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From the Presidents Desk |
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Chamber members earn a $25 gift certificate to a local member restaurant in the month of December by helping Chamber grow new membership…
The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce is providing a $25 gift certificate to Chamber members for every new business that they get to join the Lorain County Chamber in the month of December. The Chamber has recently compiled data for the 2009 year and is using those statistics to produce a new Lorain County Chamber marketing piece that will be used in 2010.
The Chamber is using this promotion to Beta test out new marketing information and hope that Chamber members will help us by getting a new member to join our organization. We think that our 2009 numbers show that joining the Lorain County Chamber is a good investment in our business community and the future of Lorain County.
Following are new Chamber stats:
Why should you join the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce?
The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce provides you access to the best business network in the area. Founded nearly 25 years ago, the Chamber is a valuable partner when it comes to doing business in and around Lorain County. Joining the Lorain County Chamber gives you several important advantages over your competition and provides a great return on a small investment. Members of the Lorain County Chamber benefit from:
1. Internet Exposure and Business Referrals - The Chamber website receives over 70,000 page views per month and can provide inbound links to your website, resulting in more business for you. The Chamber makes every attempt to refer ONLY Chamber members for the many requests received each month.
2. Business Networking – The Chamber offers numerous opportunities each year for members to make business contacts through networking, social and educational programs. Annual attendance at Chamber events exceeds 5,000 business people, and the popular Business After Hours events average over 125 people each month.
3. The Membership Directory – All Chamber members are listed in the membership directory, which is distributed each year to 1600 businesses throughout the region. The directory provides potential prospects with easy access to your business information, and expanded advertising opportunities are available.
4. Newsletter Information and Exposure - The online Chamber Newsletter provides monthly up-to-date information on all the happenings, programs, projects and activities for your busy organization. The newsletter is distributed to over 680 business leaders and decision makers each month, and is a constant referral source for the Chamber’s membership directory and web-based member listings. Monthly sponsorship of the newsletter is available for a very reasonable fee.
5. Business Consulting - The Chamber offers free business counseling to its small business members through the Small Business Development Center. Last year, the SBDC helped local business secure $1.1 million in funding. In addition, many of the Chamber’s social and networking activities, which are always delivered for a reasonable price, include an educational component delivered by local, regional and national experts, including Disney and others. The Chamber is also your gateway to the business development, retention, financing and assistance programs offered through the Lorain County Growth Partnership.
6. Direct Cost Savings – The Chamber offers many cost-savings programs for its members that can keep your cost of doing business down. Value-added benefits include savings on health care, insurance, workers compensation, cellular phone service, document shredding and A/R collections. The County Chamber also runs the Lorain County Safety Council, where businesses find a forum for keeping employees safe while earning savings from the BWC. These cost savings programs either saved or returned over $1.0 million to Chamber members last year.
7. Behind-the-Scenes Support – Although not always visible to members, the Chamber is always active on a number of “behind-the-scenes” projects. The Chamber is continually working with the Lorain County Growth Partnership to enhance the retention and expansion of business and industry in Lorain County. Other Chamber activities include direct participation in workforce training and development, developing business and education partnerships, and participating in legislative and governmental advocacy in support of the area business community.
Yes, joining the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce costs money, but membership fees start at only a few hundred dollars per year. This investment can be recouped many times over by attracting new customers to your business through Chamber networking events, by participating in cost-savings programs and by taking advantage of all that the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce has to offer. Please call Tony Gallo at the Chamber [(440) 328-2554] to join today.
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Santa in the Square |
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Elyria Sunrise Rotary is again sponsoring the Santa House in Ely Square this holiday season. Santa arrives this Saturday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. via LifeCare Ambulance Service with pictures available immediately following his arrival. On Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday December 10 the Santa house will be open from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, December 12 from 10:30 – 1:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday and Thursday December 16 and 17 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. And finally, on Saturday December 19 from 10:30 – 1:00 p.m. A coloring contest will also be taking place this year and entries need to be returned to the Santa House no later than Thursday December 17. Pictures are available to color from local schools or at the Santa House. Be sure to continue this great Holiday Tradition in downtown Elyria. Remember to bring a non-perishable food item and the picture is only
$1.
