Wednesday, November 20, 2024

November Membership Luncheon

TODAY! November 20, 2024, 11:00 am

We're thrilled to welcome back Tina O'Brien from the Kitsap Community Foundation, along with Kitsap Bank's Carol Kowalski, to talk about partnerships between businesses and local nonprofits. Hear from their special guest, Peter Crabtree, CEO of Crabtree Brands in Poulsbo. You'll also have the opportunity to visit with many of our nonprofit members at information tables, connect with a local nonprofit to work with in 2025, learn how your business can give back to the community and still be profitable, and so much more!

This month's luncheon is 1 week early to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday. Please join us at the Kitsap Conference Center in Downtown Bremerton for lively discussions with business leaders from across our region, networking, and more! Parking is available on the 2nd level (green level) underneath the Conference Center.

Registration for this event has closed.

Sign Up Now: Shop Local with Kitsap Kelly

Looking for a Travel Escape in 2025?

Travel Abroad with the Chamber

Chamber launches new benefit in partnership with Crunch Fitness!

We are so excited to announce this new wellness opportunity for our business community: beginning August 2024, members of the Greater Kitsap Chamber and their employees can now enjoy discounted gym memberships at Crunch Fitness in Silverdale. For more information on how to redeem this benefit, contact Irene at the Chamber.

It’s time to get the most out of your insurance.

With Business Health Trust, you’ll have access to:

• More choices – more than 80 medical plans from the most respected carriers in the state
• More value – all plans come with mental health and virtual care coverage, plus innovative ancillary benefits to suit your needs
• More support – with concierge level customer service and comprehensive plan administration
• More savings – enjoy discounts on transit, IT & HR support, plus savings on dining, shopping, travel and more
• More peace of mind – we’ve got you covered!

Before you renew this year, be sure to benchmark your benefits with BHT – and see for yourself how BHT has helped over 1,000 businesses with their employee benefits.

Ready to build your benefits plan? Email quote@businesshealthtrust.com to learn more and get a free quote. 

New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!

Clearwater Congratulations

Congratulations to long-time members, Port Madison Enterprises, on their newest addition in North Kitsap. The Clearwater Market, located at 23000 Bond Road NE is officially open! Best wishes for a bright future and continued growth for PME and the Suquamish Tribe!

Read more in the South Sound Business Journal here

Pictured above: Suquamish Tribal Youth Royalty, Executive Staff, and Tribal Council members come together to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Toys for Tots: Drop-Off at Seaport Salon

Leadership Kitsap: 20 Under 40

Tickets on Sale Now for January 23rd Event

Port of Bremerton Annual Food Drive

Now thru November 29, 2024

Fundraiser for Whaling Days

Support Whaling Days 2025 while filling your home with holiday scents!

Whaling days is a nonprofit 501c3 music festival bringing you free entertainment from live music, acts, fireworks and we hope, a DRONE SHOW in 2025!!!!

Help make that happen and order today! 

Member Spotlight

We're so excited to share with our membership the November 2024 Member of the Month: Kitsap Chair Covers. This amazing local business works tirelessly across our region to make events look and feel spectacular. From specialty linens, to backdrops, to chair covers, Cathy and her team will bring your vision to life. The Greater Kitsap Chamber has been thrilled to have them as part of our Annual Business Awards Gala for the last several years, transforming our spaces into luxurious landscapes. Congratulations, Cathy and the Kitsap Chair Covers team on your selection as the November 2024 Member of the Month!

www.kitsapchaircovers.com

Business & Professional Development Committee

SCORE: Selling Your Business

Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 10:00 am

There's a saying -- those who fail to plan, plan to fail. And a stunning number of small- to medium-sized businesses fail to plan for their next chapter. In fact, according to the Exit Planning Institute, 70% will not be able to transition to new ownership. 

This workshop is intended to demystify the process of selling a business: what it looks like, how long it takes, and the results it can yield. Whether you are the owner, or part of the leadership team, knowledge is power — and what will be covered in this session can help foster healthy conversations in your organization, and make sure that your business is ready for a transition.

Workshop Fee: FREE

SCORE: Financial Basics for

New Small Businesses

Friday, November 22, 2024, 1:00 pm

This workshop is designed to give you, the business owner, the financial skills and know-how needed to perform key tasks like to determine how to accurately compute the amount of funding you’ll need to start your business. You will also learn how to project your future financial results realistically including:

• Projecting sales for a new business
• Understanding your cost of goods sold and gross margin
• Being able to project your operating expenses
• Calculating your net income.
• Planning your cash flow successfully.

This workshop includes a special section on creating financial statements for service businesses.



Proper management of finances is crucial to any business’s success and a special set of skills is needed to understand and create these critical financial statements. This workshop is suitable for everyone whether you are starting a new business or need to update your skills. 

Workshop Fee: FREE

Leadership Kitsap: Peer Coaching

Manager Peer Coaching & Executive Peer Coaching

Cohorts begin in February 2025

Community Leader Peer Coaching Groups are cohort-based programs for the professional and personal development of leaders looking to learn and collaborate with other business executives in a safe space.

