This Week's Member E-Promotions
2013 Sponsorship Opportunities at Hamilton Sandbox. Become a sponsor at Hamilton's Premier Beach Volleyball Facility, or join our Send a Kid To Camp Program.
Click Here for Sponsorship Proposal
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Invest in
Hamilton TV  | | McMaster Breaks Ground on $85 Million Downtown Hamilton Public Health Campus. |
Opening in 2014, the complex will see nearly 4,000 McMaster students and 54,000 patients annually.
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 Working with Your Bank - Banking 101: CIBC and Hamilton Chamber seminar - Tuesday, December 11
This interactive seminar will offer a general breakdown of business banking including what lenders are looking for in a business plan or proposal. The session will provide ways to improve communications and rapport with your banker.
Presented by Gareth Llewellyn, Manager, CIBC Commercial Banking Ontario
Cost: free (sponsored by CIBC)
Location: Hamilton Chamber offices, 120 King Street West
Time: Tuesday December 11, 7:45-9am
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Nomination period fast coming to a close...nominate now for Hamilton Community Awards and Outstanding Business Achievement Awards
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has announced that the nomination period is now open for two key Hamilton Chamber events:
- 75th annual Royal Bank Distinguished Citizen of the Year
- 15th annual Hamilton Spectator Youth Volunteer of the Year
December 11, 2012: nominations deadline (new)
January 21, 2013: Hamilton Community Awards dinner (to be hosted at Michelangelo's Banquet Centre) - winners announced at the event
The Hamilton Chamber would like to thank event sponsors Royal Bank of Canada, The Hamilton Spectator and the Hamilton Community Foundation for their generous support.
Nominations for the RBC Distinguished Citizen of the Year are open to residents of Hamilton and/or those who have performed their volunteer commitments within Hamilton. Nominations for The Hamilton Spectator Youth Volunteer of the Year are open to individuals ages 19 and under (as of December 31, 2012) and who have volunteered and taken on volunteer leadership roles.
- Small Business (1-50 employees)
- Large Business (51+ employees)
- Young Entrepreneur (35 years and under)
- Ironman Business (15+ years in business)
- Communication and Technology
- Not-for-Profit
- Century (100+ years in business)
December 14, 2012: nominations deadline
March 25, 2013: Outstanding Business Achievement Awards dinner (to be hosted at Carmen's Banquet Centre) - winners announced at the event
The Hamilton Chamber is pleased to partner with the City of Hamilton's Economic Development Department to bring the Business Attraction and Retention Recognition Awards and the Hamilton Association of Business Improvement Areas' Awards of Excellence to the event.Detailed information about the nomination process is available on the Hamilton Chamber website at hamiltonchamber.ca or by contacting Whitney Simmons at w.simmons@hamiltonchamber.ca or 905-522-1151, Ext. 100.
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Tips for seeking and managing media attentionBy Cynthia Janzen, Vice-President, Hellingman Communications  To be good at media relations, it's important to understand the role and function of media - to report news, promote discussion and reflect the public interest. Thinking of reporters as your friends, your enemies or your PR department will cause problems. It's a business relationship - and every media encounter, whether positive or negative, is an opportunity to build your brand. A few tips for getting media attention: * Develop "voice of authority" status: be knowledgeable about your industry and your sector, and be able to comment on trends and changes. Social media can help you develop a voice and profile that you may be able to leverage for mainstream media attention. * When you tell your story, make it about people, not programs. It's not about what you do, it's about the impact on people. Avoid insider jargon and remember the big picture - don't get hung up on details and nuances that aren't relevant to the outside world. * Speaking of relevance, tie something you're doing to the season, a current event or popular topic and you have a better chance of coverage. What to do if the news is negative: * It's generally better to be proactive. Don't wait for media to discover that you're closing a popular service; get out with the news first and tell it your way before being put in the position of defending yourself. * Think about ALL your stakeholders, not just the media, and take steps to communicate directly with them. This way you validate and preserve the relationship, even if the news is not so good. * Remember that change is often felt as loss. Acknowledge the humanity of the situation, don't just talk about numbers. * Be mindful of community relationships always and build your "goodwill bank account" - you never know when you'll need to make a withdrawal! Excerpted from Monday Morning Marketing - "Good News or Bad News: Seeking and Managing Media Attention" presentation, November 26, 2012.
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Running on Empty? The choice is yours.
