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Kent County Chamber of Commerce Newsletter |
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Kent County Chamber of Commerce
122 North Cross Street
P. O. Box 146
Chestertown,MD 21620
410.810.2968 Tel | 410.778.1406 Fax
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The Mission of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce is to serve, represent and be the leading advocate for the business interests of its membership in ways that enhance the environment of the business community and quality of life and well being of residents and visitors.
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CHAMBER NEWS AUGUST 2014
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LEADERSHIP
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LORETTA LODGE
PRESIDENT
DAVID BOWMAN
The Peoples Bank
TREASURER
DIANE BRANDT
CNB Bank
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KEN COLLINS
WCTR Broadcasting
LINDA DAWSON
Kent Forward
CREG FLEETWOOD
FAM&M Insurance Agency, Inc.
BOB GRACE
Dixon Valve & Coupling Company
BOB GREENWALD
East Coast Storage
LARRY HOUCK
Houck's Menswear
JIM RICH
Inn at Huntingfield Creek
BILL RUCKELSHAUS
Champion Realty, Inc.
LANSING WILLIAMS
Washington College
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CHAMBER EVENTS
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8/14/2014
Chamber Board Meeting
12:00 P.M.
Chamber Office
122 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD
9/03/2014
Anirban Basu
5:30 P.M.
Chester River Yacht & Country Club
7738 Quaker Neck Road
9/18/2014
Business After Hours 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Mimi's Closet
307 High Street
Chestertown, MD
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OUR SPONSORS
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PLATINUM
PNC Bank
GOLD
Atlantic Broadband
CNB
SILVER MidShore Business Journal The Peoples Bank University of MD Shore Regional Health Washington College
BRONZE Sears Hometown Store -Chestertown
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From the Executive Director
Greetings!
It seems some folks view the arrival of August as the end of summer. I personally find that just a little depressing. Rather than the end of summer, I like to think that I have at least another full month of shorts & T-Shirts, sandals, (or bare feet), sand and water ...you know just plain beach weather! Now there is something to make you smile.
But lest I get distracted by sun and sand, let me turn my thoughts back towards business - because that is, after all, what the Chamber is about. The 2014-2015 Chamber Business Directory has been published and distributed to each of our members. Additionally, it is available at the Visitors Center in downtown Chestertown, from the Kent County Tourism Development office at 400 High Street in Chestertown, at the Chamber office and at all Chamber events throughout the year.
I would like to thank the many members who supported this project by advertising in the Directory.
Please use this Directory as your primary source for business goods and services. These locally owned businesses significantly give back to our county, and have committed themselves to being a part of the local community of business leadership working together. You can help them by reinvesting your money into the local economy. You may be surprised by all that our area businesses have to offer!
On July 21st, the Chamber hosted a Ribbon Cutting for the grand opening of J.R. Alfree's newest culinary venture Foglia Di Limone. Foglia di Limone is a little slice of Italy right here in Kent County, serving artisan pizza alfresco in the alleyway next to the Lemon Leaf Caf� in downtown Chestertown. If you get the opportunity, stop in Thursday - Saturday after 4:00 P.M. to sample some truly delicious artisan pizza.
The Kent County Chamber held the first in our "Lunch & Learn" series of workshops. Business consultant Harvey Wigder of Fulcrum Transitions spoke to a group of 20+ business owners and staffers on "Finding, Hiring & Developing Great Employees".
The Lunch & Learn series has been created to offer a FREE event in which Chamber members and prospective members can meet with community leaders and experts to learn about information that is practical, valuable and timely for the continued success of their business.
If there is a subject that you would like to know more about, OR, if you are interested in being a presenter, please contact me at [email protected].
Lastly, I would like to ask you to mark your calendars! The Chamber has invited top Mid-Atlantic Economist Anirban Basu to speak at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club on Wednesday, September 3rd at 5:30 P.M. He will examine the state of the national economy from the perspective of labor, financial, housing and other key markets, with special attention on the economic performance of Kent County and the Eastern Shore region. He will also provide an economic forecast for the year to come, with a Q&A session at the end.
Mr. Basu is a non-partisan, informative and engaging speaker, with his own radio program out of American University. His business bio along with reservation details can be seen later in this newsletter.
Remember, joining the Chamber is like joining a gym: you get out of it what you put into it! Are you getting your money's worth?
