September 15, 2011
 

CHAMBER NEWS

Storm-Damaged Business Owners Invited to Intimate Forums
The Chamber, in cooperation with the City of Tuscaloosa, will host small group forums this week for local damaged business owners to meet with Mayor Maddox and John McConnell from the Planning Dept. One forum was held today  and two will be held tomorrow, Fri, Sept 16, all at Chamber office, located at 2200 University Blvd in downtown Tuscaloosa, across from City Hall. Sessions will last approx one hour and the number of attendees per session will be limited to twelve; interested parties must register by calling 391.0554 or emailing tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com. More of these meetings will be held in the near future. Purpose is to foster a healthy working relationship between our local government and business community. Intent is to clear up any misconceptions and misinformation regarding rebuilding and to personally address concerns. A half-day Open House at the Chamber office with Planning Dept personnel has been set for Thurs, Sept 22 from 1-5pm. Details coming soon.
  
Experience the Cypress Inn LoftNortrtNNNNNjhjklhNortjNNNNorthportCGet Tickets & Corporate Tables for Northport Citizen Banquet
The Northport Citizen of the Year program honors those who have contributed to the betterment of Northport in the last year. In addition to the Citizen of the Year, awards are given in these categories: Educator, Historian/Pioneer, Public Safety Leader, Business Leader, and Religious Leader. The 2011 program nomination process is now open. Visit www.tuscaloosachamber.com for a nomination form (see QuickLinks); these are also available at the Chamber office in downtown Tuscaloosa. Deadline for nominations is Sept 15. Banquet and Awards program will be Tues, Oct 4 at Five points Baptist Church. Tickets are $25/ea and corporate tables are $275 (8 tickets, name in program and on table as hosts). For more info, call 391.0554 or email tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com.

Technology Breakfast Series: Facebook (2 Classes Left)
Facebook is approaching 700 million users and your customer base is among them! Get started learning how to create and market your Facebook Business page. All classes are from 7:30—9:30am at Northport Civic Center. Cost is $20/participant for each class (includes Continental breakfast). Trainer is Donna Gilliland of MOSTraining. Call 391.0554 or email tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com to register or get more info.

Design & Marketing is Oct 20. Covers: Using the 5 Photos Area as Call to Action; Designer Options; Landing Page; Sign-up Page; Getting First 25 Fans (can’t custom URL without them); Securing a Vanity URL; Posting Content Marketing Strategies; Posting Frequency; Handling Negative Posts; And more.

Installing and Leveraging Facebook Applications is Nov 17. Covers: Events, Notes, Reviews, Broadcast Applications; And more.

Washington Fly In Sponsors Needed
Our 2011 Washington Fly In, to be held in Oct, will be fun and interesting and will include tours of Washington monuments plus the White House so sponsors are needed. Nucor, Lewis-Smyth-Winter, Mercedes Benz USI, Greene Beverage, Alabama Power, and Bryant Bank are already on board. Contact Terry Waters at 391.0562 or terry@tuscaloosachamber.com or Donny Jones at 391.0552 or donny@tuscaloosachamber.com, if interested. 

Congresswoman Terri Sewell to Address Chamber-Rotary Group
Partnering with Rotary once again, the Chamber will host Congresswoman Terri Sewell for a joint event at Indian Hills on Tues, Sept 27. Doors open at 11:30am and program begins at noon. Members of the Rotary Club do not have to register or make reservations through the Chamber. Individuals who are not members of Rotary must make reservations through the Chamber. Cost is $25/person and reservations must be received by and cannot be refunded/cancelled after Fri, Sept 23. Call 391.0559 or email stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com to register. Non-Chamber members must pay at the Chamber in advance.

Women's Division Fall Luncheon Celebrates Community Spirit
The Women's Division of the Chamber will hold its annual Fall Luncheon on Fri, Oct 7 at Indian Hills Country Club at 11am. Theme is Community Spirit and event wil feature Alabama First Lady Diane Bentley. Cost is $30 with paid membership. Seating is limited. Mail your check for reservations to PO Box 20534 Tuscaloosa, AL 35402. Call 752.3774 or 454.8622 for more info. 

Grants for Nonprofits Available;
Applications Processed Monthly
Local non-profit organizations certified with (501 C) (3) status that are involved with long-term recovery from the April tornadoes are eligible to apply for money from the Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund. The Grant Application and Qualifications Attachment are available at www.givetuscaloosa.com. Applications are due on the 10th of each month to be considered for funding during that month. Each group applying must have a board of directors, be subject to an annual financial audit, and commit to use the funds allocated to provide direct aid or basic human services as part of the countywide recovery efforts. For more info, call 758.7588.
 
MEMBERS IN MOTION
 
Theatre Tuscaloosa Offers
Chamber Member Discount
The first show of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2011-2012 Winning Season is “Bear Country,” the inspiring tale of the life and career of Coach Paul W “Bear” Bryant.  It runs through Oct 2 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus.  As a Chamber member, you may save $2 off your tickets (up to 4 per member) by using the coupon code “CHAMBER” online at www.theatretusc.com, on the phone at 391.2277, or in person at the Ticket Office.  Good seats are still available, but don’t wait!  This is sure to be a hit.  Roll Tide!

