Chamber Office Closed on Presidents’ Day
Speed Networking Event Set for Tomorrow
“Role Models” to Feature Kaup, Murray
Informational Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s Tuscany Trip
Chamber to Host Meetings on Low-Cost Healthcare Program
Foundation Board to Consider Grant Application Opportunities
Chamber Board of Directors to Meet Thursday
Safety Program to Focus on Bullying, Workplace Violence
Zach’s to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
Business Excellence Award Nominations Being Accepted
Limited Booth Space Still Available for the Blair County Home & Garden Show
GRYP to Hold Paintball Event
Save the Date: Chamber Golf Classic Set for May 12th
Date Changed for Dale Carnegie “Skills for Success” Course
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts

Chamber Office Closed on Presidents’ Day
The Blair County Chamber Office will be closed on Monday in recognition of Presidents’ Day. The office will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. To access Chamber information or to register for a program or event, visit the Chamber Website.

Speed Networking Event Set for Tomorrow
Back by popular demand, The Chamber’s Small Business Partners will hold a Speed Networking program tomorrow, February 18th from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development.  The program will give small business owners and employees the opportunity to make connections that will result in new clients and new ways to purchase products or services more inexpensively. If you are a business with fifty or fewer employees, this event will be right up your alley. The cost to participate is just $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. A Continental breakfast is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
 
“Role Models” to Feature Kaup, Murray
The popular “Role Models” program, providing insight on the professional growth and development of Blair County’s business leaders, will feature two giants in the accounting and healthcare fields. Rex Kaup, CPA/Partner at Young, Oakes, Brown & Company in Altoona and Jerry Murray, President/CEO of UPMC Altoona will answer questions during the 90-minute program set for February 20th at the Blair County Convention Center. The event begins with lunch at noon. The Role Models format is strictly Q&A. The initial questions come from the moderator; all thereafter come from the audience. The cost to attend Role Models is $25 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included in the cost. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
 
Informational Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s Tuscany Trip
The Blair County Chamber has scheduled a trip to Tuscany from October 20 to 28 and it’s an experience that you won’t want to miss! To show you the specifics, an informational meeting will be held on tomorrow, February 18th beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The meeting should last approximately one hour. Partnering with The Chamber on this trip are Classic Travel in Duncansville and Chamber Discoveries. To register to attend the meeting, call The Chamber at 943-8151. There’s no cost or obligation.
 
Chamber to Host Meetings on Low-Cost Healthcare Program
The Blair County Chamber and Empower3 Center for Health will hold two informational meetings to discuss a low-cost healthcare option on Monday, February 24th. Attendees have a choice of two times: 8:30 a.m. or 6 p.m., at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The Chamber has partnered with Empower3 to offer Chamber-member employers an affordable community-based health plan for their employees. The plan features level group rates, no deductibles, no pre-existing condition exclusions, substantial prescription drug coverage with co-pays of $10 or less and the opportunity to add dental and vision coverage. Non-Chamber members can attend as well, but must join to participate in the program. There is no cost to attend but registration is encouraged. For more information or to register visit The Chamber on-line at www.blairchamber.com or call at 943-8151.
 
Foundation Board to Consider Grant Application Opportunities
When the Blair County Chamber Foundation Board meets on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center, much of its focus will be on determining which grants best meet the Foundation’s mission. The Foundation relies heavily on grant monies to fun programs like Leadership Blair County Youth and the many BASICS programs. For more information on the Foundation, contact Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her.
 
Chamber Board of Directors to Meet Thursday
The Board of Directors of the Blair County Chamber will meet on Thursday beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center. Anyone wishing to address the Board should contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 by noontime on Tuesday.

Safety Program to Focus on Bullying, Workplace Violence
The next Chamber Safety program will focus on a topic of great concern to all businesses. “Bullying and Workplace Violence: What All Employers Need to Know” will be presented this Friday, February 21st from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Altoona. Presenters will be Officer Jeff Petucci of the Pennsylvania State Police and Rebecca Bywater of Penn State University’s Threat Assessment/ Community Education Department. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. A hot breakfast is included. Seating is limited so call The Chamber today at 943-8151 or register online.

Zach’s to Host Next GRYP Networking Event
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold its next networking event on on Thursday at Zach’s Sports and Spirits, 5828 Sixth Avenue in Altoona. The evening will feature appetizers, a cash bar, and many opportunities to get to know other young professionals. The event is free for GRYP members and $5.00 for non-members. For more information or to make reservations, contact the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at 943-8151 or register online.
 
Business Excellence Award Nominations Being Accepted
The Blair County Chamber’s Annual Business Excellence Dinner will be held on Monday, June 9th at The Casino at Lakemont Park. That event, in its 13th year, will once again focus on a local business leader with the presentation of the coveted “Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence.” The nomination process has begun and will conclude at noon on February 28th. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber Office or can be downloaded from the Chamber Website. Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are: Ernie Wissinger (2002), 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), Fred Imler (2012) and Ben Stapelfeld (2013).

Limited Booth Space Still Available for the Blair County Home & Garden Show
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Blair Bedford Builders Association have announced that some booths are still available for the 44th Annual Blair County Home & Garden Show to be held February 28, March 1, & 2, 2014 at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona. Exhibitor booth space is now open for businesses interested in showcasing their home or garden business. The Show is also accepting applications from vendors for the Home Treasures room. Home Treasures offers a boutique type setting that will feature home interior items, candles, spices, hand-crafted items, and much more. To reserve booths, or for more information, call Stacy Hoover at The Chamber, 814-943-8151.  

GRYP to Hold Paintball Event
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold a paintball event on March 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Urban Warzone, located at 3519 Route 764, Duncansville. The cost will be $20-per-person based on twenty people to be paid at the time of the event. The cost includes use of a paintball gun, mask, 200 paintballs and unlimited CO2 refills. It is highly recommended that participants wear padded clothing.  Reservations are required. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 by no later than February 27th.

Save the Date: Chamber Golf Classic Set for May 12th
The Annual Chamber Golf Classic will be held on Monday, May 12th at Iron Masters Country Club in Ore Hill. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will once again be the main sponsor for this popular event which routinely sells-out several weeks prior. The Chamber’s Golf Committee is still finalizing plans for a couple special features to this year’s Classic. Registration for sponsors and golfers, however, is already underway. For more information or to register, contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151 or email her.

Date Changed for Dale Carnegie “Skills for Success” Course
The Dale Carnegie “Skills for Success” course, which had been scheduled to begin this week, has been postponed until March 13th at the Comfort Inn in Duncansville. The course is being offered in cooperation with the Blair County Chamber. For more information or to register for the course, call Jeff Davis at (814) 931-1963 or call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.

Congratulations . . .
. . . to Saint Francis University whose Exercise Physiology program received its initial accreditation award from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
. . . to Carl Bennett of Building II, Susanna of the Family Resource Center and Dave Barger of WRTA who recently received awards from the Blair County Drug and Alcohol Partnerships for their efforts in helping to end substance abuse.

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 The Chamber at 943-8151.    
 

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