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Did you know that Chambers of Commerce offer low cost advertising services with your membership?  

Advertise now in your Chambers Business to Business E-letter.  The ad will have a click through capability right to your business website. 

Start today advertising  property, products, services or an event,

only $10 per week.

 

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Find these members:  

Wildhorse Resort & Casino 

Limelight Design 

Farmers Kitchen 

 Big River Golf Course 

 Columbia Blue Mountain RC&D 

 Hermiston Senior Center 

 Hermiston School District 

 Hermiston Herald 

 Smitty's Ace Hardware 

 Peachy Keen Home Decor 

 Lifetime Vision Source 

Kickin' It Cowgirl  

 IJ Gems Quality Jewelers 

 Farm City Pro Rodeo 

  Defining Details Photography 

 Shear Illusions 

 Power Pro, Inc. 

 Luke's Photos 

 Agape House 

 Hermiston's Own Saturday Market 

 WalMart 

 Maurices 

 KOHU/KQFM 

 The Pheasant Cafe & Lounge 

Club 24 

 fotoNovella 

 East Oregonian 

Andee's Boutique 

 Eastern Oregon Telecom 

Safeway   

 Bellinger Farms 

 Suds Yer Duds 

 Express Employment Professionals 

 Wheatland Insurance Agency  

Columbia Court Club 

Tobin Tax Bookkeeping  

United Way  

Desert River Inn 

Blue Mountain Community College 

Umatilla County Fair

Clothesline Art   

 The Cottage 

The Nickel 

Roemark's Mens Wear  

Kopacz Nursery & Florist 

 Lifetime Vision Source    O So Kleen 

 

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News and Information  

THE CHAMBER IS NOW ON TWITTER Follow us on Twitter   

Lucky Dog Lounge & Grille: NOW OPEN 7 days a week! 

Business of the Month Spotlight!

Sun Terrace - 1550 NW 11th St - Hermiston - (541) 564-2595

 www.regencysunterrace.com 

 

Congratulations to Sun Terrace for all your dedication to the Chamber, we appreciate your membership! Here is some info about Sun Terrace from administrator, Cari Seelye. 

 

Tell us a little bit about your business 

"Sun Terrace Assisted Living - located in sunny Hermiston - offers personalized assistance in a home-like setting. Designed with them in mind; our residents enjoy beautifully appointed apartments - a very busy activity calendar - transportation - delicious meals and a compassionate and caring staff. Sun Terrace is a place we are proud to call home!"

 

How long have you been in business in Hermiston? 

"Since October of 2000."

   

What do you enjoy about your Chamber membership? 

"The enjoyment we receive from being a chamber member comes from knowing we are supporting our beautiful Hermiston community!"

 

Tell us a little bit about your business 

"Sun Terrace Assisted Living - located in sunny Hermiston - offers personalized assistance in a home-like setting. Designed with them in mind; our residents enjoy beautifully appointed apartments - a very busy activity calendar - transportation - delicious meals and a compassionate and caring staff. Sun Terrace is a place we are proud to call home!"

 

2 or 3 things that you most like about Hermiston 

"We love Hermiston's elderly population and the small town atmosphere!"

 

Which community even do you enjoy the most and why? 

"Just can't pick one! :)"

 

What is your businesses' premier event this year? 

"We feature a very large Holiday Bazaar in November - inviting people from all over to sell their crafts, etc. We love being the host of such a womderful community event! 

 

Welcome new Chamber Members!

Please welcome these new members by supporting them with your business.  

 

RE/MAX Cornerstone

Real Estate

1055 S. HWY 395 ste. 13

Hermiston, OR 97838

(541) 289-5454

VISIT US ONLINE! 

Re/Max is here for all your real estate needs!

 

FUDDRUCKERS  

Restaurant

1619 N First St.

Hermiston, OR 97838

(541) 667-2222

 Find us on Facebook 

fudds 

FJK

Social Media for Small Business Growth Seminar - by expert Frank J. Kenny

Believe it or not...

we are in the midst of a social media marketing revolution.

FACEBOOK AND TWITTER CAN BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS, FIND OUT HOW!

 

Social media expert Frank J. Kenny will be here to tell us how your business can grow by using online marketing.  Frank J. Kenny speaks, writes and coaches chambers all over the U.S. on this new marketing phenomenon that is overcoming the globe. He is an instructor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) program. Kenny has done social media marketing training and written articles for the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). He has also conducted trainings for the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.).

 

There will be a 2 hour workshop followed by a 1 hour keynote presentation at our monthly Business to Business Luncheon.  

 

WORKSHOP INCLUDES: 

  • Learn the essentials of building your online brand
  • Setting and measuring your businesses social media goals
  • Developing your social media strategy
  • Learn what you should be doing yourself and what needs to be done by experts

REGISTER NOW - Tuesday, May 24th - Hermiston Conference Center  

This will be an educational event that you don't want to miss, especially if you are interested in building your businesses online presence through Facebook and Twitter.

