July 11, 2016 News & Events
Lamorinda Business Forum
Lamorinda Small Business Forum - Protecting Your Business - Robbery/Recovery/Emergency Preparedness and Internet Security
Thursday, July 14, 5:30pm-7pm, Bank of the West

Join us on Thursday, July 14 from 5:30pm-7pm for the Lamorinda Small Business Forum at the Bank of the West, 3583 Mt Diablo Blvd. Topic will be Protecting Your Business - Robbery/Recovery/Emergency Preparedness and Internet Security. Guest speakers Lafayette Chief of Police Eric Christensen and Neighborhood Computers President Grant Stubblefield.
Tribute to the TroopsTribute to The Troops - Honoring our Veterans and Saluting our Troops  
Saturday July 16, 5:30pm to Twilight, Lafayette Reservoir  


Twilight concert and picnic featuring The Shakey Zimmerman Acoustic Trio and The Big Band of Rossmoor. FREE to the public and all military. Bring a blanket, your lawn chairs and a picnic! Concert will be held at Lafayette Rotary's new stage and picnic area overlooking the Lafayette Reservoir. For more information visit www.rotarylafayette.org.

Coffee with the Police Chief / Business Issues Forum
Friday, July 22, 8:00 am-9:00 am

Join us for Coffee with the Police Chief / Business Issues Forum on Friday, July 22, 2016 at 8:00am in the Chamber Conference Room. Thank you to PG&E for sponsoring. This meeting is open to everyone. Please park on the street. 
Welcome to our Newest Members! 

Welcome
 
 The following businesses have joined the Lafayette Chamber June 26, 2016-July 11, 2016. We encourage you to visit their website to learn more about their services.

ADP - Payroll Services
 F&M Bank - Banks
Orangetheory Fitness Lafayette - Fitness/Health Clubs
Farmers Insurance - Insurance Services 
  
This Month's Sponsor
Advertise in the Official Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
Lafayette Art _ Wine Festival



Premier Members



Quick Links 
Lafayette Festival 2016 Countdown continues ... 67 days and counting down until the 2016 Art and Wine Festival!
 
We are mapping out the footprint this summer for our spectacular fall event. We are trying to anticipate your every need:  Hungry - we have 7 food trucks, 6 food vendors and 20 restaurants all within the festival footprint.  Thirsty - we have 11 wine booths and 9 beer booths (one beer booth still available for sponsorship).  Art - we have it all!  18 local artists in the Local Artist Alley and another 180 Art and Craft Vendors coordinated by our partner, Eckerstrom Productions. Entertainment - we have 4 stages filled with a variety of music all day each day. See our festival website for more details.
Chamber goes Deep Green with MCE

On January 25, 2016, the City Council passed Resolution No. 2016-02 stating that the City intends to join MCE. Once entered into the program, service will likely begin in September. Rates will vary depending on rate schedules, program choice, and rate adjustments.  Each resident or local business will have a choice of service or the ability to "opt out" and stay with PG&E.  Light Green is the default program that currently enrolls you in a 50% + renewable source.  To be enrolled in Light Green you do not need to take any action.  This level is currently 50% renewable and 63% carbon free.  You can also choose to go Deep Green which is 100% Renewable.  To enroll in the Deep Green program please enroll online or call 1 (888) 632-3674. The average increase in cost to a residential customer is about $5.00 a month.

The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors supports this new citywide program and has agreed to give an early endorsement and go 100% Renewable.  

MCE IS SCHEDULED TO REDUCE ITS RATES BY 9% ON AVERAGE, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2016. Based on these rates, the cost of MCE Light Green 50% renewable energy service will be slightly less than the cost of PG&E 30% renewable energy service for typical residential and commercial customers. For more information click here.


 
Community Events and Member Announcements

Exclusive Offer for Huckleberry Cafe-to-Go
We are excited to announce that our catering business, Huckleberry Cafe-to-Go, has received a makeover that includes a fresh new look, name and menu! Our new name is Huckleberry Kitchen. While our branding has changed, our mission remains the same: we will continue to make culinary dreams come true for adults with developmental disabilities while offering our customers exceptional service and cuisine. Huckleberry Kitchen specializes in making gourmet breakfast and lunch platters, baked goods, and other delicious treats for company functions or special occasions. As fellow Chamber members, our kitchen crew would like to offer you an exclusive 5% DISCOUNT on your first order from Huckleberry Kitchen. Please use code: CHAMBER16 (offer expires August 31). See our full menu here and details about how to order here.

Contra Costa Sustainability Award Nominations - due July 15!
Each year, community, business, and government leaders come together to celebrate and honor those who demonstrate outstanding commitment and leadership in making Contra Costa communities healthy, beautiful, clean, and resilient - for the long run. Recognize an individual, nonprofit, government program, school, or business for their good work and celebrate the accomplishments in Contra Costa County by nominating them for the Contra Costa Sustainability Award! www.sustainablecoco.org

Leadership Contra Costa is Accepting Applications
Sponsored by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Contra Costa (LCC), the Bay Area's premier countywide leadership program, accepts 25-30 individuals from throughout the county with diverse backgrounds to participate in the program. LCC is geared to people who want to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work. Topics include Health and Aging, The Price of Justice, Business and the Economy, Environment, Education, Technology, Government and Politics, and Housing and Transportation. As the Leadership Contra Costa program enters its 30th year, they are now accepting applications. To apply, click here. If you are interested in finding out more about the program, please contact Marcie Hochhauser, Senior Vice President of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at (925) 934-2007 or send her an email.
 

