Dr. Asonevich to Speak at Thursday’s Breakfast Club
Leadership Blair County Youth Program to Graduate Twenty-Three
Chamber Helping to Promote “Kids Day America”
OSHA Update Essential for Businesses of All Sizes
Federal Reserve Rep to Address Executive Roundtable
Get a Head Start on Your Business Hall of Fame Nomination
Committee Seeks Tax Issues of Chamber Members
Only a Few Seats Remain for GRYP Trip to New York City
NEW MEMBER-2-MEMBER OFFERS

Dr. Asonevich to Speak at Thursday’s Breakfast Club
Dr. Walter Asonevich, the President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, will be the featured speaker at the next Chamber Breakfast Club, set for May 8th at The Casino at Lakemont Park. Dr. Asonevich’s presentation will be “The Economic Impact of the Community College” and will focus on the many strides regions throughout the country are making economically thanks in large part to the community college influence. The corporate sponsor for the Breakfast Club is Wessel & Company. The event begins at 7:45 a.m. with a buffet breakfast. Cost to attend is $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online at www.blairchamber.com.

Chamber Helping to Promote “Kids Day America”
For the second consecutive year, The Chamber is assisting Dr. Eddie Luke and his staff at HealthFirst to promote Kids Day America. This international event will be held locally on May 17th at the Jaffa Shrine from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The theme this year is, “Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness.” There will be arts, crafts, games and a number of free food items. Family Services of Blair County is the co-sponsor and Carolyn Donaldson from WTAJ-TV is the honorary chairperson. Three people from the community will be receiving Children’s Empowerment Awards as part of Kids Day. They are: Jim Kilmartin of Joshua House, Pastor David Taylor of The Door and Blair County Commissioner Donna Gority. There is no charge to attend Kids Day and businesses are welcome to make contributions to help defray the cost of the event. Call Dr. Eddie Luke at 941-1400 if you wish to do that. There are also booths available at the Jaffa Shrine for interested businesses at only $100.

OSHA Update Essential for Businesses of All Sizes
When The Chamber signed a contract creating an alliance with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) last summer, it opened-up new educational opportunities for local businesses to keep abreast of the many compliance issues that regulate their ongoing ability to conduct business. On June 5th, an “OSHA Update” program will provide insight on how to identify hazards and risks and how to comply with OSHA’s PPE and record-keeping standards. The half-day program will be held at The Casino at Lakemont Park from 8:00 a.m. until noon. The cost is just $25 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-members and includes all materials and a buffet breakfast. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online at www.blairchamber.com.

Federal Reserve Rep to Address Executive Roundtable
Rick Laing, Executive Vice-President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, will be the featured speaker at Friday’s meeting of The Chamber’s Executive Roundtable. Laing has spoken to the Roundtable group for the past several years, updating them on information of significance to the business community. “In light of the relatively unstable condition of the U.S. economy, there’s no doubt that Rick’s presentation will carry even more relevance than it usually does,” explained Chamber Executive Director Joe Hurd. The meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Blairmont Club and will include breakfast.

Get a Head Start on Your Business Hall of Fame Nomination
If you’ve been nominated for the Blair County Business Hall of Fame or one of the General Awards of Distinction (or plan to self-nominate), The Chamber has a great way for you to increase your chances of being selected. On Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center, members of the Business Hall of Fame Committee will join committee chair Andrea Young to conduct “Business Hall of Fame Application 101.” This informative program will help interested nominees to better understand the evaluation process and learn the type of information that seems to be most important to the event’s panel of judges. The program will last no longer than one hour and has no cost. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151. Deadline to submit a completed application for this year’s Business Hall of Fame is June 4th.

Committee Seeks Tax Issues of Chamber Members
As the Tax Subcommittee of The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee meets to set future agendas on tax issues, they’d like to know specifically which issues are providing the greatest inconvenience and heartache for Chamber Members? “Our advocacy efforts on tax reform will focus on those taxes that our members identify,” explained Michael Cortez who chairs both the Legislative Action Committee and the Tax Subcommittee. “We’re looking for input so that our emphasis is more narrow and productive.” To provide that input, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or E-mail him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.

Only a Few Seats Remain for GRYP Trip to New York City
The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) is hosting a trip to New York City on May 17th. The bus will leave from the Devorris Center at 6:00 a.m. and will depart New York at 8:00 p.m. There are no scheduled tours or events – it’s a day for sightseeing, shopping or whatever people would like to do. The cost is $50-per-person until May 9th and $60 thereafter. Currently only a few seats remain. The trip is not limited to just GRYP members. To make reservations, call Marissa Darnell at The Chamber at 943-8151.

NEW MEMBER-2-MEMBER OFFERS
Among the recent “Member-2-Member” offers that Chamber Members have submitted for other members of the organization to support and enjoy are:

		Mother's Day is May 11th.  Receive a free sample bag of our delicious handmade goodies with orders of $25 or more placed by May 7th.  Call Say It With Sweets at 696-9222 or visit the shop at 208 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg and let our designers make Mom a special candy/cookie bouquet.
Say It With Sweets
		Mothers Day overnight stay! Book an over night stay with Mom or for Mom and have a free tea for two.  Enjoy the tea at check in, the next day or take a rain check for a later date. Visit our Web site at http://www.ironcorbelinn.com/ or call 696-0324
Iron Corbel
Park Hills Country Club		Free to Chamber Members. No room rent for scheduled functions at the newly remodeled Park Hills Country Club. Under new management, Park Hills is a great place to hold your meeting or company outing. All room rental fees are waived if you schedule a luncheon or dinner meeting, or if you schedule a golf outing in conjunction with a meeting and food service. Call Heather Kegg at 946-1285 to schedule your next meeting and remember to mention your Chamber status!

To examine other Member-2-Member offers or to submit an offer from your business, visit The Chamber Web site at www.blairchamber.com.