Chamber Office Closed on Monday for Columbus Day
Blair Business Mirror to be Published Tuesday
Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for September
“Backbone Bash” is Wednesday at Park Hills
Thursday’s Breakfast Club to Introduce New Chamber Program
Best Practices Forum to Focus on Non-Profit Fundraising
Large Turnout Expected for Business Hall of Fame Dinner
Chamber, HRMA Partnering on Workers’ Comp Presentation
Chamber’s Young Professionals to Host Workshop on Investment
Chamber’s China Trip: An Opportunity You Can’t Pass-Up
Registrations Continue for “The Best Day You’ve Ever Had”
Chamber Offering Digital Advertising Opportunities
Congratulations . . .
Chamber Office Closed on Monday for Columbus Day
The Blair County Chamber Office will be closed on Monday in recognition of Columbus 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 at www.blairchamber.com.
Blair Business Mirror to be Published Tuesday
The October issue of the Blair Business Mirror will be published tomorrow as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. In recognition of Farm-City Month, this month’s issue will feature Blair County’s fruit industry as its cover story. There will also be stories about the Chamber’s new Job Board as well as the new gift certificate program that will be launched at Thursday’s “Breakfast Club.” A copy of the Blair Business Mirror will be direct-mailed to all Chamber-member businesses by the end of the week.
Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for September
The Blair County Chamber’s ability to offer quality programming, events, recognition and advocacy efforts depends largely on the willingness of sponsors to step up to help underwrite the costs associated those efforts. So at the end of each month, we publish a list of businesses or individuals who sponsored anything Chamber-related during the month. They have helped us to make a difference in the business community. All-Stars for September are: AMTRAN, Keller Engineers, Keystone Response Services, LLC, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg, Seltzer Financial Strategies and The Casino at Lakemont Park.
“Backbone Bash” is Wednesday at Park Hills
The Chamber’s Backbone Bash is set for this Wednesday, October 11th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. Traditionally geared exclusively to the Chamber’s small business members, the decision was made by the Small Business Partners committee to also encourage people from larger businesses to attend as a way of creating valuable networking dialogue. The event will feature a casual cookout, beverages, music, karaoke, backyard games and hourly door prizes including a fantastic grand prize – all for just a $10 admission price. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Thursday’s Breakfast Club to Introduce New Chamber Program
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club program, set for this Thursday, October 12th at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park, will feature Charlene Dodson of Charlotte’s Trove and Todd Lewis of Shoe Fly Stores. Their presentation will introduce the Chamber’s new gift certificate initiative called “Buy Here Bucks.” Buy Here Bucks is a community currency program that is purchased from the Chamber website and can be used only at participating member merchants. The corporate sponsor for this month’s Breakfast Club is McCartney’s Business Products. The cost to attend Breakfast Club is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members and includes a full breakfast buffet. For more information or to make reservations call 814-943-8151 or register online.
Best Practices Forum Focuses on Non-Profit Fundraising
The Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses will hold a Best Practices Forum this Friday, October 13th, from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The program is entitled, “The Challenges and Opportunities of Non-Profit Fundraising.” A panel of presenters from the Association of Fundraising Professionals PA – Allegheny Mountains Chapter will include Bill Hiergeist, Chris Ringcamp and April Sherry. Patricia Savage of ALSM will serve as moderator. The cost to attend the Best Practices Forum is $5.00 for Chamber Members and $10 for non-members. All payments must be made either in advance or at the door. No one will be billed. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Large Turnout Expected for Business Hall of Fame Dinner
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is still accepting reservations for its 2017 Business Hall of Fame and Awards of Distinction dinner. The event will be held next Monday, October 16th, at the Blair County Convention Center. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:45. Reservations are $65 per person and include the reception and awards dinner. To make reservations, contact the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at 814-943-8151 or register online.
