Aurora Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

December 2014 

The mission of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate the growth of 
Aurora area businesses, promote tourism, and invest in programs 
that enhance  and enrich the community. 
Calendar of Events
Click to Register:

December 12th

 

Women's Expo

January 29, 2015 

Check This Out

Metis Construction was one of a half dozen construction companies working with NICOLE CURTIS of HGTV's Rehab Addict and LEBRON JAMES and his foundation to restore an Akron home for a very deserving family.

CHECK IT OUT!

Did You Know

CLICK HERE

for more info.

  • Workers' Comp Rates for local government headed down again.
     
  • Workers' Comp Fraud: Keep it out of your workplace.
     
  • Public and Private Employers: Get ready for prospective billing 2015.
     
  • First fill measure focuses on injured worker health and safety.

Out and About in Aurora  


Breakfast with Santa
9am -11am Dec. 6 &13
Doogan's of Aurora
Tickets sold in-person at the Walker Building. Call 330-562-4333 to see if tickets are still available!
City of Aurora
City Council Meetings
Mon, Dec. 1

Mon, Dec. 1



Thu, Dec. 11

Meeting times vary; 
CLICK HERE for more info.
Western Reserve Safety Council
January Program:
Topic:  Ergonomics:  Improving Designs at Home and at Work

Speaker:  Jennifer Lingafelter, Ohio Bureau of Worker's Comp

 

Location:
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
6025 Kruse Drive (Second Floor)
Solon, OH  44139

Date/Time Information:
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Ergonomics is all around us whether we are at work, at home or enjoying our favorite hobby but did you know that poor designs can lead to lesser performance, increased frustration, errors and even injuries?   In this session, we will look at common tasks we do at work and at home and identify the risk factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders as well as review control strategies to avoid them.
 

 MORE INFO
 

          

Member Benefits Spotlight

$ave Local Now

is up and running. Get your business set up!

CLICK HERE to check it out. FREE to members.

Embrace Aurora

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer businesses a chance to participate in EMBRACE AURORA WELCOME PROGRAM.

 


This program invites businesses to provide unique items/discounts that will introduce them to new residents.  Welcome packages will be delivered to new residents of Aurora regularly.

Chamber members may participate FREE of cost!!

To find out more CLICK HERE. 

Board of Directors
President 
Brad Duguay 
 Custom Pultrusions, Inc

Vice President   
Lisa Kusner

 

Treasurer

Dottie Dupuy

Howard Hanna
 

 
Secretary
 Lori Davis
Wild Water Kingdom

 
 Michelle Harman
Harman Home Designs

Charisse Louis
Charene Creative


Jim Maulis

 

Dan Mormile

Custom Pultrusions, Inc.


Laura Radcliff


Jennifer Stanley

Sue Tinlin
-------------------------
Liaison
Russ Bennett
 

Liaison
John Kudley
 
Aurora City Council 
-------------------------
Executive Director

 Laura Holman 

Our Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors



Howard Hanna



Gold Sponsors



Silver Sponsors
Harman Home Designs

Asphalt Services and Construction


 
Anthem LogoNow you can get 
cost savings on your 
health insurance benefits usually reserved for larger companies.

How? You get the purchasing power of the group insurance market through your chamber of commerce membership.

NOACC

For more information
on Anthem
and other chamber member benefits available through
NOACC/Northeastern
Ohio Area Chambers
of Commerce go to

www.NOACC.org 

Proud Partner
 
COSE connects small businesses with resources and expert advice they need to grow!
Support Our Scholarship Fund
 
If you are a business or individual who would like more information on how you can help
support the scholarship fund please contact the Aurora Chamber of Commerce: 330.562.3355.
Donations are ALWAYS welcome!
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
 
 
Dear members and friends,

The Board of Directors, Francie, and I wish you the very best this holiday season. We look forward to working together for a successful and prosperous new year!

