Special thanks to everyone who participated in the annual Chamber Golf Outing held last week at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. The stormy weather held off and the event raised more than $15,000 to help fund Chamber leadership programming, including scholarship money for Leadership Grand Traverse.

Click here for a list of winning teams and other prize winners from the event.

Transportation funding, health care and more were on the table as U.S. Senator Gary Peters sat down last week with more than two dozen Chamber members and local officials. Sen. Peters made several stops in Northern Michigan last week to introduce himself and his staff to area business leaders and elected and appointed officials.

Sen. Peters said he's working to secure a local office in Traverse City that will be staffed by Leah McCallum, a member of the Chamber Young Professionals program who will serve as the senator's regional representative for more than 20 Northern Michigan counties. We'll update you with Sen. Peters' local contact information when the details are finalized.

After our annual summer hiatus, the Chamber's monthly Business After Hours event returns September 16 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Cambria Suites in Traverse City. Mark your calendars for the region's original after hours business networking event at one of the area's leading resorts. The event is free to Chamber members.

The morning of September 9 marks the return of Leadership at the Movies. The upcoming program features Barbara Ellis of the Center for Coaching & Leadership Development, one of Northern Michigan's leading personnel experts.

The presentation is entitled "The Transformation Power of a Leader" featuring the film Braveheart starring Mel Gibson. Ellis will review how leaders can inspire people to do more and create a positive legacy, and how to re-energize a team around a common vision.

Leadership Grand Traverse Fellows has expanded its program offerings as an alumni group of the Leadership Grand Traverse program. LGT Fellows connect with current Leadership Grand Traverse participants, are advised of existing leadership opportunities and get a refresher course on the institutions that were part of their original LGT education.

These "Deep Dive" discussions continue with separate sessions on state and local government on September 14, arts/culture on September 22, health and human services session on October 1, and education on November 10. If you're an LGT Fellow and want to participate, click here to register.

If you're a Leadership Grand Traverse graduate looking to reconnect with the program, follow the LGT Fellows link.