2018 Chamber Budget Approved Without a Dues Increase
Young Entrepreneurs Academy to Begin Second Year
Farm-City Dinner Set for Wednesday
It’s Time to Register for “The Best Day You’ve Ever Had”
Young Professionals to Hold Speed Networking Event
Job Board to Debut This Week With Free Listings for Chamber Members
“Buy Here Bucks” Program Recruiting Businesses to Accept Certificates
Cyber-Attacks Are Topic of Next Safety Presentation
Young Professionals Award to Be Added to Annual Meeting
Chamber, SBDC Partnering on Needs Assessment
Promotional Items Now Available for “Shop Small Saturday”
Congratulations . . .
2018 Chamber Budget Approved Without a Dues Increase
The Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors approved the organization’s 2018 Annual Budget at the October 19th Board meeting. The budget calls for revenues of $777, 079 and expenses of $770, 703. It was not necessary for the Board to increase membership dues to meet expenses. The Chamber has only had a dues increase three times during the past twenty years.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy to Begin Second Year
The second class of the Blair County Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) will officially be launched with a session tomorrow at 8:15 a.m. at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in Altoona. Retired Claysburg-Kimmel Superintendent Royce Boyd is Program Manager for this year’s class. The program will run for twenty-five weeks. For more information on YEA!, contact Joe Hurd at the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.
Farm-City Dinner Set for Wednesday
Tickets are now available for the Chamber's Annual Farm-City Dinner to be held this Wednesday, November 1st at the Freedom Township Fire Hall. Cost per ticket is $20.00 and includes a family-style turkey dinner with all the fixings. Help us honor the Phil & Becky Kulp Family with the 2017 ACE Award. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a milk/punch reception and the dinner/program at 7:00. To purchase your tickets, call the Chamber at 814-943-8151 or register online.
It’s Time to Register 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.
Young Professionals to Hold Speed Networking Event
The Chamber's Young Professionals of Blair County will hold a speed networking event on Wednesday, November 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Oak Spring Winery. Sponsor for the event is Stuckey Ford Stuckey Subaru. Cost to attend is $10 per person. To make a reservation call the Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Job Board to Debut This Week With Free Listings for Chamber Members
Beginning this Wednesday, the Blair County Chamber Website at www.blairchamber.com will feature a Job Board where member businesses can place up to three positions at no cost. The Job Board concept came about as the result of a meeting held at the Chamber in which local retailers and employment agencies discussed the trials and tribulations of finding interested and qualified employees. The decision to limit businesses to posting only three positions at one time was a recommendation by the Chamber’s Board of Directors who was concerned that larger businesses with multiple openings would make the task of overseeing the Job Board rather labor intensive. Tori Liebal, the Chamber’s Vice-President of Website Development and Social Media, is the staff member assigned to maintain the Job Board. Jobs will remain on the Board for one month unless the employer asks that they be removed or extended. At the present time, Job Board postings are limited to Chamber Members only. (For more information on the Job Board, contact Tori Liebal at 814-943-8151 or email her.
“Buy Here Bucks” Program Recruiting Businesses to Accept Certificates
The Blair County Chamber’s new gift certificate program, known as “Buy Here Bucks,” is underway and businesses are being added every day to the list of those where certificates can be redeemed. To register to be on that list (it costs Chamber members nothing), contact Tori Liebal at (814) 943-8151 or email her at tliebal@blairchamber.com.
Cyber-Attacks Are Topic of Next Safety Presentation
On November 8th, Joe Harford, founder and president of Reclamere will present “Ransomware – Now What?” The purpose of the session is to share with businesses critical information on cyber-attacks and how they can defend themselves. Harford’s presentation will be held at Hoss’s in Duncansville from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. It also includes breakfast. 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.
Young Professionals Award to Be Added to Annual Meeting
There will be an additional award presented at the next Blair County Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation, set for January 26, 2018. The Young Professionals of Blair County have created the “Young Professional of the Year Award” to pay tribute to a young professional who made a positive difference in the community during 2017. The award is sponsored by Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation. Nominations will be accepted for the new award later in November.
Chamber, SBDC Partnering on Needs Assessment
The Blair County Chamber is conducting a brief survey to determine the needs of businesses in our community. The Chamber is partnering with our local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Saint Francis University on this project. This short 5 to 9 question assessment will enable both organizations to develop and deliver services to help address business challenges. Please use the following link to complete the assessment: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PennsylvaniaSmallBusinessNeedsSA
Promotional Items Now Available for “Shop Small Saturday”
Once again this year, the Chamber will participate in “Shop Small Saturday,” which encourages consumers to follow-up Black Friday with a day of intense shopping at local small businesses. This year, Shop Small Saturday is November 25th. The Chamber has put together bags containing promotional items that are available for the first twenty member-businesses that come to the Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development. Additionally, there are also ten floor mats available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact Stacy Hoover at (814) 943-8151 or email her.
Congratulations...
. . . to the seven Blair County Chamber members who were recently honored by Pennsylvania Business Central magazine as “Women Making a Difference.” The honorees are: Amy Mearkle of DelGrosso Park/DelGrosso Family of Companies, Debra Dellaposta of Doing Better Business, Elizabeth Ebling of Overflow Church, Jane Sheffield of Allegheny Ridge Corporation, Janie Christner of Home Nursing Agency, Lisa Hann of Family Services Incorporated, and Wendy Belinda of Through, Inc.
. . . to Donna Weimer of Juniata College, who has been named as the recipient of the Robert T. Oliver Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association. The award honors PCA members for their extensive work in teaching, research, service, and development in all areas of human communication.
. . . to Allegheny Orthotics and Prosthetics of Altoona, which was recently honored with the 2017 OPGA Freedom Award for its compassionate service and dedication to veterans and active duty soldiers. The award recognizes OPGA members who have provided orthotic and prosthetic fitting and/or rehabilitation for soldiers wounded in action.
Power Card Offers: They’re Changing Every Day
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October 30, 2017
Upcoming Events
Safety Program
Wednesday, November 8
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Hoss's - Duncansville
Register Here
YP Speed Networking
Wednesday, November 8
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Oak Spring Winery
Register Here
Non-Profit Workshop
Thursday, November 9
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Casino at Lakemont
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, November 9
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Fine Line Cabinets
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, November 16
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings Week of 10/30/17
Regional BASICS
Monday, October 30, 11:00 a.m.
Marzoni's - Duncansville
Public Policy Committee
Thursday, November 2, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
BASICS Subcommittee Early Childhood Ed.
Thursday, November 2, 10:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
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