In This Issue: 
A Note from Newsletter Sponsor Post University
Upcoming Events ~ Welcome New Members 
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings ~ HR Corner
Health Care Council Update ~ Business Women's Forum 
Hiring/Training Programs ~  Chamber New s
A Message from our President, Lynn Ward

The Chamber team is often promoting our upcoming events and programs, because we know there's nothing more powerful than the connections and business relationships that stem from those face-to-face meetings. However, we don't want you to forget about all of the other opportunities your chamber membership affords you, including the ability to get your business in front of thousands of other professionals and consumers.
 
In September, we will once again publish our annual Business Directory and Resource Guide in conjunction with the Republican-American to be distributed to over 30,000 subscribers. All Chamber members will be listed with their name and contact information, both alphabetically and by business category. Please be sure to verify or update your contact information with us to make sure your listing appears properly. If you'd like to give your listing some extra exposure, there are opportunities for highlighting your listing and placing an ad, all through our partners at the Republican-American.
 
If your company marketing strategy is digitally-focused, consider taking advantage of our monthly e-newsletters, social media channels, or perhaps advertising on the Chamber website. We offer a wide range of exposure opportunities that can help driver business to you every day, whether you're out at one of our events or working hard behind your desk.
 
To learn more about any of these opportunities or if I can be of service to you or your business, please reach out to me at (203) 757-0701 or  at  lward@waterburychamber.com .

Thanks for being a valued member,
Lynn Signature
A Note from Newsletter Sponsor Post University
Post Expands Its High School Academy Partnerships Through Collaboration with Workspace

Post University has a new partnership between its High School Academy and Workspace in Bethel, a project-based education center for parents who choose to homeschool their kids in a sustainable and supportive community. Post University's High School Academy provides high school students nationwide with the opportunity to earn undergraduate college courses, both online and on its Waterbury campus.

Among the course offerings by High School Academy through the Workspace partnership, is the "College Success Seminar" to teach students the fundamental skills to be successful in a university learning environment.   Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, the course will be offered at Workspace. Several other area high schools already participate in Post's High School Academy, including Explorations High School in Winsted; Highville Change Academy in New Haven; and Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury.

"This collaborative effort enables us to expand our resources to students who are not in a traditional high school environment," said Christina Agvent, director of Post's Strategic Partnerships.  "We also will be working together to serve the surrounding communities by offering opportunities to engage in Post activities and programs."

Workspace Founder and Executive Director Catherine Fraise created the organization to offer a low-cost, full alternative education community that is affordable and inclusive to all. 

"We believe the skills our students develop at Workspace make them attractive to colleges and universities.  We hope to grow this collaboration with Post and create a larger catalog of online and on-site courses in the future," she said.

Join Us! - Upcoming Chamber Events
August Out for Business
Monday, August 20th
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

YPOWR Networking Social
Wednesday, August 22nd
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM



YPOWR Mini Golf Palooza
Thursday, September 6
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

24th Annual Malcolm Baldrige Awards Evening
Wednesday, September 26
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The premier business event of the year, the Malcolm Baldrige Community Awards provides an opportunity to connect with the area's high-level executives, elected officials, business owners and community leaders. Consider attending, sponsoring, or donating a silent auction item to secure your presence at the event!
Welcome New Members

Welcome to our newest members who have joined over the past month*. We encourage you to connect with these members and learn about how you can work together!

Blake Apparel & Accessories
Living Right Health Bar
Blissful Moments Photography Mel Brickman - HealthMarkets Insurance Agency
Dr. Dental of Wolcott Metro PCS-BellCamp
Highline Car Connection Pomperaug Woods
LGM Injury Law
Van Gogh Nightclub

*July 1- August 7
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings
Join us at upcoming ribbon cuttings to celebrate your fellow members!
 Van Gogh Nightclub
Thursday, August 16
Grand Opening!
12:00 Noon
195 Freight Street, Waterbury
Raw Deal Juice Bar
Friday, August 17
Grand Opening!
11:00 AM
180 Grand Street, Waterbury
United Auto Sales and Service
Thursday, August 30
65 Year Celebration!
12:00 Noon
219 Congress Avenue, Waterbury

*To schedule an upcoming ribbon cutting for your business with the Chamber, contact Membership Services and Communications Director Julie Donato at  jdonato@waterburychamber.comor  at (203) 757-0701 ext. 325.
HR Corner: 
Employers Can Regulate Speech at Work - Right?  
It is true that employees don't have a constitutional right to free speech at work, however, employers still need to be aware of federal and state laws that do protect workers' speech in certain situations.

The First Amendment may guarantee citizens the protection of free speech from intrusion by the federal government, but "The First Amendment does not apply to private actors, and employers are private actors."

Therefore, government employees do have some First Amendment protections. "Employees working in the private sector often don't understand that the constitutional First Amendment right to free speech may apply to government employees but not employees working in the private sector. That being said, private employers still need to be aware of the intricacies of some Federal and State (or even regional) laws that may restrict their right to curb their employee's speech (like the National Labor Relations Act -NLRA). If you have questions about what you believe you can or can't do, it will be in your best interest to research the laws of the land and be safe and free from "fines".

