August06 e-newsletter

August e-newsletter

Chamber Champions Farm to Chef Initiative - First Twilight Organizing Meeting on August 8
The Farm to Chef initiative is an exciting new collaboration that was launched as a spin off of the Chamber's annual Agricultural Brunch. On March 15, over 75 business leaders attended this annual event. The brunch featured a panel of speakers who spoke about farming in Columbia County and each panelist highlighted a similar theme of working with fellow businesspeople in the County to help promote and sustain agriculture. After the meeting Lori Selden of Mexican Radio and David Robinson of Bezalel Gables Fine Catering and Events talked about their desire to have more locally grown products available for their culinary creations They are now involved with the Chamber Agriculture Committee and are working with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Columbia Hudson Partnership to form a Farm to Chef Program. If you are in either the food service or agricultural industry and would like to learn about how you can buy and sell local products, we encourage you to attend the first Twilight Meeting on Tuesday, August 8. The meeting will take place at 7:30 pm at Holmquest Farm located at 478 Spook Rock Road in Hudson. For more information about this project contact David Colby at dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Columbia-Greene Superintendents Breakfast - August 22, 2006
The Columbia and Greene County Chambers of Commerce will host the 2nd Annual Superintendents Breakfast on Tuesday, August 22 from 7:30 to 9:00 am. This special program will feature "Education and Affordable Housing: Keys to Economic Growth" and will discuss supporting and advancing the issues that impact community growth. The keynote speaker will be Joseph J. McGee, Vice President of Public Policy and Programs for the Business Council of Fairfield County (CT). Other topics discussed will include: firsthand experiences from teachers and students that were involved with the B.E.S.T. Program, and an overview of Chamber programs. The program will end with a time for local education and business leaders to network. The breakfast will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College. This event is sponsored by National Union Bank of Kinderhook, First Niagara Bank, Midhudsonmedia, The Register Star/Chatham Courier, Fingar Insurance, The Bank of Greene County and Columbia-Greene Community College. Please click here for more information.

Networking Luncheon - August 23, 2006
Bridges at the St. Charles Hotel will host a Networking Luncheon on August 23 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for area businesspeople to promote their business to other business professionals. This event is open to both men and women. Bridges is located at 16-18 Park Place in Hudson. This event is sponsored by National Union Bank of Kinderhook, First Niagara Bank, Midhudsonmedia and the Register Star/Chatham Courier. Please click here for more information.

County Supervisor's Reception - September 13, 2006
The Chamber will host the annual County Supervisor's Reception on Wednesday, September 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. All local officials and Chamber members are invited to attend. The Chamber holds this annual event to express our gratitude to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. The event is free of charge and food and drinks will be provided. The reception will be held at the Columbia Hudson Partnership. This event is sponsored by National Union Bank of Kinderhook, First Niagara Bank, Midhudsonmedia, The Register Star/Chatham Courier, Columbia Hudson Partnership,The Kleeber Agency, Inc., Connor, Curran & Schram, PC and Dunn Builders Supply. Please click here for more information.

Fingar Insurance Business After Hours - September 21, 2006
Fingar Insurance will host a Business After Hours to celebrate 75 years of business excellence on Thursday, September 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Fingar Insurance is owned and operated by Gregory C. Fingar and Mark W. Fingar. The agency was established in 1931 by their grandfather Luther B. Fingar. Fingar Insurance is currently recognized in Columbia and Greene Counties as a leader in the insurance business. The After Hours will be held at the Germantown office located at 1 Church Avenue. Please click here for more information.

Register for the Buy Local Business Expo - October 26, 2006
This Buy Local Expo will be held on Thursday, October 26 at Columbia-Greene Community College. The Expo will run from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. The event will feature over 60 booths to showcase your products and services to Columbia County businesses and residents. As part of the Expo we will be featuring demonstrations, food tasting's, entertainment and much more. Reserve early as there is only a limited number of booths available. A complimentary booth will be provided to businesses that serve food at the event. Booth prices start at $100 for members. Sponsorship of the event starts at $250. Don't miss this opportunity to promote your business to hundreds of local residents. If you would like to reserve your booth or sponsorship, contact the Chamber at 828-4417 or mail@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Chamber Stats
During the month of July the Chamber answered 440 phone calls, sent out 8 relocation guides and welcomed over 80 members to events. The Chamber website was visited over 12,590 times or more than 400 times daily. For more information about your Chamber of Commerce contact the staff at mail@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP)
If your small business is faced with a technical challenge SATOP can provide up to 40 hours of FREE technical assistance for qualified requests, utilizing the vast engineering expertise of NASA and participating Alliance Partners (NASA contractors, sub-contractors or Universities). SATOP is designed to speed the transfer of US Space Program knowledge and technology to the private sector, to provide economic benefits to the community, and to raise public awareness of the Space program. Please click here for more information.

