Official Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
THE CHAMBER CORNER
September 2013
Volume 13, Issue 9
Taste of Eatonton is Monday, Oct. 7 At TheVillage at Harmony Crossing Tickets go on sale Sept. 3
On Monday, Oct. 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., bring your appetite and join your favorite local restaurants for the area’s largest foodie event! Let yourself be swept away by the flavors and sensations of the Taste of Eatonton. Indulge in bites of fine dining and celebrate with friends the culinary expertise of the area.
The Chamber is excited to announce the arrival of our Tourism Manager Bonnie Simmons and her husband Joe’s baby girl, Wren Lucille Simmons, on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Wren weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20.5 inches long when born.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event, so be sure to get yours early! Tickets for children ages five to 12 are available for $10, and little mouths four and under eat for free. Tickets go on sale Sept. 3 and can be purchased at Farmers & Merchants Bank’s Eatonton and Lake Oconee branches; The Peoples Bank’s Eatonton, Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair branches; Exchange Bank; BB&T; SunTrust Bank; Pinnacle Credit Union; and the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. We’re currently signing up restaurants, sponsors and accepting donations for the silent auction. By donating an item, your business will be exposed to over 500 attendees! The Taste of Eatonton is sponsored by Smith Communications, WMGZ/Z-97, Union-Recorder & Lake Oconee Breeze, Dock 103.9, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Putnam General Hospital, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Pinnacle Credit Union, Bug House Pest Control, The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System and Georgia Power Company. For more information, call the Chamber at 706-485-7701 or visit www.tasteofeatonton. com for all the juicy details.
Company Culture Workshop is Thursday, Sept. 5
The Chamber would like to introduce Shannon Stonecheck as our fall intern from Georgia College & State University. Shannon is majoring in Mass Communication and minoring in Marketing.
Is your business a fun place to work? Are your employees motivated to think like owners? Do you have customers that are raving fans? Learn how your business can be all these things at the Chamber’s upcoming workshop on company culture on Thursday, Sept. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon .The seminar is $25 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members and includes the workshop, a copy of the book “The Company Culture Challenge,” a light breakfast and lunch. The workshop will be taught by Robert Betzel, Eatonton native, CEO of Infinity Network Solutions and co-author of “The Company Culture Challenge.” The seminar will be held at LakePoint Community Church at 940 Harmony Road, Eatonton, GA 31024. RSVP for the seminar by Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Upcoming Events RSVP: 706-485-7701 | epchamber@eatonton.com Thursday, Sept. 5: Company Culture Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon at LakePoint Community Church, $25 for members, $45 for non-members. Developing a stronger company culture is the most important thing you can do as a leader. LakePoint Community Church is located at 940 Harmony Road in Eatonton. The workshop is sponsored by Putnam General Hospital,The Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc., Smith Communications and Farmers & Merchants Bank. Tuesday, Sept. 17: Sip n’ Bites, Putnam Greene Young Professionals monthly meeting from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is the donation of a canned good for local food drives. Support, grow, lead and connect with young professionals from Putnam and Greene counties over food and drink specials. The meeting will be held at Amici Italian Cafe located at 1098 Parkside Commons, Suite 101 in Greensboro. For more information, contact Sarah Evans at 404-597-6620 or like the facebook page at www.facebook.com/PutnamGreeneYP. Wednesday, Sept. 18: Networking @ Noon, sponsored by Crooked Pines Farm from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Lodge on Lake Oconee, $15 for Chamber Members, $25 for non-members. Agenda includes lunch, Chamber updates, sponsor presentation, table introductions, commercials and general networking. The Lodge on Lake Oconee is located at 930 Lake Oconee Parkway in Eatonton. Tuesday, Sept. 24: Coffee Connections presentation by Putnam General Hospital from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Spillin’ the Beans. Connect over coffee with a representative of the Chamber board and staff along with fellow members while learning about important issues affecting our community. The guest speaker will be Darrell Oglesby, administrator for Putnam General Hospital. Spillin’ the Beans is located at 646 Old Phoenix Road in Eatonton. Coffee Connections is sponsored by Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Putnam General Hospital, Smith Communications, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc.,The Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company and Putnam County Charter School System.
News for Your Business All Businesses Must Send Notice of Coverage to Employees
The Affordable Care Act requires employers who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act to notify current employees about coverage options available through state and federal exchanges by October 1, 2013. Employers must notify all employees, regardless of plan enrollment status (if applicable) or whether they are part-time or full-time. Employers are not required to notify employees’ dependents or others who are eligible for coverage but are not employees. New employees hired on or after October 1, 2013, must receive notification of coverage options within 14 days of their start dates. The U.S. Department of Labor has created a model notice, which you can use to notify your employees. However, you do not have to use the DOL’s model notice. You may choose to wait until final guidance is issued later this year. If you use the model notice now, they will not be required to send additional notifications when the DOL releases more information. It is the employer’s responsibility to comply with the employer notification requirement. This information was provided by Piedmont Financial Partners. Please contact your broker for more information. For model notices, visit www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform.
Buy in the Briar Patch Coupons
Chamber members are invited to participate in the Buy in the Briar Patch coupon promotion. This coupon sheet will run in the Eatonton Messenger in mid-October. Spots are $30 each and include a full color coupon. Please submit your logo and coupon text to vicki@msgr.com. The deadline to sign up is Sept. 13. Payment should be submitted to the Chamber.
...News continued on page 3.
Welcome!
Monday, Oct. 7: Taste of Eatonton at The Village at Harmony Crossing from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. Bring your appetite and join your favorite local restaurants for the area’s largest foodie event!
