Personal Power. Don't squander it. via the Carol Stream Chamber; Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. selected as finalist for national Chamber of the Year award; Wauwatosa Chamber: Public Officials Update with Senator Dale Kooyenga; Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber webinar: Retail Best Practices in the Post Pandemic-mall Era; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Be happy; A (Virtual) Cedarburg Snapshot presented by Port Washington State Bank; Mclean County Chamber: Gearing Up for Phase 3; Top of Virginia Virtual ribbon cutting held for Renewed Living; COVID-19: Aspire Operations, Programs, Information, ReOpening Plan; Midland Business Alliance: Mitigating Your Business Risk as You Re-Open; Rebuilding Mississippi: Changes in the job force; Indiana Chamber Webinar: Return to Work – Diving into Recent Executive Orders, Employee Health Screening/Testing and Contact Tracing - Thursday, May 28 – Noon - 1:30 EDT; The State of Illinois releases industry-specific guidelines to ensure safe reopening during Phase 3; Kentucky Chamber: :THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ACCESS TO CHILD CARE IN KENTUCKY; MIOSHA Workplace Guidelines, New Hotline to Protect Michigan Workers;

Presented by Town Square Publications

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

Personal Power. Don't squander it. via the Carol Stream Chamber

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” - Alice Walker

When going through challenging times we often feel powerless. We seem to be at the mercy of circumstances or other people’s choices. But no matter how bleak things become, we have far more power than we realize.

Power is generally experienced as the ability to make choices.

While we may lack many choices we wish we had, the truth is that we have far more choices than we realize—choices that are often neglected because we are focused on the ones we have been denied.

Here are a few of the choices that we have even in the worst times:

·        

How we treat others: We always have a choice how we treat others. It is easy to give ourselves permission to be mean and inconsiderate in the midst of a crisis. Kindness and respect are even more important when disaster strikes.

·        

How we treat ourselves: Often, we treat ourselves even worse than we treat others. Maybe we blame ourselves for poor choices that contributed to our situation—or perversely blame ourselves for things we had no control over. Shame and condemnation are never helpful whether directed at others or ourselves.

·        

How we think about the present: It is easy to focus on what is wrong. Our brains are naturally programmed to feel loss twice as much as it does gain. But there is a way to change that programming. When we practice gratitude, we notice and experience more things to be grateful for.

·        

How we think about the future: To some degree we are able to shape the future, but we always can choose how we think about the future. A realistic optimism gives us the best chance to identify and to take advantage of the opportunities for innovation and discovery that come with change.

·        

How we spend our time: Perhaps the most significant choice we have is how we spend our time. We can spend it deepening our relationships, learning new skills, or tackling those projects we just never seemed to have time for. Alternatively, we can binge watch Tiger King or play Candy Crush Saga on our phones.

That’s a lot of power. Don’t squander it. And certainly don’t give it away.

—Rod Pickett

Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. selected as finalist for national Chamber of the Year award

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. has been named a finalist for a national 2020 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Alexandria, Va.-based Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The awards are the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by ACCE. ACCE is an association of more than 9,000 professionals from 1,500 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas.

“Just being asked to apply for this award is an honor. Being selected as a finalist is a great win,” said John Urbahns, president and CEO of GFW Inc. “As we pursue our mission of building a nationally recognized economy, we’re always striving to be the best in everything we do. It’s a testament to our members, our board of directors, our hard-working staff, and our community that we’re in the position to be considered among the best in the country.”

The Chamber of the Year awards recognize the leadership role chambers have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity, and quality of life.

“Congratulations to the Chamber of the Year finalists. These chambers are among the most impactful organizations within the industry,” said ACCE president and CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “These chambers are community champions, providing the catalytic leadership needed to help address their region’s greatest challenges.”

Qualifying for Chamber of the Year is a rigorous process. Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey. Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.

This year’s competition drew numerous entries from chambers throughout the U.S. To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population, and other factors. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. is one of four finalists in Category Three. Winners for each of the four categories will be announced later this year.

Wauwatosa Chamber: Public Officials Update with Senator Dale Kooyenga

Please join us on Thursday, May 28, 2020 for a legislative update with State Senator Dale Kooyenga. He represents Wisconsin’s 5th Senate District, which includes parts of Wauwatosa, Brookfield, West Allis and New Berlin.

