November, 2011

A monthly newsletter of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce

 

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Vote YES on Proposition One

 
This Tuesday, Chautauqua County voters have a chance to send a strong message that business as usual for our County Legislature is no longer an option. Proposition One on the ballot will ask voters to approve a local law amending the County Charter – which will require that all future redistricting plans reduce the size of the County Legislature to no greater than 19 members.
This reduction is long overdue. For over a decade, several separate bi-partisan commissions have recommended reducing the size of the County Legislature. In addition, a number of county lawmakers have sponsored resolutions on this issue – only to have them voted down. Now it is left in the hands of the voters.
For all voters who want to streamline government and reduce expenses, this is a step in the right direction. With a population that has declined dramatically over the past forty years, our county can no longer afford the luxury of a 25-member Legislature. It is time to tell these politicians that they must begin reform by cleaning their own house. 
The $75,000 savings which would result from this change is, admittedly, just a drop in the bucket in terms of real savings to the taxpayers. But it is a savings. And even more importantly, it will demonstrate that the voters of this county are no longer satisfied with allowing government to languish in the status quo. We need to make changes at all levels of government, and we need to send a clear message that downsizing begins at the top.
 People will still have representation in Mayville. Lines of communication are always open with elected officials – and with the ever growing presence of the Internet, email, and social networking sites, it is even easier to maintain communication between constituents and representatives. We will also note that the Legislature, itself, chose to reduce its own workload just a few years ago, cutting in half the number of monthly meetings it holds. The work still gets done and voters are adequately represented.
     The taxpayers of Chautauqua County can no longer afford over-representation. We are driving businesses and homeowners out of our region by allowing the expenses of government to grow. This is one way to make a direct change. When you vote this Tuesday, make it count. Vote YES on Proposition One to reduce the size of the County Legislature.

 

 


Have Lunch with Congressman Brian Higgins

The annual Chamber Federal Congressional Lunch with Representative Brian Higgins will be held Thursday, November 10 at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk. This event provides an opportunity for local people to hear from the Congressman and ask questions. 
Brian Higgins represents New York’s 27th Congressional District, which includes all of Chautauqua County as well as parts of Buffalo and southern and eastern Erie County. He is a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs. He also sits on the Subcommittees on Border and Maritime Security and Counterterrorism and Intelligence. He previously served on the Ways & Means Committee, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Government & Oversight Committee.
Representative Higgins was formerly a New York State Assemblyman and member of the Buffalo Common Council. He was an instructor in the History and Economics Departments at Buffalo State College. He has a degree in Political Science from Buffalo State College and an advanced degree in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. 
Sponsors for the luncheon are: Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System, Jamestown Mattress, Lake Erie Regional Health System, Media One, NRG Dunkirk Power, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress, and SellingHive. The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. To register, call the Chamber at 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101, or visit the web site at www.chautauquachamber.org.

 

 

 

Business Over Bagels to Focus on Leadership 

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Community College are proud to present Business Over Bagels: Developing Your Organization’s Untapped Talent on November 18th at JCC’s Jamestown Campus in the Carnahan Center. The focus of this session will be developing leadership within your organization, including the traits of an effective leader, how to motivate and develop high performers, how to identify untapped talent within your organization, and how to reward and recognize emerging leaders. The instructor is Elizabeth Cipolla, who brings experience from various industries including marketing, mass media, education, manufacturing, and insurance.
Business Over Bagels will be held from 8:30-10:30am, with registration beginning at 8:00. The cost is $30 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. To register call JCC’s Center for Continuing Education at 716-338-1005 in Jamestown or 716-363-6500 in Dunkirk.

 

Save the Date for Chamber Annual Meeting
Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate, will be the Keynote Speaker for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, to be held December 2nd at Moon Brook Country Club. Unshackle Upstate is a bipartisan coalition focused on fixing state government and making it more accountable to New York’s taxpayers. 

     

The lunch meeting will be sponsored by DFT Communications, Media One, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. The lunch meeting will begin at 12:15, with registration starting at noon. To register, call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101, or visit our web site.

