| Upcoming Events | |
Media Savvy Marketing Series Session # 5
"Visualizing your Message" Logo Development and Graphic Design
May 12 - 11:00 a.m.
Inn at Edgewater Acres
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for more information
Chamber 101
Tuesday, May 10
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Penn State
Cooperative Extension
Click here for more information
Vintage Art Glass
Business After Hours
Tuesday, May 10
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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for more information
Annual Golf Tournament
Wednesday, June 15
Huntingdon Country Club
Click here for more information
China Adventure Informational Session
Wednesday, May 18
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Tyrone Hospital
Click here for more information
Intro to LinkedIn
Thursday, May 19
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Click here
for more information
Annual Membership Luncheon
Friday, August 12
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Westminster Woods
Annual Awards Gala
Thursday, October 6
Huntingdon Country Club
ChinaTrip
November 3-11, 2011
Click here for more information
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Western PA Chamber Returns from Third Trip to China | | |
As the Blair County and Huntingdon County Chambers prepare to make their maiden voyage into China with a nine-day trip, beginning November 3rd, one other chamber in Western Pennsylvania just returned from its third tour there.
The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber, located in Moon Township, has a membership of similar size to the Blair County Chamber. Many of its members, because of its proximity to the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, do considerable business outside the United States. So it makes sense that cultivating additional business relationships would be an incentive for those companies.
"We have several of them," explained PAAC President Sally Haas. "This trip consists of a component that allows businesspeople to pursue opportunities that could result in mutually beneficial relationships. But there's really much more than that to the trip."
Haas admitted that most people who sign-up for her trip are looking for more of an educational experience. "They're tourists, first and foremost, who have a sense of curiosity and who are looking to gain an appreciation of another culture. They really have an interest in China." Admittedly, prior to PAAC's first trip, Haas was not in that category. "I never thought, in my lifetime, that I'd go to China. I really had no interest," she pointed out. "Now, I tell everyone that they absolutely have to go to China. From the minute that you land there, it's a non-stop learning experience. The people, the places, the food, the colors, the history, the language - everything that you see and hear stimulates the senses and changes your perspective on life and on these tremendously compelling people."
The Chinese people, according to Haas, play a huge role in determining the likelihood that an American business is a good fit for international commerce. "Many times, people think they should do business in a foreign country before understanding how business is really done there," she acknowledged. "You can spend a fortune on business investment missions only to find out that something didn't feel quite right about the overall experience. What this trip to China does is allows people to experience the country and the people first. Learning about the history and the lifestyle sets the stage for a more informed decision. The trip is a very smart and affordable way to explore a new marketplace before making a tangible investment."
In all probability, the third trip to China won't be the last for the PAAC. "To this point, our itinerary has been predominantly the same for all three trips," Haas noted. "A number of people who have travelled with us are interested in going back to see what they weren't able to see the first time. So we're looking at some different destinations in China."
As the Blair and Huntingdon County Chambers continue to accept reservations for the November trip, Haas remembers the trepidation that many people felt before the actual excursion. "It can be a bit of a nervous time, especially for anyone who hasn't done international travel," she disclosed. "My advice would be to relax and take-in what will be an exhilarating experience. Nobody ever comes back from this trip feeling unfulfilled. It's great no matter how many times you do it."
Article provided by The Blair County Chamber. |
| China Adventure Informational Meeting | | |
The Huntingdon County and Blair County Chambers of Commerce have planned a China Adventure Informational meeting for Wednesday, May 18 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Tyrone Hospital Community Room.
Sally Haas, President of the Pittsburgh Area Airport Chamber will do the presentation. Her Chamber just completed its third trip to China. To register call 643-1110, e-mail mail@huntingdonchamber.com or complete the attached form. You may also register on line by clicking here. Space is limited. |
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5th Annual Open Golf Tournament | | |
The 5th Annual Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce & Comfort Inn Open Golf Tournament will take place on Wednesday, June 15th at the Huntingdon Country Club on Raystown Road, Route 26 South.
Registration and putting contest begin at 11:00 a.m., and the shotgun start time is 1:00 p.m. The tournament is open to Chamber members and non-members, and you can register as an individual, as a pair, or with your own foursome. Individuals and pairs will be assigned to foursomes for the tournament.
After 18 holes on the course - featuring two snack & beverage carts - golfers will be treated to a buffet-style dinner, and the tournament winners and raffle prize winners will be announced. Specialty prizes will also be awarded on certain holes for drives that are the longest, shortest, straightest, and closest to the pin. This year attendees will also be treated to a casino night theme with chances to win even more great prizes!!
The tournament is open to golfers of all skill levels. If you're not a golfer, but would like to participate in the event, there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities. Chamber members will also have the chance to provide sponsorship support for the tournament. Click here for more information or call the Chamber at (814) 643-1110. |
| Save Money on Electricity & Enter to Win an iPad 2 | | |
As you may already know, the Chamber has partnered with ChamberChoice and OnDemand Energy to offer members a special group purchasing rate on electric generation from FirstEnergy Solutions - for both your residential and business accounts!
With this offer, you'll pay a lower rate than what your utility company charges for electric- but nothing else changes. You'll continue to get the same reliable service from your utility company and still get just one bill!
As a special promotion for this program, one residential and one business enrollee in each service territory will win an Apple iPad 2!
Ready to enroll now- and be automatically entered to win an iPad 2? Go to fes.com/chamberchoice and select your utility company for fast and easy enrollment or call 1-866-699-9968 to speak to a program representative.
