Wednesday, September 25, 2024

BHT Relaunches Benchmark Program

Get a quote in Q4 to benefit the Chamber

Looking to add benefits to your employee compensation packages? Through your membership with the Greater Kitsap Chamber, your business and employees can finally get the benefits they deserve with competitive rates for even the smallest businesses.

Request a quote in October, November or December and the Chamber will even benefit with a referral bonus! Contact BHT for a quote today!

September Membership Luncheon

Today, September 25, 2024, 11:00 am

Join us for our annual update on education around Kitsap County. We'll hear from our local superintendents from the Bremerton and Central Kitsap School District, along with Olympic College's President, Dr. Marty Cavalluzzi. Meet education-focused members of the Chamber and learn about the important work happening around Kitsap to prepare our future workforce and leaders.

This month's luncheon is at the Kitsap Conference Center. Paid parking is available on the Green Level underneath the Conference Center. Bring your business cards and get ready to network - you won't want to miss!

Get Your Tickets Now for the

2024 Business Awards Gala

Sponsorships Still Available for Gala

Elevate your business or organization at this annual gathering of who's who in Kitsap business!

Interested in elevating your business' exposure in the community? Looking to put your name on this year's Gala? Looking to bring a table-full of attendees? We have sponsorships available for all sizes of businesses across all industries that will provide a level of elevation in the Greater Kitsap business community like no other event. Interested in sponsoring or purchasing an ad in the Gala program? Contact Events Coordinator, Tiffany Diamond, to secure your sponsorship or ad space today!

Chamber launches new benefit in partnership with Crunch Fitness!

We are so excited to announce this new wellness opportunity for our business community: beginning August 2024, members of the Greater Kitsap Chamber and their employees can now enjoy discounted gym memberships at Crunch Fitness in Silverdale. For more information on how to redeem this benefit, contact Irene at the Chamber. Special thanks to General Manager, Haaken Larsen, for bringing this opportunity to our membership!

Exciting news for all Greater Kitsap Chamber members!

We're thrilled to announce that our partner, Business Health Trust (BHT) is now offering discounted pet insurance through PetPartners to all our valued members! 🐾🐶🐱

You don’t need to have a medical plan with BHT to take advantage of this great benefit. Sign up today and ensure the health and well-being of your furry family members while reducing costly veterinary bills. Plans feature comprehensive coverage for accidents, illnesses and injuries including cancer coverage.

🔗 Download a flyer to get started: https://businesshealthtrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bht-pet-insurance-flyer.pdf

This is just one of the ways you get more with BHT. Are you ready to build a better benefits package? Visit bhtquote.com to learn more and get a free quote.

New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!

Allstate Insurance - Chidi Okunji Agency

Port of Bremerton Food Drive

Now thru November 29th

Nominate Now for 20 Under 40

Great Peninsula Conservancy

2024 Visual Identity Refresh RFP

Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) is a nonprofit land trust working to protect the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the Great Peninsula – a region encompassing Kitsap, north Mason, and west Pierce counties, Washington. With almost four decades of conservation accomplishments, Great Peninsula Conservancy is a trusted leader in our region

In 2025, GPC will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. It is our wish to hire a design firm to update our visual identity (logo, brand colors, fonts and website) in time to celebrate this major milestone. The following RFP walks you through project background, project goals, brand examples, handoff and training, project timeline, budget, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions.

Kitsap Bank Shred Events @ East Bremerton

September 28, 2024, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

BSD Grand Opening

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:00 pm

www.patriotroofing.biz

Advocacy Committee

Join us Next Week: Eggs & Issues

Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 8:00 am

Join us next week for our next Eggs & Issues forum as we welcome candidates from the 23rd Legislative District: incumbent Tarra Simmons with challenger Kurt Robertson, along with incumbent Greg Nance and challenger Jamie Miles. Hear from these community leaders on what their plans on in the Washington State Legislature and how it will impact Kitsap Co

Enjoy a limited breakfast selection available for purchase at the Cloverleaf.

We'll see you Tuesday morning at 8:00 am! Doors open for breakfast at 7:00 am.

