The LBC Story.” Keystone Business Support is the corporate sponsor of the April Breakfast Club. “This event is not only a significant opportunity for LBC graduates to re-engage with classmates but it’s also a great chance for people who have indicated an interest in the program to see and hear what it’s all about,” explained Gority. The cost to attend the Breakfast Club is $16 for Chamber Members and $20 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
 
Stayer to Chair Chamber Ambassadors
Sherri Stayer of Altoona Lung Specialists has been approved by the Chamber Board of Directors to chair the Chamber Ambassadors. Stayer replaces Chrissey Wagner of JEMS who resigned the position in early March. “This is Sherri’s second stint as chair of the Ambassadors,” remarked Chamber President Joe Hurd. “She is a strong proponent of membership recruitment, retention and development – all things that the Ambassadors are entrusted to undertake. We are grateful for her willingness to step forward.” Stayer is also a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. 
 
GRYP Collecting Donations for BCRDS
GRYP will be participating in the Blair County Respiratory Disease Society’s 26th Annual Wallyball tournament. BCRDS is dedicated to the prevention and aid to individuals and families affected by respiratory diseases. GRYP will be collecting monetary donations, until the start of the tournament on April 24, to help support their programs. If you are interested in donating contact Rachel Litzinger at 943-8151 or email her.

Bill Sell’s Bold to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold its next networking event on April 17th at Bill Sell’s Bold, 1413 11th Avenue in Downtown 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.
 
Chamber Members Urged to Nominate Individuals as “Role Models”
The Chamber’s “Role Models” program has been extremely successful and the original list of nominees is quickly dwindling. If you have someone in the business community who you believe is a Role Model, submit the name(s) to Joe Hurd at jhurd@blairchamber.com. All nominees must be members of the Blair County Chamber.

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!

Registered for the Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic Yet?
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. This year’s Classic will again include the helicopter ball-drop, courtesy of Pine Bottom Aviation Services. Registration for sponsors and golfers is underway as are the sales of tee-and-green sponsorships. For more information or to register, contact Stacy Hoover 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 The Chamber at 943-8151.    

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