Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
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Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

June e-newsletter

Chamber News

Chamber Announces Nominees for Excellence in Business Awards
Join us to celebrate business excellence in Columbia County at the Excellence in Business Awards and Showcase on Thursday, June 18 at Stageworks/Hudson. The event will feature awards given to local businesses for five different areas of achievement.  The 2009 ceremony will include awards for Community Service, Most Promising New Business, Business Person of the Year, Small Company of the Year and Large Company of the Year.  The Chamber will also be recognizing the graduates of the 2008-09 Leadership Columbia County Class during the awards ceremony.  The Business Showcase will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 pm and the awards ceremony from 6:00 to 6:30 pm.  Event sponsors will be able to showcase their business with a table top exhibit from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.  Attendees will also enjoy wonderful hors d'oeuvres, a wine tasting and a beer tasting during the business showcase.  Please click here to view the nominees for the 2009 Awards.
Leadership Columbia County Now Accepting Applications for 2009-10 Class
Leadership Columbia County is looking for candidates for the Class of 2009-10.  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 2009-10 class.   Please click here for an application.
Production of Annual Chamber Directory Goes Local - Reserve your space today!
In an effort to live by its tenet of supporting local businesses, the Chamber has hired Millie Rossman Kidd : Design to produce the next directory. Drawing on her experience as creative director of Dinnerwhere , a magazine she co-founded with Bonnie Kurtz,  the directory will be designed not just for newcomers but also as a way for people within our diverse county to connect.   The annual publication includes a full-color section with information on all aspects of life in Columbia County plus a directory of local businesses and will be out in December of this year.  For more information about the 2010 Community Guide call Millie Rossman Kidd at (518) 392-7913 or visit www.millierossmanridd.com/community guide.
Best in Show Public Art Project Kicks Off on July 4, 2009
Dog lovers, artists and the general public will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of what's to come for Best in Show 2009.  A sampling of the fiberglass handpainted dogs will be on display during the Hudson Flag Day Parade on Saturday, June 13.  Come and catch a view of them before they are officially installed on the streets of Hudson for July 4th weekend.  The public art project in its second year in Columbia County will feature 40 handpainted dogs on Warren Street, Hudson's Main Business District.  Best in Show is being organized by the Columbia County Chamber and is supported by 40 businesses in the County.  Please click here for more information.
10th Annual Agricultural Awareness Tour - June 27, 2009
We invite you to join us to explore agriculture in Columbia County on the 10th annual Agricultural Awareness Tour on Saturday, June 27.  The tour will depart at 10:00 am from the Columbia County Fairgrounds and return at 1:00 pm for lunch.  The tour is open to Chamber members and the public.  In addition to a back roads tour of the county, participants will get an in-depth look into The Berry Farm, Gallagher's Stud Farm and Hudson-Chatham Winery.  The cost is $15 and includes coach bus tour transportation and a "box lunch" of local products .  Please click here for more information.
Chamber Night Out at Columbia Arts Team - June 27, 2009
As a member of PerformColumbia and the Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Arts Team (CAT) will host a special Chamber Member Night Out on Saturday June 27, at which Chamber members will be offered a special reception at 7:30 pm and discounted tickets to the Saturday Night Liv (hosted by Liv Cummins) Comedy/Variety show at 8 pm. The evening's festivities take place at Space 360 in Hudson. Chamber members are requested to RSVP to Christina Dellea at (518) 325-3045.  Please click here for more information.
Marshall and Sterling Insurance Business After Hours - July 9, 2009
Marshall and Sterling Insurance will host a Columbia-Greene Business After Hours on Thursday, July 9 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.  Come and enjoy a wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres and live music.  Marshall & Sterling, Inc. is 100% employee owned and is proud to be ranked 27th in size among over 40,000 privately owned insurance agencies. Access to leading national and regional carriers and commitment to quality service, enable them to offer their clients competitive pricing, a broad spectrum of products, and unparalleled advocacy. Business After Hours' offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Marshall and Sterling Insurance is located on 300 Route 23B, Leeds.  Please click here for more information.
Celebration Cruise with Eight Area Chambers of Commerce - July 9, 2009
Come aboard as eight area Chambers of Commerce come together to celebrate the Hudson River Quadracentennial the best way possible - on the river!  This joint cruise on the 600 passenger, four-deck Captain JP II cruise ship gives you the rare opportunity to connect with business professionals from all eight Chambers in the greater Tech Valley region.  Set for Thursday, July 9 the cruise will include live entertainment with two different bands, door prizes, heavy hors d'oeuvres, drink specials and more.  Boarding begins at 5:30 pm in Troy and the cruise runs from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  Tickets are only $35.  To reserve for the cruise, please contact the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce at (518) 274-7474 or on-line at http://www.renscochamber.com.
Hudson-Chatham Winery Business After Hours - July 23, 2009
Hudson-Chatham Winery will host a Business After Hours on Wednesday, July 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  The winery features hand-crafted wines, cheeses and desserts, and includes vineyard tours and a gazebo with scenic views.  This exciting new winery, which specializes in small hand-made batches of wine, is dedicated to the richness of the Hudson River Valley, particularly its wine, agriculture, literature, art, history, and many other attractions that make it a rich and special region. Business After Hours' offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Hudson-Chatham Winery is located on 1900 Route 66 in Ghent.  Please click here for more information.
B.E.S.T. Education Program Graduates Local Students