 

SellingHive Helps Businesses Increase Sales

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is now offering our members an exciting new opportunity to generate new business. SellingHive is a second generation social networking site for businesses and sales people. It works to connect companies and sales professionals in a secure environment for one purpose - to grow sales. 
Compared to traditional sales methods, companies using SellingHive can expand into new territories, industries or difficult to reach prospects without extensive upfront costs. The Chamber is the only organization in Chautauqua County to provide SellingHive invitations.
SellingHive’s goal is to help increase sales by utilizing new social network technology to create seemingly impos­sible connections between business professionals and companies. The Chamber is focused on growing business­es, which makes offering support for our members with SellingHive an easy decision. By joining SellingHive, the Chamber is helping our members expand their networking capabilities and ultimately generate more revenue for their business.  The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is working now to help members through the enrollment process. Chamber members interested in joining SellingHive should call or email for an exclusive invitation.

 

 

 


2011 Chautauqua County Energy Expo

The fourth annual Energy Expo was held at the Chautauqua Suites in Mayville on October 28 and 29th. The event brought together a mix of people from students to residents to energy experts. Different businesses and vendors gathered to inform the public on how to be more energy efficient and save money on renewable energy sources and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Local business owners came to find out how they can make their business more energy efficient, how to work with new appliances and to find out what energy efficient methods are available. Students and teachers attended to find out how they can better teach their students about energy so they can learn how to grow up and adapt to their world and how to live in it.
The conference room was transformed into an exciting environment with rows of different booths with interesting energy tips to share. Businesses brought in energy efficient cars, wind turbines, light bulbs and much more. People of any sorts could find something they could relate to. No one walked out empty handed and everyone walked out with new interesting information on energy.
There was information on automotive, alternative energy and home & business. This included how to make your older vehicle more energy efficient, wind and solar power alternative energy options and information for residential consumer and business and consumer sectors. Some of the businesses represented at the expo were General Motors, Solar Liberty and Geo tech climate control.
Thanks to those who attended the Energy Expo!
 
 

Grand Opening at The Cakery

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce joined in celebrating the grand opening of The Cakery on Friday, October 28th at 24 West Main Street in Fredonia. Owner Peggy Rose creates a welcoming atmosphere with unique and delicious deserts. The location’s interior was completely revamped and provides a new and refreshing environment. Everyone will find something they enjoy, with a variety of treats Peggy has to offer. These range from different kinds of cupcakes, pastries, cookies, brownies and of course wedding cakes. Some of the deluxe cupcakes they have to offer are red velvet, funfetti, mocha, carrot cake, and even doggy cupcakes.
The Chamber encourages everyone to come out and support this new local business. You won’t go wrong with any of the selections The Cakery has to offer. If you have any questions can be directed to owner, Peggy Rose, at (716)-672-4294.

 

 

 

Fredonia Prof Shares African Experiences at Audubon
     A Fredonia professor who taught in southern Africa recently shared his experiences and a sense of the ecological diversity of the region during a session at the Audubon Center and Sanctuary.   
     Jonathan Titus’ topic was “Natural History Explorations in Southern Africa.” An associate professor in the SUNY Fredonia Biology Department, Titus shared some of what he learned during the year he spent recently as a Fulbright Scholar in Botswana. At Fredonia, Titus teaches introductory biology and upper level botany and ecology classes. While in Africa, he taught at the University of Botswana, conducted research on Aloe marlothii (mountain aloe), and was able to explore parts of southern Africa.
     Titus’s love of travel and admiration of the many natural wonders of the world have led him to explore some of the planet’s most interesting plant communities.
     The Audubon Center and Sanctuary is at 1600 Riverside Road, off Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. For more information, call (716) 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.

Photo caption: SUNY Fredonia associate professor of biology Jonathan Titus and his wife Priscilla are pictured beside a baobob tree.

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Audubon Cuts Ribbon on New Bridge
     The Audubon Center and Sanctuary will better serve its more than 17,000 documented annual visitors, plus countless others, thanks to the reconstruction of its most heavily traveled bridge.
     With funding from the Northern Allegheny Conservation Association and Hugh and Gladys Wood, plus in-kind contributions from Chautauqua Brick, Audubon has replaced an aging bridge which had become unstable. The project was under the direction of Audubon staffer Don Carlson, with volunteers Denny Anderson, Todd Anderson, Larry Brown, Lee Fletcher, Terry Hallock, Ron Johnson, Terry LeBaron, Don Weber, John Whittaker, Ed Yager and others.
     The new structure is buttressed, making it more stable than the original, stretching over a section between Red Wing Trail and the Red Pine Plantation that floods every spring. Recycled composite boards were used for the tread in its construction, both to increase the longevity of the bridge and to demonstrate the use of environmentally friendly products.
     Every year Audubon’s highly skilled building and grounds volunteers take on a major project on the sanctuary grounds. In recent years they have built the two-story Hugh and Gladys Wood Observation Tower, a handicapped accessible observation platform, and other bridges.
     The Audubon Center and Sanctuary is at 1600 Riverside Road, off Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Center hours through October are 10 am-4:30 pm daily, Sundays 1-4:30 pm. The trails and Bald Eagle viewing are open dawn to dusk. To learn more, call (716) 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.

