In This Issue
Week of Networking
Pleasanton 2025 Forum, 8/12
Tri-Valley Chamber Webinar, 8/14
Tri-Valley Mayors Summit, 8/26
Bludot Interactive Map
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser
Candidates Forum, 9/3
Family Leave Mandate
Membership Benefits
Where to Find The Chamber
Member News
Stay Connected with the
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
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Video Message to our Members from President/CEO Steve Van Dorn
Message to our Members from President/CEO Steve Van Dorn, August 2020
Pleasanton Chamber President/CEO Steve Van Dorn shares how the chamber has continued providing value and benefits to our members.
Be well.  Wear your mask.
Watch Now

For a complete listing of new members, click here.

New Criteria for Testing
COVID-19 Testing at Fairgrounds Extended and New Hours
The regional COVID-19 testing site at the Alameda County Fairgrounds has been extended through August, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (or while supplies last), Monday-Friday.Testing at this site is to determine if a patient is currently infected.
Effective Monday, August 3 NEW Regional COVID-19 Testing Site CRITERIA will change in accordance with the updated California Department of Public Health guidelines prioritized into 4 testing tiers with the last tier being general asymptomatic testing.
No appointment is required.
The Chamber's E-Business Connection is an electronic newsletter sent to the entire membership on the first Tuesday of the even-numbered months. It features spotlights on members, listing of new members and inside information from the CEO.
In case you missed it last week in your inbox, take a look here.
Read the August E-Business Connection Newsletter
Visit our Chamber sponsored 
NETWORKING GROUP
The Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce sponsors the  "Business Connections" networking group, which is for Chamber members-only and meets twice a month virtually via Zoom.
BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
"Smarter Business Building"
Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday
of each month, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
If interested, please email Wallace Wong.
Latest COVID-19 News 
From the Chamber
The Chamber has a COVID-19 Information page on our website to include the latest updates and information. The COVID-19 online Information page includes: 
--recent health orders from the Alameda County Public Health Department 
--direct link to our Chamber member directory
--City of Pleasanton business resources and updates
--State of California assistance
--Back to Business resources
Whether in times of prosperity or times of crisis, we are with you on the front lines, leading the way and making sure our community emerges stronger than ever. We are all in this together at www.pleasanton.org.

Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
Catalyst. Convener. Champion.
 Pleasanton 2025: 
A Community Vision
Representing Business & 
Strengthening the Local Economy
The Chamber relies on Pleasanton 2025: A Community Vision as its local public policy agenda, committing volunteer and staff time to work toward its fulfillment as a catalyst, convener and champion for all things Pleasanton.
View Pleasanton 2025: A Community Vision Here
The Circle of Influence recognizes companies whose continual support has been instrumental in the growth of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce.
Circle of Influence here
 The 2020 events calendar will have a different look for the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and the business community with an announcement to cancel its annual golf tournament as well as its two tradeshow mixers for 2020 due to the uncertainties of COVID-19.
Our Business Connection newsletter is a bi-monthly publication inserted into the Pleasanton Weekly on the first Friday of every other month. Check out spotlights on our members, ribbon cuttings of grand re-openings, membership anniversaries, hear from our board chair and more. With a reach of more than 14,000 in the community, our Business Connection newsletter is a great way to reach a broad audience.
Chamber Office
The Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce office will be closed until further notice. Staff will be working remotely and be available for essential communication via email and voicemail.
The Chamber office is closed to the general public and all meetings that were scheduled to take place in the Chamber conference room have been cancelled. 
For questions, please email SteveDawnKateSusie or 
Yianna or call the main line at 925-846-5858 ext. 200 and leave a message.

Issue Date:
August 10, 2020
Introducing: A Week of Networking - Starts this afternoon
The Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a new opportunity for engagement as well as the continuation of a popular networking event for all of our members and the community. Both events are complimentary as a benefit of your Chamber membership.

Virtual Trip Around Town
Everyone is invited to join us for our first Virtual Trip Around Town as we check in LIVE on local businesses in Pleasanton. Meet new members, get the latest info on Pleasanton happenings, and "mix" it up from the comfort of your own computer. This takes place via zoom on Monday, August 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Later in the week, we'll be hosting a Virtual Speed Networking event. Make more business connections in less time from the comfort of your own space. You will be sent to small breakout "rooms" to meet one-on-one and connect with others, exchange information, and promote your business easily and effectively. This takes place via zoom on Thursday, August 13 at 2:00 p.m. Advance registration for Virtual Speed Networking is required

Pleasanton 2025 Forum this Wednesday morning
Every second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 a.m., the Chamber brings stakeholders together to focus community resources, time and talent to achieve greater understanding of issues, obstacles and opportunities related to the Vision. Contact Steve for more information on these monthly forums.

Please join us via Zoom for our 2025 Forum Meeting on
 Wednesday, August 12
 at 7:30 a.m. for a presentation by David Haglund, Ed.D., Superintendent, Pleasanton Unified School District. He will be discussing the short and long term plans for the coming school year, fiscal status of the district and future plans for additional funding. Hope you can join us for this timely discussion.
Tri-Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance Webinar
The Tri-Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance is pleased to welcome back Dr. Nicholas Moss, Interim Director, Alameda County Public Health Department for the August webinar. This virtual event is a great way to keep our local businesses informed of developments in the COVID-19 efforts.