Be sure to also check out the the July Local Events Not to Be Missed!

Happening at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center

STEAM Engineering Challenge - Build a Catapult
Monday, July 11, 2016. All Day, Lafayette Library
Pick up your SRF STEAM Challenge anytime this week, while supplies last. This week's STEAM Challenge is an Engineering Challenge: Catapults. Make a catapult with craft sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon. Then mark Engineering Challenge (or Free Choice Challenge) on your online or paper reading record! For more information click here.

Teddy Bear Campout
Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 4:30pm, Children's Room
Bring along a small stuffed animal and have some fun helping it zipline in the library! Your stuffed animal will then spend the night in a tent and have many after-hours adventures. Pick up your tired friend anytime on Wednesday and see photos of the night before. For more information click here.

Sustainable Lafayette Summer Film Series: Catching the Sun
Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 6:30pm, Community Hall
Through the stories of workers and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and China, Catching the Sun captures the global race to lead the clean energy future. $10 donation requested at the door, $5 for students. No registration necessary. Refreshments will be served. Click here for more information.

STEAM - Chemistry
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 � 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Arts & Science Discovery Center
Come to the library and be dazzled, educated, and entertained as Gene Csider, a high school and college professor, shows us some awesome things that can be done with chemistry. Please register for this event. For more information click here.

Nature Journaling with Naturalist John Muir Laws - New Day and Time
Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 11:30am, Community Hall
Nature journaling makes you a better observer, naturalist, and artist, and opens a world of beauty and discovery. See what a journal can be and how to make journaling and drawing a life changing habit. All ages and experience levels welcome. For more information click here.

Evolution of Land Trusts in the United States
Wednesday, July 13, 2016  7 - 8:00pm, Arts & Science Discovery Center
Join us for an evening with Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo. Drawing from over 25 years of studying and working in the conservation field, this presentation will explore the rich history of the land trust movement here in the United States. Today, there are over 1,700 land trusts in the United States protecting almost 40 million acres of land. Beginning with a focus on land acquisition, and then evolving into a better understanding of the need for stewardship along with systems and practices to ensure longevity, land trusts continue to evolve. What comes next? For more information click here.

Kid Picks Summer Book Club
Thursday, July 14, 2016, 2 - 3:00pm, Teen Center  
Celebrate our Summer of STEAM related Summer Reading Festival: Read Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab and come discuss the book with me, Joe C. Then, make an electromagnet to take home.
Pick up your copy at the library front desk. Register at: tinyurl.com/kidpicksSBCJuly. Click here for more information.

History Tour of the Lafayette Cemetery
Sunday, July 17, 2016, 2:00 PM, Arts & Science Discovery Center
Lafayette historian Mary McCosker provides an overview of the Lafayette cemetery where a Civil War veteran, a bullwhacker, relatives of the Donner Party, and a World War II nurse are buried. This presentation provides adults (and kids) an opportunity to hear the very interesting stories of Lafayette's founders. $10.00 Lafayette Historical Society members, $15.00 non-members requested, Kids under 14 free w/adult. For reservations or information please call (925) 283-1848 or email [email protected].


Lafayette Library
Always check out the latest events at www.LLLCF.org and follow LLLC on Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming Lafayette Chamber Events

Green Committee Open Meeting
July 26 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Join us for the Green Committee Open Meeting at 12pm (noon) at the Lafayette Chamber Conference Room. Please park on the street.

Ribbon Cutting at BevMo!
Thursday, July 28, Exact Time to Be Announced
You are invited to join the Lafayette Chamber and BevMo! for their "sabering" of a ceremonial bottle of champagne on Thursday, July 28, at their new store at 3590 Mt. Diablo Blvd. This is where BevMo! will cut a bottle of champagne with a large sword (don't worry, it sounds much more dangerous that it is) to signify the store's christening. We would be honored to have you join us for the debut of this exciting new location for BevMo! Grand opening/ribbon cutting. The exact time will be announced soon.

MEGA MIXER at Pleasant Hill Community Center
Thursday, July 28, 5:00pm-7:00pm
The Lafayette Chamber will be one of many local area chambers attending the Mega Mixer on Thursday, July 28, 5pm-7pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill. Delicious appetizers provided by participating Chamber members, incredible networking opportunities, bring a raffle prize and showcase your business! Register here.

Beer at the Bruns
Tuesday, August 16, 5:00pm-7:00pm 
You are invited to Beer at the Bruns on Tuesday, August 16 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm hosted by Cal Shakes, City National Bank and your local Chambers of Commerce. FREE but limited attendance. RSVP by August 10. Special rate for Cal Shakes show immediately after. View invitation and RSVP here.

If you'd like to receive a text message reminder about upcoming Lafayette Chamber events, email your full name and cell phone number to Sara at [email protected].

What's happening at the Lafayette Chamber? View our Events Calendar.

Jay Lifson, Executive Director