This week is your last change to nominate a deserving business for the 2015 Business Person of the Year. Submit your nomination form by fax, mail, email, carrier pigeon or in person, to the Chamber at 100 Lafayette Circle #103 by Friday, December 12, 2014. Here is the criteria to consider:

* Current Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Member;
* Is involved with a successful business;
* Has been involved with either the Chamber or other community based organizations;
* Their work should support our mission: To promote and maintain a healthy business climate and to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Lafayette;
* Someone who has given of their time, money or energy to help make Lafayette a healthy community where people will want to live, work and shop;
* Someone who models excellence in everything they do;
* Someone who brings this community together and/or makes up proud to be a member of the community.

Please include:
* The name of the business
* Name of the nominee
* Specific information about the person's contributions to the business community
* Your name and business name

Mail to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 100 Lafayette Circle, #103, Lafayette, CA 94549, Fax to 925-284-3109 or scan and email to Sara@lafayettechamber.org. Then save the date: Friday, January 30th when we honor our Business Person of the Year.

The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is an official drop-off site for the "gently used" Warm Coats program. We have partnered with the Rotary Club of Lafayette. If our doors are closed, please drop the coats in the box on the porch. Please bring coats by Thursday, December 18.  The coats will be donated to Shelter Inc. in Martinez. Shelter Inc. of Contra Costa helps to rebuild lives, one family at a time, giving them shelter, and providing resources that lead to self-sufficiency.

Saturday, December 13 - 11am-3pm. Free Photo With Santa at 5A Rent a Space, 455 Moraga Road. Families will receive a free photo and frame. Cookies, fruit, hot cocoa, and candy canes will be served and children will make a craft.  It's all FREE and everyone is welcome.

Sunday, December 14 - 5:30pm. Hospisce Tree Lighting at the Moraga Country Club. In the midst of this busy season, you are invited to enter some quiet space around the Moraga-Lafayette Tree of Lights by the pond at the 9th tee, visible from Moraga Road.  For donation and other information, see their website.

Wednesday, December 17 & Thursday, December 18 - California Academy of Performing Arts Nutcracker Performances - 7pm - Campolindo Performing Arts Center. A feast for the eyes as snow falls onstage and the Christmas tree magically grows to great heights, and over 100 children, ages 6 -18 trained right here in Moraga, dance out the ageless story of Clara and her magical Christmas Eve dream.  Tickets are $22, but if you can get a group of 8 or more, tickets will only be $10 each.  Contact Lynn Davis for the group block.

Through December 24 - Santa's Secret Wrapping Room at 5A Rent a Space, 455 Moraga Rd. during business hours. This decorated area is set up with tables, chairs, wrapping paper, tape and ribbon.  Everything needed to get presents wrapped FREE!  Wrap gifts without the watchful eyes of the recipients.

Lafayette Police Chief Eric Christensen is recruiting six chamber members to be involved in a new pilot program here in Lafayette.  The Citizen's Police Academy will give you the opportunity to learn how the police department functions.  The program uses a mix of lecture and hands-on experience much like a real police academy.  This should give the participants an overview of what it's like to be an officer.  You must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of Lafayette or work in Lafayette, willing to undergo a cursory background check and you have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the past year.  Some of the areas covered will be investigation, disaster response, narcotics, accident investigation, traffic stops,  a trip the crime lab and the county jail, use of force and if you are interested, a trip to the Sheriff's Firearms Range.

Applications are available at the Chamber office or you can call Cathy Surgess at the police department at 283-3680.  This program will be limited to six chamber members.  Interested?  Then what are you waiting for...