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TRY THE NEW GOOGLE CHAMBER CALENDAR See what the Chamber is Planning for You!!  (FIRST Click on the link above, THEN click agenda tab, it's cool!)

Chamber Calendar      

Monday, August 30th,  11:00 a.m. Ribbon Cutting
Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1302 N. Pine Street / Florence 

Wednesday, September 1 
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Teacher Supply Depot Work Day
1300 SW 8^th St., Sheffield
We welcome your help during any part of this work day!

 Thursday,  September 2
7:30 a.m.
Executive Committee Meeting
SCBED—Anderson Conference Room

3:30 – 4:45
Teacher Supply Depot OPEN
300 SW 8^th St., Sheffield
Open to Colbert & Lauderdale educators
only to shop for free!
THANK  YOU to our Presenting Sponsor
Wachovia / Wells Fargo Foundation

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IMPORTANT  INFORMATION!!!!

The Chamber is looking for donated items for our Golf Tournament
goodie bags. You can advertise your
company for free with a promotional item. Average about 80—100 players.
Call Barbara

Also, if you are a specialty advertising company, and would like to offer a
discount for Chamber Members to order any items, let me know!
256-764-4661    -   Barbara

The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center (SEC) is seeking area participation to determine feasibility for a proposed Muscle Shoals incubator expansion.  The SEC must identify potential clients for the facility and their specific needs. Please click the survey link at www.shoalsec.com and complete a brief survey. When you are finished simply hit the "submit" button and it will automatically be sent to us. Your response by September 7th will be greatly appreciated.

Killen Chamber News Letter
HERE

Shoals Chamber has partnered with Collette Vacations,  and AAA Travel to present DISCOVER TUSCANY   A fabulous opportunity for a 10 day trip to Italy—March 3 –12, 2011
See brochure HERE  and reservation form HERE
Webinar on Thursday,  August 26 @ 7 p.m. CST  HERE

See the New Issue of the Shoals Perspective
Quarterly Newsletter of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce
HERE

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DID YOU KNOW????

The Shoals Chamber quarterly Newsletter    Shoals Perspective will be published  the third week of October.  We have had some calls from candidates who are running for office, who want to place a political ad in this issue of the newsletter.  If you are a Chamber member,  you may place an ad in the October Newsletter. Call Terri,  with the Times Daily @ 256-221-2553 for information and pricing.

The Chamber has a Job Board that is
FREE to Members? 
You can post a job at
www.shoalschamber.com/shoalsjobs
All you need is your member number!
Call 764-4661 if you need assistance.
 
You can find members,  and send e-mails
to groups of contacts through our website.
This is a new feature with our updated software. Click HERE and follow 
the instructions. You can e-mail yourself a list,  or send a request 
out to a group of members all at the same time.
If you have any trouble, 
call  Barbara @ 764-4661

Go to http://www.shoalschamber.com/learn/member_directory.html
and click on the bottom link, 
New Member Directory Search
Want to know who our newest members are? 
Click on the New Member Link.
Want to Send them an E-mail?
Follow directions at the top of the screen,  and you can send them all a new e-mail at the same time!!
Great Networking tool !!! 

Auto Owners Insurance is discounted if you are a Chamber member.
If you have an Auto Owners insurance policy on your business, your vehicle or your home 
you are entitled to a discount if you are a member of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce.  
And since your employees are members of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce 
ask your agents about their policies.

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UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS...  

September 7 / Division II Football Championship Game tickets go on sale 

September 7 & 8 / Leadership Shoals travels to at Bear Creek  sponsored by Listerhill Total Maintenance Center

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Check out the new features of our membership search database.  We have recently had a software upgrade,  and ALL information is on the web in real time.  Any updates made through the software are automatically made to your data in our database. We will be sending more information out soon  and hope to make lots of features available on-line!  Including Referrals! You can get lists of members, right from the web site!! Click on the company clip board,  it will add a number on the general clipboard, then when you are through,  click on the general clipboard,  and you can e-mail the list to yourself!!  Call Barbara if you have any trouble.  This is new to us too,  and we are still figuring it out!!!