Leaders use their current work experiences, and the experiences of others in the cohort, as opportunities for growth and learning through facilitated dialog. Group members share their unique leadership challenges, gain meaningful insights, and create a system of personal accountability through the support, wisdom, and guidance of peers in leadership from across the region.

MANAGER PEER COACHING

FEBRUARY – APRIL 2025

Leadership Kitsap, in partnership with Doug Nathan Coaching & Consulting, is excited to offer an outstanding opportunity to grow your leadership skills. This opportunity is open to all leaders with management experience.

EXECUTIVE PEER COACHING

FEBRUARY – MAY 2025

Leadership Kitsap, in partnership with Doug Nathan Coaching & Consulting, is excited to offer an outstanding opportunity to grow your leadership skills. This opportunity is open to all leaders with 2+ years of CEO/Executive Director-level experience.

Workforce Development Committee

WSHRMA December Luncheon

Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 11:45 am

The West Sound Human Resource Management Association (WSHRMA) is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management. Whether you are new to the HR field or have many years of experience, we are a local starting point for networking, information, professional development and continued support of excellence in Human Resources.

Courtesy of FastCompany.com

• Even large corporations should consider employee ownership. Here's why
• 3 ways to create a more useful to-do list
• Good-paying jobs for workers without college degrees may be on the decline again
• 3 things VCs do that can help you land your dream job after getting laid off
• How to be a great leaders - even when you haven't received any training

Courtesy of inc.com

• Your overall leadership success comes down to 2 simple strategies

L&I Resources

The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to serve as a resource partner with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Stay tuned to this section quarterly for education, resources and more from L&I.

Minimum Wage Increase Leads

to Other Changes for 2025

Adjustments to minimum wage also mean updates to the 2025 minimum salary thresholds for overtime exempt employees, the minimum pay for rideshare drivers, and non-compete clauses:



• Minimum salary thresholds for overtime exempt employees
• Changes how much executive, administrative, professional workers, computer professionals, and outside salespeople must earn in salary to be exempt from overtime requirements.
• For small employers (1-50) in 2025, the minimum salary threshold is $69,305.60/annually
• For large employers (50+) in 2025, the minimum salary threshold is $77,968.80/annually
• Minimum pay for rideshare drivers
• Minimum pay for drivers for rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber is one of the new rights and protections granted to these drivers 
• For trips within Seattle in 2025, drivers must earn least $0.68 per passenger platform minute and $1.59 per passenger platform mile, or $5.95, whichever is greater.
• For trips outside of Seattle in 2025, drivers must earn at least $0.39 per passenger platform minute and $1.34 per passenger platform mile, or $3.45, whichever is greater. 
• Non-compete clauses
• Non-compete agreements typically prevent an employee or independent contractor from working for a competitor or starting a similar business while employed or after leaving their current job.
• Earnings must meet a minimum threshold for non-compete agreements to be legal in Washington.
• For employees in 2025, the threshold will be $123,394.17
• For independent contractors, the 2025 threshold will be $308,485.43.

Got a question or issue to be solved?

Call L&I's Small Business Liaisons for assistance.

Phone: 1-800-987-0145

Email: SmallBusiness@Lni.wa.gov | Negocios@Lni.wa.gov

Online: Lni.wa.gov/SmallBusiness

Nonprofit News & Resources

6 Ways to Stand Out this Giving Tuesday

Published on NonProfitPRO.com on Nov. 19, 2024

Credit: Getty Images by Anna Blazhuk

Giving Tuesday has become a phenomenon — a day of global generosity that nonprofits everywhere capitalize on to fuel their missions. But with the surge of appeals flooding inboxes, social feeds and even doorsteps, standing out can be a monumental challenge. 

For nonprofits, this day has become the most competitive fundraising period of the year. To rise above the noise and mobilize your donor and volunteer base effectively, you need to approach Giving Tuesday with strategy, foresight and an edge that drives sustained engagement.

Read the full article here

Greater Kitsap News

Bremerton Launches Study on Solar Capacity

Published in the Kitsap Sun, November 14, 2024

As demand on the West Sound power grid increases with population growth, severe weather and transit electrification, the City of Bremerton is taking a step to provide a degree of relief. 

The City will conduct a feasibility study using a $100,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to determine which of its facilities could be outfitted with solar panels and storage systems to store the generated energy. The Bremerton City Council voted on November 6 to accept the grant.

The funding for the feasibility study comes from the first of two tracks in Commerce’s grant program, said Public Works & Utilities project manager Katie Ketterer. The second track could fund the subsequent implementation of the solar array and storage systems further down the road after the study is completed and pre-design is completed for the three to five possible projects.

Read the full story here

Mini Grants Available for Youth-Serving Organizations in Kitsap

Does your organization offer events or activities for youth in Kitsap County? The Kitsap Public Health District wants to support your work!

As part of our efforts to prevent youth substance use, we are offering up to $3,000 in funding to help organizations create a social event or project where youth can gain coping skills, improve their mental health, and strengthen their sense of community.

