August 2011 Enewsletter

August e-newsletter

Leadership Columbia County Now Accepting Applications for 2011-12 Class
Leadership Columbia County is looking for candidates for the Class of 2011-12. The Chamber Board feels Leadership Columbia County is vital to building strong future leaders that will work in the best interest of the community. This enhanced program includes some of the most popular historical components, but also features new cutting edge speakers, topics and host locations. The program brings together a diverse group of professionals from financial services, education, healthcare, the arts, community organizations, government and other sectors. We encourage all Columbia County businesses to consider sending an applicant to the program for the 2011-12 class. Please click here for an application.

2012 Chamber Directory Ads

Taking reservations NOW! Reach more than 3,500 business decision makers by advertising in the 2012 Chamber Membership Directory. Don't miss out! Call Carol Patterson at the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or e-mail her at cpatterson@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Crossroads Brewing Co. Tri-Chamber Business After Hours - August 11
The Columbia, Greene and Coxsackie Area Chambers of Commerce will host their first-ever Tri-Chamber Business After Hours. The relaxing atmosphere within the beautifully restored Brooks Opera House (built in 1893) is the perfect setting for making new contacts with your fellow business people. So mark your calendar to enjoy some outstanding craft beer and great company. Limited street parking is available so patrons are asked to park in the newly purchased Village Municipal Lot on North Franklin Street (just a couple hundred feet from Crossroads) or in the Senior Center which is one block up on Second Street. Please call 828-4417 to let us know if you plan to attend.

Crandell Theatre Business After Hours - August 18

Crandell Theatre will host a Business After Hours on Thursday, August 18 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Business After Hours' offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. Come see what the Chatham Film Club has done to help preserve the Crandell Theatre. The Crandell Theatre is Columbia County's oldest and largest movie theatre. This 534 seat theatre was built in 1926 by Walter S. Crandell, as a vaudeville house. The theatre's brick and stucco architecture offers an impressive spanish design complete with arches and lanterns. All members of the business community are invited to attend this event. Crandell Theatre is located at 48 Main Street in Chatham.

Columbia-Greene Superintendents Brunch - August 25
The Columbia and Greene County Chambers of Commerce will host the 7th Annual Superintendents Brunch on Thursday, August 25 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. The speaker for this year's brunch is Jerry Posner. Jerry will speak about "Ways to make the Butterfly Effect work for you". Small changes...small actions....huge results! Jerry Posner is a popular speaker, training specialist, "motivational entertainer" and author. He will share some easy to apply, fun (and powerful) tools and techniques you can use now with positive results. The brunch will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College. “Please NOTE that it will be in the Professional Academic Center (PAC Building) in the Saland Forum. Parking is in the upper level parking lot.” Cost is $18. Contact the Chamber to make a reservation at 828-4417 or email akneller@columbichamber-ny.com

Fingar Insurance Business After Hours - September 8

Join the Chamber to help Fingar Insurance celebrate 80 years in Business at their Business After Hours on Thursday, September 8 in Germantown from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Business After Hours offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend. Their Germantown office is located on 1 Church Ave.

County Supervisors/Leadership Columbia County Alumni Reception – September 14

All public officials and Chamber members are invited to attend the annual County Supervisor’s Reception/Business After Hours on Wednesday, September 14 from 5:00 to 7:00pm. The Chamber holds this annual event to express their gratitude to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. We encourage members to take this opportunity to network with your community leaders and the new Leadership Columbia County Class of 2011-12. We are celebrating 20 years of Leadership Columbia County. The event will be held at the Chamber Office and is free of charge.

The Buy Local Business Expo will be held on Thursday, September 22 at Basilica Hudson. The Expo will run from 4:00 to 7:00pm and will showcase Local Food, Local Beer, Local Wine and Local Business to Columbia and Greene County businesses and residents. Reserve early as there is only a limited number of booths available. Booth prices start at $149 for members. Sponsorship of the event starts at $249. Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your business to hundreds of local residents. Please click here for an application.

