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 November/December 2007 |
Click for more Information:
Chamber Membership
Benefits
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Chamber Events - Check out the upcoming events for November and December...more Information Center of Corning - The
Information Center of Corning assisted over
34,000 visitors
during the first
three quarters of the year...more
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Government Affairs -
View the recent
State Report, learn more about the STAR Program
and the eminent domain reform...more
Partners
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Information
on the NYS Business Council, Map Works 2008
Regional Map, and a warning issued to parents
from the Better Business Bureau...more
Subscriber Information - Forward this email to others or sign up additional addresses for regular mailings by emailing... more |
This newsletter is brought to you by:
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Come
enjoy a weekend of Holiday fun in Corning’s Gaffer District
Friday, November 9th through Monday, November 12th
“HOLIDAZZLE” Corning’s Gaffer District A unique fun filled community holiday shopping opportunity allowing you to browse the Gaffer District’s many different shops & businesses and get a head start on your holiday shopping! Saturday, November 24th
“THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY”
AND
“PARADE OF LIGHTS”
Thursday, November 29th
Saturday, December 1st
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Hello Everyone,
As we have gone through the process of
building a reasonable and productive
budget, we keep singing the praises of
our Members. What a wonderful wealth of
information you have provided us
throughout the past few years. The
input you give us on our programs,
services and events helps us to build a
bottoms-up budget based on what you
define as the recipe for being a
satisfied Chamber Member. Thankfully
you are always direct and sincere in
making us aware of areas that fall a bit
short and, even more importantly, in
helping us to further develop programs,
services and events that give you the
benefit/value you deserve. We committed
to being the most member-driven business
organization in the Corning Area knowing
that with the return on investment model
we would all succeed together.
I am thrilled to report that in our
recent Chamber Listens 2007
project we committed to making personal
phone contact with every Member and the
response was overwhelmingly
positive!!! So many of you were
thrilled with the fact that we took the
time to call just because we want to be
sure you are happy with your membership
value. Many of you stated that you were
especially pleased that members of our
Board of Directors were the ones on the
other end of the phone line. You see,
they too are Members and the “true value
of our membership benefits” are as
important to each of them as they are to
you.
NOVEMBER BROWN BAG LUNCH PRESENTATION
Business After Hours
Business Before Hours
WATCH FOR MORE ON DECEMBER’S BROWN BAG LUNCH!
A Special Thank You to the Sponsors and Contributors of
The
program provides a tax rebate check to
qualifying property owners. The amount
of this year’s rebate is calculated on a
formula that considers an individual’s
income and local tax burden. Property
owners who earn less income will see a
larger rebate check.
To
receive a rebate, property owners must
first receive either the basic or
enhanced (senior citizens aged 65 or
older) STAR exemption on their school
tax bills. Taxpayers who receive the
basic STAR exemption must apply for
their rebate; enhanced STAR recipients
need not apply – they’ll get their
rebate checks automatically. The
statewide mailing will be complete by
the end of September, allowing people
ample time to fill out the application
prior to the November 30 deadline.
The Tax Department has updated
information on the website,
www.nystax.gov
as well as through the Department’s
Call Center, creating a special hotline
at 1-877-6-STAR-NY (1-877-678-2769).
Spanish speakers will be able to receive
assistance through the Call Center.
Eminent
domain refers to the power by the state
to appropriate property within the state
for a public use. Under the
Constitution's Fifth Amendment,
property-owners are entitled to "just
compensation," usually the property's
fair market value, when private property
is taken. Eminent domain has been used
to take land for such uses as parks,
roads, utilities, and more
controversially, for private retail,
commercial and residential development.
In 2005,
eminent domain was tested in the Supreme
Court. In its 5-4 decision in Kelo vs.
the City of New London, the Court
affirmed the rights of communities to
condemn private property for
redevelopment purposes. Since Kelo,
numerous states and cities have sought
to limit the use of eminent domain.
PROs and
CONs Links
A current
list of states that have passed some
form of eminent domain reform, along
with the most common issues that reform
efforts address and links to the
legislation:
August
2007 Report from the Castle Coalition
that rates state reforms related to
eminent domain:
President
Bush issued an executive order to limit
takings by the Federal government to
those properties that will benefit the
general public and not "advancing the
economic interests of private parties."