Important Dates

• Applications open Nov. 13, 2024
• Applications close Dec. 11, 2024

Eligibility

We encourage organizations serving youth living in Kitsap County to apply. This can include coalitions, Tribal organizations, and non-profits. The organizations should be working with youth and/or young adults aged 12-20.

We will be giving special consideration to organizations and projects that:

• Support or work with LGBTQ+ youth, rural youth, youth in transition (foster care youth, homeless youth, etc.) and tribal youth.
• Focus on engaging youth with state and/or local elected officials.
• Engage underserved youth in substance use prevention.

Organizations that receive a grant will use the funds to provide activities for youth that help decrease substance use. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Host an event for youth to learn how they can advocate for healthy choices among their peers.
• Provide opportunities for youth to engage with local decision-makers.
• Provide leadership opportunities to youth.

We can help with technical assistance in the implementation phase of the project. This help can include, but is not limited to:

• Project management.
• Research of best practices.
• Structuring equity into your project.

How to Apply

You can apply online, by mail, or drop off your application in-person at our front desk:

Kitsap Public Health District

ATTN: Aldrin Villahermosa II

345 6th St Unit 300

Bremerton, WA 98337

If you require a paper application, please contact Aldrin Villahermosa II (aldrin.villahermosa@kitsappublichealth.org) to request one.

Applications are due on December 11, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. (mailed applications must be postmarked by December 11th)

Bremerton Foodline Hosts

1st Annual Bridge to Bridge Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 28, 2024, 9:00 am

Silverdale Rotary Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 28, 2024, 8:00 am

Please join us for our 7th Annual Silverdale Rotary Turkey Trot!

For the fourth straight year we're going free-range with our wild Turkey Trot at Newberry Hill Heritage Park. All events are run in the woods -- away from streets, sidewalks, and cars. The park offers a scenic 2.7 mile loop fire road which offers a great course for our 1-Mile, 5K and 10K events.  

Parking is available on the property of Klahowya Secondary School. Please enter off of Newberry Hill and follow signs to the parking area.  Staging, registration, and kids' dashes will occur on an access road to the Heritage Park. From the parking lot this access road will be clearly marked.

Registration, in person can be made at Pre-Race Packet pick-up locations (see below) and on the morning of the event (Thursday, November 28th). The first distance events start at 8:15 am. If you are going to register on race day please arrive early. Race-Day registration will be cut off at 7:45 am.

Silverdale Tree Lighting

Saturday, November 30, 2024, 2:00 pm

Masks Still Available

Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center

The Greater Kitsap Chamber still has some supplies available if your local business is in need of KN95 masks. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.

Can I still get COVID-19 tests?

You can order free, at-home COVID-19 tests from CovidTests.gov

Tests are available from many pharmacies and retailers. Healthcare providers can provide testing. If you test positive for COVID-19, follow CDC guidance. 

If you need tests for your organization, contact Kitsap Public Health at ready@kitsappublichealth.org or 360-728-2235.

Clearwater Casino Presents:

YSK - 2000's Top Hits

Friday, November 22, 2024, 8:30 pm

Lucky Town - Bruce Springsteen Tribute

Saturday, November 23, 2024, 8:30 pm

Admiral Theatre: Comedian Jamie Lissow

Saturday, November 23, 2024, 7:30 pm

Actor and comedian Jamie Lissow is currently a regular weekly guest on the #1 rated late night talk show, Gutfeld! on Fox. Jamie is best known for his starring role in two seasons of the Netflix Original Series “Real Rob”, alongside SNL alums Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler, Norm MacDonald and David Spade; a show Jamie co-wrote and co-produced. Jamie has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, Last Comic Standing, has his own half hour Comedy Central special and a Dry Bar Comedy Special with over 20 Million views. Jamie recently wrapped his first movie, Daddy Daughter Trip, where he appears alongside John Cleese, Rob Schneider, and Micheal Bublé - a movie he co-wrote and produced. Jamie is currently writing and will be starring in the feature film, The Animal 2, for Fox/Tubi and headlining stand-up comedy shows across the country.

CSTOCK Presents: Annie

Now thru November 30, 2024

BCT Presents: Blithe Spirit

Closes this weekend!

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward

In Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, the mundane life of novelist Charles Condomine takes a hilariously supernatural turn when a séance gone awry conjures the ghost of his mischievous first wife, Elvira. As Elvira's spectral antics wreak havoc on Charles's current marriage to the no-nonsense Ruth, the play spirals into a delightful farce filled with witty banter, eccentric characters, and a whirlwind of ghostly chaos. With Coward's signature sharp humor and clever dialogue, Blithe Spirit is a timeless comedy that explores the complexities of love, marriage, and the afterlife with a charmingly light touch.

Content Advisory: Features witty and sophisticated dialogue; ghosts and séances are central to the plot and are portrayed in a humorous and non-threatening way; some mature themes related to marriage and infidelity handled with Coward’s characteristic wit and charm; some comedic accidents and mishaps.

Tiffany Diamond

Events Coordinator

tiffany@greaterkitsapchamber.com