PRESIDENT

Patrick McCarty, Church of the Oaks

VICE PRESIDENT               

André Morrow, Conservation Corps North Bay

TREASURER

John C. Moore, Individual Member               

SECRETARY

Erin Armstrong, Armstrong Chiropractic                                                                      

DIRECTORS

Peggy Ary, Cotati Corner                                                                                                

Jami Brady, Individual Member                                                                                       

Susan Kashack, Sonoma State University                                                                     

Mario Lewin, Creative Enterprises                                                                                 

Cheryl Nixon, Friar Tuck's Pub                                                                                       

Dana O'Halloran, Exchange Bank                                                                                   

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ANNUAL AWARDS WINNERS

    

 

 

Cotati Citizen of the Year  

Mayor Susan Harvey (pictured with Chamber President Patrick McCarty) was the recipient of the 2011 Cotati Citizen of the Year award. Not only has she been on the Planning Commission and City Council, she has been active in the Cotati community volunteering countless hours for the Cotati Jazz Festival, Farmers Market, Kids Day, Oktoberfest, Pasta & Bingo, Four Nights of Festive Fun, Accordion Festival, Cotati K-9 Fund, and the Cotati Historical Society.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 Business of the Year

Spancky's Bar and owner Kevin Ginger (pictured with Chamber Vice President Andre Morrow) was awarded the Business of the Year award for their ongoing community service and support of all things Chamber. Spancky's is always there to donate ice for all of the Chamber events, participate with the Chamber in Oktoberfest, Pasta & Bingo (serving margaritas, courtesy of Kevin, who donated the proceeds), and Holiday Cheer, as well as financially sponsoring the Golf Tournament at Washoe Creek and the Jazz Festival.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Ambassador of the Year 

David Armstrong (pictured with Chamber Treasurer John Moore) was honored as Ambassador of the Year for his dedicated and countless hours of service to the Cotati Chamber. He was our Wurst Grill Master at Oktoberfest - that's wurst, not worst. He coordinated the bands for open mike nights at the Cotati Farmers Market, volunteered for a myriad of tasks at the Jazz Festival, manned the cash table for Pasta and Bingo Night, and helped out at the 4 Nights of Festive Fun event.  

 

    

 

 

 

 

Businessperson Hall of Fame

  Longtime Cotati veterinarian Fred Groverman (pictured) of Cotati Small Animal Hospital was honored with the Cotati Businessperson Hall of Fame Award for his 54-year-long support of the Cotati Chamber of Commerce and his devotion to many community organizations over the years, including the 4-H Foundation, Cotati Volunteer Fire Department, Sonoma County Fair Board, Petaluma Community Foundation, and SSU President's Advisory Board. He was part of the original group of Cotati Chamber members that organized to bring a California State college to the area, which resulted in the creation of Sonoma State University. He was named Cotati Citizen of the Year in 1985. He is also a world-renowned expert and breeder of sheep, specializing in Shropshires since 1934.

 

  

  

 

THANKS TO THESE BUSINESSES
FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE CHAMBER'S ANNUAL DINNER Cotati Yacht Club
Church of the Oaks 
Liberty Valley Doors
More Unlimited
Peet's Coffee
The BBQ Spot

and the great music by the Cadillac Converters!

HOST A MIXER AT YOUR BUSINESS IN 2012 

If you are interested in hosting a Mixer in 2012, please contact Suzanne at the Chamber office at 707-795-5508 or chamber@cotati.org. All that's required is your location, refreshments, perhaps a door prize, and a desire to network with others to grow your business!

SONGBIRD COMMUNITY HEALING CENTER  

Two-Year Anniversary Celebration!

Sat 1/28, 11:00 am - 4 pm, FREE

8280 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati  

Come celebrate our anniversary with live music, a raffle, refreshments, short talks by our teachers, and mini-sessions with our practitioners. The full schedule is on our website. There will be a special presentation by Joan Parisi Wilcox, an internationally-known writer and editor with specialties in metaphysics, frontier science, biology and alternative health, indigenous traditions, and more. 

Songbird Community Healing Center, conveniently located in downtown Cotati, offers a branch of health care and education that connects the body, mind, and spirit.   

