Chamber OnLine
News from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Summer may be winding down but things are heating up at your Chamber in September.  Here are just some of the highlights of what's going on this month.
 
The 2017-18 Chamber Business Directory has been published and will be distributed in September.  The Business Directory is one of the most valuable benefits of membership in the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.  Not only is the directory loaded with information about Genesee County but it offers a complete listing of all Chamber members and their contact information - all indexed both alphabetically and by type of business.

Read more... 
CHAMBER HOSTING "UNDERSTANDING THE NEW PAID FAMILY LEAVE ACT" WORKSHOP
 
"Understanding the new Paid Family Leave Act" will be the subject of a small business workshop to be hosted by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, September 13.
 
Starting in January 2018, the new Paid Family Leave Act takes effect for New Yorkers.  Private sector employees will be able to take paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a seriously sick family member or address family matters due to a qualifying military deployment while still benefitting from job security upon the employee's return to work.
 
"New York's Paid Family Leave Act is one of the most comprehensive family leave programs in the nation," said Tom Turnbull, Chamber President.  "There are still many unanswered questions surrounding this program.  Whether you're an employer or an employee, you will find the most current information at this workshop on how this new mandatory benefit impacts you."
 
Lawley Insurance is partnering with the Chamber on this workshop.  Judy Karmens, Lawley Compliance Specialist, and Michael Szymoniak, Jr., Lawley Employee Benefits Consultant, will be the presenters.  
 
The workshop will be held at the Quality Inn & Suites, 8276 Park Rd., Batavia.  The session will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and includes a question and answer period.  Cost for non-Chamber members is $10 for each attendee.  Chamber members may attend all sessions free of charge but must make reservations to insure space for their employees.
 
To reserve a seat in any workshop or for more information, contact Kelly Bermingham at 585-343-7440 or by email at kbermingham@geneseeny.com.
28th ANNUAL DECISION MAKERS AGRICULTURAL TOUR SEPTEMBER 20th
 
The 28th Annual Decision Maker's Agricultural tour will take place this year on Wednesday, September 20. The tour will start with breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Kennedy Building on the Genesee County Fairgrounds.  From the fairgrounds, a bus tour will depart and return around noon. 
 
This year's theme is "Genesee County's International Ag Connections" and will feature agri-businesses with ties to international companies.  Stops on this year's bus tour include Vegetal, Love Beets and Oxbo. 
 
The Ag Committee invites all area business leaders and community members to attend this very informative tour - and it's free!  Contact Melissa at the Chamber office at 585-343-7440 ext. 26 if you would like to attend.

Click here for more details!

2018 TRAVEL TRIPS - ALASKA AND FRANCE

  

Two new Chamber travel trips have been added for 2018.  An Alaskan 7-Day Discovery Cruise will depart August 14 and return August 26.  Cost of the trip is $5,299 per person.  "France Magnifique" a 13-day tour of France will take place from Sept. 20 through Oct. 2.  Cost of the France trip is $4,499 per person.  For more information on all Chamber travel trips, visit the Chamber's website at www.geneseeny.com/Trips.
TOURISM NEWS

Visitor Center Clocks Over 600 Volunteer Hours!
Volunteer Appreciation Event Planned
for September 27th

The Chamber's Visitor Center wrapped up its extended operating hours on Labor Day. The 35 volunteers who welcomed our visitors gave our community more than 600 hours of volunteer service. Our annual volunteer appreciation event is planned for September 27th. Area businesses that would like to donate door prize items for this event (gift certificates etc) can do so by e-mailing Lindsey Turrell at visit@geneseeny.com and she can stop by to pick it up. Look for a full report on the visitor center activities in the next newsletter. It is now open Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm and the lobby will remain open 24 hours daily.

