A special "Before Hours" event was held on the morning of October 16th at the lovely Capstone Village. Networking expert Meaghan Williams from BNI (Business Networking International) presented a very helpful program. Many thanks to our Chamber Ambassadors for organizing and conducting this event.
The last "Second Tuesday" after hours networking event of 2007 is on November 13th from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Bryant Conference Center. The event will commemorate the 20th anniversary of BCC and is being co-hosted by the Sheraton Four Points Hotel.
The event will feature lavish food stations, specialty drinks, door prizes, giveaways for all attendees and the music of local Jazz great Keith Williams. Dean Carolyn Dahl will make opening remarks. Should be a lovely evening, please plan to join us. Bring a date and invite your friends and associates, too.
Mark your calendars now for the The Chamber's Annual Celebration to be held on Friday evening, February 8th, 2008. Exciting details will be shared soon!
Excel 2003 Level II is a hands-on, half-day class. Are you ready to take your Excel skills to the next level? This class will take your skills up a notch. This is for those currently using Excel and may have attended our Level I class. It is offered on November 29th from 8 AM to noon at The Chamber. Cost is $85 for members and $115 for non-members, not including lunch. There is limited seating for this one.
Also still on the training agenda isOrganize Your World: Microsoft Outlook Time-Saving Features, which is offered on November 14th from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM at Peoples Bank in Northport. Is your time slipping away? One of the biggest time drains each day is wrapped up in our day to day communications, which for many is conducted via email. This time-saving seminar will change your "Outlook" on organization. Topics include sorting, folders, adding reminders, categories, creating polls using the voting feature, calendar tasks, tips and tricks. Trainer is Donna Gilliland of MOSTraining. Cost is only $20 and a continental breakfast is included.
Please contact Tracy Crumpton at 391.0554 or email tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com to register or get more information.
Enjoy pampering, shopping, chocolate and more--all in one place! The Women in Business Council will present the 2nd Annual A Sweet Escape on Thursday, November 29th from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion. Tera Lane, Nancy Taylor Skin Therapy and Day Spa, DV-8 Salon and Spa, Tuscaloosa Med Spa and Plastic Surgery of Tuscaloosa Medispa and Anti Aging Center, Inc. will be among those present for the pampering.
Come find Christmas gift giving or getting ideas from local vendors. Those on hand will include Sheila's Gift Baskets and Gifts, Nancy & Co. Fine Jewelers, The Locker Room, Gertrude's, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, FIG, T-Town Paws and others.
Sample the sweet taste of Peterbrooke Chocolatier throughout the evening.
Admission charge is only $5 at the door, plus a new toy for the US Marines "Toys for Tots" campaign overseen by our local Salvation Army. Raffle tickets will also be sold at the door for $5 each or 3 for $10. Purchase as many as you like for a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to the vendor in attendance of your choice. A portion of the raffle ticket proceeds will also benefit "Toys for Tots." All women attending can register for great door prizes, too!
Registration is required, and may be made by calling 391.0559 or emailing stacey@tuscaloosachamber.com. Ladies, why would you miss this?
"This tour opened my eyes to the industrial sector of Tuscaloosa"..."We need to have these tours every year, highlighting different industries each year"..."It was great to hear that local industries hire high school graduates with opportunities for advancement." These are just a few of the comments we received from local secondary school counselors following the recent tours and meeting organized and sponsored by the Adopt-A-School Program.
The Chamber, through the Adopt-A-School Program, recognizes the importance of keeping local school counselors informed and armed with the information necessary to educate our future work force and to guide the students as they develop the skills needed to succeed in an ever-growing and ever-changing technical workplace. School counselors play an important role in directing our students as they choose courses and training to prepare for their future. The advice and guidance the counselors offer on a daily basis shapes the future workforce of Tuscaloosa.
