News from Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for your continued support of the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce. Please see below for news and information about the Chamber and its members...

Some of What's Happening in Sierra Madre

The Community Services Commission voted at their meeting on Monday to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be issued to try to find a new company to take over managment of the

Sierra Madre Farmer's Market. The Farmers Market takes place each Wednesday from 3 to 7pm, and is located at the public parking lot on Mariposa Ave. Sierra Madre Farmers Market will continue to be managed by Scholastic Gardens through September 30, 2010. In the meantime, the City will be looking to find a new company to manage the market when Scholastic Garden's time has run its course. It was agreed at the meeting to also try to find a more visible location in order to help stimulate traffic at the market. The Chamber has been approached by two Farmer's Market managers, and Scholastic Gardens has been approached by two others.

On Thursday, July 15th, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow expansion of restaurant seating area to 1,750 sq. ft. within the existing building located at 138 - 142 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. (the former Steamer's site). The C.U.P. was allowed, and now the owner of the property is granted permission to put three separate dining facilities in the location. He is not required to use all three spaces for dining, but has the option should he so choose.

Thursday, July 22nd, from 7 to 8:30pm, "Small Talk! Parent Discussion Group" a parent discussion group to address the unique dynamic found in families who have typically developing children and those with special needs will be held at Justine Sherman and Associates, 55 Auburn Ave.. The discussion will include strategies for insuring that all family members feel valued. Parents of children of all ages are welcome. Special Guest Speaker - Mark Hastings, MS, MFT.

Sunday, August 1st, will be a big day in Sierra Madre. Rotary Club is gearing up for the return of Harry Shahoian as Elvis during that evening's Concert in the Park. Harry is a hometown boy who once was a singing waiter at what was then Restaurant Lozano. The Concert starts at 6pm, but the In-n-Out truck will be on hand from 4:45 to 6:45 so you can have a bite to eat before everyone gets "All Shook Up." Thanks to Rotary for sponsoring this annual musical highlight of the summer.

The Sierra Madre Individual Preparedness Project is planning an event to take place on Sept. 11th in Memorial Park, with demonstrations on how to be prepared for an emergency. The same day in Kersting Court, A Taste of Sierra Madre will take place, featuring the results of student art and essay contests, live music, tours of local kitchens, and samples of food from local restaurants. We'll give you more details as the events draw nearer.

Friday Night Live Continues!

July 16th - The Mellow Dz (Dave Osti/Deanna Cogan)

July 23rd - Mercy and the Beets

July 30th - Gem City Jazz Cats

Aug. 6th - Buck 25

Aug. 13th - Jean Sudbury and Local Talent (TBA)

Aug. 20th - Steve and Steve (Steve Vargas/Steve Ysais)

Aug. 27th - Jane Fuller

Friday Night Live kicked off last weekend on a night when the only thing hotter than the weather was Dave Osti's guitar playing. Unfortunately, with temperatures approaching or in excess of 100 degrees when it started, attendance was not at the levels it was hoped they would reach. That was good news for the shoppers who DID come out, though. There were five prizes to be awarded in a drawing that will take place this Wednesday at the Farmer's Market, and only seven shoppers that qualified for the drawings. That's pretty good odds. Also, the two folks that do not win this week will be re-entered in the drawing for the final week of Friday Night Live, when there are three times that number of prizes to be given away.

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce invites you to come down and enjoy live music in Kersting Court each Friday Night from 6:30 to 9pm. There are 15 Sierra Madre retail and dining establishments participating in Friday

Night Live's shopping incentives. Spend $35, $50 or $75 dollars in a participating retail store, or $50, $75 or $100 in a participating restaurant, and you'll receive a tote bag of gifts. The more you spend, the more you'll get in your tote bag. Each tote bag includes gifts and coupons whose value is in excess of the minimum dollar amount required to get the tote bag. In addition to the tote bags, prizes to be awarded next Wednesday to shoppers who qualify for the drawing this Friday are:

· Gift Certificate to Charcuterie $30

· Gift Certificate to Butterfly Effect Day Spa $25

· 4-Pack tickets to Oak Tree (Santa Anita Park) $40

· Gift Package from Julia Rocks, Professional Skin Care $40

· Two tickets to Sierra Madre Playhouse $40

· Music CD donated by Mailbox & Postal $15

· Fluff and Fold Gift Cert for Drop a Load Laundry $25

The winner's of last week's drawings shopped at Angels Everywear, Barney's Only Place in Town, and Charcuterie. Tom and Tamara Deverell of San Diego won 4 tickets to Oak Tree, Dorothy Lewis of Sierra Madre also won 4 tickets to Oak Tree, Leslie Hallimore of San Gabriel, was the big winner, who two entries yielding a $30 gift certificate to Ugo's and a $25 gift cert. to Butterfly Effect Day Spa. Sierra Madrean Greg Carbone also won a $30 gift certificate for Casa del Rey.