And remember- your employees are eligible too! Please forward your employees this email today. They should enroll their residential accounts in this money-saving offer through fes.com/chamberchoice - and be entered for a chance to win!
*Note: Current enrollees are automatically eligible to win.
**Non-Enrollment contest entry instructions - If you choose not to sign up for your electric generation service with FirstEnergy Solutions, but would like to enter the drawing, please provide your name, full address, and telephone number in a letter stating "Please enter me in the FirstEnergy Solutions Apple iPad® Drawing" and mail to: FirstEnergy Solutions, c/o Anne Haney 341 White Pond Dr., Bldg. B-3, Akron, OH 44320.
No Purchase Necessary to enter the Apple iPad® drawing. Enrolling with FES will not increase your chances of winning. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. Void where prohibited. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST each Monday prior to the day of the drawing. Winners will be notified via phone. iPad will be shipped to mailing address postage paid. All employees (and their family members) of FirstEnergy or its affiliates are not eligible to win. FES reserves the right to change, expand or discontinue this offer at any time. iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is not affiliated with this promotion.
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| Leadership Huntingdon County Applications Due July 29 | |  If you want to learn more about Huntingdon County, enhance your leadership skills or make lifelong connections you should consider participating in Leadership Huntingdon County. Applications for the Class of 2012 are now being accepted. The mission of Leadership Huntingdon County is to stimulate positive community change through leadership training designed to identify, involve, educate, and motivate leaders.
The program consists of a kick-off reception and retreat in September, monthly sessions until May, and a fall and spring field trip. The Class of 2012 will graduate May 24, 2012. Among other things, class members will learn about economic development, local government, tourism, education, healthcare, and human services in Huntingdon County. Team building, conflict management and leadership skills will also be covered.
The deadline to apply is Friday, July 29. Anyone with a sincere interest in civic leadership, and a desire to make positive changes in the community is encouraged to apply. Click here for more information. |
| Wellness Check | | |
The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the J.C. Blair Health System, Inc. to offer time saving, lifesaving testing. The testing will be Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the J.C. Blair Education Center.
Testing includes: lipid panel, metabolic panel, TSH (thyroid check), hemoglobin/hematocrit.
Free blood pressure screenings, BMI calculations, diabetic foot evaluations, and stroke screening will also be available. Over a $300 value for just $30!
Appointments recommended. Walk-ins welcome. To make an appointment, please call JC Blair at (814) 643-8484.
J.C. Blair will offer vouchers to Chamber member employers who wish to provide this testing for their employees. J.C. Blair will invoice employers for the number of vouchers used. Vouchers may be ordered by contacting the Chamber at (814) 643-1110.
Chamber member health care businesses are invited to set up display tables. Please contact the Chamber at for additional information. |
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WedNet Money Is Available For Training! | | |
DCED had identified approximately $1 million that is available immediately for training. WedNet guaranteed free training program addresses a wide range of work skills. Find out if your company can benefit from Basic Skills Training or Information Technology Training by visiting
www.wednetpa.com.
To obtain an application, call a WednetPA partner- Lee Ann Sidney at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (814- 946-8450 ext 1291) or Chris Mahla at Penn Highlands Community College (814-262-3812.) |
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Youth Rules! Child Labor Site | | |
The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, has created a Youth Rules! website for those businesses that are looking to hire youth for summer positions. The web link is http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/ There you will find T.I.P.S for Achieving and Maintaining Compliance with Youth Employment Laws and Child Labor Bulletin 101 with more information your businesses may need. |
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Repeal of 1099 Reporting Requirement Signed into Law | | |
The business community's efforts to repeal a burdensome provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were realized when President Barack Obama signed legislation last month to eliminate the 1099 reporting requirement. The provision would have required businesses to file 1099 forms with the Internal Revenue Service any time they spent $600 or more a year with any other business. The burdensome task of filing a 1099 for each of these transactions would have created mountains of paperwork. Keeping up with the new reporting requirement would have been a struggle for small businesses in particular. The PA Chamber worked in unison with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other pro-business groups nationwide to highlight the undue red tape burden on business that this requirement would have created, and to urge Congress to repeal the measure. Congress passed a repeal bill (H.R. 4) on March 3; the U.S. Senate followed on April 5 with a resounding vote to repeal the mandate. With the president's signature, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act is officially law and businesses across America can rest easier knowing they no longer face this burdensome reporting standard. |
| Governor Signs Sprinkler System Legislation | | |
The Chamber's Government Affairs Committee has been working with the Huntingdon County Builder's Association to repeal the new sprinkler system requirement. We are happy to announce that on Monday, April 25 Governor Tom Corbett signed H.B. 377, making it Act 1 of 2011 and of his term as Governor of Pennsylvania! This is a huge success for builders, and will bolster the construction industry across Pennsylvania.
H.B. 377 permanently repeals the sprinkler system requirement for 1 and 2 family dwellings. A mandatory offer of a sprinkler system is required from the builder to the buyer at point of sale. The legislation requires protection of lightweight floor systems with ½" drywall, 5/8" plywood or equivalent, and establishes exceptions for mechanical chase areas as well as exempts floors built with 2 x 10 or greater dimensional lumber and those systems built over crawlspaces without fuel fired appliances. H.B. 377 replaces the 2009 wall bracing requirements with the 2006 standards and provides a set of energy efficiency trade-offs for log home builders utilizing 6" logs. The Bill also provides retroactivity for those who have permits issued between Jan 1, 2011 and the effective date for the sprinkler and log wall provisions.
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