Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce eNews

March 28th, 2014

NEWS & NOTES

Keep in Touch with The Greater Grass Valley Chamber!

SOME THOUGHTS ON MEMBERSHIP DUES,

BOOSTERISM AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Submitted by

Keith Davies - Co-CEO & Executive Director

Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce

Earlier this month, we welcomed Apple Alley Restaurant as the 500th member of the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce. That was an important milestone for us for two reasons: It demonstrates that the GGVCC is moving forward and growing, and it also helps financially because a major part of our annual income is derived from membership dues. But when dues are not paid in a timely manner, it affects the chamber's ability to pay its own bills.

Remitting annual dues is a responsibility of all members, so we thought we would take this opportunity to remind everyone that the GGVCC -- just like other non-profits in our county -- needs to minimize its accounts receivable. As things stand right now, we are fiscally healthy, but we need timely annual dues payments from members so that we can keep current with our vendors and other monthly obligations.

Membership dues are the fiscal lifeblood of the chamber. They help support the many special events we are involved with -- either on our own or in collaboration with the Grass Valley Downtown Association or Nevada City Chamber of Commerce -- as well as paying the rent on our new office and visitor information center, and ensuring that we can maintain a first-rate, professional office staff.

In an effort to reduce our accounts receivable, and to ensure a high level of personal contact with our members, we recently hired Yolanda Cookson to manage membership retention and help us as we move forward from our 500th member to our 550th member -- and beyond. Yolanda and/or members from our Ambassador Committee might drop by for a visit, so please welcome them at your shop or office, and share with them any ideas you might have that will help keep the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce on its current positive path to marketing and promoting the area.

What we do as a chamber of commerce is called "boosterism" -- an old-fashioned term that has relevance even in the 21st century. Our mission is to promote the community, enhance the perception that some people might have of the chamber, and help our members attain their fullest potential. But to accomplish our mission of community boosterism, we need to be boosted ourselves -- and that's where prompt payment of yearly membership dues comes into play.

The classic counterpoint to boosterism is "knocking" -- a term used in the late 19th century at a time when the original Grass Valley Board of Trade was evolving into the current chamber of commerce. Knocking our community, the County and Cities elected officials, or the chamber for that matter is the sort of thing naysayers do. We see and hear the knockers every day, but we are determined not to let misplaced negativity and the uninformed interfere with all the good things accomplished in 2013 and all the positive steps we will be taking this year to support and enhance the local economy and the business community.

If you are a member of the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce and have not paid your annual dues, we urge you to do so. And if you are not a member of the chamber of commerce, we urge you to consider joining. No other advocacy organization in Western Nevada County can do more for your business than what is being done by the GGVCC, and we hope you will want to be part of that process.

Finally, to all of our members who pay your dues within 30 days of receiving our invoice we applaud you and thank you very much. We could not do it without you.

Call me at 273-4667 or email me, and we can discuss why the best investment you can make for your business is to be a dues-paying member of the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Download the PDF here.

Keith and I firmly believe that "Timing is Everything." We can look back at our respective lives and recognize how fortunate (or not!) we were in certain instances.....

Timing. On a day in mid-January staff member Cheryl Grogan somberly approached my desk and said "There's something that I need to tell you." Foreboding words, to be sure...I've never heard a positive statement following that type of preamble. She went on to tell me that her husband had accepted a job with the FAA, and, while that was joyful news, unfortunately, it was in Alaska! Her last day would be February 28th.

Mindful of the short time allotted to replace her, I sent out an SOS email to our chamber member organizations that are hiring specialists. Flurries of emails were exchanged with Lisa Harkey at Adecco and Christine Hoxsie at One Stop, fleshing out a profile for the new hire, and while reviewing potential candidate's resumes with Lisa, an email forwarded from Keith dropped into my mail box. It read in part, "I understand that the chamber might be needing an Administrative Assistant, and I would love to chat with you to see what you're looking for in this position." Signed: Yolanda Cookson.

Timing is Everything.....Timing (Luck?) opportunity, possessing the correct skills or knowledge.....Being in the Right Place at the Right Time......or, perhaps in this instance, did Fate conspire to take Cheryl to Alaska at the precise moment when Yolanda was ready to return to the workforce?

Upcoming Events:

2014 Starz Show

Paige Anderson and the Fearless Kin, Raina Rose &

Jeffery Wanzer Dupra

Simon Phillips - Protocol II

Arlo Guthrie - Here Come The Kid(s)

"Arlo has managed to shine his own light throughout his five and a bit decades as a performing musician." - ABC North Coast

"His famous father's legacy no doubt helped him, but Arlo quickly proved his own talent as he performed with a slew of famous musicians, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Doc Watson and Bill Monroe." - Biography.com

Apple Alley is pleased to announce:

Frankie Sorci

Back with us again this weekend and will be entertaining us during the dinner hours

(4 - 8 pm) on Friday and Saturday nights this weekend (March 28 & 29).

Frankie is a true keyboard and vocal entertainer with quite a musical history who has been a favorite of our guests for quite some time, but we only get to have him a few times a year due to his dedication to his insurance business and his demanding music schedule.

We invite you to come by Apple Alley at the Cedar Ridge "Y" this weekend for some great food and excellent entertainment.

You can make dinner reservations by calling 530-273-9266.

You can learn more about Frankie Sorci and how he got his start on our website here.

"Save Our Bridge" Delegation Secures Support

from Senate Budget Subcommittee to

Restore Bridgeport Covered Bridge

Progress towards saving the Bridgeport Covered Bridge from collapse took an important step forward as state officials recommended approval of funds needed to restore and reopen the longest single span wooden covered bridge left in the world.

