CONTACT US

 Bend Chamber
 777 NW Wall St, Ste 200
 Bend, OR 97701

 Phone: (541) 382-3221
 Fax: (541) 385-9929
 info@bendchamber.org
 www.bendchamber.org

Bend Chamber Weekly
April 10, 2009
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator

This Week's Highlights

• Sponsorships available for Summer Opener Golf Tournament

• Town Hall: Get your questions answered

• Last Minute Tax Tips from the IRS

• Business Forum: Selling to the Government

• America’s Got Talent is coming to the Pacific Northwest

• Chamber’s Spring Showcase at the COBA 17th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show

• In the News

• Upcoming Events

Sponsorships available for Summer Opener Golf Tournament

     It’s time to play! The Summer Opener Golf Tournament on June 22 at Broken Top Club is right around the corner. We all love to play, but especially when you can play and get great exposure for your business at the same time.
     The title sponsorship for this great event is available! As the title sponsor you would receive a huge advertising package as well as the option to have a team of four play in the tournament at no additional cost! Call Ann Gates today to discuss all the perks at 382-3221.
 

Town Hall: Get your questions answered

     The Bend Chamber’s Town Hall Forum is a great way to get your questions answered on issues that face businesses everyday. The Chamber would like to give members the opportunity to have their questions answered by sending in questions about the upcoming Town Hall. This allows members who can’t attend the breakfast an opportunity to have their questions answered.
     This month, the Town Hall topic is “Consolidation: Are there ways to make government agencies more efficient?” Elected representatives from Deschutes County, the City of Bend, Bend-LaPine School District, and the Parks and Recreation District will look at the consolidation of services and discuss ways tax dollars can be saved.
     If you have a question surrounding this topic, please send them to courtney@bendchamber.org by Thursday, April 16. The answers to questions we receive will be published in the Weekly E-news on April 24.
For those who would like to attend the event, Town Hall will take place at Bend Golf & Country Club on April 17 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. More information about the event can be found in the Upcoming Events section of this newsletter.
 

      The April 15 deadline to file taxes is looming for many, but the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does have some last minute filing tips:
     1: Consider filing electronically. If you file electronically and choose direct deposit, you can receive your refund in as little as ten days.
    2: Make sure to check all identification numbers for each person listed on the return, including spouses and dependents.
     3: Make sure to sign and date the return. If you had someone prepare your return, make sure they sign it as well.
     4: Consider using the electronic payment option to pay your taxes. This way you can avoid the hassle of making out a check to the “United States Treasury.”
      5: By April 15 all taxpayers should have either filed a return or requested an extension of time to file.
     For more tips on filling out your return or for more information on certain forms, go to www.irs.gov.
 

     Do you have what it takes? America’s Got Talent will be in the Pacific Northwest searching for a colorful array of hopeful stars. For season four, America's Got Talent has planned a nationwide tour and is coming to Seattle on April 25 and 26. The show is looking for singers, dancers, comedians, pets, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians, and ventriloquists, to go before its panel of celebrity judges and the viewing audience.
     To pre-register for an audition and for more information on AGT, please log onto www.NBC.com/agt. If you are not able to attend one of the America’s Got Talent audition cities, then go to www.NBC.com/agt for instructions on how to submit a video of your performance.
 

Chamber’s Spring Showcase at the COBA 17th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show

     This is the premier home and garden show in Central Oregon and features hundreds of professionals in one location. It’s a one-stop shop for any construction or landscape project in addition to general business products and services. New exhibits will provide attendees with numerous ideas and resources.
     This year, the Bend Chamber partnered with the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) to offer our Chamber members an opportunity to “showcase” their business. Be a part of this fun 3-day event, May 1-3, 2009, at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center. Our Chamber Member businesses will be featured in 10x10 booth spaces along the upper level concourse inside the Expo Center’s Arena facility. The cost is just $395 for your space – there are no additional costs (unless you desire a wireless Internet connection).
    Can you really afford not to “showcase” your business in one of the BIGGEST Expo shows in Central Oregon? We all need to take advantage of any and all opportunities to market our businesses. This event is fun to attend and we want you to partner with the Bend Chamber in featuring your business, services and products.
     The Exhibitors guide is going to print now, so to be included, you'll need to act now!
     To receive a contract and registration packet, please contact Lindi DeWolf, lindi@bendchamber.org or call 382-3221.
 

