COFFEE CLUB SET FOR THURSDAY

Wake up to new business contacts at Coffee Club held Thursday, November 15 at 7:45 at Southpoint Risk - Blackwood Division (903 W. Broadway Ave., Maryville). Attendees are asked to park behind the Agency at Miller's Funeral Home.

Coffees are designed to offer our members the opportunity to build business relationships with other members and to gain exposure for their business or organization in an "open house" setting.

Coffees are open to anyone associated with a Chamber member business. Participation is not reserved to the representative(s) listed on the Chamber membership.

 

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Make plans to attend our next Women in Business Meeting on Monday, November 19 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 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 by Friday November 19 by registering online if you plan to attend.

 

ENJOY A LUNCH BREAK AT SMOKY MOUNTAIN BREWERY

Join us for a Power Connect Lunch on November 27 at 11:30 a.m., at Smoky Mountain Brewery (743 Watkins Rd, Maryville). Meet, Mingle, Lunch, Connect, Nibble, Engage and Network with other influential professionals. Event chair Tony Saddy of Get Fit Maryville will lead the event.

While you (and the other guests) will have an opportunity to introduce your business, current areas of focus and/or anything you could use help with, all I ask is that everyone shows up with a focus on how they may be able to add value for the other attendees.

Open to ALL Blount County Chamber members, but you must RSVP by emailing alawson@blountpartnership.com. This is a Dutch Treat lunch.

 

BITCOIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES

Join us at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) on December 6 from 9:30 a.m.-noon as John Cannon, president of Symply Data Centers, presents a seminar entitled "Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies: Exploring the NEW Currency."

Cannon explains cryptocurrency foundation technology, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin and other cryptocurrencies. How do you use it? What are the tax implications? REGISTER ONLINE.

 

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS NOVEMBER 24

This Nov 24, the Blount Partnership wants to celebrate Small Business Saturday with you! It's a special holiday created so communities can show love for small local businesses. And it wouldn't be a celebration without businesses like you joining us!

The day was setup to help businesses with their most pressing need -- getting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before.

If your small business is interested in participating, please email alawson@blountpartnership.com. We will help get the word out about shopping locally at the beginning of the holiday season.

 

HERE IT IS: 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Look for your invitation in the mail within the next week for the Blount Partnership Christmas Open House slated for December 5 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. The staff will once again prepare hot dishes and Santa Claus is scheduled to stop by. There will be food in the board room and in a tent in the courtyard.

 

GET PLACEMENT IN 2019 BASICALLY BLOUNT

The 2019 Basically Blount lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2019, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount or view the media kit, contact: Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at (865) 705-8580
 

SOFT SKILLS SESSION FOR NOVEMBER

It's Your Career! That's the focus of free soft skills sessions offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that are scheduled over the next two months.

Registrations are currently being accepted online at www.blountchamber.com for a class entitled Making Your Social Media Look Good on Nov. 30. This course qualifies for .2 CEU's awarded by Pellissippi State.

The final class is Creating Infographics for Promoting Your Business on Dec. 21.

All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. A complete class description is located on the registration site. All classes run from 8-10 a.m. with networking beginning at 7:30 a.m.

 

FREE TECHNOLOGY CLASSES AT LIBRARY

The Blount County Public Library is offering free computer classes in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint (2016) and Gmail. Receive an opportunity to gain a nationally recognized certificate from Northstar Digital Literacy. Course descriptions and schedules are listed below. The free classes meet in the Blount County Public Library's new Learning Lab (outside the library in the former First Tennessee Bank branch building) unless otherwise *noted. Spaces are limited and registration is required. To register, please visit the library's Information Services Desk or call (865) 982-0981, ext. 1450, or (865) 273-1428. Sign up no earlier than one month prior to a class.

Microsoft Excel 2016 Essentials: 2-session class. Bring a USB drive.
M/F - Dec. 10, 12 @ 2-4 PM.

Microsoft Word 2016 Essentials: 3-session class. Bring a USB drive.
M/W/F - Dec. 3, 5, 7 @ 2-4 PM

Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 Essentials: 3-session class. Bring a USB drive.
M/W/F- Nov. 26, 28, 30 @ 2-4 PM

Gmail How-To's: 1 session class. Bring a USB drive.
M - Nov. 19 @ 9-11 AM

Additionally, businesses need to take advantage of the library's subscription to Lynda.com. Using your library card, get access to Lynda.com, a LinkedIn Company, with thousands of courses in software, creative and business skills to develop your staff skills and meet learning needs at your own convenience. Learn More

 

NOVEMBER MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS

Member-to-member promotions are here. Submit to the email below. Check out the latest offer from Proven Protection with a great deal on security cameras. See 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!

 

Buying local foods has numerous health benefits to your family.

 

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 or any good news about your business, please send it to us. We'd love to share it with the community.

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1979 was "Heartache Tonight" by the Eagles. It was the Eagles' final chart-topping song on the Hot 100. The recording also received a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.