South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce

"South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce membership joins your business to your City, Township, School and fellow business partners."

(And News for Members)

Learn More About Chamber Members

Small Business Focus Featuring:
Small Business Administration, County Corp., and the SBDC at Wright State

Presented by the South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by AT&T Ohio, DP&L, and Miller-Valentine Group

When:             May 20th, 2008
                        7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., Registration, Networking & Continental Breakfast
                        7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., Presentation & Panel Discussion

Where:            Washington Township Recreation Center-West
                        965 Miamisburg Centerville Road (S.R. 725)
                        No Charge Event
Reservations required: 433-2032 ext. 200
                        Questions: 433-2032 ext. 100

Speakers:       Neil Arthur- Publisher, Dayton Business Journal - Moderator
Douglas Sweazy- Business Specialist, Small Business Administration
Stephen D. Naas- President, County Corp.
                        Michael Bodey- Regional Director, Ohio SBDC Program

Topic: Financing Tools Available to the Small Business Owner
Is access to credit tightening in the face of a slowing economy? Our speakers will discuss financing tools and other programs available to assist the small business owner. Presentation will be followed by a panel discussion that will encourage audience participation on issues that are critically important to small businesses and stakeholders in the South Metro area. Topics will include:

Refreshments provided by: Gordon Food Service (741)
Fruit Flowers of Dayton (725)

Audio Video record by: Miami Valley Communication Council

This event made possible by the support and endorsement of our participating cities, townships and villages.

RSVP to the Chamber today at 433-2032 extension 200.
Next Inforum - Sept 16, 2008

News Release

WARREN F. MUTH, MD, TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF OHIO STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Dayton general surgeon to lead statewide physicians’ association

Columbus – At the annual meeting of the Ohio State Medical Association, Warren F. Muth, MD, FACS, became president of the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) for 2008-09.

"It is an honor to be able to serve as an advocate for my fellow physicians," said Dr. Muth. "We face many challenges, but when physicians work together, we can help put healthcare back in the hands of physicians and patients."

Dr. Muth is a general and vascular surgeon practicing in Dayton with South Dayton Surgeons. He is affiliated with Kettering Medical Center, where he serves as the Medical Director of the Surgery Network. Dr. Muth is also on the faculty of Wright State University’s School of Medicine.

Dr. Muth is a past president of the Montgomery County Medical Society and serves as an Alternate Delegate from Ohio to the American Medical Association. In addition, he is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and an international member of the Royal Society of Medicine in England.

Dr. Muth received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Dr. Muth resides in Dayton with his wife, Carol. They are the parents of two grown children, Aaron and Colette.

About OSMA
The Ohio State Medical Association is a statewide association representing 20,000 Ohio physicians, residents, medical students and practice managers. It is dedicated to improving the practice of medicine for physicians, their staff and patients, by advocating their position, saving them time and money, and promoting the medical profession. The OSMA is affiliated with the American Medical Association on the national level and county medical societies on the local level.

South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce
Raffle for YWCA – Dayton
Carolyn Kearns Young Scholarship Fund - Benefiting area Women from the YWCA Dayton Domestic Violence Shelter and Homeshare Program

Just $5.00 a chance – buy as many as you like – ALL MONEY goes to the Scholarships Fund.

Your entry is your business card; drawing will take place December 10, 2008 at noon at the South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Feast. Winner need not be present to win.

The perfect holiday gift sponsored by: McGohan Brabender Companies and the Chamber. Imagine! Win this beautiful VIZIO flat screen television and support the Dayton YWCA Scholarship Fund!!!!!

“In honor of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War.” (Inscription on The Wall and The Moving Wall.)

The Moving Wall, the nation’s first and only traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be in Miamisburg from September 25-29, 2008.

Mayor Dick Church said, “We are honored that The Moving Wall will visit our community and appreciate the generous efforts of The Moving Wall Event Committee in bringing this very special experience to Miamisburg. The memorial helps to bring healing to veterans and families and friends of those who died or are missing in Vietnam, especially those who may not have the opportunity to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.”

“We strive to educate the community on the price veterans paid for us and the respect they deserve from us,” said Gene Rishforth, chairman of The Moving Wall Event Committee. “We are committed, as a group, to The Wall in Washington, DC annually to pay our respect and to honor those who gave their lives for our country. Our organization holds several fundraisers throughout the year; the proceeds are used to make donations to selected veteran organizations and veteran families’ said Dave Courtney, Rolling Thunder, Ohio Chapter 11, also chairman of The Moving Wall Event Committee.

