Member News – May 3, 2023

May 2, 2023

Member News – May 3, 2023

Future Leaders in STEM Event - May 20

The Bloomsburg Children's Museum, The Foundation of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, The Bloomsburg YMCA, and the Teen Center are working together to bring TEDx-style talks, vendors, activities, and workshops. The event is free but registration is required. Register here.

Zartman Construction Celebrating 50 Years of Construction Excellence

Zartman Construction invites you to join in celebrating their 50-year milestone with an Open House TONIGHT from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please tour our facility and meet with our staff while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Learn more about the history of Zartman Construction here.

Glen Brook Rehab to Host Open House

On May 11th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, Glen Brook Rehab is celebrating their newly renovated sub-acute rooms. See their Open House Flyer 5.11

Columbia County Farm Bureau Reads to Schools

As part of Agricultural Literacy Week over 30 volunteer readers read “The Day the Farmers’ Quit” to over 1900 students in 15 schools, 1 library, and 1 museum. What great work educating our community!

Wilkes University SBDC to Accept Award

On Monday, May 8, 2023, the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center will be presented with the Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award. The presentation will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Wilkes University SBDC office located at 85 South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Congratulations to them!

OSHA - National Beat the Heat Contest

OSHA is sponsoring a “Beat the Heat Contest” to raise awareness about the hazards of heat exposure in indoor and outdoor workplaces and identify how businesses across the nation control these hazards. Participants are asked to submit an awareness tool (e.g., infographic, poster, training curriculum, webpage, logo, etc.,) to increase heat hazard recognition among employers and workers.

To enter the contest and get more details go here. The contest is open now through June 9, 2023.

THE EXCHANGE IS "GOING GREEN"

Now through May 5th, The Exchange will be featuring artwork featuring the color and/or the concept of “green”. All artists of all ages and levels of experience were encouraged to submit work, and all media accepted, 2D and 3D, with only one rule: The art must fit through the front door. More details are here.

Hand in Hand - I AM Safe meetings

I AM Safe! provides support and encouragement for individuals looking to live their best life, promoting self-advocacy and safety. Safety in the home and the community, digital citizenship, and safety within ourselves. Learn more about I AM Safe at handinhandpa.org/programs/i-am-safe

2023 Covered Bridge Photo Contest Returns! - Experience Columbia -Montour Counties

Each year, the Visitors Bureau holds a photo contest to produce a 550-piece puzzle featuring one of the area-covered bridges. The 2023 Covered Bridge Photo Contest runs from Saturday, April 1st through Wednesday, May 31st at midnight EST. We’re excited to see another fantastic set of entries from everyone! Click HERE to learn how to enter!

PATHS Training May Webinars

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Health & Safety, will be offering numerous FREE safety webinars in May 2023. To access the PATHS Training Calendar visit www.dli.pa.gov/paths

First Commonwealth Bank Offering Virtual Seminar

Do you have customers that have questions about Buying a New Home? First Commonwealth Bank is offering a virtual seminar Thursday, May 18, 2023, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Jeff Woodward, FCB Senior Mortgage Loan Originator Feel free to join or alert your clients. To RSVP, please visit here: Home Buyer Seminars | First Commonwealth Bank (fcbanking.com)

Welcome New Member – Mapes Mulch & Stone

April 27, 2023

Welcome New Member – Mapes Mulch & Stone

Welcome Mapes Mulch and Stone to the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. Located at 6055 Columbia Blvd., in Bloomsburg Mapes Mulch and Stone offers mulch, stone, soil and sand, landscaping rentals, and tools for sale. They offer delivery and have a professional landscaper on staff to answer questions. Stop by and welcome them when you are working on your spring outdoor projects.

Recap: Business After Hours at the Stuie a Breezy Celebration

April 26, 2023

Recap: Business After Hours at the Stuie a Breezy Celebration

Following weeks of inconsistent weather, guests who attended the Chamber’s April Business After Hours at the Stuart Tank Memorial Association’s Museum experienced a real treat – cool and breezy without a cloud in the sky, the weather was perfect for an event which spanned both the exterior and interior of the facility which serves as a tribute to those who served in World War II. The museum was on full display for the nearly sixty guests who stopped in to network and make connections, and that nearly perfect weather allowed the Association’s Board of Directors to do something very, very cool – they opened the Kawneer-built glass doors directly in front of the Stuart tank which is on permanent loan to them from the National Museum of the Marine Corps. This one, simple act made the entire museum come to life, and magnified the experience for all who got lost in their surroundings.

As guests moved across the interior of the museum, they observed the newly painted mural of the production line of AC&F and stood beside a WWII era flamethrower. First time guests of the museum - parents and grandparents alike- could be heard mumbling, “I had no idea…I’ve got to bring the (grand) kids here.” Stopping by to chat with Patti Leighow and Freas Farm Winery and enjoy some of their wine, guests were also enraptured in the tales of the museum benefactors, and how it came to be filled with generous donations from across the community.

