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Don't forget to join us today for the Women in Business luncheon sponsored by Walmart at RJ's Courtyard (3749 Airport Hwy., Alcoa, TN) from noon-1 p.m. This is a dutch treat lunch. Sharon Hannum will lead a discussion about being the type of leader your team needs.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TICKETS ON SALE NOW
 Tickets for the 95th Blount Chamber Anniversary Celebration are on sale now. The celebration is Friday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Airport Hilton. It will be an evening of live music with Jessie's Girls, a national party band, food and networking with Blount County business professionals.
IT'S THE LAST WEEK TO SUBMIT YOUR SELFIES
 Now's your opportunity to be featured during the 2015 Blount Chamber's Annual Celebration set for Jan. 30 at the Airport Hilton. We want your selfies. Any selfie of you, taken any time and any place. (Please take your pictures safely; especially not while driving.)
How it Works: Be a part of our selfie collage by following these 3 easy steps: 1. Take a selfie 2. Tag #BPAM2015 3. Post your pic to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email. Don't forget to use the #BPAM2015 tag on ALL your selfies and look for them at the Annual Celebration!
FREE GROWTH WHEEL SEMINAR SET FOR THURSDAY
 The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is presenting a free seminar for entrepreneurs and small business owners entitled GrowthWheel on Thursday, January 15, 2015, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Blount County Public Library, 508 N. Cusick St., Maryville, Tenn.
Hosted by Blount Partnership and Blount County Public Library, the GrowthWheel is a visual toolbox for decision-making and action planning for start-up and growth companies. It helps entrepreneurs build their businesses through a simple action-oriented process that stays true to the way most entrepreneurs think and work.
This workshop, taught by Bruce Hayes, a certified GrowthWheel educator and senior business specialist from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, focuses on employees and the importance in business growth. The main problem is that you waste both money and possibilities, when spending time on tasks that are really not worth your time. It makes more financial sense to pay others to do certain tasks, so you can spend your own time on more important things. Despite this we do not delegate work, because we feel it is quicker to finish the job. So how do we get out of this vicious cycle and start delegating more work to employees?
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ... PARTICIPATE IN "OPERATION THANK YOU"
 Participate in the Chamber's 17th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 17-19 and meet other business people on a one-on-one basis. During this three-day event, Chamber members, the Chamber staff and Board of Directors will personally deliver Chamber member information packets for 2015. We invite you to join us in this three-day effort. You can agree to call on as many or as few members as your schedule permits. If you, someone (or several people) from your business, organization or group is interested in participating, please contact Amy or call 865.983.2241.
Promote your business during "Operation Thank You" by sending 1250 gift certificates, brochures or business promotional pieces to us and we will distribute them during "Operation Thank You". Your Chamber constantly looks for ways to help you promote your business and the ABC theory - Always Buy Chamber. We do ask that your enclosure piece be a 4"x 9" brochure or a size not to exceed 8.5" x 11" and be no more than 1 page or sheet. These inserts should be delivered to the Chamber no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5. Please contact Amy or call 865.983.2241. There is a small charge of $175 for insert enclosure.
MLK WEEKEND EVENTS ARE SET
The rememberance kicks off at noon on January 16 with the MLK Business Luncheon at the Airport Hilton. Former University of Tennessee football All-America and current Vol For Life Coordinator Antone Davis will deliver the keynote address. Tickets are $35 and available at the Chamber by calling 865.983.2241.
Later that evening, it's free movie night at the Lambert Recital Hall in the Clayton Center for the Arts. "The Great Debaters," starring Denzel Washington, begins at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, January 17, the Spelman College Glee Club will perform at the Clayton Center's Nutt Theatre at 7 p.m. There will be a special tribute to the late George Williams. Tickets are available at the Clayton Center box office for $7-25.
A community worship service at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Alcoa is set for Sunday at 4 p.m.
The celebration concludes Monday, January 19 with a parade from the MLK Center in Maryville to Maryville College at 12:30 p.m., followed by a program at the Clayton Center at 2 p.m., with Phyllis Nichols, President/CEO Knoxville Area Urban League.
BASKET MAKING CLASS SET FOR TOWNSEND
Karen Kenst is holding a series of basket making classes at the Townsend Visitor's Center from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost is $48. Call Karen at 865-983-3352 to register or more information. You must take class one to move on to class two and then class three.
Beginning Basket I - January 17 & 22
Beginning Basket II - February 7 & 12
Beginning Basket III - March 7 & 12
GOT AN EVENT? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT
Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event, please email Ashlee so she can post it on www.SmokyMountains.org.
Also, please send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.
REMEMBER WHEN
One of the most successful songs of Phil Collins' solo career topped the Billboard Singles Chart this week in 1989. "Another Day in Paradise," was in the midst of its four week run atop the charts. Collins later won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
 | | Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise |
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A full slate of events are set for the 
