New 2014 - 2015 Visitor Guide and Membership Directory now

Proudly Sponsored by Express Employment Professionals
MIX ER
Bring Your
Business
Cards!
The next Mixer will be
Thursday, September 18,
5:30 PM at the Sequoia
Park Zoo, 3414 W Street in
Eureka.
FU N !
S EP TE MBER 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
• Awkward Family Photos Exhibit page 2
• Chevron’s Fuel Your School page 4
• August Mixer Event page 4
• Shoe Fund Donations page 5
CHAMBER REVIEW
• New American Funding Opens page 8
A M O N TH LY PU B LI C AT IO N O F T H E G R E AT E R E U R E K A C H A MB E R O F C O M ME RCE
Chamber Briefs
A summer at the
Chamber
Submitted by: Nalalie Opalach
The summer of 2014 went by way too
fast but it has been one of the best and
most productive summers of my life. A
fresh pot of coffee and a smiling staff
greeted me at the Eureka Chamber
when I arrived each morning. The
office where I spent five hours a day is
a bright building on Broadway, lined
with vibrant Lily of the Nile flowers
and filled with information about our
historic seaport city, lush redwood
forests and the copious member
businesses which help make Eureka a
north coast gem.
I spent my first few days at the
Chamber pouring over maps and
pamphlets and quickly picked up
basic office skills: answering multiline phones, taking messages, and
processing outgoing mail. In the weeks
following I learned to use Access
databases, surveyed business members,
prepared merchandise for display
and took inventory, processed and
distributed incoming mail, recorded
in the daily ledger, filed business
paperwork, made copies and prepared
brochures, assembled monthly
newsletters, proofread Chamber
Continued on page 5
New 2014 - 2015 Visitor
Guide and Membership
Directory now available
The newest version of the popular Eureka
Chamber Visitor & Relocation Guide and
Membership Directory is now available for
tourists and community members seeking
area information
and business
referrals.
Additionally the Chamber greets thousands of
visitors at the Visitor Center and each of them
received suggestions as to what the local area
has to offer. Those interested in relocation
to Eureka not
only receive the
things to do in
town, they have a
handy reference
of the businesses
that make an
investment in the
community.
The full color
publication offers
an abundance
of information
about what to see
and do in Eureka
This
and the local area.
comprehensive
The guide also
guide features
provides an array
alphabetical
of information
listings of
about local
Chamber
member
hotels, motels
businesses and
and restaurants
helps the visitor
as well as
and the newcomer
directions to
make decisions
area attractions.
about what to do
It is produced
and see, where to
annually as a
The new 2014 - 2015 Eureka Chamber of Commerce
stay
and eat, where
joint effort of the
Visitor’s Guide. Photos by Arleen Olson.
to
shop
and much,
Eureka Chamber
much more.
and the TimesStandard, Tri-City Weekly.
40,000 copies are printed each year and
Each year the Chamber receives thousands
of requests from prospective tourists and the
Visitor’s Guide is the primary publication
that provides a complete view of the area’s
attributes.
are distributed at key locations throughout
Northern California. The guide is also
available on the Chamber Website.
?
GE SS?
N
A RE
t
CH DD
le !
A
se ow
F
a
O
e
Pl s kn
u
New Members
Eye Care Partners
Robert Hileman
The Chalet House of
Omelettes
William Tuttle
CL Leathers
Cornelius Loewenstein
What’s
NEW?
Eureka Chamber Membership News
Send submissions to [email protected]
The Morris Graves Museum of Art is seeking
exhibition sponsors to make this awkwardlywonderful exhibition come to fruition. Awkward
Family Photos Exhibition Sponsorships
provides a unique opportunity for your company
or organization to meet its marketing and
philanthropic goals. Most importantly, you are
recognized as an organization that supports
the arts, local artists, and the increased cultural
development of the North Coast and Humboldt
County.
Interested in becoming a Sponsor? Please
contact Jemima Harr, Executive DirectorCurator at 442-0278 or via email at jemima@
humboldtarts.org.
Many Hands Gallery
Astra Burke
Sammy’s BBQ & Catering
Sammy Vainuku
Fletcher Law Offices
Fred Fletcher
Forbes & Associates
Sue Forbes
Law Office of Kerri Conforti
Kerri Conforti
Scott Hammond State Farm
Scott Hammond
Eureka Grocery Delivery
Hannah Campbell
ServPro of Eureka
Bob Curran and Gabe Smith
Newsletter
Sponsor
707-268-1866
14 W. Wabash Ave., Eureka
eurekaca.expresspros.com
The Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce
welcomes submissions from its members.