Loretta
Loretta M. Lodge
Executive Director
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
- Seneca, Roman Philosopher
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New Members Welcome
The following businesses have recently made an important investment in their future and a significant commitment to the community by joining the Kent County Chamber of Commerce _________________________
J.R. Alfree
337 High Street Alleyway next to Lemon Leaf Cafe
Chestertown, MD 21620 443.282.0004
Foglia di Limone serves artisan pizza alfresco in the alleyway next to the Lemon Leaf Cafe in downtown Chestertown Maryland. Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to closing, weather permitting. The alley is also available for special occasions. The menu, which comes in a small cardboard pizza box, lists eight different pizzas, from a very traditional pepperoni ($7) to the Sicilian, with Fontina cheese, prosciutto, fig jam and chopped arugula ($11) or the Swiss, with Gruyere cheese, crab, cumin and white sauce ($10). There are also three choices of salad and a variety of beverages, including Italian wines by the glass or bottle, Italian beer and several non-alcoholic choices.
Heather Guerieri 255 Comet Drive
Centreville, MD 21617
443.262.4100 Tel | 410.758.5471 Fax
[email protected]www.hospiceofqueenannes.orgThe Hospice of Queen Anne's team serves individuals, families and the community by providing comprehensive, professional, compassionate, end-of-life care and bereavement support and education. Hospice of Queen Anne's, a leading authority on end-of-life issues, provides the highest quality program for patients and families while maintaining a fiscally sound and progressive organization led by compassionate, committed, caring, and trustworthy professionals and volunteers.
League of Women Voters of Kent County, MD
Chestertown, MD 21620
The League of Women Voters of Kent County, MD is a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens and influences public policy with education and advocacy.
_________________________
Please join us in welcoming our newest
Chamber members!
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Send Us News of Your Business and We Will Publish It for FREE!
You are invited to submit a FREE announcement about your business for each weekly Chamber NewsFlash. The content of your message should be about something that's happening in your business, announcement about an employee, an award that your business has won, etc. This space is not intended to be used for advertising. Please limit your message to 100 words or fewer. It's a great way to get your business noticed! Please note that your article may be edited for spelling, grammatical errors and/or length. Photos are welcomed. Submit your announcement to [email protected].
Chamber NewsFlashes are published every Tuesday.
Deadline for submission is Friday to be included in the following Tuesday's NewsFlash.
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NEWS FROM & FOR OUR MEMBERS
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Linda Mastro, Director, Marketing and Communications
443-262-4117, [email protected]
For immediate release - August 4, 2014
Hospice of Queen Anne's Awarded Accreditation from the Joint Commission
Centreville - Hospice of Queen Anne's has once again earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval� for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety in home care. The accreditation award recognizes Hospice of Queen Anne's for its dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state of the art standards.
Hospice of Queen Anne's underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in May. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated Hospice of Queen Anne's for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.
The Joint Commission's standards address the organization's performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to ensure that patient care and services are provided in a safe manner. The Joint Commission develops its standards in consultation with health care experts, providers and researchers, as well as measurement experts, purchasers and consumers.
"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Hospice of Queen Anne's has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients," says Margherita Labson, RN, executive director, Home Care Accreditation, The Joint Commission. "Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Hospice of Queen Anne's for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves."
Heather Guerieri, RN, MSN, executive director, Hospice of Queen Anne's, comments, "By once again achieving Joint Commission accreditation, we have shown that we have made a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis."
The Hospice of Queen Anne's Joint Commission survey was coordinated by Lori Collier, RN, CHPQ, director of clinical services, and Georgia Wilkison, RN, BSN, CHPN, manager of process improvement and quality.
"I offer special appreciation to Lori and Georgia for the time they invested in providing the Joint Commission surveyors with the information they needed," Guerieri says. "I also want to thank every one of our staff members and volunteers for the work they do every day to ensure that we are always ready for this type of thorough review by the Joint Commission."
For more information about Hospice of Queen Anne's call 443-262-4100 or visit www.hospiceofqueenannes.org.
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L - R: New CNB Chairman of the Board, Clyde V. Kelly, III, with F. Winfield Trice, Jr., CNB President & CEO, Vice-Chairman Jeffrey E. Thompson and outgoing Chairman Wm. Maurice Sanger.