What you would you like to see from us in 2015? Surveys tell us....well, mostly that you don't much like surveys. So let's keep it simple! Please reply to this email and share your thoughts regarding these questions:

1) What is something the Chamber of Commerce is doing well to support our mission?
2) Is there something/someone you would like to hear about/from in 2015 to help support you in business? *Send us your speaker ideas and referral information!*
3) What specific thing can we do to be even more relevant to you and your business needs?

Remember: a quick reply is all we need to gather your ideas and work with them to make exciting things happen. THANK YOU! We appreciate your input.

Now....let's get busy! There is much to do.

Sincerely,

Laura

Chamber News and Events

GET READY for 2015...                                                                        

  • It is membership renewal time! The Aurora Chamber of Commerce is offering ELECTRONIC INVOICING for MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL new this year. Please be on the lookout for your emailed membership renewal invoice. THANK YOU for your support of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce: we are here FOR you!  

  • The 2015 COMMUNITY & EVENTS GUIDE will be printed early 2015! Will you be creating a new ad? Adding an enhanced listing? Advertising forms are available in the 2015 Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities Brochure (see link below). Please remember membership dues need to be received by January 31, 2015 for your business to be listed in the Guide. 
          Click Here to download Brochure
  • The Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities Brochure is YOUR link to what's happening in 2015! Click on the link above to download a .pdf of the Brochure and discover what we've got planned...and how YOU can get involved...with more to come!
  • Speaking of updates...The Aurora Chamber of Commerce Logo is in need of some attention.  Let's ring in the new year with a refreshed logo.  Get creative.  Send us your ideas, and/or let us know if you would like to be involved in selecting our new look!                 

       

Aurora's Favorite Things - THANK YOU!                                              

 
A big THANK YOU to our wonderful businesses and tireless volunteers who made Aurora's Favorite Things Breakfast a great success! Special thanks to our sponsor, Atrium at Anna Maria, and to our breakfast caterer
      
Owner David Buss
 

Person of the Year!

Business of the Year!                                                                        


Person of the Year...
Sue Altman of Volunteers of America
 
Sue has worked for the Volunteers of America for the past 35 years.  She spear-headed the implementation of Aurora's Food Pantry, which provides much-needed food to local residents in need.  Her generous spirit and civic awareness exemplifies the spirit of the Person of the Year award.
 
Business of the Year...
ThornCreek Winery & Gardens
 
David Thorn, owner of ThornCreek Winery & Gardens and landscape-design firm DTR Associates, upholds the highest standards of excellence and integrity in creating the ThornCreek experience. To learn more about the many ways ThornCreek helps make Aurora a better place to work and live, Click Here

Join us at our Holiday Party December 12th to celebrate our honorees. 
Registration information below: 
This event is open to the public, so please spread the news!

Holiday Party 2014

DEADLINE to Register is coming up fast.                    


Deadline to register is December 8th!  Don't miss out.


Holiday Party & Casino Night

 

Friday, December 12th, 2014 

The Atrium at Anna Maria

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

 

6 pm Cocktail Party with Heavy Hors'deouvres & cash bar

6:30pm Awards Presentation: Person & Business of the Year

7pm - 10pm Party continues with casino-style gaming & fundraising opportunities to support the Scholarship Fund 

 

Donations NEEDED for silent auction items by Monday, December 8th. Please call the Chamber if you can HELP 330.562.3355. The Awards Committee will be happy to pick up your donation and deliver it to the Chamber for you!  All money raised goes directly to scholarship recipients: What a wonderful way to showcase your business!
 
Please bring non-perishable food items to keep the Volunteers of America's pantry stocked in honor of our 2014 Person of the Year - Sue Altman.
 
$25 per guest.  Event is open to the public.

REGISTER HERE  Deadline to register is Monday, December 8, 2014.
 
Click here for more information about Five Card Charlie Casino Events. 
Presented by:
          
 Event Sponsors:        
        

Cocktail Sponsor:
 

3Chamber 2015 Women's Expo               



Be a part of this wonderful event and kick off 2015 with a bang!
 

