The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present this year’s Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award to Carol Lorenc. Carol was Executive Director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce in the 1990’s and earlier served as assistant to former Gebbie Foundation Executive Director John Hamilton. In 1999, in partnership with SUNY Fredonia and Dr. Len Faulk, she helped to form and then worked for the Center for Rural Regional Governance, which performed research and furthered efforts to advance regional collaboration, shared governmental services and efficient government. She served on the Board of the Arts Council and contributed significantly to the expansion of Arts in Chautauqua County. She also served as President of the board of The Resource Center during a period of significant expansion of the organization. Throughout her career Carol was involved in a variety of organizations that worked with youth. She served on a variety of boards including as President of the Board of the YWCA. In recent years Carol has been actively involved the development of equestrian trails throughout Chautauqua County. Carol is the former owner of Fox Farm Bed and Breakfast and recently managed a company that took visitors on tour groups titled Amish Flair Tours.

We are very pleased to be presenting this award to Carol Lorenc for all of her efforts over the years. This award recognizes an individual in the region who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective or who has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships. It is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently and often times in the background.

The award will be presented during the Chamber Annual Meeting, Dec. 9. Keynote speaker for the event will be Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Hochul, who will address economic development issues in Western New York. Prior to her election as Lieutenant Governor, she served New York’s 26th Congressional District and earlier Erie County Clerk and a Hamburg Town Councilmember.

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting will also include the election of board members and officers for the coming year. The slate of candidates includes: Chair, Curt Anderson, Standard Portable Inc.; Vice Chair, Brian Bugaj, Nestle Purina PetCare; Secretary, Ann Abdella, Chautauqua County Health Network; Treasurer, Neil Frederick, Bush Industries; Past Chair, James Pullan, Jr., Jamestown Mattress Company. At-large Board members will be current members Virginia Horvath, SUNY College at Fredonia; Matthew Churchill, Water Street Brass; and Emily Reynolds, Cornell Cooperative Extension; as well as new member Chris Maytum, DFT Communications. The Chair of each Community Chamber also serves including: Dunkirk, Mike Pease, The Chautauqua Center; Fredonia, David Dengler, Larson-Timko Funeral Home; Hanover, Kelly Borrello, Cabana Sam’s Sunset Bay; Jamestown, Greg Lindquist, Jamestown Renaissance Corp.; Mayville-Chautauqua, Ken Shearer, Chautauqua Marina; and Westfield-Barcelona, Fred Johnson, Johnson Estate Winery.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting will be held at noon, Friday, Dec. 9, at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk. It is sponsored by E.E. Austin & Son, Inc., Fredonia College Foundation, Jamestown Mattress Company, M&T Bank, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Star Media Group, and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier. The cost for lunch is $20 for Chamber members or $23 for non-members. To make reservations, please call the Chamber at 484-1101 or 366-6200, or register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

SHOP LOCALLY THIS SEASON

Shopping locally is good for our economy and good for our friends, neighbors, and business climate. Time after time studies have shown that it does make a difference when people choose to buy from local merchants. A 2010 study by the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development shows that for every $100 in consumer spending with a locally owned business, $73 remains in the local economy and is dispersed through local wages, charitable donations, taxes that fund local services and purchases of goods and services through other local businesses. The Michigan State study also shows that for each $100 spent with a non-locally owned business, just $43 remains in the local economy.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce works to promote local business year-round because we see the importance of supporting our local business owners and workforce. We encourage everyone to shop locally this holiday season!

CHAMBER GIFT CHECK PROGRAM

NOW FREE FOR MEMBER PARTICIPATION

If you are a Chamber member business in a retail, restaurant, or service industry, you are now eligible to accept Shop-Tauqua Chamber Gift Checks absolutely free of charge. In the past we had to charge an annual administrative fee for all member businesses participating. Now, thanks to a major sponsorship from the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, we are able to offer this program free of charge to our members and provide an even greater return on your Chamber investment. Accepting Shop-Tauqua Chamber Gift Checks is simple; they are deposited with your daily receipts like any other check. If your business is not currently participating and you would like to get involved, please contact the Chamber for more information at 484-1101 or 366-6200.