Chamber Board Endorses Altoona Home Rule Charter
Annual Farm-City Dinner is Thursday in Martinsburg
“Issues” Program on Business Women Debuts Tonight
Sam’s Club’s “Business Before Hours” Slated for Wednesday
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Breakfast Club
SCORE, SBA to Hold Forum on Lending
WE-LEaD Assembling List of Participants
Chamber Members Encouraged to Update Business Information
Chamber Planning Trip to Southern Destinations
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Board Endorses Altoona Home Rule Charter
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has endorsed the City of Altoona’s bid to move the system of government to Home Rule. “The Board strongly believes that the Government Study Commission did a tremendous job in considering what was in the City’s best interests,” Chamber President Joe Hurd explained. “As a business organization, we recognize the importance of effective government in creating a vibrant economy. The Home Rule option seems to provide the best opportunity for that.”
Annual Farm-City Dinner is Thursday in Martinsburg
The Blair County Chamber’s Farm-City Dinner will be held at The Park at Morrisons Cove this Thursday, November 6th beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a Milk/Punch Reception followed at 7:00 by a family-style turkey dinner with all the fixings. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award to State Representative Jerry Stern. Guest speaker will be former Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes, Jr. The cost to attend is $20/person. Make your reservations by calling The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
“Issues” Program on Business Women Debuts Tonight
The importance of women as business leaders will be the focal point of discussion as the Blair County Chamber’s next “Issues” program which will be broadcast on the Altoona Public Access Channel throughout November (Mondays at 9:00 p.m.; Saturday’s at 9:00 a.m.) Entitled, “Moving to the Front: The Long-Awaited Surge of Business Women,” the 45-minute program is moderated by Carolyn Donaldson. Panelists for the program are: Andrea Cohen of Blair Companies, Carol Gensimore of Value Drug, Barbara Kooman of Kooman & Associates, Amy Seltzer of Seltzer Financial Strategies and Becky Stevens of The Stevens Company. Sponsors of the program are: Benzel’s Pretzel Bakery, P. Joseph Lehman, Inc., NPC, Inc., Reliance Bank and Seltzer Financial Strategies.
Sam’s Club’s “Business Before Hours” Slated for Wednesday
The Chamber has scheduled two “Business Before Hours” programs during the month of November. The first, this Wednesday, November 5th, will be held at the Altoona Sam’s Club from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Sam’s Club is located at 2500 Plank Road Commons. On November 12th, also from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., Generations Together will host a Business Before Hours. Generations Together is the intergenerational day program of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries. It is located at 701 Quail Avenue in Altoona. There is no cost to attend to attend either Business Before Hours event but pre-registration is important to allow for the hosting businesses to prepare enough breakfast items. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151.
Senator Eichelberger to Speak at Breakfast Club
The next Chamber Breakfast Club will be held on November 13th beginning at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The guest speaker will be State Senator John Eichelberger who will address issues of interest to Chamber members. 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.
SCORE, SBA to Hold Forum on Lending
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to anyone starting a business or keeping an existing business afloat is financing. To help make that process simpler, the Alleghenies SCORE Chapter and the Small Business Administration have teamed-up to present “Meet the Lenders” on Wednesday, November 19th from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Blair County Convention Center. Among the presentations are: “What is the SBA and How Can They Help Me? “Why Do Banks Say Yes (or No)? What Supplemental Funding Sources Are Available? and What is Crowd Funding?” There is no charge to attend the Forum but seating is limited. The Blair County Chamber and the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation are Forum sponsors and The Chamber is handling registrations. So to register, call (814) 943-8151 or email chamber@blairchamber.com. Light refreshments will be served at the Forum.
WE-LEaD Assembling List of Participants
If you are an employer seeking more beneficial ways to get your female staff members more involved with business and community programs and events, simply call The Chamber at 943-8151 or email Judy Juda at jjuda@blairchamber.com. The Blair County Chamber’s WE-LEaD (Women Encouraging – Leadership, Education and Development) is expanding its contact list and hoping that more women on the corporate ladder take part. There is no obligation – participants will receive periodic emails and invitations.
Chamber Members Encouraged to Update Business Information
The Blair County Chamber’s Membership Directory and online database are among the county’s most trusted sources of information regarding Chamber members. Unfortunately, some of the information is outdated due to changes in staff people, new contact information, etc. Is your company’s information up to date? Simply visit the member information section of the Chamber website and check it out. If changes need to be made, call Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her at ccessna@blairchamber.com.
Chamber Planning Trip to Southern Destinations
After a number of successful trips outside the United States, the Blair County Chamber has decided to offer a Spring 2015 trip closer to home. The Chamber will travel by motor coach to Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia and to Monticello from April 20-26. The cost of the trip, which includes six nights lodging and a number of outstanding guided tours, is just $995-per-person. Epic Journeys, a member of The Chamber, is coordinating the trip. For more information or to secure a spot on the trip, contact Epic Journeys at (814) 266-5070 or 877-705-7030. Brochures and itineraries are available at the Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development. The trip is open to Chamber members and non-members.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Makdad Supply Company of Altoona, which was awarded the 2014 Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. Signature Award. The award was presented at Emerson’s Annual Wholesaler Conference in Tucson, Arizona, October 29-31. This is the third time that Makdad’s has won the award which recognizes businesses that increase their sales in all Emerson Brand products by over 10%.
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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Radiance Day Spa
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive 10% off of any service. (Exceptions would be retail products and gift certificates.
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Salon Professional Academy
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Present your Chamber Blue Card to receive the $28 special - Manicure/Pedicure.
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Steve Seltzer Powersports
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Present your Blue Card to receive half off of your Pennsylvania State Inpection for your motorcycle or motor scooter.
(Not off the sticker but the labor portion of your inspection.)
AND/OR
receive 15 percent off regularly-priced parts and accessory items.
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Steve Seltzer Powersports
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Present your Blue Card to receive a FREE gas can with your purchase of a Honda lawn mower, snow blower, tiller, generator or trimmer. (A $25 to $40 value)
AND/OR
receive a FREE year of manufacturer's warranty coverage when you purchase a new unit with an extended warranty coverage on select new motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, personal watercraft or side-by-sides. (Value of more than $200.00).
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For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
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November 3, 2014
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Farm-City Dinner
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Social: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner/Program: 7:00 p.m.
The Park at Morrisons Cove
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Sam's Club
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Generations Together
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, November 13, 2014
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 11/3/2014
BASICS Early Childhood Summit
Monday, November 3, 8:00 a.m.
Barneywood
Chamber Ambassadors
Tuesday, November 4, 8:00 a.m.
The Chamber
LBC Alumni Committee
Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank - Lakemont
Safety Committee
Wednesday, November 5, 9:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Non-Profit Advocacy Subcommittee
Wednesday, November 5, 10:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Small Business Partners
Wednesday, November 5, 11:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Legislative Action Committee
Thursday, November 6, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
BASICS Subcommittee Early Childhood
Thursday, November 6, 10:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
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