September 15, 2023

Two Huntingdon County Schools Are the First in PA To Embace New Program

Earlier this year our Chamber President/CEO was catching up on things with a long-time colleague from Virginia. During this conversation she learned that Chris Mead started a new pen pal program that he has been working on with the Odessa, Texas Chamber of Commerce. This extraordinary venture connects students from Odessa, Texas, with their counterparts in Odessa, Ukraine, enabling the Ukrainian students to learn English while fostering cross-cultural communication. Chris told Yvonne that he had a burning need for students ages 11 and 12 to match up with students of the same age in the Ukraine. There is also a need for American students in middle school and high school. The idea of the Ukraine-USA Pen Pal Program is deceptively simple: to link up Ukrainian students and American students of similar age and interests via email.

Yvonne Martin, deeply connected to the region due to her family's heritage, was moved by Chris's efforts and invited him to join an Education Committee meeting. Through this, and with the help of our Education Committee Chair, Laura Hickes, Chris connected with educators Linda Miller from Huntingdon Area School District and Kathryn Lantz from Southern Huntingdon County School District. It is with immense pride that we announce the enrollment of the first six students from Pennsylvania into this impactful program. Our local students are not only contributing to the education of their Ukrainian peers but also showcasing the kindness that bridges continents.

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We Say Goodbye...........

Today is a sad day at the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce as we say goodbye to our intern, Trinity Smith. Trinity is a graduate of South Hills School of Business & Technology. She has brought new ideas and shared her talents to help plan events, and create promotional material, among other things. Trinity has been a joy to work with and will be missed here at the Chamber. 

"As my internship concludes, I want to express my gratitude to the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce for hosting me this summer. Over the course of my internship, I've gained numerous valuable connections and acquired a wealth of knowledge. This experience was a perfect match for my field of study! I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Yvonne and Lorena for their guidance and mentorship during these past few months. I truly appreciate them and the opportunity they provided. While my internship has ended, my support for the chamber remains, and I will forever cherish the memories, insights, and relationships I gained during my time there." -----Trinity Smith

Beautiful day for the 2023 Sporting Clay Tournament! We'd like to extend a special thank you to

Cisney and O'Donnell Builders & Remodelers

 for their sponsorship of beverages!

The 2024 Sporting Clay Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18th!

Embracing Family Friendly Benefits

In today’s work environment, the line between personal and professional life is becoming increasingly blurred. As a result, employees are seeking more comprehensive benefits that accommodate their family responsibilities and foster a healthy work-life balance. More employers today have begun to understand that an expansion of family-friendly benefits above and beyond federal law requirements is a key facet to protecting the physical and mental health of their workers.

Family friendly benefits are essential in attracting and retaining top talent, as they demonstrate an organization’s commitment to supporting its employees beyond the workplace. Employers can utilize a few key strategies in order to effectively include family-friendly benefits in their employee benefit package, which can help lead to positive impacts on employee well-being, job satisfaction and overall organizational success.

·         Flexible Work Arrangements

One of the most fundamental principles of family-friendly benefits is that of flexible work arrangements. This can allow employees to better balance their professional and family obligations, and include options like telecommuting, flextime, compressed workweeks or job sharing. Offering such flexibility not only enhances employee happiness but also improves productivity and job satisfaction. By focusing on results rather than strict office hours, employers can demonstrate a trust of their employees to manage their time and deliver the required performance, leading to a more motivated and engaged workforce.

Click here to read the entire article.