Greetings!  

 

Two great events are happening this week in the Lowcountry. We're fortunate to be home to the largest outdoor wine festival on the East Coast, the 30th annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, taking place in its new waterfront location at The Sea Pines Resort.

The festival's wine celebration brings together wine enthusiasts, food lovers and celebrity wine vintners along with an impressive line-up of world-class vineyards and some of the Lowcountry's best cuisine.

As you mingle with winemakers and enjoy gourmet fare, you can also raise your glass to yet another perfect pairing - The Hilton Head International Piano Competition for Young Artists Competition.

Cheers to the Hilton Head Symphony for presenting this world class event that has become one of the most prestigious competitions of its kind nationally and internationally.   These extremely accomplished young musicians from around the globe will take the stage, performing at the highest level for our Lowcountry residents and visitors.

Spring in the Lowcountry heralds the start of our busy visitor season and for many of our visitors, there's no better way to get it started than with some our great events.   Take advantage of these rich arts and cultural opportunities in our community.   Many of our out-of town festival attendees plan their visits around these and other noteworthy events.  
None of it would be possible without the 2.6 million annual visitors that help support our symphony, theatre, and other high-profile happenings.

   

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Bill Miles, IOM, CCE

President & CEO

Follow Me on Twitter @MilesatChamber

 

 

P.S. Only 35 more days until the RBC Heritage!

 


Did You Know:

Your chamber has partnered with SCORE for over 25 years to provide free counseling services for entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits and education institutions.

Looking to improve your sales?  Join SCORE for its upcoming seminar series "Simple Steps for Growing Your Business"  offered at chamber headquarters on Tuesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 p.m., April 7th through May 12th. 
CLICK Here to register and for more information
 
Business EXPO Was A Great Success!

Business EXPO had a welcoming crowd for the grand-opening kick-off as the Hilton Head High School band led opening festivities along with special giveaways, leading up to EXPO and keynote speaker Julie Morgenstern.  CLICK HERE for photo gallery.

Members are saying:

"This year's EXPO appeared to be a huge success!   The venue was great,  the unloading/loading before and after was a breeze, food was FANTASTIC, the seminars were informative and we had an all-around great day."

-Patti Di Silvestre, Marketing, Community Relations 
HARGRAY

Thanks to all in our business community for coming out and special thanks to our Business EXPO sponsors.

Presenting Sponsor:                        Seminar Sponsor:
                 
   EXPO After Hours Sponsors:
                    Palmetto Electric

Internet Sponsor:  
Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival
March 9-15  

The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival is officially uncorked this week.  The event brings together wine and food lovers at one of the largest premier wine events on the East Coast with an
impressive line-up of world-class vineyards, entertainment and celebrity chefs and a new waterfront location at The Sea Pines Resort.   
Click here for more details
Chamber Quarterly Breakfast Briefing

Presented by Melissa Azallion

McNair Law Firm, P.A.

Wednesday, March 18

Topic: Avoiding Common FLSA Classification Pitfalls

Breakfast 8:00-8:30 a.m.   

Seminar 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Chamber headquarters 

 

Don't miss this opportunity to ensure your business is prepared.  The most common wage and hour suits are based on the argument that an employee or group of employees is misclassified as exempt.  These claims are expensive to defend, and can result in substantial liability. Come learn more about what it means to you and your business.

   

Topic Includes:

  • How to ensure that exempt employees are paid on a "salary basis" or "fee basis", as required by the FLSA
  • When you can/cannot take deductions from employees' salaries
  • Ensure PTO/paid leave programs comply with FLSA requirements 

There is no cost to attend. All members are welcome. Seating is limited. Presentation sponsored by McNair Law Firm, P.A.


Business After Hours
The Shops at Sea Pines Center
Hosted by Heritage Classic Foundation
Wednesday, March 18
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Get YOUR PLAID ON! Chance to Win
RBC Heritage Tickets


Business After Hours moves to Wednesday, March 18th at The Shops at Sea Pines Center for our Business After Hours event hosted by the Heritage Classic Foundation.

Look for a special appearance by Sir William "Willie" Innes and be sure to register early - one lucky attendee will walk away with a pair of Doc's BBQ Club 15 tickets, a $750 value, for the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing!
Enjoy cuisine by Oprah "O List" pick, Lowcountry Produce Hilton Head Market & Caf�, along with complimentary beer and wine, entertainment by Sweetgrass Angels, performing three-part harmony and door prizes from participating merchants.

Cost to attend is $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. Must register in advance and be present to win Doc's BBQ Club 15 tickets.