The Columbia and Greene County Chambers of Commerce are pleased to announce that 55 students from Columbia and Greene Counties received the B.E.S.T. Program Certificate of Employability for completing the program based upon the guidelines provided to each school. Twenty-nine students from Questar, six students from Catskill, eighteen students from Taconic Hills and two students from Coxsackie-Athens received the certificate. The students were honored in a ceremony on May 13 at Columbia-Greene Community College.  The Columbia-Greene B.E.S.T., Business Employment Standards Transition Program certifies the work readiness of students so that when they apply for local employment or admission to college they can easily demonstrate that they have the skills, behaviors and knowledge necessary in the workplace and/or college.  The B.E.S.T. Certificate is based on standards set by local area businesses.  Please click for more information.

2009 Sponsorship Opportunities
The Chamber still has some great sponsorship opportunities available to promote your business in 2009.  Don't miss the 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 2009 Sponsorship Form.
Promote Your Business in the July 2009 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 summer and get a great return of your investment.  The next mailing will go out in July 2009.  The deadline for materials is June 15. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business.
Chamber Stats
During the month of May the Chamber answered 550 phone calls, sent out 12 relocation guides and welcomed over 200 members to events.  The Chamber website was visited over 10,879 times or an average of 350 times daily. For more information about your Chamber of Commerce contact the staff at akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Ribbon Cuttings


Thursday, June 11 at 4:30 pm
Imaguration
59-63 Main Street
Chatham, NY 12037

Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30 pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension
479 Route 66
Hudson, NY 12534


Member News


Countryside Woodcraft is hosting a free kitchen design workshop.  Come and enjoy a free dinner and work on your dream kitchen starting at 6:00 pm.  The workshops will be held on June 12 and July 17 at their location in Ghent.  The workshop will feature information about designing your own kitchen. discovering the secrets of wood, surfaces/countertops, decor, financing options and much more.  For more information or to reserve a seat contact Countryside Woodcraft at (518) 392-8400.


Hudson has a new walking tour
, the first in many years, that sets out to paint a picture of the real Hudson.  The tour starts on Parade Hill with the Hudson River as its backdrop.  From there the tour proceeds down Warren Street.  See it all and hear what many Hudsonians remember of its past history.  The tours are given by Mary Ann Zimmerman of Hudson Valley Journeys.  Hudson Walking Tours run Memorial Day through September with some tours in October.  Most Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm.  Tours are $10 per person with special family rates.  For reservations or more information about Hudson Walking Tours call Mary Anne Zimmerman at (917) 880-6732 or by email at maryann@poshnosh.com.