“Visitors to The Moving Wall are moved beyond words,” Courtney continued. “The Moving Wall allows people to experience the memorial, to reach out and touch the name of someone they lost. Visiting the wall is a very emotional experience, even for people who don’t personally know someone who died in Vietnam. The Vietnam War touched us all in some way, and The Moving Wall gives us a chance to say thank you to those who gave their lives to that war effort.”

In 1982 John Devitt, a former helicopter door gunner and Army veteran, visited Washington DC for the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to participate in the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans. This visit and experience changed Devitt’s life and led to the creation of the “Moving Wall,” which has since moved millions of people. Devitt, wanted to capture the spirit he felt at the Washington DC memorial and to share it with people who couldn’t travel there to see the monument. The replica measures 250 feet long, 4 feet tall at each end and 6 feet tall in the center. The replicas are constructed of aluminum with the 58,256 names of the American dead in Vietnam silk-screened upon black panels. The replica costs approximately $60,000, and all money to create the memorial was donated.

“Many of those who visit The Moving Wall leave flowers, notes, medals, photographs and other loving mementos at the memorial,” said Rishforth. “All items left there will be collected on the last day of the display, marked and boxed and then shipped to the Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. Office for storage in their warehouse. When The Moving Wall has fulfilled its need, a museum will be constructed where The Moving Wall and all artifacts collected over the years will be displayed in glass cases below the flag of each state the memorial has visited.”

Those who come to The Moving Wall while it is in Miamisburg will be looking for one or a few very special names. Trained volunteers will be on the site to help people identify the location of the names they seek.

The opening ceremony will be at 5:30 pm, September 25 and will remain open to the public, 24 hours a day, until it closes approximately 2:00 pm on the 29th.

Those who want to be a volunteer for this event should contact Gene Rishforth at (937) 681-5089 or via e-mail at starcityclassicparts@ameritech.net.

“Our nation honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of its Vietnam veterans.”

The South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce will be teaming up with Cox Ohio Publishing/Dayton Daily News to produce a quarterly newsletter that will be direct mailed to 5,000 business executives. It will be mailed to all Chamber members, as well as other businesses in South Dayton . The newsletter will be delivered at the end of March, June, September, & December, 2008.

This publication will showcase the Chamber calendar, educate members on the services and benefits offered, provide important information concerning economic development, education projects and legislative issues that relate to small business, as well as B2B events.

The South Metro Regional Chamber needs your help to make this happen. We are looking for businesses to sponsor the quarterly newsletter. We are providing you with an opportunity to put your business/service in front of key decision makers in South Dayton , plus partner with area businesses to impact profit & bottom line.

Please take a moment to review the sponsorship packages below. We know publications from the South Metro Regional Chamber of Commerce have a high readership, so don't miss out! Space is reserved on a first come basis.

Four (4) - 14" full color ads (4" wide x 3.5" tall) = 1 ad in each of the 2008 publications.

Four (4) - 28" full color ads (8" wide x 3.5" tall) = 1 ad in each of the 2008 publications.

Hurry . Time is limited!! Should you have any questions or to reserve your space, please call Erin Murdock at 937-225-7396 (office) or 937-305-5661 (cell). You can also send an email to emurdock@coxohio.com . Thank you!

Any one interested in helping with a special project. United Way's Volunteer Connection, the grant-funded program I lead, is starting an advisory council. This council will guide Volunteer Connection as it strives to meet United Way of the Greater Dayton Area's mission through the following four strategies:

United Way's Volunteer Connection posts volunteer opportunities available within 130+ nonprofits throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble Counties. (Any nonprofit, public school, government organization, hospital, etc., is welcome to use the services free of charge.) More than 400 ongoing and one-time opportunities are currently available within our database. Volunteer Connection also coordinates several local and national days of volunteer service, including events in late Spring and mid-Fall that engage hundreds of volunteers through each event. More information about Volunteer Connection is available through our web site at http://www.volunteerdayton.org. United Way's Volunteer Connection is a member of the Points of Light/Hands On Network. I am personally a member of the Miami Valley Association of Volunteer Administrators, the community service chair for Generation Dayton, a member of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Volunteer Advisory Council and the new vice president for the Ohio Volunteer Center Association.

