December e-newsletter

December e-newsletter

Hugh Johnson to Kickoff Chamber Year with Economic Outlook '06 Forum - January 18, 2006
The Chamber announces the Economic Outlook '06 Forum featuring Hugh Johnson on January 18. Hugh Johnson serves as the Chairman of Johnson Illington Advisors, LLC. In that capacity, he manages nearly $624 million of equity, fixed income and cash investments for individual and institutional clients and serves as a consultant to over $900 million in institutional assets. He also serves as the Consulting Investment Strategist to First Albany Companies. Mr. Johnson is a noted financial expert and is a regular guest on CNBC. He has also been featured on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, and the CBS Evening News. The event will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College in the Arts Center Theater at 7:30 am. We expect this event to be highly attended and encourage members to reserve as soon as possible. Tickets for the event are $10 before January 6 or while supplies last. Please click here for more information.

Launch of Tech Valley Portal - December 7, 2005
Please join us on Wednesday, December 7 as the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition launches the new Tech Valley Portal to showcase the region as a great place to live, work and play. The presentation will be held at the MapInfo Corporation at One Global View in Troy at 11:00 am. A reception will immediately follow the presentation. For more information contact the Chamber. Please reserve by December 5 to the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Tourism Luncheon - January 11, 2006
An informal luncheon series will be sponsored by the Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. The first luncheon for local tourism leaders will be held on January 11 at 12:00 pm at Columbia County Council on the Arts. They are located at 209 Warren Street in Hudson. The featured speaker will be Lori Selden of Mexican Radio. A light luncheon featuring local products will be provided by Renners Creative Celebrations. The cost of the luncheon is $10. Attendance will be limited. Future luncheon dates include March 8th and May 10th. Please contact the Chamber to reserve today.

Chamber Ski Nite - January 26, 2006
The Chamber and Catamount Ski Area will host a night of discounted skiing and snowboarding for Chamber members and the public on January 26 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Lift tickets are $13, rentals $13 and lessons $8. We hope you will join us for this fun event and support business in Columbia County. Please click here for more information.

Proposal One Defeated on Election Day
The Chamber Board of Directors would like to thank members for their support in defeating Proposal One, the runaway spending amendment on election day. Sixty-three percent of New York State voters rejected the amendment. The Chamber supports real reform in state government.

Economic Development/Government Affairs Committee Update
The committee hosted Jody Rael of Solaqua on November 30 to discuss Solaqua which is a vision for the former Columbia Box Board Mill in Chatham. If you have a project you would like to discuss with the committee or are interested in joining the committee, please contact David Colby at dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Holiday Business After Hours - Post Event News
National Union Bank of Kinderhook in Chatham hosted the Holiday Business After Hours on December 1. The Chamber introduced the 2006 Board of Directors and unveiled the 2006 Membership Directory and Relocation Guide and updated Chamber website. Please click here to view the photo gallery.

"Educated Development Forum" - Post Event News
The Columbia County and Southern Berkshire Chambers hosted an "Educated Development Forum" on Wednesday, November 16 at Catamount Ski Area. Attendees heard details about the exciting Catamount Development project. Please click here to read the post event news.

Member News Member Updates The Hudson Valley Business Journal is offering a free listing in "A Guide to Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising" to be published in March 2006 to any Chamber members involved in advertising, marketing and public relations. Please send a brief write-up and photograph to hvbjmail@aol.com. For more information contact Gene Malis at Hudson Valley Business Journal at (845) 298-6236. School Information The Chamber is currently organizing a display case for Taconic Hills Central School District on business information in Columbia County. We would like to showcase different businesses throughout the year. A Pathways to Employment program will be held at Hawthorne Valley School on December 8, 2005. If you are interested in displaying your business information or participating in a future Pathways to Employment program, please contact Cheryl Meenagh at cmeenagh@columbiachamber-ny.com. The Doane Stuart School will host an open house for any families interested in nursery through grade 12 for the 2006-2007 academic year or beyond. A special program and tours of the campus will be given. Childcare is available for children ages 2 and up. The open houses will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at 10:00 am (snow date 1/22/06 at 1:00 pm); Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 10:00 am (snow date 3/12/06 at 1:00 pm); and Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 10:00 am. For more information please contact The Doane Stuart School at www.doanestuart.org. Community Events On Saturday December 3, 2005 the Hudson Opera House will present "A Winter Walk on Warren Street" from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. This annual free event features brightly decorated shops, festive music, dancers in shop windows and good cheer everywhere. Winter Walk brings family, friends and visitors to Hudson's main commercial street to enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, carolers dressed in Victorian costumes and much more. For more information contact the Hudson Opera House at (518) 822-1438 or visit their website at www.hudsonoperahouse.org. Strolling the streets of Chatham is magical around the holidays. You are invited to a special event to experience the best this beautiful village has to offer. On Friday, December 16 the Village of Chatham will host the third annual Winterfest. This event will feature special sales, free drawings, music, Santa and plenty of small town cheer. If you would like to submit information for the member news section please email cmeenagh@columbiachamber-ny.com.

January Chamber Events
January Events Tourism Luncheon - January 11 12:00 pm Columbia County Council on the Arts 209 Warren Street, Hudson This cost is $10. Please contact the Chamber for reservations. Economic Outlook '06 Forum - January 18 Keynote speaker: Hugh Johnson 7 :30 - 9:00 am Columbia-Greene Community College Arts Center Theater Route 23, Hudson A continental breakfast will be served Tickets are $10 before January 6 and $15 after that date. Chamber Ski Nite - January 26 5:00 - 9:00 pm Catamount Ski Area Route 23, Hillsdale Lift tickets $13, rentals $13, lessons $8 Lift tickets can be purchased at the gate on January 26. Please click here for our 2006 Chamber Calendar.