Randall, MacEwen Talk Spending, Background & Bipartisanship During Bremerton Forum

Published in the Kitsap Sun, September 18, 2024

Photo: provided by campaigns

Congressional candidates Emily Randall and Drew MacEwen discussed fiscal policy, their ties to the region and commitment to bipartisanship during a candidate forum in Bremerton Tuesday morning.

The event, hosted by the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce at the Cloverleaf Bar and Grill, comes less than two months before voters choose a replacement for longtime Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor. After over a decade representing Washington’s Sixth Congressional District, he is not seeking re-election.

Read the full story from Conor Wilson here

Business & Professional Development Committee

WHA Presents: What Digital Marketing Can

Do for Your Restaurant

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 10:00 am

Learn how restaurants can leverage technology to compete in the marketplace through digital marketing to attract and retain customers.

You will also learn how search engine optimization, social media, email and text marketing will build a loyal customer base, attract new business and profit from high-dollar, low-staffing sales like catering and group reservations.

By embracing technology, restaurants can enhance efficiency and customer engagement, ultimately saving costs and driving revenues.

Join Kelley Miller of Spothopper at 10 a.m. on Sept. 25.

Lightning Talk @ Vibe CoWorks

Collaborative Philanthropy - Partnerships Between Businesses and Nonprofits

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 11:30 am

Join us in October for real talk with 3 local entrepreneurs, here to share their entrepreneurial journey, including all the highs and lows, the roadblocks they’ve encountered, and the support that has made a difference.

Come ready to listen, learn, find new inspiration, and reflect on what it really means to ‘support local businesses’ in meaningful ways, including especially those that are minority-owned. Leave your ego at the door, and engage in authentic conversations from peers who are in the trenches and 'doing the thing', battle scars and all. 

Informal conversation and networking begins at 11:30am. Lightning talks begin at 12pm and end promptly at 1pm. Advanced RSVP is requested but not required.

KEDA Fall Forum

Thursday, October 24, 2024, 2:00 pm

Small businesses can register now at the Investor price - FREE!

L&I Proposes Modest 3.8% Increase in

Workers' Comp Rates for 2025

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is proposing a 3.8 percent increase in the average hourly rate employers and workers pay for workers’ compensation insurance next year. If the proposal is adopted, the average cost of providing insurance per each full-time employee within a business would go up about a dollar a week.

“The workers’ compensation system is important to millions of workers and employers in our state, and we work hard to make sure it’s working effectively. The proposed increase reflects the fact that the costs of replacing injured workers’ wages and covering their medical care have increased,” L&I Director Joel Sacks said.

“This relatively modest change aligns with our efforts over the years to keep rates steady and predictable, maintain an appropriate reserve to pay claims, and continue to improve our system,” he said.

Learn more here

Sign Up to Participate: Employability Career Fair

October 17, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Washington Voters to Decide on

Key Initiatives in November

Courtesy of the Washington Retail Association

Washington voters will soon have the opportunity to weigh in on four significant initiatives during the November 5 general election. Each measure addresses key areas of energy, taxation, climate policy, and social programs.

• Initiative 2066: This proposal would allow natural gas to remain an energy option in the state, preserving it as part of Washington's energy mix.
• Initiative 2109: If passed, this initiative would repeal the state's capital gains excise tax.
• Initiative 2117: Aimed at eliminating the Climate Commitment Act, this initiative would roll back the state's cap-and-invest program designed to reduce carbon emissions.
• Initiative 2124: This measure would give workers the option to opt in or out of the WA Cares program, a state-run long-term care insurance plan

Courtesy of FastCompany.com

• Changing your career? 6 steps to pivoting successfully
• This is the top concern for the majority of women who take parental leave
• Employees voted on the worst workplace jargon. Here's the number-one phrase that annoys your coworkers
• How to work more efficiently, according to a neuroscientist

Courtesy of entrepreneur.com

• Managing every single task on your own is a trap for business owners
• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile in 6 easy steps

Webinar: Creating an Accident Prevention

Plan for Your Business

Thursday, September 26, 2024 ,10:00 am

Nonprofit News & Resources

What's Going on in Nonprofit Direct Mail?