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CNB announces new Chairman of the Board CNB, member of Shore Bancshares Inc. community of companies, announced that Clyde V. Kelly, III has been appointed Chairman of the Board of CNB. Mr. Kelly has been a director of the bank since 2005. He is the President of Kelly Distributors, Easton, Maryland. Mr. Kelly is past President of the Kent Island Rotary, Prospect Homeowners Association, and the Maryland Beer Wholesalers Association. Mr. Kelly also served on the Anheuser Busch Wholesaler Advisory Panel Steering Team, the National Beer Wholesalers Board of Directors and currently serves on the vestry at Old Wye Parish. It is CNB's tradition to rotate the chairman of the board every three years. "We look forward to working with Clyde, as we guide the future of CNB. He is committed to the bank and the communities we serve and will offer solid direction to our board," says F. Winfield Trice, Jr., President and CEO of CNB. Outgoing chairman, Wm. Maurice Sanger has been a director of the bank since 1992 serving as Chairman the past three years and will continue to serve as a director of CNB. "CNB appreciates Maurice for his admirable leadership, and we thank him for the contributions he has delivered to CNB, during his tenure as chairman," says Mr. Trice. "We look forward to continuing to work with him on our board." Jeffrey E. Thompson will serve as Vice Chairman. Mr. Thompson has been the bank's attorney since 1986 and a director of the bank since 2005. He is a partner with Thompson and Richard, LLP, a law firm in Centreville, Maryland. CNB is a community bank, headquartered in Centreville, Maryland, with $473 million in assets and is a member of the Shore Bancshares community of companies, the largest independent financial services company to offer banking, insurance and wealth management services to families and businesses on the Delmarva Peninsula. Established in 1876, with 11 convenient locations in Maryland and Delaware, CNB serves the local needs of our customers and our community through personalized banking services and products, convenient operations and secure and reliable banking solutions. Our employees offer a personalized approach that makes banking a positive experience for customers. Visit www.cnb-bank.com for more information. # # # |
PNC Receives Department of Defense Highest Recognition
for Supporting Employees in the Guard or Reserve
PNC was named a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in recognition of its exceptional commitment to employees serving in the Guard or Reserve. The award is the highest honor given by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Each year since 1996, a select group of companies receive the recognition for providing support to service members and their families that goes beyond what the federal law requires. PNC is one of 15 winners this year, chosen from among nearly 2,900 nominations submitted by Guard and Reserve members.
"It is truly an honor to receive this prestigious award," said Jennifer Joseph, PNC senior vice president and market executive on the Eastern Shore. "We take pride in our commitment to those who serve, which starts with actively recruiting military reservists and veterans, and retaining them through professional development, mentoring and networking groups. In addition, PNC provides support during deployment and while transitioning to the workforce upon returning home."
For more information, visit the Freedom Award website.
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THE PEOPLES BANK For Immediate Release Contact: Karen Willis elephone: 410-778-3500 E-mail: [email protected] Date: August 5, 2014
The Board of Directors and Ralph Dowling, President/CEO, of The Peoples Bank, would like to thank everyone who had a part in making The Peoples Summer Concert Series a success.
Without the assistance and guidance of Tom McHugh, the series would not have gotten off the ground. Clark Bjorke ably provided each group with the sound support needed. The Town of Chestertown had the stage set up and waiting every week.
The Dixie Power Trio, Banjo Man & Bill with Tom Anthony, and the Lions of Bluegrass provided entertainment which was greatly enjoyed by all those who attended.
The Chestertown Spy, the Kent County Chamber of Commerce, the Tidewater Trader, the Kent County News and WCTR were instrumental in getting the word out about this new summer concert series.
Finally, a thanks to all who came out and enjoyed the concerts. Without your participation in the event, it would not have been the success it turned out to be.
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You are invited to a reception for native daughter Joyell Johnson on Friday, August 15th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Bordley History Center (301 High St. Chestertown).
Joyell will be home for a short visit before she returns to Boston to continue her studies at the New England School of Law and resume her work as Research Assistant at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Paralegal at the Dorothea Advocacy Project, the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement.
Joyell will speak on her experiences in this project and her thoughts as a young woman dedicating her life to public service.
She graduated from Washington College, interned at the Historical Society of Kent County, worked for Kent Count y Parks and Recreation and was an early member of the Diversity Dialogue Group. After leaving Chestertown she worked for Catholic Charities of Baltimore and the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives.
Please come and congratulate her on her incipient law career and wish her the best in her endeavors. Encourage any young people you know, especially young women, to come meet this exemplary professional woman from Kent County.
