The annual Bloomsburg Fair preview luncheon was held on Wednesday, Sept. 5, during which new exhibits, vendors and new changes for this year’s event were announced. This year’s fair, which runs from Sept. 22-29, will once again feature several Chamber members as vendors, as well as, for the second straight year, a special day for the Ronald McDonald House of Danville. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, for each regular priced $8 admission ticket sold, $1 will go to benefit the RMHD and its mission of providing a “home away from home” for parents and families of children that are being treated for cancer or other serious illness. This marks the second straight year that the Fair is partnering with RMHD for this promotion. Children under 18 will also be admitted free this day. 
Fair president Paul Reichart speaks at the 2018 Bloomsburg Fair preview luncheon
Even before the fall semester began at Bloomsburg University, members of the football team were helping local residents clean up from the recent flooding. With the semester now underway, there are many opportunities to engage with students for volunteer efforts and professional development. Businesses and non-profit organizations are invited to connect.
The Big Event is recognized for organizing thousands of students for community service projects on a Saturday each spring. However, student groups volunteer in the community throughout the year. The Center for Leadership & Engagement on campus can help connect non-profits and other groups with students for events or other efforts. Contact Keith Spencer at 570-389-3864 or email.
As students seek to develop employability skills, Professional U connects students with alumni, employers, and opportunities integrating the academic experience with professional experience in “real world” settings. Through the exploration of professional development topics and experiential learning, students build skills and confidence which prepare them for personal and professional success upon graduation. Opportunities include on campus engagement, internships, and workplace observations. Additional information with contacts can be found on this sheet.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Throughout 2018, Pennsylvania has seen positive economic gains as a result of federal reforms to the nation’s tax structure and regulatory environment. These pro-business changes have helped to strengthen not only the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, but the nation’s as a whole; which has had the ripple effect of increasing employer confidence and boosting private sector growth. However, all of these benefits are at risk of going away due to the threat of a global trade war spurred on by the imposition of tariffs on a variety of goods from countries with which the United States has traditionally enjoyed a strong trade relationship.
And what does this mean for Pennsylvania? According to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a trade war would put $2.2 billion worth of exports at risk – including coffee, motorcycles and steel – and threatens more than 1.6 million jobs in the Commonwealth that are supported by global trade.
Clearly, Pennsylvania has a lot at stake. Nowhere is this more evident than in our trade relationship with Canada – which is critical in advancing the state’s overall economy; generating billions of dollars in economic output and providing thousands of family sustaining jobs. In fact, in 2017, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states providing imports to Ontario alone. I recently joined with my counterpart at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce – Rocco Rossi – to highlight this important trade relationship and call for the renewal of the North American Free Trade Agreement in order to strengthen cross-border trade.
Businesses across the state are already feeling the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs. This point was driven home at a recent roundtable meeting where Sen. Pat Toomey joined myself and other business leaders from across the Commonwealth. From timber to steel manufacturing to construction, representatives from a variety of industries spoke of how the tariffs have resulted in increased costs, the loss of sales, fewer export opportunities, and a growing sense of uncertainty with respect to potential future or retaliatory tariffs that is leading them to scale back on or even shelve important projects. Across the state and the country, companies are weighing in on the threat these tariffs are having on their bottom line and their ability to operate and hire new workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a website that runs a state-by-state analysis of the negative economic impact of the tariffs and encourages business leaders to submit their comments. And Sen. Toomey has co-sponsored legislation that would require Congressional approval of any tariffs that are levied under the guise of national security – a bill that the PA Chamber has signed a letter of support for.
In today’s global marketplace, the strength and long-term prosperity of the United States economy is fortified by American businesses continuing to export goods and services around the world. That’s why we are voicing our concerns about the negative impacts these tariffs, along with any future retaliatory tariffs, may have on the Commonwealth’s economy and continuing to advocate for public policies and initiatives that promote free and fair trade, open investment and regulatory cooperation
Member News
- Service 1st Federal Credit Union held its 25th Annual Charity Golf Tournament last month at Frosty Valley, during which it presented three local charities with donations totaling $56,000.