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Winter 2009 Edition of Pulse Magazine |
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The Winter 2009 Edition of Pulse – Lorain County’s Magazine is in the mail, if you haven’t received it already. If you are unfamiliar with Pulse, or do not receive the free subscription, be sure to go to www.PulseLorainMag.com and subscribe today. The Winter issue continues the 2nd year for Lorain County’s Magazine and this issue profiles Sen. Sherrod Brown and his wife Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz and their blended family lives since moving to Avon, It also highlights Lorain County’s philanthropic nature and the local organizations making a difference in people’s lives. There is also a story about the festive attractions and elaborate decorations that light up Lorain County every holiday season. There is a ballot in this issue for the first annual “Best of” Lorain County as well. And finally, this month’s restaurant section
focuses on great Italian food being served in Avon Lake for 17 years and counting from Fratello’s.
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Lorain County Safety Council Corner |
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Is H1N1 covered under the Family Medical Leave Act?
As a human resources professional or business owner, you must be prepared to comply with FMLA rules, should one of your employees or their family members contract the H1N1 virus.In certain circumstances workers (or their family members) who contract the H1N1 virus may be eligible for FMLA leave. The degree of illness needs to constitute a serious health condition. According to FMLA rules, this must involve inpatient care at a medical facility or continual treatment by a health care provider. For example, an employee visits a healthcare provider and is prescribed medication or is hospitalized, then this meets the definition criteria of serious health condition under FMLA. The same holds true if an employee’s spouse, child or parent visits a healthcare provider and is prescribed medication for the condition or is hospitalized.
Examples of situations where leave relating to H1N1 virus would be covered by FMLA
include:
• Employee contracts H1N1 virus, visits a doctor and is given a prescription for the virus.
• Employee contracts H1N1 virus, visits a doctor and remains in the hospital overnight
for observation.
• Employee takes leave to care for a spouse, child or parent with the H1N1 virus and the
spouse, child or parent visits a doctor and is given a prescription.
Examples of where leave relating to H1N1 virus would not be covered by FMLA include:
• Employee has a mild case of H1N1 virus and does not visit a health care provider.
• Employee takes leave to care for a spouse, child or parent who is believed to have the
H1N1 virus, but the infected family member does not visit a health care provider.
• Employee is on leave as a precautionary measure because they have been exposed to
the H1N1 virus.
• ï€ Employee does not go to work for fear of contracting the H1N1 virus.
Sources:
1 –http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=79460
2 – http://blog.laborlawposter.com/2009/08/25/family-medical-leave-act-fmla-and-the-h1n1-
virus/
Additional Resources:
• The CDC, Homeland Security, the Department of Labor and the Department of Health
and Human Services have set up a website where you can obtain additional information
online at www.flu.gov.
• On www.flu.gov you can find specific advice for businesses, schools, healthcare
providers, families and communities, in addition to accessing informational brochures
and weblinks on H1N1 and the seasonal flu. Through this website, you can sign up for
immediate email updates as well.
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Lorain County Linked |
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Announcing Lorain County Linked and the return of Corporate Challenge
Lorain County Linked consists of seven nonprofit organizations dedicated to the spirit of collaboration. This collaborative effort is forged to focus resources, raise funds, and focus on uniting our local community. It is with this focus that Lorain County Linked presents the “Lorain County Corporate Challenge”. We have joined forces to bring the Corporate Challenge back to Lorain County in June of 2010.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Care Resource Center, Easter Seals, Genesis House, Leadership Lorain County, Lorain County Community Action Agency and Red Cross are spear-heading this major fund-raiser that will benefit each agency.
The purpose of the Lorain County Corporate Challenge is to create a healthy and recreational event that builds company and local community pride, morale and camaraderie among employees and companies. Businesses compete in challenges for points that build per challenge to 3 top winners.
For more immediate information please contact Denise Roe, Easter Seals, at 324-6600 ext. 13
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December 3 - Holiday Reception at Delucas Place in the Park
Register Now
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