Published on NonProfitPRO.com, September 24, 2024

Photo: Getty Images by Kingfisher Productions

While much of our world is moving into digital spaces, it’s become crucial for nonprofits to adapt and refine their websites, embrace social media and raise funds online. However, nonprofits are increasingly using multichannel marketing strategies, meaning that more traditional channels are far from obsolete.

“Direct mail continues to be a valuable, integral component of [nonprofits’] overall donor engagement, fundraising and new donor acquisition strategies, so it's a proven technique,” Tim Mooney, director of marketing solutions at LS Direct, said.

Read more here

Greater Kitsap News

WSDOT Hosts Ferry Community Meetings

September 24 & 25, 2024

All Rider Alert Accounts to be Deleted on Sept. 29. Re-subscribe to Continue Receiving Alerts

At 7:00 AM on Sunday, Sept. 29, Kitsap Transit will delete all current Rider Alert accounts in order to remove inactive and spam users. After the bulk deletion process is completed, current Rider Alerts subscribers will no longer receive alerts via SMS text message or email until they re-subscribe. Kitsap Transit customers can begin the process of re-subscribing for alerts starting at 10:00 AM that Sunday.

To re-subscribe to Rider Alerts:

• Go to kitsaptransit.com and click "Subscribe to Rider Alerts" in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. 
• Select your subscription type (Email or SMS/Text Message) from the dropdown.
• Enter your email or phone number.
• Select the services or topics for which you would like to receive alerts. Note: Text-message alerts are not available for all services or topics.

We recommend you enter at least an email address in order to receive alerts for your chosen routes or services. 

Skookum Presents: Travis Mills

A Morning of Empowerment

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Masks Still Available

Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center

The Greater Kitsap Chamber still has some supplies available if your local business is in need of KN95 masks. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.

Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 6:30 pm

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Bremerton. Get your tickets now to discover Vivaldi and more at Roxy Theatre under the gentle glow of candlelight.

📍 Venue: Roxy Theatre

⏳ Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 60 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)

👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult

♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant

BCT Presents: Caught in the Net

October 4- 20, 2024

Fast forward and the plot thickens, or rather, tangles up like a pair of earphones in your pocket. In this sequel, the web of lies gets even stickier when John Smith's teenage kids from each family meet online and hit it off. Little do they know they share more than just common interests—they share a dad! John, with his trusty but dim-witted sidekick Stanley, dives headfirst into a sea of fibs and fabrications to keep his kids from discovering they're half-siblings. It's a comedic catastrophe of epic proportions that proves the internet really does bring people closer—maybe a bit too close for comfort.

Content Advisory: Adult situations, some humor based on outdated standards and mores. Features humorous and sometimes suggestive dialogue, but no strong or offensive language; deals with themes of bigamy, deception, and mistaken identity, all presented in a comedic and farcical manner; primarily situational and physical humor, with elements of slapstick and farce; mature themes related to bigamy and infidelity, handled with a light-hearted and comedic touch; comedic accidents and physical humor; some suggestive situations and innuendos—nothing explicit.

Kalimba @ Roxy Theatre

Saturday, October 5, 2024, 8:00 pm

It’s time to get on your dance shoes and unleash the funky monkey! “Good live music can move the body. A driving beat, an infectious bass line and a bit of melody are usually all that it takes to get an audience out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Great music, however, sparks more than a physical reaction. Great music moves the soul!” —as reported by Shawn Skager.

Port Gamble Theater: Harvey

October 11 - 27, 2024

Everyone is worried about Elwood P. Dowd’s relationship with his six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch friend. Why you say…well he happens to be an invisible rabbit.

CK Performing Arts Center & West Sound Chorus Presents:

CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! "Hallelujah"

An Epic Anthems Sing-Along

Saturday, October 12, 2024, 6:00 pm

Since 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! directors Daveed Goldman + Nobu Adilman have blurred the lines between performer and audience, traveling the world to create harmony with strangers and friends alike. They’ve collaborated with renowned artists like Patti Smith, David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Rick Astley, Rufus Wainwright, and even Kermit The Frog at New York’s Lincoln Center, creating memorable videos that have garnered views in the millions!

Tiffany Diamond

Events Coordinator

tiffany@greaterkitsapchamber.com