All submissions become the property of the
Eureka Chamber. Due to space limitations
there is no assurance of publication. All
submissions may be edited or modified.
While every effort has been made to ensure
the accuracy of the information supplied
herein, The Greater Eureka Chamber of
Commerce cannot be held responsible for
any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise
indicated, opinions expressed herein are
those of the author/writer and do not
necessarily represent the views of The
Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce,
the editor, its agent(s), board officer(s),
or employees.
Look for the latest Chamber
news on Facebook!
2
Awkward Family Photos
exhibition sponsorships
available
Childhood friends Mike and Doug began a
blog after Mike saw an awkward vacation photo
hung in his parents’ house. Realizing there
were probably plenty of other people out there
with their own awkward family images, the
two friends decided to create a friendly, online
place where everyone could come together
and share their uncomfortable family moments.
Thus, Awkward Family Photos was born. The
site quickly took off and became an internet
sensation; it now receives millions of hits daily
and submissions from around the world.
Next year, visitors to the Morris Graves Museum
of Art in Eureka will have the opportunity to
see the top 200 cringe-worthy photos in person.
The “Awkward Family Photos” exhibition,
opening January 21st, 2015, marks only the third
time the collection will be shown in a museum
setting.
“Over the past 15 years, the MGMA has become
a special gathering place for families,” said
Jemima Harr, Executive Director-Curator. “This
exhibition offers a fun, light-hearted way for
us to celebrate that special—and sometimes
awkward—family bond.”
Advanced Security
Systems announces
retirement
Advanced Security Systems announces the
retirement of long time security consultant
Marty Walker. Marty has spent the better part
of his life in the security industry, owning and
operating Superior Alarms for 40 years before
merging with Advanced Security in 2011, at
that time he became a valuable member of the
sales and service team.
“We are fortunate to have Marty bring his
experience, and his customer relationships
with him to Advanced Security. It is with sad
but warm wishes that we congratulate him on
his retirement and wish him the best,” says
Advanced Security President Chuck Petrusha.
Marty and his wife Debbie have been very
active in the community and their church. The
two look forward to spending more time with
their children and grandchildren here in Eureka
and also in Arizona. Everyone at Advanced
Security wishes Marty the best and thanks him
for his lifelong dedication to the industry.
www.eurekachamber.com
Eureka
The Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce
2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Keeping
Eureka
Competitive
Dan Opalach
Chair
Green Diamond Resource Company
Tom Schallert
Vice Chair
Northern California Community Blood
Bank
John Dalby
Treasurer
Redwood Capital Bank
Don Smullin
Chamber Executive Director
In case you missed it in the newspaper, here
is a shorter version of my Times Standard My
Word column:
We firmly oppose Ballot Measure R (minimum
wage) for these main reasons:
It is for Eureka only.
The City of Eureka already suffers from a
fragile economy. This ordinance puts Eureka
at a competitive disadvantage. To offset the
cost of this ordinance, Eureka businesses will
have to raise prices or reduce jobs while their
competitors in Myrtletown, Cutten, Arcata and
Fortuna won’t have to. A company looking
at moving to Eureka could serve Eureka
customers simply by locating outside the city
limits. We need jobs in Eureka to keep Eureka
viable.
Additionally there will be a negative impact
on businesses, non-profits and government
agencies which will be required to track the
time an employee works in or travels through
Eureka and pay them using a different pay
scale during that time.
And as actually written the Fair Wage Act does
not reflect the proponents’ statements.
Proponents cite San Jose’s minimum wage
increase as a success story, but they have
selectively pulled a job growth statistic
unrelated to the minimum wage increase. The
truth, according to the Employment Policies
Institute, is that service businesses were hit
very hard. One year after the adoption, their
survey found that 66.3% of businesses raised
their prices, 44.8% reduced employee hours,
42.3% reduced staffing levels, and 7.4% closed
their locations in San Jose.
www.eurekachamber.com
Proponents say that this is only for Eureka
employers but the ordinance applies to all
employers, whether located inside or outside the
city limits that assign an employee to work within
the City limits.
The proponents say that only big businesses with
more than 25 employees will be effected but the
ordinance defines an employee as anyone working
a minimum of 2 hours a week for at least one
week in a year’s time. This truly affects seasonal
and temporary employment.
This will affect the city and county. Where will
they get the money?
Proponents say this ordinance sets the minimum
wage for hourly work, not realizing that this also
sets the minimum salary at 2 times the minimum
hourly, or about $50,000 a year.
Unknown is the cost to the City to enforce this
ordinance but the ordinance gives the City the
right to recoup all costs without limit by charging
all employers, whether the employer is at fault
or not. Any person, whether an employee or not,
whether a resident of Eureka or not, can file a
complaint. This will be expensive.
