Gaylord/Otsego Chamber
101 West Main
P.O. Box 513
Gaylord, MI 49734
Phone: (989) 732-6333
Phone: (800) 345-8621
Fax: (989) 732-7990
Contact us via email:
May 6, 2008
CHAMBER UPCOMING EVENTS:
The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber & Gaylord Golf Mecca invite you to Business After Hours to be held at Marsh Ridge Resort on May 14, 2008 from 5-7pm. The cost is $5 for Chamber Members and $10 for not-yet members. A short program will be held at 6:0opm; hear about the marketing plans of the Gaylord Golf Mecca and listen to a presentation by the Chamber’s new Government Affairs Committee.
The 20th Annual Chamber Golf Outing is set for August 13th at the Treetops Resort “Jones” course. Sponsorship opportunities are now available: Pro $500, Box Lunch $400, Beverage Cart $350, Flag $150 and Tee $100.
CHAMBER UPDATES:
Alpenfest Parade and Pageant applications are now being accepted. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce Office at 101 W. Main Street or go on-line to www.gaylordchamber.com to get your application.
The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for a $1,000 Culinary Arts Scholarship to be awarded to an Otsego County resident pursuing a career in the hospitality field. Interested candidates can get complete application details by contacting the Chamber of Commerce at 989-732-6333. All applications must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday, May 14, 2008. The scholarship recipient will be announced on June 1st.
The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the fifth class of Leadership Otsego County, which will start in September. Applications are available at the Chamber of Commerce office at 101 W. Main Street in downtown Gaylord, by calling 989-732-6333 or on-line at www.gaylordchamber.com. Applications must be submitted by June 2, 2008.
CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS:
Alpine Oven has announced that their outdoor patio is now open.
9 & 10 News has announced that for the month of May they will be offering Chamber Members a free ad in their Help Wanted Section. They are hoping to do their part in stimulating the economy by bringing employers and those in need of a job together. For instructions on how to participate, contact Barb at the Chamber office at barb@gaylordchamber.com.
Each year the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau distributes 1,000 Convention Bags to groups visiting the area. They are currently looking for discount coupons that would bring value to these groups. If you are interested in providing something special to be included in these bags or want more information, contact the Information Center at 989-732-4000.
*If you have moved or have a new addition to your staff, contact the Chamber office to help spread the word.
COMING EVENTS:
May 6 – RSVP Spring Luncheon Fundraiser to be held at the Eagles Club at 11:30am. Tickets are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. For more information, contact RSVP at 989-732-8929
May 8 – Saturn Booksellers is holding an Amy Young signing at 3:30pm for her new book “Belinda Begins Ballet”.
May 8 – Kiwanis of Gaylord presents Swing into Spring. A buffet Dinner will be held from 6-7:30pm and you can dance to Loose Strings from 7-9pm. The cost is $20 per person and proceeds will benefit their food baskets program. Contact Patty McBride at 731-1251 for more information.
May 9 – Homemade Spaghetti Dinner by Steve Riozzi from 5-7pm at the St. Mary School Cafeteria to benefit the Gaylord Chamber Orchestra & Youth Orchestra. The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children.
May 10 – Brett Butler & The Southern Belles Tour (Comedy) will perform at Odawa Casino starting at 8pm. For more information, go to www.odawacasino.com
May 11-17 – National Hospital Week
May 11-17 – National Tourism Week
May 13 – 22nd Annual United Way Golf Scramble to be held at the Tom Fazio Premier Course at Treetops Resort. This event will have a shotgun start at noon and costs $90 per player. Contact United Way to sign up.
May 14 – Business After Hours sponsored by Gaylord Golf Mecca will be held from 5-7pm at Marsh Ridge Resort. The cost is $5 for Chamber Members & $10 for non-yet members.
May 15 – Pete Kehoe Live at Bennethum’s Northern Inn from 7-10pm. The cost is $5 per person; last month’s show sold out. For more information, call 732-9288.
May 17 – OCCOA presents Under The Big Top Dance from 7-11pm at the Eagles Hall. The cost is $3 for Seniors and $5 for Non-Seniors. For more information, contact OCCOA at 989-732-1122.
May 17 & 18 – Gaylord Chamber Orchestra presents “VivaldiFest”. Tickets are available at Saturn Booksellers.
May 20 – “Allergies”: seasonal, food & environmental; how to live without them. Dr. Saks will be giving this lecture at Saks Wellness Center at 6:30pm
May 20 – NCMC Luncheon Lecture continues with “Wisdom of our Ancestors” from noon-1pm. The cost of this lecture is $10 including lunch. Reservations are required by May 19th by calling 705-3775.
May 21 – The University Center & Spring Arbor University will be sponsoring “Leadership: I Know It When I Feel It” from 8am – noon. The cost is $50 per participant. Call 705-3700 to register.
May 23-26 – Treetops Resort will be holding “Bringing Nature to Life”. Don Desautels of Northern Michigan Images will be on-hand to instruct novice to intermediate digital photographers. Call Treetops Resort to reserve your spot.
May 31 – Vanderbilt Community Church is holding an Auction & Bizarre from 10am-5pm. For more information on donating items for the auction or for information, contact the Church at 989-983-3421.
Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce
Government Relations Update from Jamie Callahan
April 28, 2008
Your Input Needed as MBT Survey Approaches May 5th Deadline
The opportunity for members to participate in the Michigan Business Tax survey is nearing the end. The Chamber will begin tabulation of the survey data after May 5th.The Chamber and the Alliance launched the ‘Your MBT Experience’ information drive to learn how the new tax is impacting northwest Michigan businesses. Reports are coming in from across the region that businesses are seeing increases in their MBT liability, some as high as 500% over last year, forcing them to seriously consider laying off their employees and moving out of the state.
The survey is short and only takes a moment to fill out. Alliance chambers have made the survey available in different ways, from online surveys and inclusion in weekly updates, to direct email solicitation. In addition, the survey can be found through this link.
Your input is important, as your comments along with fellow chamber members will be used to showcase how this tax and surcharge are impacting the region’s job providers and reinforce the need for possible changes. Any information disclosed as proprietary or confidential will be kept confidential.
MBT Impact Subcommittee Formed in Senate
A subcommittee has been formed by the Senate Finance Committee to solicit input and analyze information submitted from businesses on the impact the Michigan Business Tax has had on Michigan job providers, and create suggestions for improvement. The subcommittee will be called the MBT Impact Assessment Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Mark Jansen of Cutlerville. Other members of the subcommittee are Sen. Jud Gilbert of Algonac and Mike Prusi of Ishpeming.
The subcommittee is charged with completing their work and having recommendations to the Committee by June 1, 2008.No hearings have been set at this time. Watch for future updates in the Government Relations weekly e-news.
Talk About Kreiner Resurfaces
Talks have been confirmed between the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and insurance industry officials last week regarding possible changes to Michigan’s no-fault law, stemming from the Kreiner decision. Kreiner may not be a household word to most people, but in the field of no-fault insurance law and the legislature, it is a common part of the lexicon. The namesake stems from the Michigan Supreme Court 2004 decision in Kreiner v. Fischer that set a clear standard which a car accident victim could collect pain and suffering damages.
Legislation has been introduced in both chambers to reverse or address certain aspects of the ruling, a practice that has become a common practice since the ’04 ruling. MIRS News summarizes both sides of the argument as: ‘Michigan trial lawyers argue the Court created a nearly impossible standard to reach, while the insurance industry claims the decision simply cemented what already existed in state law, which makes car accidents "whole."’
Any updates on the issue will be relayed via the Government Relations weekly e-news.
