Valpo Chamber - CONNECTIONS e-Newsletter February 2011

Your Connection. Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Chamber.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Dish Solutions, Inc.

IV Diagnostics, Inc.

Lamb Group of
Merrill Lynch, The

Marrs Media Group

Rob Rudakas
State Farm Agency

Rusthead Design

Total Experience, Inc.

Valpak Northwest Indiana/
Chicago South

Visiting Angels

Contact Us!

VALPO CHAMBER
162 W. LINCOLNWAY
VALPARAISO, IN 46383
(219) 462-1105
FAX (219) 462-5710
www.valparaisochamber.org

Join Us! Find Us! Follow Us!

February 2011

Visit the Valpo Chamber at www.valparaisochamber.org

VALPO CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER SUCCESSES AND PREMIERS MAYOR'S "STATE OF THE CITY" ADDRESS

2011 Board Chair Martin Sonnenberg addressing the crowd

On January 25, the Valpo Chamber hosted its Annual Meeting with over 350 business and community members at Valparaiso University's Harre Union to celebrate the Chamber successes of 2010 and its plan of work for 2011.

Also at the event, Mayor Costas presented the "State of the City" address. Click here to read the 2011 address.

From left:Outgoing Board Chair Nick Sommer with Board members Desila Rosetti and Jonathan Nalli

VALPO CHAMBER SALUTES COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

From left: Bruce Leetz and Larry Klemz

The Valpo Chamber recently honored community leaders Bruce Leetz, North Coast Distributing, Inc. with the Distinguished Community Leader Award and Larry Klemz, Home Mountain Printing with its Legacy of Service Award at the annual "Salute to Leadership" dinner on January 15.

Over 360 business and community members came out to honor the receipients. Also recognized were the recipients of the Valpo Chamber 50-75-100 Year Business Awards: Peoples Bank, 100 years; Urschel Laboratories, Inc., 100 years; Lincoln Office, LLC, 75 years and G.E. Marshall, Inc. 50 years.

VALPO CHAMBER CELEBRATES HEART HEALTH MONTH

In celebration of Heart Health Month, the Valpo Chamber will be hosting two important events on Monday, February 28.

The American Red Cross Blood Mobile will be in front of the Chamber office located at 162 W. Lincolnway from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you wish to donate, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs., and be in good general health. Please be sure to bring a photo ID. An individual can donate every 56 days.

Each hour, a visitor's name will be entered into a drawing to receive a $20 Valpo Chamber Gift Certificate, redeemable at over 100 participating member businesses.

To reserve a donation time, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and click on "Enter a Sponsor Code" on the left-hand side. Use code "valpocc." Walk-ins are also welcome.

New in 2011, the Valpo Chamber will host Prompt Ambulance Service, Inc.'s value-added workshop for American Heart Association Heart Saver CPR and AED Certification. Each two-hour session will teach you the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke, what to do in the first five minutes of an emergency, and what to do while waiting for the ambulance. Space is limited for each session so sign up today. Sessions will be held on the second floor of the Valpo Chamber office at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Click here to register for CPR/AED Certification.

For more information on either of these events, contact Kurt Gillins at the Valpo Chamber (219) 462-1105.

VALPO CHAMBER PERCOLATOR CLUB MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE BACK!

Dr. Kurt Senske

On Thursday, March 3, the Valpo Chamber's Percolator Club Monthly Luncheon kicks off for 2011 with guest speaker Dr. Kurt Senske. Dr. Senske is the Board Chair for Thrivent Financial and the author of "The Calling: Live a Life of Significance." He will offer a fresh perspective on living a fuller, happier life and discourage the modern notion of looking for your "authentic self" encouraging instead the selfless act of focusing outwardly on service to others.

The luncheon will be held at Valparaiso University's Harre Union at 12:00 p.m. Reservations are $13 for members/pre-paid and $15 for members/invoiced. Non-member reservations are $17/pre-paid only. Click here to reserve.

VALPO CHAMBER "ENVISION THE FUTURE" EVENT GEARS UP FOR 2011

Since 1998, the Valpo Chamber has partnered with Porter County Middle Schools to provide over 1,000 8th grade students with an amazing educational experience called "Envision the Future."

Envision the Future is a simulation game in which students, projecting themselves to age 28, research and identify their career interests through their class curriculum, consider family size (marital status and number of children), and receive a mock checkbook with the monthly income entered for their specific career.

Students visit stations, manned by over 170 trained business volunteers, at which they pay their monthly bills. At each station, students make decisions concerning the standard of living they will assume. For example, at the housing station, students decide if they want to pay for a one-bedroom apartment or a three-bedroom house.

The program focuses on the monthly costs associated with rent/mortgage, utilities, taxes, insurance, childcare, and other living expenses such as food and clothing. The program also includes military information in the way of earnings and allowances if the student chooses the military as their future option.

The program also includes unexpected events such as unemployment, medical bills, and divorce. Students who go through these unexpected events must also visit an assistance station to seek counseling for legal, financial, or employment education issues.

The 2011 Envision the Future is a Chamber Coalition project between the Valpo, Kouts, and Hebron Chambers. The program is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, at the Porter County Expo Center.

Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor Porter Health System, Contributing Sponsors Centier Bank, Frontier Communications, Teachers Credit Union, and In-Kind Donors: Porter County Fair & Expo Center and Wal-Mart.

For more information about or to volunteer, contact Kurt Gillins at (219) 462-1105.

DIANE PRICE HITS A.M. VALPO MILESTONE

From left: Analisa Warring, Diane Price, and Rich Schmidt

Congratulations are in order for Diane Price, Owner of Mr. CopyRite for reaching an A.M. Valpo milestone! Price has attended 50 A.M. Valpo monthly networking events since the inception of the program in 2003. Developed by the Valpo Chamber Small Business/Retail Committee, A.M. Valpo is undoubtedly one of the most successful, free, early-morning networking programs in Valparaiso. Who will be next? Attend A.M. Valpo the first Wednesday of every month at South Bend Chocolate Café at 7:00 a.m. and find out!

VALPO CHAMBER CONNECTS YOUR BUSINESS WITH NEW MEMBERS

Would you like to offer your services to new members joining the Chamber? Would you like to increase awareness of your products and services? With over 100 new members joining the Chamber annually, you can reach these new businesses through our Valpo Chamber Welcome Bags.

Welcome Bags are filled with promotional items representing Chamber member businesses and are distributed to new members at the New Member Reception.

If you would like to have your promotional item included in these Welcome Bags, please bring these items to the Chamber office any time. Our next New Member Reception will be held on February 24, 2011.

Promotional items should be quality gifts, valued at $5.00 and above (please no business cards). We have storage space to keep your items, and we will contact you when the supply is low.

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GRAND OPENINGS

Valpo ATA
Valpo ATA Black Belt Academy

52 Marks Rd, Stes 2 & 3

(219) 462-5000

Martial Arts

On January 27, Valpo ATA Black Belt Academy held a ribbon cutting and open house. Guests were treated to martial arts demonstrations from students. Valpo ATA Black Belt Academy is owned by Third Degree Black Belt Jan Rubsam, who studied Taekwondo for 12 years under Fifth Degree Black Belt Glenn Handzlik. Rubsam has competed in world, national and regional tournaments, earning a State Championship the last 5 years running. For additional information about Valpo ATA or its martial arts curriculum, visit http://valpoata.com.

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS TIPS
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