|
|
| Monthly Survey Question
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce wants to know what you think!
Click here to view this month's survey question regarding the proposed new Performing Arts Centre.
Thanks to all those who responded to last month's survey question.
Here are the stats from last month's survey:
To what degree has the South Okanagan Events Centre positively affected your business?
5% - 17%
10% - 6%
20% - 22%
Other - 56% |
Manager's Report by Lorraine Renyard
The Industry Training Authority is coming to Penticton on Tuesday March 24 from 8 - 10 am for a panel discussion on "Developing our Skilled Workforce: Putting BC's Apprenticeship System to Work for Small Business."
Everyone is welcome to join us for this informative panel seminar featuring panelists from School District 67, Okanagan College, tourism industry training organizations.
It will be a 2 hour session starting at 8 am at the Wine Country Visitor Centre. This event will be free and is open to all those interested.
The Penticton Visitor Centre is gearing up for another busy summer. We are looking for a couple more summer students to assist us with serving an astonishing 80,000 visitors, with 70% of them coming in between June and September! This makes Penticton the fourth busiest Visitor Centre in BC. Please bring in your resume if you are interested in applying.
Economic Development is again assisting local employers by posting the available jobs on the EDS website and sending posters across BC and Alberta to attract attention to the site. Letters have gone out to hospitality and food service companies, as well as the retail sector asking them to identify their summer employee requirements and then send those to the Economic Development Office. These jobs are then posted on www.penticton.ca/eds. The job seekers are able to view the site and apply directly to the employer of their choice. Anyone wishing to use this service may contact Economic Development Services at slatham@penticton.org or call 250-493-3323. |
|
New Member Benefit 
Chamber of Commerce Group Office Supply Program
Everything you need for your busy office.
Grand & Toy is proud to provide Chamber members with an exclusive offer.
SAVE UP TO 80% on over 7,500 quality office products - in-stock and ready to ship.
Sign-up for your business account today and get:
- Great selection & service
- FREE next-day delivery
- Dedicated account management
- Secure, Fast & Easy ordering at www.grandandtoy.com
For more information, contact Membership Services Coordinator, Andrea Davison at 250-492-4103. |
|
Business After Business
Skaha Pharmacy was the site of the Business After Business on February 26th.
Local Owner/Manager Greg Wheeler offered tours behind the pharmacy counter and into the back where medications can be compounded to meet your specific prescription needs.
On March 12th, Buy the Sea Seafood & Tony's Meats & Deli had approximately 100 members join them for a great evening of networking. Samplings from both stores were enjoyed by all!
Thank you to all who attended!
If you haven't had the pleasure of attending a Business After Business mixer, your next opportunity is Wednesday March 25th at the Penticton Golf & Country Club. |
Payworks 
Setting the Record Straight on Record Keeping
Online Payroll Services
The voice on the other end of the phone is a Revenue Canada Agency (CRA) official asking for the payroll records of Employee "X" for the last 6 years!
"No problem," you think. "I'll just get my payroll provider to take care of it for me."
Unfortunately it isn't that simple. According to the Income Tax Act, the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Revenue Plan, every business is responsible for maintaining its own books and records. Even if you hire an accountant or payroll provider for record keeping, you are still responsible for keeping the records and providing access to CRA officials. Or as the CRA Information sheet IC78-10R4 states: "a person who keeps records is not relieved of any of the responsibility because he or she contracts...to a third party."
|
Literacy Now 
for the latest edition of The Buzz on Literacy newsletter.
Caroline Pennelli
Literacy Now Coordinator |
Crime Tip of the Month 
#3
Fraudulent Telemarketing
Scam artists continue to use the telephone to defraud consumers with lottery scams and fraudulent cheque/overpayment schemes. As of October 1, 2005, legitimate telemarketers require a licence from the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority to operate in BC. They may be required to be licenced if they are based in BC or if they telephone or fax BC residents from outside the province.
Quick Tip: Before purchasing anything over the telephone, ensure the telemarketing company is licenced with Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of BC; www.bpcpa.ca. To report fraudulent telemarketing, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, PhoneBusters, at 1-888-485-8501. To be removed from telephone calling lists of companies that belong to the Canadian Marketing Association, call 1-416-391-2362 or visit www.the-cma.org.
|
|
|
The New Magic
of the Wizard of Ads
Ten years ago I taught you how to create relational ads that target the right hemisphere of the customer's brain. Advertisers who learned this technique made a lot of money.
Five years ago I taught you that 2008 would be the final year in a series of 40-year cycles and that the position and direction of society's pendulum meant 2009 would likely be 1929 all over again. If you haven't been a little freaked out by the accuracy of that prediction, then you haven't been paying attention.
Today I'm offering you another chunk of glittering gold:
|
|
VOICE OF BUSINESS
E-NEWSLETTER ADS
Advertising Space:
One Issue: $50.00
Two Issues: $42.50
Three or more Issues: $37.50
- Ads include a link to your website
- Reaches over 800 members and businesses via email
- Newsletters are posted on Chamber website
- Specifications: 200 x 400 pixels. JPEG, GIF or PDF format
Space is limited. Please call the Chamber at 250.492.4103 to book your ad. | |
|
Photo by David Szabo Photography
NEW MEMBERS
| |