And finally, proponents say that this increase
will help the economy of Eureka by giving
employees more money to spend, thus saving
existing businesses and attracting new business.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article
by a Fellow at the NYU School of Law, only 2%
of hourly workers are paid minimum wage. In a
city of only 27,191 residents, surely this is not
enough to save the Eureka economy.
Steven Allen
GHD
Pattison Christensen
Redwood Broadcasting Co., Inc.
Polly Endert
Quality Inn Eureka
Justin Golnik
Hagadone Directories
Bradford Laws
Red Lion Hotel
David Lindberg
Lindberg Geologic Consulting
Ken Musante
Eureka Payments
Paula Patton
The Times Standard
Jeff Pauli
Pauli-Harbour Insurance Services
Rick Roberts
Jitterbean Coffee Company
Carl Schoenhofer
PG&E
Kathryn Smith
College of the Redwoods
Laurie Watson-Stone
St. Joseph Health System
EUREKA CHAMBER STAFF
Don Smullin
Executive Director
Susan Gillespie
Operations Manager
Linda Cangas
Visitor Center Services
Steve Thomas
Visitor Center Services Coordinator
Phone (707) 442-3738
2112 Broadway, Eureka
www.eurekachamber.com
https://www.facebook.com/
eurekachamberofcommerce
CHAMBER REVIEW
Printing
Times Printing
3
Salvation Army
announces Holiday
Kettle Kick-Off
Chevron’s North
Coast Fuel Your
School Program
returns
Chevron, with the help of Redwood Oil
and Redwood Coast Oil, announced the
return of the North Coast Fuel Your School
program. The North Coast Fuel Your
School program will help educators receive
the necessary tools for students to learn and
get excited about their education. This fall community members in Del Norte,
Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino Counties
have a unique opportunity to help generate
up to $100,000 to support public local
education in schools. Local public schools are participating
in the Fuel Your School program, an
innovative collaboration between Chevron
and DonorsChoose.org to help fund eligible
classroom project requests, submitted by
teachers who don’t have the necessary
resources for their students. How you can help
From October 1 through October 31,
2014, when consumers fill up with 8 or
more gallons at a participating Chevron or
Texaco station, $1 will be donated, up to
$100,000, to help fund eligible classroom
projects for public schools in Del Norte,
Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino counties. Last year’s North Coast Fuel Your School
program helped provide valuable classroom
resources to 123 teachers at more than 40
local public schools, impacting more than
10,200 students in North Coast counties. The Salvation
Army is planning
its Holiday Kettle
Kick-Off and is
seeking artwork
from local artists.
A sunny and warm
August Mixer event
by Chamber Ambassador, Dawn
Hodge, Redwoods Levitt
The August mixer was hosted by three
Harrison Avenue Chamber members;
Humboldt Mortgage Company, Lima’s
Professional Pharmacy and Lullaby
Lounge Tattoo and Gallery.
The Annual
Holiday Kettle Kick-Off is being
held at Sewell Gallery of Fine Art
on November 13, 2014. The purpose
of this fund-raiser is to support the
Thanksgiving and Christmas Food
Distribution Services and the Toy Drive.
The Salvation Army is seeking original
artwork for its posters, tickets and
presentation literature. One artist’s
work will be selected and on display at
the gallery during the Holiday Kettle
Kick-Off event.
The concept for the art is “Social Needs
of Humboldt County”. Children are
welcome to participate. Payment is the
recognition & publication of the artist’s
work for promotion of local services.
Submissions may be dropped off at
the Salvation Army office. The artists
will have the option to have their work
auctioned off at a later date in support
of children’s programs. The deadline is
September 15, 2014 for selection.
The Salvation Army is located at
2123 Tydd Street, Eureka. For more
informtion call Tim at 442-6475.
Bob Lawton, Humboldt Mortgage owner
and broker, has been manager and primary
loan officer since 1983 and purchased the
firm in 1997. He is very enthusiastic that
rates today are lower than when Humboldt
Mortgage started in 1964. Bob also shared
that a first time homebuyer can now get
into a home for only $500 by doing certain
things that he recommends.
A delightful conversation was had with
Bob Curran, new owner of ServPro and
his sales manager, Gabriel Smith. Bob and
his wife Kathleen purchased the business
that has been part of the Humboldt County
community since 1967. Bob was pleased
to share ServPro is a family owned and run
business.
Ellen Coates of Eureka Woman’s
Club, readily talked about the After
Work Network, a new group formed in
partnership with the Women Entrepreneurs
Institute to facilitate networking and
promote business relationships among
business women in the greater Eureka area.
