July 7, 2011
 

CHAMBER NEWS

Merry Christmas in July
Our next Chamber Connects mixer will be held next week at the Hilton Garden Inn on Tues, July 12 from 5-7pm. This annual affair is always an elegant treat! Sample lavish fare from its Great American Grill and get great ideas for holiday parties and gift giving. Bring an unwrapped toy for a chance to win big prizes like overnight stays at great destinations! Plan to come and ask a friend.
 
Rep. Mike Hubbard at Next Chamber in Session
Rep. Mike Hubbard, Alabama Speaker of the House, will headline Chamber in Session on July 14. Luncheon will be at Hotel Capstone at 11:30am. Tickets are $25/person and reservations must be received by and cannot be refunded/cancelled after July 11. Call 391.0559 or e-mail stacey@tuscaloosachamber.comto register. Learn more about Hubbard at www.mikehubbard.com. This event will be sponsored by Tanner & Guin, LLC. Chamber in Session is a regular program of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, offering its members the opportunity to connect with local and state government.
 
Congressman Robert Aderholt
Headlines Chamber-Rotary Event
Together with Rotary, the Chamber will host Congressman Robert Aderholt, who represents the Fourth Congressional District of Alabama, at a luncheon at Indian Hills Country Club on July 19 AT 11:30am. 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 July 15.  Call 391.0559 or email stacey@tuscaloosachamber.comto register. Non-Chamber members must pay at the Chamber in advance of the meeting. Learn more about Aderholt at http://aderholt.house.gov/.
 
BRIC Center Still Open; Deadlines Extended
The Business Recovery Information Center (BRIC) links affected businesses with the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center, FEMA, and other resources. Visit the SBA Business Disaster Center located at 800 22nd Ave, behind Regions Bank, in downtown Tuscaloosa, where experts are stationed to expedite assistance. Filing deadline for SBA Disaster Loans is now July 18. Deadline to return economic injury applications is January 30, 2012. FEMA registration deadline is July 17.
 
Grants for Nonprofits Available;
Application at GiveTuscaloosa.com
Local nonprofits 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. The fairly brief application asks applicants to explain their purpose, how much they are requesting and what the group’s primary function is. In addition to having non-profit status, each group applying must have a board of directors, must be subject to an annual financial review and contractually commit to use the funds allocated to provide direct aid or basic human services as part of the countywide recovery efforts from the April storm.
 
UA Greek Relief Raises $180k; Grant Application Available
UA Greek Relief, which has raised $180,000 for the Tuscaloosa tornado relief effort, has made its grant applications available to nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status on its website, www.uagreekrelief.com. Certain restrictions apply. For more info, email jamesclevelandfowler@gmail.com, call 256.682.7072 or visit the website.
 
Women In Business Council Seeks Noms for Annual Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 5th annual Women In Business Council Awards. Based on predetermined criteria, the following awards will be given at the luncheon: “Bright Future” Award, “Defining Woman of the Year” Award, an Achievement Award, “Roots and Wings” Award and a “Trailblazer” Award. A new award has been added this year to recognize volunteerism. The award will be called the “Spirit of Tuscaloosa” Award. A complete description of each award along with a nomination form is available online at www.tuscaloosachamber.com(see QuickLinks tab on left side of homepage). Submission deadline is July 20. Awards luncheon will be held in Aug. For more info, contact Stacey Gann at 391.0559 or stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com.
 
Save the Date: Washington Fly In
Our 2011 Washington Fly In will be Oct 12-14. A new, fun and interesting itinerary is being developed. Details are coming soon!
 
Early Bird Registration for AAS Golf Tournament Open
Early Bird registration forms for the annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament are now available at www.tuscaloosachamber.com/aas. The 4-man scramble set for Sept 15 is the annual fundraising event benefitting the AAS program. Ol’ Colony golf complex will host the tournament. All teams will begin play with a shotgun start at 1pm. Early bird registration for $500/team is available now through August 10. After that, the cost will be $600/team. Fee includes greens fee, range balls, cart and lunch. Thornton Jamison of BBVA Compass Bank will serve as chair for this year’s tournament. Also, a variety of sponsorships are available for the tourney. See the link above for a sponsor form. For more info, call 391.0563 or email loo@tuscaloosachamber.com.
 
Chamber Membership Renewal Time
Invoices for our July billing cycle have gone out (we process in Jan & July). If you’re in this cycle, please make sure you renew ASAP! We appreciate you!
 
MEMBERS IN MOTION
 
Tonight is Art Night
Kentuck in downtown Northport will offer Tornado inspired art in its Annex, live music, cob oven pizza and open studios. Call 758.1257 or visit www.kentuck.orgfor more info.
 