Senator Kooyenga sits on many committees that are important to the business community such as Education, Health and Human Services, Universities, Technical Colleges and Children & Families, as well as, the Joint Committees on Information Policy and Technology; and Tax Exemptions.

Remember to bring your questions for the Senator! Thank you.
Date: Thursday, May 28th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Place: ZOOM online meeting
Cost: FREE for Wauwatosa Chamber members and $10 for non-members

Location: Via Zoom.
After you register, we will send you the sign in information.

Sponsorship Opportunity - $250
Admission for five (5)
Logo on marketing materials
Logo block on Zoom Event

REGISTER HERE


Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber webinar: Retail Best Practices in the Post Pandemic-mall Era

Wednesday, June 3, 2020; 11 AM - 12:00 PM

Click here to RSVP

As Michigan retailers reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown, customers will have new expectations for their dining and shopping experiences. This fast-paced session will explore the new opportunities for downtown shopping districts to offer the goods and services desired and needed by families, millennials and empty nesters. Best practices for branding, experiential shopping, merchandising and store planning will be illustrated with numerous case studies calibrated for the Birmingham-Bloomfield will be discussed.


#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Be happy

"One bad chapter doesn’t mean your story is over."

A (Virtual) Cedarburg Snapshot presented by Port Washington State Bank

Date: June 4, 2020
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM CDT
Register Now

Event Description:
Join the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce at A (Virtual) Cedarburg Snapshot, presented by Port Washington State Bank.

This state of the community will feature information and comments from City of Cedarburg mayor, Mike O'Keefe, Town of Cedarburg chairman, Dave Salvaggio, and Cedarburg School District superintendent, Todd Bugnacki.
Event Media:

Location: This event will be conducted live online, and a login is available to pre-registered attendants via an e-mailed link. A Cedarburg Snapshot will be recorded and shared on the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and on cedarburg.org.

Pre-registration required by June 2, 2020

All those who pre-register to attend the live event will be e-mailed a link to submit a question to the speakers.

Contact Information:
Maggie Dobson, Cedarburg Chamber Executive Director
Send an Email

Fees/Admission: FREE



Mclean County Chamber: Gearing Up for Phase 3

Currently all four regions of the state are set to enter Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan next Friday. This week brought Governor Pritzker’s announcement that the plan is being amended in some capacity. Now in Phase 3 restaurants and bars will have the option of hosting outdoor dining so long as social distancing and municipal guidelines are followed. Additionally, golfing foursomes will now be allowed on the course with golf carts permitted with one individual per cart. Illinoisans are still encouraged to get outside as all state parks will open on May 29, and boating and camping activities will be allowed for groups of up to ten. Phase 3 also allows for non-essential establishments, close contact services, and some fitness centers to reopen under strict social distancing and public health guidance. Additional guidance is expected in the coming days.

Top of Virginia Virtual ribbon cutting held for Renewed Living

From the time she was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2001, Elaine Gibson said she knew a traditional treatment method wouldn’t be the route for her.

So, the first time around she went to Mexico for a treatment plan. Her cancer went into remission quickly. But when she was diagnosed with Stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, she took matters even more into her own hands.

Gibson devised a healthy lifestyle plan that eventually put her cancer back into remission. She’s since been certified as a raw food educator and chef, and turned what she’s learned into Renewed Living, the business that she owns with her husband Nevin.

Renewed Living’s mission is to take everything that the Gibsons learned during Elaine’s battle with cancer and pass it on and teach it to others.

“I went on a journey to find a path I could take,” Elaine Gibson said. “I beat it without traditional protocols, and I realized we were very committed to sharing what we’d learned.”

The Gibsons recently moved to the Northern Shenandoah Valley from Springfield, and on Thursday the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce helped the couple celebrate moving to the area, joining the chamber and relocating Renewed Living with the chamber’s first virtual ribbon cutting.

The Gibsons were joined in their home by a few neighbors and were presented a plaque from the chamber after cutting the ribbon.

The business doesn’t have a brick and mortar storefront. Instead, it’s operated through www.renewedlivinginc.com and out of their home at Trilogy at Lake Frederick. Interested customers can contact the Gibsons there and set up consultations and then workshops to begin their journey. Read more: Winchester Star

COVID-19: Aspire Operations, Programs, Information, ReOpening Plan

By Aspire Economic Development + Chamber Alliance | | 5.11.20


Aspire remains committed to leading our area’s business community. All staff team members have been working remotely so that all member investor services continue at the same high level of support.

