Executive Roundtable Meeting to Focus on Economic Vibrancy
Chamber Board Continues Member Recruitment Effort
GRYP “Get Out & Vote” is Thursday at The Blairmont Club
Chamber Foundation Seeking EITC Contributors
Relationship Building Key Component of WE-LEaD Spring Workshop
Regional Leadership Workshop to Feature Coaching Legend
Informational Meeting for Chamber’s London Trip Set for April 30th
Chamber Members Invited to Consider Commercial Electric Program
Chamber Committee Will Partner on Judicial Debate
Registered Yet for the Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic?
Applications Available for 2014 LBC Youth Class
It’s Important to Update Your Business Information
Promote “Buy Here. Live Here.” With Door Prize Donation
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Executive Roundtable Meeting to Focus on Economic Vibrancy
How economically vibrant are Blair County’s largest businesses and what are those businesses likely to experience during the second half of 2013? That will be the topic of conversation this Wednesday as The Chamber’s Executive Roundtable meets at 7:30 a.m. at The Blairmont Club. Attendees will each have two minutes to provide an overview of their current business challenges and opportunities and will then speculate on what they see on the business horizon. For more information on the Executive Roundtable, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him.
Chamber Board Continues Member Recruitment Effort
As membership in the Blair County Chamber climbs back near the 1,000 mark, the Chamber Board of Directors continues to play a key role in member recruitment. The Board will meet Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center and discussion on other ways of identifying and contacting potential members will again be a prominent part of the agenda. “Our Board has done a yeoman’s job at keeping membership recruitment as a high priority,” acknowledged Chamber President Joe Hurd. “Many of our new members have been businesses that our Board members have brought-in.” Anyone wishing to address the Board at Thursday’s meeting should contact Hurd at 943-8151 by Tuesday at noon.
GRYP “Get Out & Vote” is Thursday at The Blairmont Club
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold a “Get Out & Vote” event on Thursday, April 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Blairmont Club in Hollidaysburg. Come meet candidates running for local offices in a meet-and-greet format. There is no cost to attend for GRYP members and $5.00 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber Foundation Seeking EITC Contributors
The Blair County Chamber Foundation has created a successful track record for funding a variety of projects that benefit the area’s young people. When the Foundation Board meets on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center, much of the meeting agenda will be directed to finding new and better ways to keep programs like Leadership Blair County Youth financially healthy. “All of our BASICS (Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions) programs have made an impact on career development,” explained The Chamber’s Cindy Cessna, who also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Foundation. “It’s important that we continue to gain additional support so that our future workforce will have the advantages necessary to keep us on strong economic footing.” Any business or individual willing to help the Foundation should contact Cessna at 943-8151 or email her.
Relationship Building Key Component of WE-LEaD Spring Workshop
The Chamber’s WE-LEaD – Women Encouraging: Leadership, Education and Development – will hold its annual Spring Workshop on Thursday, April 25th from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. Nationally-recognized speaker Marsha Petrie Sue will present “Decontaminate Toxic People Without Sharp Objects or Duct Tape.” The cost to attend is $65 for Chamber Members, $70 for non-members and $60-per-person in groups of five or more from the same company. Continental breakfast and full buffet lunch are included. Corporate sponsor for the event is Blair Medical Associates. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Regional Leadership Workshop to Feature Coaching Legend
When the leadership classes from Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset counties get together Wednesday at Omni Bedford Springs Resort for their annual Regional Leadership Workshop, they will have an opportunity to hear a presentation by one of college basketball’s legendary women’s coaches. Theresa Grentz, who won three national titles as a player at Immaculata College and who coached the U.S. Olympic Team to a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, will be the keynote speaker. Grentz is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and is the tenth winningest coach in NCAA women’s basketball history. For more information on Leadership Blair County, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or visit The Chamber website.
Informational Meeting for Chamber’s London Trip Set for April 30th
The informational meeting regarding The Chamber’s trip to London this Fall has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, April 30th at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The London trip will depart on October 26th and return November 2nd. To obtain a brochure or to register to attend the informational meeting, call The Chamber at 943-8151.
Chamber Members Invited to Consider Commercial Electric Program
In the three years since the rate caps on electricity were removed in Pennsylvania, more than 300 businesses have signed-on to the Blair County Chamber’s Commercial Electric Program. Practically all of those businesses have gone through at least one renewal of that program and have stayed onboard. “They’ve looked around and determined that what they’ve got is better than what they can get elsewhere,” acknowledged Chamber President Joe Hurd. “It’s a great program because of the rates and the credibility. Those factors alone have made it desirable.” OnDemand Energy, which oversees the program, will continue to work with The Chamber and an informational meeting will be held on April 30th at 9:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for any business that would have an interest in learning more about the program. “The actual informational session will last about thirty minutes and there will be ample time for questions,” Hurd pointed out. “The only criteria for participation is that the business has Penelec as its supplier and that it be a member of our Chamber.” To register to attend, call The Chamber at 943-8151.
