 Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce
22 North Manning Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 437-6401 Fax: (517) 437-6408
www.hillsdalecountychamber.com |
Greetings!
Welcome to our new electronic version of the Commerce Connection Newsletter. In the months to come you will see the evolution of this electronic publication as we strive to continually update and enhance the features in our efforts to make this more user friendly and of greater value to our email subscribers.
Respectfully,
Karri Doty
Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce
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2010 Chamber
Associate Members
  
2010 Chamber Partner Member
County National Bank  |
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A Note From Karri
Dear Ch amber Member,
Great things are happening at the Chamber! We are in the midst of launching our county wide shop local program, we are getting ready for the Business Expo and in the planning phases of the car show. Two weeks ago some of my peers and I were discussing the most important things our Chamber's of Commerce do for our members and our communities at the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals Legislative Conference. Responses ranged from networking to events to education and benefits. My response was serving as the front door to the community. It was interesting to see everyone agree, this is probably one of the best services we offer our communities. The other items are important too, but serving as the point of contact for the community is so very important. Chamber's are contacted for many reasons - when a new business opens, people call for the phone number, when a business moves, people call to find out their new address, when someone can't find a phone number or doesn't know the name of a business, people call the Chamber. People also call the Chamber to find out about community events, they call to find out if a business is reputable, they call for other Chamber phone numbers and the list goes on. I would venture to guess 75% of the phone calls we receive, is for information about our community. Last week, CNN (from New York) called the Chamber to see if the police and FBI were on the scene of suspicious militia activity with a barricaded gunman. The call came in several hours before local media broke the news. People know to call the Chamber of Commerce, not just in Hillsdale County, but throughout the country.
Have you heard about Hillsdale County TUF (Try Us First)? Are you participating? I had a businessman ask me "why wouldn't a business participate? This can only help business". I agree 100%. This program is WIN WIN WIN - it helps consumers save money, it help to increase business and generates funds for Hillsdale County schools. The TUF committee will be doing one last presentation on April 22 at the Hillsdale Golf & Country Club before this no cost county wide shop local program goes live on May 1, 2010. If you haven't heard about the program or still have questions, please make plans to attend.
May 1 is not only the launch of the TUF program, but also the Business Expo and Taste of Hillsdale County. This is a great opportunity to promote your business for about .18 - .24 cents per potential customer. When is the last time 750-1000 customers were at your business on a Saturday? Consider participating in the 12 Annual Business Expo & Taste of Hillsdale County on May 1, 2010 at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.
Make plans to participate in the Business Expo and join the TUF team. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully,
Karri Doty, IOM
President/Executive Director
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Hello
Hillsdale County Breakfast
April
22, 2010
7:45 AM Breakfast Buffet
($10 per person)
Location: Hillsdale Golf
& Country Club
Speaker: Hillsdale County TUF Committee
Topic: TUF Program
Join us for breakfast and learn about the TUF program and network with other Chamber Members.
Please RSVP for this event by April 19th by calling Jon (517) 437-6401Register for
this event by clicking this link!
Pre-payment or payment at time of breakfast is requested.
An additional $2 fee will be added for those being billed or for those without an RSVP.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to the event and
no- shows will be billed $12.
2010
Hello Hillsdale County dates & locations
May 27
Lunch
Warner's
Family Restaurant
June 17
Breakfast
Johnny T's Bistro
July 22
Lunch
Hillsdale Golf
& Country Club
August 26
Breakfast
Saucy Dog's Barbeque
September 23
Lunch
Johnny T's Bistro
October 28
Breakfast
Warner's
Family Restaurant
November 18
Lunch
Saucy Dog's
Barbeque
December 16
Breakfast
Hillsdale Golf
& Country Club
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Free Training on Placemaking. The green Economy, and Regional Strategic Growth in the Context of the Global New Economy
Source: Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, are proud partners with Michigan State University and the state of Michigan and other stakeholder groups on a series of 100 free training
programs being offered between April 19th and June 16th across the state. These programs are designed to help those you serve and the region you are in to better compete in the global New
Economy. There are three levels of programs:
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Welcome New Members
Congregational
Church
& Society of Somerset
Lucas
Miller
1035 North Somerset Road
Somerset, MI 49281
(517) 547-7732
Pastoral Ministry
Paramount
Care of Michigan
Nancy Hejl
106 Park Place
Dundee, MI 48131
(734) 529-8894
Health Insurance Provider
Steven Williams
12260 Burt Road
Pittsford, MI 49271
(517) 383-2224
Individual Member
Stockhouse
Corporation
Dave Holliday
501 West Carleton Road
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 439-1579
Printing Services
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Lessons from a
CEO & CBS
By: Tony Rubleski
Source: Mind Capture Group
I was sitting at my
brother-in-laws house a couple weeks ago  when he flipped on the reality TV show called Undercover Boss on CBS. To say that the show captured
our attention is a huge understatement. For the next hour we were glued to the show and its plotline which is quite simple. The CEO of a company goes undercover for a few days in his own organization and works a variety of jobs to observe and gather feedback.
