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 August 30, 2010 |
PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK BY PLAYING GOLF!!!
Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce
2010 Annual Golf Tournament
Draper Valley Golf Club
Thursday, September 16
8 a.m. or 1 p.m. tee time
CHAMBER BUSINESSES SUPPORT N.R.V. BACKPACK PROGRAM.
All profits from the tournament will go toward packing food for needy children.
Teams Pre-Flighted by Handicap;
Competitive & Recreation Awards
for 1st and 2nd Place Teams
Teams: $280 Individuals: $70
Mulligans $5 each/$20 per team;
Red Tees $5 each/$20 per team
Thanks to the businesses that have already signed up:
TITLE SPONSOR: SOLD OUT
Bull & Bones at the River
PRO SPONSORS:
Wal-Mart (Dublin & Fairlawn)
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS: SOLD OUT
Cumulus
The Roanoke Times
The Southwest times
BIRDIE SPONSORS:
Edens Distributing
PEP
Join your fellow businesses that are helping us support this project:
BondCote
Daven Port Energy
Electroplate-Rite
Harvey's Chevrolet
Hiawatha Nicely
Metal Processing
Music Doctors
Pulaski Community Hospital
Pulaski County
Radford University Students
SERVPRO
The Inn at Virginia Tech
Webb Donald State Farm
Don't be left out! Contact the Chamber Office to sign up Today! Spots are filling up quickly for this popular event.
DO YOU KNOW WEBB DONALD? IF SO, THIS IS WHY!
Take advantage of this five-star opportunity to showcase your business by sponsoring the Monday Morning Chamber Connection E-letter. This publication goes out to over 300 members. The cost is only $50 per month with a two-month maximum if others are waiting.
PAPER NEWSLETTER (only four issues a year):
BARGAIN OFFER FOR THIRD QUATERLY NEWSLETTER (to be mailed out in late September): For the special rate of only $200, you will get the outside ad on the newsletter (mailed to approximately 500 people), a free insert (deadline September 23). PLUS a hole sponsorship (a $100 value alone) at the Chamber's September 16th Golf Tournament.
4th quater sponsorhip: to go out in early December (inserts due Thursday, December2). Sponsor this issue for $250. Your ad will be feature on the outside of the Newsletter, and you may include a free insert in the issue you sponsor.
For only 20cents a copy, you can put your insert in either quaterly newsletter. This puts your information into the hands of 500 potential customers, which beats other direct mail opportunities by a long shot!
Contact the Chamber office to take advantage of any of these great marketing and advertising opportunities at 540-674-1991 or e-mail: peggywhite@pulaskichamber.info
WE NEED YOUR EXPERTISE!
YOUR CHAMBER IS LOOKING FOR AMBASSADORS
with expertise they are willing to share in the following areas: financial; legal, insurance; marketing/advertising; social networking; special certifications; goverment issues. Other areas may be added as the needs present themselves. If you would be willing to serve in this capacity and share your expertise with other members (especially newer ones) who need a little direction, please contact claudia@pulaskichamber.info or 540-674-1991 for an application.
Once accepted into the program, you might be asked to meet for "Professional Advice and Pastries," a new quaterly series we are starting on Wednesday, October 6, 9-10 a.m. This one-hour gathering will give members the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with each other and strengthen our business community.
A two-week notice is requested from each member who plans to seek advice during one of these sessions, and Ambassador applications need to be completed and returned to the Chamber by September 8th.
In addition, if your business would like to take advantage of the opportunity to sponsor one or more of these quaterly meetings, the cost is only $25 and will be used to covert the cost of the pastries served.
BUSINESS AND SALES GROWTH COUNSELING
Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce:
September 10th and 28th: appointments available 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Call today for your FREE one hour appointment, presented by Sandy Ratliff, Business Services Manager for Virginia Department of Business Assistance. Call for appointment at 276-676-3768 or e-mail sandy.ratliff@vdba.virginia.gov
Topics will include:
*Accessing new markets/sales growth/getting new customers
*How to sell to Virginia government and locate BIDS/RFP's
*How to download and review BID/RFP documents
*How to register to eVA, Virginia's state procurement system
*Getting SWAM Certified
*Run reports to determine product/service market, customer/agency targets and private sector markets
*Using social media to build awareness of your business
SELL YOUR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ON-LINE
If you are a Chamber member who sells commercial real estate, you should have received a link which will enable you to list your commercial properties for sale on the Chamber's website. If you have questions or need further information, contact Peggy at the Chamber office.