Chamber Committee Will Partner on Judicial Debate
The Blair County Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee will partner with Blair Countians for Drug-Free Communities and Penn State Altoona’s Division of Student Affairs on a judicial debate involving the three candidates for Blair County judge. The debate will be held on Thursday, May 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. Former Blair County Commissioner Donna Gority, a member of the Legislative Action Committee, will serve as moderator. Questions for the debate will be supplied by the three partnering organizations. There is no cost to attend and the public is invited.
Registered Yet for the Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic?
Registration is underway for the 2013 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Chamber Golf Classic. The popular event is set for Monday, May 13th at Iron Masters Country Club in Ore Hill. The price of participating remains the same -- $150-per-golfer and $600 for a foursome – and that includes golf, a delicious luncheon, a special gift for each golfer, a post-Classic reception and Comfort Carts that keep the golfers hydrated. For the second consecutive year, the event will feature a ball drop, coordinated through Pine Bottom Aviation Services of Martinsburg. To reserve a team or an individual spot in this year’s event, contact The Chamber at 943-8151.
Applications Available for 2014 LBC Youth Class
The application process continues for the 2014 Class of Leadership Blair County Youth. Current high school freshmen at Blair County schools are eligible to apply for the program. Applications must be accompanied by two referrals from non-family members (teachers, guidance counselors, employers, etc.). Students can obtain an application from the guidance office at their schools, by clicking here or by stopping at The Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development. Deadline to apply is April 22nd.
It’s Important to Update Your Business Information
The Blair County Chamber’s database contains information about our members that we use to promote their efforts or which makes them eligible to gain certain business advantages. It’s important that all information regarding our members is updated when changes occur. If you have any changes regarding items such as business address, employee count or significant contact information, contact Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her.
Promote “Buy Here. Live Here.” With Door Prize Donation
As The Chamber continues to solicit support to sustain the Buy Here. Live Here. initiative, it has identified ways that local businesses can make a positive difference at a reasonable cost. “We need door prizes that we can award to people who sign pledge cards,” explained Linda Stotler, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Communication & Marketing. “By signing the cards, they indicate a willingness to support local businesses and also put themselves in position for personal gain when we draw winning door prize tickets.” There’s an upside for the businesses that provide the prizes as well, according to Stotler. “We publicize the prizes and their sponsors in the Buy Here. Live Here. newsletter so that people are aware of who’s stepping up to assist in the effort of building a better community.” To donate a door prize, contact Stotler at 943-8151 or email her.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Joe Harford, owner of Reclamere, Inc. of Tyrone, who has been elected to the state leadership council of the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents 15,000 small businesses in Pennsylvania and 350,000 in the United States.
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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Green Home Goods, Inc.
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Present your Blue Crad to receive a 10% discount on gifts and accessories, or on eco-flooring and furniture.
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Home Helpers/
Direct Link
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive a 15% discount for any Direct Link Services.
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Indoff - Lori Beck
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Present your Blue Card to receive a free box of letter size, 1/3 cut, manila folders (item # UNV-12113). Excludes ink and toner purchases.
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K&C Denture Center
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Present your Blue Card to receive $50 off a set of deluxe line of dentures with Gift Bag (starter kit). Blue card must be presented on first visit. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.
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Keystone Business Support, Inc.
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Present your Chamber Blue Card and receive 10% off the first 3 months for all new commerical cleaning service.
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For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
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April 15, 2013
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Upcoming Events
Register online
GRYP "Get Out & Vote" Event
Thursday, April 18, 2013
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Blairmont Club
Register Here
Safety Tour
Friday, April 19, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cenveo, Williamsburg
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Point of Fitness, Duncansville
Register Here
WE-LEaD Spring Workshop
Thursday, April 25, 2013
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, April 25, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Razor's Edge, Hollidaysburg
Register Here
GRYP Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up
Saturday, April 27, 2013
10:00 a.m. - Noon
Meet at Home Depot Parking Lot
Backbone Bash
Friday, May 3, 2013
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Buccinese Society
Register Here
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 4/15/2013
Presidents' Forum Steering Committee
Monday, April 15th, 1:30 p.m.
The Chamber
Leadership Blair County Alumni Commitee
Tuesday, April 16th, 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank, Lakemont
Safety Commitee
Tuesday, April 16th, 9:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Buy Here. Live Here. Committee
Tuesday, April 16th, 1:30 p.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Finance Committee
Tuesday, April 16th, 1:30 p.m.
The Chamber
Chamber Foundation Board
Wednesday, April 17th, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Board of Directors
Thursday, April 18th, 7:30 a.m.
The Chamber
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
Click here
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