Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update    March 14, 2003

UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL: Next Friday you’ll have a chance to hear from and question directly our county’s two newest members of Ohio’s General Assembly. The Networking and Governmental Affairs committees are teaming to host a luncheon March 21 featuring state Sen. John Carey and state Rep. John Schlichter. With all the recent budget debates for both the remainder of this year and the new biennium, this will be a good time to hear their views on the major issues. The luncheon will be at the Christopher Conference Center 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will cost $15 per person. Carey of Wellston is the vice chairman of the Senate’s Finance and Financial Institutions Committee and also serves on the Agriculture; Energy, Natural Resources and Environment; and Highways and Transportation committees. Schlichter of Fayette County is vice chairman of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee and also serves on the Agriculture; Economic Development and Technology; and Rules and Reference committees. You must register to attend. You may follow this link (Schlichter-Carey luncheon) or call the chamber at 702-2722 by Wednesday.

PUMPED UP FOR A PARTY: The United States Enrichment Corporation is sponsoring Wednesday’s Business After Business at the Pump House Center for the Arts in Yoctangee Park. With warmer weather now upon us (thank goodness), we can expect a good turnout. Register for the BAB at BAB registration

DOWNTOWN GETTING HOT: The Downtown Associates group shortly will be unveiling its new program to promote a special shopping experience in the historic district with its “Sizzlin Summer Nights” initiative. Keep watching this space for more details. And watch for the associates’ very special BAB in August.

MARKETING EXPERTISE SOUGHT: The chamber is putting together a new Marketing and Membership Committee and is looking for members. The purpose of the committee is to “ensure that the chamber is viewed as an essential and vital organization for business and industry through strength in numbers and the image it portrays in the community.”  Possible assignments include conducting an annual membership drive, devising advertising campaigns and promoting the chamber’s brand in the community and with members. If you’d like to volunteer or want to know more, e-mail mjones@chillicotheohio.com or call me at 702-2722.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Here are recent additions to the chamber’s rolls:

• Schlegel’s coffee house at 80 N. Paint St., Bob Etling.
• Momento Ad Specialties, Melinda Nestor.
• Bethel Home Improvements, 947 E. Main St., Jim Counts.
• Edward Jones, 1536 Professional Drive, Diane “Dee” Corcoran.
• Alliance Appraisal Corporation, 20001 Old State Route 104, Melissa and Brian Forcum.
• Price Insurance, Real Estate and Auction Services, 142 N. Bridge St., Dewey Price.

BWC CHIEF TO HIGHLIGHT BANQUET: James Conrad, the chief administrator for Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, will be the featured speaker at the annual awards luncheon of the Ross County Safety Council on Thursday, April 10 at the Horizon Technology Center on Ohio 104. This week, a nice crowd was on hand for the council’s monthly luncheon (shown at left) which featured a panel discussing differences between BWC and OSHA records.

SOBERING PREDICTION: One source claims that by 2008, employers’ costs for health care will double. Those that could be hit even harder are companies with unions, manufacturers, utilities, telecommunications or those with older workforces. That allows us to make a plug for the chamber’s affiliation with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield which very well could provide your firm with better coverage at a lower cost. And keep annual increases to a minimum. Twenty-seven members already are taking advantage of this benefit of chamber membership. Give us a call if you want more details: 702-2722.

NOTICES FOR MEMBERS: If you’d like to have a notice mentioned, get us the information in written form by Thursday at 5:

• Pioneer Center is holding its 6^th Annual Awards Event Tuesday, March 25 at the Ross County Service Center. A light buffet and social hour will be at 6 and the speaker and awards starting at 7. Reservations may be made by calling 773-8044 or faxing them to 773-8052.
• The American Cancer Society is holding its “Visions of Hope” art auction and dance March 29 at the Horizon Technology Center to benefit the Ross County Relay for Life. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple. Call 702-1160 for details.
• “Lend Me a Tenor” is the 21^st production of the Ohio University-Chillicothe Theater and will be performed tonight, Saturday and Friday and Saturday next week at 8 p.m. in Bennett Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.
• The Boy Scout golf outing will be Friday, June 13 at the Players Club Course at Foxfire Golf Club. Call Henry Thrapp for details at 774-2148.

FORGOT SOMETHING? CHECK OUR WEBSITE: If you inadvertently delete this newsletter (heaven forbid) or just forget how to register for an event, you can always check our website where you’ll find links and calendars, such as for luncheons and BABs. www.chillicotheohio.com

This newsletter goes weekly to more than 370 chamber members and their employees for whom we have e-mail addresses. If you have an item you’d like to include, e-mail Executive Director Marvin Jones at mjones@chillicotheohio.com. If you or your company is a chamber member and this was forwarded to you and you would like to be included in the original mailing, reply to this e-mail. If you’d like to be omitted from this mailing, reply and ask to unsubscribe. To stay abreast of chamber activities, make sure to visit www.chillicotheohio.com frequently.