Chamber Office closed for Independence Day
Sustainability Committee issues survey to Chamber Members
Chamber to partner with WRTA on "Biz Briefs"
Next "Green Drinks" networking event is July 13
Ireland trip provides more flexibility to travelers
LBC class continues to fundraise for revitalization project
Chamber makes publications available to members
"Issues" trilogy on healthcare runs throughout July
Congratulations . . .

Chamber Office closed for Independence Day 
In commemoration of Independence Day, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Office will be closed Monday, July 5. The office will re-open at 8:30 a.m. at July 6. 

Sustainability Committee issues survey to Chamber Members  
With more environmental issues coming to the forefront of business with each passing day, The Chamber’s Coalition on Environmental Sustainability is anxious to help members to better understand how to prioritize those issues and ultimately how to address them. The real challenge for the Coalition, though, is to ascertain which businesses are already aware of how to proceed and which have no clue. Thus, a survey has been compiled by the Coalition which takes only a few minutes to complete but which will help define the scope of future educational efforts. “We’re really interested in doing whatever we can to help businesses to sort out what can become very confusing,” remarked Amie Myers of Your Green Life, who chairs the Coalition.  “We just need to know where that help is needed most.” Click here to access the survey.

Chamber to partner with WRTA on "Biz Briefs" 
The Chamber and radio station WRTA have announced a partnership that will allow Chamber Members and people in the community to access broadcast information about upcoming Chamber events and programs on both The Chamber website and the WRTA site. The “Chamber Biz Brief” will be a 90-second spot with information provided through the Business Bulletin, The Chamber’s E-mail newsletter that is published each Monday morning. “It gives us another way of letting people know what’s happening at The Chamber in a clear, concise format,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “With the growing need to keep the business community apprised of issues that impact them on a regular basis, we’re constantly looking for those connections. Some people prefer to access information in written form and for that we have the Business Bulletin and the Blair Business Mirror. The Biz Brief will prioritize and encapsulate what’s happening at The Chamber and break it all down into manageable pieces.”  The debut date for Biz Briefs is July 19.  

Next "Green Drinks" networking event is July 13  
The Chamber’s Coalition on Environmental Sustainability will hold its next “Green Drinks” networking event on Tuesday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Tavern. There is no cost to attend. “Green Drinks” is a national concept to encourage people to find ways to discuss sustainability issues. For further information, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151.   

Ireland trip provides more flexibility to travelers  
The Chamber’s trip to Ireland has added additional dates for anyone interested in options to the original Oct. 2-11 dates. “The motor coach spots for the original date have been filled so we have added Oct. 9-18 and Oct. 12-21 as optional dates,” reported Donna Wilt of Classic Travel. “It should be attractive to anyone who had a conflict to begin with. We’re doing our best to be accommodating.” For further information, contact Donna at 696-3558.  

LBC class continues to fundraise for revitalization project 
The Leadership Blair County Class of 2010 currently has 2 fund- raisers taking place to raise additional money toward their class project, the Booker T. Washington Revitalization Project community park. The first is an MTO Coupon sale. Cost is $4 per coupon or a book of 10 for $40. See any class member to purchase. The second is an Ice Cream Sale. Stock your freezer on Saturday, July 10, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the K-Mart parking lot on Plank Road, Altoona. Galliker's Ice Cream cartons (11 flavors) and Popsicle and Good Humor brand novelties will be available in case lots at lower than wholesale prices!

Chamber makes publications available to members
The Chamber recognizes that many businesses, particularly small businesses, have a difficult time with things like hiring, regulatory compliance and recordkeeping. For that reason, the organization has purchased several publications that it is willing to lend to interested Chamber Members. The publications are: Principles of Payroll Administration, Pennsylvania Human Resources Manual, Model Policies and Forms for Pennsylvania Employers, An Employer’s Guide to Employee Benefits, Guide to FMLA and ADA , Employment Verification and Employer’s Guide to Wage and Hour. To borrow a publication, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151. 

"Issues" trilogy on healthcare runs throughout July 
The final of three “Issues” programs on Healthcare Reform, to be broadcast on the Altoona Public Access Channel, will air every Monday at 11 a.m. and every Tuesday at 9 p.m. throughout the month of July. The focus of this third show is on healthcare providers and includes a panel consisting of Christine Cox of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Maureen Frucella of Preferred Healthcare System, David Duncan of Blair Medical Associates, Dr. Zane Gates, and Dr. J. Grant Hormell. Carolyn Donaldson of WTAJ Your News Leader serves as moderator. Sponsors of the program are: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Preferred Healthcare System and Young, Oakes, Brown & Company. 

Congratulations . . . 
. . . to the “Canned Architects” – Pat Baechle and Dave Albright – whose Canstruction project received a national award in the “Best Meal” category at Canstruction’s 14^th Annual International Competition, held in Las Vegas. Pat and Dave’s project won five awards at the Blair County Home & Garden Show in March, the most of any other competitor.

. . . to local Edward Jones advisers Dwight Kennedy, Dick Logan and John Tidd, whose company was recognized in June as one of the “100 Best Places to Work in IT” by Computerworld.  

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