School Supply Drive Location Opens in Mall
A kick-off party and ribbon cutting for “It All Adds Up” is set for Fri, July 8 at 4pm at its space near center court in University Mall, between Gymboree and Life Uniform. This location serves as the main collection point for this supply drive to get students in our area the tools they need for the upcoming school year. Donations will be accepted July 9-22. Hours are Mon-Fri from 10am-6pm and Sun 1-5pm.Call 759.3518 (for City Schools) or 342.2743 (for Co Schools) to get more info.
 
Basketball Camp at Stillman Next Week
The 3rd Annual Michael Grant Basketball Camp will be held at Stillman College July 11-14, 9am-4pm each day, for boys and girls 8-18 (high school grads not eligible). Fee is $90/camper (lunches not included). For more info, call 205.247.8184.
 
Recovery Tools & Training Workshop Set
Church World Service will present a day-long workshop on July 15 giving an overview of long-term disaster recovery and sharing lessons learned and best practices gathered from decades of experience in large and small disasters. Community leaders, faith based groups, social service organizations and anyone dedicated to helping rebuild homes and lives are encouraged to attend. Location is First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Ave in Tuscaloosa. There is no cost for training, lunch or materials. (Event is partly funded by FEMA.) Interested parties should register at www.cwserp.org.
 
“Heroes in the Storm” Tickets Available
Honor the heroes from April 27 and the weeks that followed at an event on Fri, July 15 at 6:30pm at the North Zone at Bryant Denny Stadium to include music, comedy, magic, items up for bid, fantastic food and so much more! All proceeds will benefit Temporary Emergency Services and will be earmarked for storm victim aid. Get your tickets today! Corporate sponsorship are $5,000 (only 4 available); tables are $1,000 (10 tickets, includes dinner); and individual tickets are $100/ea (includes dinner). For more info, call 205.464.2009.
 
“The Drowsy Chaperone” Brings Laughter & Fun to Tuscaloosa
Theatre Tuscaloosa presents the hit Broadway musical comedy, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus July 15-24. It won the most Tony Awards in 2006 and is a delightfully clever musical that feels like one of the great “Golden Age” ones but with a modern twist!  Show has dazzling dance numbers, show-stopping songs, over the top costumes and sets, and some of the funniest lines ever.
 
Canned goods for the West Alabama Food Bank will be collected for those affected by the tornado.  Patrons bringing canned goods to the ticket office will get $1 off per ticket per canned good item donated (limit $1 discount per ticket). Shows will be at 7:30pm Thurs-Sat and at 2pm on Wed and Sun. All proceeds of a pay-what-you-can final dress rehearsal on Thurs, July 14, at 7:30pm will benefit the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund. Tickets for regular shows are $22 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $10 for students and children. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatretusc.comor by phone at 205.391.2277.
 
TPL Offers Grant Finding & Writing Class to Nonprofits 
The Tuscaloosa Public Library will be offering a free Grant Research Workshop for Nonprofits on Tues, July 19 at 6pm at the Main library. Objectives are to teach nonprofit personnel how to search for relevant local and national grants and how to write successful ones. Class will take place in the Rotary room. Limited space is available, so signup is required. Call 345.5820 X 271.
 
Arts Council Launches New Website & Intros New Logos
The Arts Council is pleased to announce the launch of a new website and the introduction of new logos for the organization, the Bama Theatre and the upcoming Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center.  A “soft launch” of the new site took place on June 27. Check it out at www.tuscarts.org. New include searchable interactive calendars listing events at the Bama and in the community, a forum for Arts Council members encouraging the exchange of ideas and a page listing Art Night galleries and their respective maps. Social media will be coordinated with the new site.
 
Help Vote Tuscaloosa Tea Town USA
Voting for Tea Town USA has begun!  McAllister’s winner of Tea Town will receive $15,000 to donate to a charity of choice. The Tuscaloosa McAllister’s has chosen team Up Tuscaloosa, a rebuilding effort. Visit www.teatownusa.comto vote and pass the word! Call 205-765-7787 for more info.
 
Nancy Taylor News
Nancy Taylor Day Spa will host plastic surgeon Dr Schaffer on July 11 and July 25; call 391.4585 for a free consultation apt.  Also, new at the spa is Shutter nail polish from OPI and feather hair extensions.
 
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 would like info about your events, programs or business news included in The Chamber’s “Member News”, send details to us at The Chamber, P. O. Box 20410, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402 or FAX to 391.0565. Better yet, email them to robin@tuscaloosachamber.com.