EMPOWERING THE CHANGE: A WEBINAR
Wednesday, September 15, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.mm.
L. Brinkley Eure Educactional Building at Pulaski Community Hospital
Pulaski Community Partners Coalition and the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will be bringing area agencies and individuals together to learn about Environmental Strategies and how we can implement them in our community. The webinar speaker will be Shannon Weatherly from the President's Office on National Drug Control Policy.
This is a rare chance to tap into the expertise at the table, so please plan to attend. Due to space limitations, reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis. There is no cost for this event, but reservations are required. Contact the Chamber at 540-674-1991 or e-mail claudia@pulaskichamber.info. Space is severly limited. Don't be left out: reserve your space today.
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Check out the Chamber's Facebook; Become a Fan, and see event pictures, upcoming events and updates from your Chamber.
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Mandie Mitchell, RN, CMT
4550 Lee Hwy., Suite D
Dublin, VA 24084
Mailing: 5694 Jill Drive
Pulaski, VA 24301
(540) 616-7471
E-mail: Mandie@muchkneadedmassage.net
Web-site: www.muchkneadedmassage.net
(Massage Therapy)
NRCC FIDDLE & BANJO CLUB
Roger M. Adkins, Director
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3600, X-4307
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START A BUSINESS
HAVE YOU GOT AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS?
From daycare to delivery, the business possibilities are endless in a busy and progressive society. If you have decided to embrace your entrepreneurial side by starting a business, you are probably eager to apply your ideas and reap the rewards. You may have a great idea to improve a product or service, or perhaps you want to tap into a lucrative market, but you're not sure which one. In either case, before you jump headfirst into the exciting world of entrepreneurship, consider the challenges that come with starting a new business.
BUSINESS IDEAS
If you are not sure what business to start, first choose an industry in which to operat. There are hundreds of business ideas that would be challenging and fulfilling, but since you will be investing so much of yourself and your life in the business, make sure you follow your passion and your interests. If you like to spend your time in the kitchen, consider starting up a home-based catering business that you can operat on a part-time basis. Or apply your patience and insight to running a tutoring business that will fill a need within your community.
When deciding on an idea for business, keep in mind that your success rests on your ability to cater to the needs of a specific market. For this reason, a delivery business that brings nothing innovative to the market will most likely flounder; on the other hand, an overly specific business idea-like dunk tank rentals-may fail simply because the market is too small. Use market research and creativity to strike a balance between "unique" and "necessary" when deciding on the product or service that your business will provide.
STARTING A NEW BUSINESS
Some of the biggest challenges you will face when you start a business revolve around funding. Few people have enough capital to finance their business start-up, but if you need it, you can apply for one of the many small business gratnts and loans available. the most important tool for gathering your financing, and for clarifying your business goals, is the business plan. This will outline the type of business you intend to run, the market it will serve, how you will manage the company and why you deserve a loan to get it started. Use all the resources at your disposal to increase your chances of success in the business world.
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WAYS TO "GO GREEN" IN THE CLASSROOM
Many teachers are thinking seriously about the environment and are aware of the consequences of not going green. When teacher help students understand the importance of saving our resources and protecting the environment, kids will carry those "gree" values into adulthood. With a little help from teachers and other adults who care, these kids are going to change the world we live in for the better.
WATER CONSERVATION UNIT
Susan Delago, Grade 4, Spring Creek Elementary School, Florida shares this: "Our region has been under one of the worst droughts we have had in many years. Therefore, we have spent considerable amounts of time studying the effects of water quality, water quanitity and availability in our state, and water conservation.
"When our county began instituting and enforcing water restrictions, I began demonstrations on statistics of fresh water availability throughout the world, using fractions in my demonstration. This led into discussions and demonstrations of aquifers and sources of fresh water in our state. We examined each step of the water cycle and learned about naturally purifying water as it percolates through the different layers of soil and rock on its way to the aquifers.
