554 West Lancaster Boulevard Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 948-4518

Serving the community by Promoting, Protecting, Encouraging and Developing Business since 1902

Business Connection

October 2016

In this Month's Issue

New and Renewing Members

Upcoming Events

Membership Luncheon

Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Legislative Update

Circus Vargas Discounts

The Month In Pictures

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee

Chairwoman of the Board

Gina Rossall, Westside Union School District

Chair-Elect
Monica Grado, George's Cleaners

Past Chairman of the Board

Josh Mann, Waste Management

Vice-Chair
Luis Garibay, City of Lancaster

Vice-Chair

Katy Nelson, Hunter Dodge

Treasurer
Austin Rice, Alden & Associates, LLP

Secretary

Terry Roth, JAG Insurance Agency, Inc.

Ex-Officio
Mark Hemstreet - Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors

Theresa Dawson, Lancaster Sheriff's Station

Rosemary Mann, Camille's Sidewalk Cafe

Charles Hoey, Charles Hoey & Associates

Chris Spicher, Antelope Valley Florist

Gene Melchers, Melchers Construction

Elizabeth Diachun, Antelope Valley
College

Shandra Goben, TownePlace Suites

Bernie Longjohn, Learn 4 Life

Barry White, Carpeteria

Heather Massari, VINSA Insurance Associates

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Office Staff

Mark Hemstreet, Chief Executive Officer

Sharon Molnar, Office Coordinator

Anna Zarley, Event Coordinator

What can the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce do to help grow YOUR business???

What is Your Chamber?

Since 1902, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce has existed as a private, voluntary, nonprofit (501(C)(3) and (C)(6) business organization dedicated to improving the economic environment of business growth and prosperity. The business community now serves a greater Antelope Valley Region, with a population of more than 480,000 people.

As the Antelope Valley continues to develop and thrive, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce continues to evolve to meet the needs of its members and our growing community. The Lancaster Chamber offers a variety of benefits to help businesses, large and small, to network and grow.

Membership Benefits

Personal Page on Chamber Website
Chamber Mobile App
Monthly E-Newsletter
Community Calendar
Membership Directory Listing
Membership City Map Listing
Radio Talk Show - Free
Chamber Classes / E-Learning Portal
Conference room for Members
Quarterly Mega Mixers
Social Media Marketing
Endless Networking Opportunites
Grand Openings/Ribbon Cuttings

Monthly Events

Membership Luncheon
Business-4-Breakfast

Discount Advertisement

AV Press - Chamber Page
Video Commercials
Web Video - Business Showcase

Please call the Chamber for more information:

(661) 948-4518

New and Renewing Members

September

Introducing Our Newest Members!

