Chamber OnLine
News from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
 
We are only a few days into 2016 but at your Genesee County Chamber of Commerce we are already working on plans that should make this year one of the most exciting and promising in the long history of the Chamber. 
 
44th ANNUAL CHAMBER AWARDS RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
 
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of their 44th Annual Business of the Year Awards.  This year's honorees are:
  • Business of the Year: The new p.w. minor
  • Small Business of the Year: Guthrie-Heli Arc, Inc.  
  • Agricultural Business of the Year: Post Dairy Farms, LLC 
  • Special Community Service Recognition of the Year: GLOW YMCA Challenger Program  
  • Geneseeans of the Year: Susie Boyce and Barry Miller (posthumously)
  • The Wolcott "Jay" Humphrey III Community Leadership Award: Jay Gsell 
 
The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 5th
at the Clarion Hotel, Park Road, Batavia.  The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, entr�e tables and cash bar (no formal sit-down dinner to be served). The Award Program starts at 7 p.m. where desserts and coffee will be served.  

For more information contact Kelly Bermingham at
585-343-7440 ext. 26. 
2016 CHAMBER BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
 
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be holding a series of business workshops in 2016 designed to help small businesses improve their skills and grow their businesses.  The business workshops are FREE to all Chamber members and their employees and will be made available to non-Chamber members for $10. The 2016 schedule announced so far is as follows:  
January 13 - "Preparing Your Business for a Disaster"
February 10 - "Designing and Effective Website"
March 9 - "Social Media Marketing for Existing Businesses"
April 13 - "Reputation Marketing" 
June 8 - "Leading vs. Managing Change".  

All business workshops begin at 7:30 a.m. and last for approximately 1 � hours.  For more information, contact Kelly Bermingham art 585-343-7440 ext. 26 or by email.
HOME SHOW VENDOR BOOTHS FILLING UP QUICKLY!
 
Plans are gearing up for the 3rd Annual Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Home Show to be held April 1-3, 2016 at the Falleti Ice Arena, Evans Street, Batavia.  Last year's Home Show was a smashing success with over 2,000 people attending. 
 
Applications are now being taken for vendor booth space at a cost of $375 per booth for Genesee County Chamber members and $475 for non-Chamber members.  Last year's booths sold out quickly and we are anticipating another sell-out this year.  Don't be left out - contact Kelly Bermingham at 585-343-7440 ext. 26 or by email.  

Download the vendor booth application. 
ARE YOU A PREMIER MEMBER?
 
For just $100 more than your base membership, You can increase the visibility of your business or organization through increased recognition at Chamber events and with Chamber services and products throughout the year.  For a complete list of Premier Chamber Member Benefits click here.
 
All Premier members are featured in every ChamberOnline newsletter.  Click on the link in the right column of this newsletter for a complete list of current Premier Chamber members. 
TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER
 
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce still has one fabulous travel trip available in 2016.  From September 15-27, 2016 the Chamber will be Exploring the Alpine Countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland including visits to Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck, Zermatt and Lucerne.  Click here for more details.   
 

January Tourism News:
 
Consumer Travel Shows
The Chamber's Tourism program will be distributing the Genesee County Visitor's Guide at the following consumer travel shows this month.

January 9-17    
Pittsburgh RV Show, Pittsburgh, PA

January 15-17  
Cleveland Outdoor Adventure Show, Cleveland, OH

January 15-17  
New Jersey Trailer & Camping Show, Edison, NJ 

January 16-18  
Boston RV & Camping Expo, Boston Conv. & Expo Ctr.
 
January 22-24  
AAA Great Vacations Expo, Columbus, OH

January 22-24  
Hamilton RV Expo, Hamilton, Ontario

January 22-24  
Northeast Recreational Vehicle & Camping Show, Hartford, CT

January 22-31  
WNY RV Dealers Show, Hamburg, NY

January 26-27  
Snowbird Extravaganza Show, Lakeland, FL
 

Be A Meeting Maker!
As an organization, business or civic leader, you belong to a network of individuals who are in the position to suggest or decide where to host meetings, conferences or special interest gatherings. 
Meetings and conventions generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for Genesee County each year.  Your assistance in securing additional business from groups that you are involved in would be greatly appreciated! With you help, we can bring even more business home to Genesee County! 

Please take a minute to tell us about any upcoming events that we may be able to host right here in Genesee County.  Chapter or regional meetings, national annual gatherings or special events. 

Leads on potential meetings can be directed to Kelly Rapone at the Chamber 585-343-7440 ext. 23.
Thank you!
 

2016 Dining Guide
Restaurant Advertising Opportunity

Each season the Chamber updates and reprints the very popular dining guide. 8,000 dining guides will be printed in February and are distributed primarily through the hotels and campgrounds, the Batavia Sports Park, the Visitor Information Center as well as to each visitor who requests one through our web site.
 
Again this year we are providing area restaurants an opportunity to highlight their businesses with display advertising.  The Dining Guides will be complete and distribution will begin by April 1. (Feb 18th Deadline to participate)
 
Click here for more details and to sign up today! 
 
 
2016 Tourism Co-op Marketing Funds Now Available
 
The 2016 tourism co-op marketing opportunity for in-county tourism related businesses is now available.  The Chamber's "matching funds" program is open to area accommodations, attractions, restaurants, events and retailers who take an active approach in advertising to potential visitors to Genesee County.  All advertising must be placed outside of the county, within a 300 mile radius.   The co-op dollars and ad content is a 50/50 split. 
 
In 2015, $40,000 was made available for collaborative tourism marketing with the Chamber.  This resulted in $80,000 in shared advertising.  The program is designed to assist local businesses, as well as to "stretch" the Chamber's available tourism marketing resources. Program dollars are available on a first come, first served basis to those tourism businesses whose advertising efforts align with the goals of our tourism program.   Contact Kelly Rapone for more information. 343-7440 ext. 23.
WE'RE HEADED TOWARD THE CASH-FREE ECONOMY
 
In the United States, the widespread availability of credit cards and electronic systems such as Square and Apple Pay mean that barely 20 percent of purchases are made in cash. In South Korea, 70 percent of payments are electronic, in the Netherlands the figure is 85 percent, in Canada 90 percent, and in Belgium 93 percent.  So what are the pros of a no-cash economy? 
 
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
 
"You've got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it.  It's called perseverance."
                                                                                   -Lee Iacocca 
Your Chamber Resources:

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

Beth Kemp, BEA Coordinator
Taylor White, Tourism Marketing Assistant

Kelly Rapone, Tourism Marketing Director

Tom Turnbull, President
January 2016

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.

CHAMBER WINDOW DISPLAYS AVAILABLE FOR 2016
 
As a Chamber member you can use our Main Street window space for FREE!
 
Window displays are available in 2-3 week blocks, with set-up and take-down scheduled on Mondays. Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis.  

Contact Melissa at
585-343-7440 x27 for all of the details to sign up your time for 2016.
Thank you
Premier Members
 
Looking for something to do? Check out the Community Events Calendar on the Chamber Website!

 

The Chamber of Commerce sells E-Z Pass.  Stop in the office to learn more or to purchase one!
14th Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner Tickets still available.
 
Click here for more details.
























Connect with your Chamber:


Facebook

210 East Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm
585-343-7440