Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update    May 30, 2003

 

Text Box: Chamber program to the rescue This seems a good time to plug again the chamber’s workers’ comp group rating program. If you’re not part of another program already, this might be the time to get a quote from our partner, Compensation Consultants, by calling 1-800-837-3200. Make sure to tell them you are a member of this chamber. A DOUBLE WHAMMY FROM THE STATE: Most businesses were aware the era of dividend credits from the Bureau of Workers Compensation which has kept premiums low since 1996 is over. The bills to be issued in July will have no credits and some businesses might be paying as much as 300 percent more than the same time a year ago. On Thursday, the bureau announced that not only are the dividends going away, but premiums themselves will increase an average 9 percent starting with the bills that will be due next February. “Slower investment growth and skyrocketing medical costs make it financially impossible for us to maintain current rates or offer a dividend while still fully reserving the state insurance fund,” said BWC Administrator/CEO James Conrad.

 

ALL POLITICS ASIDE: Did you know that many township trustees draw salaries and can be eligible for health insurance coverage and pension benefits? Ever thought about running for a school board or village council seat, but thought the process was too complicated? The Governmental Affairs Committee of the chamber will try to take some of the mystery out of running for non-partisan offices with its first Candidates School on July 15. That’s well in advance of the Aug. 21 deadline that candidates have to file their petitions to run in the November election. The school will feature speakers from the Ross County Board of Elections who will guide you through the process and answer all the questions related to getting on the ballot. We’ll also try to have on hand former trustees and school board members who can give you an idea of what to expect when you are elected. The event will run 7-9 p.m. at the Ross County Service Center. We’ll open registration in a few weeks. But mark your calendars now.

 

ANNUAL SHUTDOWN STARTS SUNDAY: The MeadWestvaco annual shutdown for maintenance begins this weekend with the mill scheduled to resume full-time operations on Wednesday, June 11. Early next week, part of South Bridge Street will be closed just south of Eighth Street as the conveyor between the two mills overhead is replaced. The closure is expected to last from 7 a.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday.

 

FARMERS MARKET REMINDER: The Farmers Market has moved from Water Street to the parking lot of the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue. It runs 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday until the fall.

 

PAPERWORK BURDEN?: According to the General Accounting Office, Americans spend 8.2 billion hours filling out paperwork for the federal government. That’s up 570 million hours from fiscal year 2001. The biggest culprit? The Internal Revenue Service, of course, which was responsible for 81% of the hours which, by they way, cost the economy $230 billion a year.

 

WELCOME NEWEST MEMBER: Westside Media, owned by Stephen Patrick of 148 Belleview Ave., specializes in website design, graphic design and database solutions. The company can be reached at 740-803-1949 or through its website at www.westsidemedia.com.

 

POSSIBLE BIG CHANGES AT THE VA: They’re only in the planning stages, but some potential changes at our local VA Medical Center in coming years could include consolidating administration buildings, constructing a new patient building, closing 10 buildings total, continuing to work with the state on a veterans home and establishing a national veterans cemetery on 40 acres. Again, all changes are just in the planning stages, but if they come to fruition, the VA operation here will be strengthened.

 

DRAMA AN OHIO HOT SPOT: We already knew it, but now millions of others will know that “Tecumseh!” is one of Ohio’s 10 best “Local Secrets, Big Finds.” That’s according to the Travelocity website which culled a list of more than 40,000 entries from its members into a list 10 for each state and the DC area. With Travelocity having 40 million members, it means our outdoor drama won’t be such a big secret anymore which is good news. The drama opens its new season on June 13.

 

LOCAL MEDIA CHANGES: Several developments on the print advertising medium front: The Bag, owned by Dispatch Consumer Services, starts operations in Ross County this weekend. It will partner with Brown Publishing which is revamping the Ross County Paper which will be delivered in The Bag as well as The Ross County Advertiser. Other customers of The Bag will be Kroger, Big Bear and Sack N Save grocery inserts. At the Chillicothe Gazette, Mark Rager became advertising director with Janet Blair remaining regional advertising director, responsible also for the Lancaster operation. Also, the Gazette a few weeks ago started the Pickaway County Merchandiser shopper.

 

NEW WEBSITE: The Readers’ Retreat recently launched its website: www.chillicothereads.com.

 

Text Box: Tourism topic for luncheon Wednesday, June 11: Networking Luncheon featuring Lissa Cleary of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau, 11:30 a.m., back room at the Dock at Water, $10 per person. Online registration for luncheon CHAMBER CALENDAR:

 

This newsletter goes weekly to more than 350 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.