2015 October - Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce

Volume 15, Issue 10
October 2015
Chamber Insider
October is Chamber of Commerce Month!
Chris Heugel, President
Executive Board
Dr. Todd Christy, Chair
Fred Welch, Vice Chair
Phil Laney, Treasurer
Lesa Phillips, Secretary
David Krock, Past Chair
To start let’s review some the key value benefits:
-Business After Hours and networking events for employers and employees
-Free job postings to members
-Website profile on the Chamber website
Inside this issue:
Chamber of Commerce
Month/
Member Benefits
1
Chamber month
Continued
Government Shutdown
2
New Members
3
September Event Recap 4
October Calendar
5
November Calendar
6
Fall Trade Fair
7
Member Job Postings 8
Trade Fair Seminars/ 9
Flush out Cancer
Greening Your
Business
10
Help 5/3 Fight Cancer
11
Unemployment Tax Bills 12
Member news
1
October we want to celebrate YOU our members!
One of the major highlights this month is our membership
showcase The 2015 Fall Trade Fair on October 13th.
2016 brings tons of new membership opportunities! Whether
you would like to explore getting more involved with the
chamber or have questions about your membership we are
here to help.
-Company marketing brochure Information displayed at the Chamber
-Business education seminars for employees and owners
-2015 Cornerstone Chamber window decal and website proud member logo
-Auto, home and business insurance discounts
-Aware of advertising opportunities - Member-to-member marketing
(weekly Friday communication) , the monthly member newsletter the
Chamber Insider, the Cornerstone Chamber website, Event sponsorships,
and Save Local Now
-Post Hot Deals (member specials) on the cornerstonechamber.com
-Save Local Now digital and email marketing tool
-Discounted Mendel Center and Celebration Cinema tickets
-Ribbon cutting assistance for opening, relocation, or expansion
-Legislative support & business advocacy
Attended a Chamber 101 held monthly to learn
how to maximize your benefits?
Learn about all your membership benefits at Chamber 101 or call (269) 932-4040
Chamber Insider
State of Michigan Recognizes Chambers of Commerce and
DATE, CITY, Mich.Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has proclaimed the month of October as Chamber of Commerce Month throughout Michigan.
The (enter chamber name) has joined the Michigan Association of Chamber of Professionals (MACP) in celebrating this special recognition of the
contributions chambers of commerce make to Michigan civic and economic life.
In his Proclamation, the Governor declared, “For over 100 years, chambers of commerce have been contributing to the protection of commerce
and Michigan's business climate, which began with the incorporation of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce and the Fremont Chamber
of Commerce. Chambers of commerce advance the civic, economic, industrial, professional, social and cultural systems of our state.”
MACP is the industry association for chambers of commerce in Michigan. For more information on MACP, please visit
www.michamberconnect.org. Contact MACP at (517) 371-7639.
No shutdown: House spending bill to keep government open, temporarily…
Benton Harbor, MI - All this talk about a government shutdown leads to the question “What is a government
shutdown and how does it affect me and my business?” According to Wikipedia “ a government shutdown is the
name for the process the Executive Branch must enter into when the Congress creates a "funding gap" by
choosing not to or failing to pass legislation funding government operations and agencies. If interim or
full-year appropriations are not enacted into law, the United States Constitution and the Antideficiency Act require
the federal government begins a "shutdown" of the affected activities. If the funding gap lasts long enough that
shutdown plans must be enacted, the law requires the furlough of non-emergency personnel and curtailment of
agency activities and services. Programs that are funded by laws other than annual appropriations acts (like
Social Security) also may be affected by a funding gap, if program execution relies on activities that receive
annually appropriated funding. Although the term government shutdown usually refers to what occurs at the
federal level, shutdowns have also occurred at the state/territorial and local levels of government.”
Previous presidential administrations have seen this same argument (funding abortion) in the past for example
Ford and Carter both had funding gap shutdowns lasting 1-2 weeks which eventually affected the Labor, Health,
Education, and Welfare departments. Even Regan, George H.W., and Clinton all had multiple shutdowns over
budget deficit disputes that lasted anywhere from two days over a weekend to three weeks. In past the last
funding gap ran from October 1 to October 16, 2013 over the funding delay or defunding of the ACA Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), signed into law in 2010 which to date is said to have taken
approximately 24 billion out of the economy.
So where are we now? On September 30th just hours before the deadline just our divided Congress approved
what’s called a stopgap spending bill to keep our federal government open. They have until December 11th to
negotiate. If they don’t come to a resolution at that time we’ll be back to square one, very similar to 2013. The
decision was voted 277-151. A house divided. Also complicating the talks which are expected to be addressed is
an increase in the debt ceiling, approval of new funds for highway construction, and passage of expiring tax
provisions.