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Kent Association of Riding Therapy, Inc. (KART) is pleased to announce Georgetown Racing Fleet's sponsorship and support during this year's Bay Jam Environmental Benefit Cup! Bay Jam will be held on August 16. Proceeds will directly benefit KART's therapeutic riding therapy program. KART serves special needs students in the Kent County School District. Bay Jam consists of a day of sailboat racing starting from Still Pond along with a post-race party at Turners Creek Pavilion. Interested in race participation? Contact Pete Jensen at 610-761-9845, [email protected] for more details or check out their website: http://www.georgetownracingfleet.com/bayjam/bayjam_poster.html
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Fizz, Boom, Read!
August 2014 Programs
First Friday
August 1
Preschool Adventures
Hands-on art, games, and play for preschoolers. Bring your imagination! Ages 3 to 5.
Chestertown Branch 5-8pm
Monday, August 4
Eggstravaganza
It's time to get eggcited about the science of eggs. Squeeze them, spin them, float them, and sink them as we eggsplore dozens of ways that eggs defy science. Ages 5+
Chestertown Branch 2pm
Wednesday, August 6 "Saving Buster" & A Visit from Dr. Celeste Conn the Traveling Vet
Learn about why it's so important to take care of our animals with the interactive puppet show "Saving Buster" with Alice Lindsay and get tips on how to be a good pet owner from Traveling Veterinarian Celeste Conn. Ages 5+
Chestertown Branch 11am
Saturday, August 9
Snackable Stories at Chestertown Farmers' Market
A casual story time for all ages. (Weather permitting.)
Chestertown Farmers' Market in Fountain Park 10am
Monday, August 11
Sounds Like Fun
Special guest Marge Lynch will bring out your inner scientist with a variety of hands-on science experiments. Ages 5+
Space is limited. Please call 410-778-3636 to register.
Chestertown Branch 10am
Rock Hall Branch 1pm
Thursday, August 14
Preschool Adventures
Hands-on art, games, and play for preschoolers. Bring your imagination! Ages 3 to 5.
North County Branch 10:30am
Friday, August 15
Fizz, Boom, Read!
Summer Reading Finale with the Dinkendo Family Band
Kids, teens & adults are welcome at this end of summer celebration featuring a special musical performance by the Dinkendo Family Band!
Chestertown Branch 2pm
Saturday, August 23
Snackable Stories at Chestertown Farmers' Market
A casual story time for all ages. (Weather permitting.)
Chestertown Farmers' Market in Fountain Park 10am
Saturday, August 30
Snackable Stories at Chestertown Farmers' Market
A casual story time for all ages. (Weather permitting.)
Chestertown Farmers' Market in Fountain Park 10am
If you have questions or need more information, visit our online calendar, or stop by any of our branches.
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KENT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Top Mid-Atlantic Region Economist Anirban Basu to Speak at
Chester River Yacht & Country Club, September 3rd
CHESTERTOWN, MD - Economist Anirban Basu will speak at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club at 5:30 P.M. on Wednesday, September 3rd. Using the most current data available from credible sources, Mr. Basu will examine the state of the national economy from the perspective of labor, financial, housing and other key markets. He will place special attention on the economic performance of Kent County and the Eastern Shore region. He will also provide an economic forecast for the year to come.
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Basu is one of the Mid-Atlantic region's most recognizable economists, in part because of his consulting work on behalf of numerous clients, including prominent developers, bankers, brokerage houses, energy suppliers and law firms. On behalf of government agencies and non-profit organizations, Mr. Basu has written several high-profile economic development strategies. Among other things, Anirban serves as the chief economist to Associated Builders and Contractors (national) and as chief economic adviser to the Construction Financial Managers Association.
In recent years, he has also focused upon health economics, the economics of education and economic development. He currently lectures at Johns Hopkins University in micro-, macro-, international and urban economics.
In 2007, Mr. Basu was selected by the Daily Record newspaper as one of Maryland's 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region's 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.
Mr. Basu is involved with numerous organizations in a voluntary capacity, including serving as a Baltimore City Public School System board member and as a board member to the Baltimore Children's Museum and to the Baltimore School for the Arts. Mr. Basu is also on the board of First Mariner Bank. He is also chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee and economic advisor to the Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Basu earned his B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1990. He earned his Master's in Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his Master's in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. His Juris Doctor was earned at the University of Maryland School of Law in 2003
Tickets: $15 Chamber Members $20 Non-Chamber Members
RSVP at www.kentchamber.org Online Reservations ONLY
Seating is Limited. Reserve Today!