Photo caption: Shown here Working on the most recent Audubon bridge replacement are (from left) Denny Anderson, Terry LeBaron, Larry Brown, Don Weber and Don Carlson. (Photo by John Whittaker)

 

 

First Class Completes JBC’s Leadership Launch
     Officials from Senator Catharine Young’s office and from Jamestown Business College recently recognized the first group of high school seniors from Chautauqua County who completed the JBC Leadership Launch with Senator Catharine Young program. The program, which began its first session in September, was designed to develop the leadership skills of select students throughout the county.
     As part of the program, nominated seniors participated in a series of interactive leadership activities at JBC. The five-week program provided students with the opportunity to improve their own leadership capabilities. The first session in September included team building activities and a leadership discussion with Senator Young. From there, students experienced interactive sessions on the topics of communication, initiative, and leadership traits. They worked with the college’s faculty and staff, along with a local training professional on these efforts.
     JBC President, David Conklin, was pleased with the program and with the students who participated. “I truly enjoyed following the course of this program,” he said. “It was a pleasure to welcome such an engaged and motivated group of students to the college. We hope that more students like them come through this program in the future.”
     Members of the local business/education community also had a hand in the creation of the program. In March, a focus group gathered at the college to brainstorm ways that the program would be most effective for students.  Two members of that focus group – Elisabeth Rankin from Assemblyman Goodell’s Office and Megan Sorenson from the Robert H. Jackson Center – were on hand to congratulate the student participants.
The program will continue at the college next year. Program dates will be announced in the future.   
Jamestown Business College offers business-focused Associate and Bachelor degrees and certificate programs that include targeted professional development activities.  For more information on registering for these programs, call 664-5100 or visit us online at www.JamestownBusinessCollege.edu.  

Photo Caption:  Students completing the first Leadership Launch at JBC were, from left: Gabby Garver (Falconer), Olivia Kaltenbach (Brocton), Rachel Boll (Ripley), Colleen Kimball (Falconer), Megan MacDonald (Falconer), Dylan Stow (Panama), Jackie Delcamp (Brocton), Shauna Brunea (Forestville), Megan Zimba (Jamestown), Katie Fickelscherer (Forestville).

Photo Caption:  Robert H. Jackson Center Director of Development and Communications, Megan Sorenson, speaks to students and guests at the awards ceremony of the Leadership Launch program.  
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JBC  Careers in Business Day Event Features Local Speakers
     Jamestown Business College (JBC) was the recent host and facilitator of a “Careers in Business Day” event for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County high school students.  The event featured presentations from area business professionals that highlighted their respective industries. The presentations offered background information and answered questions that students had pertaining to possible futures in each career field.  Overall, the event was designed to give students a perspective into a variety of possible careers and inspire them to continue their education.
     Speakers included representatives from Time Warner Cable Media Sales, The Lucy Desi Center, Elegant Edibles, Guardian Park Avenue, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Register Graphics, EK Ward & Associates, Niagara University, Kelly Dawson, CPA, local designer Gary Peters, and a student panel from JBC.
     JBC Director of Marketing and Communications, Jessica Golley, was pleased with the event and continues to be impressed with the support of the community. “We get a great response from our area high schools and local professionals,” she said. “Many of our speakers help us year after year and even help us recruit other speakers that would be a good fit…we really appreciate that support.”
     Nearly 200 students visited the college for the annual event.
Photo Caption:  Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the Lucy Desi Center, speaks with students at the most recent Careers in Business event.

