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Upcoming ConneXions Events
Andora's Restaurant, 1928 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Luncheons
Door open 11:30 am - Lunch served at 12:00 noon
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
K & J Travel - Traveling on a Shoestring for 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Karen Mokwa - Generations in the Workforce
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Staff Appreciation
After Hours
"Monday Madness" 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
January 30, 2012
February 27, 2012
March 26, 2012
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SHCC Welcomes YOU!!
It is with great pleasure that we add these new members to our active membership list for the year of 2011. Many of these members are active in chamber events and are already expanding their business network.
New Members
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Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)
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Andora's Restaurant
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Arch Masonry Inc.
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Bella's House of Fine Teas
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C.W. Mathews & Associates
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Comcast Cable, Sales
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Comcast Spotlight
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CToIT
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Daminco's Landscaping LLC
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Department of Labor & Vocational Rehabilitation
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FFOS LLC
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First Data
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Foundation of Free Enterprise
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Freedom Fellowship
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Global Marketing Partners
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Ivan LLC
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Jefferson Regional Health Center
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Jesso Monuments
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K & J Getaways
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Law Office of Lauren Gennett
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Marketing Pathways, Inc.
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Mattress World
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Minuteman Press, Dormont
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Mt. Lebanon Magazine
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North Shore Benefits
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Parkvale Bank, Bethel Park
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Patrice & Associates Hospitality Inc.
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Phase IV Practice Development
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Pink Pamper
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Pittsburgh Professional Women
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Plan Ahead Events
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Price Point Energy
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Red Apple Wellness & Chiropractic
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ResCare
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South Hills Spine & Extremity Center
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Sprint
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Steel Center AVTS
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UPS Store, South Park Shoppes
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VIP Administrative Services
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Western & Southern Life
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Women of South Hills
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South Hills Chamber of Commerce
Connie Ruhl
Executive Director
Board of Directors
James W. Bentz
Bentz Law Firm
Rick Alfera
Goff, Backa, Alfera and Company, LLC
Twila Green
First Commonwealth Bank
Gary Heckel
Giant Eagle
Stacey Kubala
Southwinds, Inc.
MJ Mandler
CCAC
Sandra Swasey
Howard Hanna
There will be a few vacancies that the membership will be asked to consider. If you are interested in being considered to fill a Board vacancy, please contact the chamber office.
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Member of
the Month
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle Inc. is ranked sixth in the top 50 largest Pittsburgh Area employers by the Pittsburgh Business Times. Owned and operated by the Shapira family, the retail and wholesale grocery chain was established in 1918.
Giant Eagle is actively involved in local initiatives like charitable donations, community partnerships, and educational outreach. They have been a supporting sponsor of the South Hills Chamber of Commerce for the past three years. Their representatives have served on the Chamber leadership roles for more than a decade.
Gary Heckel currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the South Hills Chamber of Commerce.
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Contact Us!
South Hills Chamber of Commerce
1910 Cochran Road
Suite 140
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
www.shchamber.org
412-306-8090 office
412-306-8093 fax
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Greetings!
We are your regional resource for business success and it is our goal to connect you to opportunities that will enhance, encourage and enable you to grow a strong, viable, sustaining business. It is with your needs in mind that we have organized activities, created events and secured resources to provide value added benefits to our members. The South Hills Chamber of Commerce introduces ConneXions, a newsletter designed to be filled with treasures that will guide readers as they travel the road toward success. Each issue will provide a variety of information such as upcoming events, local legislative matters, member service updates, sponsorship opportunities and much, much more. |
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THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER
The best way to grow and promote your business is by actively participating in chamber events. Join us and begin promoting your business, sharing your expertise and sponsoring special projects.
We are working hard to provide opportunities and benefits for our members.
In 2011, the Chamber underwent great transitions and we are now reaping the benefits. Here are a few changes that were made:
- We hired a new Executive Director, Connie H. Ruhl
- We enhanced our office automation
- We added new benefits for our members.
- We developed business alliances that benefit our members.
We listened to you. In our survey, you requested more communication and in 2012...
- We have initiated Constant Contact
- We upgraded our e-mail system, and
- We have created this newsletter.
In this first issue of ConneXions you will find a list of our new member benefits and sponsorship opportunities. Please take the opportunity to read them and select which sponsorship might best fit your marketing/promotion budget for 2012.
We look forward to meeting you all at our events throughout the year.
Gary
Gary Heckel, Board of Director
President
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Becoming a Chamber Member
As diverse and unique as our membership is, there is one underlying quality we all share with passion - BUSINESS.
Membership with the South Hills Chamber of Commerce carries with it a distinct opportunity to belong to a community of like-minded individuals who run organizations with thoughtful leadership dedicated to economic growth and civic pride.
SHCC Membership
Purchase a SHCC membership and enjoy the many benefits that our members receive:
- Discounted event registration
- Business profile page on the chamber website
- Opportunity to join SHOP Local
- Discount services/deals with our business partners
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Five Social Media Mistakes You Should Avoid!
by Cindy Neky
It seems there are people involved in social media that don't understand how to use it, at least effectively. When I say social media, of course, I am referring to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. How hard can it be to chat with other people online? Actually, it's more difficult than you might imagine. Below you will see a list of the five social media mistakes I see most often.
1. It's all about me. This is probably the mistake I see most often from social media newbies. They think they have to sell every time they make a comment or update. What they don't realize is how annoying that comes across.
Give me information that shows you are an expert in what you do. Convince me (in an indirect way) that I would want to do business with you by showering me with good content. Then you can tell me how you should be the person I want to do business with. Don't sell all the time or I will shut you out.