PARA Indoor Community Garage Sale on Saturday
Come out and shop for bargains and treasures at PARA’s Fall Indoor Community Garage Sale in the Mary Ann Phelps Center gym this Sat, Sept 17 from 7am-1pm.  You’ll find over 20 booths of great used and new items, including deals on clothing, shoes, purses, baby things, toys, action figures, books, CDs, DVDs, video games, household/kitchen items, dishes, teacups, collectibles, jewelry, Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy, gift items, quilts, linens, small appliances, lamps, tools, and much more!  The Phelps Center is located next to Rock Quarry School at 2200 Rock Quarry Dr in Tuscaloosa.  For more info and directions, call 562.3230.

PR Toolbox Clinic Offered to Nonprofits
The West Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama is holding its annual PR Toolbox for local nonprofits on Thurs, Sept 22. The day-long event will feature speakers from successful nonprofits and PRCA West Alabama members in each session. Topics will include: Getting your story covered in traditional media; Social media options to build an organization; and Creating a successful public relations plan. Keynote lunch speaker will be Stephen Black, President/Founder of Impact Alabama, a statewide nonprofit that works with university students and local communities to implement projects to realize systemic change throughout our state. Day will conclude with free one-on-one consulting with public relations professionals on topics like communication planning, social media, pitching stories to traditional media and implementing PR campaigns. Cost is $25/person, which includes lunch and materials. Register at www.prcawa.com. For more info, contact Teri Henley at henley@apr.ua.edu.

Community Arts Conversations at Amphitheater
The Arts Council is sponsoring Community Arts Conversations at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Tues, Sept 27th from 4-7pm. Local arts groups will be sharing their organizations with the community. Tables will be set up with displays, tickets and promotional items. You can count on a creative, fun night learning about visual art, dance, music and theater. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater will also be offering tours. Come get involved with the arts! Check out tuscarts.org for more info and participating organizations.

Aviation Business Supplier Symposium at BCC
A GE Aviation Business Supplier Symposium will be held at Bryant Conference Center on Sept 29 to include Sen Richard Shelby, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, UA President Dr Robert Witt and Mike Sims of GE Aviation. Get details and register at www.tuscaloosaaerospace.com.
  
A Nite on the Green Features Taylor Hicks
A Nite on the Green will be held on Mon, Oct 3 from 5-10:30pm at Bryant Conference Center. Event will feature Happy Hour Open Bar from 5-6:30, Taylor Hicks, great food and live and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit the DCH Breast Cancer Fund. Tickets are available at the DCH Foundation office, Tuscaloosa Toyota and online at www.supportdch.org. For more info, call 759.7349.

Congrats, Tuscaloosa Flower Shoppe
Tuscaloosa Flower Shoppe is celebrating its 90th anniversary and is running specials this month! Also, owner and sylist Sarah Morrison was just named 2011 Designer of the Year for the Alabama State Floral Association! Kudos! The shop is located at 2208 University Blvd, in downtown Tuscaloosa. Call 758.3065 or visit www.tuscaloosaflowershoppe.com to place an order.

Jameson Inn Named for Top Service
The Jameson Inn hotel brand was ranked #1 in customer service for the first half of 2011 by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (most in-depth measure of performance available) among its segment of hotels. Jameson Inn hotels feature double-sided pillow top Dreamium™ Beds and, this year, added in-room gourmet coffees and teas with single cup coffee makers.  The Jameson Inn in Tuscaloosa is located at 5021 Oscar Baxter Rd. Manager Bart Crowe can be reached at 345.5018. Check out the new website, www.jamisoninns.com.

Creative Campus Launches Website, Recruits Partnerships
The UA's Creative Campus has launched its online arts and community website, The Dome (thedome.ua.edu). An online extension of the ideas and goals that Creative Campus is built upon, The Dome aims to deliver local and personal expressions of creativity to UA students and Tuscaloosa residents. The website currently exists as an "e-zine," spanning a spectrum of arts topics through informal blogs and journalistic articles. Multimedia projects are in development and The Dome looks forward to expanding content within multiple mediums. The Dome is recruiting new staff and partnerships through Mon, Sept 19. For more info, visit the website or email thedomeua@gmail.com.

PLEASE REMEMBER…
 
Use Our Online Community Calendar
Please do check out all the features on our online calendar at www.tuscaloosachamber.com.  See what’s going on in the area and utilize the upload feature to add your own listing.
 
Share Member News
All employees and associates of Chamber-member firms are members, too. So, please simply hit the forward button to share this issue with all team members in your business/organization. Thanks a lot!
 
If you'd like info about your events, programs or business news included in “Member News”, send details to us at The Chamber, PO Box 20410, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402 or FAX to 391.0565. Better yet, email them to robin@tuscaloosachamber.com.