 

 

JCC Awarded NSF Grant
     Jamestown Community College, Finger Lakes Community College, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, and Delaware Technical and Community College have been awarded a $3.35 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
     The funding comes from NSF’s Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) program, in which there are three levels of funding. The grant, which was awarded the highest level of funding, will support the expansion of undergraduate research opportunities at the four community colleges as well as the dissemination of undergraduate research nationwide to other community colleges.
     JCC’s biotechnology program has a vibrant undergraduate research component with research opportunities for students during the academic year and through its Summer Undergraduate Research Institute. The NSF grant will provide research supplies and paid internships for biotechnology students and will support national workshops and mentorship activities for other community colleges across the nation.
     Funds provided by the Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and Promega Corporation, plus other donations to support JCC’s new science facility, allowed JCC to purchase close to $500,000 in new biotechnology equipment.

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Third Residence Hall Underwayat JCC
     Construction has begun on a third residence hall on the Jamestown Campus of Jamestown Community College. With support from Chautauqua County and City of Jamestown leaders, the college will add the 120-bed facility to the 220 beds currently available in two residence halls which opened in the fall of 2008. Completion of the facility is expected in July 2012, and applications for fall 2012 are currently being accepted.  
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JCC Receives $400,000 Federal Grant
     Jamestown Community College has been awarded just under $400,000 in federal grant funds from the United States Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program for the 2011-12 academic year. It is anticipated that similar funds will be available for a total of five years. The program helps eligible institutions of higher education expand their capacity to serve low income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability.
     "We are extremely grateful to Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins for investing in our region by championing this grant," said JCC President Gregory T. DeCinque. "Our elected officials recognize JCC's strengths and, by supporting this grant, have indicated their belief that higher education is a key to economic vitality."
     The three key strategies to be developed by the funds are strengthening student technology competency to prepare them better for the workforce and/or transfer, enhancing student persistence, and enhancing access to higher education through expanded distance learning opportunities. In each of these areas, the focus will be to build upon the foundation in place at JCC to provide additional opportunities which will place students in the best position to succeed in their academic efforts and beyond.

 

 

YMCA’s Zero Gain Campaign Open To Community
     The Jamestown Area YMCAs have teamed up to help area residents and business employees stay on track with their weight during the holidays with their seventh annual Zero Gain Campaign.  Participants in the Zero Gain Campaign pay only $5 and weigh in before Thanksgiving on November 20-23 and weigh out after New Year’s on January 1-3 at either the Jamestown or Lakewood YMCAs or at their workplace.  Those who maintain their weight or lose pounds will receive a prize.  Participants will also receive three guest passes to the YMCA and chances to win certificates for personal training, massage, ballroom dancing, or tennis.  
     “Most Americans engage in feasting from Halloween thru New Years and sometimes beyond," says Meg Pickard, Wellness Director. "If we do feast, as many people do, without control, then we set ourselves up for bad patterns, ill health, and weight gain.  The Zero Gain Campaign is an easy way to combat such behavior."
     Even though participants do not have to be YMCA members, a special YMCA Zero Gain membership is also available for the duration of the Zero Gain Campaign for the low cost of $42.  This special membership provides access to both the Jamestown and Lakewood YMCAs which provide free babysitting services for family or youth members, a variety of free group exercise classes including Zumba®, yoga, indoor cycling, water exercise, free family nights, and much more.
     For more information, please contact Pickard at the Jamestown YMCA at 664-2802, ext. 231, or Donna Garvey at the Lakewood YMCA at 763-0303 or you may pick up a registration form at either YMCA.  Other information is also available on the YMCA web at www.jamestownymca.org.


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Ironmen Join Snap Fitness
     The Jamestown Ironmen visited our local Snap Fitness for a hard workout to get ready for a recent match against the Michigan Warriors.  Snap Fitness Manager Amy Kolstee and Trainer Chuck Jambliter welcomed the players.
      “I’m glad the team is here and look forward to seeing them in a game,” said Scott Bradish, owner of Snap Fitness.  
     Snap offers a wide variety of equipment which allowed the team to cover their whole work out. Also, Chuck was able to help answer questions and give advice to the players on how to get the best results from each exercise.  The fitness center is open 24/7, so even with a busy schedule, the Ironmen are able to workout at their convenience.
     Season tickets, group tickets and individual game tickets for the Jamestown Ironmen are available and can be charged by phone by calling the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena Box Office at (716) 484-2624. Tickets can also be purchased online by logging onto www.jamestownarena.com.

 

Also, be sure to check out our New Members and Chamber Calendar!