For more information on all events & classes, call (707) 795-2398 or visit www.songbirdcenter.org. 

6TH ANNUAL CRAB FEED 

Fri. 2/3 and Sat. 2/4, 6 pm
Church of the Oaks Hall, Page St. & W. Sierra Ave.
All-You-Can-Eat Crab, pasta, salad, & dessert
Tickets $45 (Children under 12 $20)

Plus music and raffle with fabulous prizes.
Tickets available at Cotati Chamber of Commerce or by calling Patrick McCarty at 695-6098.

Proceeds benefit the Church of the Oaks.

RELAY FOR LIFE KICK-OFF EVENT

Fri. 2/3, 5 pm

Sally Tomatoes/Event Center at Sonoma Mountain Village

Battle of the Bands, with Rotten Tomatoes and All-You-Can-Eat Pasta/Pizza Buffet

Get involved, find out more, join Relay for Life! 

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

Winter Book Sale by Friends of the Library

Fri. 2/3, 10 am - 5:30 pm

Sat. 2/4, 10 am - 3:30 pm

1:30- 3:30 pm - Bag of Books $5 or half-price on individual books

Annual Art Show 2012

Tues. 3/27, Reception 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Wed, 3/28 - Sat. 4/7

The display will feature the work of ten outstanding Sonoma County artists. 

For library hours or more information call 584-9121.

Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park

SUPERBOWL PARTY AT SALLY TOMATOES 

Sunday, 2/5, 1:30 pm

Buffet starts at 1:30 pm

$12.50 at the door or call for reservations at 707-665-0260

~THE BIGGEST SCREEN IN THE COUNTY 12' x 10'

~Super Bowl Buffet with Buffalo Wings, Jumbo Hot Dogs and Sausages, Seven Layer Bean Dip with Chips, Homemade Chili with all the fixings, Garlic Fries, House Salad with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing AND MORE!

~Games, Raffle Tickets and Prizes included with admission

Sally Tomatoes

Sonoma Mountain Village, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park  

707-665-0260

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE - LAND USE
Mon. 2/6, 7 pm
Cotati City Hall, 201 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati 

Please join the Planning Commission on Monday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m. for General Plan Update Meeting #9 to discuss the City's Land Use Map. The Commission seeks the public's input on the draft Land Use Map.

For more information, please contact the Planning Division at (707) 665-3637 or visit www.cotati.generalplan.org.

4-CHAMBER TAILGATE MIXER @ SSU 

Thurs. 2/9, 6 pm

SSU Wolves Den/Athletic Association Hospitality Tent

The Sonoma State Athletic Association amiably invites you to a 4-chamber tailgate mixer on February 9th. The hospitality event will begin at 6pm with music, food, and beverage provided. Those who attend the mixer will also receive free admission for the "Pack the Den" basketball game vs. the Cal State L.A. Eagles. We encourage all chamber members of the Cotati, Rohnert Park, Hispanic or Santa Rosa Chamber to attend for a night of fun and festivity.  

For more information, RSVP Carlos Pena at 707-664-3983 or  penaca@sonoma.edu. 

COTATI CORNER Valentine's Day Party

Sat. 2/11, 3 - 6 pm

Cotati Corner Wine Shop, 1818 La Plaza Suite 106, Cotati

CHAMBER'S QUARTERLY SPEAKER SERIES LUNCHEON 

Thurs. 2/23, 12 noon

Cotati Room, Ray Miller Community Center, 216 E. School St., Cotati

"State of the City" Presentation by Cotati Mayor Susan Harvey

Hear the straight scoop from the Mayor herself, plus a chance to ask those burning questions!

Cost: $15, includes lunch

RSVP to 707-795-5508 or chamber@cotati.org 

Thurs. 2/23, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm

Vineyard Room, DoubleTree Hotel, Rohnert Park

This Year's Guest Speakers: Mike Macedonio & Dawn Lyons!!

The Region's Largest Networking Opportunity Has Returned... Do Not Miss This Event!

• Meet and greet hundreds of BNI chapter members in our north-bay region!
• Discover the power and success of BNI and word of mouth marketing.
• Broaden your visibility, credibility and profitability with area professionals.

