Wednesday, September 18, 2024

September Membership Luncheon

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 11:00 am

Join us for our annual update on education around Kitsap County. We'll hear from our local superintendents from the Bremerton and Central Kitsap School District, along with Olympic College's President, Dr. Marty Cavaluzzi. Meet education-focused members of the Chamber and learn about the important work happening around Kitsap to prepare our future workforce and leaders.

This month's luncheon is at the Kitsap Conference Center. Paid parking is available on the Green Level underneath the Conference Center. Bring your business cards and get ready to network - you won't want to miss!

Get Your Tickets Now for the

2024 Business Awards Gala

Sponsorships Still Available for Gala

Elevate your business or organization at this annual gathering of who's who in Kitsap business!

Interested in elevating your business' exposure in the community? Looking to put your name on this year's Gala? Looking to bring a table-full of attendees? We have sponsorships available for all sizes of businesses across all industries that will provide a level of elevation in the Greater Kitsap business community like no other event. Interested in sponsoring or purchasing an ad in the Gala program? Contact Events Coordinator, Tiffany Diamond, to secure your sponsorship or ad space today!

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. Special thanks to General Manager, Haaken Larsen, for bringing this opportunity to our membership!

Exciting news for all Greater Kitsap Chamber members!

We're thrilled to announce that our partner, Business Health Trust (BHT) is now offering discounted pet insurance through PetPartners to all our valued members! 🐾🐶🐱

You don’t need to have a medical plan with BHT to take advantage of this great benefit. Sign up today and ensure the health and well-being of your furry family members while reducing costly veterinary bills. Plans feature comprehensive coverage for accidents, illnesses and injuries including cancer coverage.

🔗 Download a flyer to get started: https://businesshealthtrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bht-pet-insurance-flyer.pdf

This is just one of the ways you get more with BHT. Are you ready to build a better benefits package? Visit bhtquote.com to learn more and get a free quote.

New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!

Nominate Now for 20 Under 40

Kitsap Bank Shred Events @ Poulsbo

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Halloween Bash Benefitting the US Submarine Veterans Inc. Bremerton Seeks Support

If you'd like to donate candy to this event, please bring to the

September Membership Luncheon!

www.patriotroofing.biz

Advocacy Committee

Join us in Two Weeks: Eggs & Issues

Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 8:00 am

Join us in TWO weeks for our next Eggs & Issues forum as we welcome candidates from the 23rd Legislative District: incumbent Tarra Simmons with challenger Kurt Robertson, along with incumbent Greg Nance and challenger Jamie Miles. Hear from these community leaders on what their plans on in the Washington State Legislature and how it will impact Kitsap Co

Enjoy a limited breakfast selection available for purchase at the Cloverleaf.

We'll see you Tuesday morning at 8:00 am! Doors open for breakfast at 7:00 am.

Business & Professional Development Committee

Cybersecurity: Business Readiness & Resiliency

Friday, September 20, 2024, 10:00 am

SCORE: Creating a Quick Business

Plan in Three Hours

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 9:00 am

Join us and other entrepreneurs in this hands-on workshop where you will write your “Unique Value Statement” for your new product or service. This is a concise description of your product or service and explain the unique value your product or service provides to your customers. As part of the workshop, participants will receive real-time feedback from a SCORE mentor to help them fine tune their Value Statement. 

In the second part of the workshop you will use the “Lean Canvas” to begin the process of turning your product/service into a business. In this interactive session, you use the canvas to help guide you in expanding the information in the Unique Value Statement by capturing key ideas, concepts and strategies about your business in the canvas. This creates a basic framework that you can use to complete YOUR full, detailed business plan. 

Have paper, a pencil or a pen ready as the goal of this workshop is for all participants to leave with a draft of their “Unique Value Statement” and “Lean Canvas.”

Workshop Fee: FREE

WHA Presents: What Digital Marketing Can

Do for Your Restaurant

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 10:00 am

Learn how restaurants can leverage technology to compete in the marketplace through digital marketing to attract and retain customers.

You will also learn how search engine optimization, social media, email and text marketing will build a loyal customer base, attract new business and profit from high-dollar, low-staffing sales like catering and group reservations.

By embracing technology, restaurants can enhance efficiency and customer engagement, ultimately saving costs and driving revenues.

Join Kelley Miller of Spothopper at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25.

AWB, Greater Kitsap and Others Sign Letter in Support of Extending 2017 Tax Cuts

AWB joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 500 business groups to urge Congress to extend pro-growth tax reforms enacted in 2017. Without congressional action, the tax provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire at the end of 2025.



“The expiration of many of these reforms will reduce economic growth, increase costs for families, harm main street businesses, reduce take-home pay for workers, and result in significant job losses,” the groups wrote in their letter to congressional members.

Sign Up to Participate: Employability Career Fair

October 17, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Holiday Shopping Trends: Debt,

Discounts and Digital Dominance

Courtesy of the Washington Retail Association

This holiday season presents a unique set of challenges for retailers as shoppers face financial strain and shifting priorities. Consumers are increasingly relying on credit, with 37% using credit cards more and 32% turning to “buy now, pay later” options. Despite this, online order volumes have decreased, and shoppers are buying less, seeking out discounts, and favoring private labels.

