October 2011 Enews

October e-newsletter

Van Kleeck's Sponsor Trolley at Artswalk - October 8

Van Kleeck's Tire and the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to provide support to Artswalk, on October 8th, with shuttle service looping between the Fireman's Home where extensive parking is available, and Riverfront Park where the 5th Annual Chili Fest is being held. There will be 11 stops in between including the Chamber office, where you're invited to check out their new Visitor's Center. At the Chamber location, Van Kleeck's Tire is also sponsoring a $500 football throw and kids tire play park, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Park anywhere along the route and catch the FREE Shuttle throughout Hudson's Artswalk. The shuttle is available starting at 10:00 am , and the last shuttle loop starts at 4:00 pm. Saturday, October 8th. There's something for everyone, and we'll get you there for free, courtesy of Van Kleeck's Tire and the Chamber. For more information, call the Chamber at (518) 828-4417

Columbia County Young Professionals Networking- October 19

Columbia County Young Professionals will be hosting their next networking event on Wednesday, October 19 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Harvest Spirits located at Golden Harvest at 3074 US Route 9 in Valatie. All are welcom to attend. Reservations are not necessary, but appreciated. For more information call the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or visit Columbia County Young Professionals on Facebook.

Customer Loyalty Workshop with Jerry Posner - October 20

A "positive, practical, painless" Workshop given by training specialist, author and motivational speaker, Jerry Posner is coming to the Chamber. Jerry presents regularly at Canyon Ranch and works with clients across the Country. This workshop provides a "customer service tune-up" and valuable reminders for a competitive edge in all sectors of the business community. Workshop is Thursday, October 20 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Chamber Office. The cost is $59 for Chamber Members and $89 for non-members. Seating is limited to 24 people. Please contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com for more information or to make reservations.

Member Orientation and Chamber Gathering - October 26

Are you making the most of your Chamber membership benefits and opportunities? What are the issues that matter most to your business? Are you taking advantage of energy and insurance savings? Do you have questions...or perhaps suggestions or ideas for your Chamber? New and long time Members alike can take advantage of orientation and update gatherings. Our next two member orientations are October 26th and December 28th. that's when the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will have the coffee on, light snacks available, and staff ready to greet you, at their new office located at One North Front Street in Hudson. Each informal session will last from 8:15 am to 9:00 am. Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

"The Greens" at Copake Country Club Business After Hours - October 27

Join the Chamber as "The Greens" at Copake Country Club as they host a Business After Hours on Thursday, October 27 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Business After Hours offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. Copake Country Club’s stunningly designed 18-hole Golf Course is enveloped by the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the shores of Copake Lake, and the unequalled vistas of Columbia County in upstate New York. A brilliant dining experience awaits you at The Greens—a restaurant and bar serving club fare and finely prepared American cuisine. All members of the business community are invited to attend. Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Open House and Ribbon Cutting - November 4

Open House and Ribbon cutting for the new and improved Tank & Barrel Room at Tousey Winery. This represents a new chapter for the winery taking it to the next step of delivering a quality, local bottle of wine. Ben and Kimberly Peacock would like to invite all Chamber members to celebrate the opening of the Tank & Barrel Room for wine and hor d'oeuvres on Friday, November 4th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Women's Networking Luncheon - November 9

Historic Blue Stores Restaurant will host a Women's Networking Luncheon on Wednesday, November 9 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Additional networking will be available until 2:00 pm. Networking luncheons provide a great opportunity for area business people to promote their business to other business professionals. Historic Blue Stores is located at 2215 Route 9 in Livingston. The cost is $18 for members and $22 for non-members. The event is sponsored by Sierra Capital. Contact the Chamber for reserve a spot by November 4 at (518) 828-4417 or email akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Mid-Hudson Cable Business After Hours - November 17

Join the Chamber as Mid-Hudson Cable celebrates their 40th year in business by hosting a Business After Hours on Thursday, November 17 in Hudson from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at their Midhudsonmedia Facility. Business After Hours offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend. Midhudsonmedia is located at 30 South 3rd Street in Hudson. Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Kinderhook Bank Holiday Business After Hours - December 7

Celebrate the holidays with the Chamber as Kinderhook Bank in Chatham hosts the Holiday Business After Hours for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce members and their guests on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Kinderhook Bank is located at 5 Depot Square in Chatham. Business After Hours offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. There is no cost to attend but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber for reservations at (518) 828-4417.

