Howell chamber wins Outstanding Chamber of the Year; Geneva Holiday House Tour Tickets Available; Romeoville 2016 Community & Membership Directory; Fredericksburg Chamber President Susan Spears Receives Metzger Award; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Commitment); 2nd Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit; Chamber event: 38th annual Peter Anderson Festival off to perfect start in Ocean Springs; Town Square Chamber Membership Guides and Maps; Greensburg-Decatur County ribbon-cutting: Grace Lutheran Community celebrates expansion; Donald Schwartz resigns as Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce President

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!


Howell chamber wins Outstanding Chamber of the Year


The ballots are in and, drum roll please, Howell has one of the best chambers of commerce in Michigan.

The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals on Thursday named the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce as the winner of the Outstanding Chamber of the Year in the large chamber category.

"We are delighted to be recognized, and I am pleased seeing our board and staff and volunteers who all work so hard to be recognized with this award," said Howell chamber president Pat Convery, who also serves as the MACP's president. "The award is very meaningful because it is judged by independent, out-of-state chamber executives who really don't know any of the nominees; it's just based on the nomination document."

The Howell chamber beat the Traverse City and Grand Rapids chambers. Convery picked up the plaque during the MACP's award banquet at the University of Michigan football stadium. Read more: Livingston Daily Press & Argus



Geneva Holiday House Tour Tickets Available

Tradition and surprise. It would not be Christmas without them, and Geneva’s Christmas Walk and House Tour offer both.

Friday evening begins with Graham’s Chocolates First Candy Cane of the season being presented with great fanfare followed by the arrival of Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season, who will offer Swedish cookies to merry-makers. The Great Tree on the Courthouse lawn is lit and then young and young at heart will wait with anticipation as Santa Claus arrives on a horse-drawn carriage. Santa and Mrs. Claus will then open their gingerbread home for visits from excited children.

Serenaded by carolers, families stroll Geneva’s historic marketplace, nibbling on fresh-roasted chestnuts, and dodging into brightly lit shops and restaurants along the way. For Santa Hours and Carriage Ride times, visit Geneva Chamber of Commerce's website.

Christmas House Tour
Those who aren’t downtown, might be touring holiday-decked homes. The Christmas House Tour (11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 & 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3) also another tradition, but thanks to the diversity of homes and the creativity of local designers, it is filled with unexpected treats.

For a sneak preview and more information visit the Chamber's website.

Tickets include a holiday tea and are available for $30. Proceeds are used to decorate Geneva for the holiday season. Purchase at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 8 S. Third St. or at any of the locations listed below (in Geneva unless indicated otherwise). Call the Chamber at 630-232-6060 to order over the phone. Read more: Patch.com

Romeoville 2016 Community & Membership Directory  

The Romeoville 2016 Community & Membership Directory is available at the Romeoville Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Michelle Jarnutowski, Gina Sopko and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Town Square Publications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Greensburg-Decatur County ribbon-cutting: Grace Lutheran Community celebrates expansion

To celebrate their building’s expansion, Grace Lutheran Community held a ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 28 at their 737 N. West Street location in Greensburg.

According to their website, Grace Lutheran Community is for those ages 62 and older and/or mobility impaired with lower incomes. It also has 40 studio and one-bedroom apartments, and the rent is based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines for income level, age, and disability. Also, residents pay just 30 percent of adjusted gross income to cover rent and select utilities.

The facility opened in 1990.

Grace Lutheran Community Manager Debbie Robbins said they’ve added two new offices, a handicap-accessible laundry room, a wellness center, a room for residents to play the Nintendo Wii, and a room for fellowship.

“We’re very, very excited about everything, because we’ve made so many improvements to our building,” Robbins said.

Robbins mentioned that residents have shared their excitement about the new opportunities that await them due to the new wing on the building’s west side. But renovations were also made to the showers to create a more comfortable environment for the residents. The glass showers allow for an individual to place seats in them, allowing residents to feel more safe and secure, the manger added. Read more: Greensburg Daily News

Fredericksburg Chamber President Susan Spears Receives Metzger Award

Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Susan Spears received the The Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award at the 23rd annual University of Mary Washington (UMW) Leadership Colloquium on November 3, 2016.

