Chamber Office Closed for Veterans Day
Blair Business Mirror to be Published on Tuesday
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Thursday’s Breakfast Club
LBC Youth Session to Focus on Justice
GRYP Networking Set for Sheetz Entrepreneurial Center
New Safety Regulations Topic of Workshop
Debates to Highlight LBC Adult Session
“Role Models” to Feature Bechtel-Wherry, Sissler
“Issues” Program on LBC Debuts Monday
Place the “Buy Here. Live Here.” Logo on Your Ad Copy
Final Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s China Trip
Chamber, Altoona Mirror Partnering to Encourage Local Buying
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Office Closed for Veterans Day
The offices of the Blair County Chamber will be closed on Monday in observance of Veterans Day. The offices will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. For information on The Chamber or to register for a program or event, visit the Chamber Website.
Blair Business Mirror to be Published on Tuesday
The November issue of the Blair Business Mirror will be published on Tuesday as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. The cover story this month features the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the many employees in Blair County who have been placed at local businesses by OVR. Inside stories include a look at The Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Priorities and a story on the newest people elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. If you don’t buy the Altoona Mirror (or even if you do), a copy of the Business Mirror will be mailed to you within a few days.
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Thursday’s Breakfast Club
State Senator John Eichelberger will be the guest speaker at the November 14th Chamber Breakfast Club, set for 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The format for the Senator’s presentation will be a Q&A with questions being asked by Legislative Action Committee Chair Richard Fiore, Jr. To register for the Breakfast Club, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. The cost is $16 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Corporate sponsor of the November Breakfast Club is Wessel & Company.
LBC Youth Session to Focus on Justice
The next session of The Chamber’s 2014 Leadership Blair County Youth class will be held on Wednesday. The session will focus on justice and includes visits to the Blair County Court House and the Blair County Prison. For more information on LBC Youth, go to the Chamber Website or contact Judy Juda at 943-8151.
GRYP Networking Set for Sheetz Entrepreneurial Center
The Chamber’s “Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP)” will hold its next networking event from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Sheetz Entrepreneurial Center in Downtown Altoona. GRYP members will have an opportunity to work with students from Penn State Altoona on networking skills. The cost to attend is $5.00 for non-GRYP members. GRYP members attend free. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
New Safety Regulations Topic of Workshop
The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will host a workshop entitled, “New SDS & GHS Standards” on November 15th from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Thomas Paterson, Certified Safety Professional, will be the speaker. The cost to attend is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Cost includes a continental breakfast. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Debates to Highlight LBC Adult Session
This Friday, The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County Adult session will be held at the Spring Cove School District Administration Building beginning at 8:00 a.m. The session will feature a series of debates on topics of interest to the local community. The debate topics are: Property Tax Reassessment, Home Rule Charter for the City of Altoona, and Liquor Store Privatization. The class will also have a DiSC behavioral studies discussion. For more information on Leadership Blair County, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or visit the Chamber Website.
“Role Models” to Feature Bechtel-Wherry, Sissler
The Blair County Chamber’s successful “Role Models” program will feature two of the area’s most recognizable business and education leaders as Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry and Timothy Sissler will share their insights and experiences with the local business community. The program will be held on November 21st from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Blair County Convention Center. Bechtel-Wherry is Chancellor at Penn State Altoona; Sissler is Vice-Chairman of the Board and CEO of Reliance Bank. The two are the ninth and tenth designees to be featured in the Role Models program since its inception a year ago and are the first two who are not part of a family business. The cost to attend Role Models is $25 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
“Issues” Program on LBC Debuts Monday
The Chamber’s next “Issues” program, which will be aired on the Altoona Public Access Channel beginning Monday, will focus attention on the Leadership Blair County program. That program, created by The Chamber, is currently in its 20th year. “Servant Leadership and Blair County’s Future” is the title of this 45-minute panel discussion show that is moderated by Carolyn Donaldson of WTAJ Your News Leader. Panelists are Denny Doll of Reliance Bank, an LBC grad who has chaired the LBC Alumni Committee; former County Commissioner Donna Gority who has been an LBC Steering Committee since the program began; Dr. Chuck Kormanski, who facilitated LBC for many years; Jessica Lattanza of Blair Medical Associates, an LBC grad who has served on a variety of committees; and Tami Smith of Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, an LBC grad who facilitates the Leadership Blair County Youth program. Sponsors for this “Issues” are: AMTRAN, The Hite Company, Home Nursing Agency, Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, JJAN Financial, Juniata College, Leadership Blair County Alumni Committee, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., M&T Bank, Reliance Bank and S&T Bank. The Issues program will air every Monday at 9:00 p.m. and every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. throughout the month of November.