 "You have more control than you think". That's the message over 130 participants from different workplaces heard at the "Running on Empty: How to Deal with Workplace Stress" employer forum on November 7th, 2012. The forum was presented by Workforce Planning Hamilton and the City of Hamilton, Public Health Services with support from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Human Resources Committee. During his keynote address, Dr. David Posen reminded participants that "everything is in your life because you put it there". While this may sound like the blame game, the point is that there are beliefs that drive us into a chronic state of stress, which drains our energy. His advice? If you catch yourself thinking "I have to..." ask yourself why, and if you really "have" to. Dr. Posen offered these tips to getting more control over your life: 1. Pace Yourself 2. Take Time-Outs 3. Get More Sleep 4. Drink Less Caffeine 5. Do something for yourself every day He also has some insights on how to deal with work stress in his upcoming book "Is Work Killing You? A Doctor's Prescription for Treating Workplace Stress" which will be released on February 2, 2013. His book is timely, considering the anticipated release of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The voluntary standard, coming this fall, will help employers treat stress like any other workplace hazard. The Standard is important because work stress is a leading cause of worker disability and 92% of those on mental health leave report their workplace as the reason. So what's an employer to do? For starters, take Dr. Posen's advice and stop draining your energy levels. Next, ask yourself if you are effectively managing your employees who may be struggling with work stress. If the answer is no, seek out resources. Start with www.hamiltonhealthyworkplaces.ca, where you will find "Running on Empty" forum resources, such as the "Accommodation & Mental Illness in the Workplace" presentation by Evans, Philp. And above all, remember that things will change for the better, because you have more control than you think. Submitted by the Human Resources Committee.
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Complete Streets research - correspondence to Hamilton City Council
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, through a number of our committees including Transportation, Hamilton HIVE, Young Entrepreneurs and Professional Division, Business Development as well as the LRT Task Force has been discussing the issue of Complete Streets in the downtown core. The Chamber believes that an impact study is required so that an evidence-based decision can be made on moving forward with Complete Streets. To support that work, the Chamber has sent correspondence to City Council suggesting that the City engage the McMaster Institute for Transportation Logistics to complete such a study. The Chamber is also doing our part to look at the economic benefits of public infrastructure investments and has commissioned a study to compare four streets and changes to assessment over a 30 year period. This information will help with discussions in 2013 on the issue of Complete Streets.
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2013 Hamilton Chamber Membership Directory will be here soon.
The 2013 Directory is on its way! Chamber members will be receiving their copy by the of beginning of December. This will be the Chamber's last mailing of 2012, and their are still a few spots left for members flyers. If you want to include your brochure or flyer in this once a year Directory mailing, please contact Patricia Boulton at 905-818-1173 or p.boulton@hamiltonchamber.ca
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Chamber Division and Committee meetings and events
Hamilton Hive: Wednesday, December 12, 8:00 a.m.
Business Development Committee: Wednesday, December 12, 12 noon (120 King Street West, Plaza Level)
Innovation & Technology Committee: Thursday, December 13, 8:00 a.m. (McMaster Innovation Park - 175 Longwood Road South)
Ancaster Division Meeting: Friday, December 14, 12 noon (Ancaster Mill - 548 Old Dundas Road, Ancaster)
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Chamber Events
Fitness Fridays
Friday, December 7th
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
YWCA, 75 MacNab Street South
Circuit Workout
Monday Morning Marketing Series
 December 10, 2012
Location: Hamilton Chamber Meeting Rooms, 120 King St. W., Plaza Level
7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
$15.00 per person inclusive (includes continental breakfast)
Topic: The Risks And Opportunities of a Mobile World
Presented by: Adrian Duyzer, factor(e)
Working with Your Bank
Tuesday, December 11
7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
FREE BREAKFAST SEMINAR
(includes continental breakfast)
Location: Hamilton Chamber Meeting Room, 120 King St. W., Plaza Level
Topic: Banking 101 - A general breakdown including what lenders are looking for in a business plan or proposal. This interactive session will provide ways to improve communications and rapport with your banker
Presenter: Gareth Llewellyn, Manager, CIBC Commercial Banking Ontario
Business after Business
 December 13 - Host Location: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Free Admission
 Coffee with the CEO
December 14 - Guest Jeff Storey, Mgr. Of Business Operations, Brand Director, AM900 CHML
Location: Mulberry Café, James Street North
$10.00 at the door
Mark your Calendar
Hamilton Community Awards
Outstanding Business Achievement Awards
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Community Calendar
Be sure to check out the Community Calendar and the Member News links on the right side panel of this newsletter. Contact Diane Stephenson at 905-522-1151 ext. 220 or
to have your information included.
*Please Note: Member News is reserved for Not-for-profit member news and Hamilton Chamber Member milestone news i.e. Anniversaries, Grand Openings, Awards etc. All Chamber members are welcome to include their events in the Community Calendar.
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