At every turn, there was something new and wonderful to see, and once guests walked through museum, they were also treated to a more temporary but no less impressive visual. A 10x10 pop-up tent covered from wall to wall with photos of the restoration of “Lady Lois” (who expects to make her restored debut later this year), adorned the front yard alongside a war-era Jeep.

When Chamber members weren’t talking about the museum itself, or reveling in the stories told by our hosts, they enjoyed discussing the 1940’s attire donned by Stuart Tank Memorial Association Board members donned 1940’s and the goodie bags complete with ‘40’s era candy, and branded M&Ms (complete with tiny tanks in place of M’s)!

Special thanks to all who attended, and especially to the gracious hosts at the Stuart Tank Memorial Association who put on a fantastic after hours in celebration of the first anniversary of this marvelous museum, and the 80^th anniversary of the last tank to roll off the line!

A Long Story Short: Form 990

April 25, 2023

A Long Story Short: Form 990

Source: Chris Richardson, Mckonly & Asbury

A nonprofit’s Form 990 is far more important than just being the annual IRS filing to maintain tax-exempt status. It is a tool for your organization to reach a much wider and potentially helpful audience. This audience includes donors and grantors, potential board members, creditors and banks, vendors, and external evaluators, such as Charity Navigator. With that said, your Form 990 should target these current donors, create a unique selling proposition to attract donor prospects, focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, as well as justice elements of your activities, and enhance your online presence.

There are three areas where your Form 990 can enhance your story by considering your audience.

Part I, Summary

Explain your mission. State what the organization does and for whom. Make sure the messaging in this section aligns with the core messaging of your organization as noted on your website and/or marketing information. This section also discloses information on the amount of funding the organization receives and spends. Additionally, information regarding the breakdown between program, management, and fundraising expenses demonstrates how the organization is spending its money. Finally, net assets show the financial health of the organization.

Part III, Statement of Program Service Accomplishments

Describe the success stories of your organization. This is an excellent opportunity to provide qualitative and quantitative details about the success of your organization during the year. Explain the magnitude and effectiveness of the programs and the impact these programs have.

Schedule O, Supplemental Information

Expand upon the success of your top performing programs, accomplishments, and outcomes with more information. Some examples include information on the volunteer base, value and impact of volunteer time, and support received from various public and private entities. Detail this information in a way that prompts the reader to take action.

Form 990 is a public document and one that you should consider making available on your website. Your website is an effective communication tool and a portal for your organization. Make sure you provide information that will lay the foundation to build trust, help you attract donors, sway a grantor, appeal to potential board members, establish a beneficial vendor relationship, reassure creditors, and work in tandem with external evaluators.

By providing your 990 on your website, it will make it easier for your donors to know they are making a good investment in a worthy cause and increase the transparency of your organization. The information you provide will build a trusting relationship with your constituents. Your difference-making in the community will become the way they make a difference. Grant makers will certainly seek out this information, and its availability on your website will help make their decision easier.

Form 990 is a long and often complicated compliance document, but it doesn’t have to be. Make this long story short for your reader by highlighting (as noted in the sections above) the important work your organization performs.

###

McKonly & Asbury has built a special reputation for service to the nonprofit sector of the economy. We are proud to serve the area’s most recognized organizations as they strive toward their mission of community support and development. You can learn more about our Nonprofit services by visiting our website.

Recap: Fun, Learning and Reflection at Leadercast Event

April 25, 2023

Recap: Fun, Learning and Reflection at Leadercast Event

Building marshmallow towers out of uncooked spaghetti and tossing bouncy balls were just part of the fun at this year's Leadercast Women: Amplify, held at the Pine Barn Inn on April 25 and sponsored by Geisinger.

Kicking off with an icebreaker facilitated by Brianna Apfelbaum-Kula and Patricia Leighow of the Community Giving Foundation's Women's Giving Circle, guests at the Chamber's annual women's leadership program make fast connections as they competed in teams to build towers of uncooked spaghetti strong enough to hold a marshmallow (not an easy task).

The timed activity stretched the nearly 70 guests at the event and challenged them to discern what leadership looked like under pressure. while offering the crowd some welcome hysterics - plenty of structures were built, but confidence in their ability to stand for very long was as tenuous as the pasta was brittle.

Building on the fun, guests enjoyed three presentations from nationally recognized speakers Judi Holler, Amy O'Dell, and Kim Anthony. Following each streamed presentation, local facilitators Linda Brown, Stephanie Andreacci, and Christine Orlando, (all members of the Community Giving Foundation's Women's Giving Circle) kept the conversation going with additional activities and time for reflection. Linda Brown, Chief Administrative Officer of Service 1st Federal Credit Union, followed up the first presentation with the playful awarding of bouncy balls and leadership books, and then shared about the very serious significance of the importance of philanthropy and support for women in business.

