Chamber OnLine
News from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 
 
Friday, January 29, 2016 was a historic day for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.  On that day your Chamber purchased the property at 8276 Park Road in the Town of Batavia that will serve not only as the Chamber's headquarters but also as a new Genesee County Tourism Visitors Center.
 
$15 MINIMUM WAGE ISSUE

Under a proposal championed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York would become the first state in the nation to mandate a minimum wage of $15 an hour. That's more than double the federal minimum wage, and 67 percent higher than the $9 statewide minimum already in effect in 2016.
Opponents of this increase feel that a $15 per hour minimum wage will put many struggling small businesses, family farms and not-for-profit service providers out of business. Others will have to reduce the number of people they employ, reduce employees' hours and put a freeze on plans to add staff or expand operations.
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce shares these concerns and is looking to its members for input on this important issue.   
With that in mind, the Chamber is partnering with other Chambers in the GLOW region to host a Labor Issues Discussion on Friday, February 19th from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. at the Valley Oak Event Center in Geneseo.  E.J. McMahon, President of The Empire Center for Public Policy and Ken Pokalsky, Vice President of The Business Council of New York State, will lead the discussion of the $15 minimum wage issue as well as other labor issues impacting your businesses.
The cost for Chamber members is $10 and includes a continental breakfast.  There is a $25 fee for non-Chamber members. Seating is limited and advanced registration is required.  Register by contacting Melissa George by phone at 585-343-7440 ext. 27 or by email at chamber@geneseeny.com or stop by our office at 210 East Main St., Batavia.
 
Look for more opportunities to address the $15 minimum wage proposal from your Chamber in upcoming weeks. 
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:  
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 ½ 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.    

February  Tourism News:
 
80,000 Visitor Guides have been printed and distribution has begun.
Watch for your free copy in the February 27th edition of the Genesee Valley Penny Saver. Each household will receive a copy for their visiting friends and family, as well as for local awareness of our recreational opportunities.
 
Full distribution program is in place and is also enhanced with distribution at the following consumer travel shows this month:
Jan 30-Feb 7      Philadelphia Auto Show, Philadelphia, PA
February 4-7       Montreal RV Show, Montreal QUE
February 6-16     Great American Outdoor Show, Harrisburg, PA
February 11-14   Erie RV Show, Erie, PA
February 11-15   Toronto RV Show, Toronto, Ont.
February 12-14  & Feb 19-21  
                              Maryland RV Dealers Assoc Show, Timonium, MD
February 12-15   Northeast RV Show, Suffern, NY
February 12-15   Pittsburgh International Auto Show, Pittsburgh, PA
February 12-15   Springfield Camp & Outdoor Show, Springfield, MA
February 17-21   48th Annual Chicago RV & Camping Show,    
                            Rosemont, IL
February 21        AAA Readings/Berks Travel Odyssey Show,
                            Wyomings, PA
February 25-28   Harrisburg RV & Camping Show, PA
February 26-28   Ottawa Spring RV Show, Ottawa, ONT
 
                                               
Golf Getaway Packages

The Chamber has restructured and repriced our 2016 Golf packages. 
 
   
-5,000 brochures printed for targeted distribution
-Added LeRoy Country Club as 5th course offering
-Added value pricing with Sunday night and early week discounts
-Eblasts to over 4,000 qualified & previous customers
-Attending:
 -Toronto Golf Show - Feb 19-21
 -Syracuse Golf Show - Feb 19-21
 -Niagara Falls, Ont Golf Show -
     Feb 27-28
 -London, Ont Golf Show -
     March 12-13th
 
 

2016 Dining Guide
Last Call for 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 1st (Feb 18th Deadline to participate.)
 
Click here for more details and to sign up today! 
THE FUTURE OF WORK DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU THINK IT DOES
 
The idea of people not being able to rely on traditional employment makes us all uncomfortable. But the reality is that the traditional, safe, "career" job has been eroding over the last 30 years.
 
In the 80's, a job for life was standard and more than 60 percent of US workers had a pension. Fast forward to today and less than 14% of workers have a pension and predictions are that employees entering the workforce will work for 12-15 different companies. 

We are so attached to preconceived notions of what work looks like it can be hard to grasp the speed and scale with which work is changing.

This transformational shift has been brought on by a perfect storm of two economic trends that have been playing out for decades - and are now defining the future of work and entrepreneurship.  Read More...
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
 
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
                                                                                     -Beverly Sills
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
TTurnbull@GeneseeNY.com
February 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
 
Welcome
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.
























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