In This Issue
Upcoming Events

Business After Hours
Juniata College
November 14, 2017
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Business After Hours
The Inn at Solvang
December 7, 2017
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Coffee Connection
PA Department of Corrections
Huntingdon Country Club
December 8, 2017
7:45 - 9:00 a.m. 

Coffee Connection
"State of the County" Address
Huntingdon Country Club
February 14, 2018
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.

Winter Blues
Huntingdon Country Club
March 4, 2018
5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Annual Golf Tournament
Huntingdon Country Club
June 20, 2018
Registration at 11:30 a.m.

Sporting Clay Tournament
Shenecoy Sportsman
September 12, 2018

Annual Awards Gala
Huntingdon Country Club
October 4, 2018

Partners In Excellence

Silver
Mutual Benefit Group

Bronze
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.
Orbisonia Hardware, Inc. 

Royal
BottomLine Pros LLC
FirstEnergy Corporation
Helpmates, Inc.
Juniata College
Lincoln Caverns, Inc. and Whisper Rocks
MDB Drafting & Design
Nationwide Insurance
Stiffler, McGraw and Associates, Inc. 
Contact Us

Yvonne Martin
President/ CEO

ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com


MacKenzie Locke
Office Manager
mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com


500 Allegheny Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652

Phone: 814-643-1110

Fax: 814-643-1115
Links:

Constant Contact

Click here to register. 

After your free trial period expires you qualify for a special discount because you are a member of the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce. If you prepay for six months, you receive a 20% discount. Prepay for a year and save 25%! There's no better time to try email marketing. 
November 14, 2017


Juniata College Business After Hours

Please join us if you are able tonight at Juniata College for their Business After Hours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

The evening will begin with an open bar in the new lobby of the Brumbaugh Academic Center. Next will be hors d'oeuvres in Alumni Hall with a welcome and remarks from President Troha. To conclude the evening, there will be an invitation to walk to Kepple Hall for dessert and coffee and a tour of the new integrated media and studio arts building. 

Sodexo is catering this event. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. They will have free tickets to Juniata presents program and a gift card to Headwaters at Juniata College as door prizes. Parking is going to be availabe on the street and in the back and library parking lots. 

We hope to see you there! 

Anatomy of a Great Blog Post


Want a sure-fire way to get more traction on your business blog posts? Make sure each post contains these important pieces. 

Many small businesses are starting to realize the importance of good content. But what makes content good? Better yet, what makes for great content? While it starts with something that answers your customers' questions, entertains them, or inspires them, there are basic pieces you need to include to help the post move the dial on your business and get more shares. This article explains the basic anatomy of great blog posts.  

1. A TITLE THAT SAYS "READ ME"
Nearly all readers base their decision to click open your blog post on the title alone. Most professional copywriters will tell you they spend half of their time on the title and half on the internal content. Your post can be the best article ever written but if it has a ho-hum title it will be relegated to the land of no-clicks. 

To get some suggestions for writing headlines that inspire action and continue reading this article, please click here

Get Your Business Ready for
Small Business Saturday

As an organization that serves local business owners and customers, Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce is proud to support Small Business Saturday this November 25. 

Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 to help strengthen local economies. Today, it's a holiday shopping tradition celebrating a greater nationwide movement dedicated to uniting communities and supporting all kinds of small businesses, from the corner store to your favorite diner - because it's unique small businesses like yours that help local communities stay vibrant. 

Participating in Small Business Saturday is a great way to reach new customers and promote your business. Here are some ideas for getting involved on November 25:
  • Let your community know that you plan to participate in Small Business Saturday. Visit ShopSmall.com/YourDay for free promotional assets, like ready-made social posts, to show your support. 
  • On November 25, transform your store. American Express offers free merchandise, while supplies last, to help your business make an impression. Don't wait - apply for Small Business Saturday merchandise starting October 1 at ShopSmall.com/YourDay. Terms apply. 
  • Connect with other organizations in your community to see how you can work together on Small Business Saturday events and promotions. 
Join us this November 25 to celebrate Small Business Saturday! 