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Upcoming Member Events.......... 

The United Way of Northwest Alabama, in partnership with Demos' Restaurant, is sponsoring a Doris Dollar fund-raiser.  The "Doris Dollars" are $5.00, with that entire amount going to United Way.  The purchaser receives a $7.50 "Doris Dollar" to use at Demos' Restaurant between Aug. 1 - Sept. 15.  Tickets can be purchased from United Way board
members, UW agencies, or directly from United Way.  256-764-5892

September 3, The Wine Seller, Court Street, will have a a wine tasting  5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m.
Come down for First Fridays and stop in at The Wine Seller.

September 30—University of North Alabama, Department of Environmental Sciences: Southern Plate Tailgate with Christy Jordan. Book signing and Tailgate Expo. 5:00 –6:30 Guillot University Center / Cooking Show at 7:00 in Norton Auditorium/ Tickets are $25  see HERE for more info or call 256-765-5080

IRON BOWL GAME DAY PACKAGE CONTEST to benefit Shoals Family Success Center 
The winning package includes the following: 
2 Prime Tickets for Auburn-Alabama Game at Tuscaloosa, Ala. $100 cash for programs, souvenirs, etc. 
Entry Deadline is November 17th $10.00 Donation  
For entry information & locations call 256 765-0033or inquire via eMail at Info@ShoalsFamily.net 
Entries also available online at www.ShoalsFamily.net
See Flyer HERE

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MEMBER NEWS You Can Use....& Congratulations

Now At Walgreen's  / Get Your Flu Shot early..$29.99 (some insurance may apply)
Pharmacy hours are Monday thru Friday 8 am- 10 pm. &  Saturday-Sunday 9 am.-6pm.
Locations to serve you: Florence—2602 Florence Blvd. / 109 E. Dr. Hicks Blvd. / Muscle Shoals -1801 Woodward Ave.

Sunbridge Healthcare, Cottage of the Shoals is seeking local businesses to help them take a group of their nursing home residents to GRACELAND!  Donations of $50 will get your business logo on a T-shirt that the residents will wear when they make their trip to GRACELAND. If your business is interested in assisting,  please see attached flyer for more details, HERE 

Shoals Electric Customers Can Reduce Energy Use with Home Evaluations
Shoals area electric companies are partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide tools consumers can use to start saving energy and money on their electric bills. Florence Utilities, Tuscumbia Utilities, Sheffield Utilities, and Muscle Shoals Electric Board are among the more than 70 distributors of TVA power offering residential energy audits through TVA’s In-Home Energy Evaluation program. See Full Press Release and Information HERE 

The City of Florence Green Team Partnership Program / The City of Florence is now offering a green certification for businesses and non-profits.  Get credit for all of your green efforts and become green team certified, while being environmentally friendly.  Green Team Partners strive to conserve energy & water, prevent pollution and reduce waste. 
Green Team Partners will reap the benefits of a positive image, receive acknowledgement on the City of Florence website and be included in an annual newspaper advertisement.  Get application  HERE

 KILLEN TRUE VALUE IS HAVING A FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL FIRE & RESCUE AND
POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUY A CHANCE FOR   $1.00   TO WIN A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR FIRE
DEPARTMENT CASE KNIFE! GIVING THEM AWAY SEPT 11TH 2010. See  HERE

Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Florence is the 2010 recipient of the Silver Achievement in Quality national award. See Full Article HERE 

Go to http://www.shoalschamber.com/learn/member_directory.html
and click on the bottom link, 
New Member Directory Search
Want to know who our newest members are? 
Click on the New Member Link.
Want to Send them an E-mail?
Follow directions at the top of the screen,  and you can send them 
all a new e-mail at the same time!!
Great Networking tool !!! 

