Chamber Connections

A Newsletter for Chamber Members

April 18, 2008

Kentucky Chamber: A Kentucky Agenda Eye Opener Breakfast:  On Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, Planters Bank will sponsor an Eye Opener Breakfast featuring guest speaker, Dave Adkisson, President & C.E.O. of the Kentucky Chamber.  If you would like to attend, please contact Alex Krohn at 270-885-9096 or at www.hopkinsvillechamber.com/rsvp.

2008 Chamber Member Survey:  The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors wants your feedback on how well the Chamber is meeting your expectations.  Please take a few minutes and answer the questions contained in the 2008 Chamber Member Survey.  Your feedback will be used during the upcoming Board Planning Session.  To participate, simply click on the link and answer the questions.  The survey will be available until April 30, 2008 at 5 p.m. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cKrOS6ESvu8zzyEA8V70Og_3d_3d.

Chamber’s Employee Benefit Summit: Do you feel like your company has been playing TUG-OF-WAR with healthcare and employee benefits?  Do you want tools and strategies to get ahead of the TUG-OF-WAR game?  Register to attend the Chamber’s Employee Benefit Summit, Thursday, May 22, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, located at 2910 Ft. Campbell Blvd. The cost is free to Chamber members thanks to our sponsor, Arison Insurance Services.   Register now!  There are 80 seats available.  Register at www.hopkinsvillechamber.com/rsvp.  For more information, call Henry Snorton at 270-885-9096.  

Chamber’s Small Business Start-up Training: Have you recently started a small business?  Do you feel like there are a few areas in which you need to polish your skills, such as business planning, understanding financial documents, marketing, etc?  Mark Your Calendar to attend the Chamber’s Small Business Start-up Training on Saturdays, June 7 and June 21, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The cost is free!  Be sure to register now because there are only 40 seats available.  Register at www.hopkinsvillechamber.com/rsvp. For more information, call Henry Snorton at 270-885-9096.

Take advantage of a scholarship opportunity through the American Society for Quality (ASQ).  This is a $500 scholarship that can be used for anything the student needs.  There are only a few requirements: 1. Applicant must be recommended by a current member of the Pennyrile ASQ Section 922; 2. Applicant must be a high school graduate; 3. Applicant must be pursuing a post-secondary degree or certificate program in any discipline; 4.Scholarships will relate to programs being pursued in the Scholarship Year defined as the period starting July 1st and ending June 30th of the following year. Applications are due by April 30th. Please contact Vonda Gates at (270) 885-1499 or vgates@hopkinsvilleindustry.com; or Kim Schippers at (270) 885-1499 or kschippers@hopkinsvilleindustry.com to obtain an application. 

Save The Date!  Power Lunch VII: Understanding the Ins and Outs of Fort Campbell (a training on protocol) will be May 28, 2008 at 11:30 a.m.  Location to be determined.  This Power Lunch, featuring Army Family Team Building, is an overview of information and protocol necessary to be successful in your communication with Fort Campbell.  Cost is $12.50 per person, which covers the cost of materials and lunch.  Eagle Ambassadors qualify for a special discount!  For more information visit our website at www.hopkinsvillechamber.com/events , or you may register on-line at www.hopkinsvillechamber.com/rsvp.

Deployment Update: Currently, Fort Campbell has nearly 17,500 soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.  1,500 additional soldiers will deploy over the next six weeks. Soldiers are expected to begin returning home around November 2008 through June 2009.

CATS Support: The CATS (Commonwealth Accountability Testing System) testing window this year is April 21 through May 2. The Christian County Public Schools greatly appreciated your support efforts last year and ask that you demonstrate that support, again, this year. Some specific requests for your help have been made.  Crofton Elementary School needs volunteers for their Cougar festival prior to the beginning of testing, and several of the schools have requested that community members provide five-minute pep talks on testing mornings.  What a great way for you and your business to show support with just a small investment of your time.  Please contact Regan Huneycutt, CCPS Communications and Community Education Director, at regan.huneycutt@christian.kyschools.us to schedule your volunteer time or for more involvement ideas. 

Nineteenth Annual Quilt Show: Through April 26, 2008, Pennyroyal Area Museum will feature its Nineteenth Annual Quilt Show.  The Museum welcomes the opportunity to include quilt owners or quilt makers who would like to participate in our annual show by temporarily loaning their quilts to the museum.  The participants may bring their quilts in during the first week of April and pick them up during the last week of April.  Quilts may be old or new. A Quilting Bee is  planned for Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  The Museum is located at 217 East 9th Street, downtown Hopkinsville.  Business hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  For further information, call 270-887-4270.

Hopkinsville Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball:  The Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at the James E. Bruce Convention Center. The fundraising event will benefit local children's charities. Live music and a silent auction are included.  For tickets or information, call Meagan Conrad at 270-719-9566.

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Calendar of Events:  The Calendar of Events is maintained by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention and Visitor's Bureau in an effort to apprise residents and visitors of upcoming tourism and entertainment opportunities. Check the calendar at www.visithopkinsville.com. You are invited to submit or update your group's activities by calling 270-885-9096 or by e-mail tourism@visithopkinsville.com.