July Enewsletter

July e-newsletter

Display Your Rack Card at the Hudson Amtrak Station
Members are invited to reserve a spot in the new Chamber rack card display at the Hudson Amtrak Station. Your display spot will be free of charge thanks to a generous sponsorship from Columbia County Tourism. There are a limited number of spaces available, so it is on a first come basis. Call 828-4417 to reserve.

Leadership Columbia County Now Accepting Applications for 2010-11 Class
Leadership Columbia County is looking for candidates for the Class of 2010-11. 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 2010-11 class. Please click here for an application.

2011 Chamber Directory

Taking reservations NOW! Reach more than 3,500 business decision makers by advertising in the 2011 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.

Countryside Woodcraft Business After Hours - July 15

Join the Chamber as Countryside Woodcraft hosts a Business After Hours on Thursday, July 15. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Business After Hours’ offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be offered during the After Hours. Countryside Woodcraft is located at 2368 Route 66 in Chatham. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 if they plan to attend. Please click here for more information.

Victoria A. Simons Golf Tournament - August 9
You are invited to join David Colby, Roger Coleman and the rest of the Tournament Committee at the first Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award Fund Golf Tournament on Monday, August 9 at Columbia Gold and Country Club. Registration will be at 8:00 am with a shotgun start at 9:00 am. The registration fee is $100. Forms are available at the Chamber Office and will be mailed to Chamber Members. For more information call Terry Ackerman at 851-7502.

Olana Business After Hours - August 12
Join the Chamber as Olana hosts a Business After Hours on Thursday, August 12. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Business After Hours’ offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be offered during the After Hours. Olana is located at 5720 Route 9G, Hudson in Hudson. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 if they plan to attend. Please click here for more information .

Columbia-Greene Superintendents Brunch - August 19
The Columbia and Greene County Chambers of Commerce will host the 6th Annual Superintendents Brunch on Thursday, August 19 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Other topics discussed will include: an overview of Chamber programs including the B.E.S.T. Program and Pathways to Employment program. The brunch will end with a time for local education and business leaders to network. . The brunch will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College in the Student Center. Contact the Chamber to make a reservation at 828-4417 or akneller@columbichamber-ny.com.

Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack Business After Hours - August 26
Join the Chamber as Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack hosts a Business After Hours on Thursday, August 26. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Business After Hours’ offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be offered during the After Hours. Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack is located at 88 Route 9H, in Claverack. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 if they plan to attend. Please click here for more information.

Chamber Announces 2010 Sponsorship Opportunities

The Chamber is pleased to announce creative ways to promote your business in 2010. 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 for a 2010 Sponsorship Form.

Promote Your Business in the September 2010 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 2010. The deadline for materials is August 27. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business.

Chamber Stats
During the month of June the Chamber answered 575 phone calls, sent out 15 relocation guides and welcomed over 210 members to events. The Chamber website was visited over 12,540 times or an average of 418 times daily. For more information about your Chamber of Commerce contact akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Member News

Holly Tanner, Columbia County Clerk would like to invite businesses to join a very important and exciting program that is taking place throughout our county, the “RETURN THE F.A.V.O.R.” Discount Program (Find & Assist Vets of Record). This initiative is a way that our county can recognize the service and sacrifices made by our returning veterans. Under the “RETURN THE F.A.V.O.R.” Discount Program, eligible individuals will receive a picture I.D. card identifying them as an honorably discharged returning veteran. Participating county merchants would agree to honor the card by providing holders with a discount on purchases or services. For a merchant application contact the Chamber.

OPEN DAY at Horse Sanctuary on Sunday, July 11 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Come to Equine Advocates Safe Home Sanctuary, located at 3212 Route 66, Chatham, and spend a few hours walking around and meeting our 79 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, most of whom were rescued You can picnic at our pond and enjoy one of the most beautiful and serene spots at the sanctuary. All are now happily enjoying their new life at Safe Home. Learn about where each animal came from and why they needed to be rescued. For more information on our Open Day, please call 518-245-1599. You can also visit our website to learn more about our work and how you can help www.equineadvocates.org.

Columbia Arts Team (CAT) will present the 3rd annual edition of its regional music competition, Upstate Idol, on Thursday, July 15 at Mount Washington House Banquet Room in Hillsdale, NY at 7:30pm. The show is open to the public of all ages who get to vote for their favorite music acts. The evening will feature a special performance by host and well-known singer Christina Dellea, who is celebrating the release of her new CD, “Music In Me.” Contestants will perform their original music, and music industry judges – as well as audience members – will vote based on originality, musicianship, performance and stage presence. Judges include singer/songwriter Marc Black; composer/multi-instrumentalist/ recording artist/producer Larry Chernicoff; and artist manager Nina Bueti. For more information or tickets, go to www.columbiaartsteam.org, or call 518-325-3045. Singer/songwriters and music acts who write their own music can still apply, and may do so online. Musicians’ entry deadline is July 12.

Whittier's 8th Annual Car Show to be held Saturday, August 7at One Whittier Way in Ghent. Gates open at 8:00 am and is free to the public. Car Show is open to all ages. There will be entertainment, vendors, 50/50 and Gift Basket raffle, Bouncy Bounce for kids, coloring contest and food.

Community News

The Chatham Business Alliance will be sponsoring Summerfest 2010 in the historic Village of Chatham on Saturday July 10th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. You are invited to join merchants and area not-for-profits for a day of sales, information, raffles, music, and good eating. Downtown merchants will have tables of great bargains on the sidewalk in front of their shops. Dozens of not-for-profit groups will share information about their causes. The Ghent Band will entertain everyone from the new gazebo on the Village Green from 12-2 pm. Come and see what is great about Chatham Village! For more information about Summerfest 2010 please call (518) 392-5848 or visit the Chatham Kids website at www.chatham-kids.com

The Blueberry Festival is always held the last Sunday in July - this year the Festival will be held Sunday, July 25, 2010 on the grounds of Old Austerlitz from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event will feature early 19th Century craft demonstrations and wares, antiques, live music and entertainment for children, many different vendors and a variety of foods to feed the masses. There will be blueberries galore and a blueberry pancake breakfast. Festival Admission is $6 for adults and children under 12 get in for free. For more information please call (518) 392-0062 or visit www.oldausterlitz.org

A prestigious new award has been established in memory of Vicki Simons, long-time editor of The Independent newspaper, executive director of Columbia County Bounty, and sparkplug for many causes targeting community improvement. The Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award—which consists of a plaque and a stipend of $1,000—recognizes outstanding vision and accomplishment in expanding the availability, quantity, quality or distribution of local foods reaching local mouths. Organizations, farms, restaurants, co-ops and individuals are eligible for the award so long as they reside within 50 miles of the Village of Chatham and their efforts primarily benefit residents of this region. Nominations can be sent to Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, P.O. Box 1189, Hudson, NY 12534.

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

July and August Events

July Events

Celebration Cruise with 12 Chambers-

July 8

Boarding 5:30 - 6:00 pm

Cruise 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Sail on the Captain JP II

Cost is $36.

274-7474.

Reservations are required

Business After Hours - July 15

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Countryside Woodcraft

2368 Route 66, Chatham

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

August Events
Business After Hours - August 12

5:00 - 7:00 pm
Olana
5720 Route 9G, Hudson

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Columbia-Greene Superintendents Brunch
August 19
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.

Business After Hours - August 26
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack
88 Route 9H, Claverack
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Please click here for our 2010 Chamber Calendar.