Sweitzer Approved as New Chamber Board Member
Helsel, Steiner to Head Partners in Small Business
Chamber Welcomes Ten New Members
Chamber Returning to China for 2013 Trip
Last Candidate Information Session Broadcast is Tonight
GRYP Program to Address Public Speaking Skills
Concerned About Your Future Workforce?
Chamber Board Authorizes Use of Drug Testing Survey
Nomination Process Continues for Business Hall of Fame
"Business After Hours" is Thursday at Altoona Lung Specialists
Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
"Issues" Program on Non-Profits Concludes Next Monday
"Gown Meets Town" Debuts Friday in Altoona
Volunteers Needed for Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic
Register Your Cell Phone for "Alert Blair County" Today
AMBUCS Blood Screening Set for May 5th
Congratulations...
Blue Card Discounts 

Sweitzer Approved as New Chamber Board Member
Michael Sweitzer, Manager of Chicago Rivet & Machine Company of Tyrone is the newest member of the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors.  Sweitzer replaces Ivan Riggle of Albemarle Corporation who resigned his Board position in early April following his retirement.  Sweitzer will serve until the end of 2012 and will then be eligible for consideration of a three-year term.

Helsel, Steiner to Head Partners in Small Business
The new-and-improved Partners in Small Business Committee of The Chamber will gain a wealth of experienced leadership beginning in May.  At that time, Dave Helsel of CTR Supply in Duncansville and Jim Steiner of Ravine Custom Apparel & Sporting Goods will co-chair the committee.  “This is leadership at its best,” acknowledged Chamber President Joe Hurd.  “Dave and Jim have chaired Chamber committees in the past and they more than know the drill.  We’re delighted to have them.  The Partners in Small Business are in good hands.”  Helsel had chaired the Home & Garden Show Committee; Steiner chaired the Marketing Committee and was a former Chamber Board Member.  

Chamber Welcomes Ten New Members
At The Chamber’s April 16th Board of Directors meeting, the following new members were approved: Applebee’s Grill and Bar; Bennett Holdings, Inc.; CMIT Solutions of Central PA; Griffith Family Foundation; IMAJE, DJ Services; NewMetro Design, LLC; Raphael’s; Senior Care Altoona; Through, Inc.; and Tica’s Coupons…and more.

Chamber Returning to China for 2013 Trip
The success of last November’s trip to China has led The Chamber to schedule another trip there from April 12-20, 2013.  If you’re interested, put those dates on your calendar and email Joe Hurd so that we can contact you when the first informational session is held.

Last Candidate Information Session Broadcast is Tonight
The Chamber’s Candidate Information Session, held April 9th at the Jaffa Shrine, was videotaped by the Altoona Public Access Station and will be aired one last time, tonight at 6:00 p.m. on Channel 14 (Atlantic Broadband). This will allow anyone who was unable to attend the session to learn more about the business views of Dr. John McGinnis, candidate for State Representative in the 79th Legislative District.  Dr. McGinnis was the only candidate to participate in the event which had been originally scheduled as a debate between McGinnis and incumbent Rick Geist.  Representative Geist declined an invitation from The Chamber to take part. 

GRYP Program to Address Public Speaking Skills
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold a Lunch ‘n’ Learn program on April 24th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Country Club. The program is entitled, “Perfecting Your Professional Public Speaking & Presentation Skills.” The speaker will be Steve Madden, Professor of English and Public Speaking at South Hills School of Business & Technology. The cost to attend is $22 for Chamber Members, $30 for non-members and $17-per-person if three or more attend from the same Chamber business. Lunch is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. South Hills is the sponsor of the Lunch ‘n’ Learn.

Concerned About Your Future Workforce?
The Chamber’s BASICS (Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions) Committee is holding a half-day workshop with employers and school principals and guidance counselors on May 1st at the IU8 Office, located at 4500 Sixth Avenue in Altoona.  The event begins with a buffet breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at 11:45 a.m.  There is no cost to attend.  Keynote speaker is Mount Aloysius College President, Dr. Thomas Foley.  Contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 for more information or to register.

Chamber Board Authorizes Use of Drug Testing Survey
A local strategy group that includes the Blair County Chamber is issuing a survey on drug testing in the workplace that will hopefully help to determine the frequency and effectiveness of the testing process and will assess how many businesses are currently utilizing some form of testing mechanism. The group, known as “The Healthy Blair County Coalition” has partnered with Penn State Altoona in creating the survey. The Chamber Board of Directors has given a thumbs-up to inviting Chamber Members to complete the survey which is being done through Survey Monkey. To participate, please click here.

Nomination Process Continues for Business Hall of Fame
If you know of a business that deserves acclaim for having done something significant in the business community during the past year – even if that business is yours – it’s time to nominate that business for the Blair County Business Hall of Fame or for one of the General Business Awards of Distinction. The nomination process is underway and all nominated businesses must complete an application form and return it to The Chamber by noon on June 11th.  So don’t delay!  Nomination forms can be secured by calling The Chamber Office at 943-8151 or you can obtain a form online. Besides the Hall of Fame and its Heritage component, the business categories to be honored are: Safety Excellence, Sustainability, Technology, Community Service, Young Emerging Business and Excellence in Small Business.

