The Chamber has learned that the company used to provide Chamber Gift Certificates (Certifichecks, Inc.) has ceased operations, effective 2/26/09, and is in the process of declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Dayton, Ohio.  Effective immediately DO NOT accept any more Chamber Gift Certificates; DO NOT deposit any gift certificates you may have in the bank as they will be returned; REMOVE all door and register decals promoting the program but, DO NOT destroy any gift certificates you may have in your possession as they undoubtedly will be needed in the final resolution of this matter.  To see the notice issued by Certifichecks, you can go to their website at www.certifichecks.com.

If you have any gift certificates that have not been deposited or redeemed, we ask that you advise us immediately to let us know what you have so that we can begin to determine the extent of this problem.  If you have any customers that try to redeem the certificates, please direct them to the Chamber office at 455-8282 for information about what they should do with the certificates.  Please use the Gift Certificate Report form located on the home page of our website at www.zmchamber.com or use this direct link to access the form:  http://www.zmchamber.com/Services_Information/Gift%20Certificate%20Report%20Form.doc

We are working diligently with other state and national Chamber associations and the Ohio Attorney General's office to determine if Certifichecks has made provisions to honor outstanding certificates.  In the meantime, please complete and return the Gift Certificate Report form as soon as possible.

Finding Opportunity in a Down Economy

Constant Contact has a good article we would like to share about how to market in a soft economy.  It is called "Finding Opportunity in a Down Economy".  The article stresses back to basics approaches and good organization of your marketing efforts.  You can find it at www.zmchamber.com on the front page under "Recent Posts".

MVHRMA Elects Officers for 2009
The Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association (MVHRMA) recently elected members for the 2009 Executive Board:  They are Nancy Rutledge, President (employee of Muskingum County Job & Family Services); Jamie Clark, President-Elect (employee of Zane State College); Tara Wilson, SPHR, Vice President (employee of JK Evans & Assoc.); Kim Swinehart, Secretary (employee of Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative); Jodi Stapleton, Treasurer (employee of Mid-East Career & Technology Center); Page Smith, SPHR, Member-at-Large (employee of Offinger Management); Ellen Rucker, PHR, Member-at-Large (employee of Primary Aim, LLC) and Kathy Hollins, Member-at-Large (employee of Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce).

The MVHRMA is an affiliate chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and consists of human resource professionals in the East Central area of Ohio. The group offers professional development and networking opportunities to its members and guests. The chapter generally meets the second Wednesday of each month with a guest speaker followed by a regular business meeting. Reservations are required. For information contact Kathy Hollins at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, 740-455-8282, ext 16.

Summary of the Employee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act is proposed legislation that will amend the National Labor Relations Act.   If enacted, this bill will have a substantial impact on union development.  Under current labor law, the U.S. National Labor Relations Board will certify a union as the exclusive representative of employees if the union is elected by either a majority signature drive or by secret ballot NLRB election, which is held if more than 30% of employees in a bargaining unit sign statements asking for representation by a union.  This bill will eliminate the secret ballot election, and require an employer to recognize and bargain with a union based solely on the fact that a majority of employees in the bargaining unit have signed union authorization cards.  Under the proposed law, if more than 50% of the employees in a proposed bargaining unit sign authorization cards, the union will be certified as the employee's representative, and the employer will be ordered to bargain and negotiate a labor contract with the union. The bill also includes provision that would permit a union to demand that an employer begin bargaining within 10 days of certification of the union as the exclusive bargaining representative for an appropriate unit of employees resulting from the card check.   If the union and employer cannot agree upon the terms of a first collective bargaining contract within 90 days, either party can request federal mediation, which could lead to binding arbitration if an agreement still cannot be reached after 30 days of mediation.

BWC Safety Congress & Expo to Help Employers Lower Costs

Increased Workplace Safety Can Help Employers Better Manage Economic Challenges

Ohio employers interested in saving money by increasing safety in the workplace are encouraged to attend the Ohio Safety Congress and Expo, sponsored by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). The free event is the Midwest's most established occupational safety and health event, linking employers with many opportunities to learn the latest safety and health techniques and practices. The Ohio Safety Congress & Expo will take place March 31 through April 2 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The Ohio Safety Congress & Expo features courses and lectures designed to provide attendees with

flexible, industry-focused information on a variety of topics, including how to improve safety programs in an effort to reduce costs in a difficult economy. Participants of all educational and some general sessions will receive continuing education credits from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and credits for BWC discount programs.

This year's Safety Congress & Expo will feature sessions specifically designed for manufacturing safety, the development of workplace safety programs and small business safety programs.  These specialty sessions will be held on Thursday, April 2.  For specific topics in each session please visit the website listed below.  The Ohio Safety Congress & Expo will also offer dynamic keynote speakers and displays of state-of-the-art occupational safety and health products. The free event is open to the public. Employers are encouraged to register now at www.ohiobwc.com or by calling 1-800-OHIOBWC.

ADA Amendment Act Is Topic at MVHRMA Meeting
The Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the downstairs conference room at the Chamber offices, 205 N. Fifth St., Zanesville.   This month's guest speaker is Jim Gears with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and he will be speaking on the ADA Amendment Act.  This presentation has been approved for 1 HRCI certification point.  The meeting is open and free of charge to any interested Chamber member.  Coffee and breakfast refreshments will be served.  RSVP's requested.  Contact Joy Riddle at 455-8282 or by email to jriddle@zmchamber.com.

