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Bend Chamber Weekly
October 16, 2009
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator
This Week's Highlights
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| Show Off Your Business at Business Showcase!
Would you like to have your business "showcased" at a Business After Hours? Then you should sign up for the Business Showcase! Once a year, the Bend Chamber offers this opportunity for businesses to co-host a Business After Hours.
These extremely successful events "showcase" businesses that would often otherwise be unable to "host" a networking event due to the size of their facilities. Business Showcase provides great visibility as well as an opportunity to highlight your products and services while networking one-on-one with potential new clients.
This year's Business Showcase is coming up on Tuesday, October 27 at Bend Golf & Country Club, and we have openings for hosts. The cost for members to host a space is $150. Don't delay, sign up today!
If you are interested in the details of participating, please contact Chris Boyle at chris@bendchamber.org or call 382-3221. |
COCC Bond Measure Now Goes to Voters
The ballots have been placed in the mail and the fate for Central Oregon Community College's measure 9-73 bond campaign is now in the hands of voters.
Over the past three years, COCC has seen an over 60 percent increase in enrollment. The recent economic downturn and job losses have driven more students to COCC seeking training or re-training to improve their employment opportunities.
Measure 9-73 is a $41.58 million bond which will cost the average homeowner less than $2 per month according to information provided by the county assessor's office.
Projects included in the bond are as follows:
New Health Careers and Science buildings at the Bend Campus - expanding nursing, dental, and other health programs. It will also add and improve labs needed for science courses like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry.
A new Technology Education Center in Redmond - COCC is committed to working with businesses and economic development agencies to create programs that respond to the region's educational and workforce needs. Potential programs may include manufacturing, computer graphics, renewable energy, aviation, and others.
New Educational Campuses in Madras and Prineville - students will be able to receive COCC services and complete basic classes without having to travel to Bend or Redmond.
The renovation of existing buildings will help to address enrollment increases, expand capacity, and modernize facilities. As the Health and Science buildings are completed, current facilities will be converted to classrooms and other instructional facilities, helping to accommodate future growth.
The Bend Chamber Board of Directors has endorsed this measure and encourages members to learn more about the measure at http://coccyes.com. While on the site, members can also add their name to the growing list of endorsers which now stands at over 1,000.
For those who are interested, yard signs can be picked up at Miller Lumber Company as well. |
Get your Blitz Update!
October marks the Bend Chamber's first Annual Membership Drive. The Bend Chamber Board of Directors is in competition with the Ambassador Council to see which team can develop the most new memberships. As of Thursday, October 15, the Ambassador Council is leading the membership drive 5 to 0.
Both teams will be featured, along with the results, on the cover of the December Business Journal. To keep things interesting and to provide a bit of inspiration, the losing team will be required to dress in costume for the photo.
The 2010 Preferred Business Guide will be wrapped up by the first part of November. It's important for new members to get signed up by the end of October to ensure they are listed in the annual guide. As an additional incentive, we are waiving the setup fee for all new members this month.
If you would like to help a business become a member and be included in the Preferred Business Guide, please call or email Greg Ford at 382-3221 or greg@bendchamber.org. Please let him know if you would like credit for the membership to go to the Board of Directors or the Ambassador Council. |
| Oregon Unemployment Sees Drop
Oregon's unemployment rate dropped in September to 11.5 percent from a revised 12 percent in August. According to the state, this is the lowest unemployment rate in the past seven months.
While several industries like government, trade, transportation and utilities, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality saw a loss in jobs, construction and professional and business services saw an increase.
"Today's employment report is encouraging news. However, full economic recovery will be slow and I believe the state and all levels of government need to continue to be cautious and prudent in their budgeting," said Governor Ted Kulongoski in a recent release. "As Governor, my focus remains on creating jobs, retaining jobs and helping those families seeking employment make ends meet during these difficult times."
Kulongoski stated he is also urging Oregon's Congressional Delegation to fight for unemployment benefit extensions for states with citizens that have been hit hardest by the recession. If passed, the extensions would allow for 20 more weeks of benefits. |
CHC Implements Interim Visitation Policy to Slow Spread of H1N1 Virus
For the remainder of the flu season, Cascade Healthcare Community (CHC) has implemented interim visitation guidelines in an effort to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus.
CHC is implementing visitor restrictions at CHC hospitals including St. Charles Bend, St Charles Redmond, and Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville. No visitors 12 years old or younger are permitted to enter any CHC hospital and visitors will be restricted to immediate family members of the patient.
All visitors to CHC hospitals will be required to check in at the front desk and identify themselves as a family member of the patient. Those under 12 years of age can only enter the hospital if they are seeking treatment.
The new visitation policy specifically focuses on children because children often transfer illness more readily than adults. According to Dr. Alan Ertle, senior vice president of medical affairs for CHC, numerous studies show children often shed a virus before they feel ill and for a longer period of time after they feel better. This means children can be contagious without showing symptoms.
