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Chamber Member News & Updates
June 2014


If you have news you'd like to share with fellow Chamber Members, please email a short sentence to paragraph no later than the third Friday of the month.
 
Sincerely,
Susan Mills, Manager
& the 2014 Board of Directors
All Candidates Meeting
June 3rd, 7pm 

The Grand Bend & Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing an All Candidates Meeting for the provincial election to be held Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 7pm at The Legacy Recreation Centre, 16 Allen Street, Thedford.

We have confirmed all 8 candidates for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will be attending and local journalists from Lakeshore Advance and Forest Standard will form a question panel, asking questions each candidate in turn will address. After the panel format portion of the meeting, questions will be opened up to those in attendance.

 

Attendees are asked to submit their questions to the moderator either in writing on the spot or in advance by email through the Chamber at [email protected].  

NEW! Street Banner Program
Advertising opportunity for area events, attractions and businesses 

 

You may be more familiar with the  

Chamber's efforts regarding

Christmas lighting and d�cor for Grand Bend, but President Mary-Jo Schottroff-Snopko is pleased to announce the second phase of the Seasonal D�cor for Grand Bend Project.

  

This second phrase involves colourful street banners attached to the blue light standards along Main Street in Grand Bend. The program will promote area events, attractions and businesses on a year-round basis with the goal of supporting local economic development, fostering civic pride and reinforcing the message that the Grand Bend Area is OPEN 365-days per year!

 

The Chamber has taken on a lead role by stepping up to manage the program and being the conduit through which local event organizers, attractions and businesses may purchase banners to promote their event, product or service. We are coordinating with the Municipality, which will handle banner installation and removal.

 

There are 72 blue light standards located on Main Street and with the exception of the light standards around the turning circle which are reserved for the Blue Flag banners, 36 of the remaining light standards will be available for banner display. In other words, there is a maximum and limited number of banner advertising spots! 

 

Banner purchasers can buy up to 12 banners. For advertisers needing help with design and artwork services, a special price is offered that includes one hour of professional design services.   

 

 

We are working with the Municipality to hopefully offer four, regular banner installation dates timed to coincide with the change of seasons:  

  • Week of March 21: Spring banners installed
  • Week of Victoria Day Weekend: Summer banners installed
  • Week of Labour Day Weekend: Fall banners will be installed
  • Week of Christmas Comes Early: Winter banners installed

Banners need to be ready for installation by the Friday before the installation week. Banner production turnaround takes about 3-4 weeks, therefore to be included on any of these installation periods, you need to have purchased your banner(s) a month ahead.

 

For 2014, we are anticipating the first group of banners will be installed during the last week of June in time for the Canada Day Long Weekend!

 

For more information and to buy a banner visit: www.grandbendtourism.com/street-banners.

Fall Classic Golf Tournament - Register & Sponsor
Tournament: September 17, 2014 
Register your team by July 31 to win your team's registration! 

 

This year's Fall Classic Golf Tournament will be held at Bayview Golf Course, just 8-minutes north of Grand Bend on Highway 21. Bayview GC has been owned and operated by the Masse Family since 1981, who have been Chamber Members since 1998.

 

The Chamber's tournament is a great opportunity to network and promote your business with fellow members and their guests, as well as members of the public - since the tournament is open to anyone who wishes to play! The tournament format is a 4-person scramble, mixed or same-gender shotgun start.

 

For the third year running, tournament sponsorship and team registration costs remain the same. Sponsorship opportunities start at $150. Golf registration (18-holes of golf for 4 golfers, power cart, banquet meal, giveaways and prizes) is $95 per golfer or $380 for the full team (taxes included). If you can't golf that day, but want to join the fun, why not join us for the dinner and prize table portion of the event for $50 per person (taxes included).

 

Win Your Team's Registration!

Register your team by Thursday, July 31 for a chance to win your team's registration cost. 

 

To sponsor or register as a golfer visit:  www.grandbendtourism.com/golf-tournament  

Message Centre Advertising
Advertising Opportunity

 

Located outside the Welcome Centre, the outdoor Message Centre bulletin board displays a street map of Grand Bend along with local businesses ads. The 2013 advertising period ends June 30, 2014, with a "first-right-of-refusal" notification already emailed out to current Message Centre advertisers to confirm for 2014 (advertising period runs July 1 to June 30 annually).