Member News

Business Updates

A symposium and resource fair for caregivers is making its return to Columbia-Greene Community College on September 22 from 12:00 to 3:30 pm. "Keeping Loved Ones at Home is Priceless" will feature displays and representatives from the home care, nursing home and allied organizations serving and supporting family caregivers. Speakers will also be on hand to address issues of vital importance to caregivers and answer their questions. The event is planned and supported by a group of organizations including the Rotary Clubs of Columbia and Greene Counties, Northeast Health, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and Columbia-Greene Community College. Over 250 caregivers and 30 exhibitors attended the event last year. Speakers presented a variety of topics last year and this year will feature home care providers, the role of technology in home care, emergency preparedness, care giving for children and respite care. For more information about the event or to sign your organization up for a booth contact Robert Bodratti, Director of Community Services at the College at (518) 828-4181 ext. 3345.

The 2006 Summer Reading Program is in full swing at Kinderhook Memorial Library. Having just past the midway point of the six week program the library has welcomed nearly a hundred children each week to a variety of free events. Among the library's offerings this summer are an Infant and Toddler Story Time on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 am and a Pre-K Story Time on Thursdays at 10:30 am. There is no registration required for these two programs. The Afternoon Discoveries program for school aged children has also been a great success. Friday night teen events including open mic and game nights have also been popular. The Summer Reading Program ends on Thursday, August 10. There are still some sessions open if you are interested in the programs. For more information about the Kinderhook Memorial Library call (518) 758-6192 or visit their website at www.oklibrary.org.

Space 360 has recently opened their newly added space. Space 360 offers the region's businesses and non-profit organizations something it has lacked: a full-service building dedicated to making business meetings productive and social events a success. Judith Firth, President of Space 360 saw a need for additional space to accommodate larger groups and one year after their opening in 2005 opened an additional 3,500 square feet of conference and party space to the already 3,500 square foot building. With the new addition Space 360 can accommodate groups from 6 to 60 for meetings and conferences and parties and social events from 12 to 120. For more information about Space 360 call (518) 697-3360 or visit their website at www.360warren.com.

In an effort to increase the regional blood supply, Columbia Memorial Hospital will hold a community blood drive with the American Red Cross. The drive will be Thursday, August 17 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm at the Administrative Services Building of the Hospital located at 70 Prospect Avenue in Hudson. For more information about Columbia Memorial Hospital call (518) 828-8013 or visit their website at www.columbiamemorial.com.

Community Events

The Columbia Arts Team continues with the Summer Coffeehouse Concert Series in August. They are held at the American Legion Hall on Route 344 in Copake Falls. August 17 is Country Night featuring Foolin' Nobody, Dorraine Scofield and Chops n Sauerkraut. Tickets are $10. For more information about Columbia Arts Team call (518) 325-3045 or visit their website at www.columbiaartsteam.org.

On Saturday, August 26 Olana State Historic Site will host the first annual Peach Festival. In honor of Frederic Church's prize-winning peaches, join Olana to celebrate at the family's farm for a day of old-fashioned family fun. Enjoy historic games, period music, crafts, stories and walking tours of the farm. The cost is $5 per vehicle, weather permitting. The festival will run from 12:00 to 4:00 pm For more information about Olana State Historic Site call (518) 828-0135 or visit their website at www.olana.org.

End your summer fun by attending the Columbia County Fair. The Fair will open on August 30 at 5:00 pm and run through Labor Day. Enjoy great food, animals, exhibits, vendors, live music, midway, fireworks, demolition derby and much more. The Fair is jam-packed with a fantastic line-up of entertainment and non-stop action. Check out the website for more detailed information about what is happening each day. For more information about the Columbia County Fair (518) 392-2121 or visit their website at www.columbiafair.com.

Check out the Chamber's Ten Things To Do This Month in Columbia County on the homepage at www.columbiachamber-ny.com. If you would like to sign up for the Ten Things e-newsletter or add an event to the September list, please contact Cheryl Meenagh at cmeenagh@columbiachamber-ny.com.

School Information
The Doane Stuart School will host a Drop-In Admission Reception on Thursday, August 24. Drop in anytime from 7:30 to 10:00 am. They will also be hosting a number of open houses for any families interested in nursery through grade 12 for the 2007-2008 academic year. The first open house will be held on October 21 at 10:00 am. For more information about the Doane Stuart School call (518) 465-5222 or visit their website site at www.doanestuart.org.

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

August and September Chamber Events

August Events
Columbia-Greene Superintendents Breakfast
August 22
7:30 - 9:00 am
Columbia-Greene Community College
4400 Route 23, Hudson

The cost is $15.
Reservations are required by August 18.

Networking Luncheon - August 23

12:00 - 1:30 pm
Additional networking until 2:00 pm
Bridges at the St. Charles Hotel
16-18 Park Place, Hudson

$18 members/$22 non-members
Reservations are required by August 18.

Please click here for our 2006 Chamber Calendar.

September Events
County Supervisors Reception - September 13
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Columbia Hudson Partnership
610 State Street

There is no cost to attend this event.
Reservations are required by September 8.

Business After Hours - September 21

5:00 - 7:00 pm
Fingar Insurance
One Church Avenue, Germantown

Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Business Leadership Forum - September 28
Land Use Planning

7:30 - 9:00 am

Columbia-Greene Community College
4400 Route 23, Hudson
This cost is $15.
Reservations are required by September 22.