"We are taking these measures in an attempt to protect patients, caregivers and visitors," Ertle said. "We are seeing an increase of influenza-like illness in schools, businesses, medical clinics and our hospitals across Central Oregon. Since only those admitted into the hospital are tested for H1N1, we can not definitively confirm that H1N1 is responsible for the illness in the community. Regardless, flu season is typically in January and February, which makes it likely that H1N1 is the cause. "
CHC is also requiring all caregivers and visitors to use the hand sanitizer located at all CHC facility entrances. Masks are also available at the sanitation stations for those who have signs and symptoms of respiratory illness or for those who wish to wear them. CHC will also be limiting the number of open entrances at all facilities.
Patients who need to have labs drawn and need to bring children 12 years and under are asked to visit outpatient labs outside the hospitals. A list of these labs is available at www.cascadehealthcare.org/outpatientlabs. |
In the News
Stimulus Creates 8,000 New Jobs in Oregon: According to a recent federal report, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created more than 8,000 jobs in Oregon. Since the law was enacted in February, about $1 billion has been spent in Oregon. The state should receive at least $3.9 billion. "With this report, I can say with full confidence that the Recovery Act provided Oregon a much needed parachute for what was a free falling economy," Governor Ted Kulongoski stated. During the first round of funding, thousands of residents received food stamps, unemployment benefits, and education funding. The state also launched a new Web site that provides details of the first quarterly report to the Federal government to provide transparency and accountability for these dollars. The report provides detailed information about Recovery Act dollars relating to human services, public safety, housing, transportation, employment, and education.
To view the new state Web site, go to: www.oregon.gov/recovery.
Charitable Giving Impacted by Economy: A new survey conducted by World Vision, an international Christian relief and development organization, found the current economic climate has impacted three out of four adults' charitable giving. One in three adults said they are giving less. "The sputtering economy has made it more difficult for hard working Americans to give what's in their hearts," stated Lana Reda, World Vision's VP for donor engagement, in a recent news release. "As the economy gets better, we believe Americans will step up to meet the urgent needs of children and families around the world." The survey included more than 1,000 U.S adults over the age of 18.
New IRS Retirement Plan Navigator Aims to Help Small Businesses: The Internal Revenue Service has created a new Web-based tool to help small business owners determine which tax-favored pension plan best suits their needs and how to keep their plans in compliance. The IRS Retirement Plan Navigator is intended to provide employers with an easy-to-use guide that focuses on three areas: choosing a plan, maintaining a plan and correcting a plan. By using the navigator, employers may find choosing and maintaining a pension plan is not as daunting as they thought. Some plan types are less costly and easier to establish than others. Although the Retirement Plan Navigator is aimed at small business owners, it also can help mid-size businesses review their options as well. Individuals who want to better understand their employer's plan may also find it of use. The Web-based guide will be kept up-to-date as pension laws and regulations change. |
Upcoming Events
October 20 - Professional Development Series - Using Business Technology to Your Advantage - Presenters: Shannon Strait, BendBroadband Business Sales Manager; Mark Capell, CMIT Solutions; and Julie Muller, Peace of Mind. Technology is ever changing in today's business climate. With a multitude of choices from hardware to software, how do you pick the right tools for your business? How do you ensure you get satisfied customer or client responses? Is there a way to use your dollars effectively? In this month's Professional Development Series Luncheon, join our panel of experts as they explore technology and how businesses can use it to their advantage. Learn how you can choose the right tools and connectivity for your business, help improve productivity and efficiency, and reduce overhead costs. You'll also receive insights on how to create a satisfactory customer experience and how to make the most of your IT budget. This session is a great way to get your questions answered from the experts. If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP by October 19 at www.bendchamber.org.
October 21 - Young Professionals Network - Clear One Health Plans - Come join us as we celebrate our new name, Clear One Health Plans, and brand promise, which represents a significant milestone in the company's history and further emphasizes our commitment to customers. You'll have the opportunity to meet other members of our community, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, and enter to win one of many great door prizes. Since 1995, Clear One Health Plans has offered affordable health plans to meet the needs of employers, providers, and consumers. The company provides health insurance, including Medicare Advantage plans, commercial plans, individual plans, and administrative services to individuals and businesses throughout the West. The company also offers life, disability, dental, vision and voluntary benefits programs, as well as employee benefit services to self-funded employers, associations, and Taft-Hartley Trusts. Clear One is dedicated to the development of community-based employee benefits programs, health insurance, and ancillary plans. Please RSVP by Tuesday, October 20 at www.bendchamber.org. If you have trouble signing up, call 382-3221.
October 27 - Business Showcase/Business After Hours - Bend Golf & Country Club - Would you like to have your business "showcased" at a Business After Hours? Then you should sign up for the Business Showcase! Once a year, the Bend Chamber offers this opportunity for businesses to co-host a Business After Hours. These extremely successful events "showcase" businesses that would often otherwise be unable to "host" a networking event due to the size of their facilities. This event provides great visibility as well as an opportunity to highlight your products and services while networking one-on-one with potential new clients. The cost for members to host a space is $150. We have a limited number of booths available, so if you are interested in the details of participating, please contact Chris Boyle at chris@bendchamber.org or call 382-3221. |
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