Health Insurance Educational Seminar and Benefit Fair - November 18

EP Nevins Insurance Agency, Inc. is pleased to host a Health insurance Educational Seminar and Open Enrollment Benefit Fair on Friday, November 18, 2011 at the New Office of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce located at 1 North Front Street in Hudson. Registration begins at 7:30 am. At 8:00 am The Health Insurance Seminar will focus on Consumer Driven Health Insurance Plans and funding arrangements for the purpose of assisting businesses and individuals in controlling rising health insurance costs. Learn about new Consumer Driven Health Plan designs in the market place, your potential to save money thru tax savings and lower premiums, lower your taxable income through the use of health savings accounts, become more involved in your healthcare options and the cost of your healthcare. An Open Enrollment Benefit Fair will immediately follow the educational seminar. Insurance carriers to include Blue Shield of Northeastern NY, CDPHP, Empire Blue Cross, MVP and Guardian Life Insurance Company, and administrative service carriers such as Benefit Concepts Incorporated (BCI) will be available to discuss the plan offerings and funding arrangements for 2012. For more information you can contact Erin Nevins at erin@epnevins.com of (518) 464-0400 Ext. 11 or Amy Kneller at the Chamber office (518) 828-4417.

Chamber Board Nominations

The Nominating Committee which consists of Martha Keeler, The Bank of Greene County; Matt Griesemer, Freeman Howard, PC; Jeff Knight, MetzWood Harder Insurance; John Maiuri, Mauri Mechanical and Michael Sullivan, Crawford & Asscoiates Engineering & Land Surveying, PC have recommended the following candidates for the 2012 Board of Directors: Fred Hickman, Ed Herrington, Inc.; Clayton VanKleeck, VanKleeck's Tire Service; Don Gibson, The Bank of Greene County; Doug Thorn, First Niagara Bank and Nate Winch, Kinderhook Bank. To alter the slate, members may file a petition with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce no later than 5:00 pm on November 11, 2011.

Promote Your Business in the January 2012 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 winter and get a great return on your investment. The next mailing will go out in January 2012. The deadline for materials is December 23. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business

Community Events

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus' Beginner and Intermediate level Cirkus Arts classes at the Morris Memorial in Chatham are open to youth ages 8 and up, starting Wednesday, October 12 and running 11 Wednesdays through December 21. Beginners will be introduced to basic juggling, tumbling, stilt walking, clowning, and basic partner acrobatics. An open recital will be presented at the end of the Spring semester in May. Intermediate and advanced students will continue developing acrobatic, juggling and prop manipulation skills, and explore partner juggling and club passing routines, as well as focus on stage skills like creating original comedy characters using improv and physical theater techniques. Interested participants canalso create an act using the skills they've developed, and perform it in at Bindelstiff's Cavalcade of Youth on November 5 at Coney Island's Sideshow Theater, or at Bindlestiff's Youth Variety Showcase on November 6 at Hlesinki Hudson. It's a great opportunity for youth in the performing arts to mix, mingle, share skills and be inspired by one another. Session A 3:00- 4:00 (ages 8-10) Session B 4:00-5:30 pm (ages 11- up) Registration confirmation must be made by phone or email by October 5, one week prior to the first class. stephanie@bindlestiff.org or 518-828-7470. Fall / Winter Fee: $165 per child Sibling discount: $200 for two children

The Columbia County Council on the Arts will present the 17th annual ArtsWalk from October 7th -10th. celebrating the rich array of artists and arts activities in our beautiful corner of the world. Artswalk encourages visitors to drive up and down scenic Route 66 for activities in both Hudson and in Chatham as well. Many artists will be represented this year at the members show in the Fairhouse at the Columbia County Fairgrounds located in the Chatham. Many works in all media will be displayed all weekend. For more information about Columbia County Council on the Arts call (518) 671-6213 or visit their website at www.artscolumbia.org.