"The unit continued with a simulation I found on the National Energy Foundation website about water usage and conservation. In the story, students became detectives who had to find out how many people were living in the landlady's apartment. The landlady had specified that four was the maximum number of occupants allowed, but the water bill for the paticular month in question was very high. In order to determine what average water usage would be, students completed the math operations using scientific inquiry.
"Math was integrated using measurement, including: frequency, tables for data, volume, fractions, customary measurement, and metric measurement. Students used a tally sheet to gather data about the water used in their households on a daily basis. Using this raw data, students claculated the toltal number of gallons of water used daily in their home and the average number of gallons of water used per person, per day. We then compiled and compared all of the data and made specific connections between results, like mean and mode. These figures were used to "solve" the mystery and make hypotheses about the number of people living in the landlady's apartment.
"Next, students planned how they, as individuals, would save water and created reports that were shared with the class. Finally, students desgined illustrations and interactive questions for a bulletin board in a main school hallway to impact the learning of others about the importance of water conservation.
"I think the crucial moment for the student understanding happened when they were deciding what to feature on their builletin board. Students had brough in gallon milk and water jugs to be used during instruction of volume as related to gallons of water. At one point during the compiling the synthesizing of the water usage data, I put ten one-gallon jugs on the desks in front of the group that was in the middle of the classroom. The students amazed that the ten jugs equated to approximately one-sixth of our class' average daily water usage they had just calculated. They all realized then, that if this demonstration had made suck a big impact on our class, it would affect the others in the school as well. This is how they decided to put the gallong jugs on the bulletin board: 65, for our class; average gallons of water used, per person, per day. In this way, students realized they could make an impact on the lives of others by sharing whay they've learned. This indeed happened, as many adults and students expressed their surprise at this average, after seeing the students' bulletin board.
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AUGUST IS CATARACT AWARENESS MONTH
This week we will complete our discussion on cataracts by discussing how they are treated.
If your vision is only slightly blurry, a change in your eyeglass prescription may help for a while. However, if you are still not able to see well enough to do the things you like or need to do after the change in the eyeglass prescription, cataract surgery should be considered.
Cataract surgery is often performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require an overnight stay. There are usually few restrictions, and you will be able to resume your normal activities almost immediately.
Before surgery, the length of your eye will be measured in what is called an A-scan, and the curve of your cornea will be measured in a technique called keratometry. These measurements help your Eye M.D. select the proper lens implant for your eye.
The most common procedure used for removing cataracts is called phacoemulsification. A small incision is made in the side of the cornea (the front part of your eye). Your Eye M.D. inserts a tiny instrument through the incision that uses high-frequency ultrasound to break up the center of the cloudy lens and suction it out. The lens is removed in one piece, using a technique called extracapsular extraction.
After the cloudy lens has been removed, the surgeon will replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant made of plastic, silicone or acrylic. This new lens allows light to pass through and focus on the retina. The IOL becomes a permanent part of your eye. In most cases, the IOL is inserted behind the iris, the colored part of your eye, and is called a posterior chamber lens. Sometimes, the IOL must be placed in front of the iris. This is called an anterior chamber lens. When the IOL is in place, the surgeon closes the incision. Stitches may or may not be used.
In some cases, the part of the lens covering that supports the IOL (called the capsule) can become cloudy several months or years after the first cataract was removed. This is called an "after cataract" or "secondary cataract." If this occurs and blurs your vision, your Eye M.D. will make an opening in the center of the cloudy capsule with a laser to allow light to pass through the lens properly again. This procedure, called a posterior capsulotomy, takes about five minutes in the doctor's office and requires no recovery period.
Most people who wear bifocals or reading glasses for near vision may still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery for reading, and, in some case, even for distance. If
You choose to have a multifocal or accommodative IOL, your dependence on glasses may be minimized or, in some cases, eliminated completely.
Like your eye's natural lens an IOL focuses light as images, received from the cornea and pupil at the front of the eye, onto the retina, the sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that relays images through the optic nerve to the brain. Most IOLS are made of a flexible, foldable material and are about one-third of the size of a dime. Like the lenses of prescription eyeglasses, your IOL will contain the appropriate prescription to give you the best vision possible.
