Arlington Chamber Celebrates 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala; The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide; West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance Holds First Meeting of 2019; Robert Moses Selected to serve another year as President of WCCE Board of Directors; WMC Wisconsin Student Resources Packet; Traverse City Area Chamber partnership: $10M aimed to promote sports and tourism; Romeoville Chamber of Commerce To Host "Planning Your Year Strategically" Business Lunch; Indiana Chamber concern: Governor is right to focus on workforce; How to Stay Safe During Record-Cold Weather; Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map; Mississippi Economic Council Tour to Focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities - 12 locations still to go in 2019; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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


Arlington Chamber Celebrates 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala

Sold-out event raises revenue to support Chamber's work to empower Arlington's business community

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted its 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala on Saturday, January 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. The sold-out gala, hosted by 2019 Chamber Chair Greg Hamilton of Arlington Magazine, was the Chamber's first major event of 2019 and entertained 370 guests, including members of the Virginia General Assembly, Arlington's Constitutional Officers, all five members of the Arlington County Board, and business leaders from across the area.

"This year's Arlington Business Gala was one of our most successful yet," said Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates. "Everyone in attendance had a terrific time and supported the Chamber's mission to strengthen Arlington's business environment. We are grateful for everyone who contributed to this event, and look forward to an exceptional 2019."

Attendees enjoyed a three-course dinner, mingling with fellow Arlington business leaders, dancing to music by the Bachelor Boys Band, and participating in the silent and live auctions. The silent auction featured items varying from all-inclusive tropical vacations and autographed sports memorabilia to fine jewelry, tickets to unique experiences around town, and more.