     Governor Encourages Legislature to Pass Electric Vehicle Bills: This week Governor Ted Kulongoski test drove two electric vehicles. The governor was trying to make the point that car makers have taken notice of two bills before the Oregon Legislature that would encourage the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles in Oregon. One the of the cars driven by the governor was made by Think, a Norwegian car maker looking to set up a new manufacturing and technical center in North America. “Think is another company the state has attracted because of our commitment to establish and grow the electric vehicle market which wins for our economy and our environment,” Governor Kulongoski said. “Through a combination of environmental ethic and strategic tax credits, Oregon today leads the nation in per capita ownership of hybrid vehicles. By continuing this economic strategy, I believe that Oregon will also be known one day as the state with the largest per capita ownership of zero-emissions vehicles.” According to a recent press release, the two bills before the legislature would make “electric vehicle manufacturing facilities eligible for the Business Energy Tax Credit and the other would transition the hybrid tax credit to one that encourages the purchase of zero-emission vehicles.”
     Volunteers needed for Mentoring Opportunity: Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY), a program of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a class to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent. “We know from research, children with an incarcerated parent are at significantly higher risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system,” explains Larry Blanton, Deschutes County Sheriff. “Our agency is committed to providing alternatives to incarceration. Mentoring these kids today will result in fewer people incarcerated down the line.” On Saturday, April 18, COPY will offer a training class in Bend. Upon completing the class and background checks, volunteers are able to be matched with a child living in their local community. For additional details or to request an application, please call 388-6651 or email COPY@deschutes.org . Additional program information is available online at www.deschutes.org/copy.
     Reminder on FireFree Dates: The 2009 FireFree Spring Clean Up dates have been announced. FireFree allows residents of Central Oregon the opportunity to recycle yard waste and debris at no charge at area landfills and transfer stations in Deschutes County. As part of the clean up, area residents can bring their yard waste to Knott Landfill in Bend from May 2 through May 10 and to Deschutes County Transfer sites May 16 -17. For more information on FireFree or other collection sites and dates go to www.firefree.org.
 

     April 14 – Professional Development Series Morning Session - Regional Sustainability for Communities - Speakers: Chuck Arnold, Downtown Bend Business Assoc.; Katy Bryce, C.O. Environmental Center; Bob Eberhard, Eberhard’s Dairy Products; Matt Shinderman, OSU Cascades. Does it really matter if you buy regionally? What does it mean? It empowers citizens to be better consumers and according to Matt Shinderman, OSU Cascades, ultimately sustains our community, economy, ecology, and even society. In this month’s Professional Development Series Morning Presentation, our panel of experts will explore answers to the questions above and much more. To join in this interactive presentation, RSVP by noon on Monday, April 13 at www.bendchamber.org. If you have trouble signing up, please call 382-3221.
     April 15 – Young Professionals Network – Feingold Home – Feingold Home brings to Central Oregon a different kind of retail environment, centered on design for the sophisticated, fashion conscious customer. These premium lines have not been available in our area until now. No longer will you have to leave Central Oregon to find the style that you love. Join  fellow young professionals for a great evening of networking, fun, and community service. At this month’s Young Professionals event, we will be joined by representatives of the Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC). This program operates a youth and young adult education, job skills training and job placement program that provides an avenue to reduce poverty, stimulate the economy, and maintain the natural environment. Please RSVP for this event by April 14 at www.bendchamber.org  If you have trouble signing up, please call 382-3221.
      April 16 – Central Oregon Business Expo – This is the region's premier business-to-business expo, offering professionals the opportunity to network and promote their goods and services to the Central Oregon business community. This year's event is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever and space is limited. Lee Weinstein will be the keynote speaker. Weinstein is 25-year public relations and public affairs veteran, having directed communications at Nike, worked for an Oregon congressman and governor, and served on numerous community service projects. For more information on the Expo or to reserve a booth go to www.visitredmondoregon.com.
     April 17 – Town Hall Breakfast – Consolidation: Are there ways to make government agencies more efficient? There is no doubt that many companies and businesses are looking at efficiencies and what they can do to consolidate services. Shouldn’t that apply to government services as well? Are there opportunities for various agencies to work together? In this month’s Town Hall, elected representatives from Deschutes County, the City of Bend, Bend La Pine School District, and the Parks and Recreation District will look at these issues and discuss ways tax dollars can be saved. Join fellow Chamber members for this interactive forum and get your questions answers or give local representatives your ideas. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP by noon on Thursday, April 16 at www.bendchamber.org. If you have trouble signing up, call 382-3221.
     April 21 – Professional Development Series – “The Les Schwab Commitment – Legendary Customer Service” – Speaker: Brian Capp/Les Schwab – You do not need to be the biggest to be the best at what you do. Quality Customer Service is a 24-hour commitment for every employee. Do you have the desire, the determination, and the commitment to stay focused on your customer? “Pride in Performance is the value that drives us at Les Schwab. We take pride in our customer service and pride in our employees. As a company we try to incorporate this belief into everything we do,” said Brain Capp, Vice President of Marketing for Les Schwab Headquarters. So, what makes them run? Commitment, Motivation, and the Basics of Customer Service. Join us to “hear from the experts” and also share best practices that you’ve used. Please RSVP for this event by no later than Monday, April 20 at noon at www.bendchamber.org. If you have trouble signing up, call 382-3221.