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Dec. 30, 2011
 To our valued members, donors, volunteers and community partners,
As we wind down the final hours of 2011, we extend heartfelt wishes for a happy a prosperous new year. We thank you for your involvement and support in the past year.
What's in the cards for you in 2012?
As a Chamber member, new business connections, opportunities to promote your business and increase exposure, and new member benefits are part of the "deal" you'll enjoy in the coming year when you are involved in the Chamber and take advantage of member benefits and programs. If you are a participant in one of our subgroups -- Young Professionals of Worthington (YPoW), the Women's Business Network, Small Office/Home Office (SoHo) group or the Impact Tips Group, you're stacking the deck in your favor with additional opportunities to customize your chamber experience.
Many of these opportunities will be showcased at our annual meeting on Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Columbus North. Our theme this year is "Building Connections, Building Community." Mark your calendar now, and plan to attend.
And, speaking of cards, the Chamber's first euchre tournament and chili cook-off -- and event planned for Jan. 14 -- gives you an early opportunity in 2012 for business exposure through sponsorships and networking and fun through involvement in the event. See the details below and call us at 888-3040 to let us know how you would like to be involved.
What's in the cards for Worthington in 2012?
That's a topic we'll explore Feb. 2 at our annual Groundhog Day Business Forecast Breakfast at Brookside Country Club. Leaders of the City of Worthington, Worthington Schools, Worthington Libraries, and The Shops at Worthington (our community's most notable renovation project in 2011-2012), will share their projections for the coming year. With your help, we will also share the views of our business members about how their companies will fare in the coming year, along with their opinions and suggestions for economic development. Watch for a link to our annual survey requesting your feedback. Take time now to register for the breakfast using the link below in "COMING UP."
Call us at 888-3040 to let us know how we can help keep you connected.
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Last chance for early renewal bonus ...
 If your Chamber membership renewal is due in January, consider paying in December (with a credit card or check received by Dec. 31) to take the business-related tax deduction in this fiscal year.
We'll treat you to a free e-sert ($75 value) for the early renewal! Call the Chamber office for details at 888-3040, or email connect@worthingtonchamber.org.
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COMING UP ...
Selected upcoming Chamber events are listed below. Click on blue (hyperlinked) events to register online.
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SAVE THE DATE ...
Mark your calendar with these updates and coming events | |
Major event dates in 2012:
Friday, April 20, 5 - 7 p.m. - Reds, Whites & Desserts wine tasting and auction at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center
Thursday, June 14, 4-7 p.m. - Combined Chambers Business Expo at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center
Friday, July 20 - A Taste of Worthington food festival
Monday, Sept. 10 - Annual chamber golf outing at York Golf Club
Saturday, Sept. 29 - Old Worthington Market Day
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 Click to learn about these timely promotions from Chamber-member businesses:
Where's YOUR E-sert? Contact the Chamber at 888-3040 to schedule the "E-sertion" of your promotional flier in PDF format.
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SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Gold Sustaining Members
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MEMBER BENEFITS |
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Volunteer Energy Discount Program
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Extend the networking you do at Chamber events by following us on popular social media sites
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Our members can often be found making connections on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter ... and so can the Chamber.
Check out the current discussion threads on the Chamber's LinkedIn group and Young Professionals of Worthington LinkedIn group!
Reminder: Please do NOT use "attending this event" features on social networking sites to attempt to pre-register for a Chamber event. Pre-registrations should be done through the Chamber's Calendar of Events on our Web site or by calling 888-3040.
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Promote your business in 2012 as a host sponsor for Business After Hours
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Would YOUR business like to host a Business Before Hours or Business After Hours in 2012?
To learn which slots are still available and review the opportunities and responsibilities of a BAH or BBH host, contact the Chamber office at 888-3040.
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Euchre, chili competitions combine in new Chamber event on Jan. 14 at York Golf Club
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 Act now to make sure you are included in this exciting new event! Call 888-3040.
A new Chamber-sponsored community event invites euchre enthusiasts - and anyone who enjoys a good bowl of chili - to warm up a Saturday afternoon in January with networking, camaraderie and some friendly competition. The Chamber's Euchre Tournament & Chili Cook-off will take place at York Golf Club on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 2-5 p.m. Amateur euchre players are invited to play in the progressive-type tournament, which will include a minimum of five rounds. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first- and second-place teams and for the last loaner. Home cooks and restaurant chefs alike are invited to participate in another competition at the event, a Chamber Chili Cook-off. Entrants will pay a modest fee to include their chili in the competition, and the combined fees will comprise a cash prize for the overall winner. Both "people's choice" (determined by ballots of event guests) and "professional's choice" (a blind tasting judged by a media food critic) awards will be made. Each entrant should plan to make one gallon or more of chili to be sampled by event guests along with chips, veggie trays and other snack foods. Winners will be announced at approximately 4:30 p.m. Casual networking and sports TV will be available during the tournament for guests who are not playing euchre or serving chili. A cash bar with special pricing includes $2/beer and $3/wine offerings. Event and suit sponsors will have company displays on hand to share information about their organizations. Costs to attend and participate in the euchre tournament are $25 for a Chamber member or $35 for a non-member. Non-player attendance fees are are $15 for a Chamber member or $20 for a non-member. Chili competition entrants who are not playing in the euchre tournament will pay $10 for a Chamber member or $20 for a non-member. Registration for each level is available on the Chamber's online Calendar of Events at this link.  Presenting sponsors for the event are State Farm Insurance & Financial Services/Bill Alsnauer Agency and the Young Professionals of Worthington Leadership Team. Worthington Jewelers is, appropriately, the Diamond Sponsor. Additional suit sponsorships (Heart, Club and Spade levels) are available at $250 and include promotional and advertising opportunities before and during the event. Table sponsorships, which offer signage opportunities during the event, are available at $50 each. For information about sponsorship levels, or to donate food for the event, contact Karen at the Chamber office at (614) 888-3040. |
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Branding tips highlight discussion at Jan. 5
Get Smart Book Group at local food pantry
|  The Get Smart! Book Discussion Group, a partner program offered through the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and Worthington Libraries, has chosen the title for its first quarter 2012 session. The selection is ""The Brand Called You: Make Your Business Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace" by Peter Montoya.
