June 2019 Newsletter
Message from the Director:

Dear Members,

Welcome to all new members, and a special thank you to our continuing members for your support and dedication to our Chamber.

Our “Speed Networking” on May 28th at Banchetti’s was a great event. Chamber members and non-members had the opportunity to move around the room and present their information to one another. It was a great time to make some wonderful contacts over breakfast. We will host another event like this in the fall.  

Our golf tournament on Monday, June 3rd at the Tan Tara Golf Club was a huge success. The weather was perfect, and everyone had a wonderful time. We had 76 golfers participate, and it was a time to meet new friends, win some great prizes, and have fun. A special thank you to Phyllis Gentner and her committee for bringing this event back to the Chamber. Also, a special thank you to our event sponsors, corporate sponsors, and the Tan Tara Golf Club for contributing to make this an outstanding event.

Just a reminder to all members, our Membership Appreciation picnic is Thursday, June 13 from 5 – 8 pm here at the Chamber.  This is a great time to have some food, listen to music by Moving Music, and meet other members. This is our time to celebrate “YOU”. Hope to see you all there.

Our “Growing Leadership Opportunities Group” (G.L.O.W.) will sponsor a networking event on Wednesday, June 26 from 5-7 pm at Lumberjack’s Grill on River Road in North Tonawanda. If you are interested in joining the group as a mentor, please let me know. This group is meant to help those who are looking for mentorship and networking opportunities to help succeed in business.  

Thank you again for all your support and dedication. Our Chamber appreciates you as a member, and please let us know how we can help your business.

Sincerely,
Cathy A. Oddo, Executive Director
Congratulations to Kenmore Mercy on its 11th consecutive A rating from Leapfrog Group!

Local hospitals just received the latest safety grades from The Leapfrog Group in May with only three in Erie and Niagara counties receiving “A” grades. 
One of those was Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawanda's sponsor Kenmore Mercy. Only eleven “A” Safety Grades given in all of New York State. Additionally, Kenmore Mercy Hospital has earned eleven consecutive “A” ratings since 2014.

The non-profit healthcare watchdog group distills dozens of patient-safety measures to arrive at a single letter grade. Ratings come out in the fall and spring each year and are based off of 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data.

Based in Washington, DC, The Leapfrog Group strives to promote transparency in healthcare quality reporting by grading hospitals from “A” to “F” on how well they protect patients from medical errors, infections, and other preventable harm. The data is taken mostly from government agencies and a hospital survey conducted by Leapfrog, which represents large employers and purchasers of healthcare. This month, the group presented its latest scores on more than 2,600 facilities.  

For more information on hospital safety, as well as individual hospital grades and rankings, please visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org .
2019 Chamber Golf
Tournament Recap

The weather was sunny, and a little chilly, but a great time was had by all! Many thanks to our main sponsors AXA Advisors, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, and Elderwood Assisted Living at Tonawanda and Wheatfield, and to Tan Tara Golf Club for a wonderful day! As always Congratulations to our putting winner, Dr. Thomas Balazs, and our winning foursome - Dick Jaeger, Pete Laganiak, John Laper, and Dennis Molnar!
For sponsorship & donation information,
please click HERE .
Business Connections meets every other Tuesday at 8:30am

This month:

  • June 11: John Collins, SenText Solutions - How effectively are you reaching your audience?
  • June 25: Rowland Navarro, Copier Fax Business Technologies Inc. - Documentelligence™ - Get Tomorrow’s office Today.

If you are interested in joining this group or presenting, please contact Board Member Robert Pecoraro at  pecoraror@aol.com
When Board Member Richard Finiki passed in March, he left a large hole in our community. Richard was involved in many community organizations in the Tonawandas and and surrounding areas, along with a variety of charitable and civic organizations. He also loved his country and what the American flag represents.

Several of his closest friends are working to purchase and install a fitting public tribute. A fundraiser is currently in progress to raise the $10,000 required to place a 50’ flag pole at the Elks Club property near the Dockside Restaurant in North Tonawanda. This includes solar lights at the top, an 8’ x 12’ nylon flag, and also a bronze plaque attached to the pole honoring Richard. It will be visible by water or land.
 
Please help us spread the word! Please CLICK HERE for more information and to donate.
Don't forget our Upcoming Events!

Member Appreciation: June 13 - Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas
G.L.O.W. Networking: June 26 - Lumberjack's Patio Grill, 5pm
Rockin' on the River: August 21 - The Shores Waterfront Restaurant
Annual Dinner: November 7 - location TBA


NOW AVAILABLE!

Pop into our office and other local member locations for a copy of the new Visitor's Guide! Check our our member ads and summer events!
Required NYS Sexual Harrassment Training - Available Online!

The Chamber is pleased to offer another service through one of our members, New Haven Consulting Group, Inc.!

As of October 9, 2018, all New York State (NYS) employers are required to provide anti-sexual harassment training on an annual basis, which must be completed by October of 2019.  For more information on the NYS Policy, please  click here .

New Haven Consulting Group is offering an online training course to help your business comply with this new requirement. Their course is a completely interactive, self-paced learning system in which participants are assessed, led through a customized content module, and checked at each point in the learning process. The course can be completed in approximately an hour, and a certification document can be immediately downloaded or mailed to each participant.

Individual course links are $20.  CLICK HERE  to visit the check-out page and take the course at your convenience. ( Employers with 25 or more employees may contact NHCG for special group pricing. )

If you have any questions, please contact NHCG directly at (203) 926-1526 or by e-mail at info@nhcg.com.
On-location sexual harassment seminar training dates will soon to be announced!
Congratulations to our
Member of the Month:
The Original Pancake House
(Owner RJ Jewula, pictured)

In 1953, Les Highet and Irma Hueneke founded the Original Pancake House in Portland, OR., and since then, their restaurant has won worldwide acclaim - even selected by James Beard as one of the ten best restaurants in the world!

The secret to their success is QUALITY...quality ingredients blended into authentic recipes that have been carefully collected and selected from the very best of each country or area of origin. They serve freshly squeezed orange juice, use pure whipping cream, no prepared batter mixes, and blend their own coffee to ensure full-bodied true coffee flavor. Drop by today for some delicious food!

The Original Pancake House
2075 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Amherst, NY
716-691-8219
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Welcome to the Newest Members
of the Chamber Family!

Al-Ross

Centerpointe

Clarity Group

IAFF Local 859

Liberty Home Care

Primerica

Mike Dan Motors