A guide
to evaluating eminent domain
legislation, presented by the National
Association of Realtors:
A New
York developer seeks to influence
eminent domain reform efforts in other
states:
Georgetown Law report on the
implications of eminent domain on
economic development, post-Kelo.
Utah was
one of the first states to restrict the
use of eminent domain, but in March, the
legislature voted to relax those rules.
How
will a new law limiting the use of
eminent domain play in Kansas cities?
Dr. Deitz
will discuss the economic conditions of
upstate, as well as touch upon key
issues of economic development concern
for our region, including the impacts of
an aging population, workforce
development, and population migration
trends. A final date, time and location
for the presentation is to be determined
stay tuned for more information to
follow.
For the latest
The Business Council of New York State
would like your input on internships in
New York.
Internships can be a valuable way to
help keep our young people in New York
State. They can help students gain the
knowledge and skills that you as
employers will find valuable in your
hiring processes.
In order to help develop sound policies
for expanding internship opportunities
for students in New York State, we are
seeking information and advice from you
via this survey (link supplied below).
It should take no more than 5 minutes of
your time. Please fill out the survey by
November 5, 2007.
If you have any questions about the
survey, please direct them to Margarita
Mayo (518-4565-7511 ext 272), who is
with The Business Council of New York
State, the administering entity. Thank
you very much for your help.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=fUV5DK5RtOgfDSJo_2b_2fCgTg_3d_3d
Steuben, Chemung & Schuyler County
Chambers Join Together Again to Promote
Area Businesses on Regional Map!
Since 2005, thousands of newcomers and
visitors to our area have had important
asset in helping them find their way
around our tri-county area…the
Corning/Elmira/Watkins Glen Regional
Chamber of Commerce Map! The Corning
Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chemung
County Chamber of Commerce, and the
Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce have
formed a partnership to produce the
second edition of the, official Regional
Map of the Southern Finger Lakes
Triangle region of New York including
Corning, Elmira and Watkins Glen. This
new edition will again promote the
regions’ businesses. The map is
scheduled for release in the Spring of
2008. The Chambers will continue to work
with Map Works, Inc. a Rochester-based
company that for over thirty years has
been creating and distributing
high-quality maps of Rochester and other
cities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Connecticut, to complete the map.
BBB Warns Families - College Student
Credit Card Invitations on the Rise
September
4, 2007 - They arrive on campus with
their trendy backpacks and crisp new
credit cards, determined to make the
most of their college years. They leave
in debt with thousands of dollars piled
on high-interest credit cards. As
college students begin their classes,
the Better Business Bureau warns parents
everywhere - beware of credit card
solicitations and your child's spending
patterns. Corning Area Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate Program Since 1991, the Corning
Area Chamber of Commerce has provided Merchant Gift Certificates. Over
the years, the certificates have been used as gifts during the holiday
seasons, incentives for employees of local businesses and as part of
company loyalty programs. They are available at the Information Center
of Corning in $5, $10, 15, and $25 denominations. Place your order by
calling 607-962-8997 or emailing Info@CorningNY.com. If you are placing
an order for over $100 of gift certificates please allow us 24 hours to
prepare them for you. It has always been our
goal to promote shopping in the local area; Corning, Painted Post and
the Finger Lakes region, through this program. While many area
residents and businesses are familiar with the program, there are still
many who are not quite sure what to do when they receive a Corning Gift
Certificate; whether they are an individual or a merchant. Here are
some tips to follow when you receive a Corning Chamber Gift Certificate. 1. Make the Gift Certificates payable to the business where you will be spending them; as if it were a traveler’s check. 2. Gift Certificates can
be used at most local businesses. They are linked to an account which
allows them to be processed as a check or travelers check. 3. Gift Certificates can
be redeemed for less than their value; many businesses will be able to
return the remainder of the unspent certificate to the customer as cash. Effective May 1, 2006,
the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce initiated a nominal fee for each
gift certificate purchased. The fee is $.50 a certificate for sales of
100 or less certificates and $.25 a certificate for sales of more than
100 certificates. The fee was approved by the Chamber Board in April
2006 and is intended to simply cover the out-of-pocket expenses of check
printing and administrative costs of the program. Comparison to other local
programs shows that this fee is considerably lower than other similar
"gift check" programs with the advantage that the Chamber gift
certificates can be redeemed at any local business. It is always a good idea
to advise the cashier of your intent to use a gift certificate prior to
filling in the “pay to” line. For more information please
contact the Information Center of Corning, 1 West Market St., Corning,
NY, or call us at 607-936-4686.