The Metzger Award, awarded annually since 1999, "recognizes individuals who uphold high standards in their personal and professional lives while fulfilling a career goal of significant stature." It is given in memory of Patricia Lacey Metzger, a UMW professor and a founder of the Leadership Colloquium.

Spears has served as chamber president since 2010. She is also Executive Director for Leadership Fredericksburg, and serves on the boards of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, University of Virginia Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, Families of the Wounded Fund - Fredericksburg, and Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, among others. She was appointed by City Council to serve on the Fredericksburg Memorials Advisory Commission.

The Leadership Colloquium prepares women for leadership positions. Highlights include an annual conference on the first Thursday in November, quarterly networking events and a monthly blog.  Read more: Fredericksburg Today

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Commitment)

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead 

2nd Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit


Creating a highly skilled workforce requires strong public programs and leadership from the private sector.

The 2nd Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit: Solutions for Economic Competitiveness will focus on what is happening right now in Kentucky — and what needs to happen going forward — to ensure the quality of the state’s workforce and improve the state’s economic position at home and around the globe.

Experts from industry and government will share insights and information about:
building a talent pipeline of workers;
creating employer-led collaboratives to address specific workforce needs;
using data to make decisions about training and hiring; and
programs that let people learn new skills while gaining experience on the job.

Register now, and demonstrate your investment in the future of the Commonwealth's workforce!

Sponsors and Exhibitors: Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available.

Click here to view benefits and contact Andrea Flanders, sponsorship development manager

at 502-848-8723 to learn more or to reserve a sponsorship and/or exhibit booth.

Chamber event: 38th annual Peter Anderson Festival off to perfect start in Ocean Springs

Perfect weather, massive crowds and a head-spinning array of arts, crafts, food and more made for an outstanding start as the 38th annual Peter Anderson Festival got underway in downtown Ocean Springs Saturday.

The event annually draws upwards of 150,000 over its two days. By midday Saturday, tens of thousands were packed onto Washington Avenue and Government Street, along side streets and inside bars and restaurants.

"We're off to the greatest start we've had maybe ever," said Ocean Springs alderman Chic Cody, the city's liaison to the festival. "The weather is absolutely beautiful. All the people are happy and I don't know if we've ever had this much activity at the festival this early. Everyone is cooperating, working together, having a good time – and spending a lot of money."

A record 440 vendors purchased booth space this year. Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce staffers estimated at least 150 of those have been coming to the festival for 10 years or more, with 30-40 of those participating for 20 years or more.

Several longtime vendors explained the appeal of the Peter Anderson Festival.

"It's definitely the sales," said Yvonne Brown of Gulfport, laugin. Brown began working the festival as a student as William Carey University and has continued to return with her Yvonne Brown Pottery.

"But it's also getting to see the people who buy my pottery and being able to talk to them," she added. "Some of them I see year after year and it's fun to catch up with them each year. We've developed a pretty loyal clientele' here at the festival."

That was a common theme among longtime vendors -- great sales, but with personal appeal.

"Sales are good here," said Mike Doyle. He and his partner, Tim Waugh, have been bringing their Nautical Visions wood art to the festival for 12 years. "It's a great crowd of people here."

"I've been to festivals where there were more people than this," said Waugh, "but nobody was buying anything. People who come here and looking to buy. A lot of them come looking for unique Christmas gifts."

Local vendors don't see things any differently.

"It's definitely the sales, but it's also seeing all the people and having fun," said Ocean Springs native Steve White, who has had his Steve White Photography booth at the festival for 16 years. Read more: GulfLive.com

Town Square Chamber Membership Guides and Maps

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here

Donald Schwartz resigns as Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce President

After almost eight years in the role, Donald Schwartz ended his time as president of the Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce, effective Oct. 31.

"It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I'm resigning as president of the Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce," he said in an email to chamber members.

In the coming weeks, the chamber will appoint a temporary president who will fill the role until elections are held in April.

Though Schwartz has elected to focus more on his "day job" as vice president of project development and communications for Scherrer Construction Company, he still plans to remain heavily involved in the Hales Corners community as a village trustee, president of the Friends of Hales Corners Park and Pool and liaison to the Veteran's Memorial Committee.

Schwartz also plans to be community-driven in his day job's non-profit organization, Scherrer Cares, where he will be playing an integral role in their statewide anti-bullying campaign. Read more: South Now