Last Year's mixer was a HUGE success, generating significant business for attendees!

Event hosted by The Mid-Day Power Partners, BNI Chapter. Space is Limited.

Chamber Members must RSVP to attend, by 2/10 to: junelleporter@att.net.

Questions, call Robert Revel (707) 508-9141.

"DOCTORS WITH A HEART" CELEBRATION - 2/24

     Dr. Venus Ann Maher, chiropractic physician, located at 525 E. Cotati Ave. Suite 115 will be proudly providing service free of charge on Friday, February 24th for Doctors with a Heart Day. Traditionally this occurs on one day only, which for existing patients will be February 24th. However due to a need that cannot be met in one day, new patients will receive a free history, examination and first treatment when they schedule any time in the month of February.

     Dr. Maher has been providing service to Sonoma County for 23 years. While all adjustments are free on that day optional donations will be accepted for the YWCA Safe House. Doctors with a Heart Day is a day of free health care to members of the community. During regular business hours, on selected days, participating doctors provide service at no charge. Services are by appointment only. An optional donation for a local charity, the YWCA Safe House is requested.   

     The YWCA's Safe House provides refuge in a confidential location for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Established in 1977 as one of the first 15 battered women's shelters in the country, women seeking safety from domestic violence can call the hotline (546-1234) to be screened for the YWCA's therapeutic 60-day residential program known as the Safe House.

     Appointments for Doctors with a Heart may be made by calling (707) 792-0202. or you can visit www.maherchiro.com.

THOMAS PAGE SCHOOL PTA'S GOLF TOURNAMENT

Sat. 2/25, 1 pm

Washoe Creek Golf Course, 1475 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati  

Please find the time to come and support the only public school in Cotati here at the only Golf Course in Cotati!!  There will be a Parent/Child tournament and an Adult Only Tournament.  Lots of prizes, food and Silent Auction!!  CLICK HERE for the registration form.   

If you have questions about the tournament, please call Washoe Creek at 707-792-7700.

NOMINATE NOW FOR SCAYD'S VOLUNTEER AWARDS

Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development is pleased to announce their 7th Annual Volunteer Awards event coming up on May 5th at Sonoma Mountain Village Event Center. Since it falls on Cinco de Mayo, they will be including this wonderful festive theme to the event. More importantly, they want the word out to the community to nominate their favorite volunteers for these awards. More information can be on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SonomaCountyAdultAndYouthDevelopment .

CLICK HERE for the Volunteer Awards Nomination Form.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - NxLeveL IS HERE!

Thursdays, 3/8 - 5/24, 6 - 9 pm

Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster, 1300 Valley House Dr. #100, Rohnert Park

Are you ready to plan for the success and growth of your business?  Do you wish you better understood your financial statements?  Are you ready to take your business to the next level?  Then you are a candidate for NxLeveL from the Small Business Development Center!  

The NxLeveL Entrepreneur Course is a 12-week intensive program designed to encourage business expansion and growth. NxLeveL programs are starting up in both Sonoma and Marin to better serve you! FREE orientation on 2/23 or 3/1 from 6-7 pm at the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster

Cost of both workshops:  $495, but reduced to only $195 thanks to sponsorship by the North Bay Entrepreneurship Center!  This includes all materials needed to complete your business plan.  Additional participants from the same company pay $95.  The City of Rohnert Park is offering an additional sponsorship of $50 to the first 10 Rohnert Park businesses to register.

For more information about NxLeveL workshop content including FAQ's and a Course Outline CLICK HERE  

To Register for either workshop: Call 707-524-1770 or email  sbdc@santarosa.edu 

EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S SHARING OF THE GREEN

Sat. 3/31, 5 pm

Double Tree Hotel, Rohnert Park 

IRS TAX TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

Online Tax Center Offers Tools and Resources for Small Businesses and Self-Employed 

If you're a small business or a self-employed individual who needs answers to tax questions, educational materials or tools to help you run your business, check out the IRS's Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center at  http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html  

This one-stop shop offers extensive resources and online tools to help small businesses and self-employed persons by providing resources such as:.