 

Lunch will be catered by Desert River Inn.

Workshop & Luncheon (9am -1pm) -$20

Workshop Only (9am-11am) - $15

Luncheon Only (12pm - 1pm) $12

 RSVP to the Chamber at (541) 567-6151 

Listen to the Chamber on KOHU 1360am

Check out the Hermiston Chamber on the Odds & Ends program on KOHU 1360am on Tuesday's at 8:30am!

Sponsored by Universal Realty.

Click Here -for your local news, sports & weather  

Contact Us:

KOHU/KQFM

[email protected] 

P.O. Box 145

Hermiston, Oregon

97838

541.567.6500

541.567.6068 FAX

 

Now Accepting Applications for 2011 - 2012 Leadership Hermiston

Leadership Hermiston is a 10 month program with full day sessions once a month designed to expose participants to current issues facing our community.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HUMAN NEEDS & SERVICES

THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

MEDIA

EDUCATION

LOCAL & STATE GOVERNMENT

HEALTH SERVICES

Participants will have the opportunity to meet the community and regional leaders who are shaping policy and providing direction in these areas.

 

The cost of Leadership Hermiston is $600 for Chamber members and $850 for non-members. The classes are held on the second Tuesday of each month, September through June. Partipcants will be expected to attend all

classes to be eligible for graduation. Tuition is due upon notification of selection and not later than the first week of September. Tuition is non-refundable. Graduation is a special evening of celebration held the

second Tuesday of June for participants and their guests.  

Teddy Bear Parade at Funfest is back for another year!

The Funfest Teddy Bear Parade will take place on Saturday, July 9th at 9:00am. Sponsored by The Simmons Financial Group  

Children through age 12 and teddy bears welcome! Please bring your children to Sherrell Chevrolet parking lot at the SE corner of Main and 3rd street at 8:30am. At the end of the parade, you will meet your children in the parking lot across from City Hall. No motorized scooters, animals or skateboards allowed. After the parade, families are encouraged to stay and play kids games, enter the free throw contest, enjoy the bouncy tents and OMSI exhibits.  

 

Girl Scouts - will also be at Funfest. Did you know that the average baby uses about 2,788 diapers per year? Costing $1,440.00. A local Girl Scout wants to help the local Pregnancy Care Center by filling a school bus with baby supplies. Please bring donations to the bus located on Main Street during Funfest. Questions, please call Laura Cruz (541) 571-8689  

Funfest
Funfest is still seeking sponsors and vendors!

It's time for HERMISTON FAMILY FUNFEST 2011. The big day is Saturday July 9th! Funfest draws Hermiston's second largest, annual crowd! If you are looking for a way to support your community and to have your business/services advertised to multitudes of consumers from Hermiston and the surrounding areas, call the chamber at 541-567-6151 to learn how you can sponsor this event!  Who wouldn't love to see their name associated with an event that attracts visitors, residents and families from all over Oregon and even our bordering states?! Funfest alone is a major attraction on July 9th, but record crowds are expected this year due to the Hermiston Classic Car Club show at McKenzie Park, the Purple Ridge Lavender Festival and the other events happening simultaneously at the County fairgrounds!  

 

Your sponsorship is an excellent opportunity to show your company's support for these local activities and to ensure that they happen every year! We encourage you to support Hermiston Family Funfest and we thank you for your consideration.

  

Have something to sell? Are you a local artisan or crafter? We are also taking vendor booth sign ups!SIGN UP FORM  

Battle of the Bands coming to the Umatilla County Fair

Looking for the best talent around!

 

Think you're the best? Prove it for a chance to play a great venue and win amazing opportunities and cash prizes!

 

"The Umatilla County Fair will host a Battle of the Bands competition on the Thursday, August 11th at 7:00pm on the main entertainment stage. 

 

The Fair is looking for bands who want to participate in the competition. Bands are asked to submit an application, along with a demo CD, or YouTube video as an audition. Applications are available on the Umatilla County fair website:  www.co.umatilla.or.us/fairor at the fair office located at 515 W Orchard Ave, Hermiston, OR. A panel of professional judges will pre-screen the auditions and select the finalist to perform on the main stage in order to keep the competition within the time limit of 7-10pm. Applications must be dropped off to the fair office no later than 5pm on July 1, 2011.

 

Contestants will be evaluated on vocal and instrumental performance, musical interpretation/originality, and stage presence. At the final performance bands will also be evaluated according to fan reaction, by use of a decibel meter. The winner will be announced after the competition. The winning band will receive: $750 cash, and receive a special guest interview on KORD or The Key, depending on the winning band. 2nd place will receive $500 cash. 3rd place will receive: $250 cash. Each participating band will also receive fair passes for their band.  Each selected band will have the opportunity to have a table in the media tent to sell merchandise.