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Teacher Supply Depot  

Teacher Supply Depot OPEN – Thurs., Sept. 2, 3:30 – 4:45    

Your tax-deductible donations of school supplies will help!  

WATCH for Teacher Supply Depot DONATION  DROP-BOXES!  Locations include Printers & Stationers, Inc. (PSI), all three Walgreens locations, the Killen Bank Independent, Sam’s Club, as well as any Colbert or Lauderdale branch of Listerhill Credit Union !  Or you can always drop-off at the Chamber!  

Please continue to keep the Teacher Supply Depot in mind, as you upgrade and clean out throughout the year, for any TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donations of gently-used or new office & school supplies, equipment, desk accessories, office furniture or storage, or cash to purchase new schools supplies.   We collect donations YEAR-ROUND and open twice a year, in late August and early January. 

With proration at 17+% over the past 3 years, classroom supply funds were cut out of most school systems’ budgets.  Our educators can really use your help!   

THANK  YOU to our sponsors & partners:  Presenting – Wachovia Foundation; Gold – Anchor Tours & Sheffield City Schools; Silver – ICS, Lauderdale County Schools; Partner – Listerhill Credit Union, PSI, Sam’s Club, Killen Bank Independent, Walgreens, Lambert Moving & Storage, TVA Retirees; Donors – too numerous to list, but thank you to all!!

HOPEFUL  NEWS  IN  THE  SHOALS  EMPLOYMENT  ARENA!!  

July ‘10 Unemployment Data

• Florence MSA:  9.0% (down from  11.1% in July ’09)
• Alabama :  9.4% (down from 9.7% in July ’09)
• U.S. :  9.7% (up from 9.5% in July ’09)

CLICK  HERE to view the Alabama Comprehensive Labor Market Information System (ACLMIS) monthly newsletter and other workforce information. 

 ATTENTION  EMPLOYERS!!  DON’T  FORGET …  

FREE Shoals Job Board 

The Shoals Job Board averages over 10,000 hits per month!  And it’s FREE to Chamber members to list their job openings!!   

Job Board SPONSORSHIPS are AVAILABLE! 

• To POST  A  NEW  JOB or to SEARCH  FOR  A  JOB go to www.shoalschamber.com/shoalsjobs

• Employers, link your organization’s web-based job board on the Shoals Job Board.  Send Stephanie (stephs@shoalschamber.com) a link to your organization’s job board and your logo, to be posted on the “More Chamber Member Job Links” page.

Thank you to ICS and Allen Tomlinson Sims Advertising (ATSA) for their work in developing & maintaining the Job Board. 

 CHOICES®  

CHOICES® helps kids understand the importance of using self-discipline to make good choices in school, personal life, character, money & time management, career preparations, etc.  It’s FUN, fast-paced, dynamic and EASY  TO  PRESENT!  The kids remember get involved, so they remember it and volunteers love to present it.

 MARK  YOUR  CALENDAR!!   

CHOICES® Volunteer Presenter Training is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, 8:30 – 1:00.  If you are interested in being a volunteer CHOICES® presenter, please contact the Chamber.  

CHOICES® is presented to all Shoals area 8^th graders (~1,800) annually, from January through March.   

THANK  YOU to our sponsors and partners:  Presenting – Northwest-Shoals Community College; Gold – Wachovia Foundation; Patron – Sylvan Learning Center; Partner - Shoals Chapter SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management). 

 Shoals Career Days – Focus on Your Future!  

MARK  YOUR  CALENDAR!     

We need ALL  TYPES  OF  EMPLOYERS  REPRESENTED!  

The High School Career Fair & Job Skills Seminars event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at CrossPoint Church of Christ  

The Middle School Career Fair & Reality Check event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 4, 2011.  

These students are YOUR  FUTURE  WORKFORCE and they need to talk to you!  Please consider participating and letting them know what you will expect of your workforce – high school & college education, technical skills, attitude, work ethic …   

SPONSORSHIPS are still AVAILABLE for the 2010 – 2011 school year!