Dr. Moss has all the current info on Covid-19, and is able to explain things in a way we all understand.  The event is a partnership between the Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin Chambers of Commerce.
Tri-Valley Mayors' Summit 
Amos Productions to live stream the event
The Tri-Valley Mayors' Summit is set for Wednesday, August 26, 2020 and this year's event will be virtual. Everyone is invited to join us for a panel discussion of the current challenges and opportunities facing the Tri-Valley with the Mayors of Pleasanton, Danville, Dublin, Livermore and San Ramon. Included in the panel are Karen Stepper (Danville), David Haubert (Dublin), John Marchand (Livermore), Jerry Thorne (Pleasanton) and Bill Clarkson (San Ramon).

With the Honorable Catharine Baker, California State Assemblymember, District 16 (ret.) moderating the discussion, and more than 100 years of dedication and experience being represented by these Mayors, you are sure to leave with new insights and renewed confidence in our region continuing to prosper for years to come. Traditionally, this event is unique in that it's the one and only opportunity for business leaders, city staff and the policy makers from all five cities come together. 
The virtual event is free to attend, but online registration in advance is required. You will receive an email with instructions on how to view the Tri-Valley Mayors' Summit the day before the event.
Special thank you to our sponsors
Main Event Sponsors
Bludot Interactive Map for business
The City of Pleasanton has partnered with Bludot to create an interactive business listing with mapping features.

Are you an essential business or a business offering online ordering, curbside pick-up, or virtual services and don't see your business listed? You can add your business by following these steps:

1. Visit Pleasanton's OPEN FOR BUSINESS listing.

2. Click the +List My Business button in the upper right-hand corner.

3. Complete the following screen with your business information. Once you hit SUBMIT, your information will be reviewed to meet the criteria to be listed before being added (must be located in Pleasanton and an essential business or business that closed physical storefront and now providing online orders or virtual classes).
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation Announces Virtual Fundraiser
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation has announced that registration and fundraising sites for their annual 5k Walk and 5k/10k Run are ready and available. The virtual event takes place the weekend of Saturday, September 26, 2020, through Sunday, September 27, 2020. 

Proceeds will benefit the Foundation's Assistance Programs which provide under-served Bay Area breast cancer survivors with post-surgical garments and prostheses, and fitting services. 
Candidates Forum set for September
Chamber to host virtual candidates forum
With election season right around the corner, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidates Forum, featuring the Mayoral and City Council candidates. The forum, which is a free event and open to the public, will be held virtually on Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Stay tuned for further information.

Family Leave Mandate for Small and Large Businesses
Pleasanton Chamber Opposition to SB 1383
Small employers with only five employees cannot take on the burden of providing 12 weeks of leave to each employee. This would devastate their operations and increase their costs. The majority of our small business members are already suffering because of the pandemic and adding this burden to the challenges they are already facing will be overwhelming if not devastating for their business to continue. 

In addition to providing the leave, we are concerned with the risk of litigation if any mistakes are made in implementing the leave. By and large, business owners do their best to comply with all of the different labor law requirements. But it is challenging to keep up and to make sure no unintentional mistakes are made. A lawsuit could easily put them out of business.
 
Most small businesses do their best to take care of their employees and provide them the time off they need for themselves and family without the State telling them what to do or private plaintiff attorneys suing them if they make a minor error or record-keeping mistake. Particularly as small employers, they need additional flexibility to work with their employees to provide time off that the rigid CFRA rules do not allow.
 
This bill also impacts larger employers who are already required to cover 12 weeks of federal family leave. California family leave will extend the leave to 6 months which will be very difficult to do. They already have challenges with implementing 12 weeks of leave and are concerned with the ability to take on such a significant expansion at this time when they are also suffering as a result of this pandemic.

For more information, contact Steve Van Dorn, President/CEO of the Pleasanton Chamber.
Membership Benefits
Whether you have an associate, friend or neighboring business that is considering joining the Chamber or you and your colleagues could use a refresher about all of the benefits of your Chamber membership, this is for you.

Glance at our Membership Benefits right here. Among the information included is: our mission, a word from our CEO, statistics on why to join the chamber, what our members are saying, and a comprehensive list of the many benefits, including networking, advertising, resources, special programs, committees, representing business, circle of influence and social media platforms.
Where to Find Us
Do you know where to find the Chamber online?
Sure, you're reading this email, but do you know where else you can find the Pleasanton Chamber online? For the benefit of our members and the community, the Chamber has put together a graphic that illustrates where we are located in the social media space. Please click here to view the graphic which is located on our website under the marketing tab, titled Social Media. Feel free to follow, like, share and explore our pages. 
Member News
Member News
Alameda County Community Food Bank Drive-Thru Pantry

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation Announces Virtual Fundraiser

Save the Date Shepherd's Gate Backyard Bluegrass & BBQ

Tri-Valley Nonprofit Fund 2nd Distribution and 3rd Drive

UNCLE Credit Union Presents 2020-2021 Board of Directors