This Friday's entertainment will be provided by Mercy and the Beets, a group of local musicians that perform classic pop and rock music. Lead singer Mercy Powell was one of the featured artists at the July 10th Colorado Bridge street part yin Pasadena, and is a veteran of the Chamber's annual Wistaria Festival (next one to be held March 20, 2011 - save the date).

Thanks to Sponsor Santa Anita Park for their generous contribution to Friday Night Live

Thanks to all the local businesses that have been so generous in their donations. There are more than 50 drawing prizes totaling more than $1700 in value to be given away during Friday Night Live's seven week run. Gold Sponsor Santa Anita Park donated a pair of tickets to Oak Tree for every tote bag we give out, and several four-packs to be used as drawing prizes. Other donors for the event are: ngels Everywear, Baldwin Jewelers, Barney's Only Place in Town, Bean Town Coffee House, Belle's Nest, Butterfly Effect Day Spa, Café 322, Casa del Rey, Charcuterie, Corfu, Drop a Load Laundry, Iris Intrigue, La Bella Rouge, Julia Rocks Skin Care Professional, Karin's Salon/The Art of Change, Laurel's Apparel Service/Laurel's Treasures of Sierra Madre, Mailbox & Postal, Mountain Views News, Savor the Flavor, Santa Anita Park, Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Madre Farmer's Market, Sierra Madre Playhouse, The Shabby Dog, Ugo'sCafé, Village Pizzeria

Board Approves Revised Member Categories

Recently, the Chamber Board was advised that most Chambers receive about 40% of their revenues from member dues. In 2009, the Sierra Madre Chamber's member dues accounted for only 13% of the Chamber's revenue. So we took a long overdue look at our membership categories and dues. We reviewed benefits, dues rates and categories from several area Chambers, including Arcadia, Azusa, Duarte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena and Temple City. And it was decided that we were due for some adjustment. A new slate of categories was presented to the Board that we think better serves the Chamber and its members. With the revised categories came proposed new rates, to help bring the dues revenue closer in line with the standard Chamber business model. Most rate increases were in the range of $15 to $25 annually, however, re-categorization based on the number of employees will mean substantial increases for larger companies. The Chamber has not increased its rates in several years, despite the increase in the costs of running a Chamber, and has also continued to add to the benefits offered to its members.

At the July Board meeting, the Board approved the new member categories and dues rates, effective Sept. 1, 2010. It was also decided that anyone who is due to renew before Sept. 1, 2011 could renew at the current dues rates if they renewed before Sept. 1, 2010. Are you due to renew? Renew now, and save a little money.

Here are the new member categories and rates:

Retail/Commercial Membership - Voting member, any retail, commercial or industrial business that is not more specifically defined under any other category. Membership dues determined by tiered structure based on number of employees.

Retail/Commercial, 1 - 2 Employees $125.00

Retail/Commercial, 3 - 5 Employees $150.00

Retail/Commercial, 6 - 10 Employees $175.00

Retail/Commercial, 11 - 29 Employees $250.00

Retail/Commercial, 30 Or More Employees $350.00

Home-Based Business Membership - Voting member, any retail, commercial or industrial business that operates out of the principal's home.

Home-Based $100.00

Financial/Utility/Government Agency Membership - Voting member, any publicly or privately owned business that provides public utility services to residents. Public utilities include electric, gas, telephone, water and television providers (cable and satellite). Administrative unit of government on the municipal, county, state or federal level. Any bank, savings and loan or credit union

Utility/Government Agency/Financial Institution $350.00

Individual Professional Membership - Voting member, member of a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, including but not limited to Doctors/Health professionals, CPAs, Real Estate Agents, Attorneys, Engineers, Architects, etc.

Individual Professional $150.00

Professional Office Membership - Voting member, any office or group of professionals with multiple employees, membership includes the business plus up to two (non-voting) individual professionals from the office that receive member benefits. Names of the Office representative and additional two individuals are to be on file with the Chamber.

Professional Office (+2) $250.00

Additional Professional Membership - Non-Voting member, any additional professional from a professional office beyond the office representative and the two additional professionals

Additional Professional (Non-Voting) $100.00 .

Non-Profit Membership - Voting member, any business with paid employees that is designated by the state and the IRS as a non-profit organization/corporation.

Non-Profit 1 - 2 Employees $100.00

Non-Profit 3 - 10 Employees $125.00

Non-Profit 11 Or More Employees $200.00

Service Organization Membership - Voting member, any charitable club or service organization, that has no paid employees, including but not limited to those designated by the state and the IRS as a 501 (c) 3.

Service Organization $90.00

Associate Membership - Voting member, any individual that lives or does business in Sierra Madre and supports the mission of the Sierra Madre Chamber

Associate Member $100.00

Individual Resident Member/Volunteer Membership - Non-voting member, any individual that lives or does business in Sierra Madre and supports the mission of the Sierra Madre Chamber

Individual/Volunteer (Non-Voting) $60.00

Additional Individual/Volunteer, same household $15.00

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