Steve Cushman

Chamber's to Honor Local Youth at Annual Luncheon.

The Chamber will hold its annual awards luncheon on January 21 at the Four Seasons Resort.  Presenting Sponsors for this year's event are Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck and Montecito Bank & Trust and The Towbes Group.  Table Sponsors include Bartlett Pringle and Wolf, Davies, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust and Venoco.  We will present awards to: Earl Armstrong, President Armstrong Associates, Businessman of the Year; Vanessa Patterson,  Monarch Wealth Strategies, Businesswoman of the Year; Amir Abo-Shaeer, Dos Pueblos High School Engineering Academy, Innovator of the Year; the Unity Shoppe, Collaborator of the Year. 

As part of this year's award presentation, we will include a focus on the YOUTH of our community and recognize those groups and/or individuals that are making a difference and giving back to make our community and this world a better place.  We have requested nominations from our Chamber Membership for consideration for the 2011 YOUTH INNOVATOR(s) OF THE YEAR, the YOUTH COLLABORATOR(s) OF THE YEAR, YOUTH BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR, AND YOUTH BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR.  These Annual Youth Awards are sponsored this year by: 

Southern California Edison, Armstrong Associates, Montecito Bank and Trust, The Bank of Santa Barbara, Allied Waste, Business First Bank, Fielding Graduate University.

Join us on Friday, January 21 to meet students doing great things in our community.  Call Marcia at 965-3023, ext. 103 for more information.

 

Chamber Chair Outlines Plans for "Start it in Santa Barbara".

 

2011 will be a year of bringing more business and jobs to the area, the new chairman of the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce board of directors.  "Start it in Santa Barbara," J. Michael Holliday advised new businesses during an interview with the News-Press. "We're very optimistic about 2011. That optimism is based on some real-world data."
Mr. Holliday, an architect with his own firm, said indicators show the worst of the bad economic times is gone. "We're trying to keep our finger on the pulse of what's happening with local businesses," he said.
"Speaking for myself and members of my board, (the economic) recovery is already happening. There are a lot of projects already on the books in 2011."
Last month, about 40 business leaders attended the Santa Barbara chamber's annual retreat where the "Start it in Santa Barbara" theme was developed, Mr. Holliday said. "The Santa Barbara chamber is the voice of business in this community," he said. "We are the largest
business organization on the South Coast." "The networking capabilities that we are providing and access to technology and resources are what
we are really going to focus on in 2011."
Chamber President Steve Cushman will meet weekly with business owners over a cup of coffee along with chamber ambassadors and volunteer business counselors, Mr. Holliday said.

Chamber Calendar of Events

 

Staff and the Chamber's board have worked together to plan meetings and events to help our members do business better.  You can find the dates and times of all upcoming meetings on the Chamber's website: www.sbchamber.org. 
As in the past, the GRC will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 in the morning.  These forums provide lively discussion on current local issues facing our community. All are welcome to attend.
The Chamber board continues to meet for lunch on the fourth Monday of each month.  These are open meetings for our members.  We ask that you let us know if you plan to attend. 
Don't forget First Mondays for networking and great food at Pierre LaFond.  Registration and chatting begins at 11:30.  The next First Monday is January 10.
Members should expect to receive the Chamber's 2011 Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide in early February.  Preview copies will be available to members in attendance at the Awards Luncheon.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COUNCIL

Join us every third Thursday of the month for lively discussion on important local issues.  Check our weekly email blast for each month's upcoming topic.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
7:30 am
924 Anacapa St., Ste. 1
Call for more information at 805/965-3023

 

December in Santa Barbara was so much fun with many joyful events like The Downtown Christmas Parade on State Street and The Parade of Lights in the harbor. A cruise ship stopped by for one day and 1500 visitors hopped off to shop and tour in the unusually stormy weather.

 

Here is a list for some of the events in 2011:

· Jan 27-Feb 6 · SB International Film Festival, www.sbfilmfestival.org

· Mar 11-13 · International Orchid Show, Earl Warren, www.sborchidshow.com

· April 16-17 · Earth Day, Alameda Park, www.communityenvironmentalcouncil.org/Events/Earthday/

· Apr 27-May 1 · SB Fair & Expo, Earl Warren, www.earlwarren.com

· May 7-8? · Cinco De Mayo, De La Guerra Plaza, www.cincodemayosb.com

· May 14 · Children's Festival, Alameda Park, www.fsacares.org

· May 14 · Sea Festival with Annual Harbor Nautical Swap Meet, Harbor, www.sbmm.org

· May 14-15 · Classic and Hot Rod Car Show, Downtown, www.wheelsandwaves.com

· May 15 · Jewish Festival, Oak Park

· May 28-30 · I Madonnari, SB Mission, www.imadonnarifestival.com

· June 24-25 · Summer Solstice Festival, 24^th at Alameda Park & Parade on 25^th on State Street, www.solsticeparade.com

· July 4 · Independence Day Celebration, www.santabarbaraca.gov

· July 4 · Goleta Fireworks Festival, Girsh Park, www.goletavalley.com

· July 16-17 · French Festival, Oak Park, www.frenchfestival.com

· July 30-31 · Greek Festival, Oak Park, www.santabarbaragreekfestival.com

· Aug 3-7 · Fiesta - Old Spanish Days, www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

· Sept 24-25 · ArtWalk, Natural History Museum, www.sbnature.org

· Oct 7-9 · Avocado Festival, Carpinteria, www.avofest.com

· Oct 8 · Harbor & Seafood Festival, www.HarborFestival.org 

· Oct 15-16 · Lemon Festival & Car Show, (cars Sat. only) Girsh Park, www.lemonfestival.com

· Dec 2 · Downtown Holiday Parade, www.santabarbaradowntown.com

· Dec 11 · SB Motorcycle Toy Run, www.unityshoppe.org

· Dec 11 · Harbor Parade of Lights, www.santabarbaraca.gov/Visitor/Things/Waterfront/

 

Please see The Chamber Web Site for details on all January Events and all the Main Events for 2011. Go to www.sbchamber.org, click on CALENDARS and then CITY EVENTS.

 

Happy 2011!

Annmarie Rogers

Visitor Center

1 Garden Street

805-965-3021 or 568-1811

Annmarie@sbchamber.org

www.visitingsb.com