Note from the Chamber President...
It
seems impossible that we are in the last quarter of the year
already! Like many of you nearing the year-end, we are feverishly
working to continue the fusion between the work plan side of our
Strategic Plan and the financial side, better known as our budget
for 2008.
Your partner in progress,
Coleen Fabrizi
President
This
newsletter is brought to you by:
Hosted by Market Street Chiropractic &
Nutrition
Facilitator: Dr. Scott Beres D.C., C.N.S.
Natural Pain Management: Cutting Edge
Research
Thursday, November 8th
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Information Center
Thursday, November 8th 2007
Thursday,
November 28th 2007
5:00pm -7:00pm
7:30am-8:00am Begin to Gather
Pre-registration is requested! RSVP to Ceridwen Stermer by
8:00am-9:30am Program
calling 607-936-4686 or by
email at
Stermer@CorningNY.com. Pre-registration is requested! RSVP to Ceridwen Stermer by
calling 607-936-4686 or by email at
Stermer@CorningNY.com.
25th
Annual
Christmas Arts
& Crafts
Festival
November 17th and 18th
Corning Community College
$5.00
for 1 day $8.00 for 2 days
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
For more
information or to volunteer contact Ceridwen Stermer
at 607-936-4686 or by email at
Stermer@CorningNY.com.
Hosted by: Humana, Inc.
with Facilitator Chris Cutter
Medicare Advantage: Questions and
Answers
Wednesday,
December
5th
12:00-1:00pm
Information Center
the 2007 Chamber of Commerce and Pathways Inc. Golf Tournament
Corning Enterprises, Harris
Beach PLLC, Five Star Bank, Bottles and Corks Wines and Spirits,
Pyramid Brokerage Company, Community Bank N.A., Corning Museum of
Glass, Coldwell Banker Horizons Realty, The Heritage Restaurant &
Meeting Place, Larson Design Group, Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co. LLP,
First Heritage Federal Credit Union, Three Rivers Development
Corporation, JHL Tecture, Pathways, Inc., The dePugma Brothers,
Hilton Garden Inn, Corning Natural Gas Corp., Keystone
Forging-Hopkins Fishing Gear, ProVisions Modular Hardware, Sorge’s
Restaurant, BC Plumbing Heating Electrical AC/R Inc., Rural Metro
Inc., GLASSWERK Optical, Radisson Hotel Corning, Galvin & Haines
Insurance, WETM-TV, Village Mini Market/The Laser Wash, JH Design,
Corning Hospital, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Clinical Associates
of the Southern Tier, Corning-Painted Post Insurance, Techline,
Holiday Inn Horseheads, Visions Hotels, LLC, Econo Lodge-Corning,
Econo Lodge-Elmira, Comfort Inn-Corning, Hampton Inn, Valicenti
Advisory Services, Inc., Culligan Water, Elmira Coca-Cola, Excellus
Blue Cross Blue Shield, John G. Ryan, Palace Theater, Seneca
Beverage, The Cellar, Elmira Savings Bank, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue
Shield, Hesselson’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Big Flats Golf Center
The
Information Center of Corning assisted
over
34,000 visitors
during the
first
three quarters
of the year. Last year we assisted over
14,000 visitors
during the
last
quarter
of the year. Make sure that your
business is getting the most out of your
exposure opportunities in the
Information Center. Does the
Information Center have your brochures?
Having your brochures on display in the
Information Center is included in your
Chamber membership; there is no extra
fee. Let us know what events
are going on
at your business so that we can post
them on our website, chalk board, and
talk about them on the radio. Email
your event information to Brett Smith at
Smith@corningny.com.
Also available for some extra exposure
are many display opportunities for as
little as $50 a month. Now is the time
to reserve your display in the
Information Center to showcase your
holiday specials. Call Jennifer Mong to
reserve your holiday display now at
607-936-4686 or email her at
Mong@CorningNY.com.
The Information Center looks forward to
recommending your business during this
holiday season.
