Blair Business Mirror to Feature Blair County Chamber Foundation
Congressman Shuster to Speak at August “Breakfast Club”
Chamber Seeking Fall Interns
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Leadership Alumni Kickoff “Basket of Hope” Project
Healthy Blair County Coalition , ABCD Conducting Needs Assessment
Informational Meeting on China Trip is August 25th
Still Time to Register for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise
Backbone Bash is August 21st at Park Hills Golf Club
Best Practices Forum for Non-Profits to Target Local Media
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Blair Business Mirror to Feature Blair County Chamber Foundation
The Blair Business Mirror will be published tomorrow as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. Copies of the publication will be mailed to all Chamber-member businesses later this week. This month’s issue features the Blair County Chamber Foundation as its cover story. Inside features include ones on Monarch Cleaners, Kitty Hawk Restaurant and Yellow Cab & Transfer Company. For more information on the Blair Business Mirror, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.
Congressman Shuster to Speak at August “Breakfast Club”
Congressman Bill Shuster will be the keynote speaker at the next Blair County Chamber “Breakfast Club,” scheduled for this Friday, August 14th at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The format of the Congressman’s remarks will be a Q&A session with questions being submitted in advance from within the Chamber Membership. Richard Fiore, Jr., who chairs the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, will ask the questions. “With so many important issues that impact business facing this Congress, it’s appropriate that we would have the Congressman here to help sort things out,” Fiore noted. The cost to attend the Breakfast Club is $18 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor of the August Breakfast Club is the Altoona-Blair County Airport.
Chamber Seeking Fall Interns
The Blair County Chamber is accepting resumes for Fall internships from any college student majoring in Business Administration, Journalism, Marketing or Communications. Internships can be done for credit or non-credit. Send resume to Linda Stotler at lstotler@blairchamber.com.
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Now that the Young Professionals of Blair County has put together a Steering Committee to guide its fortunes for the immediate future, it is now hoping to assemble a list of 21-35 year olds to be part of the YP program. A list will be compiled of interested young professionals so that information about upcoming programs and events can be promoted. Anyone interested in joining that list should send contact information to Joe Hurd at jhurd@blairchamber.com. Information can also be accessed on Facebook at Facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsBlairCounty.
Leadership Alumni Kickoff “Basket of Hope” Project
For the past four years, the Leadership Blair County Alumni have championed a cause to help women and families in Blair County to get a fresh start through the Family Services’ Family Shelter and Domestic Abuse Project. “Basket of Hope” will continue again in 2015. Last year’s goal of collecting 200 baskets was exceeded when 222 baskets were collected and a total of $1,797.07 in monetary donations was realized. Since the program’s inception, 666 baskets and $5,613.27 have been donated. There are many ways that items can be donated; as an individual or an office, with a group of neighbors or with a faith group. Donate just one item or fill an entire laundry basket. Items can be new or gently used. A list of items, most of which can be found at any Dollar Store, is posted on the Chamber Website at www.blairchamber,com. All Basket of Hope donations can be brought to the Blair County Chamber of Commerce on August 26-28 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Healthy Blair County Coalition, ABCD Conducting Needs Assessment
Healthy Blair County Coalition, in partnership with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation, is conducting a community economic needs assessment. Surveys are being sent to a variety of groups asking for help in completing the Community Economic Needs Assessment Survey to learn more about the strengths and issues that impact business. Please go to the link below and complete the survey through the internet on survey monkey no later than August 21, 2015. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and the questions ask for specific responses that will be compiled into a database for purposes of ascertaining volume and trends. Individual responses will be kept confidential. This information will not be used to solicit businesses or to encourage participation in projects or programs undertaken by any of the participating organizations. The survey can be accessed by clicking on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NNXR32.
Informational Meeting on China Trip is August 25th
Back by popular demand is the Blair County Chamber’s trip to China. The nine-day excursion will take place from April 7-16, 2016 and will once again be conducted through Citslinc. The price remains incredible at $2199 (including flights, meals and all accommodations at 5-star hotels.) The only significant change from the three previous Chamber trips is that the flight originates at Dulles Airport instead of JFK – a real plus to our travelers. Travel to Dulles from Altoona and back are included as part of the trip. The Chamber will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. To register for that meeting, call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Still Time to Register for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise
The Blair County Chamber is heading to Europe in late Fall for its first-ever river cruise. The cruise is being done in cooperation with Heritage Travel. The special wine-themed “5-River European Cruise” will depart from the Chamber Office in the Devorris Center for Business Development on November 3rd, will fly from Dulles International Airport for an overnight flight to Prague and will return on November 13th from Paris. The trip will include one-night sightseeing stays at 5-star hotels in both Prague and Paris with the river cruise in-between. The Chamber trip will feature excursions on the Vistava, Main, Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers via Avalon Waterways “Visionary,” considered the finest river vessel in Europe. The Visionary accommodates just 128 guests. Brochures on the 5-River European Cruise are available at the Chamber Office and at Heritage Travel. Call (814) 946-1600 for more information.
Backbone Bash is August 21st at Park Hills Golf Club
The next Chamber “Backbone Bash” will have a new location in 2015. The popular event, labeled “a laid-back celebration for small businesses,” will take place at Tavern 27, located in Park Hills Golf Club. The date is Friday, August 21st from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The cost to attend is just $10/person and includes a casual cookout, beverages, a putting contest, karaoke, a photo booth, backyard games, great music and plenty of door prizes. The event will conclude with a firework display courtesy of EPIC Pyrotechnics LLC. Any Chamber Member whose business employs less than 50 people is eligible to attend. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Best Practices Forum for Non-Profits to Target Local Media
The Blair County Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses will host a special Best Practices Forum on August 21st from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The program will focus on ways to make better connections between local non-profits and the local news media. At this Forum, Ray Eckenrode of the Altoona Mirror, Phil Dubrow of WTAJ Your News Leader and Dave Davies of Forever Broadcasting will be part of a panel discussion with attendees. Best Practices Forums are limited to employees of non-profits that are members of the Blair County Chamber. There is no cost to attend a Forum but space is limited. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Ritchey’s Dairy in Martinsburg which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary during 2015.
Blue Card Discounts
To see a complete listing of the Blue Card discounts available, please click here. To have an offer listed, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. There is no fee to offer and have a discount listed.
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August 10, 2015
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Breakfast Club
FRIDAY, August 14
7:45-9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Wednesday, August 19
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
The Salon Professional Academy
Register Here
Non-Profit Best Practices Forum
Friday, August 21
8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
Devorris Center
Register Here
Backbone Bash
Friday, August 21
5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Tavern 27 at Park Hills Country Club
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, August 27
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
PC Works Plus
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 8/10/2015
Attractions/Hotel Roundtable
Wednesday, August 12, 8:15 a.m.
Altoona Grand Hotel
Buy Here. Live Here. Committee
Wednesday, August 12, 1:30 p.m.
ABCD Conference Room
Leadership Blair County Alumni
Thursday, August 13, 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank - Lakemont
Safety Committee
Thursday, August 13, 9:00a.m.
The Chamber
Coalition on Sustainability
Thursday, August 13, 1:30 p.m.
Devorris Center
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