The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will kick off its 2019 spring membership drive with a pair of Small Business Appreciation Open House events. On Monday, May 6, the Chamber invites you to stop in for a light lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at either of its offices: in the JCC North Training Center at 20785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk, or in the Manufacturing Technology Institute at JCC, 512 Falconer Street, Jamestown. Local business people are invited to come and learn what’s new at the Chamber and register to win a $50 Shoptauqua Gift Card! A drawing will be held at each location. Open House events are designed to welcome both current Chamber member business people, as well as non-member business people, and to help all learn about Chamber of Commerce services and how we offer value to businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses, during National Small Business Week. Staff members will be available at both locations to chat about how we serve businesses and the community.

Also during National Small Business Week, the Chamber is once again offering a 20% discount for a first year membership investment for all businesses with ten or fewer employees. For those with five or fewer full time equivalent employees their membership investment will be $144 for their first year, compared to the regular $180 cost; while for those with six to ten full time equivalents their membership investment will be $193, compared to the regular $241.

Chamber staff and volunteers will once again be walking our communities during Mornings on Main events throughout the spring membership drive to visit current members for conversations about how we can serve you better, and to talk with non-member businesses about what the Chamber has to offer. These events will take place May 14 in the Mayville-Chautauqua area, May 21 in the Westfield-Barcelona area, May 28 in Hanover, June 4 in Jamestown, June 11 in Dunkirk, and June 18 in Fredonia.

The Chamber is offering a special prize drawing for businesses that join during the six week membership drive. Prizes include Stay & Golf Getaway package at Peek’n Peak Resort, a one night stay at Chautauqua Suites, a second year Chamber membership free for up to the $241 membership level, or one of two $25 gift certificates for Webb’s Captains Table. All new members who join during the drive will be entered into this drawing.

By joining the Chamber, you are making an investment in your business. The Chamber offers a wide variety of services designed to meet the priority needs of local businesses including boosting sales and direct consumer contact, assisting with workforce development, connecting you to other business people in your community and our county, and more. For more information call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101 or visit us online at www.chautauquachamber.org. Our Spring Membership Drive will close this year with a fantastic event being planned in June. Watch for more details to be announced soon.

MAST to Feature TED Talks Speaker Bob Roitblat May 2

TED Talks speaker and consultant Bob Roitblat will be the keynote speaker for the Annual Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier, to be held Thursday, May 2, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Jamestown. Mr. Roitblat is the CEO of Mainsail Consulting Group, where he has combined his experiences in business and as a competitive sailor to draw parallels between winning a yacht race and building a winning business. He has more than 30 years’ experience running companies from all phases of their existence, from start-up to sale. He also has consulted with and supported enterprises across a broad range of industries including technology, distribution, manufacturing, NGO’s, and professional services. The major sponsor fo the MAST Annual Meeting is Weber Knapp. Additional sponsors are M & T Bank, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Univera Healthcare Southern Tier, and Insyte Consulting. The cost to attend is $50 per person. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required by April 25. To register, please call the Chamber/MAST office at 484-1101.

Wine & Dine Chautauqua Celebrates our Lake Erie Region May 10

Wine & Dine Chautauqua will be held May 10 at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Dunkirk, incorporating the Dunkirk and Fredonia Chambers’ Grape Expectations wine tasting event and Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting. Grape Expectations will be held as a social hour from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Lighthouse Ballroom. This portion of the evening will feature local wineries, vendors, appetizers, and prizes. Sponsors for Grape Expectations are: The Chautauqua Center, City of Dunkirk, Fredonia Technology Incubator, Hometown Insurance, Jamestown Community College North County Center, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Larson-Timko Funeral Home, and Putnam Record Insurance Agency. The CCVB Annual Dinner meeting will begin immediately afterwards in the Bayside Ballroom and will include a short business meeting, a buffet dinner, and a presentation by keynote speaker, Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, who will discuss economic development in Dunkirk. The cost to attend just Grape Expectations is $15 and advance registration is strongly encouraged. The cost to attend the CCVB Annual Dinner Meeting is $35 and reservations are required for the dinner. To attend both events the cost is just $45 per person. To register for either or both events, please contact the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce at 366-6200. Or register through our online events calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. Space is limited.

Hanover Chamber Hosts Beach Party Business After Hours May 23

The Chautauqua County and Hanover Community Chambers of Commerce will host a Beach Party Business After Hours, Thursday, May 23 from 5-7 p.m. at Cabana Sam’s Sunset Bay in Irving. The event will include a live band, the Kokomo Time Trio, playing from 5-8 p.m. The cost is $13 for pre-registered Chamber members and $15 for non-members or walk-ins, which includes appetizers, door prizes and a first drink free followed by a cash bar with two for one drinks. Sponsors are the Law Offices of Sheila Starkey Hahn, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. To register call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or sign up through our online events calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.