Our Mission
To foster and maintain a thriving business climate in which our
members and community can grow and prosper.
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Greetings,
As you get ready to read our May member newsletter, we wanted to personally thank all of our member organizations – individually and collectively – for your past and continued support of YOUR Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Together, we have navigated the very challenging COVID pandemic waters. One day, very soon, we will look back at what we have been through together and realize how our struggles and perseverance have paid off.
We still have work to do, and our pledge at the Chamber is to continue working on your behalf. Whatever is needed and whatever it takes, we will be there for you. Just reach out to us and we will help you.
Looking forward to brighter skies and prosperity for all!
Sincerely,
Team Chamber: Paul, Donna, Brianna, Janet, and the Board of Directors
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Welcome our recent new members! |
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1380 Dual Hwy.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301.791.7910
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14014 Marsh Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301.733.8700
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181 Thomas Johnson Dr., Ste. E
Frederick, MD 21702
301.456.6931
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1650 C Wesel Blvd.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
717.249.4000
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13126 Pennsylvania Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301.790.0652
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12608 Indian Springs Rd.
Clear Spring, MD 21722
301.582.8563
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100 Jamison Ct.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301.790.3100
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28 S. Potomac St., Level B
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301.606.7089
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18614 Crestwood Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301.739.4266
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12810 Shank Farm Way
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301.646.3525
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126 W. High St.
Hancock, MD 21750
301.678.5622
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Register Now:
Our 1st St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School & Middletown Valley Bank
“Virtual Power Breakfast” on Wednesday, May 12 from 8 - 9 am
Topic: “Innovation in the Time of COVID.”
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All are welcome to join us for this free virtual event. Please post and distribute this information.
Panelists:
Thomas W. Burnford, Interim President of St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School and Vice President for Catholic Virtual
BJ Goetz, President & CEO of Middletown Valley Bank
Jen Maust Bowers, CFRE, Executive Director of Meritus Healthcare Foundation
Tereance Moore, PMP, SHRM-CP, Realtor®, Owner of TMConsulting
Moderator:
Paul Frey, President & CEO of Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Promotional Partners:
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Washington County
Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc.
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Social Security Planning Webinars
Monday, May 10, starting at
12:00 pm and 5:30 pm
Sterling Financial Management, Inc. will hold two live webinars on Monday, May 10 on “Social Security Planning.” The webinar will cover rules and guidelines on when you should apply for Social Security benefits, survivor benefits and mistakes to avoid at your Social Security office. All four Sterling Financial Management advisors will cover this presentation: Dave Neterer, David Cushwa, Kelly Batey and Ken Smith.
“We welcome all of our clients as well as any prospective clients to participate in our upcoming Social Security webinars,” said David Neterer, founder and president of Sterling Financial Management. “We try holding these seminars a few times a year. Since this can be such a complicated and confusing topic for so many, we try to do what we can to make it a little easier to understand.”
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Browse through news from some of our members, some may even be able to help you during this critical time. |
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Meritus Health Recognized Again for Patient Safety
Meritus Health’s outpatient care management team, alongside numerous supportive departments and community partners, recently received a Circle of Honor 2021 Minogue Award for patient safety innovation from the Maryland Patient Safety Center.
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Recent Daisy Nurses Named
Congratulations to our first two Daisy nurses of 2021:
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Anna Camp, M.S.N., CCRN, of critical care services
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Kelly Robinson, RN, PCCN, from intermediate and medical/surgical care
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Nursing Assistants Recently Recognized
Alexis Cook, CNA, and Michelle Sonntag, CNA, were the most recently selected Champion Nursing Assistant award winners.
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Meritus Medical Center Part of 20% of U.S. Hospitals Deemed “Age Friendly”
Meritus Medical Center is part of the 20% of U.S. hospital systems joining in the “Age-Friendly Health Systems” initiative, to make care for older adults tailored to patients’ goals and preferences and consistently high in quality.
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Meritus Health Analyzes Data – Suggests Dramatic Reduction in Maryland’s Vaccine Disparity
Data collected on COVID-19 vaccines administered recently in the state of Maryland shows a substantial improvement reaching older adults in communities hit hard by the virus, according to analysis conducted by Meritus Health researchers.
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Memorial Scholarship Created in Memory of Local Legend Jeff Scuffins
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A champion by many definitions, Jeff Scuffins unexpectedly passed away Saturday, March 20th. To honor his legacy, loved ones quickly established a scholarship fund with the Community Foundation of Washington County Md, Inc., for Jeff, ensuring that students pursuing a postsecondary education, for years to come, will have a brighter future.
Commonly known as a local legend, Jeff was a distance running star, most notably winning the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., in 1987 in a course-record time of 2:14:01 — a record that still stands.
Many years of achievements and recognitions culminated with a 2018 induction into the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame. In recent years, Scuffins worked as the morning manager at the 4 Star Athletic Complex in Williamsport.
Friends attest that he never lost his passion for running. Affectionately nicknamed "Scuff", Jeff will be missed dearly by those who loved him and revered for generations to come by those within the running community.