On October 9 author and Hudson Valley native Anthony Robinson will read from his 2010 novel, The American Golfer at The Greens Restaurant at Copake Country Club. The American Golfer is about a fictional PGA Tour golfer's trip to a village in Ireland where his greatgrandmother once lived. Hoping to find her grave, he finds so much more......secrets, conflicts, danger and a passionate love affair. All are welcome; however an RSVP is greatly appreciated by calling the restaurant at (518) 325-0019. Following the reading their will be a candid discussion with Mr. Robinson. Light appetizers and coctails and the opportunity to purchase the book and have it signed by Mr. Robinson. This event begins at 2:00 pm.

17th Annual Fall Festival, Sunday, October 9 fron 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Hawthorne Valley will host the 17th Annual Fall Festival. Admission is free, rain or shine Fun for all ages! Hay rides, slides, jumps, and mazes, live music, delicious food, Children’s Harvest Parade, farm and school tours, cheese tastingsand much more. For more information visit www.hvfallfest.org or call (518) 672-5808.

Tour the Legendary Sloop Clearwater, Monday, October 10, Taconic Foundation is sponsoring a community day on the waterfront featuring the sloop Clearwater. Beginning at 11:00 am the legendary sloop Clearwater will be in port at the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. There will be tours of the sloop, ecology demonstrations, folk music and a farmers market open to all. Also, a limited number of tickets will be available for a sunset cruise from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.

Member News

Interim HealthCare will be sponsoring an informative panel discussion on services available for senior care. The evening will include a 5 member panel discussion from local area businesses that provide elder care services. Tuesday, October 25 from 5:00 - 6:30pm at Joslen Commons, 540 Joslen BLvd, Hudson, NY. Any questions please call Interim HealthCare at 518-610-8145.

Health Insurance Open Enrollment for Sole Proprietors - November 1-30, 2011
Open Enrollment is the month of November for Sole Proprietors for an effective date of January 1, 2012. This is the time to make changes or additions to your current health, dental or vision insurance. Erin Nevins of E.P Nevins Insurance Agency will be available for scheduled appointments every Monday in November if you are interested in meeting with her one on one. To contact Erin you can call her at (518) 464-0400 or erin@epnevins.com

Have you heard the sounds of hammers, saws, and laughter coming from the 200 block of Columbia Street? Columbia County Habitat for Humanity is at it again - building two new homes with local families. Habitat is recruiting new volunteers to help out. No experience is required, just a willingness to pitch in on a Saturday for the hardest working fun you've ever had. Individuals as well as business groups are welcome. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.columbiacountyhabitat.org. You can also call Julia Rubel at (518) 392-2898 to volunteer.

Claire Parde has joined the Healthcare Consortium as Executive Director. Her selection by the Healthcare Consortium Board of Directors came after an exhaustive four month executive search and vetting process. Before taking on this new role, Claire most recently coordinated the Community Health and Wellness Programs at Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Greene and Columbia Counties. Ms. Parde has a Master of Science degree in Applied Social Research and brings years of program planning, delivery and evaluation to her new task. “As we enter into a rapidly changing healthcare environment, the Consortium Board of Directors feels fortunate to have been able to hire someone of Claire’s caliber. She will complement and enhance the wonderful work being done by a dedicated and committed staff”, states Jeffrey Rovitz, President of the Healthcare Consortium and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Columbia & Greene Counties. She lives in Athens with her husband and two children.

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

October and November Chamber Events

October Events

Columbia County Young Professionals Networking - October 19

5:00 -7:00 pm

Harvest Spirits at Golden Harvest

3074 US Route 9, Valatie

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Customer Loyalty Workshop - October 20

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Cost is $59 for Chamber Members and $89 for non-members. Seating is limited.

Chamber Office

1 North Front Street, Hudson

Reservations are required.

Business After Hours - October 27

5:00 - 7:00 pm

"The Greens" at Copake Country Club

44 Golf Course Rd, Copake Lake

Reservations are not required, but appreciated

November Events

Women's Networking Luncheon - November 9
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Historic Blue Stores Restaurant
2215 Route 9, Livingston

The cost is $18 for members and $22 for non-members.

Reservations are required by November 4

Business After Hours - November 17
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Midhudsonmedia

30 South 3rd Street, Hudson
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Health Insurance Educational Seminar and Open Enrollment Benefit Fair - November 18

7:30 – Registration

8:00 - 9:00 Health Insurance Educational Seminar

9:00 – 2:00 Open Enrollment Benefit Fair

Chamber Office

1 North Front Street, Hudson

Please click here for our 2011 Chamber Calendar.