Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Update January 10, 2003
OVERWHELMING: There’s no other way to describe the stampede this week for reservations for this year’s annual dinner meeting. As of 11 Friday morning we were starting a waiting list for those wishing to attend the dinner which will feature Ben Hartsock (No. 88 in this Fiesta Bowl photo), Ross County’s representative on the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes football team. The dinner is Thursday, Jan. 23 at St. Mary’s Family Life Center beginning at 6 with a social hour. We are expecting more than 300 to attend the dinner which also features the announcement of the winners of the Sparkle, Volunteer of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awards. There is a very real chance we’ll be dipping into the waiting list on Monday, so don’t hesitate to call for reservations or to fax the form that was in the Dateline newsletter.
STILL CAN PARTICIPATE: We continue to accept donations for door prizes for the annual dinner. The prize should have a value of at least $25. If you have an item you’d like to donate, give Cami a call at 702-2722 or e-mail her at ccarroll@chillicotheohio.com.
SPECIAL MEETING ON CITY SCHOOLS: The Governmental Affairs and Networking committees are teaming up to sponsor a special breakfast Wednesday, Jan. 29 in which the city schools building program will be presented and discussed. Superintendent Dennis Leone, Treasurer Stacy Overly, a board member or two and maybe a representative from the architectural firm hired by the schools will be on hand to talk about where the schools stand in the process and what lies ahead. The breakfast will be held in the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue in Room A. The cost will be $5.
TOURISM DOLLARS ON THE WAY: It appears the Chillicothe City Council will be moving shortly to appropriate $25,000 for the Ross Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau. Facing a tough budget year (like so many others), the council originally had allocated no money for this important function, but newer tax projections make the expenditure possible. This will allow the bureau to use this money to better promote the bicentennial and tourism in general. With any kind of luck, the council in the future will approve a percentage of the motel bed tax going to the agency rather than having to make a decision each year about the funding level.
D-O-N-A-T-E A P-R-I-Z-E: The Ross-Pike Educational Service District is looking to area businesses to donate prizes or make a small contribution for the annual Ross County Spelling Bee. Middle school students from all over the county will participate on Feb. 21. To contribute, call Sylvia Metzler at 702-3120 or e-mail her at smetzler@mail.gsn.k12.oh.us.
SAFETY REPORTS DUE THIS WEEK: Members of the Ross County Safety Council need to complete and send their semi-annual reports to the chamber by Wednesday. These reports are one element of the funding for the council which provides programs and activities to make workplaces safer for all employees and lower workers compensation premiums for employers.
MAJOR COMMITMENT: MeadWestvaco continued its commitment to the community this week with the announcement it plans to donate $300,000 toward the expansion project of the Ross County Historical Society. This award gets the society to 95 percent of the funding for the facility on West Fifth Street which should be open in May.
LOANS AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESS START-UPS: A grant to the city makes possible low-interest loans to assist new businesses. Applicants must live and begin their business within the city limits and meet low-to-moderate income guidelines as well as complete a 12-week training session that starts Feb. 11. The cost is $100, but scholarships are available. Contact the city’s Economic Development Department at 773-8032 for more details.
WASTE SURVEYS DUE IN FEBRUARY: Lorna Abbot, coordinator of the area’s solid waste management district, reminds everyone the Industrial Waste Survey for 2002 is due in her office Feb. 15. The results become part of the district’s annual report required by the Ohio EPA. Call Lorna at 774-3793 for more information.
WEDNESDAY IS BAB DAY: Don’t forget that Wednesday is the next Business After Business. It will be at Infosight on U.S. 23 about five miles north of Chillicothe. It will be in the first building after you turn into the entrance. It will be 5-7 p.m. The prize in the raffle that benefits the Pathfinders program will be a cache of gift certificates to area restaurants.
PREMIUM SPONSORS WILL GET PREMIUM PLAY: This year the chamber will have six Gold and two Silver members. These premium sponsors will have their names on a banner that will be at all chamber events plus they get the chance to advertise on the chamber’s home page on the website in addition to other perks. Those taking advantage of the sponsorships were, at the Gold level: Etched in Our Memories, Chillicothe Paints, Personnel Solutions, Herlihy Moving and Storage, Chillicothe Nursing and Rehabilitation and Horizon Chillicothe Telephone. Silver members are Manpower and Security Engineering.
STRESS MANAGEMENT SEMINAR IS JAN. 28: The Ross County Workforce Academy, part of the chamber’s Workforce Development program, is sponsoring a stress management seminar Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the Ross County Service Center from noon to 4 p.m. Ted Janusz, who holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, will be the presenter. To register, click on this link: Workforce Academy registration
This newsletter goes weekly to more than 350 of the chamber’s members 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’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.