Committee Report -- Business Women's Council
February 1998
| Diane Stout ][, Editor | February 1998 |
Construction of the new Campus Center
at White's is really taking shape!Development Director, Robert Schloss, had the following to say about the project:
"I believe that the success of White's recent capital campaign reflects that the community is deeply concerned for troubled youth and that it wishes to support such children through those of us at White's. The new Hodson Campus Center will greatly aid us in fulfilling our mission to serve hurting youth. We greatly appreciate those who chose to partner with White's and invite them and others interested in the work of White's to tour the new facility after it opens in May of this year."
Committee Report -- Business Women's Council
By Kimberly Treska, Portraits by Kimberly, Committee ChairmanThe Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce Business Women's Council strives to bring women together for the opportunity to network with one another. We pride ourselves on presenting speakers which, we believe, will make an impact on your business. This year the council will present three programs you won't want to miss. Mark your calendars for March 18, June 3 and October 7. All seminars will be held at the Honeywell Center in the Honeywell Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 18 Tony Pulley, from Pulley Financial Services, will be speaking on "Women in Investing". The cost is only $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Remember, all employees of a Chamber member business are considered members of the Chamber.
The Business Women's Council looks forward to seeing you March 18.
Reservations can be made through the Chamber office, 563-1168.
Committee Report -- Fundraising Committee
by Karen Halley, Wabash City Schools, WACC Board ChairThe Fundraising Committee members would like to thank Rick Welch for all the hard work he has put into the committee. For those who don't know, Rick has moved from Wabash to Evansville, Indiana, to work for the Evansville Courier. His enthusiasm and dedication to Wabash and the Chamber will be greatly missed.
Upcoming events include:
* the new Buyer's Guide with advertising space for our members
* Spring Social and Game Night at the Wabash Country Club March 28
* county-wide map available this spring
* second annual WACC-Y Golf Outing, Honeywell Golf Course in July
* Circus performance
If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact the Chamber office at 563-1168.
House Committee Considers Bill to Study Electric Deregulation
House Commerce and Economic Development Committee Chair James Bottorff called up his own electric deregulation bill (HB 1190) the week ending Jan. 16 for discussion only. The bill is designed to instruct the Indiana Regulatory Commission to further study the need for and best manner of phasing deregulation into the electric industry.
A hearty debate ensued among the House Committee members. Some felt the IURC had already adequately studied the issue. Others expressed concern that the "little guy", in the form of the REMC's and municipalities, could be lost in the rush to deregulate, and others asked that the economic impact on the coal mining industry be considered. Possibly the most interesting comment came from Rep. Jack Lutz, who questioned the reliability of a "deregulation study" by the IURC whose existence is based, in part, on "regulating" the electric service industry.
Plan to Transport Radioactive Materials Passes Senate Committee
Senator Beverly Gard's Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee approved a bill that will allow for the State Emergency Management Agency to develop a plan to implement the transport of high-level radioactive waste across Indiana.
Gard, the sponsor of the bill, said that the final disposal site in the Western United States is not yet ready and the actual transport of the material, primarily for nuclear power plants, would not begin until after the turn of the century. The waste hauling would likely be by rail across the northern part of the state and continue for several years. Gard also stated that we have no choice but to allow the shipments through our state. No high-level radioactive waste is generated nor will it be disposed of in Indiana.
For more info on either issue, contact Vince Griffin at ICC: (317) 264-6881 or (800) 824-6881.
Chamber Member News
THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO home page has recently been updated to provide valuable services to students and the community. From IUK's home page, Internet users may access http://www.iuk.indiana.edu to obtain campus information on:
* Academics
* Administration
* Admissions
* Student Services
* Student and campus life
* IUK Alumni Association
* IUK's Arts program
* IUK Library
* Programs of Purdue School of Technology at IUK
* Access to other Indiana University sitesAlso new is the revamped IUK Library home page, which offers new links to reference and research sources. The redesigned web site is the result of many hours of work by IUK Library staff members Brad Vogus, governmental documents librarian, and Joyce Eikenberry, IUK reference assistant. Among the new features to the home page, a direct link to IU resources from the home page. From the home page, users may also link to general information about the library, including circulation services, and library instruction and services.
The new and improved IUK Library home page's direct internet address is: http://www.iuk.indiana.edu/library.
APPLICATIONS are now being accepted for the INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO SINGLED OUT FOR SUCCESS SCHOLARSHIP. IUK is offering the scholarship to a single parent with at least one dependent, enrolled part time at the university, and maintaining a B average. Students interested in this scholarship need to have an application completed and postmarked no later than April 1. Official notification letters to all recipients will be mailed by June 12.
Applications may be obtained in IUK's Financial Aid Office, Child Care Center and External Relations Office. Contact IUK's Office of External Relations at (765) 455-9410.