Click here to print the pdf. 

FREE Dale Carnegie Skills 
For Success Course



Dale Carnegie is preparing to start a new Skills For Success course on January 25, 2018! The classes will be held in Altoona at Comfort Inn Duncansville. This course has transformed the careers of over seven million graduates and now they want to help you join the ranks of the world's most successful people!

The Chamber has partnered with Dale Carnegie to be able to award one Chamber member a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to attend the class! The class costs $1,995. The time commitment is one three and a half hours session for eight weeks. 

If you'd like to be registered for the opportunity to attend the course for free, please let MacKenzie Locke know before noon on January 11, 2018. You may call her at (814) 643-1110 or email mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com. 

Fourth Annual Life O'Riley Rasies $3,000 for Home Nursing Agency Healing Patch


The Life O'Riley Memorial Ride Planning Committee and supporters recently presented a $3,000 check for the proceeds of the fourth annual event to benefit the Home Nursing Agency Healing Patch: A Program for Loss and Hope for Grieving Children and Their Families. The Life O'Riley Memorial Ride has raised more than $15,500 over the past four years to support children who are mourning the death of a loved one. 

Held in July, the Fourth Annual Life O'Riley Memorial Ride event once again honored the memory of Michael Patrick Riley, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2013, leaving behind three young daughters. 

To continue reading this press release, please click here

Pulmonologist Joins J.C. Blair 
Medical Staff



J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon is pleased to announce the appointment of pulmonologist Robert Gillio, M.D. to its medical staff. Dr. Gillio will serve as the medical director for the health system's new Pulmonary Care Center in which he will oversee a new program of lung disease education, prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. Fellowship trained at the Mayo Clinic, he brings years of clinical experience, having practiced in Pittsburgh, Lancaster, and Penn State Hershey. He complements pulmonologist Jeff Ratner, M.D. and Steve Smith, PA-C, who also practice at J.C. Blair Hospital in Huntingdon. 

To continue reading this press release, please click here

Coffee Connection: Department of Corrections Executive Deputy Secretary



Host A Business After Hours in 2018

We are seeking members who would be interested in hosting a Business After Hours in 2018! If you would like to discuss hosting an After Hours, please contact MacKenzie at (814) 643-1110 or mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com. 


Register now to participate in the 
2018 Winter Blues

The 2018 Winter Blues is scheduled for Sunday, March 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Huntingdon Country Club. Flight 19 will be performing once again. 

If you are interested in participating in the "Taste of Huntingdon County" please click here for the link. Non-profits interested in promoting themselves and earning a little - or a lot - of money should click here for more information and the form. You must be a member of the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce to paricipate. 


Scottsdale to Las Vegas
October 9-16, 2018

The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with three other local chambers to offer an 8 day tour from Scottsdale to Las Vegas October 9-16, 2018. If booked by November 28, 2017 the cost is $1,999 per person, double occupancy plus air. 

Click here for details.

Click here for the registration form. 

Questions can be directed to Cynthia Watters at Epic Journeys LLC at 814-266-5070. 

Reminders:





Penn National Dividend Program


Special Announcement! Facebook Virtual Tour for Business

If you recall we launched a new member benefit program last year that brought Google Street View virtual tours INSIDE local businesses. We've had a number of members participate in this program and it has really boosted their Google Local Search Ranking and provided a virtual walk-through of their business online and in our Virtual Business Guide
That program is now expanded to add in Facebook Virtual Tours!
Using the same 360 degree panoramic images as the Google program does, this new feature creates and provides a 360 degree interactive virtual tour of your business that is displayed and functional right in your Business Facebook Timeline! You can pin it to stay at the top of your timeline so that it is always visible to your fans/friends. 
Photo Shoot Day!
Our virtual tour photographer for this program will be in the area soon. If you'd like to learn more and possibly be on that photo shoot day then submit the online form found at  this linked web page and they will follow up with you immediately to go over the details. Don't wait - it's first come/ first served and space is limited. 
On The Job Training Program

Advantages To Using The OTJ Training:
  • Cuts the cost of wages for employers by a minimum of 50% during the training time.
  • Reduces the employer's costs for advertising and recruitment.
  • Allows employers to make all hiring and firing decisions.
  • Guarantees a quick referral process.
  • Requires minimal paperwork.
  • May involve a single placement, a number of people for one type of job, or a variety of jobs. 

