Chamber Office Closes at Noon on Good Friday
Speed Networking Event Set for Tomorrow
Board Meeting to Focus on Retreat Results
Bill Sell’s Bold to Host Thursday’s GRYP Networking Event
“Business After Hours” Set for Senior CARE
WE-LEaD Workshop Message: “Get What You Want Every Time.”
McKillop, Miller Are Next “Role Models”
GRYP Collecting Donations for BCRDS
Check-Out The Chamber’s Low-Cost Healthcare Option
Sign-Ups Continue for Chamber Trip to Tuscany
Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic Filling-Up Quickly
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts

Chamber Office Closes at Noon on Good Friday
The Blair County Chamber Office will close at noon on Friday in commemoration of Good Friday. The office will re-open on Monday at 8:30 a.m. For information on The Chamber or to register for upcoming programs or events, visit the Chamber Website.

Speed Networking Event Set for Tomorrow
When The Chamber’s Small Business Partners decided to pilot a Speed Networking event last October, a modest-but-enthusiastic group of small business people showed-up. In late February, twice as many came for the second showing despite inclement weather. The next Speed Networking event is tomorrow, April 15th at 8:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. An even bigger turnout is predicted. The cost is just $10 for Chamber Members and $20 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber by noon today at 943-8151. 
 
Board Meeting to Focus on Retreat Results
When the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors meets on Thursday, much of the discussion will focus on last week’s Board Retreat that was held in Martinsburg. “The Retreat yielded quite a bit of valuable information,” acknowledged Board Chair Doug Mingle. “What we do with that information will guide the direction of the organization for a significant period of time.” Any Chamber Member who would like to address the Board should contact Joe Hurd by noon on Tuesday. He can be reached at 943-8151 or email him.

Bill Sell’s Bold to Host Thursday’s GRYP Networking Event
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold its next networking event this Thursday, April 17th at Bill Sell’s Bold, 1413 11th Avenue in Downtown 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 After Hours” Set for Senior CARE
Senior CARE Altoona will host the next Chamber “Business After Hours.”  That event will be held on WEDNESDAY, April 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the company’s office, located at 1311 Twelfth Avenue in Altoona. The cost to attend is $6.00 for Chamber Members in advance or $7.00 at the door. Non-members may attend for $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
 
WE-LEaD Workshop Message: “Get What You Want Every Time.”
The announcement that Marsha Petrie Sue would be returning as keynote speaker to the next WE-LEaD Annual Workshop wasn’t the only piece of good news regarding that event. It was also announced that the workshop would once again feature an impressive array of exhibitors representing local businesses. This year’s WE-LEaD Workshop takes place on April 24th at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Conference Center. The format for the Workshop is similar to what it has been in the past. Registration and continental breakfast are from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at which time attendees can visit the many vendors who have signed-up to exhibit at the event. Petrie Sue’s keynote, entitled “Communicating Results: How to Get What You Want Every Time,” begins at 8:30 and runs until noon. Lunch begins at 12:15 in the Heritage Discovery Center. The cost to attend the WE-LEaD Workshop is $70/person. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Once again this year, the corporate sponsor for the Workshop is Blair Medical Associates.

McKillop, Miller Are Next “Role Models”
Bobbie Miller of Advantage Resource Group and Bill McKillop of Giant Eagle will be the Blair County Chamber’s next “Role Models” at a program to be held May 22nd from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center. The Role Models program was initiated two years ago to provide a forum for business leaders to share their experiences and insights with those still climbing the corporate ladder. The format is strictly Q&A with a moderator asking initial questions to generate discussion and attendees carrying the ball from there. The cost to attend Role Models is $25 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members and includes lunch. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

GRYP Collecting Donations for BCRDS
GRYP will be participating in the Blair County Respiratory Disease Society’s 26th Annual Wallyball tournament. BCRDS is dedicated to the prevention and aid to individuals and families affected by respiratory diseases. GRYP will be collecting monetary donations, until the start of the tournament on April 24, to help support their programs. If you are interested in donating contact Rachel Litzinger at 943-8151 or email her.

Check-Out The Chamber’s Low-Cost Healthcare Option 
The Blair County Chamber has partnered with Empower3 Center for Health 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. Call Maureen Frucella for details.  Her number is (814) 317-5063.

Sign-Ups Continue for Chamber Trip to Tuscany
The Blair County Chamber, in cooperation with Classic Travel and Chamber Discoveries, has scheduled a trip to Tuscany from October 20 to 28. An informational meeting took place on February 18th. A large number of people attended and we expect to have a large contingent of travelers. If you’d like to be one of them, call The Chamber at 943-8151 for a brochure. The deadline to qualify for the $100 discount has been extended to April 1st. We’re hoping to have another informational meeting next month so keep in touch. This is a great trip at a terrific price!

Highmark/Chamber Golf Classic Filling-Up Quickly
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. This year’s Classic will again include the helicopter ball-drop, courtesy of Pine Bottom Aviation Services. Registration for sponsors and golfers is underway as are the sales of tee-and-green sponsorships. For more information or to register, contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151 or email her.

Congratulations . . .
. . . to New Pig Corporation which had three of its products – the PIG Build-A-Berm Bladder Section, the PIG 5-Gallon Latching Pail Lid and the PIG Rapid Response Drainblocker – recognized at the 2013 Plant Engineering Products of the Year awards.  The awards recognize product innovation and excellence as judged by members of the American Institute of Plant Engineers.
. . . to Tom Seasoltz of Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation who recently became the first person in Pennsylvania to pass the Council of Development Finance Agencies Development Finance Professionals Certification Program.  Seasoltz is now officially recognized as a Development Finance Certified Professional.
. . . to Assistant Blair County District Attorney Jackie Bernard who was selected as the Vision of Hope Award honoree by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR).  The award is a statewide recognition of an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to work to end sexual violence committed against children.

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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