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HOW ARE WE DOING?
BRIGHT SPOTS
Did you know that Muskingum County agriculture is 3rd in the state in hay production, 6th in the state in beef production, and 8th in sheep production? Read about Bright Spots like this at www.zmbrightspots.com and at our social media accounts.
CHAMBER OPPOSES MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
The Board of Directors of the Chamber has voted to oppose the legalization of marijuana in Ohio. Issue 3 is a constitutional amendment that Ohio voters will consider at the ballot box on November 3rd that would legalize marijuana use for both medical and recreational purposes. The measure also sets up a monopolistic system where only certain individuals and groups can produce and sell the drug. Issue 2 on the November ballot is a constitutional amendment that if passed would prohibit the establishment of monopolies such as that proposed in Issue 3. Here is more information about this issue and about the Chamber's reasons for taking this stance. Chamber members are encouraged to "Vote YES on 2 & Vote NO on 3!"
WAGE SURVEY ENDING
The 2015 Muskingum County Wage and Benefit Survey is about to END, and we encourage you to participate. A link to the survey is provided on the homepage of www.zmchamber.com. THIS SURVEY REPORT IS:
- Free of charge, but we need you to participate first.
- Completely confidential - your information will not be made available to anyone except as anonymous and cumulative results.
- A valuable resource that helps you be sure your wages and benefits are competitive in the LOCAL marketplace.
- An essential tool for use in your planning and budgeting.
- One of the most commonly requested resources we provide.
The deadline to complete the survey has passed. But we are extending it to October 15. Please respond right away so that your company and others can benefit from this valuable resource. This survey is sponsored by the Chamber's Muskingum Growth Partnership, the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, and the Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association, and the data will again be compiled by JK Evans & Associates, LLC.
6 KEYS TO ATTRACTING ALL THE CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS YOU WANT
"If you're like most of the business owners and/or entrepreneurs I know, you probably don't have an overflow of clients/customers-and definitely NOT a number that exceeds your capacity to serve. Instead, you probably have more capacity for new clients/customers and wish you had the former problem. So, how can you turn that around?..... To help you focus on the most important things, I've reduced all the options down to the following six. Follow these and you'll find you and your business in a new and more profitable place in no time at all." Read more from Bruce Johnson at WiredToGrow.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT UPDATE
Employers: If health insurance and the Affordable Care Act are somewhat murky topics to you, come to a free seminar on November 11 at 6:30 at the John McIntire Library. Quality Care Partners (QCP) is sponsoring a presentation by a national expert, Chris Goff, who is CEO and General Counsel for Employers Health Coalition. Mr. Goff will break down the Affordable Care Act into understandable pieces, bring you up to date on its implementation schedule, and help you understand what you need to do to comply with its provisions. Bring your questions and feel free to ask them. There is no cost to attend but reservations are recommended since seating is limited. Make a reservation at http://www.zmchamber.com/rsvp-for-aca.html.
SELLING ON AMAZON
Join us to hear from two successful Amazon marketers who will share their experiences and advice on how to set up shop and sell on Amazon. Mike and Britni Ross are a husband and wife team who make a full-time living selling products on Amazon.com. Their online business started in 2002, as a small eBay store, selling antiques and collectibles. After nearly 10 years on eBay, they made the move to Amazon in late 2011. In 2014 they had their best year, selling more than 30,000 units for an annual revenue of $1M. This workshop will be held on Thursday, November 12 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Muskingum County Business Incubator (MCBI), 2725 Pinkerton Road. Make a reservation by emailing chumphreys@mcbi.info and make payment by sending a check to MCBI, 2725 Pinkerton Road, Zanesville, OH 43701, or send payment via your PayPal account to familytree-llc@hotmail.com. The fee is $35 per person, or just $25 if you are a member of the Chamber of Commerce. This program is presented by MCBI, FoodWorks Alliance, and the Chamber.
DRIVING SAFETY PROGRAM
On November 11, AT&T and the local Safety Council are partnering to provide area business people the chance to try out a virtual reality driving simulator and hear a presentation called "It Can Wait". The presentation focuses on the dangers of texting and driving, as well as engaging in other activities on your smartphone while driving. Tentative participants in the presentation include state legislators and highway patrol officials. The presentation will be held on Wednesday, November 11 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, with the simulator available for use by attendees until 1 pm. For a more complete program description visit the online calendar of events at zmchamber.com. Safety Council Members: Attendance at this meeting counts toward the 10 required if you are working toward earning the rebate. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to attend.
NOVEMBER DEADLINE FOR WORKERS COMP SAVINGS
Group rating is designed to allow employers of similar industries to "pool" their combined workers' compensation experience and file with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) as one larger employee group through sponsoring organizations like the Chamber. Employers participating in the Chamber's group saved last year an average of $3,800 last year in premiums. Now is your annual opportunity to apply for our group rating program administrated through CareWorksComp, Ohio's largest third party administrator. There is no cost or obligation to apply and it takes only a minute - just go online at www.careworkscomp.com/groupratingapplication and complete the form or call 800.837.3200 extension 57129 or 57200. You will receive a premium savings estimate later in the fall and can make a decision at that time whether to participate in the group or not. The deadline to apply for your savings estimate is November 18.
WHY SPONSOR A CHAMBER SERVICE, PROGRAM OR EVENT?
One study by Columbia University and the New York American Marketing Association found that "90% of U.S. marketers include sponsorships as one of their marketing tactics." The chamber offers a number of opportunities for members to partner with us and:
- Increase awareness about your company
- Reinforce your brand
- Associate your company with a leading local business development organization
- Market your products and services
- Set yourself apart from your competitors
- Target a business audience
FOR THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS AND EVENTS! You can also add your own event by clicking the submit event button at zmchamber.com.
Goss Supply & Rental
Longaberger Country Club
Norvell Hearing Aid Center
Partyland Supply Co.
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