AMERICAN EXPRESS TAX & BUSINESS SERVICES has added three more offices to its Indiana group. The accounting firm of Foudy and Bandor CPA Group, PC has joined the American Express family. The offices are located at 2401 N. S.R. 1 in Blufton; 3530 Stellhorn Rd. in Ft. Wayne and at 2560 Northpark Ave. in Huntington. American Express also has offices in Wabash, Columbia City, Rochester and Decatur, IN. The American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company founded in 1850. The Wabash office is located at 1149 N. Cass St., and may be contacted at (219) 563-1040
FLEXIBLE PERSONNEL, A STAFFMARK COMPANY, recently welcomed their newest Staffing Assistant, Christina Agnew, to the firm. Christina had worked for Flexible as an associate since March 1996 and is expected to be a great asset to the company's current staff and clients. Christina has an Administrative Assistant Certificate from Sawyer Business College in Merrillville, Indiana. She has a background of extensive customer service and computer skills.
Flexible Personnel, a staffing services company, has been located in Huntington since 1991 and can be reached at (219) 358-1910.
A REMINDER ABOUT THE BUYER"S GUIDE OPPORTUNITY
Don't forget and pass up the opportunity to place an inexpensive advertisement in your Chamber's next Buyer's Guide. You will recall that, in last month's Business Chronicle, there was an insert that explained the sizes and costs of the ads. If you need new forms, stop in or call the Chamber office.
Remember, deadline for space and copy is Friday, March 20, 1998.
Is your company 50 or 100 years old?
Lt. Governor Joe Kernan wants to honor your company if it qualifies for either the Century or Half Century Business Awards program. Award winners will be recognized by the Lt. Governor at a ceremony in the State Capitol Building on April 16,1998. Century award recipients will receive a trophy and Half Century Award recipients will receive a certificate.
Companies nominated for the Century Business Awards must have been in operation 100 years or more, and companies in operation for 50 to 99 years are eligible for the Half Century Award.
Qualifying criteria are as follows:
* Continuous operation in Indiana for more than 100 (or 50) years.
* Involvement in the same type of business as when the company was founded. If different, an explanation of the evolution into the current business must be provided.
* Located in the same county for base operations as when the company was founded.
* If ownership has shifted from the original family, the application must show chain of ownership from the founder to present.
* Not-for-profit corporations and hospitals are not eligible.
* A company may receive the Century or Half Century Award only one at a time. Half Century Award recipients may later qualify for a Century Award.A company must be nominated by an individual or organization within the same community. The nominator may not be employed by or otherwise affiliated with the company. Each nominator can submit no more than five (5) companies for each award.
Your Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce would be more than pleased to nominate your company if it qualifies for one of the awards. If interested please contact the Chamber office for more information.
Welcome New Members
Furniture Medic
268 Falls Avenue
Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: 219-569-9220
Fax: 219-563-0364Furniture Medic specializes in on-site furniture repair including scratches, dents, gouges, scuffs, scrapes, broken joints and chair regluing.
Who was that 'Stranger'?
The stranger you saw in or around town yesterday was passing through. Perhaps he/she just needed gas, wanted a cup of coffee, or stopped for lunch. Maybe he/she was a salesperson calling on customers or an industrial representative sizing up our area as a possible site for a branch operation.* OR WAS HE/SHE a dentist, doctor, attorney or pharmacist looking for a place to practice his/her profession?
* WAS HE/SHE a merchant wanting to start a new business? An individual looking for a place to locate his/her business often times comes to a community unannounced and in a short time knows a lot about us.
* HE/SHE NOTICES the entrance to our community. Is it attractive or is it littered with junk cars and debris?
* Are the streets and sidewalks clean, free of litter and well maintained?
* Are the store fronts appealing?
* Does our community appear to be thriving?
HE/SHE STOPS in at service stations, restaurants and retail stores.
* Does he/she receive a friendly greeting or are they ignored while a local shopper gets the best treatment? Is the service good? Is he/she invited to come again?
If the responses to the above questions are mostly negative, this individual probably will not locate his/her business here, but rather, will leave quietly, drive down the highway and find a community that cares.
Let's show how much we care to all who come into our community. Let's lead out with a positive attitude!
QUALITY BELONGS EVERYWHERE
A business person stopped at a coffee shop and ordered a cup of coffee. The server grudgingly delivered it and asked, "Anything else?"
"Yes," said the customer. "I'd like some sugar, cream, a spoon, a napkin and a saucer for the cup."
"Well, aren't you the demanding one," snapped the server.
"Look at it from my point of view," said the customer, "you served one cup of coffee and made five mistakes."
Earnie Deavenport, CEO
Eastman Chemical