The episode we watched had the CEO of Hooters restaurants spending a week in the field doing everything from working in the kitchen, to taking out the trash, to working on the production line and handing out coupons to complete strangers on the sidewalk with two Hooter girls in tow. What amazed me most about the show was frankly how clueless the CEO was about the day-to-day operations of his business. For example, in one undercover assignment he worked at one of his firms packaging plants and mumbled to the business manager during a break that he hadn't set foot in the plant since he was 17. I'm guessing he's in his
mid-forties and when he said this to the plant manager I laughed out loud and thought, where the heck has this guy been the last 25 years?
Read More
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The Key to
Marketing:
The Marketing Plan
From: Susan Ward
Source: About.com
Running a successful business is not like a field of dreams; you can build it but they might not come. Marketing is all about letting people know about the product or service you offer, and persuading them to buy or use it. And for effective marketing you have to let people know about your product or service repeatedly.
To do this, you're going to have to come up with both a marketing strategy and a marketing plan.
Read More: |
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Did You Know???
John
Barrett was selected as a Citizen of the Year
by the Village of Jonesville?
Southern Michigan
Bank & Trust
named
Eric Anglin Vice President Deposit Specialist and Jamie Smoker
has been named Senior Vice President Head of Residential and Consumer
Lending?
The Camden
Frontier Varsity Boys basketball team for made it to the MHSAA Class D
Quarterfinals?
Dr.
Matthew McEachran
will be hosting a
Euchre tournament
at the Hillsdale Elks Loge on May 22nd at 7
PM
(for more details call
(517) 437-0055) to benefit the Relay for Life?
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Michigan Bans Smoking in Public Places and in Private Employment
Source: Varnum, LLP Attorneys at Law
By: Pat White
& Jeff Gray
December 29, 2009
On Friday, December 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed into law a bill which prohibits smoking in most public places, including bars, restaurants, government buildings, and in private employment facilities. The new law takes effect May 1, 2010.
Employers with an "enclosed indoor area that contains 1 or more work areas for 1 or more persons..." must be smoke free. Home offices and motor vehicles are not covered. Thus, telecommuters and truck drivers are free to continue smoking on the job. Also exempt are casino gaming floors (casino bars and restaurants are not exempt), as well as certain cigar bars and specialty tobacco retail stores in existence on May 1, 2010.
Read More
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The views expressed in the Commerce Connection may not necessarily
reflect the views of the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce or its staff.
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May Chamber Lottery Tickets
Tickets are $10 and are good for the entire month of May. With 78 chances to win & $4,500 up for grabs, $10 is a good investment. You may win multiple times on just one ticket!
Get your tickets at: The Chamber Office, Ann-Dees Tavern of North Adams, Hillsdale County Sheriff Department, Kiwanis Club of Hillsdale, Jonesville Fire Department, Hillsdale Philly Booster Club, Pittsford Lions Club or from any
Chamber Board Member.
For more information, please call (517) 437-6401. |
Coming May 1st
"TUF"
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The Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce presents the:
12th Annual
Business Expo & Taste of
Hillsdale County
May 1, 2010Theme:
Hillsdale County TUF
"Try us First" - Join our
winning team
Click here for more information
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Hey Restaurants!
Do you have the best food in
Hillsdale County?
We challenge you to prove it at the
"TASTE OF HILLSDALE COUNTY"
in conjunction with the Business Expo, May 1, 2010
Area restaurants, deli's and caterer's will compete for the best item in the following categories:
Dessert
Lunch/Dinner Item
Pizza
Subs/Sandwiches
Soup/Appetizer
Coffee You will be receiving a separate mailer with more detailed information.
If you are interested in participating or if you would like more information contact the Chamber at (517) 437-6401.
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A message from State Representative Ken Kurtz |
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I am sending you this brief update of activities in Lansing and some of the issues I am facing as we near the end of the first quarter of the year.
The main issue before the legislature is the budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The appropriations subcommittees are putting forth their budgets realizing that the state faces a $1.7 - $1.8 billion deficit. With unemployment expected to remain near the 15% mark, I can not choose to raise taxes on families struggling to find a job.
I will continue to work towards lowering taxes and bettering the environment for businesses to grow. Michigan citizens must have jobs. I will continue to advocate that our government spends the money it receives wisely and not ask for more from our citizens.
I have co-sponsored House Joint Resolution YY to help Michigan strengthen the 9th and 10th amendments of the United States Constitution in our state. If enacted into law and formally approved by voters it would create a Joint Federalism Commission charged with monitoring and reviewing federal laws and mandates to determine if they violate the Constitution. We must remember that the people give our government its power and not the other way around. This resolution has received wide bi-partisan support.
I have also co-sponsored several bills that take steps to expose and illuminate waste
and fraud within the food stamp and bridge card programs. I support the purpose of
these programs, but there are far too many who misuse and take advantage of the system which costs taxpayers and the truly needy. This is a step forward and further reforms in finding waste, misuse and fraud in this state are needed.
