Friday, May 1

Fitness Friday!

"The Power Hour is unlike any cardio workout class you've taken. This explosive cardio workout bursts with energy and is fueled by persistence. Professional boxers lead you through the intense hour-long sequences of exercises focusing on either kickboxing or boxing. Depending on your intensity, you can burn up to 1,000 calories in this explosive cardio workout!"  

RSVP HERE 

Saturday, May 2

Brighton Farmers' Market - Opening Day!  

After the long winter, celebrate spring at Opening Day of our Farmers' Market!  Karen Rogers, Market Manager, has been organizing the event for years and we're glad to say she is at it again this year!  Each year the Brighton Farmers' Market attracts thousands of people to downtown Brighton to purchase some of the freshest fruits and vegetables, tastiest bread, organic honey, garden decorations, choicest flowers and plants and a variety of crafts and jewelry.  The market will run every Saturday from May 2 though October 24, rain or shine.  Flower Day is May 16 and Harvest Fest will take place September 26.  Support your local farmers and artisans!  We thank 1st National Bank for their gracious support of the 2015 Brighton Farmers' Market!

Time:  8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location:  Downtown Brighton, 200 N. First Street Municipal Lot, Brighton 48116

Tuesday, May 12

Chamber Day in Lansing

We invite our members to join our staff in Lansing for Chamber Day!  In cooperation with chambers of commerce from across the state, the Michigan Chamber Foundation hosts this annual event to educate local chamber executives and their volunteers about current and emerging business and economic issues facing Michigan.  Over 150 attendees are expected from chamber organizations to meet with legislators and representatives from the Governor's Office on a statewide coordinated agenda among key chambers in the state.  For more information and to register, visit www.michamber.com/chamber-day-capitol.  Please let us know if you register!

Time:  10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location:  Radisson Hotel, 111 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing 48933

Cost:  $30

Thursday, May 14

PWCM Ladies' Golf League - Kick Off Event!  

Our PWCM Ladies' Golf League kicks off at The Golf Club at Mt. Brighton. Join this fun group of women for golf and great conversation!  Make valuable business contacts while perfecting your golf swing!  This group golfs every Thursday and you may pay as you go.  No weekly commitment necessary.  Mt. Brighton offers league discounts of 10-20% on Pro Shop merchandise.  Enjoy league specials on drinks after you finish your round of golf!  No golf experience necessary!

Time:  5:45 p.m. tee time (open)

Location:  The Golf Club at Mt. Brighton, 4141 Bauer Road, Brighton 48116

Cost:  $18 per person for 9 holes of golf with cart.

Tuesday, May 19

Morning Mixer at New Tech High-Pinckney

New Tech High is a school within a school at Pinckney Community High School.  Guests will have an opportunity to see first-hand what Pinckney New Tech High and all of the programs at PCHS can offer to local businesses.  The agenda for the day:

8:00-8:30 a.m.   Coffee & Conversations

8:30-9:00           Introductions and brief overview of PNT and PCHS

9:00-9:30           PNT Internship Showcase

9:30-10:00         Optional tours of PNT and PCHS

In order to expose students to real-world experience in potential career fields, PNT requires students to complete a 40-hours internship project before graduation.  The project is designed to allow students to explore and evaluate potential career fields so they can make informed decisions upon graduation.  Partnerships have included such companies as Lowry Computer Products, Huron River Watershed Council, Michigan Humanities Council and Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce.  Come and learn more about how an internship can be beneficial to your business!  

Time:  8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Location:  Pinckney Community High School, 10255 Dexter Pinckney Road, Pinckney 48169

Cost:  No charge.

Wednesday, May 27

Business After Hours Honoring Elected and Appointed Officials

This event offers attendees the opportunity to speak one-on-one with legislators and officials who represent Livingston County. Chamber members are invited to exchange ideas with elected and appointed officials in a relaxed setting.  Guests will enjoy networking and live music as well as complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.  This is a joint program between the Greater Brighton Area, Howell, Hartland Chambers of Commerce, and the Economic Development Council of Livingston County. 

Time:  5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Crystal Gardens Banquet and Conference Center, 5768 E. Grand River Avenue, Howell 48843

Cost:  No charge.

RSVP HERE 

Women Face Unique Retirement Challenges

By PNC Brighton Branch Manager Barbara Platt-Moss

We're Living Longer Ladies!

So what are you doing about it?

Women, some argue, are natural investors, and by noting the lessons of their social and cognitive economic decisions, they can take advantage of these innate talents to invest successfully.  Increasingly, many of us can expect to live longer than previous generations.  Nationally, on average, we outlive our counterparts by five years (80.5 versus 75.5 years old).  

So life is good then, if we're living longer, however it comes with a challenge: how to finance that long life and retain a peace of mind.  Time and time again, I tell women - be "hands on" with your portfolio. 

Study after study concludes that women's portfolios outperform their male counterparts over every time period measured, and yet, according to a 2012 study by the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), only four in 10 women who are at least 55 years old believe they have done a good job in planning financially for their retirement years. 

Additionally, women generally earn less than men in the course of a lifetime. This is not only because of the well-documented income discrepancy between the genders, but also because of the opportunity costs when women leave the workforce to care for family. Among respondents to the 2012 IRI survey, 33% of working women who became mothers decreased their hours; 29% passed up a promotion, training opportunity or assignment; 20% switched to part-time work; and 16% quit their jobs.  So, over 30 years, these issues translate to a 25% to 30% income shortfall compared to a male worker's with the same investing pattern.

Be smart, take charge and let your investments work for you - ask yourself:

-       What is your exit strategy? Are you equipped to finance a long, healthy life? 

-       Have you thought about working beyond age 65?  Know the pros and cons.

-       What is the plan for sufficient healthcare? 

-       Are you familiar with your portfolio, especially in the preparation of life-changing events such as the death of a spouse, living wills or divorce? 

Although women face unique challenges when it comes to retirement planning, there are more resources available to support women's investment and retirement decisions than ever before.   I hope you take the time to review your strategy, speak to a professional and plan for a long, healthy life. 

We are approaching Comcast Cares Day with tremendous momentum.  On April 25th, we will rally tens of thousands of volunteers to make change happen at schools, playgrounds, parks and community centers in hundreds of communities nationwide and abroad.

 Comcast Cares Day has grown to become the nation's largest single-day corporate volunteer effort because of the leadership of hundreds of Comcasters who have been planning projects over the past several months. 

We invite you - and your family and friends - to make our 14th annual Comcast Cares Day an even greater success. Register today at comcastinthecommunity.com and you'll have your first pick of volunteer projects convenient to your home or work location.

 Ambassador of the Month

Chamber Staff

 Pamela McConeghy

President & CEO

[email protected]

Wendy Busick

Manager of Finance

[email protected]

Sophia Freni

Director of Civic Events

[email protected]

Jen Ling

Director of Special Events & Promotions 

[email protected]

Tom MacFarland

Director of Sponsorship Sales

[email protected]

Jenny McKindles

Administrative Services

[email protected]

Paula Millis

Director of Membership

[email protected]

Karen Rogers

Farmers' Market Manager

Catherine Gedda Shinsky

Director of Business Events & Division Liaison 

[email protected]