Chamber Board to Meet Thursday at Devorris Center
Strategic Plan Discussion Focus Chamber Foundation Board Meeting
Executive Roundtable to Hear Presentation on Healthcare
Holiday Inn Express to Host “Business After Hours”
Leadership Blair County Adult Class to Begin Yearlong Venture
Young Professionals to Hold Kickoff Event at the Heidelberg Club
Sponsorships Available for “Issues” Program on Hotels
Small Business Partners Set Next Speed Networking Date
Local Contractor to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Safety Committee Holding Workers Compensation Seminar
Chamber Continues 2016 China Trip Registration
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Instructions Provided for Posting Events on Community Calendar
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
Is Your Information Still Accurate?
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Board to Meet Thursday at Devorris Center
The Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors will meet on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Anyone wishing to address the Board should contact Joe Hurd by noon on Tuesday at (814) 943-8151.
Strategic Plan Discussion Focus Chamber Foundation Board Meeting
When the Blair County Chamber Foundation Board meets on Wednesday morning at 8:00 at the Devorris Center, the main discussion will focus on the Action Steps related to the Foundation’s Strategic Plan. “We have a number of important initiatives that we plan to address over the next several months,” explained Interim President Rodney Green. “We’re looking forward to a busy Fall.” For more information on the Blair County Chamber Foundation, contact Cindy Cessna at 943-8151 or email her at ccessna@blairchamber.com.
Executive Roundtable to Hear Presentation on Healthcare
As the Affordable Care Act continues to confound businesses that seek ways to survive its incredible impact, one Blair County healthcare organization may have an affordable option. Empower3 Center for Health will present the details of that option to the Blair County Chamber’s Executive Roundtable on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at The Blairmont Club. Making the presentation will be Dr. Zane Gates and Patrick Reilly of Empower3. For more information on the Executive Roundtable, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.
Holiday Inn Express to Host “Business After Hours”
Don't miss the next “Business After Hours” this Thursday, September 17, 2015! Join the staff at the Holiday Inn Express at their construction site as they unveil their new name. Cost to attend is $6 for Chamber Members pre-registered and $12 for non-member pre-registered. To make a reservation, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register here.
Leadership Blair County Adult Class to Begin Yearlong Venture
The 22nd class of the Blair County Chamber’s Leadership Blair County program will begin its yearlong quest for servant leadership with an orientation this Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. The class consists of 24 members. For more information on Leadership Blair County, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or email her at jjuda@blairchamber.com.
Young Professionals to Hold Kickoff Event at the Heidelberg Club
Following several months of organizing, preparing and prioritizing, the Young Professionals of Blair County are ready to launch a kickoff event. That event will take place on September 23rd from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Heidelberg Country Club in Altoona. The kickoff event will include a picnic/tailgate style buffet, a cash bar and an opportunity to play a variety of games on the Heidelberg’s outside patio. The cost to attend is $15/person for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. Sponsors for the Kickoff event are: Fiore Brother, Inc.; Home Instead Senior Care; P. Joseph Lehman, Inc.; Mountain Research; and Ward Transport and Logistics. For more information on the YP Kickoff event or to register to attend, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Sponsorships Available for “Issues” Program on Hotels
On September 30th, the Blair County Chamber will tape an “Issues” program at the Altoona Public Access Studio entitled, “Blair County’s Hotel Dilemma: Too Many or Too Few?” The program will be a 45 minute panel discussion moderated by WTAJ’s Carolyn Donaldson. There will be five panelists from the hotel industry. Sponsorship of the program is just $150. Those sponsorships include several marketing opportunities. For more information, contact Jessie Covert at (814) 943-8151 or email her at jcovert@blairchamber.com.
Small Business Partners Set Next Speed Networking Date
The Blair County Chamber’s Small Business Partners will hold a Speed Networking program on September 22nd from 8:30 to 10:00 at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00. The cost to participate is just $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. “The previous programs that we’ve held have generated a great deal of interest and have allowed small business people to make a significant number of connections,” explained Partner’s co-chair Tom Duvall. “People who have attended one time are generally excited to come back. We’re expecting a good turnout.” To register for Speed Networking, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Local Contractor to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Jayme Orr Rhodes, founder of Serviam Construction, LLC in Duncansville, will be the keynote speaker at the Blair County Chamber’s next WE-LEaD Lunch’N’Learn, set for September 24th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. Rhodes presentation will be entitled, “Building a Leadership Path: One Woman’s Journey.” Rhodes is a military veteran, born and raised in Altoona, who went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Operations Research. She served five years as a Captain in the United States Army as an Engineer Officer and served a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan. She was awarded the Bronze Star. After leaving the service, Rhodes worked for the APi Group, a specialty contractor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She started Serviam Construction in 2012. She completed her post graduate work in 2014, graduating from Penn State’s Smeal Business School’s Executive Masters of Business Administration program. In her spare time, Rhodes enjoys running and recently completed her seventh marathon. The WE-LEaD Lunch’N’Learn will be sponsored by the Altoona Mirror. The cost to attend is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. To register, contact The Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online. WE-LEaD is an acronym for Women Encouraging: Leadership, Education and Development.
Safety Committee Holding Workers Compensation Seminar
The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will hold an educational seminar on September 25th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Hoss’s Restaurant in Duncansville. The seminar is entitled, “Does Your Workers Comp Program Give You Heartburn?” The issues that will be covered include independent contractors, expectations of an insurance carrier, injury prevention, getting buy-in from employees, regulatory compliance and the consequences of hiring and firing. Presenters will be Derek Martin, Commercial Insurance Agent and Barbara Hoover, Workers Comp Specialist from the Teeter Group. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber Continues 2016 China Trip Registration
Registration continues for the 2016 Chamber 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 local travelers. Travel to Dulles from Altoona and back are included as part of the trip. For more information, call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
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.
Instructions Provided for Posting Events on Community Calendar
The recent partnership between the Blair County Chamber and WTAJ Your News Leader to promote the station’s Community Calendar as a preferred destination for those organizations planning programs and events is now in place and ready for use. “We’re hoping that we can avoid a lot of the scheduling conflicts that create problems for everyone involved,” noted Chamber President Joe Hurd. “We’re happy to be able to post our own events and programs on that calendar and we encourage others to do so as well. It’s convenient and it’s free. That’s a tough combination to beat.” To access the instructions on how to post an event or program, click here.
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
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.
Is Your Information Still Accurate?
As The Chamber begins the process of compiling information for the 2016 Membership Directory, it’s important that members visit the Member Information section of the Chamber Website to make sure that all of their information is accurate. The Chamber Website is at www.blairchamber.com.
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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September 14, 2015
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Business After Hours
Thursday, September 17
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express
Register Here
Speed Networking
Tuesday, September 22
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Blair County Chamber of Commerce
Register Here
Young Professionals of Blair County
Kick-off Event
Wednesday, September 23
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Heidelberg Country Club
Register Here
WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn
Thursday, September 24
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Park Hills Golf Club
Register Here
LBC Alumni Breakfast
Friday, September 25
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casion at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Down on the Farm
Thursday, October 1
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Drycreek Farm, Martinsburg
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 9/14/2015
BASICS Steering Committee
Monday, September 14, 8:00 a.m.
GACTC
Home & Garden Show Committee
Tuesday, September 15, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
LBC Alumni Committee
Wednesday, September 16, 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank - Lakemont
Small Business Partners
Wednesday, September 16, 3:30 p.m.
The Chamber
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