Nevada County Supervisor Hank Weston and David Anderson, President of the South Yuba River Park Association (SYRPA), testified to the Senate Budget Subcommittee in Sacramento last Thursday representing the "Save Our Bridge" Committee, a broad-based coalition of bridge advocates including SYRCL.

"Our community's advocacy to save this iconic bridge is working," said SYRCL Executive Director Caleb Dardick.

"Our community's advocacy to save this iconic bridge is working," said SYRCL Executive Director Caleb Dardick. "We applaud the State Senate Budget Subcommittee's vote to allocate one million dollars from Proposition 84 funds for the bridge project. This is a major milestone that would not have been accomplished without the hundreds of calls and letters to the legislature. Now that we have their attention, we need to make sure the Assembly Subcommittee supports the bridge too."

Senator Jim Nielsen joins the "Save Our Bridge" delegation after his Senate Budget Subcommittee votes to fund the Covered Bridge. From left: Mickey Springer, Doug Moon, Council member Robert Bergman, Dave Anderson, Supervisor Hank Weston, and Nielsen.

Photo: Shirley Moon

"The danger of losing the Bridgeport Bridge has attracted widespread support from the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, the City Councils of Grass Valley and Nevada City, the Truckee Town Council, local chambers of commerce, and civic and non-profit organizations; as well as widespread citizen support," stated Nevada City Councilman Robert Bergman who coordinated efforts to secure resolutions of support from the three cities.

This exceptional offer is available only through SANDI'S TICKET 2 TRAVEL.

Contact us today at 530-272-4642.

Save the Date for an Open House

Saturday April 5th, 2014 11am - 2pm

131 Richardson Street Grass Valley
(530) 477-5167

* Free Classes
* Free Equipment Demonstrations (with certified instructors)
* Special One Day Only Offer

Bring a friend! Try New Things!

I'm fighting to protect your rights and bring about fair tax policies that help grow our economy and jobs. As your taxpayer advocate and elected member of the California State Board of Equalization, I welcome your ideas about how we can work together to solve the problems facing our state.

- GEORGE RUNNER

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If the Government Takes Your Money Illegally, Shouldn't You Get It Back?

It is criminal that the State of California can keep money it illegally collects from its citizens. Anyone who, in good faith, pays what ends up being an illegal tax should get their money back. It's as simple as that.

I am proud to sponsor legislation extending common sense protection to taxpayers. Two identical measures, AB 2510 (Wagner) and SB 1327 (Knight), would require the state to provide a full refund to all individuals who paid a tax later declared unconstitutional.

Currently, taxpayers are only eligible to receive refunds if they have exhausted all of their administrative appeals remedies, even if the tax they paid is later declared illegal. AB 2510 and SB 1327 would require the state to automatically issue refunds to taxpayers whose information is up to date. It would also open up an additional appeals period of one year after a state tax is declared unconstitutional, giving taxpayers a chance to apply for the refunds they deserve.

Our legislation would apply to state taxes and fees paid by both businesses and individuals, including the controversial Fire Prevention Fee. Even if a class action lawsuit challenging the fire fee is successful, under current law only taxpayers who filed appeals within 30 days of the date on their bills will be eligible for refunds.

Stay tuned for updates as these bills move forward.

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Download the PDF here.

A Day for Women

Saturday April 5th, 2014

8am-4pm

Sierra College

Nevada County Campus

250 Sierra College Drive

Grass Valley, CA

$45.00 per person for all day event, lunch included. ($3 parking at event)

A Day for Women will be a special day offering opportunities to learn, and explore something new. Coe experience the choices of several one hour classes, in areas such as Personal Growth, Creativity, Food, Gardening, Technology, and Bodywork plus lunch and speakers. This is a day especially for you.

Click here to download the event PDF.

Here is what's happening in April. There will be a User Group that is focused on those without access to high speed internet service (broadband); a Windows 8 & 8.1 Workshop, and a File Management Workshop.

Please contact the registrar at (530) 273-0497 if interested in signing up for any Classes, Workshops, or the User Group.

Download the PDF here.

Download the flyer here.

Download the PDF here.

Download the sign up sheet.

Download the donation form.

Download the PDF here.

Women's Self-Defense You Can Do This!

For all women 12 yrs old and older

Reduce your Risk
Increase Your Options
Only $25 for a 12 Hour Class
Scholarships Available

Wednesday April 30th 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Friday May 2nd 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Wednesday May 7th 6:00- 9:00 pm
Friday May 9th 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Register online or call 530-277-4338

Class held at Fire Station #2
213 Sierra College Dr, Grass Valley

Offered by RAD Nevada County In Partnership with Grass Valley PD and Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Coalition.

Bring your girlfriends, daughters, moms, sisters & aunts!

Download the event flyer here.

Gold Diggers of 1933 is a pre-code Warner Bros. musical film directed by
Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics),
staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley.

Plot: The "gold diggers" are four aspiring actresses: Polly the ingenue
(Ruby Keeler), Carol the torch singer (Joan Blondell), Trixie the comedienne
(Aline MacMahon), and Fay the glamour puss (Ginger Rogers).

The film was made in 1933 during the Great Depression and contains numerous
direct references to it. It begins with a rehearsal for a stage show, which
is interrupted by the producer's creditors who close down the show because
of unpaid bills.the producer, Barney Hopkins (Ned Sparks), is in despair
because he has everything he needs to put on a show, except money.

Event proceeds benefit the Imaging for Life Campaign. For more information
on this project, click here.

For more event information and tickets click here.

Download the revised PDF here.

Join us for the First Annual Gold Country Challenge.

A ride through the historic gold mining country of western Nevada County.

Saturday May 10th, 2014

The Gold Country Cycling Challenge is a 50k, 100k and 100 mile tour of the beautiful Gold Country region of Northern California.