The Healthcare Consortium will hold the annual Health Fair at Flag Day in Hudson on Saturday, June 13 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the 7th Street Park.  This year each exhibitor will feature a children's activity.  There will be "Horton Hears a Who" activities, crafts, games with prizes, a Guide Dog Ambassador and more.  Adults will find helpful information about free health services.  Adults can also enter free raffles and pick up some nice giveaways.  For more information about the Healthcare Consortium call (518) 822-8820 or visit their website at www.columbiahealthnet.org.


The New York State Department of Labor
has released information that the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed for small businesses.  SBA's America's Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability.  Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.  ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.  For more information contact the NYS Department of Labor at (518) 828-4654 or go to the following link http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html.

Space 360 will host a wonderful night of entertainment of Sunday, June 14 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.  You will begin the evening with The Honest Weight Food Co-op cheese and wine tasting followed by Pat Naggiar's One Woman Show.  "Pat Naggiar's One Woman Show" is full of choice moments, the best of which are slightly wacky and mildly irreverent, coming from an elegant woman of a certain age.  Seating is limited.  The cost for food and the performance is $15 per person.  For reservations or more information about Space 360 call (518) 697-3360 or visit www.360warren.com.

Taconic Hills Central School will host a Shakespeare Family Fun Fair on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on the campus.  Come and enjoy a catapult demo, fencing exhibitions, medieval weapons demonstrations, wool spinning, glass blowing, plays in the amphitheater, minstrels, human chess, crafts and much more.  Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family.  For more information about Taconic Hills Central School call (518) 325-4191 or visit their website at www.taconichills.k12.ny.us.

Meadowgreens Restaurant will host the second annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday, June 27.  Grounds open at 3:00 pm.  Come and enjoy a pig roast with all the fixings.  Grounds admission is $15 per person and includes fireworks, kids rides (bouncy-bounce and waterslide), band and dancing, refreshments and food available.  $25 includes pig roast.  Kids under 12 are free.  Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:00 pm.  You may also attend for the fireworks only at $10 a carload.  For more information about Meadowgreens Restaurant call (518) 828-0663 or visit their website at www.meadowgreensresort.com.


Community Events


Clermont State Historic Site will feature the annual Hudson Bush Plant Sale & Exchange on Saturday, June 6 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The event attracts 30 vendors and 2,000 garden enthusiasts a year.  In keeping with the style of the Garden Sale Founders the vendors offer a wide selection of heritage and contemporary plant material, much of it locally grown.  For more information about Clermont State Historic Site call (518) 537-6622 or visit their website at www.friendsofclermont.org.

SunDog Solar will be hosting a Summer Solstice Family Picnic and Energy Fair on Saturday, June 20 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at Crellin Park in Chatham.  The event will be held rain or shine and admission is free.  Bring a picnic lunch and celebrate the summer solstice with family and friends. Come and learn about renewable energy and enjoy live music by local and international musicians.  For more information about SunDog Solar call (518) 392-4000 or visit their website at www.sundogsolar.net.


Stageworks/Hudson
will host the regional premiere of "Forbidden Broadway" June 24 through July 12.  Where can you see 20 broadway shows all in one evening?  In the explosively funny off-Broadway smash hit that irreverently pokes, prods, teases and lampoons the Great White Way's most famed musicals and celebrities, always with love.  For tickets or more information about Stageworks/Hudson call (518) 822-9667 or visit their website at www.stageworkshudson.org.

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 add an event to the July list, please contact Cheryl Meenagh at cmeenagh@columbiachamber-ny.com.

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

 
June and July Chamber Events

June Events
Excellence in Business Awards and Showcase
June 18

5:00 - 6:00 pm - Business Showcase
6:00 - 6:30 pm - Awards Ceremony

Stageworks/Hudson
41 Cross Street, Hudson
The cost is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

10th Annual Agricultural Awareness Tour, June 27

Tour departs from Columbia County Fairgrounds at 10:00 am and returns at 1:00 pm
The cost is $15 and includes coach bus transportation and boxed lunch of local products.
Reservations are required by June 22.



Click here to view the 2009 Chamber Calendar.

July Events

Business After Hours, July 23

5:00 to 7:00 pm
Hudson-Chatham Winery
1900 Route 66, Ghent
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.



 
 ALL CONTENT HEREIN COPYRIGHT © 2005 COLUMBIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE