Noblesville Chamber Members and Citizens -

You may wonder what is new with an organization that is nearing its 77th birthday...you may think we are resting on our laurels of being the first Chamber in Hamilton County, of staying consistently organized through the remnants of the Great Depression of the early 1930's, through a World War, conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, political ups and downs, not to mention the sometimes rollercoaster economy!  

We have been here for our community through all of those national and world events, not to mention the birth of Rock n Roll, communal hippies, disco, and...let's see, what was after disco??

Anyway, my point is that the staff, the committees, and the board of directors are all here working for you, the businesses of Noblesville - without you the Chamber would not have thrived through all of the above and much more.  Without you, we cannot design new programs and services which we hope will meet the ever-changing business needs of our member.   Technology is changing almost faster than we can all keep up - but we are working on it!  AND we want to hear from you - please let us know what you would like to see "new" at the Noblesville Chamber; stop by and see us at 601 E. Conner Street or contact us by email at info@noblesvillechamber.com or call the office Monday - Friday at 317-773-0086.  

Think Spring,   Sharon

Chamber Members -

Just realizing today that it has been over a month since I last posted a blog - time has passed quickly in the month of January!   I can't help but wonder if this will be the case throughout 2012!   

Perhaps since we have all been caught up in the Super Bowl festivities it has caused time to appear to speed up this last month - so much activity and focus has been directed to central Indiana and I believe we have all been SUPER busy trying to keep up with the festivities!   Now that we are post-game perhaps things will slow down just a bit - after all we know that our Midwesterners don't move quite as quickly as our East coast friends from New York and Boston!

Seriously, we have truly been blessed with our local weather and what we believe is an economic upturn; it is a great time to be a Hoosier and I hope you all continue to support your local businesses and think about where and how you spend your dollars.    The Noblesville Chamber of Commerce will continue to support, promote, and to be the "Cheerleaders of Local Business" because our local businesses are truly our winning team!  

Sharon 

Many people - both Noblesville Chamber members and non-members alike - do not know that the Chamber is not supported in any way by government, grants, or other organizations.   All of the funds which support the Chamber operations are directly from membership dues and special event sponsorships.   The past several years, some of our Chamber members have made a significant difference in the growth and outreach of the Noblesville Chamber by their Corporate Partnerships with the Chamber.

Corporate Partnerships are a way of "bundling" many Chamber benefits into an annual package - for instance providing many additional benefits to a Chamber member over what those benefits and services would cost if utilized separately.   The Chamber has secured several levels of Partnership and wish to thank those members for their support and participation in the upcoming year:

Legacy Partners -  Community Bank and Riverview Hospital

Executive Partners - Comcast Business Class,  Community Health Network, and St. Vincent Health

Presenting Partners - First Merchants Bank, Katz, Sapper & Miller, Krieg DeVault, LLP, M&I Bank, Noblesville Times, Star Media, Taylored Systems, The Farmers Bank

Happy New Year to all - see you in 2012!     Sharon

Dear Chamber Friends,

I was first introduced to how giving our community is when, as a small child, I observed my Dad's efforts through a local Lodge to help provide food and toys to families during the Holiday season.   Noblesville was a small community of just over 5,000 at that time, and most people either knew or knew of every other person in the area.   We knew who the "poor" people were, and where they lived.   Reaching out and helping was a more personal endeavor during those times.

Today the number of people challenged by the economy, health issues, job loss, etc. has grown considerably, along with our "small town" of Noblesville.  However, so has the number of people willing to give, to help those less fortunate, and to share the Christmas spirit.

Thank you, Noblesville, for your generosity, your compassion, and your sense of community - God bless you all and warmest wishes for a peaceful and joyous Christmas season.

Sharon 

What does "shop local" mean to you?   A five-minute drive?   Placing an internet order that arrives "locally" to your front door? :) 

To me there are varying definitions - but some of those include purchasing items and services from local artisans, the mom-and-pop retail on the Square, or yes, absolutely any business that employs local personnel who live here, support our schools and services, and also shop here!  

Those of us who love Noblesville know that a healthy community has a mix of independently-owned businesses, restaurants, professional services and larger retail establishments for some of those big-ticket items we all need from time to time.   Some businesses sell brands to which I am loyal, some offer my very favorite dishes, yum, and some have those unique, one-of-a-kind items that are just so special for gift-giving.   There is room for all in Noblesville!

So, yes - shop local, enjoy the ambience of a growing City with a small-town atmosphere, and don't forget a smile for your fellow shopper as we remember why we are celebrating during this wonderful season - to give Thanks for our bounty and to remember and recognize the birth of One so long ago.

Blessings and Peace to you all,   Sharon

Change is a tricky word...the concept of change can bring excitement, fear, dread, energy - so many adjectives!   Change, however, as most of us relate to that word, is a good thing.   Without change we do not grow, flourish, and improve.   Just think - what if most of your objectives, opinions, and life experiences never changed - although many of us would not mind if some things (thinning hair, wrinkles, etc.!) changed a little more slowly!