Desert Mailer

John Henderson

43625 North Sierra Hwy, Ste D

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 522-0041

Exquisite Homes Brokerage

Erin Charles

Lancaster, CA 93536

(661) 802-9984

RC Affordable Limo

Richard Case

PO Box 1101

Rosamond, CA 93560

(661) 917-0616

Set & Dry

Ojany Ramirez

647 West Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 941-2593

Security 1 Lending

Alex Gutierrez

Palmdale, CA 93551

(661) 478-3654

We Are Pleased to Present Our Renewing Members

America's Job Center of California

1420 West Avenue I

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 945-5037

Member Since: 1978

AV Pulmonary Care

340 West Milling Street

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 942-9995

Member Since: 1985

Southern California Edison

42060 10th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 726-5615

Member Since: 1987

World One Telecommunications

43759 15th Street West, Ste 243

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 722-1717

Member Since: 1990

Sunset Ridge Apartments

43436 16th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 723-5646

Member Since: 1994

Grace Lutheran Church & School

856 West Newgrove Street

Lancaster, CA 93534-3092

(661) 948-1018

Member Since: 1997

Lancaster Beauty School

44646 10th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 948-1672

Member Since: 1997

DOUBLZ

901 West Avenue J

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 940-3644

Member Since: 1999

Storage Express

2103 West Avenue J

Lancaster, CA 93536

(661) 729-1313

Member Since: 2001

Aerotech News & Review, Inc

456 East Avenue K-4, Ste 8

Lancaster, CA 93535

(661) 945-5634

Member Since: 2004

Clearview Eyecare Optometry

43767 15th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 945-9883

Member Since: 2008

High Desert Health System Auxiliary

335 East Avenue I

Lancaster, CA 93535

(661) 471-4138

Member Since: 2009

Premier Events

39450 3rd Street East, #106

Palmdale, CA 93550

(661) 224-1504

Member Since: 2010

San Joaquin Valley College

42135 10th Street West, Ste 147

Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 974-8282

Member Since: 2012

DeVry University

39115 Trade Center Drive, Ste 100

Palmdale, CA 93551

(661) 224-2920

Member Since: 2013

St. Andrews Anglican

Church in the Desert

45002 Fern Avenue

Lancaster, CA 93535

(661) 754-0124

Member Since: 2014

JNR Home Improvements

39450 3rd Street East, Ste 127

Lancaster, CA 93535

(855) 376-3330

Member Since: 2015

Congratulations to our October Ambassador of the Month

Alex Barclay, Barclay Digital

Interested in Becoming an Ambassador?

Ambassadors have a unique opportunity to represent the Lancaster

Chamber at many events, including breakfasts, luncheons, mixers, ribbon cuttings/grand openings and more! Through this involvement, ambassadors are able to represent the chamber while also representing and marketing their own businesses--it's truly a "win/win" relationship!

If you or someone at your place of business is interested in

participating in our comprehensive training series and ultimately

becoming an ambassador, please contact the Chamber:

(661) 948-4518

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Upcoming Events

October 2016

50th Semi-Annual Flea Market

10/02/2016

7:00 am - 8:45 am Early Birds

9:00 am - 4:00 pm General

Antelope Valley Fairgrounds

2551 West Avenue H

Lancaster, CA 93534

More Information: 661-948-4518

Bakersfield Business Conference

10/08/2016

8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Borton Petrini Stockdale Tower

5060 California Avenue, Ste 100

Bakersfield, CA 93309

More Information

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Finance and Executive Committee Meeting

10/11/2016

7:30 am - 9:00 am

554 West Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Membership Luncheon

10/12/2016

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

J.P. Eliopulos Hellenic Center

43404 30th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

RSVP Today!

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Board of Director's Meeting

10/19/2016

7:30-9:00 am

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

554 West Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Membership Committee Meeting

10/24/2016

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

554 West Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

Business-4-Breakfast

10/27/2016

7:00 am- 8:30 am

A.M. Cafe

44205 10th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534

RSVP Today!

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Ambassador Corp Meeting

10/26/2016

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

554 West Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

COUPONS... COUPONS... COUPONS

Does your business promote using Coupons?

Everybody likes to use coupons, so how are you promoting your business employing these value added options? Advertising Age (the Bible of the advertising industry) reports that 87% of all shoppers use coupons.

Coupons don't have to be a huge discount or buy one get one (although studies show the higher the discount the higher response.) Understandably car dealers probably won't do the two for one idea, but think outside the box when deciding on coupons. What added value can you give your customers.

The use of coupons can:

Expand your market area. Consumers will travel far to redeem a valuable coupon.

Entice new customers that have been shopping elsewhere. Consumers will alter routine shopping patterns to take advantage of a good offer.

Re-activate old customers. Those that have been lured away will return when you give them a good reason to do so.

Ability to Up-Sell a more profitable product or service. Once in the door, there yours!

Increase store traffic can translate into more impulse purchases.

Coupons are measurable and accountable.

A few Tips:

Offer discounts... bonuses... premiums... free information... Make solid offers!

Use bold, commanding and specific headlines! Use graphics or pictures.

Sell the benefits. Always Up-Sell. Use your logo in your coupon. Don't stop after the sale.

Did you know you can add Coupons to the Chambers webpage???

It's a FREE benefit and easy to do!

Go to our webpage at lancasterchamber.org and log in. Scroll down to My Membership Information and click on #2 Load Deals. On the next screen click on "Add Coupon" and complete the form. Easy, simple and best of all it comes with your Chamber Membership! Add a coupon today!