We want you to know the health and safety of our staff and member investors are extremely important to us. Below are some important resources and operations updates.

Aspire Reopen and Safety Plan

Aspire has developed a COVID-19 reopen and safety plan as part of our efforts to reduce the potential for exposure and spread of the coronavirus. The plan addresses the reopening of our offices, in-person events, and how we intend to conduct business. Here is an overview of our plan. 

Member Outreach

We have had less in-person contact with our members during the pandemic, but the Aspire staff team has been busy making phone calls — more than 1,000 so far — to check in on your well-being and to provide support and connect you to resources.

If we keep missing you, know that we want to hear from you. To reach us, call us at 317.537.0037, email any staff team member directly or email Info@AspireJohnsonCounty.com.

Aspire Programs

Aspire has continued to run timely, relevant programs and meetings in a virtual format. We will continue to do so and are also preparing plans for in-person business networking and education events.

The online events calendar will be updated with the latest information. Registration remains OPEN for all events, and we invite you to join us!

Helpful Information for Our Members

We have created a Business Resource Center section on our website for helpful information and guidance for our member investors regarding COVID-19. We will continue to update this section.

The heart of our mission is to drive business success and economic development. Your business success is very important to us. Please let us know what information you need to stay informed and respond to COVID-19. We will continue to monitor this closely and you will be the first to be informed of further important Aspire updates.

VIEW THE ASPIRE REOPENING PLAN

Ever onward, 

Christian Maslowski

President & CEO


Midland Business Alliance: Mitigating Your Business Risk as You Re-Open

This Friday we are hosting a FREE virtual meeting with Mr. Steve Palazzolo, Senior Counsel with Warner Norcross + Judd, focused on helping employers prepare to re-open. Topics covered will include:

· How to mitigate employer risks as workers return
· Internal communication and documentation to promote and support safe work environments
· Employer rights and responsibilities 

Event Details · When? 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 22 · Cost: Free Register now

Rebuilding Mississippi: Changes in the job force

We continue our week-long series with a look into the future.
By now, we know of the short-term impacts left in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leaders are looking past this year.

They say the changes could impact the job force moving forward. High-flying drones bringing much needed internet to rural Mississippi.

“It can take 10 years to get fiber out there economically,” said Conor Ferguson, CEO & Founder of WISPr Systems. “We can get them high-speed internet now by just popping our drone up finding where we need to put the antenna.”

WISPr Systems installs the antennas. With the coronavirus pandemic, the need for internet has grown and Ferguson, the founder of the company in Batesville, Mississippi says they’ve streamlined the process with cutting-edge technology.

“We’re getting people the last mile as they call it of internet,” said Ferguson. “Forty-seven percent of the population in Mississippi doesn’t have access to internet so we’re trying to take that number and erase it.”

Ferguson graduated from Mississippi State University. The university is leading the way in autonomous systems. Jeff Rent, interim president of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, believes we’ll be seeing more drone technology in the near future.

“I think it’s a realistic possibility that within in the next couple of years we’re going to start seeing growth in that direction, but I think this has helped speed up the technology and for innovative ways to employ that technology to the benefit of consumers, and even service providers, and retailers,” said Rent.

Rent expects health care support opportunities to expand like telemedicine.

“Mississippi is already known across the country, believe it or not, as being a pioneer in the delivery of telemedicine services,” said Rent. “UMMC and CSPIRE have partnered in the COVID-19 pandemic and many people before they even get a test to see if they are symptomatic or maybe they are asymptomatic they have to be screened first through the telemedicine app.” Read more: WJTV

Indiana Chamber Webinar: Return to Work – Diving into Recent Executive Orders, Employee Health Screening/Testing and Contact Tracing - Thursday, May 28 – Noon - 1:30 EDT
As you dive into the many details involved with Return to Work, let us help you navigate the critical issues from recent Executive Orders, employee health screening, employee testing and contact tracing. Register to join us on May 28 to learn more about:

Latest developments in Indiana Executive Orders and Marion County declarations
Creating your Indiana Return to Work plan
How to communicate about COVID-19 in the workplace
Designing and implementing screening and testing protocols
Plus, time for your questions!

