“You don’t get harmony when everyone sings the same note.” – Doug Floyd
Supporting Local Business, that is the role or your Chamber Staff everyday. Making connections and providing advocacy for members and potential new businesses is a big part of what your Chamber does. To get support from your Chamber, call 828-4417 or email Chamber President, David Colby at dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com.
Upcoming Events
Free Mobile Social Media Seminar Series – February 10, 2016
Mobile Social Media is a business opportunity. This series will be spread out over 2016. The first live event will be held on Wednesday, February 10 from 8:30 – 10:00 am at the Chamber Offices. It is a general information Social Media Seminar. Everyone in attendance will learn something new. To reserve a spot call the Chamber at 518-828-4417.
Business After Hours @ Lotus Energy – February 18, 2016
Lotus Energy invites you to a Business After Hours on Thursday, February 18 from 5:00 – 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. Lotus Energy is located at 703 Warren Street 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.
On the Front Line: Strengthening Customer Service Skills Workshop with Jerry Posner – February 25, 2016
This is “Not your average customer service workshop!” on Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Chamber Office. Workshop is a “positive, practical, painless” three-hour workshop to help you develop more satisfying, authentic relationships with customers, clients and community. This workshop provides a “customer service tune-up” and essential reminders for more success in the marketplace! Cost: $49.00 Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Members; $79.00 Nonmembers. Attendance limited to 24, please reserve your space early! For more detailed information visit the Chamber website at www.columbiachamber-ny.com. To reserve a space call 518-828-4417 or email akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.
Annual Agricultural Brunch – March 23, 2016
Join us at this year’s Agricultural Brunch at Helsinki Hudson on Wednesday, March 23 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. The program helps connect local business people through networking. Event Sponsors are Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corp, Columbia Economic Development Corp., Columbia Land Conservancy, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia & Greene Counties, Farm Credit East, Fix Bros, Inc., Hawthorne Valley Association and Hudson Valley Fresh. Enjoy a great brunch. The cost is $25. Contact the Chamber for reservations by March 18 at 828-4417.
2016 Sponsorship Opportunities
Thank you to everyone who sponsored events in 2015. Event sponsorship enables us to provide quality programming for our members and extensive promotion for your business. The Chamber is now securing sponsors for our 2016 events. If you are interested in sponsoring an event in 2016, please click here.
Promote Your Business in the April 2016 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, while saving over $400 in postage. The next mailing will go out in April 2016. The deadline for materials is March 31, 2016. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business at akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.
The Columbia Economic Development Corporation has launched its new Membership Program, with four investment levels and specific tangible benefits for each level of investment. Over the past month, the members of the Chamber and CEDC Board of Directors have worked together to develop a joint membership which provides Columbia County businesses with the greatest range of business information and access to economic development programs and tools. Chamber members will be offered a $100 rate reduction when investing in CEDC’s Full or Associate Memberships. CEDC encourages local businesses to consider membership in both organizations. It’s a way to amplify your voice – not just in presenting your business, but in speaking for the interests of business in general, and in making clear that our best future is the one we can make achievable starting right now. Please contact CEDC Marketing Director Carol Wilber at 828.4718 for more information, or visit the CEDC website at www.columbiaedc.com.
Member Events & Information
Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation will hold their Winter Blast on Saturday, February 6 at 6:30 pm at Club Helsinki located at 405 Columbia Street in Hudson. For more information or to purchase tickets call 518-828-8239.
Wear your fan gear to the Hudson-Chatham Winery on February 6 or February 7 and receive a free tasting. Hudson-Chatham Winery is located at 1900 Route 66 in Ghent
Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Annual Gala & Auction – On Saturday, February 6 at Windham Country Club, The Gala & Auction is a wonderful evening and opportunity to support the Adaptive Sports Foundation. For over 30 years, attendees have come together to enjoy great food, friends and join in the fun of a silent auction. Items for bid include trips to exotic locales, golfing at some of the areas finest courses, and hard-to-get tickets to special events, concerts and ball games. The Adaptive Sports Foundation provides profound and life changing experiences for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities and chronic illnesses through outdoor physical activity, education, support and community. ASF is able to offer these services to individuals with disabilities for little or no cost, in part, through fundraising events such as the 2016 Gala & Auction.
http://www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/ways-to-give/fundraising-events/asf-gala-and-auction/
Concerts in the Village (CITV) continues its sixth season at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 7th with Arthur Honegger’s powerful oratorio King David, in its original 1921 orchestration. The concert will be held at the Jack Shainman Gallery: The School, in the Village of Kinderhook. The School is one of the region’s newest and most interesting architectural transformations, and is fast becoming an international destination for art lovers. Contribution of $ 20 includes an off-site reception immediately following. The Jack Shainman Gallery: The School is at 25 Broad Street (US Route 9) in the Village of Kinderhook. To be assured seating and for further information please visit: www.concertsinthevillage.org.