 

This advertising opportunity is limited to 16 advertisers; the cost to advertise is $399 plus HST. Advertisers must be Chamber Members in good standing (i.e. 2014 Membership is paid in full).

 

If you are interested in being added to the 2014 advertisers' list for a chance to be included on the Message Centre in the event a spot becomes free, email Manager Susan Mills at [email protected].

Best Bloomin Business
We will be judged

In the last Members e-Newsletter we announced the Chamber's participation in the BEST Bloomin Business Award contest whereby local judges will visit and judge participating businesses and award prizes for the (1) Ultimate BEST Bloomin Business, (2) Best Bloomin Window Boxes and (3) Best Bloomin Containers.

 

The contest's goal is to ensure our community looks its best when international Communities in Bloom judges arrive in July to judge Lambton Shores' entry in the International Challenge. The International Challenge involves winners from different National Programs (Canada, Britain, Japan, USA, Ireland, France and others) competing against each other. The International Challenge means our entire community will be judged.

 

At this time, we only have 6 businesses signed up for the contest!  

 

Please consider getting involved not just for the prize and public recognition the contest will bring to your business, but to give a big boost to Lambton Shores' International Challenge entry.

 

Accessibility Workshop
You are legally responsible

 

On Tuesday, May 20 at Pine Dale Motor Inn, Louie DiPalma from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce provided an interactive information session on Ontario's Accessibility Standards for Customer Service. DiPalma explained that under AODA, employers are responsible for developing a Customer Service Plan for their business and for training their employees (full-time, part-time and seasonal) on providing customer service to people with a disability (visible and non-visible disabilities).

 

In addition, since January 2012, employers are legally required to let their customers know how to find and access their plan and to report their plan to the government through Ontario's online website - www.ontario.ca/AccessON. Failure to comply with this legislation can result in a fine.

 

Members attending the meeting were able to get clarification on their particular situation, ask questions and gain clear direction on their next steps.

 

We have a small number of Accessibility Information Packages available at the Chamber. As well the Ontario Chamber of Commerce provides online information at www.accessibilityworks.ca. The province provides free accessibility training resources at www.accessforward.ca.

You are legally responsible to:

  1. Create and put a plan in place that addresses customer service to people with a disability
  2. Train staff about providing customer service to a person with a disability
  3. Put your plan in writing and provide it to your customers
  4. Report your actions and plan to the government.
In This Issue
All Candidates Meeting
Street Banner Program
Fall Classic Golf Tournament
Message Centre Advertising
Best Bloomin Business
Accessibility Workshop
Members News To Share
Volunteers Needed
Upcoming Member Events
Sponsorship Opportunities
Horizon Check
Members News  to Share 
10% Discount for Chamber Members
Chamber President Mary-Jo Schottroff-Snopko has arranged for a special seasonal decor discount with The Garden Gate, Grand Bend.

Pick-up your teal and orange net bows for display at your location as a means of showing Grand Bend is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

 
Volunteers Needed
The Chamber is looking for a few volunteers to help out on several initiatives, such as:
  • Member Recruitment & Discount Program
  • Golf Tournament
  • General office assistance

If you're interested in helping with any of these projects, please contact Susan Mills for details.

 

519-238-2001 / [email protected] 

Upcoming Member Events

September 
17th: Fall Classic Golf Tournament 

October 
9th: Fall Members Mixer

November  
20th: Celebrate the Season Gala Dinner & Awards 

 

Sponsorship Opportunities 
We are looking for sponsors for the following events:
  • Golf Tournament
  • Fall Members Mixer
  • Celebrate the Season Business Awards Dinner
If you're interested in promoting your business to fellow members and would like the opportunity to speak to members at events, please call Susan Mills at 519-238-2001.
Horizon Check

2015 Membership Renewal Packages

- will be mailed mid-August 

 

2015 Visitor Guide Advertising Packages

- will be emailed and mailed end of August