 

The Umatilla County Fair's mission is to bring unknown, local talent to the forefront of the entertainment at the fair. Official rules and guidelines are outlined on the application. Selected bands will be notified by July 15th, 2011. The Umatilla County Fair has the right to reject any application for any reason. Everyone is encouraged to apply!

For more information contact:

Umatilla County Fair Grounds  515 W. Orchard Ave

PO Box 94

Hermiston, OR 97838

(541) 567-6121

 

A Few Wage & Hour Tips on Paying Tipped Employees from BOLI

 

By Dylan Morgan, Program Coordinator

Technical Assistance for Employers Program

Bureau of Labor and Industries

 

One of the best examples of how Oregon's wage and hour laws can differ from federal laws comes from a comparison of how they handle "tipped employees." Employers should be aware that where state and federal laws have similar, but different provisions, they will need to apply the standards that are most advantageous to their employees. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions fielded by BOLI's Technical Assistance for Employers Program.

Q: What is a tip?

A: A tip is a voluntary payment, a "thank you," if you will, from a customer, which is made in addition to the amount actually charged for a service. Since the amount of a tip is not dictated by the employer or subject to negotiation, compulsory charges for service, say, 15% of the bill, are not considered tips but rather part of the employer's gross receipts.

 

Q: Can employers credit tips received by employees toward the obligation to pay minimum wage?

A: Not in Oregon. Although federal law permits employers to count tips as wages for purposes of meeting their obligation to pay minimum wage to certain "tipped employees," Oregon does not. In fact, Oregon law specifically prohibits employers from including tips in the amount to be paid under the minimum wage law at ORS 653.035(3). This means that Oregon employers must pay the full amount of minimum wage without benefit of a tip credit.

 

Q: Are tips included in overtime computations?

A: Not under Oregon law. Tips are not included in the computation of the regular rate of pay and just as with minimum wage, tips cannot be credited against overtime wages due. ORS 653.035; OAR 839-020-0030(1).

 

Q: May employers require employees to pool / share out tips?

A: Yes. In businesses where tipping is customary, the tips will generally belong to the recipient, and it is not uncommon for recipients of tips to voluntarily share these amounts among other support staff. That said, an employer may also implement a formalized tipsharing pool so long as the specifics of the arrangement are not prohibited by law. Federal law limits tip pooling arrangements among employees to those who typically receive tips (e.g., wait-staff, bartenders, bellhops, but not managers or kitchen staff), however, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has also held that the restrictions on who may participate in a tip-pooling arrangement only applied to employers who claimed tips as wages toward the minimum wage. Since that practice is prohibited under Oregon law, Oregon employers remain free to impose a tip-pooling arrangement which includes staff who are not customarily tipped, such as kitchen staff. Cumbie v. Woody Woo, Inc., 2010

WL 610603 (9th Cir. Feb. 23, 2010).

 

For more on Tips:

The notice is available online at: www.oregon.gov/BOLI/WHD/Meal_Waivers.shtml.

 

Meadowood Golf Tournament

31st ANNUAL

MEADOWOOD SPRINGS SPEECH AND HEARING CAMP

BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT

June 3, 4 and 5, 2011

 

Sponsored by Hermiston Elks BPOE #1845

In Honor of Oregon State Elks Past President Raymond "Whitey" Schroth.

Ladies Golf Scramble - $50 per person.  Two golfers per team.  Sign up your own team or singles will be paired with other singles.  Interested lady golfers, complete and return separate entry form enclosed.

Once again, we expect a full field, limited to 140 players.  The limited field and course conditions will greatly improve the "speed of play".  Therefore, registration forms without payment will not be accepted. 

 Click Here for Meadowood Info 

Contact Information:

Keith Mahony

2011 Tournament Chairman

509-531-7879        
[email protected] 
 

 

Big River Golf Course

PMB 142

1000 S Hwy 395, Ste A

Hermiston, OR  97838

541-922-3006         

 [email protected]   

UCF logo
Umatilla County Fair  and Hermiston Chamber seek parade entries

The Umatilla County Fair parade is taking place this year on  

Saturday August 6, 2011. The theme: "Country Pride, County Wide!"

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR JUDGING: JULY 29, 2011

The Chamber will be offering a special award this year to business members who participate in the parade.  We are encouraging the local businesses to get involved with this community tradition.  

 

Any entries received after the July 29 deadline will be placed at the end of the parade.  

Please send or drop off your application to:   

Umatilla County Fair

PO Box 94 / 515 W. Orchard Ave.

