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Chamber Office Closed Monday for Labor Day
Crawford is 2011 ACE Award Winner
Leadership Youth Class to Have Session on Heritage
Sen. Eichelberger to Field Questions at Thursday's Breakfast Club
Amtran to Host Friday's "Business Before Hours"
New Adult Leadership Class Begins this Week
Residential Electric Rates Too High? Call The Chamber
"Issuses" Program on Higher Education Begins Airing Today
Registration Forms Available for Business & Industry Expo
Organizations Join Forces to Present Accomplished Speaker
Fleet Safety is Topic of Half-Day Workshop
WE-LEaD Program to Focus on Business Etiquette
Save the Date: Flood Insurance is Topic of October Lunch 'n' Learn
Congratulations...
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Office Closed Monday for Labor Day
The office of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce will be closed on Monday, September 5th in recognition of Labor Day. The office will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. For information on The Chamber or to register for a program or event while the office is closed, visit The Chamber website.
Crawford is 2011 ACE Award Winner
Jim Crawford of Sinking Valley has been selected to be the recipient of The Chamber’s 2011 Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award. The award will be presented at the Farm-City Dinner on October 25th at The Park at Morrisons Cove. Crawford is retired as owner/operator of Crawford Farms, located in Sinking Valley. He currently serves as chairman of Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation’s Agriculture Committee.
Leadership Youth Class to Have Session on Heritage
The Leadership Blair County Youth Class of 2012 will have its first session on Wednesday, originating at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center and then moving into Downtown Altoona. Class members will visit the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, the Mishler Theatre, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and Gospel Hill. Barb Hollander of SAMA will lead a tour of the Downtown emphasizing various aspects of local architecture. For more information on Leadership Blair County Youth, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151.
Senator Eichelberger to Field Questions at Thursday's Breakfast Club
This Thursday’s Chamber Breakfast Club will feature State Senator John Eichelberger as keynote speaker. The question-and-answer format for the event will have the Senator answering questions submitted in advance from members of the Blair County Chamber. Thad Will, chair of The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, will ask the questions. The Breakfast Club begins at 7:45 p.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. Mount Aloysius College is the corporate host for this month’s event. The cost to attend is $16 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
AMTRAN to Host Friday's "Business Before Hours"
AMTRAN will be the host of the next Chamber “Business Before Hours,” set for this Friday, September 9th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the company’s Trolleyworks Business Park, located at 3316 Fifth Avenue (next to Mansion Park). AMTRAN’s General Manager Eric Wolf invites Chamber Members to start the day off with a delicious breakfast and a quick tour of a unique space. AMTRAN recently renovated a 100-year-old building into two beautiful state-of-the-art office spaces (2,000 and 2,850 square feet) available for lease. The Business Before Hours will also feature prize drawings. There is no cost to Chamber Members to attend and a $10.00 cost for non-members. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
New Adult Leadership Class to Begin This Week
The eighteenth class of The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County’s adult program officially begins its yearlong quest for servant leadership this week with an orientation on Friday morning at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The class consists of twenty-three members. (For more information on Leadership Blair County, visit The Chamber website.)
Residential Electric Rates Too High? Call The Chamber
If you were one of The Chamber Members who signed-on to the ChamberChoice Energy program for residential service earlier this year and locked-in a rate of 6.99 cents kWh for the duration of 2011, you’re looking pretty good right now. And if you didn’t get in until the second wave of benefits and locked-in at 7.25 for the next two years, you might have actually done even better. With Penelec’s announcement last week that its price to compare will be going to 7.62 beginning Thursday, there’s even better news for Chamber Members who haven’t pulled the trigger on residential savings. Those members and their employees can now lock-in at 6.80 through the November meter read date. After that the price goes to 7.25 through August of 2013. How can you resist such a deal? Hopefully you can’t. Call The Chamber today at 943-8151 to learn how you can save dollars on your electricity for you and your employees.
"Issues" Program on Higher Education Begins Airing Today
The Chamber’s latest “Issues” program will be aired on the Altoona Public Access Channel (14) beginning on Labor Day and will appear each Monday at 9:00 p.m. and each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. throughout the months of September and October. “The Role of Higher Education in Regional Development” is the title of the hour-long program that is moderated by WTAJ’s Carolyn Donaldson. Panelists are: Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, Chancellor of Penn State Altoona; Dr. Wayne Powel, Provost of Saint Francis University; Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; John Hille, Executive Vice-President of Juniata College; and Dr. Thomas Foley, President of Mount Aloysius College. Sponsors for the “Issues” program are: Altoona Mirror, Keller Engineers, McCartney’s, Inc., Mount Aloysius College and Penn State Altoona.
Registration Forms Available for Business & Industry Expo
The Blair County Chamber will once again partner with twelve other chambers throughout the region in presenting the Central PA Regional Business & Industry Expo, to be held Thursday, November 3rd from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College. To obtain a registration form for the event, click here.