How It Works:
An employer meets with the Business Services Representative to develop a job order indicating what type of people the employer desires and the screening method preferred to evaluate potential candidates (resumes, applications, interviews, etc.)
  • Post the job on the CareerLink system.
  • A search is then conducted of the eligible applicant pool for people who match the characteristics set by the employer. The employer is then provided the information about potential candidates in the manner in which they have requested. 
  • The employer decides whom they want to hire and a possible start date. The Business Services staff is notified about the circumstances of the hire. 
  • The employer and the Business Services Representative negotiate a contract, which includes a training plan, length of training and costs to be reimbursed to the employer for providing the training. It is important to note that this contract MUST be in place BEFORE an eligible client begins working or the opportunity to secure funding will be lost. 

To continue reading, please click here.  
Free  E-mail Blast
The Chamber offers FREE e-mail blast to our members who are offering free workshops or hosting events that donate all money raised to a charity.

Disclaimer: The Chamber has the right to refuse blasting information if the Chamber staff decides the information does not meet the proper criteria. 
FREE Bulk Mailing Permit Use!

The Chamber is now offering use of our Bulk Mail Permit for FREE to our members. Bulk Mail Permits cost $250.00 per year. If you are interested in using the Bulk Mailing Stamp, we will walk you through the process to make it easy for you. You will still have to pay postage. 
Let the Chamber Help You Save Money

If you are interested in saving money on your electric bill, please contact ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com or 814-643-1110 to get connected with the program endorsed by 120 chambers of commerce in PA and 80 Harrisburg based associations. OnDemand Energy manages 6 billion kWh in PA. There is no cost or obligation involved with seeing how much money your business or organization can save. In many cases it has been quite a significant savings. OnDemand Energy can also review your gas savings options with you. 
E-Newsletter Advertising Opportunities

You are now able to be the exclusive sponsor of our weekly e-newsletter. The cost is $200 a quarter and includes your name in the email heading as the sponsor and an ad (2 in. wide and 3 in. tall) at the top of the left column of the newsletter. 

If you only want to have an ad (2 in. wide and 2 1/2 in. tall) in the left column, the cost is $100 per quarter or $300 per year. Please continue to share your events and special news and we will include that information for free. Contact mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you would like to include your ad in our e-newsletter or be the exclusive sponsor. 
E-mail Blast Special Rates

Many of you have been asking about more opportunities to send email blasts to our database of nearly 1,000. Currently individual blasts are $50 for for-profit businesses and $25 for non-profits. You can now purchase one blast a week for a quarter for $200 or one blast a week for a year for $500. Non-profits pay $100 for the quarter or $250 for the year. Contact mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you are interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity. 
HCCC Member to Member 
Facebook Group

This group is being brought to you at the request of HCCC members during the most recent survey. The HCCC Member to Member group is a closed group for Chamber members only to post questions and important information that other members will find valuable. Please invite other Chamber members to join our group and share in discussions. 
Want to be Featured in the Next Chamber News? 

If you have any business news and updates, achievements, awards or recognitions that you would like to be included, it can be done for FREE! If you have an event that is free or all the proceeds are being donated to a non-profit as a fundraiser, we'll include it for FREE! If you'd like to include a promotion or a money making event or non-profit fundraiser where proceeds will benefit the organization's operations, we charge a small fee. (Profit - $25 and Non-Profit - $10) Contact MacKenzie Locke at 814-643-1110 or mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you're interested in including an article. 
Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce | (814) 643-1110 |mail@huntingdonchamber.com | http://www.huntingdonchamber.com
500 Allegheny Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652