The September mixer is at the Sequoia Park
Zoo, hosted by the Zoo Foundation and
Wells Fargo Bank. We hope you will join
us for a enjoyable evening event, Thursday,
September 18th, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. See
you there! A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The Fuel Your School program can help
make a big impact for local public school
students and their future. Tell everyone
you know – friends, relatives, even
the cashier at the grocery store – about
fueling up in October, and be sure to visit
www.FuelYourSchool.com and follow
the program on Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram.
4
www.eurekachamber.com
Shoe Fund receives
over $10,000
Back to school safety
reminder
For over seven years the Six Rivers
The Eureka Police
Running Club has administered a Youth
Running Shoe Fund that provides between
90 and 150 pairs of shoes each year. In
2014 several local organizations have
come together to generate over $10,000 for
youth running shoes, supporting the effort
to fight childhood obesity and instill a love
for running and being active. McKinleyville Kiwanis granted $100 and
Ramone’s Bakery & Café contributed
$500. In May, Humboldt Sponsors gifted
$1,000 and Eureka Natural Foods’ offered
$2,000 from their Waterfront Run event
last September. Six Rivers Running Club
has provided over $6,600 towards the fall
and winter shoe scholarship periods. “The Shoe Fund is
another great example
of people working
together to meet a
community need.”
Each year Shoe Fund applications are
distributed to local schools for coaches to
nominate 3rd through 12th grade runners
in need of shoes. While preference is
given to low-income students, making sure
runners have well fitting shoes to support
their feet is key, especially new runners. “The Shoe Fund is another great example
of people working together to meet a
community need,” comments Karen
Brooks coordinator of the program. “The
Fund began years ago from the proceeds
from Eureka Natural Foods’ Waterfront
Run and since then we’ve experienced
a wonderful resurgence in running from
young families to competitive runners,”
Brooks adds. For more information on the Shoe Fund
program contact Karen Brooks at 8227736.
The Waterfront run is slated for Sunday,
September 28th. Entry forms are available
at www.eurekanaturalfoods.com.
Department would
like to remind drivers
to be aware of
students walking and
biking to school and
to be more careful
around congested
school zones.
Drivers should plan their route ahead of
time and leave early in case of heavy traffic.
Follow school drop off zone rules and
exercise caution in these areas. Motorists
traveling in either direction must stop for
school busses with flashing red lights.
Children are the least predictable pedestrians
and are difficult to see. Follow the rules of
the road and help us make this school year
safe for all.
For more safety tips check the National
Safety Council at www.nsc.org.
Summer at the Chamber from page one
publications, operated a cash register and
credit card machine and personally assisted
hundreds of tourists with their inquires about
the area.
Working at the Chamber not only exposed
me to all the wonders of the north coast
but provided all the experience of an office
assistant, which will qualify me for future
internships in my field of interest and
eventually, for my career. While these skills
are crucial for success in the job market, they
are seldom taught in school and the only way
to learn is from actual experience.
Summer internships are a perfect opportunity
for students to gain skills, make money,
and develop interest in career possibilities.
Interns help businesses combat busy summer
seasons and bring a fresh perspective to any
company. High school students are eager to
get experience which they will give back to
the community for years to come.
Benefitting students, businesses and our
community as a whole, summer internships
are one of the best investments a company
can make.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Join us for a WILD
Mixer at the Zoo!
September 18, 2014
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Hosted by:
Sequoia Park Zoo
Explore the Zoo after-hours, make
connections, and win some great prizes! Plus,
enjoy fine food catered by the Zoo Café.
It’s the perfect chance to check out what’s
new at your local Zoo!
www.SequoiaParkZoo.net
www.eurekachamber.com
5
Member
Legislative
Briefing
by Keith Dunn
Eureka Chamber Lobbyist
Dunn Consulting, Sacramento
It’s the end of summer in Sacramento,
which is marked by cooler nights and more
notably that State lawmakers have officially
ended their two-year legislative session.
process of building additional storage
facilities moves forward.
A long battle for environmentalists seems
close to being won as California would be
the first state in the union to ban singleThe last days of the legislative session is
use plastic bags in stores. The law would
typically a time for lawmakers to push
follow
the lead of dozens of California
priority legislation and this year was no
cities that have already installed a ban on
exception. However, this
the plastic bags.
session did provide a rare
The legislation,
bipartisan agreement on
SB 270 if signed
an old fight, water. In a
by the Governor,
“In a rare show of
rare show of bipartisan
would
phase out
agreement, lawmakers
bipartisan
agreement,
the
plastic
bags
approved a new water bond
starting
in
2015,
with the support of both
lawmakers approved
while allowing
democrats and republicans.