Government Affairs
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/natres/emindomainleg06.htm
http://www.castlecoalition.org/pdf/publications/report_card/50_State_Report.pdf
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060623-10.html
http://www.realtor.org/GAPublic.nsf/files/emdomainpr.pdf/$FILE/emdomainpr.pdf
http://www.capitolweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=841
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/gelpi/current_research/documents/GELPIReport_Kelo.pdf
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/213097/3/
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/06/04/focus20.html
Partners
“The project is designed to portray
businesses in a positive way to the
people who live, work and visit our
community every day, and provides a
unique opportunity for our Chambers to
work together to support our communities
and promote the region” said Coleen
Fabrizi, Corning Chamber President. Over
20,000 copies of the map will be
distributed through the Chambers and
sold through major stores throughout the
region including major supermarkets,
drug stores and Map Works’ many other
retail outlets in the area for two
years. “One of the strengths of the
Regional map project is that thousands
of maps will be distributed through
local and national offices of the
American Automobile Association” added
Fabrizi. The Chambers will again ask the
business community to help fund the
project with advertising on the regional
map.
The full color map will be available in
print and online and show detailed maps
of the Corning/Painted Post area, the
Elmira/Horseheads/Big Flats area,
the Watkins Glen/Montour Falls area and
Bath, Hammondsport. “We’ve directed some
new mapping to highlight areas of
interest and have arranged for a new
online version to give sponsors more
exposure”, said Kevin Keeley, Chemung
Chamber president. “Map Works has also
been very receptive to the input and
concerns of our members,” Keeley said.
“After seeing the final map of
Corning/Elmira/Watkins Glen that was
produced in 2005 by Map Works, we are
very confident that the second edition
of this publication will be
well-received by our residents and will
be a good vehicle for us to promote our
business community,” said Cindy Kimble,
Schuyler County’s Chamber President.
For more information or to reserve
limited display space available, contact
Map Works at 800-822-6277 extension 120.
"A student will assume ...I'll get what
I want now and when I get a job it will
be easy to pay it back," said Richard S.
Gold, executive vice president of retail
banking at M&T Bank. "Often, it just
doesn't work out that way. Building
credit card debt in college can lead to
a cycle of spiraling debt. That's why we
advise parents to talk to their
college-age students about good
financial habits." Lower-than-expected
salaries, plus higher-than-expected
living expenses and hefty student loan
payments, make handling credit card debt
all the more difficult for students and
recent grads.
The average undergraduate has over
$2,000 in credit card debt, according to
Nellie Mae, the nation's largest maker
of student loans. That figure jumps to
nearly $8,000 for graduate students.
Since so many student credit cards have
high annual percentage rates, the longer
these youngsters wait to pay the cards
off, the worse it gets.
The Better Business Bureau urges parents
to talk with their children, setting the
tone for "when to use and how to use" a
credit card. Students need to be wary of
aggressive lending tactics and watch out
for inviting offers while they're on
campus.
"For many students, it's the first time
they are on their own. They may be
untrained in the use - and abuse - of
credit," said David Polino, president of
the Better Business Bureau of Upstate
New York. "Credit card companies use the
campus environment to find new account
holders and sign students up on the spot
for token gifts. It seems innocent at
the time - they won't use it, they'll
cut it up it when it arrives. But the
temptation to use it proves to be too
great once it's in their hands and
something seems too good to pass up,"
added Polino.
"It would take a student more than 12
years and $1,115 in interest to pay off
a $1,000 bill on a card with an 18
percent annual rate," said Stephanie
Connors, Community Outreach Coordinator
of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of
Buffalo, Inc. "If students fall behind
in their payments, they get slammed with
high late fees and end up paying on
cards for years and years. It's easy for
things to get out of hand."
Since student bankruptcies are on the
increase, the BBB urges families to make
this an active conversation now and into
the future. For more credit card and
financial planning tips, visit
www.bbb.org/alerts/tips.asp.
In the near future, please see
CorningNY.com for
Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate Program details.
Please sign up additional addresses for regular mailings by emailing
Helfrich@CorningNY.com.
Please keep in mind that more than one person at your business can
receive this newsletter. We will not give out your email address
to third parties, and will only send you our newsletter, Chamber
issues, advocacy information, and information about activities in which
the Chamber is involved. We will not send spam emails and you may
unsubscribe at any time. This is a great way to get all employees
involved in Chamber activities for the success of your business.
CorningNY.com ~
ExperienceCorningNY.com
Corning Area Chamber of Commerce, 1
West Market Street, Suite 302,
Corning, NY 14830, (607)
936-4686
Please contact us with site questions.