On the Labor Scene....

With so many laws continually being thrust upon businesses, we wanted to start a little update employer's might find useful. This month we highlight: Workplace Postings.

Use this link to find out more from the Department of Industrial Relations:

Workplace Postings

To view Job Openings please click on the links below.

SYGMA Network, Inc

America's Job Center of California

Send us your job postings!

ChamberSTORE

Helping Support Your Local Chamber is a

WIN-WIN!!

Take advantage of these special rates for chamber members!!

"A LA CARTE" OPPORTUNITIES:

Digital Display Ad on Chamber Wall - $250 / year (2050x1400 dpi).
Static Display Framed Poster* on chamber/visitor's center wall - $1000 / year (24x20 inches -8 AVAILABLE) -includes a free digital display for one year.
Chamber newsletter ad (600x600 dpi, includes link to your website) - $75 each or $750 for one year.
Website home page banner ad (along top of page) - $2500 per year
Website home page ad $500 / year (600x600 dpi - TWO AVAILABLE).

PACKAGES:

Package 1 - $500 - Includes one digital display ad and four newsletter ads.
Package 2 - $1000 - Includes one digital display ad, four newsletter ads, and one website home page ad (TWO AVAILABLE).
Package 3 - $1000 - includes one 24"x20" framed Chamber Wall poster* (12 AVAILABLE) and one digital display ad.

*price includes poster production costs.

ADDITIONAL MARKETING/ADVERTISING

OPPORTUNITIES:

Community Calendar member event posting.
Annual area map and directories with advertising opportunities.
Referrals - Hundreds of request directed to members "ONLY".
Mailing Labels and Membership Lists available to members "ONLY".
Chamber Radio Talk Show and Chamber YouTube Free to members "ONLY".
Your business listed in the printed and online Membership Directory (Link to your website or social media!).

Chamber Membership Lists

Labels by Alpha: $50.00

Email Data: $50.00

Please call the Chamber for more information:

(661) 948-4518

OUR WEBSITE OFFERS INCREDIBLE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR MEMBERS!

For those of you who have utilized all the wonderful features of our new website, we are confident that you have seen interest in your business grow!

We are seeing triple the traffic on our site since we rolled out the new product in late October! It's easy for our members to use and navigate and the free marketing tools that are included are state-of-the-art! If you have not yet had the opportunity to request optimization of your member page, upload coupons, classified ads, and member-to-member discounts, or submit your events and meetings to our community calendar, please log in to your account and take full advantage of these exciting ways to market your business on both our website and our mobile app! If you need us to re-send your log-in information, please contact us at (661) 948-4518!

Chairwoman's Message

Greetings Members,

Fall is a beautiful time in the Antelope Valley. The trees begin to turn vibrant colors, the morning air gets a bit crisper, and we get to experience another season in our Valley. It is also a time for us to consider which football team we're going to cheer to victory, to watch our favorite baseball teams end their season hopeful to have playoff wins, and to think about basketball and hockey seasons just coming into view.

This year we have an additional fall opportunity and that is to elect individuals who will lead our country, state and local areas. The 2016 ballot is full of propositions that will impact us all. Many of these laws will impact our quality of life, how we conduct business, and how we manage a variety of issues in our community. Please take the time to read about those running for office, the proposed initiatives, and get out to vote. As Americans, voting is one of the most powerful rights we have so let's all exercise that right this November.

Two local matters before the votes include Measure A, titled the Safe and Compassionate Community Act. This election is mail-in ballot only, and will take place on October 11th. The second is for Measure AV, a bond for Antelope Valley College, which will be on the November 8th ballot. Your Chamber has endorsed both of these measures.

Speaking of getting informed about the candidates for office, please join us at our regular luncheon meeting on Wednesday, October 12th at the Hellenic Center for our candidates' forum. During our program you will have a chance to hear from those running to represent us, get a chance to ask questions, and become better informed about how these candidates might help improve the quality of life in the Antelope Valley. Thanks to Mark Troth for acting as our moderator for this forum.

We hope you will find the time to join us on Thursday, October 27th for our Business-4-Breakfast program. Our meeting is held at the AM Caf� on 10th Street West, beginning at 7 a.m.

