Blair Business Mirror to Be Published Tomorrow
Thursday’s Breakfast Club Will Focus on “Operation Our Town”
Leadership Youth Session to Address Drugs, Alcohol, School Safety
Diversity is Topic of LBC Adult Session
Retail, Restaurant Programs to Continue Today
Nomination Forms Available for Business Excellence Award
Need More Blue Cards?
Dale Carnegie’s “Skills For Success” Changes Starting Date
“Role Models” Program Features Prominent Business Leaders
Home & Garden Show Hoping to Eclipse Attendance Records
Recruitment Process Continues for “Hiring Our Heroes”
Business BEFORE Hours Set for February 20
Blue Card Discounts
Blair Business Mirror to Be Published Tomorrow
The February issue of the Blair Business Mirror will be published Tuesday as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. The cover story of this issue focuses on the four Blair County jewelry businesses that are members of The Chamber. Other features include a Q&A with Carol Logan of Forever Broadcasting and the latest on “Hiring Our Heroes.” If you don’t get the Altoona Mirror (or even if you do), we will mail your business a copy by the end of the week.
Thursday’s Breakfast Club Will Focus on “Operation Our Town”
In what has become a tradition, The Chamber’s February “Breakfast Club,” scheduled for this Thursday at The Casino at Lakemont Park, will focus attention on the Operation Our Town program. “Operation Our Town continues to be a tremendous source of pride in our community,” believes Chamber Board Chair Doug Mingle of Roaring Spring Department Store. “It makes perfect sense for the Chamber to commit one of its Breakfast Club programs to raise additional awareness to the great work that Operation Our Town is doing.” A featured speaker at the event will be OOT board member Philip Devorris who will speak about the recent affiliation between Operation Our Town and The Chamber’s Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education. That subcommittee now doubles as the Early Childhood Roundtable for Operation Our Town. The Breakfast Club begins at 7:45 a.m. 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. Corporate sponsor of the February Breakfast Club is First National Bank.
Leadership Youth Session to Address Drugs, Alcohol, School Safety
The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County Youth session this Wednesday will hit a number of key topics, primarily associated with substance abuse. Among the session presenters will be Matt Lutz from the Tyrone Police Department who will provide a drug dog demonstration; Agent AJ Adams from the Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics who will discuss drug prevention and awareness; Kelly Whitaker of the PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project who will talk about Teen Safe Driving; and Coleen Heim whose remarks will focus on School Safety and Bullying. For more information on Leadership Blair County Youth, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or email her.
Diversity is Topic of LBC Adult Session
Session Five of the Leadership Blair County Adult program, set for Friday at The Casino at Lakemont Park, will deal with the topic of Diversity and the impact that it makes in our local communities. For more information on the Leadership Blair County, visit The Chamber Website.
Retail, Restaurant Programs to Continue Today
The first of The Chamber’s “Blair County: It’s Our Business” television programs for 2013 will continue today on Public Access Channel 14. The half-hour programs are moderated by Carolyn Donaldson of WTAJ-TV. The first program is entitled: “Blair County Retail: Driving Our Local Economy.” It will run every Monday during February at 6:00 p.m. and every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Panelists are Jack Eberhardt of the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center; Lou Kanzleiter of Preit (Logan Valley Mall); Todd Lewis of Shoe Fly Stores; and Travis Muccitelli of Park Audio Plus. The second program is: “Our Dining Destinations: Blair County Restaurants.” That program also runs on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout February but at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. Panelists are George Batrus of Tom & Joe’s; Husam Obeid of Phoenicia Mediterranean Restaurant; Teresa Patterson of LaScalia’s Restaurant; and Karen Wyland of Mamie’s Café and Bakery. Corporate sponsors for both shows are: Altoona Mirror, Blair Companies, Shirley’s Cookie Company and WPS.
Nomination Forms Available for Business Excellence Award
Nominations are being accepted for the Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence. The award, the highest given to an individual by The Chamber, will be presented at the Business Excellence Dinner, set for June 10th. The 2013 award recipient will be the twelfth since Ernie Wissinger received the first in 2002. Other winners have been G. William Ward (2003), Stephen Sheetz (2004), Donald Devorris (2005), Willard Campbell (2006), John Wolf (2007), Lee Hite (2008), Donald Detwiler (2009), Michael McLanahan (2010), Barry Smith (2011) and Fred Imler (2012). Nomination forms can be secured by calling The Chamber Office at 943-8151 or by clicking here.
Need More Blue Cards?
If your business or organization has hired more employees and you need additional Chamber Blue Cards, call The Chamber Office at 943-8151.