Kyle Veen, Jr.; Steve Endress, Chairman, Service 1st Board of Directors; Dr. David Ledbetter, Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Geisinger; Dr. Christa Martin, Director, Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute; Meg Epler, Program Manager, Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute; and Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st.
Since 1994, Service 1st’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament has raised $453,500 to benefit area charities. This year’s tournament included 144 golfers, numerous volunteers and sponsors, including fellow credit unions and a number of local organizations. Funds raised were combined with those from Service 1st’s Seventh Annual Charity Duck Derby, held earlier in August and were presented at the end of the Tournament to the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund and Geisinger’s Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute.
- Beginning today, the Montour St. bridge in the Borough of Danville (located just behind the Sunoco gas station on Rt. 54), will be closed for reconstruction. Motorists are reminded to please use an alternate route. Check the Borough’s Facebook page for updates on this project.
- The Weis Center for the Performing Arts will hold a free concert tomorrow, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium.
Willie Kelly and David Power
This performance will feature David Power, one of Ireland’s foremost uilleann pipers, and New Jersey fiddler Willie Kelly, who will combine traditional Irish music. This duo recently collaborated on a new album titled Apples in Winter, which the Irish Echo described as something “will resonate with the people who love and admire traditional Irish music played with a stately air and a gentlemanly touch.”
- In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Camp Victory will hold a special free family fun day for the community next Sunday, Sept. 9, from 12-3 p.m. Its swimming pool, climbing wall and zip line will be open and there will be hot dogs, ice cream, drinks, an arts and crafts project, a moon bounce, wagon rides and live music. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
- The Penn State World Campus will hold a number of informational webinars over the next few weeks for those that may be interested in pursuing a degree or certification through Penn State’s online/virtual delivery unit. Next Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m., there will be a virtual open house in which interested individuals can customize their “journey” according to their interests and chat one-on-one with members of the PSU World team for up to 10 minutes. Representatives from academic advising, financial aid, undergraduate and military admissions will be participating. Next Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 12-1 p.m., there will be a webinar about the Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations, which will provide a broad overview of the HRER program. Also on Sept. 12 from 8-9 p.m., there will be an information webinar on the redesigned Penn State Online MBA. Later in the month on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 7-8 p.m., there will be an online MBA sample class in which interested individuals can discover what it’s like to be a student in the Penn State Online MBA program. For a complete listing of upcoming PSU World Campus information events and news, check out its Sept. newsletter for alliance partners, through which all employees of Columbia Montour Chamber members, their spouses and dependents are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition through the Penn State World Campus.
- The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation will hold a luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 12-1:30 p.m. at Monty’s on the Bloomsburg University campus to celebrate the grants made to community organizations through the Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with the 2018 grant awards. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is requested. See the invitation for more information. RSVP online or by emailing or calling Karri Harter at 570-752-3930 ext. 6.
- The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation will also host a special presentation on how federal tax reform, signed into law last December, is impacting charitable planning for individuals and businesses next Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Iron Fork at Frost Valley Resort in Danville. A lunch session will focus on individuals and families and will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m., with lunch served at noon. An afternoon session focusing on businesses will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres served at 4 p.m. There is no cost to attend either session. See the flyer for additional information. RSVP by by emailing or calling Karri Harter at 570-752-3930 ext. 6.
- The Weis Center for the Performing Arts will hold another free concert on Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium featuring classical Arabic music, Sufi music of northern Egypt and music popular along the Nile River.
Mohamed Abozekry & Karkadé
It will feature Mohamed Abozekry, an oud (lute) master still in his mid-20s, who brilliantly explores Egypt’s popular and classical music traditions, Sufi calls, and secular poetry with a new instrumental project called Karkadé. With Karkadé, his new project that he is bringing to the United States for the first time, he evokes the fragrant hibiscus tea found in Cairo and the eponymous French café at which the ensemble was born. He is joined by Farag Hamouda (ney – flute), Lotfy Aly (violin), Hany Bedeir (riqq – percussion), and Aly Mohamed (dehola/daf – percussion).