March was reading month and I enjoyed taking time to read to many of our elementary school students throughout the district. I am looking forward to meeting a number of our high school students in Lansing who are a part of Youth in Government.
As always it is a pleasure to serve you in the Michigan House of Representatives.
If there is ever anything I can do to help you please feel free to contact me.
Kenneth Kurtz
State Representative 58th District
Phone: (517) 373-1794
Toll Free: (866) 362-8812
kennethkurtz@house.mi.gov |
By S en. Cameron S. Brown (R-Fawn River Township)
March 30, 2010
With the passage of the federal health care legislation come questions about the constitutionality of Congress requiring individuals to purchase a good or a service, or be taxed for not doing so. The right of every Michigan resident to make health care decisions for his or her family is a fundamental right that has been threatened by Senate Democrats.
Senate Joint Resolution K, a resolution I co-sponsored, states in part, "Every person has a right to provide for his or her own health care. A federal law or rule shall not compel, directly or indirectly, any person,
employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system." If passed, Senate Joint Resolution K would place a constitutional amendment before voters in November.
Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote of the members of each chamber of the legislature in order to pass. While all 22 Senate Republicans voted yes on Senate Joint Resolution K, near unanimous Democrat opposition resulted in the resolution failing by just two votes. The resolution could be reconsidered in the future.
The new health care law is an unprecedented expansion of the federal government's control over individual health care decisions. It also will raise costs, including an estimated $700 million for Michigan taxpayers.
We as a state cannot afford the increased costs of this massive health care system. We must protect the right of Michigan residents to make these critical decisions on their own.
I am honored by the trust you have placed in me to represent your interests in Lansing. As always, I encourage you to contact my office toll free at (866) 305-0316 to express your opinions or concerns.
Phone: 517-373-5932
Toll Free: (866) 305-0316
sencbrown@senate.michigan.gov
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Featured Member
Belson Asphalt Paving, Inc.
5651 Bankers Road
Reading, MI 49274
(517) 283-3584
Tim & Sheri Belson started Belson Asphalt Paving Inc. in 1989. After previously working for an asphalt company in Jackson for 10 years, Tim Belson decided to start his own business from their home in Osseo. In 1991, Tim and Sheri moved their business to their current location at 5651 Bankers Road in Reading, MI.
Belson Asphalt Paving Inc. is a family owned business. Sheri handles the day to day operations of the office and Tim runs the asphalt paver and works with the paving crew. Their son Jeremy Belson is the seal coating crew foreman. They take take a lot of pride in their asphalt business.
Belson Asphalt uses the highest quality asphalt and materials offers their customers exceptional asphalt paving and repair. Some of the services they provide are resurfacing crack repair, asphalt milling, seal coating and line stripping. They also offer a few unique services as well such as asphalt curbing and infrared repair which is a less expensive way of repairing without removing all of the existing asphalt.
Call Belson Asphalt Paving Inc. today for more information or
a free estimate at 283-3584 or stop by their office at
5651 Bankers Road in Reading. You can also learn more about their business at www.belsonasphaltpaving.com
Interested in being a featured member? Please give Jon at call at 517-437-6401
or e-mail at jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com
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 HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
Spot Chamber Charlie in the newsletter
and call the Chamber to win!
Spot Chamber Charlie in this month's edition of the Commerce Connection,
be one of the first three to call the Chamber and correctly identify the location of Chamber Charlie and receive a free Chamber Lottery Ticket.
Awards and number of winners vary from month to month. One winner per year per company. For more information, give the Chamber a call
at (517) 437-6401
or e-mail Jon - jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com |
Advertising, Email Blast & Insertion Rates
Advertising
3" x 2 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $25
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $175
3" x 5" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $42.50 or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $410
3" x 7 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $60
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $510
E-mail blast
E-mail blasts will be sent once per week - $35 per blast
Inserts
Chamber composes & prints - (black print & 1 side) $165.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $125.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
Chamber composes & prints (black print & 1 side) $115.00 (with other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $75.00 - Month
(with other inserts) $25 for ads created by Chamber Color printing - $25
Colored paper - $10 Second side printing - $10 black and white & $25 color |
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April 2010 Chamber Calendar of Events *** indicates all may attend |
Chamber Board of Directors and Staff
Executive Board of Directors
Chairperson - Jeff Layman - Layman's Service Center
Vice Chairperson - Joe Sanford - Century 21 Action Associates
Member At Large - Raymond Lee - Raymond Lee Custom Carpentry
Treasurer (Non-Voting) - Jeanne Mills - Bottom Line Business Service
Board of Directors
Scott Phillips - Coldwell Banker
Cyndi Young - WCSR
Michael Lee Thorp - The Plant Nook Florist
Chamber Staff
Karri Doty, IOM - President/Executive Director
Jon Doty - Administrative Assistant
Sarah Sanborn - Administrative Assistant
Kathy Spence -Administrative Assistant |
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