Chamber, HRMA Partnering on Workers’ Comp Presentation
On October 18th at The Casino at Lakemont Park, the Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee partners with the Human Resources Management Association on a program entitled, “Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Workers’ Compensation But Were Afraid to Ask.” Presenter is Attorney Mike Wagner of Wagner & Finn Law Offices. Registration and breakfast for the Workers’ Comp program begins at 7:45 a.m. and the program concludes at 10:00 a.m. The cost to attend the program is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber’s Young Professionals to Host Workshop on Investment
The Young Professionals of Blair County will hold a Lunch ’n’ Learn on October 25th from noon until 1:00 p.m. at Altoona Grand Hotel. The workshop, entitled “Investing in Your Future,” will focus on ways that young professionals can learn how to make smarter decisions with their money. Keynote Speaker will be Drew Wetzel, financial advisor for Stifel Investment Services. Wetzel’s presentation will include steps to take in order to be financially independent, strategies to make your savings work harder, an overview of major asset classes, an explanation of different investment options and the risk/reward associated with them and the rules of successful investing. A short Q&A session will follow the presentation. Stifel Investment Services is also the corporate sponsor of the Lunch ’n’ Learn. The cost to attend is $15/person and includes a buffet lunch. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber’s China Trip: An Opportunity You Can’t Pass-Up
There’s still time for people to sign-up for the Chamber’s next trip to China. The trip, April 20-28, 2018, features stays in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou – all in 4 and 5 star hotels. It includes three meals a day, deluxe bus tours, fluent English-speaking tour guides and entrance fees for all attractions. The price of $2,299/person includes bus transportation to and from Dulles Airport, roundtrip flight on either Air China or China Eastern Airlines, all accommodations and all meals. Anyone interested in acquiring information or registering for the trip should contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Registrations Continue for “The Best Day You’ve Ever Had”
The Blair County Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses, in partnership with the Association for Fundraising Professionals (PA Allegheny Mountains Chapter) will hold a special educational and networking event on November 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. Entitled, “The Best Day You’ve Ever Had,” the event will provide inspiration, invigoration and revitalization for a healthy non-profit. The keynote speaker will be Michael Kumer from Pittsburgh, Principal of Boards MTO. The cost to attend is $35 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-Chamber Members. Businesses that register three or more people can attend for $25 (member) and $30 (non-member) as long as all registrations are made at the same time. For more information, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online. Conference sponsor of this event is UPMC Altoona.
Chamber Offering Digital Advertising Opportunities
As more and more people (both members and non-members) read the Business Bulletin and visit the Chamber Website, the opportunity to advertise on those two information sources has become available. And at a very reasonable cost! To have a banner advertisement on the Business Bulletin is just $200 for four weeks. A Website banner ad for four weeks is just $125. If you’re interested, contact Jessie Covert at the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or email her.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to United Datacom Networks, Inc (UDNI) on its acquisition of Flashpoint Informatics. This will allow UDNI to expand its Cloud Service capabilities.
Power Card Offers: They’re Changing Every Day
For more information, visit the chamber website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
|
|
October 9, 2017
Upcoming Events
Backbone Bash
Wednesday, October 11
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Park Hills Golf Club
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, October 12
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Non-Profit Best Practices
Friday, October 13
8:15-9:30 a.m.
Devorris Center
Register Here
Business Hall of Fame Dinner
Monday, October 16
5:30 - Reception
6:45 - Dinner
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Safety/HRMA Program
Wednesday, October 18
7:45 - 10:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, October 19
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Fairfield Inn & Suites / TownePlace Suites
Register Here
YP Lunch 'n' Learn
Wednesday, October 25
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Altoona Grand Hotel
Register Here
Farm-City Dinner
Wednesday, November 1
6:30 - Reception
7:00 - Dinner & Program
Freedom Township Fire Hall
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings Week of 10/9/17
BASICS Steering Committee
Monday, October 9, 8:00 a.m.
GACTC
YEA! Steering Committee
Tuesday, October 10, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Committee of Non-Profits
Tuesday, October 10, 9:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Executive Committee
Tuesday, October 10, Noon
Devorris Center
Sustainable Blair County
Tuesday, October 10, 1:30 p.m.
The Chamber
Attractions/Hotel Rountable
Wednesday, October 11, 8:15 a.m.
Wingate Hotel
LBC Adult Committee
Wednesday, October 11, 3:30 p.m.
Devorris Center
Do you know the benefits of being a Chamber Member?
Click here for a list of benefits.
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
|
|