Weekly electronic newsletter      September 13, 2002

HEALTH PLAN FOR SINGLES AVAILABLE: Is your business a one-person operation? Or maybe there are just two or three of you. And is getting affordable health insurance a problem? Check out a new program now available because of your chamber membership. Go to www.chillicotheohio.com and scroll to the bottom right. Click on the link and get all the details of this program. This plan also has provisions for retirees looking for Medicare supplemental insurance and for anyone interested in a dental plan.

CANDIDATES NIGHT: Want to hear what local candidates think about business issues? Then our Candidates Night Tuesday is the forum. The chamber is co-sponsoring this event with the Ross County Farm Bureau. It will be held starting at 7 p.m. at the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue. Candidates for state senator, state representative and county commissioner will  be on hand.

CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING: Want to make sure your employees are taking care of your customers the right way? The Workforce Academy, a program of the chamber, is sponsoring two seminars on customer service the next two weeks. Both are 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue. The first is next Wednesday, Sept. 18 and the second is Wednesday, Sept. 25. The cost is $10 per session. To register, call Adrienne Sims at 779-2946 or e-mail ccinfo@chillicotheohio.com.

NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP? The local Veterans Affairs Medical Center has started a new Speakers Bureau. The bureau can provide qualified speakers on many healthcare-related topics as well as topics such as bio-terrorism, the Business of Music, and a history of Camp Sherman. Call 772-7080 and ask for the chief information officer.

GOOD LUCK TO DIANNA: Our business relations manager, Dianna Dunkle, is headed next week to Stafford Appliance Repair as operations manager. Our hat’s off to Dianna for getting our Workforce Investment Network started and for its growth these past two years. Her successor should be named in about a month. Applications are still being accepted. Details are on our website through the Job Bank link on the left side.

NEXT BAB IS SEPT. 25: The September Business After Business will be held at Southeastern Business College on Western Avenue and is being co-sponsored by the Chillicothe Animal Clinic. It is 5-7 p.m. To pre-register, call Carrie here at the chamber at 702-2722.

NEED COUNTY-CITY MAPS?: We have quite a few left and they are yours for the asking. Just stop by the office and we’ll get you what you need. A new map should be available in about six months.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The chamber’s first Regional Business Expo is Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28 at Shoemaker Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe. Volunteers are needed for either one or both days. We have more than 40 booths sold and we’re expecting a good crowd that day. Call Cami here at the chamber to have her tell you how you can help.

TELL A FRIEND: About this newsletter. If they don’t receive it, get in touch with us either by phone or through an e-mail so that we can include them each time it’s published.

GREAT AS GIFTS OR PRIZES: Our Certifichecks program is a great way to give your employees a gift of great value or as super birthday, anniversary or Christmas gifts. It’s like any gift certificate, except these are redeemable at more than 80 merchants in Ross County. Merchants treat them the same as a check and you’ll give the receiver many more options. Go to our website and click on the “Certificates” link on the left.

STILL TIME TO PARTICIPATE: Reservations are still being taken for the chamber annual golf outing. The deadline is Sept. 30. The event is Thursday, Oct. 3 at Valley Vista Golf Course near Bainbridge. The cost is $75 per player or $300 per team. First-place winners will split a $400 prize. Also, if you’d like to participate by offering door prizes, tees, sleeves of balls or other items, give us a call at 702-2722.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY: You might want to be on hand Monday when the “official” groundbreaking ceremony is held in Richmond Dale for the last widening of U.S. 35 in Ross County. Many people in this area have spent countless hours and days to make this a reality. The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. near where Clary Trucking formerly did business.

RIBBON-CUTTING: Robert Goodfriend, chairman and CEO of Goody’s (second from left), was on hand to help cut the ribbon to the newly renovated store in Chillicothe Mall last Friday.