During the live auction, attendees had the chance to bid on high-demand items like 8 hours of transportation for a wine tour; a Washington Capitals package with an autographed goalie stick, a puck, and lower level tickets; a catered dinner for 50; and a luxurious two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park. Guests also had the opportunity to win a catered meal for 10 and to enter a raffle drawing to win accommodations to the award winning, five-star Establos Boutique Inn in Panama. VIPs in attendance included Senator Barbara Favola (D-Arlington); Delegate Patrick Hope (D-Arlington); Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, Vice Chair Libby Garvey, and members Katie Cristol, Matt de Ferranti, and Erik Gutshall; Sheriff Beth Arthur; Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy; Treasurer Carla de la Pava; and Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos. This year's Arlington Business Gala was made possible thanks to our many sponsors, including Grand Sponsor Classic Cottages. The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Map is available at the chamber today ! Thanks to the Maggie Dobson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! Cedarburg Community Guide 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. West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance Holds First Meeting of 2019 The West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (WKRCA) Board of Directors recently met for a planning session for the upcoming year. Leading the meeting was Board Chair Matt Snow with Baptist Health Paducah. Snow said “I am excited to serve this year as Chair of the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance. We serve as an alliance of Chambers in fourteen western Kentucky counties from Fulton County to Christian County. By working together with a common voice, there is no doubt we can make a major impact. We can assure that our concerns in western Kentucky regarding legislation, education, infrastructure and economic development are heard at the state and federal levels.” Serving with Snow on the Executive Committee are: Chair – Elect: Mike Radcliffe, Community Financial Services Bank (Marshall County) Treasurer: Mike Karnes, Williams, Williams & Lentz (McCracken County) Immediate Past Chair / Advocacy Chair: John Mahre, John C. Mahre, AIA, NCARB, Architect (Christian County) At Large Member: Lance Allison, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing (Calloway County) At Large Member: Bruce Akin, First Kentucky Bank (Livingston County) At Large Member: Denise Thompson, Marketing / Social Media Chair, Mayfield – Graves County Chamber of Commerce At Large Member: Wendy Baxter, Website Chair, Sullivan University (Graves County) In addition, the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance recently went through an organizational rebranding and is debuting its new logo (pictured above). Marketing / Social Media Chair Thompson said “Our new logo better communicates our organization’s identity and purpose. We also plan to increase our presence on social media to help keep the many communities we serve better informed about the work we do on their behalf.” The goal of the WKRCA is to be a catalyst for uniting regional leadership and resources and to advocate with one voice, to improve economic opportunities, to create a climate of sustainable growth and success and to build a stronger community. The organization has been a champion for the completion of Interstate 69, which is now in its final stages, and has advocated for the completion of Olmsted Lock and Dam, which opened last year, and the Kentucky Lock. For the 2019 Legislative Session, the WKRCA has supported the repeal of the bank franchise tax and the sales tax on nonprofits and has communicated its positions to the local legislators. It is also a member of the Kentucky Infrastructure Coalition, which strongly supports a long-term, sustainable funding approach that provides adequate revenues for all modes of transportation. On the federal level, the WKRCA voiced its support of the Hemp Farming Act to its Congressional delegation. Counties included in the WKRCA are Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg. For more information about WKRCA, please contact Coordinator Fran Johnson at fjohnson@paducahchamber.org Contact: Denise Thompson, Marketing Committee Chair West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance 270-247-6101 office denise@mayfieldgraveschamber.com Robert Moses Selected to serve another year as President of WCCE Board of Directors Robert Moses, president/CEO of the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, has been selected by his peers to serve another year as President of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors. Moses served as president in 2018, has been a board officer since 2014 and a member of the board serving as director since 2011. WMC Wisconsin Student Resources Packet View this brochure to read more about Wisconsin. To receive a Student Resources Packet via mail, contact Shelly Millar, 608.258.3400. Traverse City Area Chamber partnership: $10M aimed to promote sports and tourism State lawmakers approved a budget bill in late December that could provide up to $10 million dollars to create a Northern Michigan Sports Commission that would direct state dollars to sports and recreational-related facilities in northern Michigan. The fund — Northern Michigan Regional Tourism and Sports Fund — is a result of a proposal made by state Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), which will focus on improving or creating top-level athletic and recreational facilities and events in the region. The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce has been a partner in pushing for the proposal to pass for more than a year. “I am so grateful that through the hard work of many, including the Traverse City Area Chamber and other Northern Michigan chambers, that we were able to secure significant funding for this strategic, transformative opportunity for Northern Michigan’s dynamic and diverse sports, entertainment and recreation events and infrastructure,” Sen. Casperson said in a TC Chamber release. “I’m excited to see what the future brings through this funding and convinced it will leverage even more significant resources that will permit us to showcase Northern Michigan far beyond our region and continue to build our area economy.” Read more: Record-Eagle Romeoville Chamber of Commerce To Host "Planning Your Year Strategically" Business Lunch January 31st  11:00-1:00 Joliet Junior College Romeoville Campus Collaboration Room 1125 W. Romeo Rd, Romeoville Fees/Admission: $30 for participant and guest The Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce with Joliet Junior College present "2019 Planning Your Year Strategically" with Michelle Smith Hosted by Joliet Junior College in their Innovative Collaboration Space, this planning session, led by Michelle Smith, will take participants through a strategic framework that will build a plan focused on the goals of your organization. You and your guest will enjoy a full and exciting two-hour afternoon of strategic planning. Michelle Smith is the Founder and President of Z&B Consulting, Inc. She is a business consultant, trainer and public speaker who empowers small businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs to “Be Strategic” and “Be Intentional” so that they can “Be Successful” in their business and in life. This session will be co-led by Lenny Criddle, MBA (Executive Director of the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce) and Margie Cepon, MA (Associate Professor at Joliet Junior College Business Department). What’s included: 2-hour strategy session Lunch Strategy Worksheets Strategy Workbook ($20 Value) $30 for participant and guest. To sign up, email info@romeovillechamber.org or call the chamber office at 815-886-2076. Indiana Chamber concern: Governor is right to focus on workforce In his State of the State address, Gov. Eric Holcomb rightly concentrated his focus on workforce development. Educating and training Hoosier workers and attracting top talent to Indiana must be priorities to achieve long-term success for our state. Indiana’s economy is strong. At 3.6 percent, our unemployment rate is lower than all of our neighboring states. We’re consistently ranked among the best states in the nation for business climate, and we continue to attract record investment and jobs. In 2018, nearly 300 companies committed to creating more than 30,000 new jobs and investing more than $7 billion in our state. These jobs are not just in traditional Hoosier industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and logistics; they’re increasingly in technology. In fact, a