Mark your calendar this week for Sept. 12 as Contract Furniture Alliance (10445 Cogdill Rd., Knoxville, TN) is hosting the Chamber Social from 3:45-5 p.m. All members are invited to network with new and existing members, meet the Chamber Board of Directors and learn how the Chamber can help promote business.

Then, join us Sept. 15 at 8 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) as we hear from school superintendents Brian Bell, Alcoa City Schools, Rob Britt, Blount County Schools and Mike Winstead, Maryville City Schools as they give us an update on what is happening in our local public education systems. This briefing is presented by Twin City Dealerships and First Tennessee Bank.

 

TASTE OF BLOUNT TICKETS ON SALE

Let the friendly competition begin. Taste of Blount, a collection of savory food favorites from restaurants, caterers and gourmet grocers, returns for its 16th year at the Theater in the Park in Maryville (across from the Blount County Courthouse) Thursday, Sept. 14 from 6-8 p.m. The event is sponsored by CBBC Bank and Reinhart Food Service.

Tickets, which are $25 for Blount County Chamber members, $30 for the public and $15 for students 17 and under or those with a college or student ID, are available at the Chamber office (201 S. Washington St., Maryville, Tenn.), by phone 865.983.2241 or online. Tickets are available at the door the night of the event on a cash-only basis.

Vendors on hand include Apple Valley Cafe, Artistic Bean, Artistic Pops, Aubrey's, Full Service BBQ, Gracie's, Lamberts Southern Pies & Bake Shop, Mamma Gallina's, Maryville Corner Market, Mattie Moox the Coffee Camper, McAlister's Deli, Metz Catering, Moe's Southwest Grill, Piece of Cake Bakery, Rocky's Jamaica Sunrise, Roland's Bistro, Shrimp Dock of Alcoa, The Soup Kitchen, Sullivan's Fine Food, TC's Grill, Vienna Coffee House

Ticket holders can try savory favorites and vote for their favorite appetizer, beverage, sandwich, main course, dessert, presentation and overall winner.

 

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION FOR BEST OF BLOUNT AWARDS

Submit your nominations for the Best of Blount Awards until September 22. Awards will be given for Business of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, Community Impact Award, Bright Future Award, Tourism Award and the inaugural First Responder Award.

The awards ceremony takes place the evening of November 14 as the Blount Partnership presents "A Night with the Lone Survivor" at the Clayton Center for the Arts on the Maryville College campus. Retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and author of Lone Survivor, which recounts the heroic sacrifices of fellow SEAL Team members assigned to Operation Red Wing, brings a message of family, service, sacrifice and community. Stay tuned for ticket information this week.

 

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Make plans to attend our next Women in Business meeting on Monday, September 18 at noon at Airport Hilton (Bar Area) led by Sharon Hannum.

In order for us to have enough time for the meeting if you are planning on eating please arrive at 11:45 a.m. and go ahead and get your lunch and bring to the bar area.

This will be a Dutch Treat Lunch from Cooper'?'s Restaurant. The menu is soup or salad bar for $8.95 + tax, this includes drink, and dessert or the whole buffet for $12 (Including tax) and includes drink, buffet and dessert.

Please RSVP to Amy by Friday, September 15 if you plan to attend.

 

DISCOVER BLOUNT

Designed by Leadership Blount and in collaboration with community partners, Discover Blount is an introduction to Blount County showcasing tourism, health, education, industry, history, and non-profit organizations. The program introduces participants to resources in our county and identifies opportunities to become more involved.

Forty participants will be accepted on a first come-first serve basis. While anyone is welcome to participate, the program is aimed at emerging leaders, those new to Blount County, and anyone who wants to be more involved in our community.

The Discover Blount program will consist of six, 5 hour class days with one social and one service opportunity.

The cost for the program is $325. View flyer for more information. Registration can be done online for the Fall class.

 

MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Join us Sept. 12 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) for an opportunity to learn more about the Chamber and the many opportunities that go along with being a member. Learn how to make the most of the benefits afforded to you. RSVP to Amy.

Remember, your membership is a corporate membership. Please encourage co-workers to get involved, educated, network and promote your company via Blount Chamber events and opportunities.

 

SPEED NETWORKING RETURNS

Take part in the one of today's hottest business events - Speed Networking! This business relationship building event takes place Sept. 26 at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) from 2-5 p.m.

Only 30 individuals can participate in each Quick Connection event and every individual is GUARANTEED to meet 15 people and spend 5 minutes with each of them. A facilitator will spend the first 30 minutes of the event teaching you how to maximize your Quick Connection networking opportunity. You will then spend the next 1.5 hours rotating around the room and meeting 15 other participants at five minute intervals.

The afternoon will be capped off with a 30 minute reception during which you can follow-up with participants you met or introduce yourself to those you didn't get to meet. Quick Connections is offered free of charge.

RSVP to Amy and please include your Name, Company Name, Phone Number & Email

 

SEPTEMBER MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS ARE HERE

Member-to-member promotions for September are here. Check out the new special deals from Crestcom, Dedicated Marketing, Ignite, Pellissippi State, VIEO Design and a great deal on radio ads from WKVL. See these and other promotions at member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.

 

Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on www.BlountChamber.com

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

 

Entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

 

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

 

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? 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

The band, Chicago, made a return to the Billboard Hot 100 in a huge way with "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," which topped the chart this week in 1982. It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978 and spent 12 weeks in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.