We are currently taking entries for the Annual Holiday Parade being held on Saturday, December 3rd on Lancaster Boulevard. This is a time to celebrate the holidays in our community and we are pleased that the downtown merchants are making this a special shopping day as well. Our theme this year is "A Hollywood Christmas". We encourage you to participate as an entrant or as a spectator. Special thanks to Anna Zarley from the Chamber Office and Director Luis Garibay for their part in planning such a great event for our community.

If you know any young entrepreneurs, please encourage them to sign up and participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to participate. The YEA Program gives students the opportunity to form their own REAL life business or social movement while learning from active members of our Chamber what it takes to be the owner/operator of a real life business. For more information and to apply please visit www.yeausa.org. Also, if you know of any potential sponsors or if you would like to be a guest speaker, a business mentor, or Investor Panel judge, please contact Mark Hemstreet at the Chamber office and he will let you know how you may become involved in this unique program.

Happy fall, Happy Bosses Day, and Happy Halloween! Enjoy your month and I look forward to seeing you at some of our upcoming events.

Sincerely,

Regina Rossall, Chairwoman of the Board

2016-2017

Lancaster Chamber

Membership Luncheon

Please join us for our monthly luncheon on

October 12, 2016.

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Candidates Forum for candidates seeking Congress, Senate, and Assembly Seats. This forum is open to the public and is designed as an information gathering opportunity and to allow candidates to present their position on issues impacting our district and the State of California.

Each candidate listed below has confirmed their attendance for this forum:

25th Congressional District Candidate

Brian Caforio

36th Assembly District Candidates

Incumbent Assemblyman, Tom Lackey

Steve Fox

21st Senate District Candidates

Scott Wilk, Assemblyman of the 38th District

Jonathon Ervin

The moderator will be Mr. Mark Troth, President and Owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices / Troth REALTORS.

RSVPs are suggested for this event

EVENT INFORMATION

Date:

October 12, 2016

Time:

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Cost:

$25 per person including buffet lunch

$5.00 per person for the meeting only

Location:

JP Eliopulos Hellenic Center

43404 30th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93536

RSVP Today!

The Chamber board of directors and staff look forward to seeing you there!

Young Entrepreneurs Academy Shark Tank Event 2015

The student deadline to apply has been extended until October 10, 2016. To apply please visit www.lancasterchamber.org.

For more information on how to become a speaker, mentor or field trip host please contact the Chamber office at
661-948-4518.

What California Employers Need to Know About the New Federal Overtime Rules

By: CalChamber Employment Law Counsel

California and federal law exempt certain employees from wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime pay. To properly be classified as exempt, an employee must meet both a duties test and a salary test; i.e., the employee must perform exempt work and be paid a minimum salary, or the employee cannot be classified as exempt. When state and federal overtime laws apply, employers must follow whichever is more protective of employees. Until this year, California employers were generally not concerned with federal overtime requirements because California's duties and salary tests for those exemptions were more stringent than the federal tests. But that changes as of December 1, 2016, when the federal salary requirement for the administrative, executive and professional exemptions will be higher than California's test.

What is the New Federal Salary Requirement?

The new federal rule increases the salary requirement for exempt executive, administrative and professional employees from $455 per week to $913 per week effective December 1, 2016, and provides for automatic increases to the salary test every three years, beginning January 1, 2020. The changes to the federal overtime rule mean that the federal salary test is now relevant to California employers beginning December 1. For administrative, executive and professional employees to continue to be exempt under both California and federal law, California employers will need to follow:

*The federal salary test of $913 a week, because it is now more protective than California's test.

* The California duties test, because it is still more protective of employees.

Changes to the federal overtime rule mean that the federal salary test is now relevant to California employers

Does the New Federal Salary Test Apply to All Exemptions? No.

The new federal salary test applies only to the executive, administrative and professional exemptions:

* Employees classified as exempt under California's outside sales, commissioned inside sales, and computer professional exemptions do not have to meet the new federal salary test. They must meet any applicable California salary requirement.