To contribute to this fund, simply visit our website cfwcmd.org and click “DONATE NOW” across the top of the homepage, selecting the “Jeff Scuffins Memorial Scholarship” as the recipient.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NEED OF FOSTER CARE FAMILIES
The Humane Society of Washington County (HSWC) is seeking new individuals and families to add to its network of volunteer foster care providers.
Particularly during “Kitten Season” – when intact cats reproduce at a more rapid rate and HSWC’s number of kitten intakes can quadruple – foster families play a critical role in helping reduce the number of animals in the shelter.
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HSWC SEEKING HELP WITH SHELTER HISTORY
The Humane Society of Washington County (formerly known as the SPCA) will celebrate its 100th anniversary in November 2021. The organization is seeking information, photos, anecdotal stories, and memorabilia of the shelter throughout the years to be displayed or shared at HSWC’s 100th Anniversary Gala in November or throughout the shelter’s centennial year. Items can be returned upon request.
Additionally, HSWC is in search of surviving family and friends of its founder, Ms. Daisy Deene Derby Whipple and her husband, Roger Whipple. Daisy was survived by three nieces and Roger was survived by a brother. Both originated from Salem, Massachusetts.
Anyone with history to share may contact Anna Somers at 301-733-2060 ext. 242 or asomers@hswcmd.org.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY ADOPTS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FROM PETCO LOVE TO HELP REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON NATIONAL LOST DOG AND CAT AWARENESS DAY
On April 23 rd, National Lost Dog and Cat Awareness Day, the Humane Society of Washington County (HSWC) is proudly joining forces with Petco Love, formerly known as the Petco Foundation, a national non-profit working to lead and inspire change for animals, and animal welfare groups across the country, on a shared mission to help reunite lost pets with their families should they ever go missing. According to industry statistics, sadly, one in every three pets will go missing in their lifetime. Petco Love Lost is a new, searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to make finding lost pets quicker and easier. Beginning today, this simple-to-use tool will be easily accessible to participating animal organizations nationwide, as well as any pet parent or person who finds a lost pet. Uploaded photos of a missing dog or cat are immediately scanned to determine whether the lost pet is at a participating shelter or with a neighbor in the community.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY REMINDS PUBLIC THAT “MOTHER KNOWS BEST”
As Kitten Season continues in the warm months and an increasing number of kittens are born, the Humane Society of Washington County (HSWC) sees an insurgence in its number of kitten intakes – many of which are orphaned litters who still need mom’s milk to survive.
“Young kittens are the most vulnerable animals in our care. Many end up at the shelter because of well-meaning animal lovers, but removing kittens from their environment may not always be the right answer,” said Kim Jones, Director of Operations. “As the saying goes, ‘mother knows best.’ Removing healthy kittens from the mother that is caring for them drastically decreases their likelihood of survival.”
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St. Mary Catholic School Fundraiser |
The Home School Association (HSA) of St. Mary Catholic School and Church is excited to announce a new fundraiser that aims to support our local community, while helping fund many events and activities at school.
The new "St. Mary Catholic School Family & Friends Business Directory" will allow local businesses to purchase ad space at a reasonable cost. The directory will be sent to all SMCS families via a PDF format and placed on the SMCS webpage. Many SMCS families own local businesses and this is a way to highlight and support our school family and community. A special designation will be provided specifically for SMCS family owned businesses, present and past students. We also hope to reach out to the many businesses that support SMCS in other ways.
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UNITED WAY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY SEEKS PEOPLE, GROUPS THAT NEED HELP FOR DAY OF CARING
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The United Way of Washington County is again looking for qualified homeowners that need exterior home repairs and nonprofits that could use help with small projects to participate in the 30th Annual Day of Caring.
The annual event will be held on September 16th. Applications to receive help are due to United Way by June 30th. The annual United Way Day of Caring is an event that brings employees from local businesses together to volunteer with a variety of community service projects. The work typically includes tasks such as painting and landscaping at the home of an older, disabled, or veteran homeowner, minor repair or cleaning at a local nonprofit, or collecting and sorting through donations of new or gently used books.
Last year, 550 volunteers fanned out across Washington County, weeding flower beds, washing windows, painting walls, and bagging toiletries for the community’s neediest residents. The volunteers last year participated in 71 service projects at 63 locations across the county. Though the pandemic had reduced the amount of volunteer support in 2020, more teams showed up to serve than in 2019.
Homeowners needing assistance with the application should email jhauer@uwwcmd.org or call 301-739-8200, extension 103.
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Attend some upcoming events hosted by our members! Add your events to our Member Events Calendar here to get your event posted in the next newsletter, or email the event details to brianna@hagerstown.org.
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One Year Anniversary Celebration |
Saturday, May 22nd
8 am - 1 pm
Location:
255 Eastern Blvd. North
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Join us for our 1 year Anniversary at SoldierFit Hagerstown. Something to do All Day both Inside & Outside (Back parking lot area).