To top it all off house speaker John Boehner is resigning from Congress at the end of October, the announcement
was made last week after informing Republicans he would not risk a government shutdown over Planned
Parenthood. Hopefully the focus on keeping our country running will not be overshadowed by the now very serious
immediate need for house leadership. Congress now has ten weeks to get an agreement passed that will get us
through the 2016 election.
Patricia Muellen
[email protected]
2
Chamber Insider
Welcome Our Newest Members!
CooperBoettger, PLLC
Blossomland Accounting
Congratulations to All-Star Family Chiropractic
for winning the Cornerstone Chamber Save Local
Now member challenge with the most impressions in
the month of September using the free member tool
Save Local Now to promote their business! Look for
Dr. Sandra Martin’s write up in the November
edition of the Cornerstone Chamber Insider.
.
Halloween promotions with Save Local Now!
Happy Haunting, everyone!
Now that it’s officially October, we’re here to encourage you to create Halloween specific promotions using your Save Local Now
digital platform. 7 out of 10 consumers are more likely to use a local business if it has information available on a social media site,
so don’t be a scaredy cat! Share your posts to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ AND your email list directly from your platform! Ghosts,
goblins, and ghouls may be popping up around town before you know it.
TIP: When you’re creating posts for your business on SLN, make sure to use some SPOOK-tacular vocabulary when naming them.
“Slashing prices,” “Eat, Drink and be Scary,” and “Lend Me Your Ear” are just a few examples.
TRICK: Appear in more places by using trending hashtags in your
posts. #TrickOrTreat, #HappyHalloween, #HalloweenIsComing, and
#HappyHaunting will get you started.
Save Local Now is a FREE chamber member benefit. Your digital
platform includes the four main components of online marketing:
content publishing, search engine optimization, email marketing,
and social media sharing.
Happy marketing!
3
Volume 15, Issue 10
September Chamber Events
Thank you to
PACE of SWMI
for an
excellent
chamber
Business
After Hours!
The next
Business
After Hours
is
October 23
Click here
TO
register.
5-7pm
The
Oakroom at
the Citadel
Thank you to Scott Berry of
Scott Berry Promotions for
teaching our members how to
make their booth marketing
effective at the
Fall Trade Fair!
Also pictured, the “Lions and
Tigers” of Brookdale Health
Care visiting the chamber.
4
October 2015
1
4
11
Benton Town-ship
Board
meeting 5:30 pm
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
19
Benton Harbor
City Council
7 p.m.
25
3
5
Benton Harbor
City Council 7
p.m.
St. Joe Charter
Township Board
7 p.m.
St. Joseph City
St. Joseph City
Commission
6
Commission
p.m.
6 p.m.
18
Networking
Group 11:30-1
Lazy Ballerina
Winery
2
26
FALL TRADE
FAIR
20
Business After
Hours– The
Citadel
Oakroom
Art Hop
Networking
Group
Benton Township
Board meeting
27
Chamber 101
12-1
Greening Your
29
30 Happy
31
Halloween!
SPECIAL OPPORTINITY COMING SOON!
CORNERSTONE CHAMBER MEMBER SMALL BUSINESS INNITIATIVE, STAY TUNED...
5
November 2015
1
8
15
2
9
Benton
Benton Harbor
Harbor
City
City Council
Council 77
p.m.
p.m.
St.
Charter
St. Joe
Joseph
Township
Township Board
7Meeting
p.m. 7 p.m.
16
St.
Holiday
Joseph
Blues
City
Commission 6
p.m.
22
Targeted
Digital
marketing
3
Election day!
VOTE
Benton Town-ship
Board
meeting
5:30 pm
Benton Township Board meeting 5:30 p.m.
10
Networking
Group
17
24
Chamber 101
29
30
4
11
5
Chamber Young
Professionals!
6
7:30a Networking
Group
7:30 Friday Night
Concert Series
12
Business
After Hours
The Boulevard
Inn & Bistro
18
19
25
26
Thanksgiving
7
Farmers market
13
CEO Council
20
Luminary
Festival
Lincoln Charter
Township Board
of Trustees
23
Benton Harbor
City Council
Brown Bag
Concert Series
14
Farmers market
Farmers
Market
27
Chamber
Closed
Benton Twsp Bd
mtg
5:30 Township
p.m.
Benton
Board meeting
FREE MOVIE TICKETS & POPCORN
FOR ATTENDING A SESSION AT THE FALL TRADE FAIR
TUESDAY OCTOBER 13th
Issues faced by multiple owner entitiesFor those of you considering starting a business, learn the reason why no
business should operate as a sole proprietorship. For those of you in business
with a partner/co-owner, learn about three critical documents that need to be in
place. Come learn more at this free seminar at the Fall Trade Fair, October 13th
at 5:00pm.
6
21
28
7
Graphics by MailMax,
Thank you!
Member Job Postings!