9 Ways To Boost Your Leadership Potential 
  
The need for globally-minded leaders is at an all-time high.   While leadership skills are not  learned overnight, developed traits can help gain the type of international exposure needed to stand out in the global arena.

These tips can show you how.
Click here for more details in this report from huffingtonpost.com
RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing
Exclusive Chamber Day at RBC Heritage

Get Your Plaid On!  The 47th annual RBC Heritage Presented by
Boeing takes place April 13-19. 

Chamber Day at RBC Heritage:  New this year, chamber members will have an exclusive opportunity to view all the golf action from a Skybox Suite on the 15th Green of the Harbour Town Golf Links on Thursday, April 16th.
 

Skybox Suite Ticket includes:
  • Access to the tournament grounds for Thursday, April 16
  •  Access into a Skybox Suite overlooking the 15th Green with private seating section and shared food &  beverage in back of Skybox
  • All food and beverage for the day including full bar service 
Skybox Suite price is $125 per member. Only 100 tickets will be sold.  Tickets increase to $150 after March 27.

The chamber's got your ticket, including your exclusive member Skybox
Suite tickets, all tournament grounds badges, daily tickets, Clubhouse Badges,  Clubhouse Ticket packs and Doc's BBQ Club 15 booklets.

Tickets go on sale today at chamber headquarters and the chamber's Bluffton office.
CLICK HERE for more information
Leadership Class "Follow The Fiddlers" Sculpture Project Tells May River Story 

The 2015 Chamber Leadership Class is building community awareness of local marine life and the importance of preserving the May River with the installation of a public sculpture series along the Calhoun Street corridor.

The project features 10 fiddler crab bronze sculptures, created by local artist Susie Chisholm, from the Bluffton Promenade to the May River near Church of the Cross. The sculptures will be arranged in a hide-and-seek fashion for kid-friendly discovery. 

The leadership class also seeks corporate and individual sponsors.

Levels include "Blue Crab" for $2,500 or more, "Stone Crab" for $1,000 to $2,499, "Marsh Crab" for $501 to $1,000, "Hermit Crab for $251 to $500 and "Fiddler Crab" for $100 to $249.

Click here for more details
 
Advocacy in Action

This week your chamber will be attending the
following meetings on behalf of our members.


Monday, March 9

Beaufort County
Executive Committee Meeting
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Beaufort County
County Council Meeting
4:00-7:30 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Tuesday, March 10

Town of Hilton Head Island
Design & Review Board Meeting
1:15-2:15 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Beaufort County
Planning Commission
Comprehensive Plan Meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Town of Bluffton
Town Council Meeting
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Wednesday, March 11

Town of Hilton Head Island
Circle to Circle Committee Meeting
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Click here for full agenda

Thursday, March 12

Beaufort County
Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Board Meeting
3:00-5:00 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Meetings are subject to change.
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 Quick Links
 





Hilton Head Island
Wine & Food Festival
March 9-15
 

Chamber Calendar


March 18
Business After Hours
Hosted by Heritage Classic Foundation at The Shops
At  Sea Pines Center
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Register Here

March 24
TECH Tuesday
Building Blocks of Blogging
Presenter: Ashley Trexler
Chamber Headquarters
Noon-1:00 p.m.

March 27
Chamber Young
Professionals Group
Friday Happy Hour
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Comedy Club, 8:00 p.m.
Pelicans Point (formerly
Kingfisher)

April 16
Chamber Day at RBC Heritage
Members-Only Skybox Suite Overlooking 15th Green
Tickets On  Sale Now!
Click Here to details

Did you know...  

on the chamber website:  
You can link to the
Career Resources Center
for the latest job openings
New Members
Ribbon-Cuttings

Around Town...

Community Calendar



Calendar Spotlight


Hilton Head International Piano Competition
March 9-14
CLICK Here for  Details

 

Community Calendar Highlights  

 

Art League Exhibit "People, Places and Nature"

 

 

Celebrity Chef Vintners Dinners

 


The Celtic Tenors at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

The Story of Mitchelville at Heritage Library

St. Joseph's/Candler Immediate Care Food Drive

Hilton Head Island
Wine & Food Festival

"Living on $1 a Day" Film Showing Benefit for Whole Planet Foundation

 

Click Here for a full listing  

of what's happening this week

in the community:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the Chamber Community Calendar:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the  

Visitor & Convention

Bureau Calendar 

Reach Your Audience:

The Chamber Monday Morning Briefing and our
Chamber Business Monthly publication offer business members a great opportunity to reach their core audience. Sponsorship and advertising rates for these outlets are very reasonable.

If you'd like to find out more,
please contact Anne Feldman at