The water bond which will
a new water bond. . .” grocers to charge
10-cent fees for
appear on the November
paper or reusable
ballot as Proposition 1, is
bags.
a $7.5 billion package that
includes money for California’s first new
Acknowledging a long year of legal
state-funded dams and reservoirs in more
problems for the legislature, which
than 30 years. The dam and reservoir
resulted in two state senators to be
funding was forced by republican and
brought up on federal corruption charges,
central valley democrat lawmakers who
lawmakers
promoted a number of ethics
had threatened to block the bond unless it
legislation
in
an attempt to restore the
increased funding for reservoirs as the state
California
Capitol’s
tarnished image and
struggles through a third devastating year
the
voter’s
faith
in
our
elected officials.
of drought. The bill needed their support to
Various bills headed to the governor
prohibit lobbyists from showering
lawmakers with gifts and hosting
extravagant fundraisers, ban valuable
gifts such as concert and sports tickets
and restrict the use of campaign cash
for vacations and clothing. It is widely
assumed that the Governor will sign these
reforms.
Lastly, as technology continues to evolve
and change how citizens interact with our
government, the legislature has attempted
to keep pace with the rapidly evolving
technologies to try and protect law-abiding
citizens privacy. With California law
enforcement is increasingly more reliant
on unmanned aircraft to take photographs
and investigate crimes, lawmakers felt
pressure to update privacy laws which have
been lagging behind the advances of drone
technology. AB 2306 expands invasionof-privacy statutes to include photographers
pursuing unsolicited photos with drones in
individual’s homes and backyards, while
AB 1327 would establish restrictions
on the government’s use of drones for
surveillance.
muster the two-thirds majority needed to
pass.
The bipartisan agreement was short lived,
as there was no agreement on approving
a package of historic groundwater
regulations or a ban on plastic shopping
bags which both moved to the Governor
with votes divided among political party
lines.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Agricultural interests and lawmakers of
both political parties continued to oppose
the groundwater laws for fear that they
would restrict the ability for farmers to
ensure crops could be irrigated while the
6
www.eurekachamber.com
HIGH TURNOVER CAN COST
U-Name-It celebrates
Grand Opening
U-Name-It, celebrating both new
ownership and a new location recently held
a grand opening event at its Henderson
Center location, 514 Russ Street.
New business owners, Tyler and Andrea
Humphreys saw an opportunity to buy
U-Name-It and make it their own and they
jumped at the chance. They are excited to
have a family business in a community
where local business is valued. Tyler
brings a background in apparel decoration
and promotional products, with over 10
years in the industry.
“We look forward to providing Humboldt
County with a true one-stop-shop
for anything logoed, personalized or
embellished,” said Humphreys.
BIG BUCKS
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Call or go online to see how Express has the right solution
for your needs.
Our solutions cover:
• Commercial
• Office Services
• Professional
• Medical
(707) 268-1866
14 W. Wabash Ave.
Eureka, CA 95501
eurekaca.expresspros.com
Eureka’s Premier Party Headquarters
Wedding Receptions
Rehearsal Dinners
Intimate Weddings
Wedding Receptions
Rehearsal Dinners
Intimate Weddings
www.eurekachamber.com
7
Bring Your Business Cards!
The next Mixer will be on Thursday, September 18,
5:30 PM at the Sequoia Park Zoo, 3414 W Street in
Eureka.
M IX ER
Eureka
The Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce
2112 Broadway Eureka, CA 95501
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
F UN!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
• New 2014 2015 Visitor Guide page 1
• Awkward Family Photo Exhibit page 2
• Chevron’s Fuel Your School page 4
• August Mixer Event page 4
• Shoe Fund Donations page 5
www.eurekachamber.com
C H A M B E R
S EPTEM B ER 2 0 1 4
R E V I E W
CHAMBER REVIEW
New American
Funding
celebrates Grand
Opening Event
In conjunction with September’s first
Saturday Arts Alive! in Old Town, New
American Funding held its grand opening
and ribbon cutting at the 108 F Street
office.
Lenders Martin Swett and Sallie Speaker
have been in mortgage lending for a
combined 40 years. Their desire to provide
Humboldt County with the best products
and services resulted in their opening of
New American Funding in Old Town.
8
Business owners Martin Swett and Sallie Speaker
are joined by Chamber and City officials and
supporters at the recent Grand Opening event.
“Our goal was to go smaller, to be more
creative in our marketing and how we
interact with our Realtors and community,”
said Martin. “This move has allowed
us to have better input and control of
our overall lending process. We are
excited by our new business venture and
acclimation into the Old Town community.”