What does all of this mean? I'm hoping to identify a young professional who wants to help increase volunteerism throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble Counties. While our newly-formed advisory council does include members of nonprofits, companies and other stakeholder groups, it is missing the voice of an outstanding young professional. (I prefer a member of Generation Dayton for this position, but this isn't a firm requirement.) No experience is required for this position… Just a passion for making a difference in our region through the engagement of volunteers. Meetings will initially be held monthly at our office near downtown Dayton, but we hope to have them slow down to quarterly within a few short months. Members of the advisory council will be expected to actively participate in one sub-committee. (Potential sub-committees include corporate volunteerism, youth and young adult engagement, Days of Action and more.) The advisory council will be chaired by Bonnie Holtmann of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The vice chair is Pastor Elliot Smith of Spring Valley Academy. Both of these individuals bring unique skill sets, enthusiasm and a wealth of different experience to the program and I'm excited to have them on board. (If you'd like more information about Bonnie or Pastor Elliot, please let me know and I can put you in contact with either of them. They have both been copied on this email as well.)

The advisory council will host its first meeting on March 27th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please let me know if you might be interested in this position. If you know of another young professional who may be a great fit, please feel free to forward this email to that person as well. While only one person will be selected for service on the advisory council itself, there will be ample room for other individuals to serve on the various sub-committees.

Thank you for your consideration of this exciting new opportunity. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions, comments or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

We would like to re-introduce FirstDay to the chamber. FirstDay has been helping businesses and consumers for nearly 73 years achieve their dreams. FirstDay is excited to inform chamber members that when your business opens an account with FirstDay, we will pay for your next SMRCOC breakfast at Champps.

FirstDay’ s heritage in the Dayton area dates back 72 years, when the Dayton Ohio Teachers Federal Credit Union was organized to serve employees of the Dayton Public School system. Today, membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Greene, Miami, Montgomery, or Preble counties. Family members of current members are also eligible for membership. FirstDay has locations in Kettering, Trotwood, Huber Heights, and Dayton.

FirstDay values each and every member relationship. We are committed to your financial freedom and financial success and as such FirstDay offers the following products and services including but not limited to:

This organization provides at-risk young people the employability skill training needed to be successful in school, at home, in the workplace and in the community. MVYCS is truly making a difference in these young lives. Of course, funds are short and we depend mostly on government dollars. These students give back....over 15,000 hours in the local community for each of the past 3 school years. In other words, with a total of 45,000 hours, students have spent what is the equivalent of 2 calendar years giving back to the community! 86 cents out of every dollar invested into the program is spent on direct services to our youth participants. Working graduates repay the cost in payroll taxes in less than 9 months on the job!

We were very fortunate to be selected as ABC22 and Oprah’s recipient of Big Give Dayton. Our task is to raise as much as we can to help MVYCS serve more youth in our community!

Launch an email campaign – ask for support from everyone in your address book.

Make copies of the flyer and leave it behind at restaurants, retailers, friends and distribute at meetings

Donations can be made through the website or at any Day Air Credit Union Office. We only have until April 20th!

Contact:
Janetta Ross
Director of Marketing
Simplesoft Solutions
Phone: 304.521.2387
E-Mail: jross@simplesoft.net

Dear Chamber;

Workers’ Comp News:

Now that private employer group rating enrollment is over for the upcoming 2008/2009 program year I thought it would be a good idea to inform you on Key events and dates relevant to workers’ comp that are coming up:

· MCO Open Enrollment – Month of May*

· May 15th for Public Employers – Early Premium Payment Due**

· May 15th for Public Employers – settlement deadline

* MCO (Managed Care Organization) Open Enrollment will be held this May. This event occurs once every two years where companies can change their MCO. You will be inundated with literature and phone calls soliciting you to change… If you have any questions concerning this please don’t hesitate to give Hunter Consulting Company a call and we can explain this in more detail (1-800-486-6652 ext. 114 Tammy.

** Public Employers must pay a minimum of 45% of their total premium costs by May 15th. The remaining 55% is due by Sept. 1st.

If you have any questions concerning your workers’ compensation issues please don’t hesitate to give Pat Williams a call at 1-800-486-6652 ext. 106.

at the new Cox Ohio Publishing Media Center

at 1611 S. Main Street in Dayton, Ohio.

MVITA's World Trade Day is for

companies wanting to stay current on the Changes and Opportunities in International Trade.

This year's event will be a series of informative presentations on:

The Opportunities in Vietnam,

International Travel & Security

Updates of both Export and Import Regulations.

You may register via return e-mail to:

mvita@earthlink.net

Our monthly newsletter is now available online. You can see past issues on our Newsletter page.