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KUDOS:
....to Angie Covey, who will be taking on the role of Executive Director of the NRCC Educational Foundation. She will report directly to Dr. Jack Lewis, President of New River Community College. Angie has been working with the Foundation for the past year in her present position of Associate Vice President for Advancement. She has recently completed extensive training in fundraising, having participated in both the CRD Specialist Training program offered by the Council for Resource Development and the Executive Institute for Fundraising Leadership sponsored by the same organization, as well as a number of training sessions while serving as team leader for implementation of a new software package. She will be focusing her energies on the vital task of growing NRCC's Foundation as they look ahead to supporting the institution's future resource needs.
RECOGNITIONS:
County of Pulaski
Anthony Akers and Jim Davis have been named Featured Employees for Pulaski County for the month of August.
Anthony Akers has worked for Pulaski County for approximately 15 years, beginning his service as the County's Office on Youth Director. He currently serves as the County's Community Activities Director. Anthony oversees the operations and maintenance of the County's many parks, including Randolph Park, which is in its
10th year of operation.
Anthony enjoys his work as the Community Activities Director and states the most rewarding part of his job is "seeing kids smile." His accomplishments to date include the renovation and expansion of Central Gym, the establishment of afterschool programs at various schools in the County, and completion of local government managers training offered through Virginia Tech.
Anthony has a family which includes his wife Jody, son Alex, daughter Alaina, and son Ayden. He attends the Pulaski Church of God and enjoys teaching Sunday School and being involved in the Community Outreach Ministry. He also enjoys spending time with his family and being on the New River.
Sheriff Jim Davis has spent his entire 30-year career in law enforcement, the majority of which has been serving the citizens of Pulaski County. His career at the Sheriff's Office has included serving in communications as a dispatcher, uniformed patrol division and criminal investigations before moving into management.
As County Sheriff, Jim Davis is responsible for the overall law enforcement in the County, coordination with police departments serving both the towns of Dublin and Pulaski and in serving court orders within both the incorporated and unincorporated parts of the County. He is also responsible for the implementation of mutual aid agreements with adjacent localities. Sheriff Davis has successfully investigated a number of high profile cases and serious crimes with very positive results.
Jim and his wife, Teresa, have two daughters and are active in church and community affairs.
Town of Pulaski
The Employee for the Month of July 2010 is Sergeant Brandon Hamblin of the Fire Department. Sergeant Hamblin has been employed by the Town of Pualski for five years and a member of the Fire Department for eight years.
Sergeant Hamblin is also a certified Fire Officer I, Fire Instruction I and Rope Rescue Operations Phase II through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, where he is also certified to teach Firefighter I and II classes. Sergeant Hamblin is a member of the Pulaski Fire Department Rope Rescue Team, a Volunteer with the Newbern Fire Department with the rank of Captain and a member of the Pulaski County Wildland Fire
Crew.
Recently there was a dairy fire in Newbern. Pulaski responded with mutual aid, as did 9 other departments. Sergeant Hamblin worked the fire. The structure was owned by his family and Brandon did not allow personal feelings to interfere with his judgment. He made precise, sound decisions and safety was his top concern.
Sergeant Hamblin was nominated because his dedication to life, safety and the well-being of the citizens of both the Town and County is unsurpassed and something of which we can all be proud. He has a can do attitude, makes well thought out, calm decisions and always has a genuine concern for the citizens he protects, and his counterparts, team members and subordinates.
In addition to the honor of receiving the Employee of the Month Award, Sergeant Hamblin will receive an additional paid day off from the Town and be eligible for the Employee of the Year Award at the end of the year.
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MEMBER & COMMUNITY EVENTS |
HIGHLANDRIDGE REHAB CENTER
Come Celebrate the Future
Of Our Community
We Request the Honor
Of your presence at a
Groundbreaking Ceremony
For the Expansion of our
RehabilitationCenter
And
Restoration Project
HighlandRidge Rehab Center
5872 Hanks Avenue
Dublin, Virginia 24084
540-674-4193
Thursday, September 9, 2010.
11:00 A.M.
Reception to Follow
- Invites you to attend their Fall Festival on Saturday, October 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5872 Hanks Avenue in Dublin. Come on out and enjoy a day of free family fun!
PULASKI COUNTY LIBRARY YOUTH SERVICES
Pre-School story time will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the Charles and Ona B. Free Memorial Library in Dublin and Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the Pulaski County Library. Both story times will start at 10:30 and will include stories, songs, fingerplay, and simple crafts, as well as occasional special guests.