If you are interested in reserving a library copy, click on the link below to reach the Worthington Libraries online reservation system, and then click on the "reserve" button under the picture of the book. Follow the prompts (making sure you select the right pick-up location). If you've done everything correctly you'll see a screen that tells you your reserve has been placed and your number on the list.
http://catalog.worthingtonlibraries.org/resolver.ashx?isbn=9780967450650 
The discussion group will meet on Thursday, Jan. 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Worthington Food Pantry and Resource Center, 445 E. Dublin -Granville Road, Building G., (OSU/Harding Campus, east side lower level suite). Refreshments will be served, and a brief tour of the pantry will be available. New members and guests are welcome. RSVPs are encouraged to plan for space and refreshment needs.
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Buckley Financial Planning hosts January BAH
at their offices in Sharon Memorial Hall
| Enjoy great networking, food, beverages and door prizes on Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., as Buckley Financial Planning, LLC, presents our next Business After Hours,
 Buckley Financial Planning,
LLC, which provides a personalized, comprehensive approach to financial planning, is located at 137 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Ste. A, Worthington, within Sharon Memorial Hall. Parking is available in the rear of the building. Owner Sean Buckley will host the event, sponsoring food and beverages from Rivage Atlantique and door prizes including an iPod Shuffle and restaurant gift certificates to The Worthington Inn; J. Liu, Rivage Atlantique and First Watch.
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Monthly Business After Hours (BAH) events are designed to give Worthington Chamber members the opportunity to network with other members in an informal setting and to learn more about Chamber member businesses.
We encourage pre-registration. Select "REGISTER NOW" above to reach the online registration page, and follow the registration prompts. Be sure to click "SUBMIT." You'll receive an e-mail confirmation when successfully registered. Members who pre-register on our website by Monday, Jan. 23, at noon will receive preprinted name tags, eligibility for extra door prizes, and listing in the "Know Before You Go". section of the Website. |
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Advertising opportunities available for printed Business Resource Guide & Member Directory
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Sales are in progress for advertising opportunities in a printed 2012 Chamber Business Resource Guide & Membership Directory that will complement our online membership directory with additional opportunities to promote your business.
As a Chamber member, you have the opportunity to promote and partner your business in this widely circulated publication. Our Chamber plans to distribute printed copies of the guide beginning in mid-summer 2012. The guide will be included in relocation kits, economic development prospect packets and visitor information booklets, as well as at the Chamber office, municipal building, libraries and other public sites throughout the area.
The professionally produced, catalog-style publication will include editorial chapters on Worthington-area education, finance, health care, residential and commercial real estate, business services, industry/manufacturing/agriculture, associations, and state government, as well as Chamber information and other topics of interest in the Worthington area.  The Guide will be downloadable onto your computer or into your iPhone, Android or other Web-enabled device.
Among many advertising benefits, the guide offers:
- A "View eBook" in digital/downloadable format. (Ask Linda Garrett, our Village ProfileŽ representative, for a demonstration of this feature.)
- Seven levels of display advertising rates, directory enhancement listings and free ad art preparation available.
To learn more, please call Linda Garrett, our Village ProfileŽ representative, at the Chamber office at (614) 888-3040 to set up a brief meeting. Linda will be attending some Chamber events and phoning some Chamber members to acquaint them with the advertising opportunities in the Guide.
Thank you in advance for your support and participation.
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Act quickly to apply for InvestOhio tax credits if you are a qualifying small business investor
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Ohio has created a new income tax credit for investors who make up to $10 million in equity investments in small businesses; the state began taking applications last week for such tax credits. Please consider this information and discuss the InvestOhio tax credit opportunity with your tax planning professional.  Background:
The InvestOhio program, created under the State's budget bill (House Bill 153), allows a credit against an individual's Ohio income tax obligations equal to 10 percent of his/her investment in an eligible small business. Legal authority for the credit is Ohio Revised Code Section 122.86, with further authority in Ohio Administrative Rules (122:24-1-01 through 14).) Investors must submit an application to the Ohio Department of Development. See this link to a program tutorial and application log-in: http://www.development.ohio.gov/InvestOhio/InvestOhio.htm The ODOD began accepting applications for the tax credits on Dec. 5. There is a cap on the total amount of tax credits that may be awarded by the ODOD: $100 million in the current state budget biennium (July 2011 - June 2013). As of Thursday, Dec. 8, the ODOD has received 914 applications for $21.6 million in tax credits. Thus, the ODOD has received applications equaling over 20 percent of this biennium allocation. Tax planning experts have told Worthington's City officials that they anticipate this year's allocation of tax credits likely to be exhausted by the end of December 2011. Click here to download a brief PowerPoint overview of the program. Thanks to Jeff Harris, economic development manager for the City of Worthington, for providing this alert for our Chamber members. |
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 Need more information about these or other Chamber activities or benefits? We're open for business 24/7 on our website, www.worthingtonchamber.org, to view or sign up for events. Call 888-3040 or click here to e-mail us for help in using our website, making payment arrangements, or learning more about Chamber member benefits. Copyright 2011 - Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, 25 W. New England Ave., Suite 100, Worthington, OH 43085. Phone: 614-888-3040. Fax: 614-841-4842. |
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