Dale Carnegie’s “Skills For Success” Changes Starting Date
The Blair County Chamber is once again partnering with Dale Carnegie Training on its highly-popular “Skills For Success” program. The eight-week course was scheduled to begin last Thursday but that date has been changed until February 28th from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn in Duncansville. The course is designed to help attendees build greater self-confidence, strengthen people skills, communicate more effectively, develop leadership skills, reduce stress and improve attitude. For more information contact The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
“Role Models” Program Set for Convention Center
The Chamber’s second “Role Models” program will be held on February 21st from noon until 1:30 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center. Role Models is an interactive program in which two business leaders talk about the various aspects of their careers – the highs and the lows – and then answer questions from attendees. “It’s an effective way for people looking for insight on what has worked and what hasn’t to gain that insight from among the county’s most successful business people,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. The first program, held last November, featured Don Devorris from Blair Companies and John Wolf from Wolf Furniture. The February program features Bill Campbell from Hoss’s Steak & Sea House and Lee Hite of The Hite Company. The cost to attend is just $25 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Home & Garden Show Hoping to Eclipse Attendance Records
2013 marks the 43rd edition of the Blair County Home & Garden Show. The Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Blair-Bedford Builders Association host the show every year and feature exhibits on remodeling, decorating, heating/cooling, windows, landscaping, and much, much more. This year’s show will be held March 1-3 at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona and is projected to be another successful year. “We’ve already had a tremendous response from returning exhibitors and new exhibitors,” said Stacy Hoover, who oversees the show for The Chamber. “Due to the success of the first-time Home Treasures room last year, we are expanding that section to accommodate more specialty vendors for all those must-haves for your home.” The show also features hourly door prizes, free parking, a kids’ scavenger hunt and a kids’ craft corner. Only a few booths still remain for potential exhibitors so call Stacy at 943-8151 to reserve yours. For more show information, visit www.blairhomeshow.com.
Recruitment Process Continues for “Hiring Our Heroes”
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce will partner with the U.S. Chamber on a major event that is expected to have considerable impact on local employers and military job seekers. “Hiring Our Heroes” is a nationwide effort initiated by the U.S. Chamber in March of 2011 to help veterans and military spouses to find meaningful employment. Since that time, 220 hiring fairs have taken place in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia resulting in more than 10,400 hirings. On April 10, 2013, a Hiring Our Heroes fair will be held from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona. The event is free for both employers and job seekers. Job seekers are limited to military veterans and their spouses. Employers will not be required to pay for exhibitor space, they must at least verify that they have legitimate jobs to offer. Any employers interested in reserving exhibitor space should go to HOH.greatjob.net. Job seekers can register on that same site. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Business BEFORE Hours Set for Wednesday, February 20
The next Chamber “Business Before Hours” will carry the dual distinction of a Grand Opening as well. Amber Terrace, part of the Altoona Center for Nursing Care, will debut its Specialized Care for the Memory Impaired on Wednesday, February 20th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. The facility is located at 1020 Green Avenue in Altoona.
“We look forward to having people from the community come to learn more about our new unit and enjoy the Business Before Hours event,” Dambeck acknowledged. There is no cost to attend the event but registration is encouraged. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
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 Jessica Meck at The Chamber at 943-8151.
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Experience It, LLC
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Use the promotion code CHAMBERBLUE13 when placing an order from www.experienceitnow.com to receive Free Shipping on your order!
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Fellabaum & Co., dba Jackson Hewitt Tax Serv.
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Present your Blue Card to receive 15% off of tax preparation services. (Offer is valid at Blair County locations: Station Medical Center, Altoona Walmart, Sears in Logan valley Mall, 2123 7th Avenue in Altoona, Greenwood and Claysburg.) Visit us on facebook: jacksonhewitttaxservice-Altoona, PA
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Firestone Complete Auto Care
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Present your Blue Card to receive $10 off a standard lube, oil & filter change OR receive a PA state inspection and emissions test for $39.99 + tax.
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Foxtrot Runners
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Show your Chamber Member Blue Card at checkout and receive 10% off each individual pair of shoes.
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Freedom Rentals
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Present your Blue Card to receive 15% off EZ Pak Mobile Storage, self-storage - all locations, and motor home and travel trailer rentals.
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For more information, visit the website
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February 11, 2013
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Breakfast Club
Thursday, February 14, 2013
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Role Models
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
8:00 - 10 a.m.
Amber Terrace - Altoona Center for Nursing Care
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, February 28, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
South Hills School of Business
Register Here
Blair County Home & Garden Show
March 1, 1:00 - 9:00 p.m.
March 2, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
March 3, Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Jaffa Shrine Altoona
www.blairhomeshow.com
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 2/11/2013
BASICS Steering Committee
Monday, February 11, 8:00 a.m.
Greater Altoona Career & Tech Center
Legislative Action Committee
Tuesday, February 12, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Golf Committee
Tuesday, February 12, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
Home & Garden Show Committee
Wednesday, February 13, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
Click here
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