As you receive and read this, some 100 GSSCC members and their guests are ready to tee it up and battle it out to win the "2021 GSSCC Business Golf Classic," at GSSCC member Argyle Country Club's championship golf course.

Record support from GSSCC sponsors and foursomes promises to make this year's Classic one for the ages. Watch this space for results. GSSCC thanks these member who contributed to our Golf Classic success as key sponsors: Platinum Sponsor - Sandy Spring Bank; Gold Sponsors - Apex Home Loans, Adventist HealthCare's White Oak Medical Center, Downtown Silver Spring, Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Lee Development Group, and Montgomery College; Silver Sponsors - Ellsworth Place, Fairland Animal Hospital, GEICO, and Mission Autism Clinics; Scorecard Sponsor - Bankers Business Management Services, Inc.; Beverage Cart Sponsor - SECU; Snack Shack Sponsor - Kay Management; Beverage Station Sponsor - Capital Bank; and more. Look for details in next week's GSSCC Weekly Update.

Join the Chamber for Business After Hours at La Malinche (8622 Colesville Road) on Wednesday, September 29. Enjoy networking with fellow Chamber members, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. Free for members; advance registration required by COB Friday, September 24. Per county guidelines, masks are required indoors except while consuming food or beverages.

Join the GSSCC Owners & Entrepreneurs Circle for a casual Happy Hour event at Denizens Brewing Co.'s beer garden (1115 East West Highway) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 30.

Attendees can look forward to networking, meeting fellow members, learning more about the Owners & Entrepreneurs Circle, and more.

Full drink and food menu available for purchase. Per county guidelines, masks are required indoors except while consuming food or beverages.

For most commercial real estate owners, energy is either the single biggest or second-biggest operating expense and can take up to one-third of an operating budget. Implementing energy efficiency upgrades can significantly improve the bottom line and commercial building’s competitive advantage in Montgomery County.

Learn "How to Reduce Your Property’s Operating Expenses through Energy Efficiency Upgrades" and increase cash flow by improving the energy utilization and operations of your commercial buildings. This event will also provide a roadmap to more sustainable practices, community relations, and meeting Montgomery County’s nationally-leading clean energy goals.

8 a.m. – Light breakfast

8:15 a.m. – Introduction and panel discussion

8:45 a.m. – Q&A and networking

Businesses are slowly getting back to some type of normalcy as more and more reopen. However, unprecedented temperatures and multiple tropical storms across the US continue to escalate utility prices. There is no better time for members to enroll in the Chamber Energy Purchasing Cooperative Program and gain price stability, budget control and peace-of-mind.

Since 2004, the Cooperative electricity rates have been lower than both market rates and the weighted annual utility standard offer service rates. During previous campaigns, participants saw an average annual savings of $4,000. Natural gas rates were also lower on average than market rates and utility monthly winter peak indexed rates.

Take action and register now in the current campaign. No action will result in continually paying higher utility bills. To learn more about the purchasing cooperative, watch a short video here.

Purple Line crews are relocating utilities on Wayne Avenue from Fenton Street to Sligo Creek Parkway. Commuters should expect temporary lane and sidewalk closures between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and, as needed, on weekends. Utility companies may also schedule overnight work as needed.

Crews are also relocating utilities on Ripley Street, south of the Silver Spring Transit Center Kiss and Ride. Work will occure between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays and as needed on weekends.Metered parking will be limited adjacent to the Silver Spring Transit Center Kiss and Ride entrance on Ripley Street. Access to local businesses will be maintained.

Construction concerns should be reported to outreach@purplelinemd.com or (443) 451-3706.

Businesses whose employees rely on Metro should make sure those employees know that they can safe up to 50 percent on selected passes through October 15. For the first time ever, Metro is launching a sale that will allow riders to purchase discounted passes with unlimited trips on Metrorail and Metrobus whether traveling one day, one week, or one month. During the sale, customers may purchase the 1-, 3-, and 7-day passes to use anytime. Monthly passes will be valid for use October 1-31. Additional information about Metro’s Pass Sale can be found at wmata.com/sale.

* The Interfaith Works Clothing Center needs help sorting the mountain of donations received for families displaced by the flooding from Hurricane Ida. Those interested in volunteering can sign up here.

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* Young Professionals Network Meeting - 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 23.

* Member Development Committee Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28.

Corporate Partners - Downtown Silver Spring; Lee Development Group; Montgomery College; Joseph W. McCartin Insurance;

 Business Partners - Andalman & Flynn, AFI Silver Theatre; Apex Home 

 Partners - Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Image360; Peak Performance Digital; Scott Team International.