Chinese Tour Operator FAM Tour 9/11
In partnership with I Love NY, the Chamber is pleased to welcome 16 Canadian tour operators for a FAM (familiarzation) tour that begins on September 11th. These Canadian tour operators are on a 5-day Western and Central New York tour to learn more about our offerings for their clients who are all from mainland China. We have seen a very strong summer of Chinese tour groups in Batavia and are working on international marketing to receive the emerging market of Chinese FIT travelers - those traveling as couples, independants, non-groups. Our guests will check in to our host hotel, have dinner at Peking Buffet, stop at Oliver's Candies, enjoy gaming at Batavia Downs and will also enjoy lunch at Farmer's Creekside Tavern & Inn on the 12th before continueing east on their tour. Their welcome bags will include our group tour information, area dining information as well as gifts from Oliver's, Batavia Downs and the JELL-O Museum.

Recent & Upcoming Travel Shows:
Lindsey Turrell and Becky Sphar represented our 4-county Byways group tour partners at the DONYS Group Travel Show in Verona on August 28th. The event is invitation only to qualified tour operators and receptive operators. There, they had the opportunity to have one on one conversations with over 50 group sales buyers as well as provide them with our most recent group related materials. We will be distributing the leads in the coming days to our motor coach friendly locations as well as doing our own follow up on behalf of the greater area.
  • Aug 24-Sept 4 -The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse NY
  • Aug 28th - DONYS Group Travel Show - Verona, NY 
  • Sept. 11- Canadian Tour Operator FAM tour/
    Genesee County and I Love NY 
  • Sept 13-17- America's Largest RV Show, Hershey, PA
  • Sept 29-Oct. 1st NYS RV Show - Syracuse, NY
Dining Guides Reprinted
The dining guides were very popular with our hotel guests this year, so much so that we've had to reprint an additional 1,000 to get us through fall and early winter. We will update and reprint the next edition early 2018. Thank you to all of this year's advertisers!
15 SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN WAYS TO WORK SMARTER, NOT JUST MORE
 
Whether you're working a traditional 9-to-5 gig or running your own business, we all struggle with productivity. For many this is a daily struggle. The good news? That struggle will be a thing of the past if you implement these 15 scientifically-proven ways to work smarter.
 
Read more... 
GENESEE COUNTY BEA PROVIDES CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 


The Business Education Alliance (BEA) is an organization whose mission is to foster a partnership between business and education, and to assist students in preparing for the world of work. 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus."                  - Martin Luther King Jr.
Your Chamber Resources:

Kelly Bermingham, Director of Membership & Special Events
 
Ginny Elsasser, Staff Accountant
 
Melissa A. George, Executive Assistant

Kelly Rapone, Tourism Marketing Director

Tom Turnbull, President
TTurnbull@GeneseeNY.com

Lindsey Turrell, Tourism Marketing Assistant

Karyn Winters, Business Education Alliance Director
KWinters@GeneseeNY.com
SEPTEMBER 2017

These businesses have taken the lead role in investing in our Chamber's mission of enhancing business and community development in Genesee County. 
To find out how your business can become a Chamber Champion, contact Kelly Bermingham  
at 585-343-7440.


Welcome New Chamber Member:
Pembroke Corfu Darien Kiwanis Club
PO Box 312
Corfu, NY 14036
pcdkiwanis@gmail.com
Thank you
Looking for something to do? Check out the Community Events Calendar on the Chamber Website!
 
HOT OFF THE PRESS

Just arrived 2017-2018 Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Business Directories!

Stop by to pick yours up!
8276 Park Road
Batavia, NY 14020

8:30am-4:30pm, M-F 
E-Z PASS TAGS AVAILABLE AT THE GENESEE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 
As a convenience to 
area residents, the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce sells
E-Z Pass tags.  
In conjunction with the New York State Thruway Authority, E-Z Pass tags are conveniently available 
at the Chamber for
$25 each.
 
Here's how it works:  Stop by the Chamber and buy a prepackaged kit for $25.  Register the Tag. Install and use! Once registered, it can be replenished as needed.  Enjoy the convenience and savings (10%) by using E-Z Pass.
















































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8276 Park Road
Batavia, NY 14020
M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm
585-343-7440
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