Organizations Join Forces to Present Accomplished Speaker
On September 13th, The Chamber’s WE-LEaD Committee will join forces with WISE Women of Blair County to present, “Leaving the Land of NO … No Time, No Energy, No Opportunity, No . . . !” Presenting the program will be internationally recognized author and educator Evelyn Resh. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. A dessert reception follows. The cost is $25-per-person. For reservations, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Fleet Safety is Topic of Half-Day Workshop
Recent changes in the laws governing how businesses that use any sort of vehicle must operate has prompted The Chamber’s Safety Committee to create an informative half-day workshop entitled, “Fleet Safety: From Pizza Delivery to Big Rigs.” The workshop will be held on Friday, September 23rd from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Ramada Altoona Conference Center. The keynote speaker will be Tim Cotter, FMCSA Division Administrator, who will discuss compliance, enforcement and new rules pertaining to fleet safety and how those rules will affect local businesses. Other speakers are: Lyle Domico, Senior Loss Control Rep for Acuity Insurance Company, who will talk about transportation risk from an insurance perspective; Mitch Hoover, Safety Consultant for East Coast Risk Management who addresses policy management; Jay Leifheit, Safety Director for Smith Transport, who explains how to manage a fleet in a corporate setting; and Mitchell Scalia, PA State Police Motor Carrier Enforcement Officer Supervisor, who discusses how the regulations will be enforced and how it impacts businesses. The cost to attend the workshop is $25 for Chamber Members and $35 for non-members. The cost includes a full buffet breakfast. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
WE-LEaD Program to Focus on Business Etiquette
The Chamber’s WE-LEaD Committee will feature a Lunch ‘n’ Learn program on Tuesday, September 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Blairmont Club. The program is entitled, “Business Etiquette: How to Achieve Poise & Confidence.” Dede Kazmaier will be the presenter and will teach attendees how to perform flawlessly with poise and confidence in every situation – from dining and social etiquette to general courtesy and consideration for others. The cost to attend is just $22 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Save the Date: Flood Insurance is Topic of October Lunch 'n' Learn
Recent hurricanes and other types of weather-related disasters makes it more important than ever that businesses and homeowners understand the financial and property repercussions of flooding. For that reason, The Chamber is holding a Lunch ‘n’ Learn program on Thursday, October 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Country Club entitled, “Flood Insurance and Mortgages: Keeping Your Head Above Water.” Presenters will be: Theodora (Teddie) Kreitz of Keller Engineers, State Farm agent Lisa Mancinelli, Donna Myers of Reliance Bank, Cassandra Schmick of Logan Township and A. Jane Beveridge of the City of Altoona. The topic to be discussed will be the National Flood Insurance Program and its impact on local communities and residential and commercial property owners. The cost to attend is $22 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Congratulations...
. . . to Robert Etchells, administrator of Golden Living Center – Hillview in Altoona who recently received the 2011 American College of Health Care Administrator’s Facility Leadership Award. The award recognizes administrators of nursing homes who have met superior health care standards.
Blue Card Discount offers
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.
| Altoona Community Theatre |
Present your Blue Card and receive $4.00 off individual tickets for ACT Mainstage Productions at the Mishler Theatre. |
| Kopp Drug, Inc. |
Present your Blue Card for a free membership to the Kopp Drug RX Rewards Plus Club Card. |
| LaScalia's Restaurant |
Present your Blue Card to receive 10%off your entire order. |
| Laurel Eye Clinic |
Present your Blue Card to receive a discount on LASIK, Custom LASIK, CK, PRK and RLE. $350 per eye. Patient must complete the procedure before Sept. 30, 2011. Discount cannot be used if a procedure already is scheduled OR buy 1 pair of prescription glasses at regular price to receive half off a second pair of equal or lesser value (Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts, special offers, previous surgery, insurance or vision care plans) |
| Logan Valley Mall |
American Express Mall Gift Cards can be used virtually anywhere in the U.S. where American Express is accepted. Available at Customer Service in denominations between $20 and $300. Terms and conditions apply to Gift Cards. Present your Blue Card and enjoy a nearly 50% discount on the per card purchase fee. Upfront purchase fee is $2.95/card. Your Blue Card cost is $1.50/card. This is a promotional offer for businesses only with proof of business. Offer valid until 10/15/11 with $500 minimum purchase in one transaction. |
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| September 5, 2011 |
Upcoming Events
Register online
September Breakfast Club
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Speaker: Senator John Eichelberger
Sponsored by:
Register Here
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September Business Before Hours
Friday, September 9, 2011
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Trolleyworks
Register Here
WE-LEAD/WISE Women of Blair County Event
 
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center
Speaker: Evelyn Resh
Topic: Leaving the Land of No
Register Here
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GRYP Networking
Zach's
Thursday, September 15, 2011
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Register Here |
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September Business After Hours
Thursday, September 22, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by:
Register Here
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Safety Workshop
Fleet Safety: From Pizza Delivery to Big Rigs
Friday, September 23, 2011
7:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Ramada Altoona Conference Center
Register Here |
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Down on the Farm
Thursday, September 29, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by: Hilecrest Farm, LLC
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 9/5/11
Board Member Recognition Subcommittee
Wednesday, September 7, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
GRYP Steering Committee
Wednesday, September 7, 8:30 a.m.
Tom & Joe's
Board Development Subcommittee
Thursday, September 8, 11:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Attractions Roundtable
Thursday, September 8, 1:30 p.m.
Devorris Center |
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