Be sure to check out the 107th installment of the The Dialogue, a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member, at the bottom of this email. This week, we visit with David C. Nichols, PhD, and CEO of East TN Insurors./div>
NETWORKING GOT YOU NERVOUS?

If networking isn't quite your thing, take 90 minutes from your day and join us
May 15 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington st., Maryville) and let Raeus Jae Cannon take you on a journey on how to improve your connection skills. Learn how to make that first contact and stop making cold calls. Be prepared to steer more prospects into your funnel. This program is a definite game-changer.
RSVP today.
HOW TO START UP A BUSINESS

Learn about forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options with additional discussion about SBA loan qualification and opportunities. Join us for this free seminar on May 17 from 9-11 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).
Register online.
HR SUPERVISOR'S SEMINAR

HR personnel take note of an HR supervisor's seminar on May 18 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville). The fee is $25 for chamber members and $50 for non-members.
Register here.
8:35-9:20 a.m. -- Harassment presented by Lynne Peterson, Lewis Thomason
9:20-10:05 a.m. -- Hiring, Managing and Retaining your Workforce (It's Not Your Father's Generation!) presented by Carl Goodman, The ISAAC Network, LLC
10:05-10:15 a.m. -- Break
10:15-11:00 a.m. -- Americans with Disabilities and Family Medical Leave Act presented by Howard Jackson, Wimberly Lawson Wright Daves & Jones
WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Make plans to attend our next
Women in Business meeting on May 21 noon at the Airport Hilton (Bar Area) led by Sharon Hannum.
In order for us to have enough time for the meeting, please arrive at 11:45 a.m. and get your lunch and bring to the bar area.
This is a Dutch Treat lunch from Cooper's Restaurant. The menu is soup or salad bar for $8.95 + tax, this includes drink, and dessert or the whole buffet for $12 (including tax) and includes a drink and dessert.
Please register online by May 18 if you plan to attend.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION FOR MAY

It's Your Career! That's the focus of six free soft skills sessions offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that are scheduled over the next six months.
Registrations are currently being accepted online at
www.blountchamber.com for a class entitled
Free Resources for Professional Development set for May 18. This course qualifies for .2 CEU's awarded by Pellissippi State.
The other classes offered include How to Run an Effective Meeting, Improving Your Presentation Style - Speaking, Improving Your Presentation Style - Strategies for Engaging Presentations, Making Your Social Media Look Good and Creating Infographics for Promoting Your Business.
All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. A complete class description is located on the registration site. All classes run from 8-10 a.m. with networking beginning at 7:30 a.m.
TREMONT SMOKY MOUNTAIN FAMILY CAMP

Spend your family vacation in the middle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Surround your family with the magic of the mountains as you hike ridges, study wildlife, explore secret places, and take afternoon dips in the Middle Prong. This week-long adventure is designed for families that are ready to leave their cares behind in exchange for a week of unending family fun. Each day brings new activities in which to choose; hike in the high country, explore Cades Cove, search for salamanders, and enjoy fantastic evening entertainment.
More info and registration.
ALL THINGS GOOGLE

The "All Things Google" Lunch and Learn Technology Series is a professional development workshop series for adults who seek to learn about the Google platform, applications available through Google and how to access and use these applications (Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Drive, etc.) This technology series is offered by the Blount County Public Library with funding provided by the Tennessee State Library Archives Library Technology Training Grant.
This Lunch and Learn series meets in the new Learning Lab at the Blount County Public Library on Fridays each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The $10 registration fee includes a box lunch and participants will have the opportunity to network. Each of the topics offered will be divided into 3-4 weekly sessions that can stand alone or be taken consecutively. A total of 50 classes will be offered with a new schedule released each month.
To register for classes in the Lunch and Learn Series please visit the Blount County Public Library website
http://www.blountlibrary.org/248/Technology-Classes.
MAY MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS

Member-to-member promotions are here for May. Submit to the email below. Check out the offer from Pellissippi State and Roost. See these and other promotions at
member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.
Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to
jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on
www.BlountChamber.com
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
Local stores enable you to try on and try out items before you buy - and get real expertise - saving your time and money.
GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT
Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it
here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event or any good news about your business, please
send it to us. We'd love to share it with the community.
REMEMBER WHEN
Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1965 was "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," by Herman's Hermits. The single debuted on the Hot 100 at number 12 - the third highest debut of the decade (after the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and "Get Back").