MONDAY MORNING MEMO

EmpowHER: Marrying Function with Purpose

Friday, December 6

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Please register by Friday, November 29

Connecting work to a personal sense of purpose can lead to high-performing teams of fully engaged individuals. Learn how you can empower your co-workers (yes, even your supervisors) with a sense of personal ownership and accountability for the work to propel your company and career forward.

Gallup, the leader in workplace engagement research, has found that employees are most engaged when they understand how their individual contributions tie to the collective, organizational mission, values and vision.

This session, led by John Mancuso of Authentic Communication Matters, will analyze marrying job functions to overall purpose in order to help people (re-)discover what motivates them to come to work every day. Additionally, the session will explore how to balance and accommodate the younger generations’ increasing desire to have their values represented by their employers.

A brunch, prepared by Chef Jerry Pellegrino and the Stonewall at the Meredith Inn team, will be served. Be sure to identify any dietary restrictions with your registration.

The cost to attend this valuable and informative program is only $20 per person and includes all program material and brunch.

Our EmpowHER series is sponsored by The Women Fund of the Community Foundation of South Central New York.

REGISTER HERE

2024 Toys for Joy Campaign Underway

Delaware Opportunities and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce are partnering with dozens of businesses and organizations across Delaware County to provide Christmas gifts to Delaware County children in need.  

Collection sites are throughout the county where donations of new, unwrapped gifts may be deposited through Thursday, December 5.  All donations will remain in Delaware County.

Toys for Joy boxes are available in the following participating businesses, churches, organizations, and municipal offices:

• Community Bank, Delhi
• Delaware Opportunities, Hamden
• Delaware County eCenter, Delhi
• Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties, Margaretville and Delhi
• Friesland Campina, Delhi
• Strickland Hollow Tasting Room, Delhi
• Robinson Terrace Nursing Center, Stamford
• NBT Bank, Margaretville, Grand Gorge, and Hobart
• Delhi Telephone Company, Delhi
• Margaretville Telephone Company, Margaretville
• Beaver Mountain Log Homes, Deposit
• Ren Rest Building Supply, Walton
• The ARC of Delaware County
• Western Catskills Community Revitalization Council
• Peace, Love, and Yoga, Roxbury
• Hamden Inn
• Saint James Church, Lake Delaware
• Bizzy Bees Learning Academy, Delhi
• Town of Hancock
• Jim Serio Real Estate, Hancock
• Packin’ Heat, Walton
• Belleayre Mountain Ski Center
• Catskill Mountain Christian Center
• SFCU, Delhi
• Catskill Mountain Visitor Center

To sign up a family in need of Christmas gifts contact Delaware Opportunities at 607-746-1603. Sign-ups are Monday, November 4th through Friday, November 29th.

County Chamber Launches National Civics Bee

Middle school students will test their civics knowledge and compete for national title.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce recently announced the launch of the 2025 National Civics Bee, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from public, private, charter, and home schools from across New York State are invited to take part in the first-round civics essay competition. After a panel of judges review the essays, the top 20 students will be selected to advance to their local competition: an in-person live event featuring two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round to test their civics knowledge. The Delaware County Chamber will host its local competition in the spring of 2025. 

Participants in the National Civics Bee will have the chance to gain recognition for their civics knowledge and skills, and compete for prestigious prizes, including a $500 cash prize for the county champion. The competition enables students to explore issues that matter to their communities, furthering their understanding of civic engagement and fostering responsible citizenship.

Winners from each of the local competitions across New York will be invited to take part in the state finals. The first-place winner of the state finals will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for prizes worth at least $50,000 during the national championship in the Fall of 2025. 

More information, including student and teacher resources and an online portal for essay submission, is available HERE.

County Chamber Adds Human Resources Program

Area employers and entrepreneurs will have access to additional human resources support through a new program offered to members of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.  

Insperity, a national leader in providing human resource solutions to small businesses, has agreed to partner with the Chamber to offer special pricing for such essential services as payroll management and benefits administration to member companies.

Chamber president Ray Pucci noted that, as government-mandated requirements on small business owners continue to increase, area business owners are seeking ways to better support their employees while keeping up with all of the reporting requirements. “Adding the service offered through Insperity to our member benefit package gives member companies human resource support, access to reduced health insurance plans at a potential lower cost, and payroll services,” Pucci added. “There are even options that may assist members with human resource related government requirements.”

Call Lisa Brandt, the Chamber's Insperity representative, at 914.268.8321 or email at Lisa.Brandt@insperity.com.

Be a Mentor to an Area High School Student

This regional workforce development initiative is led by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Otsego County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with area school districts to create mentoring relationships to improve opportunities to explore local careers and jobs.

The Mentoring Program at a Glance

• Our goal is to increase graduates participation in the local job market and student retention in our community with local jobs and careers as the retention tool.
• The mentoring communications are centered on regional employment opportunities and rewarding career opportunities.
• 12th grade students apply to benefit from free mentoring services using an online platform.
• Mentoring sessions are conducted at dates and times convenient for both the mentor and the mentee. This includes after school hours.
• This is a virtual mentoring program where students select the mentor that best fits their interests and goals

More information HERE

Now Booking for December!

Digital Marketing Co-Op Program

Are you interested in reaching non-resident and recent Delaware County homeowners?

Do you need to connect with potential employees? 

Have you considered digital advertising but decided it was too costly to get started?

Our Digital Marketing Co-Op Program allows Chamber member businesses to “dip their toes” into digital marketing and advertising without long-term commitments, up-front design costs, and cost prohibitive monthly fees.

By aggregating digital impression units through the Chamber, members can promote their businesses, events, promotions, employment opportunities, and more to Delaware County residents and visitors, including those new residents for whom traditional local marketing is often not effective. Our “Geo Targeted” banner ads put your message in front of those in Delaware County right where they live--online! 

For just $125 per month, you’ll receive:

• Approximately 10,000 digital impressions to online users within Delaware County 
• Detailed reporting information about delivered impressions, total clicks, and click-through-rate
• Send us hi-resolution image and our team will create all banner advertising, sized appropriately

CLICK HERE for more information

Contact the Chamber team at 607.746.2281 or info@DelawareCounty.org to get started