Representing Geisinger, Dr. Robin Skrine, MD, offered remarks about the technological advances in breast health medicine, the importance of mammograms, and compassionate support for women across all ages and demographics. Stephen Lylo, representing MyBenefit Advisor, the Chamber's lunch sponsor, shared about the beauty and the interconnectedness of the people in Columbia and Montour Counties and the business culture reflected not only in the presentations but in the people he encounters here. "That's what we all try to do here. We try to help each other," he said.

While words can do so much, we're delighted to have some wonderful photos of the event, included in an album below. IF you missed this opportunity to connect, do not fear - thanks to Geisinger's sponsorship, Leadercast Women: Amplify events will follow in the coming months, beginning June 8 at Rolling Pines. To register for that event, go here.

Inflation – where are we?

April 25, 2023

Inflation – where are we?

Each month, the US Chamber's top economists offer a deeper dive into the state of the U.S. economy. As we consider what these subject matter experts share, we hope that you, the members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, will have the best, most accurate data that we can get our hands on at your own fingertips, and that armed with this data, you may offer us critical feedback about the state of your own organizations (so that we may advocate on your behalf) and the trends you see here. Are you experiencing the same trends as the U.S. Chamber is citing?

Of special note this month, the U.S. Chamber is reporting data that we already knew anecdotally, that in 2022, the national average in electricity rates increased to unprecedented highs in 2022. To take advantage of the Chamber's partnership with our energy broker partners at World Kinect Energy, who will help you shop for the best rates on commercial energy because you're members of the Chamber, connect with Loren Martello today or visit here.

Source: US Chamber of Commerce

Map Reveals Unprecedented Increases in Electricity Rates Nationwide Last Year

Recently, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute released its annual Electricity Price Map which shares some bad news for consumers and businesses: electricity rates rose by unprecedented amounts in 2022.

Why it matters: The map shows that there are stark differences from state to state. While the energy mix available within a state will play a large role in state electricity prices, energy-limiting policies in some states lead to elevated prices, making the price of electricity much higher for consumers and businesses. To counter these rising rates, it’s crucial that we leverage and develop our electricity generation resources here at home – whether they are traditional resources like natural gas, nuclear, or hydro, or the rapidly-emerging sources of wind and solar coupled with storage.

Fill me in: Aside from Alaska and Hawaii, which struggle with limited generation options and geographic isolation from diversified energy grids, California, New England, and New York comprise the entirety of the top ten highest-priced states.

Where does your state rank? Click the map below to see where your state ranks, and compare it to the national average of 12.49 cents per kilowatt hour.

____

March Retail Sales Fall

Retail sales fell 1% in March. That comes off a 0.2% drop in February, but it was after an incredible 3.1% gain in January.

Why it matters: Retail sales are still above where they were at the end of 2022 because of the huge surge in spending in January. So back-to-back months of decline are not overly concerning. Consumers are still spending and still exhibiting remarkable resilience.

____

Inflation Cooled in March. It's Still Too High

The Consumer Price Index, the broadest measure of consumer prices, increased 5% from a year earlier, down from 6% in February and a 40-year high of 9.1% last June.

Why it matters: The overall fall of the topline inflation number will get attention. It is a positive step but stripping out volatile components like food and energy shows “core prices” are still rising rapidly (5.5% annually).

____

Strong Job Creation in March

The March jobs report was another strong data point for job creation and labor force participation.

Why it matters: Despite the worries about a slowing economy leading to rising unemployment, the labor market keeps chugging at an impressive rate that defies conventional wisdom.

To see details by the numbers and the bottom line for the economy click here.

###

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

Member News – April 26, 2023

April 24, 2023

Member News – April 26, 2023

Kaiser Permanente and Geisinger come together to launch Risant Health and expand access to value-based care

Danville, PA - In an innovative move designed to improve the health of communities, achieve better health care outcomes, and improve health care affordability, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Geisinger Health are announcing the launch of Risant Health and a definitive agreement to make Geisinger the first health system to join Risant Health to expand access to value-based care in more communities across the country. Upon regulatory approval, Geisinger becomes part of the new organization through acquisition. Read the full announcement.

WrkInside Out, LLC Earns Specialist Designation

Jess Fester, owner of WrkInside Out, LLC, has been recognized by the International Sports Sciences Association as a Specialist in Exercise Therapy. Congratulations Jess!

Renaissance Jamboree Returns to Downtown Bloomsburg Saturday!

Don't miss this huge community event! Learn more at www.downtownbloomsburg.org.

MC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OPENS SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST REGISTRATION

The MC Federal Credit Union Scholarship Program was established to provide educational funds for members. It is to be awarded to a current high school senior or continuing higher education student. Click here to learn how to enter.

WHAT'S SO COOL ABOUT MANUFACTURING? CELEBRATES WINNERS

The Innovative Manufacturers' Center (IMC), Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, BLaST Intermediate Unit, Advance Central PA and The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce the award recipients for the "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" (WSCM) Central Susquehanna student video contest awards. The ceremony was held April 19^th at the Pine Barn Inn in Danville, PA. Get the full list of winners here.