Slumberland Furniture– Sales Associate
Taylor Rentals– Driver & Warehouse
Renaissance Athletic Club– Massage Therapist
Universal Induction- Office Manager
Lakeland Health– Registered Nurse
American Electric Power-AEP Careers
Professional Hearing Services– Customer Service
Ocean Clean Janitorial– Part Time
Gianola Investments– Full Time carpenters
Krasl Art Center– Facilities Manager
Western & Southern Life- Financial Representative
Mass Mutual– Financial Services
Lakeland Health– Nurses Assistant
Area Agency on Aging-Community Information Manager
Pro Muffler & Break Shop Auto & Light Truck Mechanic
**View and Post your jobs now on cornerstonechamber.com
FREE MOVIE TICKETS & POPCORN
FOR ATTENDING A SESSION AT THE FALL TRADE FAIR
TUESDAY OCTOBER 13th
Come see this free seminar “Is this time Really different?” An around the world look at the past 50
years of market volatility.
By GREAT LAKES WEALTH MANAGEMENT 6:30pm at the Fall Trade Fair October 13th
New this month!
Tailgating Specials– Edible Arrangments
50 % off any football themed arrangement
YMCA– No joining fee!
8
FREE MOVIE TICKETS & POPCORN
FOR ATTENDING A SESSION AT THE FALL TRADE FAIR
TUESDAY OCTOBER 13th
End-of-Life Wishes…..Let’s Start the Conversation Together
“Quality of Life” means something different to each of us, based on our own beliefs
and values. It’s never too early to start having conversations with our loved ones, and to provide each other
with the peace of mind that comes with being able to make informed decisions in tough times. Hospice at
Home invites you to join us at the Chamber Trade Fair for a short presentation filled with information and
tools to help you talk about healthcare wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers. Information
about directives, living wills, healthcare power of attorneys and patient advocates in Michigan will be
shared. We can guide you through the process of putting your wishes in writing on a form that meets State of
Michigan requirements. We look forward to you joining us!
9
10
Paid Member to Member Marketing Advertisement
11
This is a paid member advertisement
MI Senate Moves Legislation to Provide Stability in Unemployment Tax Bills
Michigan Chamber of Commerce– Lansing, MI – September 28, 2015
Chamber-supported legislation is on the move to make quarterly unemployment insurance (UI) tax bills more predictable for employers. The legislation passed a Senate committee last week and is expected to be voted on by
the full Senate in the coming week.
Under legislation passed in 2011, a UI tax reduction is expected beginning with 3rd quarter wage reports (filed by
Oct 25). This means non-delinquent employers will pay UI taxes based on a taxable wage base (TWB) of $9,000,
down from $9,500. This is because the 2011 legislation specifies that when the UI Trust Fund (the fund that pays
UI claimants) balance reaches $2.5 billion, the TWB would be reduced. The TWB is the annual amount of wages
paid by an employer to an employee that are subject to state UI taxes. To determine an employer’s yearly unemployment tax, the wages of each covered worker (up to the TWB) is multiplied by the employer’s annual
(experience rated) tax rate.
Senate Bill 500, sponsored by Sen. Horn (R-Frankenmuth), makes a technical fix to the 2011 law. The legislation
would require the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) to determine by June 30 of each year whether the
Trust Fund has at least a $2.5 balance and is expected to stay at that level for the succeeding calendar quarter. If
it meets this threshold, the TWB would be $9,000 in the next calendar year. It if does not, the TWB would be
$9,500. Without this change, employers would see a quarterly fluctuation in their UI rates, creating issues for
budgeting and an administrative hassle.
In practice, SB 500 ensures that MI employers will stay at a $9,000 TWB through the end of 2016, if not beyond. The legislation is expected to be reported to the full Senate within the next few weeks.
http://www.michamber.com/mi-senate-moves-legislation-provide-stability-unemployment-tax-bills
For more information contact -Wendy Block, Michigan Chamber of Commerce [email protected]
FREE MOVIE TICKETS & POPCORN
FOR ATTENDING A SESSION AT THE FALL TRADE FAIR
TUESDAY OCTOBER 13th
BROOKDALE HOME HEALTH- FALL PREVENTION
Falls are very common for older adults.. More than 1/3 of adults age 65 and older fall each year in the United
Stated. In addition, 20 percent of people over age 65 who fall sustain a hip fracture and will need long term care
within a year. Many people who fall develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause then to limit activities, leading
to reduced mobility and physical fitness and actually increase their risk of falling. Brookdale Home Health is dedicated to preventing falls, educating seniors and their caregivers about the many factors that increase the risk of
falling. Please join Brookdale Home Health at the Chamber Expo on October 13th at 5:45 pm for their
presentation of Fall Prevention. Brookdale Home Health will also be participating in a booth for questions about
fall prevention and how home health care can keep you safe, and at home.
We want to recognize your achievements!
Business expansions, professional certifications or credentials, industry
38 12
W Wall Street
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
recognition and services donated are some examples.
Submit your business news to [email protected]