Chamber is Accepting Board Nominations

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Michael Sullivan, in accordance with Article III of the Chamber Bylaws, has appointed a Nominating Committee to prepare a ballot to fill vacant Board seats. The Nominating Committee includes Mike Sullivan, John Maiuri, Martha Keeler, Jeff Knight and Matt Griesemer. The Chamber is looking for individuals who are interested in taking an active role in upholding the Chamber’s mission, as well as the direction and implementation of programs of the Chamber of Commerce. Please submit in writing any names for consideration, along with a brief description of the positive attributes the nominee could bring to the Board and the Chamber. Self nominations are welcome. You may reply by fax at (518)822-9539 or by e-mail at dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com. All nominations must be received at the Chamber office no later than 5:00 pm on August 31, 2011. If you would like to discuss the nomination process, please call David Colby at (518) 828-4417.

2011 Sponsorship Opportunities

The Chamber is pleased to provide creative ways to promote your business in 2011. Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your company to the Columbia County business community. Event sponsorship enables us to provide high quality programming for our members and promotion for your business. Click here for a 2011 Sponsorship Form

Promote Your Business in the September 2011 Chamber Connection Mailing
Are you looking for new connections? The Chamber Connection is a great way to promote your business to over 1,000 Chamber members for only a $150. Promote your business this fall and get a great return on your investment. The next mailing will go out in September 2011. The deadline for materials is August 29. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business.

Member News
The Columbia Hudson Partnership is pleased to announce the schedule for it's upcoming MicroBusiness Seminar Series. Classes meet once a week for eight weeks beginning September 20th. It is designed to help entrepreneurs start or expand a small business in Columbia County, topics range from bookkeeping basics to writing a business plan. Five hours of free Technical Assistance is offered to all graduates. The course fee is $150 that is refunded at the end of the session in the form of either a one year Chamber membership of a gift certificate to an office supply store. For more information or an application, please contact the Columbia Hudson Partnership at (518) 828-4718 or visit their website at www.chpartnership.com.

On August 6 the American Joint Care Foundation will be hosting the 9th Annual Car Show on the premises of the Whittier Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, 1 Whittier Way, Ghent, NY from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Car registration is $10.00. Entertainment by "Route 66 Band". Art and craft vendors are welcome. Food concessions will be on site. Come join us for a wonderful day. FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC! Event proceeds will benefit residents of the Whittier Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center and Whittier Place. For more information, please contact Eileen Pastore at (518) 281-1046.

Copake Golf and Country Club will have FIREWORKS!! on Saturday, August 20 at 9:00 pm. Have a seat on the first and tenth tee and watch a spectacular show of color over the golf course. Free for the whole family. For more information about Copake Golf and Country Club visit their website at www.copakecountryclub.com.

Eco-artist Aligna at Solaqua - Internationally renowned eco-artist Aligna is returning to Solaqua for a second summer of recycling art extraordinaire! He will unveil a new installation of transformative work including sculptures from industrial materials, gardens and sensational photographs on Saturday, August 27th from 1:00 - 5:00 pm at the Solaqua Power & Art Campus. Aligna's sculptures have been exhibited worldwide and his installations have garnered international acclaim. For more information about Solaqua call (518) 392-4000 or visit their website at www.sundogsolar.net.

Community Events

Hillsdale Community Day on Saturday, August 6 at the former Roe Jan School on Route 22 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The fun begins with delicious food, over 70 booths, demonstrations, a merchant raffle, exciting music, a prize wheel with Bill Williams from Cruisin 93.5 and many kids activities. There will be a Beef BBQ from 5:00 - 7:00 pm by the Hillsdale Fire Company, tickets must be purchased in advance. There will also be more food available in the evening along with live music; and a DJ spinning tunes and offering Karaoke fun. FIREWORKS will be displayed at dark. For more information or to reserve a vendor booth call Richard Briggs at (518) 325-3098

First Hudson Musicfest - Three days of music all over Hudson Inside and Out/Day and Night; August 12, 13 & 14. The city of Hudson will have music in every possible indoor venue and outdoor public space the organizers can conjure - jazz brunches, buskers on street corners, dueling DJ's, dance parties, country bands, classical music concerts, singer/songwriter contests, new age music and old time Dixieland, salsa and soul. For more information and schedule of things happening visit www.hudsonmusicfest.com.