Hermiston, OR 97838

541-567-6121 or 800-700-3247

Email:  [email protected]  

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION 

Sign up today for the Hermiston Chamber Ambassadors Golf Tournament

The Hermiston Chamber Ambassadors will be hosting a golf tournament on Thursday, June 16th at Big River Golf course. A portion of funds raised will go to the Hermiston High School Golf Program. Help the HHS golf team! Registration: 11:30am Shotgun Start: 1:00pm The tournament is a 4 person scramble, one flight, scores figured on team handicap. $50 per person, there will be a BBQ (burgers & salads) after the tournament. Wraps and beverages will be available on the drink cart, water and granola are available in the ditty bags. 

SIGN UP SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE at the Chamber or by Clicking Below

SIGN UP FORM 

SIGN UP BEFORE JUNE 6th 

Questions, Contact Teresa Moncrief 541-564-0887,
Mike Botti 541-571-3006 or Jeanne Jewett 541-571-4710

 

Stop by the new, expanded Affordable Family Eyewear

Affodable Family Eyewear has expanded. Affordable Family Eyewear welcomes Dr. Todd Anderson OD and Maria Andrade, Optican to the staff.

 

Both, Dr. Anderson and Maria have many years experience in the optical business and both are fluent Spanish speakers.

We are now a complete one stop eye care /eyewear facility.

Eye exams with Dr. Anderson are $85.00 and most prescription Lenses can be ready for you in 1-3 hours.

For eye exams please call for an appointment.

 

Come by at anytime and check out the expanded store. New 2011 frame lines of Oakley, Prada, Guess , Versace, Ray Ban and many more are now available.

 

Check our Hot Deals with the Chamber and and our specials at www.affordablefamilyeyewear.com 

Marcia Lambert  LDO     541 567 3790       Affordable Family Eyewear   1045 North 1st Street  (next to The Nickel)

Energy Efficiency is Smart Business

Are energy costs cutting into your bottom line? Energy Trust of Oregon can help you identify cost-effective improvements that can help you lower your energy use, enhance employee comfort and productivity and reduce operating costs. Plus, we offer cash incentives for qualified equipment to help offset the cost of implementation. 

No matter what type of business you run, our energy advisors can help you incorporate energy- efficiency or renewable-energy projects into your business plan. These professionals offer in-depth knowledge and insight into particular market sectors and can assist you from the application process to project completion. Before you know it, you'll be lowering energy use, controlling energy costs and reducing your impact on the environment. That's smart business any way you look at it. 

To learn more, visit us online at www.energytrust.org or call 1.866.368.7878.

EOU Town Hall & Reception in Hermiston

EOU President Bob Davies and community leaders will host a reception to provide an update on EOU Tuesday, May 24. All are welcome to attend!  The event runs from 5-7 p.m. at El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, 1240 N 1st St. in Hermiston. Hors d'oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided with a no-host bar also available. Community Bank is sponsoring the reception in conjunction with the EOU Foundation. For more information, call 541-962-3740 or e-mail [email protected]

Spotlight on Sandstone Community Event

Sandstone Middle School in Hermiston, OR is planning its 2nd annual Spotlight on Sandstone event where parents and community members are invited to the school to check out the on-going work and educational developments taking place at Sandstone Middle School.  This is a special evening and an excellent opportunity for local organizations to come and share information with the school and community members.  All parents and community members are welcome and encouraged to come check out what has been going on at Sandstone Middle School.

Spotlight on Sandstone is taking place on Thursday, May 19th from 4-6pm.  The informational booths will be set up in the commons area along with a FREE baked potato bar for all who attend.  Student projects will be on display all over the school and the band and choir will be performing as well.

Contact Abby Mattson, Spotlight Coordinator, at [email protected]  for more information.

 

Taking It to the Streets:  Safe Cycling in Hermiston by Good Shepherd Medical Center

Remember the thrill of riding your first bike? Were you eager to enjoy the rush of air speeding by and the independence of healthy activity? Well, dust of that bike, pump up the tires...because we are goin' for a ride.

Bring your bike and join us for this FREE fun and informative class and short bike ride. You'll discover how to ride comfortably and confidently, along with basic bike mechanics. Class geared for adult beginners and intermediate bike riders.

Call 541-667-3509 to register.

Free helmets and reflective vests for the first 25 participants.

Date:  Thursday, May 19th

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Place:  Good Shepherd Medical Center

Win a limited edition Red Cross 9/11 blanket

United Way is raffling off a limited edition, Red Cross 9/11 Memorial Pendleton blanket (62' x 84').

Tickets are $1 each or 5 for $6.  The drawing is on June 30th.

Contact United Way to purchase tickets.

Drawing at Noon on June 30th

Need not be present to win

(Maximum of 1,000 tickets to be sold)

Proceeds benefit United Way of Umatilla & Morrow Counties

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