Deadline for Reservations: August 22, 2014
For additional information, please contact the Chamber office at 410-810-2968 or [email protected]
SPONSORED BY:
SPONSOR ED BY:
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IN THE NEWS
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AROUND THE STATE
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Tax Free Shop Maryland Week
is August 10th - 16th, 2014
The second Sunday of August to the following Saturday is designated as Shop Maryland Tax-free Week each year. That means qualifying apparel and footwear $100 or less, per item, are exempt from the state sales tax. Accessory items are not included. The tax-free week for 2014 will occur Sunday, August 10th through Saturday, August 16th.
Clothing and footwear are eligible; a few examples of tax-free clothing and footwear items are sweaters, shirts, slacks, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes and boots priced at $100 or less. A more detailed list is available on the Comptroller's website listed below and in taxpayer service offices throughout Maryland.
Items that cost more than $100 will be taxable. Accessories, including (but not limited to) jewelry, watches, watchbands, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves ties, headbands,and belt buckles will be taxable. And special clothing or footwear designed primarily for protective use and not for normal wear, such as football pads, will be taxable.
Each qualifying article of clothing or footwear selling for $100 or less will be exempt, regardless of how many items are sold at the same time. For example, two $80 sweaters sold at the same time are both exempt, even though the total purchase price is more than $100. However, for example, if a suit costs $110, sales tax is due on the entire $110.
For online purchases, an eligible item may qualify for the exemption if the item is both paid for by the customer and delivered to the customer during the tax-free period or the customer orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order for immediate shipment, even if the item is delivered after the tax-free period ends.
Retailers can issue discounts or coupons to reduce the sales price of an item to $100 or less, which will qualify it for the exemption. However, manufacturers' coupons, or any other coupons in which the retailer is reimbursed by a third party, are subtracted after the tax is levied, not before, so they wouldn't lower the price for tax purposes.
For layaway purchases, if a customer begins a layaway agreement during the Shop Maryland period, any eligible items placed on layaway during that period will qualify for the exemption. Example: A customer places ten qualifying items (each costing $100 or less) on layaway during the Shop Maryland period and completes the layaway and receives the merchandise after the period ended. The total purchase is exempt from tax.
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July 31, 2014 Business Advocate Newsletter
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Send Us News of Your Business and We Will Publish It for FREE!
You are invited to submit a FREE announcement about your business for each weekly Chamber NewsFlash. The content of your message should be about something that's happening in your business, announcement about an employee, an award that your business has won, etc. This space is not intended to be used for advertising. Please limit your message to 100 words or fewer. It's a great way to get your business noticed! Please note that your article may be edited for spelling, grammatical errors and/or length. Photos are welcomed. Submit your announcement to [email protected].
Chamber NewsFlashes are published every Tuesday.
Deadline for submission is Friday to be included in the following Tuesday's NewsFlash.
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NEW!!! Notary Service Now Available!
Notary services are now available free to our members at the Chamber by appointment. Please contact the Chamber office to schedule an appointment.
- E-Blasts - Broadcast E-Mail Service Available!
The Chamber offers an E-Blast service to all of our members. In an effort to help you build your business and get your message out efficiently and cost effectively, the Chamber office will send an email specifically on your behalf to all Chamber members and non-members who have signed up for our mailing list. This is an excellent way to announce new products, services or events. As a Chamber member, you can take advantage of this service at a very reasonable cost of $25. Please contact the Chamber office for further details.
- SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives)
Invites retired executives to become counselors for new and existing local businesses. Contact Bill Noll at SCORE to get more information: [email protected].
- Help Us Help You. Keep Your Business Information Current!
Please remember to contact Loretta in the Chamber office if you have any changes or updates to your business contact information. We want to keep all of our members' information current.
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Member-To-Member Benefit Program
This program allows any Chamber member to offer discounts on their products and services to other Chamber members and their employees. Even if you do not offer a discount to fellow members, as a Chamber member, you may take advantage of the discounts offered by other members.
For details about discounts offered by participating members, please contact them directly.
Don't miss out! Sign up for this program today!!
The following businesses are participating members.
Please support these businesses!
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