Arbonne Healthy Living Challenge Presentation – Are you ready to look great and feel great in 2016? Are you ready to reach your weight loss goals? Are you ready to have more energy and mental clarity? Join us as we will share how to get started and how to have a successful formula for a healthy lifestyle in 2016 with Arbonne’s gluten free, vegan certified, nutritional products. There will be sampling, 40% discount and a $50 Free Gift. Discover a NEW YOU in the New Year! For more information and to RSVP please call 518-755-1316.
Date: Monday, February 8, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
Location: Columbia County Chamber of Commerce building at 1 North Front St. Hudson, NY
Enriching Life and Increasing Knowledge series, The North Chatham Free Library presents a decluttering and organizing basics talk given by Julie Ulmer of Minding Your Manor at the library, 4287 Route 203, North Chatham, New York 12132, on Tuesday February 9, 2016 from 10:00 am- Noon (snow date 2/11/16). Julie Ulmer is a Columbia and Rensselaer County native who has built an extensive business as a professional organizer, founding Minding Your Manor in 2003. Besides organizing and home management she assists those needing help with decluttering, downsizing, moving or relocating, time management and productivity.
“Each Day of your Life is a Journey into History” – Saturday, February 13th – 3pm – Lynda Blackmon was a kid when she marched in support of voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King when he spoke at her church, she was arrested nine times before her fifteenth birthday. Her book Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom has been adapted for the stage by the actress Ally Sheedy and stars Damaras Obi. Eager to encourage participation among young people, the author and director will appear live at the conclusion of the performance. Books will be available for sale. There is a suggested donation of $10. A benefit for the Hudson Area Library. February 13th, Saturday at 3:00pm – MC Smith Intermediate School, 102 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson.
Chatham Bookstore invites you to a book signing with Al Roker and Deborah Roberts , celebrating their recent book, Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times. A collaboration on the most personal and important “story” of their lives, Been There, Done That is a funny, heartfelt, and empowering collection of life lessons, hard-won wisdom, and instructive family anecdotes from Al and Deborah’s lives, from their parents and grandparents, and from dear friends, famous and not. Live at the Chatham Bookstore on Saturday, February 13 at 5:00 pm with free refreshments.
Candlelight Concert on Saturday, February 13 at 6:30 pm at Omi in Ghent. Concert will feature and energetic Jazz Duo Nadje Noordhuis and James Shipp. It will take place in a stunning glass setting at Omi’s Visitor Center. Enjoy a reception with refreshments following the performance. Free for members and $10 for not-yet-members. For more information or to make a reservation visit www.artomi.org.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Bimi’s Cheese Shop on Sunday, February 14 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm. Cheese and Chocolate Pairings. You will taste 9 different cheeses from all over the world and 3 different chocolates from Theo Chocolates of Seattle, WA. The class will wind down with a complimentary glass of champagne. Cost is $58/pp. Event will be held at 13 Main Street in Chatham in the gallery upstairs. Please pre-register by calling 518-392-8811.
“Margaret Beekman Livingston, The Old Lady of Clermont” will be the subject of a talk presented by Kjirsten Gustavson at the McNary Center, St. Paul’s Church in Kinderhook on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 3:30 pm. Admission is free to this program sponsored by the Columbia County Historical Society Volunteers.
Concert at Camphill Ghent on February 20 at 3:00 pm in the Culture Hall. You will here String Sublime: Beethoven, Bach, Fanny Mendelssohn and Brahms. Camphill Ghent is located at 2542 State Route 66 in Chatham. For more information visit www.camphillghent.org.
Columbia-Greene Community College is now offering – Earn your Business A.A.S. Degree on your schedule! Receive a quality education with 100% online delivery in a career-oriented program. Gain the knowledge and experience you need for success in private or public sector business environments. Flexibility, affordability, accessibility and quality. Apply online today at www.mycommunitycollege.com.
Columbia-Greene Community College is offering several non-credit Professional Development classes in February 2016! The 8-hour Pre-Assignment Security Guard fills up quickly, so register early. The class will be held on February 27, 8:00am-4:00pm. The fee is $90.00. In addition, we are offering the Sixteen Hour on the Job Training Course for newly hired Security Officers. This class meets on 2 Saturdays, beginning January 16, and is 8:00am-4:00pm. The fee is $150.00. Register today by calling 828-4181, ext. 3342. CGCC | Community Services
Columbia Golf & Country Club would like to congratulate Club Tennis Director, Megan Yeats! In honor of its 230 year anniversary, The Register Star recently ranked the Top 25 athletes “ever to come out of Columbia County.” Megan Yeats received a spot on the list! To quote the publication….”When it comes to playing tennis in Columbia County, there’s one name that stands head and shoulders above the rest-Hudson’s Megan Yeats. Named CG&CC Tennis Director in 2014, Megan has been key to the growing popularity of tennis at Columbia!
Save money & save lives and implement a screening program today. Cancer Services program of Columbia & Greene Counties can help at no cost to you. For more information call 518-822-8741.
Please send your news items to Amy Kneller at akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com
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