By Daniel J. Heitzenrater
President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce completes a full slate of events for the remainder of this calendar year. We’re off to a good start with Doors Open Jamestown, Salute to the Finest and the annual State Legislative Breakfast already wrapped up, but there’s still a lot to come!
May will see the return of the Chamber’s Spring Membership Campaign as our staff literally take to the streets to meet with local businesses in communities across the county. The Chamber and the Small Business Development Center will honor National Small Business Week with a press conference on May 2 to kick off the campaign. May 24 brings a return to Business After Hours with a networking session at Ther-Happy Group in Lakewood. The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber Committee will unveil its Farmer and Craft Market for the season beginning Thursday, May 26 and will hold its community garage sales during Memorial Day weekend May 27-29.
The Chamber’s annual County Executive Breakfast will take place on June 3 at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk with our special guest PJ Wendel. The Fredonia Community Chamber Committee is hosting Attic and Vendor Days June 3-5, and the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber Committee is taking over the first Fridays of the summer season starting Friday, June 3. Also in June, the popular Business After Hours Beach Bash at The Sunset Bay Beach Club in Irving is scheduled for June 9.
July marks the return of Music in the Park with the Free Summer Concert Series at Lakeside Park in Mayville, hosted by the Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber.
The Hanover Community Chamber Committee is preparing for its 30th annual garage sale in the Silver Creek area on August 6, while the Jamestown Community Chamber Committee is preparing for a downtown cruise on August 12 on the streets of downtown Jamestown. The popular annual Chamber Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 18 at the Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer.
September brings another Business After Hours event, this time at Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House on September 27th.
The annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet will return on October 6th. This special event will be held at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia with honorees and guests from across the county.
The ever-popular Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Business After Hours hits theaters Nov. 8. Also in November, the Chamber is expected to help promote small businesses across the county for small businesses on Saturday, November 26.
Additional events will be scheduled and we continue to set dates and locations for a few more Business After Hours networking events, our Congress luncheon and the Chamber’s annual meeting in December.
To register for upcoming Chamber events, visit our online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.
SPONSORING CHAMBER EVENTS SHOWCASES YOUR COMPANY
The Chamber of Commerce seeks sponsors for all of its events to keep programs affordable and available to all of our members. Sponsors are mentioned in promotional materials leading up to each event, including direct emails, articles and social media posts. Additionally, sponsors are highlighted during the event itself as we work to display logos and personally thank each sponsor who helps make the event happen. Depending on the level of sponsorship, the sponsorship commitment may include tickets to the event itself. Organizations that have sponsored Chamber events over the years have been very pleased with the recognition their company has gained by participating in this valuable program.
Sponsorship opportunities remain for some of our upcoming events this year. For more information on sponsorship, please contact Becky Voty, Director of Membership Services, at [email protected] Chamber events are all designed to bring customers into local businesses, provide business-to-business interaction and honor those who make our county a special place to live, work and play.
SIGN UP NOW FOR AFTER HOURS BUSINESS AT THER-HAPPY GROUP
Enjoy a great little place in Lakewood as the room brings Business After Hours to Ther-Happy Group, 103 Chautauqua Avenue, in the heart of the village. Join your fellow Chamber of Commerce members for this networking event as you enjoy appetizers and a cash bar while getting to know other local business people.
Chamber member companies can send two people to each Business After Hours event free of charge. The price is only $10 for non-members or for additional members above the first two. Be sure to bring business cards and be prepared to give a quick overview of your business so others can get to know you.
Business After Hours at Group Ther-Happy is sponsored by Group Ther-Happy, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER and The Post-Journal. Register online now!
RECRUIT COLLABORATORS AT THE CHAUTAUQUA WORKS JOB FAIR
Chautauqua Works is hosting a South County Career Fair! The event will take place on Thursday, May 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown. It will begin with an employer registration and breakfast from 8:30-9:30 am, followed by the job fair from 9:30-11:30 am.
Your company can participate in person by registering with Chautauqua Works. The cost is $100 which includes a table with chairs, table sign, 2 continental breakfasts, advertising and promotion and local job seekers. A downloadable form is available on the Chamber’s web agenda. The deadline for registration is May 6.
If you are a small business and cannot attend in person, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will have a table and will accept applications which we will forward to all interested small business Chamber members immediately following the event. . Small businesses that cannot attend in person are encouraged to register through the Chamber’s web calendar to access post-event applications and CVs.