2. No personality. Ok, I know it isn't easy to write with a personality if you aren't a writer. And putting smiley faces after all your sentences doesn't make it any better :). If you can bring your personality through in your writing then the reader is going to feel more connected to you.
3. No consistency. Be consistent in your message and tone so the reader and follower know it is you. You want them to look forward to your contribution on social sites. The other part of consistency is doing it often. While not always an easy task, try to be involved in social media every day. Most of us have short attention spans. If you aren't involved often, we will forget about you.
4. Not interacting with others. Always remember this is social media and therefore, it should be a more social way of reaching out to others. Do your best to network and relate to others in the site. Try to respond to comments made by those you are connected with or that post on your blog.
5. Improper spelling and grammar. You probably think this is a no brainer, but it is important to spell words correctly and say things properly. Do you have to be perfect? No. You do need to meet minimum standards of grammar though. Check your typing before you post. First impressions are lasting, even in social media.
5 +1. No social media strategy. Have a strategy with your social media. Are you going to supply people with information which helps you develop a strong presence? Whatever your goal for social media, stick to that strategy in every writing and in every site. Don't just slap up a page and walk away.
Remember these five plus ideas and you will be on your way to social media success. Treat other people online just as you would want to in person. Don't forget it is social media.
Cindy Neky is a Certified Social Media Strategist, Marketing and PR Consultant, Small Business Specialist and Speaker with Marketing Pathways. Marketing Pathways helps small businesses achieve sales success through strategic marketing and creative ideas.
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Newsletter Sponsor:
$500 a year
(4 issues) provides you with an ad in each issue, small write up about your company in one issue and a free ad on the website 4 times.
Workshops Sponsor:
$500 a year
(Quickbooks Class, Listening to Your Business Class, Business Plan in a Can Class) provides you with a free a seat in each class or your designate, free ad in newsletter and advertising at all three classes.
ConneXions Networking Sponsor:
$1500 a year
"Monday Madness" 5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.-Andora's Restaurant once a month provides you with an ad on website for a year and promotion and free reservation at each ConneXions networking event.
Luncheon Sponsor:
$150 each
Lunch Meeting that you select. Free reservation at your selected luncheons and an ad in the newsletter.
Women of Influence Event Sponsor:
$200 for each event 4 times a year.
Free reservation at each event, an ad in the newsletter (4 times) and a promotion at each event (4 times).
Scholarship Event Sponsor:
$1000 Event to be determined.
You will get a free promotional ad on the website for a year, in the newsletter and promotion at the event.
Trade Show Sponsor:
$1,000
Which provides you with a promotional banner at the event, ad in the newsletter and free ad on the website for a year.
Special Events: TBD (3)
$1,000
Which provides you with a promotional banner at each event, ad in the newsletter and an ad on website for a year.
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Jobs or the Environment? The Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Debate By John Schnatterly, President, V V G Marketing and Chair of SHCC
Pennsylvania has an immense resource in the Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves. During 2010, the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale natural gas industry triggered $11.2 billion in economic activity, generated $1.1 billion in state and local taxes, and supported nearly 140,000 jobs. According to a recent study by Penn State and the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the industry is projected to generate more than $12.8 billion in economic activity in 2011, leading to more than $1.2 billion in state and local taxes and supporting more than 156,000 jobs. In addition, the researchers determined that natural gas prices dropped 12.6 percent in 2010 - attributed largely to expanded Marcellus development - saving consumers in Pennsylvania nearly $633 million on their utility bills.Of course, along with the very positive business developments we have seen much debate about environmental issues.
So in March Governor Corbett organized and appointed the Marcellus Shale Commission in the hopes of developing a comprehensive and strategic plan for responsible natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. In July the Marcellus Shale Commission presented their report to Governor Corbett and to the public. The report contains 96 policy recommendations that include tougher regulations for drilling, doubling fines for violations, creating jobs in related industries and promoting the use of natural gas vehicles.
Some of the key recommendations the panel made include: - Increasing the distance between gas well sites and streams, private wells and public water systems (from 100 to 300 feet)
- Posting more information online for the public.
- Tougher civil (double) and criminal penalties for violators.
- Assisting PA companies to do business with the natural gas industry.
- Training Pennsylvanians to work in the industry.
- Developing "Green Corridors" for vehicles powered by natural gas.
You can read the report here.
These are just recommendations at this point and to be effective they will have to be either legislated by the General Assembly in some cases or state agencies will have to change policy and/or regulations in other cases.
While we are in economic hard times there is a search for tax revenue by the Commonwealth. There continues to be calls for a "severance tax" or a "local impact fee" or other separate taxes for the natural gas industry. The impression is made that this industry is getting away with not paying their fair share of taxes. Note the statistics above: in 2010 they paid over $1 billion in taxes! The fact is that they pay taxes just like any other business in Pennsylvania. Consider also that in 2010 alone, natural gas companies paid over $1.6 billion in lease and bonus payments to Pennsylvania landowners.
The General Assembly will likely consider this fall some kind of tax, perhaps a "local impact fee." Governor Corbett recently opened slightly the possibility he would agree to something like this after months of rejecting additional taxes on the industry. It is believed that the Governor might entertain a tax or fee that is collected at the local level to address local infrastructure needs. There is a concern that if the Commonwealth enacts a tax and the funds then go into the general account, there will be a great temptation to spend the funds elsewhere.
Fortunately in Pennsylvania we have a growing industry with great potential. In the case of the gas industry, the tax revenue to the Commonwealth and local governments will continue to grow with industry growth . . . as long as we don't choke the growth.
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