- The Borough of Danville’s Flood Resiliency Task Force will host a flood insurance policy seminar at the Danville Borough building, 463 Mill St., Danville, on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. Stetler Insurance Associates will present information regarding what should be included on the flood insurance policy declaration page, review common mistakes seen on flood insurance policies, and answer questions. The Flood Resiliency Task Force is made up of representatives from real estate, banking and insurance industries, as well as local residents and Borough staff. See the flyer for additional information, or contact Jamie Shrawder at 570-275-3091 ext. 3 or email.
- The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation will hold a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 5, from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Iron Fork’s banquet room to celebrate the grants made to community organizations through the Danville Area Community Foundation. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with the 2018 grant awards. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is requested. RSVP online or by emailing or calling Karri Harter at 570-752-3930 ext. 6.
- MePush will be hosting a series of study sessions throughout the fall at its conference room at 130 Buffalo Rd., Lewisburg, for information technology professionals that are taking and interested in getting together to study for the Cisco CCNA exam. This major certification in the IT industry is a big undertaking for some, so MePush would like to offer a forum to help other IT pros in the area improve their skills and certifications. If interested, please email Art so MePush can have a headcount.
More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, Cherokee Tap Room, to help us fulfill our mission.
Cherokee Tap Room is a locally-owned restaurant and bar with the same ownership as Profile Coffee and Roasters, which is also one of our newest members. It has over 20 beers on tap, including some hard-to-find brews, and also offers a menu of cocktails and wine, including wine by the bottle for sale. It has an extensive restaurant menu, including weekly specials. Cherokee Tap Room also has special events, such as its upcoming Supper Club on Sept. 16, which will be a special fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Danville. Check out its Facebook page for details of this and other special events. Cherokee is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9:30 p.m., Friday from 4-10:30 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., and Sunday for brunch only from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, visit its website or call 570-284-4495.
More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, Mayberry Hospitality, LLC, to help us fulfill our mission.
Mayberry Hospitality is a locally-owned, “one-stop shop” for off-premise catered events. A custom catering company with over 25 years of experience, Mayberry serves both social and corporate events and can tailor a menu to any venue, preference and budget. It supports sustainability locally by sourcing the freshest ingredients available locally while also teaming with some of the leading food service providers to give its customers a global reach. In addition to food, it also offers bar service, tent measurement, table and chair, linen and other equipment rentals. It also sponsors the Mayberry Supper Club, a quarterly pop-up dining experience in “secret” locations. Mayberry Hospitality is located at 115 Liberty Valley Rd. in Danville, and can be reached at 570-275-9292, by email, or visit its website or Facebook page.
Chamber members are welcome to utilize a new free Veteran Hiring Resources Toolkit to help find and hire veterans, National Guard members and Reservists. The free Toolkit helps employers in four ways:
- 3-minute video briefing on the latest Federal Tax Credits for hiring veterans;
- Recorded webinar providing many helpful recruiting insights that can be used immediately;
- Guide to Organizations Helping Pennsylvania Employers Hire Veterans, Reservists and National Guard Members; and,
- Submission of your job postings directly to employment transition counselors in all branches of the military.
The free Toolkit is published by Center for America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is in a pro bono alliance with the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., and many trade associations across the U.S. It encourages all employers to take advantage of this free Toolkit to get help hiring veterans, Guard members and Reservists. More than 200,000 active duty military service members leave the military every year and National Guard and Reserve Members are all expected to have full-time civilian employment. These veterans and service members will bring discipline, leadership and advanced skills to help build organizations.