Remember, it is always better (and less costly) to prevent the fines and "problems" than it is to try and "fix" them after the fact!
 
The HR Corner is brought to you by Lois A. Krause, 
MBA, SPHR, SHRM, SCP - KARDASLARSON, LLC - 
 Human Resources Solutions. Learn more at www.kardaslarson.com 
Your Health Care Council Update
Fall HealthMatters Supplement Hitting Stands Soon
The Health Care Council is preparing to publish its fall supplement to the Republican-American newspaper as a special addition to the Sunday Republican on September 18th. There are still opportunities to have your business highlighted through advertising, but hurry- the deadline to secure your space is Wednesday, August 15th! These publications are also found online in the special supplements gallery at rep-am.com and are the ideal advertising vehicle for any and all health care-related businesses, including not only doctors offices but also attorneys, insurance agents, fitness professionals, instructors, and more! 

To view advertising rates and details, click here.
Is your company interested in the Health Care Council or are you a current council member and want to get re-engaged please contact Courtney at cligi@waterburychamber.com or 203-757-0701.
Business Women's Forum
The Business Women's Forum, the longest running statewide conference brings you a powerful leadership conference that will feature  2018 keynote speaker, Bethenny Frankel. Brought to you through the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this exciting annual event showcases nationally known speakers and trainers who educate and inspire attendees. In addition to providing access to phenomenal speakers, networking opportunities and diverse training, the Forum awards scholarships to young women pursuing a college business degree at Post University, Waterbury. 

The Forum is thrilled to present Bethenney, a businesswoman, entrepreneur, talk show host, bestselling author, investor and reality television personality, as the Forum's 2018 keynote speaker. The Motivational Speaker will be Speaker Hall of Fame member Linda Larsen.  Join us or send employees for this amazing conference on Tuesday, October 30. The BWF is offering special incentives and giveaways to early registrants! To register now, visit www.2018bwf.com
Young Professionals of Waterbury Region
Board Certification Training
The Young Professionals of Waterbury Region (YPOWR) organization was pleased to present their first Board Certification Training, which provided attendees the opportunity to be better equipped to serve on Boards of Directors. In partnership with the Connecticut Community Foundation, YPOWR welcomed Sharon Danosky, President & Founder of Danosky & Associates, to educate the participants on the ins and outs of what to expect as a board member. Special thanks to our Host Sponsor Waterbury Hospital and to all of our participants who will be using their new expertise to better serve the community.
 
Trivia Night at the Heritage Hotel
YPOWR hosted a networking Trivia Night in July at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury. The group divided into teams and answered questions to earn points and battle it out for prizes and bragging rights.  Congratulations to the first place team, "Y-Not-Power" consisting of Meaghan Rickard of CompuMail, Eric Turmel of Employer's Reference Source, Cyndi Tolosa of the Mattatuck Museum, Dan Pesce of Main Street Waterbury and Dave Krechevsky of the Waterbury Regional Chamber. Thanks to our hosts at the Heritage Hotel for welcoming us to their venue.
Chamber Updates
July Out for Business at Stone Academy
On July 18th, Stone Academy hosted the Chamber's monthly Out for Business event. The school also celebrated the launch of it's Practical Nursing Program at the Waterbury campus with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The evening included networking, food and drink, as well as a Buzz session by Brian Reynolds of Thunder Sports & Fitness on tips to get out of your seat and work and stay active an healthy.The Chamber's next Out for Business networking event will be held on August 20th at the Palace Theater. .

Hiring and Training Programs Available
Do you need help finding qualified workers for your business? Could you use some financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring and training new workers, or training your existing workforce? The Waterbury Regional Chamber is working with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board to help businesses in Greater Waterbury learn more about the available hiring and training programs and whether they qualify for them.  This includes providing information on posting jobs on the state's CTHires.com website, as well as information about Manufacturing Innovation Fund Incumbent Worker Training, the Apprenticeship Program, Hiring Veterans, and On the Job Training programs. For information, contact Dave Krechevsky, the Chamber's director of public policy and economic development, at dkrechevsky@waterburychamber.com or 203-757-0701.

Click Here to see information on this grant on the Chamber's Website.
Wake Up Your Business
Promote Your Business with Door Prize Donations
Promote your products and services and get great exposure by donating a gift certificate or item to a Chamber function. 
Donated items are drawn as prizes for our monthly Out for Business events, Young Professionals of Waterbury Region networking events, Out for Health events, and more. Donations can also be made specifically to the annual Malcolm Baldrige Awards Dinner silent auction.
When you donate, you can gain a new customer and your business is publicly spotlighted by the Chamber.  Start a Donation Today! - Click Here
Shop Local Shop Chamber 
We're working to promote shopping local and shopping Chamber! Our digital initiative provides the opportunity to promote your business and to encourage your fellow members to shop local and utilize your business. Every month, different members will be showcased- and YOU can be a part of it. Click here for further details and consider which month you'd like to sign up for. Contact Julie at jdonato@waterburychamber.com today!
Networking Made Simple!
To update your email preferences with the Chamber, please contact Alison at aamato@waterburychamber.com or (203) 757-0701.