"Business After Hours" is Thursday at Altoona Lung Specialists
Altoona Lung Specialists will host the next Chamber “Business After Hours” this Thursday, April 26th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at its new location on 800 Chestnut Avenue in Altoona. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is seeking an intern for the Fall Semester. The intern should be majoring in Business Management, Marketing or Communications. The internship can be either for credit or personal enrichment. Interested students should contact Linda Stotler at 943-8151.

"Issues" Program on Non-Profits Concludes Next Monday
Non-Profit organizations made a considerable impact on the Blair County economy. That impact was a key part of the discussion at The Chamber “Issues” program which will air on Altoona Public Access Channel 14. The program will run every Monday at 9:00 p.m. and every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. during the month of April. The title of the program is, “Blair County’s Non-Profits: Rising to the Challenge.”  Panelists are: Terri Grove of CONTACT Altoona, Jim Kilmartin of Joshua House Community Center, Judy Rosser of Blair County Drug and Alcohol Program, Inc., Tim Salony of Blair County Library System and Chrissey Wagner of The Altoona Symphony Orchestra. Carolyn Donaldson of WTAJ Your News Leader is the moderator. Sponsors of this “Issues” program are: Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries, Blair Senior Services, Family Services, Inc., Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley, Skills of Central PA and The Arc of Blair County.

"Gown Meets Town" Debutes Friday in Altoona
The Division of Business & Engineering at Penn State Altoona is one of the university’s many shining stars. It is also one that in the grand scheme of things can become overlooked or under-appreciated. To raise awareness of the many innovative efforts being undertaken by students and faculty within the engineering program, Penn State and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce are teaming-up on a “Gown Meets Town” event, set for April 27th from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. The name “Gown Meets Town” symbolizes the importance of bringing the college and our community together.  There is no cost to attend Gown Meets Town. Individuals can register by calling Sue Stevens at 940-3401 or emailing her.

Volunteers Needed for Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic
The Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield/Chamber Golf Classic is being held on May 14th at Iron Masters Country Club in Ore Hill.  Registration and lunch begin at 11:00 a.m. and golfing starts with a shotgun start at noon.  For the fifth consecutive year, lunch is a pig roast provided by Holland Brothers.  “As usual, we are anticipating a great event,” remarked Stacy Hoover, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Events & Technology.  “To be really effective though, it’s important that we are able to recruit some volunteers who can assist in handling the many important details associated with making things run smoothly.  I’d encourage anyone willing to help out to call me (943-8151) or email me (shoover@blairchamber.com).  We will do our best to make sure that your time is well-spent.”  To register as a team or individual for the Classic, call The Chamber at 943-8151.

Register Your Cell Phone for "Alert Blair County" Today
The Chamber has partnered with the Blair County Local Emergency Planning Committee to alert Blair County residents and their families of important local level emergencies. In all probability, your residential and business telephones are already on the contact list.  But your cellular telephones and smart phones are not. To register them, log on to www.blairco.org and click on the “ALERT BLAIR COUNTY” icon. Persons without Internet access can contact EMA Administrative Assistant Cris Stacey at 940-5901 for assistance.

AMBUCS Blood Screening Set for May 5th
The local chapter of AMBUCS will hold a Blood Screening Program on May 5th from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the First Energy (Penelec) Auditorium on Plank Road in Altoona. The program is designed, in cooperation with Altoona Regional Health System, to include tests which assist in the early detection of the leading health risks in our region including coronary heart disease, glucose intolerance and diabetes, kidney and liver disease and anemia. To register for any of the screenings, call 889-4222.

Congratulations....
. . . to Edward Jones Financial Advisers who were rated by J.D. Power and Associates with the “Highest Employee Advisor Satisfaction designation among Financial Investment Firms.” Chamber-member Edward Jones financial advisers are Dick Logan in Altoona and J.T. Tidd in Hollidaysburg.

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.  

Elmcroft of Altoona	Present your Chamber Blue Card and receive $500 off 1st month rent.
Envision Laser Centers	Present your Chamber Blue card to save $300 OFF PER EYE on Custom Lasik Lifetime Package. *Not combinable with any other offer including financing and insurance discounts.
Fellabaum & Co., Inc., dba Jackson Hewitt Tax Service	Present your Blue Card to receive 15% off tax preparation services. (Offer is valid at Blair County locations: Station Medical Center, Greenwood and Claysburg.)
Firestone Complete Auto Care	Present your Blue Card to receive a standard lube, oil & filter change for $21.99 + tax. OR receive a PA state inspection and emissions test for $39.99 + tax.
Foxtrot Runners, Inc.	Show your Chamber Member Blue Card at checkout and receive 10% off each individual pair of shoes.

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