A public information session will he held Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Berwick Theatre to provide updates on efforts to enhance downtown Berwick. The updates will be provided by members of the Berwick: The Next Step steering committee, which has been meeting regularly to advance recommendations in the downtown enhancement plan, developed in early 2017. The Chamber supported the development of the plan and is part of the committee. Information will be presented on potential development projects, marketing activities, and other efforts. There will also be opportunities for concerned businesses and residents to get involved in these efforts.
Lillian Aronson (2nd row, far right) and Allison Diehl (3rd row, 2nd from the left) were elected CEOs of their student companies during PFEW, Week 4 at Lycoming College.
The Columbia Montour Chamber and the Chamber Foundation support not only local business, but also educating our youth about business and future employment opportunities right here in Columbia and Montour counties. That’s why for years, both organizations have supported Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW). This award-winning program teaches students to understand and celebrate the American private enterprise system and provides a unique, hands-on learning experience that helps students develop the vital skills businesses need to succeed. This summer, 10 students from Bloomsburg, Central Columbia, and Millville School Districts, as well as Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School, joined over 2,000 students from across the state to participate in the 40th annual PFEW summer program recently concluded in Williamsport.
At PFEW, students form management teams of approximately eighteen students and run their own manufacturing company, competing against other student companies. Throughout the week, world class speakers address the students on a wide variety of topics germane to the business world and their personal and professional development. It is not only a powerful educational experience, it can be positively life-changing. Here are a few quotes from local students who attended this year’s program:
“Even though I am not currently looking into a career in business, the information that I learned here will help me to have success in whatever my future holds… The changes and experiences I have gone through this week will stay with me forever and mold who I am in the future” Owen Flaugh, Central Columbia High School
“I’ve had amazing opportunities to participate in programs that allowed me to travel the world and make a difference. I didn’t think PFEW could beat that, yet it did.” Lillian Aronson, Millville Area JSHS
The program is taught entirely by volunteer practitioners from the PA business community, and each year, over 200 volunteers are needed to put on this world-class program. Students attend via a $625 scholarship donated by a local business, foundation, civic organization or individual. This year, the Chamber Foundation provided scholarships through a donation from First Keystone Community Bank, which was one of six organizations from Columbia and Montour Counties that provided scholarship support. The Foundation will also be able to fund scholarship next year through grants from First Keystone. To get involved as a donor or volunteer, or to discover more about PFEW or learn more about how to apply to participate in this program, visit PFEW’s website, or call Scott Lee at 814-833-9576.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
As the public comment period on the Wolf administration’s proposed overtime rules drew to a close last week, a group of 15 Republican state lawmakers sent a letter to the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission that called the changes an “administrative nightmare” for employers.
“Employers of all types will have to engage in additional timekeeping and other record keeping to comply,” the letter states. “Also, employers will have to reclassify many employees and reorganize their operations upon implementation.” These facts are in line with the concerns that the PA Chamber and employers statewide expressed during the public comment period that ended on Aug. 22. These concerns mirror the swift, negative reaction that employers had a few years ago when the Obama administration issued proposed changes to overtime rules that were very similar to – but did not even go as far as – the Wolf administration’s proposal.
First announced by the Wolf administration in January, the proposal – which was unveiled by the state Department of Labor and Industry in June – would raise the wage threshold for “exempt status” to more than double what is currently set by the federal government; along with changes to “duties tests” that determine eligibility; and an automatic update to the salary threshold every three years. This would have an especially harsh impact among small businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and the health service industry, among others.
The PA Chamber continues to speak out against this flawed proposal, which would harm Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and negatively impact workplace culture and morale, as employees would need to be shifted from earning a salary to being paid by the hour. This transition typically requires employees to start clocking in and out, along with more burdensome record-keeping, less flexibility, a rigid work schedule and fewer training opportunities and benefits. These impacts were noted in a letter the PA Chamber coordinated with various industry groups, which had urged the commission to extend the public comment deadline in order to give employers and the public more time to analyze the effect of the overtime changes and weigh in.
The proposal is currently pending with the Independent Regulatory Review Commission. Over the next several weeks, IRRC will review the feedback garnered from the public comment period before issuing a final ruling.