Spring Break - Make Reservations Now

The 2009 Spring Break event will be held Friday, March 20^th from 7 - 9 a.m. at Hallowed Hills.  Spring Break is the Annual Membership meeting of the Chamber and features the presentation of the annual ACES and Safety Council awards.  Dave Caperton, who has been described as both insightful and hilarious will be our keynote speaker and his presentation is titled "Customer Dis-Service".  Cost:  $15 per person (seats not reserved) or $250 for a table sponsorship which includes a reserved table for 8, table sign, company listing on the event program and recognition in the Chamber newsletter and on the website.  Casual attire is strongly recommended.  Valuable prizes will be awarded for the worst shirt, best hat, whitest legs and more!  Thank you to our sponsors: AT & T, Century National Bank and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Safety Council.   RSVP by March 16^th by calling Joy Riddle at 455-8282 or by email to jriddle@zmchamber.com.

Reminder:  Web Marketing Seminar - Register Now!

"How to Use the Internet to Grow Your Business" is a seminar being presented on Tuesday, March 17. Learn how to understand the basics of web marketing to harness the power of the Internet in your business and get up-to-date techniques that really work.   The seminar is presented by the Muskingum College's MISST Program, which stands for Master of Information Strategy, Systems and Technology.  The presenters are Linda Linham, CEO, Successful Ventures, LLC, Sharon Delay, President, Permanent Ink!, and Mary Kaufmann, Faculty, Muskingum College.  Date:    Tuesday, March 17, 2009  Time:   9:00 a.m. - Noon   Location: Muskingum County Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth Street, Zanesville, Cost: $49 for Chamber Members   Register: www.muskingum.edu/~misst/zmcoc or send email to jriddle@zmchamber.com.  Reservations cancelled after March 16th will be billed.

Clarification on Tool Sale

There was a tool sale held by an out-of-town company a couple weeks ago in "our" building.  Several people have stopped chamber staffers since then and asked why we would host an out-of-town company that competes directly with local businesses.  The answer is the Chamber did not host the sale and the Welcome Center is not our building.  The Chamber leases a sizable portion of the building but we do not own it and we do not in any way operate the room rental side of the facility, so we don't have any say in who rents the rooms. If we did, our policy certainly would be to not rent to non-local companies like the one that held the tool sale. From time to time we see tool sales and mattress sales and such around town, and we are not glad about it either when the firm is from out of town.  But it is legal and a fact of life in the business world today so there is not much that can be done except emphasize to consumers the impact of buying locally. Rest assured the Chamber stands firmly on the side of local businesses in such matters and will continue to promote local buying and support for local businesses.  We thought it was important to clarify and state the facts about this since the issued has been raised to us.  Please feel free to email Tom Poorman at tpoorman@zmchamber.com if you have further questions about this.

ZDA to Conduct Demographic Profile Assessment

Beginning in March the ZDA will distribute questionnaires to downtown businesses as part of the downtown demographic profile assessment.  Updating the demographics for Downtown Zanesville is part of the recruitment focus of the ZDA's Business Recruitment and Retention program. Dana Matz, Manager of the ZDA commented that the last survey for downtown was completed in 2000.  The ZDA is positioning for the economic turnaround and the growing experience economy sector. The experience economy is based on providing continuously unique experiences that can't be commoditized by competitors, as services and goods increasingly are. We will look at "boutique-sized" businesses that can adapt to our current building stock and choose to be part of urban environment.

Muskingum County Promoted in Milwaukee, Cleveland and Pittsburgh

Muskingum County was promoted as a travel destination last month in Pittsburgh at Heartland Travel Showcase, and in Roanoke, VA at the North Carolina Motorcoach Association (NCMA) Marketplace. Now in its 24th year, Heartland Travel Showcase is recognized as the largest regional motorcoach marketplace in the United States. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Tourism Team joined more than 600 hospitality / tourism professionals from North America at the David Lawrence Convention Center. This forum offered tour companies ways to develop new group tour products, and sellers the opportunity to tell tour companies about their destination and encourage group travel to their area.

At the NCMA Marketplace, motorcoach and tour operators obtained information about Zanesville and Muskingum County's attractions, restaurants and lodging as possible stops for charters and tours. During marketplace sessions, delegates were encouraged to use Muskingum County as a destination for future trips.  Group travel is one of three markets the Zanesville-Muskingum County Convention and Visitors Bureau pursues when promoting the area as a travel destination. For information about how your tourism-related business can be recognized at future group tour trade shows, call Lori Kappes at 455-8282.

Travel Show to be Held in Zanesville

The 10^th Annual Spotlight on Appalachian Ohio: Arts, Music & Travel Show will be held March 20 and 21 at Colony Square Mall. This event highlights the Appalachian region of Ohio and the many people, places, events, and attractions located in the area. Attendees to the show will have the opportunity to "taste, listen & learn" all about Appalachia Ohio through food, music and arts. Culinary and art demonstrations will be presented throughout the show accompanied by a variety of music provided by area and regional musicians. The show is free and open to the public. Door prize drawings and a silent auction will also take place. For information about exhibiting at Spotlight on Appalachian Ohio, contact Kelly Ashby at 455-8282 or kashby@zmchamber.com.