Featuring "Fryzaholic" Food Truck, a DJ, Vendors, Bootcamps, Drawings and an ALL AROUND GOOD TIME with our Community!
**ALL ARE WELCOME**
Saturday BootCamps:
8am: Military "Suits & Boots" Bootcamp - Register in advance.
10am: Weekend Warriors Bootcamp - Register in advance.
PT/Mat area: Dedication to Army Fallen Soldier Sgt. Clifton J. Yazzie.
Can't wait to see you there!
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Katherine Fishburn: Fault Lines and Denny Clarke: Kaleidoscope Exhibit at the Washington County Arts Council |
Thursday, April 1, 2021 11:00 AM - Tuesday, May 4, 2021 EST
Location: 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Katherine Fishburn and Denny Clarke show off their unique art styles!
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C&O Canal 50th Anniversary Juried Photography Exhibition at the Washington County Arts Council |
Thursday, May 6, 2021 11:00 AM - Tuesday, June 1, 2021 EST
Location: 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Virtual Exhibit online: Saturday, May 8, 2021.
The C&O Canal Trust, the Washington County Arts Council, and Visit Hagerstown-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau present the selected photographs from the juried photography contest.
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Valley Mall Tristate Job Fair |
Thursday, June 17th
10 am - 6 pm
Location:
17301 Valley Mall Rd.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Hagerstown Community College, The Western Maryland Consortium, Valley Mall, and VerStandig Media, are co-sponsoring a tristate job fair that will be held at Valley Mall.
Call Blake Truman at 717-597-9200 with any questions.
To find out how you can become a sponsor for the job fair or to purchase a vendor space, view the information on the flyer below.
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A Helpful Article From The BEP Committee |
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Our Business and Education Partnership Committee has an interesting article to share with you this month:
Good Communication Vs. Poor Communication
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Well known author and speaker, Celeste Headlee suggests that there are two reasons we need to get better at talking with one another. One is economic; the other is human.
First, business: poor communication costs us about $37 billion a year according to a training provider Gognisco. That boils down to a tally, per worker, of $26,000 annually. That calculation only includes companies with more than one hundred employees. Imagine how much higher that number might be if we included all businesses.
Good communication on the other hand, is quite profitable . Companies with leaders who are great communicators have nearly 50 percent higher returns than companies with unexceptional communicators at the helm.
The other important aspect of the importance of talking with each other is the human aspect. What can be more important than really connecting with the people you spend your day working with? Billions and billions of dollars can be saved with good, clear communication!
With both improved economics and stronger connection in mind, consider these five steps to improved communication:
· Identify your expectations for the conversation before it starts.
· Eliminate as many distractions as possible; put away your phones, turn away from your computers and iPad as you have conversations!
· Pay attention and be in the moment.
· Ask open ended questions – the who, what, where, when and how of it all.
· Listen with the intent to understand, rather than with the intent to respond.
When we all work more to become better communicators, imagine what a much better community we’ll become.
Source: We Need to Talk, Celeste Headlee
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GenNext is our young professionals group here at the Chamber. If you're interested in meeting a group of like-minded young professionals who want to network, volunteer, and grow professionally, you should join GenNext.
This group is open to anyone between the ages of 21-39. If interested, fill out an application form here and send it to brianna@hagerstown.org.
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We're looking for individuals who are interested in speaking at a GenNext event. Is there something you wish you had known as a young professional? Come share your wisdom with us!
Take a moment to fill out the form below to let us know what you'd like to share with our group.
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Chamber Members: You can post discounts or coupons on our website, and make them available for Chamber members only OR for the public.
Here's how to post them:
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- Log in to your Hagerstown.org portal
- Select “upload a coupon”
- Set to “public” or “members only”
- Set your expiration terms
- Submit for free
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SIGN UP FOR REGULAR WASHINGTON COUNTY
JOINT INFORMATION CENTER (JIC) UPDATES
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Washington County, Maryland has invited many partners to form a Joint Information Center (JIC) created to address COVID-19.
Here at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, we're proud to be involved in these weekly meetings and contributing to the County's press releases. We're in good company: Meritus Health, Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown Community College, The City of Hagerstown, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and Washington County Health Department. All of these agencies combine information on a daily basis to form several uniform emails per week.
We want YOU to be a part of this mailing list, but you need to sign up to receive these messages and we encourage you to pass along the word to the rest of our community, should they be interested in receiving these alerts in their Inbox.
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Visit our website with COVID-19 economic resources and health information at https://www.hagerstown.org/ and go to the Strong Together tab on our menu in the right-hand corner.
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Do you have something to share with fellow Chamber members? Simply email Director of Member Services Brianna Scott at brianna@hagerstown.org to get started on this free opportunity.
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Washington County Chamber of Commerce members include more than 650 organizations, representing over 40,000 local jobs in a wide variety of industries: Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Skilled Trades, Service and Hospitality, Technology, Government, Nonprofit, and Education. |
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