Here at the Noblesville Chamber we would like to announce a staffing change.  Our long-time administrative assistant, Lennie Jacobs, has retired after 20 years of employment with the Chamber.  We truly appreciate her services and accomplishments and wish her the very best - not to mention some fun; she deserves it!

Our new administrative assistant is Cathy Berghoff.  Cathy comes to us with several years of experience in coordinating events, working with groups, and organizing people like me!   Cathy is a wife and mother and and active member of the Noblesville community.   We are looking forward to welcoming her to our team.

Without change which includes new programs, services, technical and marketing opportunities, the Noblesville Chamber would not continue to attract new business members, as we currently do I am pleased to say.   We are 75+ years young and keeping our youthful perspective as we work diligently to serve our Noblesville area businesses.  

Sharon

Are we really in the last quarter of 2011 - how did that happen??   Fall is one of the Chamber's busiest times as we reflect on and review the many programs, activities and functions of the year and prepare our 2012 budget and Program of Work.   We have a couple more luncheons ahead, on October 26 and then our Holiday Luncheon on December 7th at Purgatory Golf Club.   Both events are already posted on the Chamber website so feel free to make your reservations!

Earlier this year the Chamber's economic development committee hosted a "Financial Resources Forum" and due to popular demand we are repeating that forum on November 9 at 8 a.m.   See the website at www.noblesvillechamber.com for more information.   Our Enterprise Awards dinner is always highly anticipated as we announce the winners in several business categories.   That dinner will take place at Purgatory Golf Club on November 17, 6:30 p.m.

Yes, the Fall season is a time of reflection and a time of planning for the future.  The Chamber's 76th Anniversary is this November - one year ago we were hard at work planning our 75th Diamond Anniversary Gala!  Wow - what a party that was!  

We are here at 601 East Conner Street to serve you - stop by and see us, check out our website, join us at an event, and be a part of our legacy of serving the business community in Noblesville!

Sharon

We recently wrapped up one of our best Chamber events - the "Corporate Challenge" which is held at Noblesville's own Forest Park.   Believe me, if you have never enjoyed the scenery, history, and amenities of Forest Park you are missing something.   As a child (note no dates given here!) I enjoyed going to Forest Park with my parents on picnics, and have never ceased to be amazed at the tranquility and beauty there.

So - spending the day there on September 15 was right up my alley!   The Chamber's second annual "Corporate Challenge" brought out Chamber members' employees to work together on teams and participate in some friendly competition with fellow Chamber members.   A day of Subway lunch, fun and games, beverages and networking was capped off by our 1st place winners in Putt Putt (Community Bank)  Euchre (Young Professional Group)  Tug of War  (SMC Corp)  Volleyball (Big Brothers Big Sisters)  Obstacle Course ( First Merchants)  Corn Hole (STAR Financial) and the Medley Relay (SMC Corp) - and the Spirit Award was won by  SMC's cheerleaders!  

This event is a fundraiser for the Chamber, a non-profit organization - but more than that it is planned to bring professionals together to learn, network, and build camaraderie and success in the business community.   The day was made successful by our participants and many sponsors, including Title Sponsor Riverview Hospital and Winner's Circle sponsor Hare Chevrolet. 

As many of you know, the Noblesville Chamber begins each year with a "plan" or Program of Work as we name it.   This document is forged from different working committees of the Chamber -  member services, economic development, government relations, Ambassadors, and includes a consensus from the board of directors and staff on what we believe our Chamber members wish to receive from their membership investment.

As we are all aware, the past few years have definitely including some economic challenges and causes us all to sit back and contemplate our different investments, which may include stock, time, real estate, organizations, charitable donations, and more.   Other than a staff of three, those committees and the board of directors mentioned above are your peers, working diligently to stay profitable in a sometimes uncertain economy.   But most importantly for you, they are working on your behalf to make good decisions about the direction of the Chamber in order to enhance our business climate.   Your suggestions are important to all of us, Chamber staff and volunteer leadership.   We would like to hear from you in order to better serve you.

The Noblesville Chamber has served the Noblesville business community for over 75 years - covering the Depression years as well as several major wars, including a World War.   Given the historic strength of our Chamber, I am not worried about the current economic challenges - the Chamber will continue working on behalf of our members and our strong business environment will once again weather the storms.    Stay strong.  

Sharon

Already?? Can it be...seems as if the summer just began -depsite the long hot days of July!     Whether you have children currently enrolled in our school systems or not the retail world has certainly put all "on notice" that back to school supplies and clothing are available.!

Most of us are aware of the school funding cutbacks of the past few years and that combined with the rising costs of textbooks and other needed school supplies make this a challenging time for many families.   The Noblesville Chamber will collect school supplies at our next Chamber luncheon, on Wednesday, August 24 at Harbour Trees Clubhouse.   See the Chamber website for registration information.

We ask that you review the lists of items provided at most retailers in the area which will indicate what supplies are required by the local schools.  This will assist you in making your choices.   Additionally, if you cannot attend the luncheon you can drop off your donations here at the Chamber office, 601 E. Conner Street, or at a local library branch.  

Schools and families are feeling the economic challenges that are prevalent in our world today.   If you can forego a latte in order to pick up a backpack for a child, I am sure it will be appreciated.  

Sharon