Sign Up NOW for the 2015 3Chamber Women's Expo

Thursday, January 29, 2015 - 3:00pm-7:00pm

Hilton Garden Inn-8971 Wilcox Drive, Twinsburg OH 44087

 

New Feature - Request your booth space! 

Visit http://womens-expo.allaboutaurora.com and view the booth layout diagram

  

Standard Booth space is limited.  

Registration is open to members and non-members:  Sign up now!

 

All booths must be paid for at time of registration. If payment is not received at registration, the booth you have selected will not be held until payment is complete. Don't Miss Out!

 

CLICK HERE for details and registration information.

                                         

Join A Committee                                                                    
Our volunteer-led committees are at the very heart of our success!
 
Please contact the Chamber office (330-562-3355 or [email protected]) for more information about how you can get involved!

Awards  
Meets the 1st Wednesday of the Month
 
Business Advocacy  
Meets the 1st Wednesday of the Month 

ProBusiness/Tourism 

Meets the last Wednesday of the Month

Membership Services 
Meets the last Tuesday of the Month
News and Events
Hiram Women's Basketball Team                                                         

 

Way to go Hiram Women's Basketball Team!  This is what sportsmanship is all about!    


 

Check out this teams amazing character on CBS Sunday Morning with "On the Road" with Steve Hartman View Video

 

Home Instead Senior Care                                                               
Santa to a Senior

 

The popular campaign that for the past eleven years delivered more than 5000 gifts to local needy seniors is being planned again this holiday season. Area retailers, along with agencies that serve older adults, have partnered with a local senior-care service to make sure that isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

 

The Portage County office of Home Instead Senior Care, the world's largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, has teamed with local Portage County senior agencies to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.


Here's how the program works: prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify financially needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care for this community service program. The name and gift request of each senior are written on an ornament and then placed on Christmas trees. The tree locations in Aurora are Aurora Premium Outlets, First Naional Bank, T'Cakes Bakery and the Aurora Senior Center. Other locations throughout Portage County include Senior Centers in Streetsboro and Ravenna; Camelot Village, Excalibur Auto Body, Key Bank, and Western Reserve Raquet Club in Streetsboro; Emeritus, Key Bank and The RAC in Ravenna and the Gables of KentRidge in Kent. The trees feature ornaments with the first names of a senior and their respective gift requests.

 

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the location, along with the ornament attached. Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, non-profit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors. A citywide gift-wrapping day, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped, will be held early in December.  "Be a Santa to a Senior is a fulfilling way to say thanks to those older adults who have helped build our community," Glorioso said. "Our hope is that many will be touched by this holiday gesture of goodwill."

 

For more information on how you can help a needy senior please contact Annette Balis, Community Service Representative for Home Instead Senior Care, at 330-995-1522. You can also send a donation to Home Instead c/o Be A Santa To a Senior, 705 Oakwood St. Suite 107, Ravenna, Ohio 44266

For more information about the program, log on to www.beasantatoasenior.com.

 

Portage Development Board                                                                


 
StartState.edu/RAVENNA

 

Aurora Inn & Event Center                                                                

The Aurora Inn is undergoing a dramatic restoration led by our designer - HGTV's Genevieve Gorder. 


 

The newly revitalized ballroom is an ideal venue for both corporate and family holiday parties. 


 

Our holiday menus were prepared by Cleveland's own award-winning chef Chris Hodgson.  In 2014, Chris was honored by Food & Wine Magazine as the Best Chef - Great Lakes Region. Chris has been featured on two food Network programs:  Great Food Truck Race and Food Network Star.


 

We will provide everything you need to make your party memorable and delicious!


 

Call to reserve your party.  Dates are limited.  330-562-0767

 

 

 YOUR AD HERE 
 
Send us your business news!  The Aurora Chamber of Commerce newsletter reaches hundreds of readers.  We are happy to share what's happening in the Aurora area.  And it's FREE!!
  
 Visit us and stay up-to-date!
Laura Holman
Executive Director

Aurora Chamber of Commerce 330-562-3355

9 East Garfield Rd.  Suite 101 Aurora, OH  44202  www.allaboutaurora.com