The Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce
Networking Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
7:45am
Best Bargain Books
Centereach, NY
Features breakfast from
JeJoJo's Bagles.

BUSINESS BOOK CLUB KICKING OFF AT FEBRUARY CHAMBER MEETING

We will launch the GMC Chamber Book Club at the chamber meeting at Best Bargain Books this month. Here’s how it will work: those that want to participant will choose a business-related book to read; everyone will read the book chosen for that month; at the next book club meeting the group will discuss the book read and also decide which book to read for the next meeting. The dates and meeting location for the book club will be up to the participants.

HELPFUL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS – ONLY $25

Our chamber, along with the Brookhaven Coalition of Chambers is presenting interactive workshops conducted by Noetic Think, a Long Island-based think tank based at Adelphi University. “LOYALTY, a measure of customer quality”, was presented earlier this month and was extremely useful, interactive, and high energy.

The March 3 workshop will be “COMMUNICATING for optimal impact” and the April 7 workshop is “Adding VALUE through better decision-making”. Both will be held at the Middle Country Public Library from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The first half hour is a light dinner and networking.

The low cost for this invaluable information is $25 per session if you’re a Chamber member. Non-chamber members pay $40 per session.

For more information or to register, contact Ryan Gessner at the Miller Business Resource Center at 631.585.9393 x228 or gessnerryan@mcpl.lib.ny.us

BROOKHAVEN BUSINESS $1000 GRANT

The Town Of Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Coalition is presenting one $1000.00 Small Business Improvement Award.   The business (fewer than 50 employees) must be a member of their chamber of commerce. 

Compose a request in writing and mail it by February 26th to: BCCC, P.O. Box 126, Port Jefferson Station, New York 11776.  

Requests for the award will be judged by how beneficial the money will be used to improve the business. i.e. updating and purchasing equipment, capital improvements, professional services; consulting evaluations, business plans, marketing strategies, promotional advertising, signs, energy efficient improvements-lighting, insulation etc. Money may not be used to supplement operating expenses of the business.

The award will be presented at the Annual BCCC Member of the Year Reception on April 15th.   For more information contact Barbara Ransome at 474-5019.

CHAMBER WEB SITE EXCLUSIVE BANNER AD

The GMC Chamber of Commerce Web site has hundreds of hits each month. We are now offering an exclusive monthly banner sponsorship at the top of that web site. Only one banner will be displaying for a whole month and it’s only $125.00. Contact the chamber to reserve your month.

NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR YOU

The chamber will begin a quarterly, hard copy newsletter mailed to each member. It will be a multicolor, professional piece that you can read at your leisure, place in your office or reception area, or pass it on to others to read and appreciate.

The chamber is now on Facebook. Check out our site and add post a message.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ISLAND-WIDE

Our first ever member GMC chamber directory will be published this spring. A full-color, high quality magazine with an original artwork cover will showcase the middle country area. This community and visitors guide will feature a pullout section listing all chamber members and a map of our area. This is an excellent opportunity to promote your business, the chamber, and our area as 10,000 books will be published and distributed in the greater middle country area and throughout Long Island in early spring 2010. We encourage you to be part of Passport to Greater Middle Country and contact Reeni Brill at 473-0340 or by FAX at 514-3382.

Our chamber is growing and we’re continuously striving to add value to your chamber membership by providing more marketing opportunities to help your business prosper. We encourage you to be part of Passport to Greater Middle Country.

THE BAND OF THE IRISH GUARDS AT THE STALLER CENTER – MARCH 13

The Three Village Chamber invites our chamber and all the Brookhaven chambers of commerce to a special St. Patrick's Day Weekend CHAMBER NIGHT performance by THE BAND OF THE IRISH GUARDS at the Staller Center at Stony Brook University on Saturday, March 13 at 8:00 p.m.

Special ticket price for us: $25. (Tickets are $38 at the Box Office). Advance reservations are required. Tickets must be picked up and paid for, check or cash only please, at the hospitality/registration desk at the Staller Center that evening, NO LATER THAN 7:30 P.M. that evening. To make reservations call or e-mail the Three Village Chamber Office: threevillagechamberofcommerce@yahoo.com or 689-8838.

EDWARD JONES INVESTMENT TIP

You may be tempted to focus only on the price of your investments — but that could be a mistake.

For example, you may be tempted to “cut losses” by selling an investment whose price has dropped — even though you might be better off keeping it. Conversely, you could chase after “hot” investments even though they may be about to cool off — and they might be unsuitable to your needs..

Instead of concentrating on price, look at value. One measure of value is the price-to-earnings ratio, or P/E, which can help determine if a stock is considered “expensive” or “cheap.

Another dimension of an investment’s value is its ability to help you diversify your holdings. While diversification, by itself, can’t guarantee a profit or protect against a loss, it can help you reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio.

When evaluating investments, consider their price — but don’t overlook their true value.