The early days of a new year are upon us, and every business owner should be excited about the possibilities ahead. January is a time to take action, set your goals, celebrate the small victories, and avoid letting any setback discourage you from moving forward. The past three years have been extremely challenging for everyone, and many business owners have shown their resiliency by standing tall to take on the challenges that have been thrown at them from every direction. With the year ahead, there is no setback that you can't handle. Stay positive, but most of all, stay engaged. The more engaged you are, the sooner any setback will be a distant memory.

If you visit the chamber website amherst.org, you will see we have a full calendar of events already scheduled for January; however, we are preparing for our Annual Meeting on Friday, February 3, at 8:30am at Reikart House on Main Street. Our Annual Meeting is open to all members of the community, and we encourage you to join us. This event is an excellent way to learn more about how the Chamber advocates on your behalf through our public policy/economic development council and hear from Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa about the state of the town of Amherst. We will also officially swear in our 2023 Board of Directors and slate of officers. Finally, I'd be remiss if I did not offer my sincere appreciation to President Gary Olson at Daemen University and his entire team for their assistance in allowing us to host this event virtually over the past two years due to the Covid-19 regulations.

One of the pillars of our organization is our Emerging Business Leadership program. This 10-class program takes place once a month and is for those young professionals within your organization who you feel would benefit from expanding their networks and rounding out their leadership skills. All participants will receive a workplace personality assessment and learn many valuable skills they will carry with them for their professional careers. Space is limited, and you can learn more here.

This past week, the Chamber hosted its New Member Orientation...Read More Here

2023 Tip: It’s the time of year where many of us think about new year’s resolutions and creating new healthy habits around physical or mental health. But have you considered what you are doing for your eye health? Your eyes are an important part of your overall health, and you might assume vision loss is a normal part of aging – it’s not! Here are some tips for preserving your peepers well into your golden years:

Need some extra steps in your day? Not loving the winter weather? This low impact session is just the thing for you! Perfect as a beginner workout or a quick warm up routine!

1)    Write it down. The first step to understanding your mental health is recognizing your thoughts and getting to the bottom of them. Writing them down can ease mental discomfort by ridding the negative thoughts that may be disrupting your progress. Journaling is very therapeutic. It can enhance your self-awareness and understanding of what is meaningful to you. 

2)    Limit technology. The amount of time spent with our phones and electronic devices can impact us socially, leaving us feeling isolated. Taking a break from technology is a great way to give your brain some downtime to allow for reflection and creativity to move in. This may also lead to more meaningful conversations with those around you.

3)    Get moving. Movement has been shown to boost endorphins and alleviate symptoms of stress or anxiety. Try to incorporate more movement into your daily life. After all, physical health is a key component of mental health. Walking, dancing, or yoga are great ways to start.

4)    Invest in relationships. Surround yourself with happy people – it can improve your own mood. Friends and family often help celebrate life’s successes and support you in difficult times. Let people know you appreciate what they do for you, or that you’re glad they’re part of your life.

5)    Have fun. Finding ways to have some fun can often take a backseat to the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Make sure you make more time to enjoy yourself. Get outside, spend time with friends and family, relax and laugh.