Predictions for this season include a surge in the use of Chinese shopping apps, which are anticipated to capture $160 billion in global ecommerce market share. Middle-mile shipping costs are rising, adding pressure to margins, and online sales are set to peak on Black Friday, which is expected to see significant digital traffic. Retailers should prepare for a spike in online activity and use AI to enhance the shopping experience.

Additionally, loyalty programs will play a crucial role as customer acquisition costs rise. With 46% of shoppers prioritizing loyalty benefits, retailers should leverage customer data to offer personalized perks and exclusive deals. Adapting to these trends will be key for driving sales and maintaining customer engagement.

Salesforce.com

Courtesy of FastCompany.com

• Why a 4-day workweek sets up an uneven playing field for workers
• If you want to attract the most talented people, include these 7 things in your job description
• How to know if a job candidate will be a good leader

Courtesy of entrepreneur.com

• From overdue to overcome - 4 strategies to help entrepreneurs address back tax issues
• Why cybersecurity is the key to unlocking the full potential of supply chains

Webinar: Creating an Accident Prevention

Plan for Your Business

Thursday, September 26, 2024 ,10:00 am

Nonprofit News & Resources

Navigate Year-End Fundraising

in an Election Year

Published on NonProfitPRO.com, Sept 16, 2024

Photo: Getty Images by Pichai Pipatkuldilok/EyeEm

There is no doubt that nonprofits will be competing for the attention of donors and supporters ahead of the election in November. Practically speaking, advertising is much more expensive in September, October and November as demand increases, and after an election, we regularly see donor fatigue. For nonprofit fundraisers, all of our assets (emails, direct mail, advertising units, etc.) need to be hyper-targeted, leverage emotional and visual storytelling and apply an extremely personalized approach.

In other words, your normal end-of-year fundraising strategy — elevated. Your storytelling needs to connect personally and emotionally with potential donors, and visual content must truly capture and maintain donor attention.

Read the full article here

Webinar: Board in Gear

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 12:00 pm

Cost: Free, thanks to support from the Washington Office of the Secretary of State

This interactive, virtual workshop is based on the Boards in Gear resources developed in partnership with some of our state’s leading board experts. You will leave with concrete action steps, tools, and connections. The virtual workshop will cover:

• Connection to Cause
• Board responsibilities
• Board operations
• Composition and development
• Fundraising

Greater Kitsap News

Puget Sound Regional Council Seeks

Public Input on Regional Safety

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 5:00 pm

KCAC Presents: Discover Kingston Open House

Monday, September 30, 2024, 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Get in the know about what’s happening in North Kitsap at Discover Kingston, an annual community open house that takes place 4-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 at the Village Green Community Center, 26195 Dulay Road NE. The event is coordinated by the Kingston Community Advisory Council.

All Rider Alert Accounts to be Deleted on Sept. 29. Re-subscribe to Continue Receiving Alerts

At 7:00 AM on Sunday, Sept. 29, Kitsap Transit will delete all current Rider Alert accounts in order to remove inactive and spam users. After the bulk deletion process is completed, current Rider Alerts subscribers will no longer receive alerts via SMS text message or email until they re-subscribe. Kitsap Transit customers can begin the process of re-subscribing for alerts starting at 10:00 AM that Sunday.

To re-subscribe to Rider Alerts:

• Go to kitsaptransit.com and click "Subscribe to Rider Alerts" in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. 
• Select your subscription type (Email or SMS/Text Message) from the dropdown.
• Enter your email or phone number.
• Select the services or topics for which you would like to receive alerts. Note: Text-message alerts are not available for all services or topics.

We recommend you enter at least an email address in order to receive alerts for your chosen routes or services. 

Bridging Bremerton Returns

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10:00 am

Skookum Presents: Travis Mills

A Morning of Empowerment

Thursday, October 10, 2024

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.

Poulsbrew Beer Fest

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

BCT Presents: Run for Your Wife

Closing this weekend!

Run for Your Wife by Ray Cooney

Imagine being a London cab driver with a life so compartmentalized that you've got two wives, two homes, and a schedule tighter than a drum. That's the life of John Smith, our protagonist who's been doubling down on matrimonial bliss without a hitch. That is until an incident sends him to hospital and his double life starts to unravel faster than a ball of yarn in a cat cafe. Cue the chaos as John, with the 'help' of his upstairs neighbor, tries to keep the wool over everyone's eyes. It's a whirlwind of close calls and mistaken identities that'll have you wondering if bigamy is just twice the trouble or double the fun.

Content Advisory: Adult situations, some humor based on outdated standards and mores. Features humorous and sometimes suggestive dialogue, but no strong or offensive language; deals with themes of bigamy, deception, and mistaken identity, all presented in a comedic and farcical manner; primarily situational and physical humor, with elements of slapstick and farce; mature themes related to bigamy and infidelity, handled with a light-hearted and comedic touch; comedic accidents and physical humor; some suggestive situations and innuendos—nothing explicit.

Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 6:30 pm

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Bremerton. Get your tickets now to discover Vivaldi and more at Roxy Theatre under the gentle glow of candlelight.

📍 Venue: Roxy Theatre

⏳ Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 60 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)

👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult

♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant

Tiffany Diamond

Events Coordinator

tiffany@greaterkitsapchamber.com