• Small business forms and publications
• Online applications for an Employer Identification Number
• Employment tax information - federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes, FUTA and self-employment tax
• Tax-related news that could affect your business
• Small business educational events
• IRS videos for small businesses
• A-Z Index for Business, a fast way to find information 

The site provides important federal tax information for all stages of owning a business, whether you're starting, operating or closing a business.

Look Out, Here Comes the 1099-K

Starting this month, business owners will begin getting new tax forms issued by their credit-card and online-payment processors and intended to keep businesses from hiding income. The form, called 1099-K, will document all 2011 transactions processed for sellers with more than 200 transactions and $20,000 in annual gross receipts. The IRS estimates that 53 million forms will be issued by such processors as eBay, PayPal, and Amazon as well as credit-card companies.

Some common questions and answers regarding the new 1099-K...

Q: The new 1099-K requirement was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 but is just now taking effect. Why is the government mandating this?

A: Electronic payments are a growing part of our economy, but up to now they have not been officially reported to the IRS. People were on their scout's honor to report this income. This new form is designed to help close the gap between what businesses and individuals owe the IRS and what they actually pay. It is expected to bring about $9.5 billion into the U.S. Treasury over 10 years by taxing revenue flowing through electronic networks.

Q: This is going out for the first time to individuals such as eBay and Etsy online sellers. Have they gotten any notice about the form?

A: The payment processors were required to obtain sellers' tax identification numbers for these forms, so many of them sent out notices last year when they were verifying the information and making sure the right people got the right form.

Q: What information will the form list?

A: It's actually very simple. At the top is a box with your total gross revenue for the year, processed by PayPal or whichever payment processor you use. Beneath that box is a breakdown of revenue month by month.

Q: How is that number going to be compared with what's reported on an individual's tax return?

A: The IRS will look at the gross sales amount reported on the 1099-K and compare it with the total gross receipts reported on an individual's Schedule C. The amount on the tax return has to be at least as much as what's reported on the 1099-K. The interesting thing is that these amounts reported to the IRS are gross sales numbers. But businesses never actually make their gross sales because of refunds, frauds, exchanges, and returns. But none of those expenses are taken out of the gross sales amount. And business owners don't pay taxes on gross income, but on net income, so it will be incumbent on the business owner to take the gross amount reported on the 1099-K and capture all the transaction fees, charges, and returns, in addition to the other expenses of running their business, in their tax reporting.

Q: Is that going to be a big burden for micro-businesses?

A: It's not going to be a big deal if you have good record keeping. The problem is that most small business owners are still using paper and pencil and spreadsheets to track their business data. This reporting is really a clarion call to move those people into the digital age. Certainly, if you're taking electronic payments, you need to move to a digital form of keeping your books.

Q: Are there other pitfalls related to the 1099-K?

A: For service providers, like consultants, who are taking advantage of electronic payment systems, they might get a 1099-MISC for some part of their consulting revenue, but that income would also show up on the 1099-K if it was processed electronically. That could result in double counting that income, so that's something to be very careful about, especially as more people in the service industry are starting to use services such as PayPal or mobile credit-card readers instead of taking cash or check payments.

For more information on the new 1099-K Reporting Requirements for Payment Settlement Entities, go to http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=251489,00.html. 

HELP GROW THE CHAMBER & GET REWARDED  

Refer a Business & Get Chamber Cash!           

• For every business, organization or individual you refer who joins the Cotati Chamber of Commerce, you will receive 25% of their first year's membership dues in Chamber Cash.
• You can spend Chamber Cash on anything the Chamber offers for purchase - your own membership dues, merchandise, luncheon or breakfast meetings, or tickets to any Chamber events.
• The amount of Chamber Cash could be anywhere from $13 to $90 (rounded to the nearest dollar), depending on the new member's membership category.
• There is no limit to the amount of members you can refer to collect Chamber Cash.
• Just have the new member write your name on their membership application at "Referred By" and when the business joins, you'll receive your Chamber Cash soon after by mail.
• Chamber Cash will expire one year from the date of issuance.

CLICK HERE for the Cotati Chamber Membership Application, which you can give to all of your business referrals. Any other questions, call the Cotati Chamber of Commerce at (707) 795-5508.