On Saturday, August 13 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, tour five historic 19th century houses with country gardens and small barns on a road in a farming area of Hillsdale. Houses include Federal, Italianate Victorian, eyebrow colonial and a simple farm house. Learn about barn restoration from timber frame restorer Michael Carr. Visit an Historic cemetery where some of the early owners are buried. Box lunch picnic. Tickets are $35. Order tickets by August 8 to be sure you get a lunch. Patron's party on Sunday, August 14 at new house built around a 1780 Dutch timber frame included with $100 ticket. Benefits Hillsdale Preservation Committee. More information and ticket order forms at www.hillsdaleny.com/housetour.

The 4th Annual Sangria Festival at the Hudson-Chatham Winery on Saturday, August 13 from 12:00 - 5:00 pm. Visit the winery while we go South of the Border to celebrate this classic fruit and wine combo. There will be several kinds of sangria to try, mexican food, live flamenco guitar music, chair massages and much more. Join them for their event of the season! For more information about Hudson-Chatham Winery call (518) 392-9463 or visit their website at www.hudson-chathamwinery.com

Victoria A. Simons Golf Tournament - August 15. You are invited to join second Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award Fund Golf Tournament on Monday, August 15 at Columbia Golf and Country Club. The tournament raises funds for an annual award of at least $1000 promoting use of local farm products. Reservations are required by August 8. Registration will be at 8:00 am with a shotgun start at 9:00 am. Contests on the course, snacks on the turn and post-golf lunch featuring local produce transformed by the club's expert chef. The registration fee is $100. For more information call Terry Ackerman at 851-7502.

Electronics Recycling Day, Saturday, August 20th from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Columbia-Greene Community College is being sponsored by Clear Channel Communications. They will be taking for FREE: Computers, monitors, televisions, laptops, modems, servers, cell phones, fax machines, copiers, CD Players, IT Equipment, audio/visual equipment, telecommunications equipment, printers, peripherals, GPS Units, microwave ovens. They will also taking air conditioners and dehumidifiers for a $10 charge. For more information about Clear Channel visit their website at www.clearchannel.com or Maven Technologies visit their website at www.maventech.com.

Vanishing Art: An Intimate Festival of What May Be, August 24-28 at Abode of the Message in New Lebanon. The Vanishing Art Festival will gather community of visual and performance artists, as well as poets, philosophers and thinkers of all kinds to explore and practice the "poeticization" of life and art. Many well-known artists from the region and beyond will participate including Carolee Schneemann, Robert Kelly, Pir Zia Inayat-Khan and many more. Explore the vanishing nature of art and its many hidden meanings through poetic actions, salons, music, dance and much more. For more information call (518) 794-8777 or visit their website at www.sevenpillarshouse.org.

"Ride United" Motorcycle Tour! Join us at the Plaza Diner at 9:00 am on August 28th for a two-county tour and Pig Roast/BBQ. United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties is dedicating all funds raised in August to local programs that support our local senior community. Call Brad at (518) 755-2155. For more information about the United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties visit their website at www.uwcg.org.

If you would like to submit information for the member news section please email to akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.

August and September Events

Augustl Events

Tri Chamber Business After Hours -

August 11

4:30 - 6:30 pm

Crossroads Brewing Co.

Second Street, Athens

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Business After Hours - August 18

4:30 - 6:30 pm

Crandell Theatre

48 Main Street, Chatham

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Columbia-Greene Superintendents Brunch - August 25
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Columbia-Greene Community College

4400 Route 23, Hudson
The cost is $15
Contact the Columbia County Chamber to reserve.

September Events

Business After Hours - September 8

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Fingar Insurance

1 Church Ave, Germantown

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

County Supervisor's/Leadership Columbia County Alumni Reception - September 14

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Chamber Office

1 North Front Street, Hudson

Reservations are not required, but appreciated

Buy Local Business Expo - September 22
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Basilica Hudson

110 South Front Street, Hudson
Contact the Chamber for a registration form

Please click here for our 2011 Chamber Calendar.