quarter of these new jobs are in the tech industry. Indiana is quickly gaining a reputation as the tech hub of the Midwest. Indianapolis ranked fourth in the nation for technology job growth last year, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. This is all good news for Indiana’s future growth potential. But as our workforce needs change, our worker training and talent pipeline must too. According to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Workforce Trends Survey, more than half of employers said they left jobs unfilled because they couldn’t find qualified candidates, and one-third cited this as their biggest challenge as a company. A recent tech industry study by Indianapolis-based Powderkeg underscores the issue, citing talent recruitment as the most significant and costly challenge facing the industry. Ensuring Indiana’s workforce can meet the demands of our modern economy is critical. To do so will require not only changing how we train our workers, but also increasing our ability to attract out-of-state talent. During his State of the State address, the governor announced plans to address both. Read more: Indianapolis Business Journal  How to Stay Safe During Record-Cold Weather Wisconsin Safety Council – the state’s leading provider of safety training and products – reminds all Wisconsinites to take extra precautions during this week’s record-cold temperatures. While Midwest winters can lead to a variety of dangerous situations, it is important to be prepared for both snowy conditions and low temperatures. Temperatures throughout Wisconsin will fall below -20 degrees on Wednesday, with wind chills as low as -60 degrees. As the temperatures plummet far below zero, Wisconsin Safety Council urges everyone to take the necessary steps to stay safe this week and throughout winter. Tips to Stay Safe During Cold Weather: Check the temperature and limit your time outdoors if it’s very cold, wet or windy Bundle up in several layers of loose clothing Wear mittens rather than gloves Cover your ears with a warm hat (Up to 40 percent of body heat can be lost through the head) Wear socks that will keep your feet warm and dry, and wear insulated boots Keep a change of dry clothing with you in case your clothes become wet Driving Tips for Cold Weather: Keep your gas tank filled and ensure your vehicle has fresh antifreeze Ensure your spare tire is inflated and your vehicle has a wheel wrench and tripod jack Travel with a shovel in your vehicle Have an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes: jumper cables, a tool kit, flashlight with extra batteries, reflective triangle, first aid kit, nonperishable foods, matches in a waterproof container, blankets, mittens, socks and hats Ensure all ice is scraped off your vehicle’s windows before traveling Keep your windshield washer fluid filled Common Cold Weather Dangers: Frostbite Even skin that is protected can be subject to frostbite. It’s the most common injury resulting from exposure to severe cold, and it usually occurs on fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. If caught early, it is possible to prevent permanent damage. If not, frostbite can lead to amputation. Superficial frostbite affects the skin surface, while the underlying tissue remains soft. The skin appears white, waxy or grayish-yellow and is cold and numb. If the condition is allowed to progress to deep frostbite, all layers of the skin are affected and the outcome likely will be more serious. The skin will become completely numb, blisters may form and eventually the skin tissue dies and turns black. If you suspect frostbite: Get indoors immediately Seek medical attention Remove constrictive clothing and jewelry that could impair circulation Place dry, sterile gauze between toes and fingers to absorb moisture and keep them from sticking together Elevate the affected area to reduce pain and swelling For superficial frostbite, you may also place the affected area in water that is 100 to 105 degrees until the tissue softens Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees. Severe shivering, one of the first signs of hypothermia, is beneficial in keeping the body warm. But as hypothermia progresses, shivering gives way to drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, shallow breathing, irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, loss of coordination and, eventually, unconsciousness and even death. If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia: Move the victim inside and remove any wet clothing Call for medical attention Add blankets, pillows, towels or newspapers beneath and around the victim Cover the victim’s head Handle the victim gently to avoid cardiac arrest Keep the victim in a horizontal position If necessary, give CPR For employers who want their teams to be more prepared for emergency situations that can occur in cold weather – and throughout the year – Wisconsin Safety Council offers training courses on Emergency Preparedness and First Aid. Click the link below for a full calendar of safety training courses: Wisconsin Safety Council Training Calendar For more information about staying safe during cold weather, please visit the following links: OSHA – Preventing Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities During Winter Storms National Safety Council – Be Prepared for Winter Driving National Safety Council – Frostbite and Hypothermia For more information, please contact: Nick Novak, 608.258.3400 Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber map The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the New Castle-Henry County Chamber today! Thanks to Jeff Emsweller and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! Town SquarePublications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.  Mississippi Economic Council Tour to Focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities - 12 locations still to go in 2019 Click Here to Register MEC's mission is to build a sense of statewide community - and we'll be coming your way very soon! This year, the MEC Tour will visit 20 locations around Mississippi, helping connect business leaders, community advocates, and elected officials at both the state and local level - and working together to make Mississippi a great place to live and do business. MEC needs YOUR input, feedback, and insight into how we can make Mississippi a great place to live and grow! The MEC Tour will focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities. We'll Also Discuss: Economic Competitiveness and Job Creation Workforce and Educational Achievement Business Climate Enhancement Workplace Wellness And More! Either breakfast or lunch will be provided at each MEC Tour event, and each session will last approximately 90 minutes. There is no cost to attend thanks to a generous sponsorship from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; however, pre-registration is required. The MEC Tour is Generously Sponsored by: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Click Here to Register 2019 MEC Tour Schedule Lincoln County - Tuesday, January 15 - 11:30am-1:00pm Mitchell's Special Events & Catering - 1203 Hampton Dr., Brookhaven, MS 39601 80 Attendees Lauderdale County - Tuesday, January 22 - 7:30am-9:00am MSU Riley Center - 2200 5th Street, Meridian, MS 39301 80 Attendees Washington County - Thursday, January 24 - 11:30am-1:00pm Greenville Country Club - 2476 Highway 1 South, Greenville, MS 38701 115 Attendees Pearl River County - Tuesday, January 29 - 11:30am-1:00pm Senior Center of South Pearl River County - 45 El Patch Parkway, Picayune, MS 39466 45 Attendees Forrest County - Friday, February 1 - 7:00am-8:00am Southern Oaks House and Gardens - 1246 Richburg Rd, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Alcorn County - Tuesday, February 5 - 11:30am-1:00pm The Franklin Courtyard - 201 Franklin Courtyard, Corinth, MS 38834 Neshoba County - Monday, February 11 - 11:30am-1:00pm Ronnie's Steak & Grill - 734 Pecan Ave., Philadelphia, MS 39350 Rankin County - Tuesday, February 19 - 11:30am-1:00pm The Clyde Muse Center - 515 Country Place Parkway, Pearl, MS 39208 Hancock County - Wednesday, February 27 - 11:30am-1:00pm Bay Waveland Yacht Club - #1 Yacht Club Dr. Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 Lee County - Friday, March 8 - 7:00am-8:30am Elvis Birthplace - 306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801 Coahoma County - Tuesday, March 19 - 11:30am-1:00pm Stone Pony Pizza - 226 Delta Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614 DeSoto County - Thursday, March 28 - 11:30am-1:00pm Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center - 700 Hacks Cross Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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 Chamber Proposal