Lego Club: Come to the Pulaski Library and bring your Legos to build, or borrow a set from the library while you're here! Lego Club will be held on the second Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The next meeting is Monday, Sept. 13.
Donations of Legos for the club are always welcome!
Photography Club! For students in grades 6 - 12, would meet once a month on Monday nights at the Pulaski Library. Participants would have to bring their own cameras, but no experience would be required. Registration would be required and there would be a limit of 10 participants. If interested, call Jena Hardy at 994-2458.
On October 18, the library will start collecting entries for their 2nd Annual Photography Contest! This year, the contest will be open to children in grades 3-12, as well as adults. More details coming soon.
Stuffed Animal/Toy Sleep-Over at the Library: On Thursday, September 16, bring a stuffed animal, doll or toy to the library and leave them for a special overnight sleep-over. Pick them up the next day, and they'll share photos with you from a secret camera which is going to be used to catch your toys in action at the library! Drop your toys off at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 17 and stick around for stories and a light snack. Pick your toys up anytime Friday or Saturday. For ages 4 and up.
MOUNTAIN LAKE HOTEL & CONSERVANCY PRESENTS OKTOBERFEST!
Celebrate the 2010 fall season, enjoy the Biergarten, the Feast and the German Oompah Band that made Mountain Lake one of USA Today's "Ten Great Places To Harvest Some Fun." Admission to Oktoberfest is included in your overnight package rate. (Saturdays from September 18th thru October 30th). Call 1-800-346-3334 for reservations.
NEED A GETAWAY? NEW RIVER RETREAT
has fall specials on cabin rentals during September and October. Check their website www.newriverretreat.com for details.
BEAUTICONTROL
The SPA is here! Our new member, Alice Covey, will bring her mobile day spa to your home, business, church group, or civic organization. Is there a better way to reward yourself and others than by pampering and relaxation? You can reward your hard working employees with a work spa. Host the ultimate "ME TIME" with an in-home Spa Party. Call and schedule your ultimate de-stressing time today. Spa party hostesses are rewarded with a gel neck wrap, free and reduced products of their choice. Alice Covey: (540) 994-9607, atcovey@verizon.net, www.beautipage.com/alicecovey
Introducing the BeautiControl Spa. 2 free spa treatments with initial consultation, purchase $50.00 and chose an item at 50% off.
WEST WIND FARM VINEYARD & WINERY
Summer Saturdays: Music, Food, Wine, Non-alcoholic beverages, Fun
Sept. 4, 5 - 8 p.m. : Big Blues Beat (Oldies, blues)
Wine & Swine 2010:
Oct. 9, 4 - 7 p.m.: Travelers Revision (Oldies, Rock)
$10 admission per person.
For more information, call (276) 699-2020 or visit westwinewine.com
FAIRGROUNDS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sept. 11 Horse Auction (276) 620-6116
Sept. 18 - 19 Lions Flea Market (540) 980-0071
Sept. 25 Lord's Acre Sale (540) 980-0631
Oct. 2 Simmental Sale (276) 677-3255
Oct. 15 - 17 High School Rodeo (tentative)(540) 980-6914
Nov. 7 - 8 Lions Christmas Craft Show (540) 674-1682
WARNER ON YOUR CORNER
Representatives from Senator Mark Warner's office will be traveling around the Commonwealth to meet with individual Virginians who have specific issues dealing with federal agencies. They will be at the Pulaski County Library from 10 a.m. - noon on the third Thursday of each month (Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Dec. 16).
RACK CARD SPECIAL TO ALL PULASKI CO. CHAMBER MEMBERS
Wordsprint would like to offer a monthly Rack Card Special to all Pulaski County Chamber members. These are top-quality 4x9 cards, full color both sides, on study gloss card stock.
For further details and prices, contact Chris DiYorio at (276) 228-6608.
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"Data, data everywhere, but never time to think."
Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics
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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RSVP FOR ANY OF THE EVENTS CONTACT THE CHAMBER OFFICE
Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce
4440 Cleburne Blvd., Suite B
Dublin, VA 24084
Phone: 540-674-1991
E-Mail: pcchamber1@swva.net
Website: www.pulaskichamber.info |
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