* The federal salary test does not apply to teachers (if their primary duty is teaching in an educational establishment), or to licensed lawyers or doctors (bona fide practitioners of law or medicine) because under federal law, these employees do not have to meet the salary test to be classified as exempt under the professional exemption.

* However, California requires teachers, lawyers and doctors to meet both a duties and salary test under the professional exemption. If you employ teachers, doctors or lawyers, they must still meet the California salary requirement.

Do Bonuses and Commissions Count Toward the Salary Test?

Not in California. The new federal rule amends the federal salary basis test to allow employers to use non-discretionary bonuses and incentive payments to satisfy a portion of the new salary test. However, California law does not allow such payments to be used to meet the salary test, so this change in the law also does not affect California employers.

How California Employers Can Prepare for the Federal Overtime Rule

California employers should identify employees affected by the new rule, which are any exempt executive, administrative and professional employees who currently earn less than the new federal salary test of $913 per week ($47,476 annually for a full-time employee). Once you identify the employees affected by the new rule, you must decide whether you want to continue to treat these employees as exempt or reclassify them as nonexempt.

Increase Salaries to Retain Exempt Status

If you want exempt executive, administrative and professional employees to remain exempt after December 1, you will need to increase their salaries to the new federal level. The new federal salary test is effective Thursday, December 1, 2016. If you are increasing salaries to meet the new test, the salary for the entire workweek in which December 1 falls will need to be adjusted to meet the salary threshold. Before you take the step of increasing salaries, take this opportunity to review and confirm the exempt status of the affected employees. Remember, both the salary test and the duties test must be met. Carefully review the affected employees' duties and how they spend their time. Are they actually spending more than 50 percent of their time on exempt duties? Do the employees meet the requirements of the executive, administrative or professional exemptions? If the employees do not meet California's strict duties test, the employees are not properly classified as exempt. Keep in mind that California's salary test, which is tied to the state minimum wage, will increase each year. For employers with more than 25 employees, the California salary requirement will surpass the new federal test as of January 1, 2019. Depending on the amount of the first federal increase in January 2020, the California test may once again surpass the federal test for all employers. Remember, both the salary test and the duties test must be met.

Reclassify Employees as Nonexempt

If you don't want to increase exempt employees' salaries up to the new federal level, the employees will lose their exempt status as of December 1, 2016, and you must reclassify them as nonexempt employees. If you reclassify employees as nonexempt, they are subject to the same wage-and-hour requirements as your other nonexempt, hourly employees. For example, reclassified employees must clock in and out; must be paid for all hours worked; must be paid for daily and weekly overtime; and must be provided meal and rest breaks. You should train the employees and their supervisors on the requirements that will apply to employees once they are reclassified as nonexempt. The training should include:

* Proper timekeeping practices;

* Overtime requirements;

* Meal- and rest-break rules; and

* Prohibitions on off-the-clock work, including responding to email, texts and phone calls outside of working hours.

Prepare for December Deadline

Navigating the terrain between California and federal rules can be complicated. Employers will want to prepare in advance for the December 1 deadline. Deciding whether to increase salaries or reclassify employees in response to the new federal salary test is not an easy choice, and employers must consider numerous issues. One thing is for certain, California employers need to take note of the new federal overtime rule and the affect this rule may have on how they pay their employees

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce presents:

"A Hollywood Christmas"

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3, 2016! The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will take place on Lancaster Blvd between 10th street West and Division Street in the heart of downtown Lancaster starting at 10:00 am.

Come on out and join the fun!

Parade entry applications are available on our website at www.lancasterchamber.org

For more information please the Chamber office at

661-948-4518.

Promote YOUR business

FREE of Charge

FREE

Chamber Radio

Talk Show

"Minding Your Business"

Minding Your Business (MYB) the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce weekly radio show features Chamber members and Friends each Saturday at 12 noon on High Desert Radio 1380am. Hosted by Chris Spicher of AV Florist and Aaron Goldstein of GoldsteinDigital. Music is by Lions Named Leo of Bakersfield, CA.

Saturdays, 12-1 pm

Call Chris Spicher: (661) 948-6006