THANK  YOU to our sponsors and partners:  Food – Fashion Exchange & Allen Thornton Career Technical Center; Partners – Northwest-Shoals Community College, Florence City Schools, AL Cooperative Extension System, CrossPoint Church of Christ,  RSVPs of Colbert & Lauderdale counties.

Education / Workforce Development Programs - SPONSORSHIPS  AVAILABLE!!   

Your business or organization could be getting great PR while supporting the Chamber’s valuable Education / Workforce Development programs. 

Sponsorships are at various investment levels, beginning at just $200, and include:  

• CHOICES® (career and character ed. program for all Shoals 8^th graders)
• Teacher Supply Depot (free school supply store for Shoals K-12 educators & youth workers)
• Shoals Summer Technology Institute for Educators (technical career education for Shoals classroom teachers and counselors)
• Shoals Career Days – Focus on Your Future! (annual middle & high school career fairs for Shoals students)
• Chamber Job Board (free for members to post job openings, over 10,000 hits per month from job seekers!)

For information on any of these programs or sponsorships, please contact the Chamber, (256) 764-4661. 

  “Tools of the Trades”– Career Education for Educators!

Shoals Summer Technology Institute for Educators  AND  Business Buffets for Educational Leadership

 EXCITING  OPPORTUNITY !!  

We have been asked to present the Summer Institute concept to participants at the Alabama Workforce Development Conference in October!  Woody Harrington (TVA Power Service Center), Giles McDaniel (Shoals Entrepreneurial Center) and Lelia Wissert (Lauderdale County – Alabama Cooperative Extension System) will join Stephanie on a panel to tell about our program and encourage other communities in Alabama to conduct Summer Institutes &/or Business Buffets for their educators. 

The Shoals Summer Institute emphasizes the importance of and need for technically skilled workers.  It targets middle & high school math & science teachers and counselors, so they can better understand how their academic subjects are used in technical jobs and can better advise their students about career opportunities available to them.  

During the Summer Institute, educators spend the week touring local industries, discussing workplace needs with business leaders and visiting NW-SCC technical programs to see how math & science especially, as well as other academic and soft skills are needed in the workplace.  They then develop work-based lesson plans to use in their classrooms, which are also posted on the Chamber’s web site, to help students better understand the connections between what they are learning in school and what they may actually do on the job some day.  

To view the 2009 lesson plans, go to:  http://www.shoalschamber.com/images/Lessonplans/.   The lesson plans from the 2010 class will be posted soon. 

To learn more about the STI program, you can view a 7-min. video of the 2008 program participants’ comments at:

mms://207.157.110.40/ondemand/chamber/summertech256.wmv 

THANK  YOU to our sponsors & partners:  Grants – Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and Rural Alabama Initiative; Teacher Sponsor – ABB, Inc.; Corporate – Listerhill TMC & Helen Keller Hospital; Lunch – CB&S Bank & SCA Tissue, TVA - Brown’s Ferry Nuclear; Grants – Governor’s Office of Workforce Development & Rural Alabama Initiative / Auburn / AL Coop. Extension System; Partners & Donors – Northwest-Shoals Community College, Lauderdale County Cooperative Extension System, Buffalo Rock–Pepsi, AIDB, CHG, Firestone, First Metro Bank, Listerhill Credit Union, SunTrust, Florence Eye Center, AL Legacy Environmental Education, ATN, Lyons HR, Martin Industrial Supply, PSI, TimesDaily, U. S. Air Force, YMCA, City of Florence, Sara Lee, ATN, International Paper, TVA Power Service Center, G & G Steel, Buffalo River Services, Wise Alloys, Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, Applied Chemical, Sylvan Learning Center, and National Alabama Corp. 

SPONSORSHIPS  are AVAILABLE for next summer’s program!