Chamber OnLine
News from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce
Message from the President

There are such a wide variety of services and benefits available as a member of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce that it is hard to pinpoint which is the most important.  Every business  that joins the Chamber has their own individual favorite benefit - networking, business seminars and workshops, member 2 member discounts , gas and electric discounts, political advocacy for the business community, business referrals and so much more.

               
While there is a wide variety of services and benefits for Chamber members to choose from, there is one benefit that I feel is the most valuable for all Chamber members - the Chamber Business Directory.  This beautifully-designed, glossy-covered annual directory contains complete listings of all Chamber members.   

 

2015 Chamber Business Workshops

 

"Women-Owned Small Business" will be the subject of a small business workshop to be hosted the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce on April 8.

 

This is the fifth in a series of business workshops for 2015 held in conjunction with the United States Small Business Administration and the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.  The workshops are open to all Chamber and non-Chamber businesses and their employees and will offer expert advice from experienced business professionals designed to help small businesses succeed and grow.

 

"Woman-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment in the industry and play an important role in our economy," said Tom Turnbull, Chamber President.  "In this workshop, participants will learn what it means to be a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB).  They will learn what the requirements are to qualify for the WOSB program, the advantages of becoming WOSB certified and how to apply for the program."

 

Other workshops on the 2015 schedule are as follows: August 26 - Social Media Marketing; September 9 - "Holiday Marketing - Tips for Small Businesses"; October 14 - Profit Improvement Strategies"; and November 18 - "Customer Service That Wins Sales.

 

read more...
DID YOU KNOW?

The Chamber acts as your voice in Albany and keeps you informed of legislation that could affect your business and helps you contact your local representatives. With over 500 Chamber members, there is strength in numbers in presenting a unified voice on business issues to our elected officials.

Golf & Bocce Outing!
 

The Chamber's 43rd Annual Golf Outing will be held Wednesday, July 29th at Terry Hills Golf Course and Banquet Facility.  A Bocce tournament has been added for those non-golfers who want to participate.   Golf is $125 per person while Bocce is $60 per person.  Both include lunch, dinner and prizes.  Dinner only is $30 per person.  Click here for more details!
Tournament of Roses Tour Added to Chamber Travel
 

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will hold an informational meeting to discuss their upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade tour on June 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, 210 East Main St., Batavia.

 

The tour includes round trip air fare from Buffalo to Los Angeles, hotel accommodations, reserved seating at the Tournament of Roses Parade, a New Year's Eve gala celebration and optional trips to Las Vegas and San Diego.

 

A few spots still remain on the Chamber's Thailand and Hong Kong tour that will depart on October 31 and return November 8. Travelers will experience the culture, famous landmarks and architectural details that Thailand and Hong Kong have to offer.  The trip includes air fare, four and five-star hotel stays, three meals each day, deluxe bus tours, English-speaking tour guides, admission tickets to all tourist spots and airport taxes.

 

More information on both tours is available on the Chamber's website  www.geneseeny.com/trips or by contacting the Chamber at 585-343-7440.  

TOURISM NEWS
 

The 2015 tourist season is off to a great start.  Sporting events April through May have already delivered approx. 6,000 players and spectators to the Batavia area via tournaments at the Batavia Sports Park.  Large groups have been checking in to the hotels, dining in our restaurants and buying local goods and services.

 

Despite a very weak Canadian dollar our neighbors to the north still see us as a wonderful destination offering great value, appealing attractions with notable hospitality.  Many groups are booking their hotel /golf getaway packages through the Chamber and early reports back from our guests say that our courses are in top-notch "summer condition".

 

Here is feedback from a recent Canadian Visitor:

 

"My wife and I will be definitely be back.  There are numerous reasons why....

 

Cost: you get so much bang for your buck.  I looked into a golf trip in Ontario and the lowest I could find was 800 dollars.  This didn't include any meals.  Also, the price at restaurants is lower. 

 

Golf: the courses themselves were exceptional. 

       

Your service: it was nice to have you make all the arrangements for our trip.  I basically sent an e-mail and you set everything up.  I appreciated this.

                                                      - Glenn and Vicki

 

 

Darien Lake is also doing very well in attracting Canadian families down for days of fun at the theme park this summer.   With a new thrill ride, water ride and value added promotions (to help offset the exchange rate), 2015 looks like it could be a banner year for our largest attraction and our area.

 

 

Linda McCormack joined the Chamber's staff at the end of May as the new Tourism Marketing Assistant.  Linda comes to us with an extensive background in Sales & Marketing following 21 years of service at O-AT-KA Milk Products.

As a native of Genesee Country, Linda knows the area well and brings both her professional and personal experiences in the community to her new position.  Linda currently resides in the Town of Chili with her husband Shawn, son Kyle & daughter Jenna. You can reach Linda by email at lmccormack@geneseeny.com and by phone at 343-7440 ext. 24.

Congratulations to Kelly B!! 


Congratulations to Kelly Bermingham on completing her 20th year at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.  Kelly is our director of Membership and Special Events and is responsible for coordinating our Annual Awards Night, Home Show, Golf Outing, Business Workshops and much, much more.  So if you see Kelly wish her a Happy Chamber Anniversary. 

Thanks Kelly - here's to 20 more years!

HATE MAKING SMALL TALK? ONE APPROACH ANYONE CAN USE
 

I was at a conference with a client. Everyone knew him. He was the guy. I was just some guy with him. No problem... until he got pulled away.  Then I was just some guy who didn't know a soul. And I'm really, really bad at being that guy.
 

Stick me on a stage in front of thousands of people I don't know and I'm nervous, but only at first. I feel like I belong there (which, if you think about it, is a nice definition of confidence .) But stick me in a room with a bunch of people
I don't know and expect me to mingle and everything changes.

 
Quote of the Month

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."                                   -Winston Churchill
Your Chamber Resources:

Kelly Bermingham, Director of Membership & Special Events
 
Ginny Elsasser, Staff Accountant
 
Melissa A. George, Executive Assistant

Eve Hens, BEA Coordinator/Chamber Membership Assistant

Linda McCormick, Tourism Marketing Assistant

Kelly Rapone, Tourism Marketing Director

Tom Turnbull, President
TTurnbull@GeneseeNY.com
June 2015

Thank you
Chamber Champions!

 

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our Chamber Champions:

 

Alex's Place  

 

Clark Patterson Lee

 

Freed Maxick

              

Lawley Genesee

 

National Grid

 

Terry Hills Golf Course, Restaurant, & Banquet Facility

 

Turnbull Heating & Air

 

The Bank of Castile/

Tompkins Insurance  

 

United Memorial
Medical Center

 

These businesses have taken the lead role in investing in our Chamber's mission of enhancing business and community development in Genesee County.  To find out how your business can become a Chamber Champion, contact Kelly Bermingham 

at 585-343-7440.

Thank you

Darien Lake Tickets
for Sale!      

 

 Discounted Darien Lake Amusement Park tickets are available for purchase at the Chamber office.  
Adult tickets are only $30.00 for Chamber members and include parking.  Non-member tickets are $33.00 each. Just stop by the Chamber office anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to purchase.

 
BUSINESS

AFTER HOURS


June 25th, 2015
5-7pm at
O'Lacy's Irish Pub,
5 School Street, Batavia

Call 343-7440 or email to rsvp
























Connect with your Chamber:


Facebook

210 East Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm
585-343-7440
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.