Register Here


The State of Illinois releases industry-specific guidelines to ensure safe reopening during Phase 3

On Sunday May 24th, Governor JB Pritzker released new industry-specific guidelines to allow for a safe re-opening of businesses as the state progresses into the next phase of the Restore Illinois plan. All four regions of the state are expected to advance to Phase 3 of the plan in the coming days. Phase 3 is expected to see many businesses reopen across the state, and hundreds of thousands of workers back to work. The following industries are included in Phase 3: retail, offices, manufacturing, barbershops and salons, summer programs, various outdoor recreation activities, bars and restaurants for outdoor dining, and more. During Phase 3, group gatherings of 10 or fewer will now be permitted. A full list of industries as well as corresponding safety guidelines is now available. While Phase 3 safety guidelines offer new precautions for businesses and residents to take, the state encourages all residents to maintain compliance with ongoing public health guidance - using face coverings, washing hands regularly, and practicing social distancing. Our continued compliance with the latest public health guidelines is essential to our ability to safety reopen our state and to restore Illinois. Learn more about Phase 3 and the full list of industry-specific guidelines below. Learn Industry Guidelines

Kentucky Chamber: :THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ACCESS TO CHILD CARE IN KENTUCKY

Join the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and KCTCS on Wednesday, May 27th at 2:00 PM for a discussion on how the current health crisis is impacting access to child care in Kentucky. The discussion will feature:
-Shannon Gilkey, Vice Chancellor of Academics & Workforce.at KCTCS
-Sarah Vanover, Director of the Division of Child Care in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
-Bradley Stevenson, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Kentucky
-Julia Barfield, Senior Manager of Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Center for Education and Workforce

* If you are not able to register because the participant limit has been reached, or you have a time conflict, you will be able to access the recording on the Kentucky Chamber's website after.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


MIOSHA Workplace Guidelines, New Hotline to Protect Michigan Workers

As the curve continues to flatten and many businesses reopen their doors, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) issued workplace guidelines for employers and employees and created a new hotline, 855-SAFEC19 (855-723-3219), to answer guideline questions and further protect Michigan’s workforce from the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, MIOSHA provides further clarification the construction and manufacturing sectors must take to protect workers that have returned to work. The State of Michigan’s Workplace Safety Guidelines can be found on LEO’s homepage at Michigan.gov/LEO.  

“We have to be smart about protecting our workforce and issuing these guidelines helps us ensure businesses reopen safely,” LEO Director Jeff Donofrio said. “And when employers have the proper guidance to protect their employees and customers, we can all do our part to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and continue to save lives.”

On a scale from low to very high, exposure determination is the leading factor to the level of precaution an employer should take to protect their employees and can vary within the same facility.

Employers must create a written exposure control plan which includes exposure determination and outlines measures that will be taken to prevent employee exposure to COVID-19, including as appropriate:

• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Hand hygiene and environmental surface disinfection
• Personal protective equipment
• Health surveillance
• Training

Incorporating the latest guidance for COVID-19 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Governor’s Executive Orders on reopening industries.

A key component to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is the ability for employers to provide adequate training on potential risk to their employees. Under these guidelines, MIOSHA encourages training that includes steps the employee must take to notify the employer of signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and reporting suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Employers are to provide updated training to employees if changes are made to its exposure control plan or new information becomes available about the transmission of COVID-19.

“As the governor follows the science and data to re-engage our economy, our first priority is to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19,” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. “If employers follow the workplace guidelines, we can ensure Michiganders can return home healthy and safe.”

Best practices that employees need to follow to be vigilant in protecting themselves from exposure to COVID-19:

• Wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water,
• Limit contact with others by remaining six feet apart,
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and tools routinely,
• Stay home if you or someone in your household is sick,
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and
• Practice self-screenings to check for any symptoms.

The new toll-free number will provide additional support, utilizing experienced MIOSHA staff, to best answer questions from employers and workers to quickly respond to inquiries related to COVID for all involved.
Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health may contact MIOSHA using the new hotline at 855-SAFEC19 (855-723-3219).

To report health and safety concerns in the workplace, go to www.michigan.gov/MIOSHAcomplaint.

Learn more about MIOSHA and their efforts to protect Michigan’s workforce at Michigan.gov/MIOSHA.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at michigan.gov/coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Contact: Jason Moon 517-282-0041

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best Chamber Partner in the USA!

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 or email John Dussman with the subject line: Chamber Magazine RFP Requested. Thank you!