New Chamber Member
Thursday, Oct. 10: Business After Hours, sponsored by Eatonton Elks Lodge #2549 from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening will feature food and beverage, door prizes and fun for everyone. The event will be held at 135 Industrial Boulevard in Eatonton (directly across from Haband).
Southern Directory Publishing Ryan Ramsey 770-297-2840 | www.ypsouth.com 2459 Hilton Court, Suite A1 Gainesville, GA 30501 Telephone Directory Distribution / Advertising
September 2013 / Page 2
News continued from page 2... SBDC GrowSmart™ Scholarships are Available
Scholarships are still available for the Small Business Development Center’s GrowSmart™ program being held Sept. 24 through Oct. 22 in Macon. Whether in business for two years or 20 years, many small business owners are so busy working in the business, they neglect working on it. If your business is ready for growth, GrowSmart™ gives you the tools and strategies to reach your goals. This program is for owners and senior managers of growing businesses with at least two years of successful operation, at least one non-owner employee, annual revenues of $300,000 or more, and the opportunity and desire to grow. For more information, call 478-757-3609 or visit www.georgiasbdc.org/growsmart.
The Redesigned $100 Note New Security Features
The redesigned $100 note will begin circulating on Oct. 8. Two new security features have been added, the 3-D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the Inkwell. Both of these features can be found on the front of the note and offer a simple and subtle way to check that the note is real. In addition to the two new security features, three highly effective security features from previous designs have been enhanced and retained in the redesigned $100 note: the portrait watermark, the embedded security thread and the color-shifting 100. To see these and other security features in action, you can explore the interactive note by visiting www.newmoney.gov.
GEA Fall HR One Day Workshop
The Georgia Employers Association Fall HR One Day Workshop: Preparing for Today’s New and Difficult HR Challenges will be held on Nov. 5 at The Ritz Carlton Lodge Reynolds Plantation. The workshop is $99 for GEA members, $175 for non GEA members. For more information, email david@georgiaemployers.org or call 478-722-8282.
Technology Classes Though SBA & Microsoft
Farmers & Merchants Bank and Rock Eagle 4-H Center co-sponsored Business After Hours on Thursday, Aug. 8. Members enjoyed an evening of connecting over the delicious spread of food prepared by Rock Eagle. Pictured, Lynward Lindsey, Georgia Power and Joe Hudson, Farmers & Merchants Bank.
Eric Arena, superintendent of Putnam County Charter School System was the guest speaker at Coffee Connections on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Arena gave updates on the School System and answered questions. Any business that wants to be a guest lecturer on important topics can contact the School Governance Authority by visiting www.putnam.k12.ga.us or calling 706-485-5381.
The U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with Microsoft has developed a free online course series as a guide to using technology to improve business productivity and creativity. This resource is being provided to help grow businesses and create jobs. The Business Technology Simplified online course series teaches the benefits of using modern technology that can take businesses to the next level of success. For more information on the series, visit: www.sba.gov/sba-learning-center/series/business-technology-simplified.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, PGYP held Sip n’ Bites at Da Corrado Ristorante. Attendees brought bags and bags of canned goods to donate to local food banks. Information on community involvement was also provided such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam held an open house / Business After Hours on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Parkside Main 8 Theatre. Attendees met with members from both Chambers while learning about the programs sponsored by Rotary. Pictured, Shane Williams, CitruSolution and Dr. Marjorie Butler, Pure Chiropractic Lake Oconee.
Insert a flyer in this newsletter for $50. Submit 350 copies and an electronic version.
September 2013 / Page 3
Appreciation ! Y EVENT A W Community
A E V I G T A I F and
FREE TO THE COMMUNITY! Sat., September 14th ✦ 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Next to Greensboro Movie Theater ✦ Rain or Shine! FREE FOOD! ENTERTAINMENT! The Varsity’s mobile kitchen
AT E GR ZES I g... R P udin l inc
Acrobats, magicians, jugglers & more!
LIVE MUSIC! The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band
a FIAT Convertible! Will you drive away a winner? Must be present to win!
Starting this month, the Chamber mailed a copy of the newsletter to the primary contact for every member and will also email the electronic version to all reps with an email on file. Please pass this newsletter around the office and let us know if you would like any additional copies. Due to email filters, we want to ensure our members are receiving their Chamber updates.
The Chamber Corner, September 2013
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Eatonton, GA Permit No. 6
706-485-7701 | fax 706-485-3277 PO Box 4088 | 305 N. Madison Avenue Eatonton, GA 31024 Becky@eatonton.com www.eatontonchamber.com www.facebook.com/epchamber www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber
Chamber Staff: Roddie Anne Blackwell, President Becky Needham, Membership Manager Bonnie Simmons, Tourism Manager
Board of Directors: Lowell White, III, Chair Calvert & White Custom Homes Jay Gregory, Vice Chair Gregory Bridge Company Bryce McCuin, Treasurer Reynolds Plantation Eric Arena Putnam County Charter School System
2013 Chamber Champions!
Terri Camp Rock Eagle 4-H Center Duncan Criscoe Crooked Pines Farm Rita Daniel Eatonton Chiropractic Center Carrie Dietrich Central Georgia Technical College Brandy Huskins Huskins Law Firm LLC Wes Lewis Georgia Power Company Brett Mauldin MarbleWorks, Inc. Cynthia Wallace Real Estate Agent
Mission:
The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is committed to the promotion, enhancement and unity of the business community, and is vested in the development of Eatonton-Putnam County as a premiere tourist destination.
Strategic Goals:
1. Support Business & Community 2. Support Tourism
Values:
Growth, Prosperity & Unity