Place the “Buy Here. Live Here.” Logo on Your Ad Copy
If your business or organization runs advertising in either the Altoona Mirror or the Morrisons Cove Herald, would you consider including the “Buy Here. Live Here.” logo on your ad copy? It reminds people about the importance of supporting local businesses when they purchase products or services. Simply mention to your advertising rep that you’d like the logo on your ad and they’ll be happy to accommodate your request. Remember, the logo is also available for you to use on your letterhead. Contact Linda Stotler at The Chamber (943-8151) to secure an official copy.
Final Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s China Trip
The Chamber’s next China Trip (April 4-12, 2014) is an opportunity for people to broaden their perspectives on what is happening in the world. It is also a whole lot of fun. If you haven’t secured information on what the trip entails and haven’t marveled at its ridiculously low price, The Chamber will be having one final informational meeting on November 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Please let us know you’re coming by calling 943-8151.
Chamber, Altoona Mirror Partnering to Encourage Local Buying
For the second consecutive year, the messages “Buy Here. Live Here.” and “I Shop Locally” will resonate in perfect harmony as the Blair County Chamber and the Altoona Mirror will renew their partnership to encourage local buying throughout the holiday season. Once again that message has a special emphasis on supporting the thousands of small businesses located here. “We have such a great partnership with The Chamber on so many other levels, that it’s just natural to work together to support such a vital mutual interest – the long-term health and success of our small business community here in Blair County,” acknowledged Altoona Mirror General Manager Ray Eckenrode. “I Shop Locally and Buy Here. Live Here. both recognize that small businesses are so important to our economic welfare, not just because of what they contribute but because of all the spin-off opportunities they create.” While the Buy Here. Live Here. is more of a community awareness effort, I Shop Locally is a seasonal program of relatively short duration that offers incentives to shoppers who purchase products from local businesses. Those shoppers get a Rewards Card stamped following each of those purchases and then drawings are held for cash prizes. The more purchases that are made, the greater the chance of winning. On November 29th – the day before “Small Business Saturday” – the Altoona Mirror will publish a tabloid featuring the message, “Shop Your Hometown: BUY LOCAL.” The Chamber will actively participate in that tabloid as well.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to the Van Zandt VA Medical Center, which was named top performer on key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accrediting agency of healthcare organizations in America. The center was recognized for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions.
. . . to the Mountain Lion BackPack Program, which was recently named as an honorable mention recipient for the Partner of the Year Award, given by the Central PA Food Bank.
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 Christine Perkins 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., Inc. dba Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
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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
and or
receive a PA state inspection and emissions test for $39.99 + tax.
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Foxtrot Runners, Inc.
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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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Green Home Goods, Inc.
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Present your Blue Crad to receive a 10% off eco-friendly gifts and accessories, and discounts on eco-flooring & furniture.
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For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
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November 11, 2013
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Breakfast Club
Thursday, November 14, 2013
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
GRYP Networking
Thursday, November 14, 2013
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sheetze Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Downtown Altoona
Register Here
Safety Workshop
Friday, November 15, 2013
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
Role Models
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, November 21, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Upcoming
Committee Meetings
Week of 11/11/2013
LBC Alumni Committee
Tuesday, November 12, 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank - Lakemont
GRYP Steering Committee
Tuesday, November 12, 8:15 a.m.
The Dream
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
Click here
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