On October 22nd, the middle and high school counselors from both the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems met to learn more about local industries and training opportunities available for area students. During the opening lunch session, the counselors heard a presentation from Ryan Sabbagh, technical counselor from Shelton State Community College, concerning the programs available to high school students through dual enrollment and technical training. Mr. Sabbagh also outlined programs specifically designed for preparing high school graduates for the workforce. Following the presentation, the counselors traveled to ZF Lemforder Corporation where they were greeted by Ron Davis, plant manager and Jim Phillips, human resources director for ZF. Prior to and following a tour of the facility, counselors had an opportunity to ask specific questions regarding the skills, training and education needed for employability within industries such as ZF Lemforder. Next, counselors traveled to Radicispandex were they were greeted by Wendy Barrett and a host of engineers. Before, during and after the tour there, counselors had many questions regarding the training and skills needed specifically for an industry such as this. Finally, the counselors had an opportunity interact with a panel of local business leaders and ask pertinent questions concerning opportunities for local students. Facilitated by John Merrill of the Tuscaloosa County Schools, counselors heard from Johnnie Aycock of The Chamber of Commerce; Terry Waters of Alabama Power Company; Gary Phillips of Premier Service Company; and Peggy Collins of AFFLINK.
Through the Adopt-A-School Program we are proud to sponsor this opportunity to expose area counselors to our local industries and to afford them the occasion to interact with business leaders. We plan to make this an annual event and we will highlight different local industries each year. For more information about how your business can participate in future tours, contact Loo Whitfield at The Chamber 391.0563 or loo@tuscaloosachamber.com.
The 14th annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament was recently held at Indian Hills Country Club. Thanks to Title Sponsor Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa and Eagle Sponsors Ellis Architects, Inc; JVC America; Learning Experiences; McGiffert & Associates; NHS Management; Phifer Incorporated; Planit Solutions; The University of Alabama; and Tuscaloosa Toyota; the benefit tennis tournament generated more money for Adopt-A-School than any previous tennis tournament!
Honorary Chairperson Sarah Patterson attended the event to wish players good luck for the day. Former University of Alabama Gymnasts, Dana Dobransky Duckworth and Ann Wood Shealy joined their former coach in supporting the Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament. Not only did both former gymnasts participate in the tournament, both were also involved as members of the tournament planning committee. "It is great to see these ladies follow the example set by their coach in giving back to the community", commented Loo Whitfield, Director of the Adopt-A-School Program.
Twenty-one schools had players on the courts to represent their schools as 41 women's doubles teams battled it out on the tennis courts. Prizes were awarded to first place teams and runners up in four divisions. First place winners were: Amelia de los Reyes and Sharon Quimby (4+ Div); Kim Parker and Michelle Berry (3.5 div); Marla Falls and Cynthia Walker (3 div); Kathy Zeanah and Beth Smith (2.5 div). Second place winners were Harriett Hamilton and Lorna Jones (4+ div); Rachel Hollingshead and Ann Shealy (3.5 div); Susan Cordes and Renee Ulmstead (3 div); Moon Kim and Stephanie Andrus (2.5 div).
Holt Elementary also received a $250 cash prize from the random drawing of schools represented by players in the tournament.
Supported by many community businesses through court sponsorships, prize donations, and numerous additional goods and services, it was a winning event for all involved! The Adopt-A-School tournament is the annual fundraising event to benefit the coordination and administration of the Adopt-A-School program. Adopt-A-School is a business-education partnership program sponsored by the Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa County Schools, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
In addition to Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, title sponsor for the tournament, many area businesses provided support to the Adopt-A-School Program through the annual golf tournament. As well as providing support as an adopter or sustainer, Ellis Architect, JVC America, Learning Experiences, McGiffert & Associates, NHS Management, Phifer Incorporated, Planit Solutions, Tuscaloosa Toyota and The University of Alabama all served as Eagle Sponsors for the tournament.
Thanks to these 2007 Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Tournament Tennis Court Sponsors.
AFFLINK AutoMax, USA College of Continuing Studies - The University of Alabama Ellis Architects, Inc. In Honor of Westlawn Middle School by Jim & Karen Brooks Jamison, Money, Farmer & Company, P.C. Jim Myers Drug, Inc. JVC America, Inc. Learning Experiences, Inc. Madden Lincoln Mercury Volvo May Veterinary McGiffert & Associates, LLC Michael H. Echols & Associates, P.C. NHS Management, LLC Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc. Phifer Incorporated Planit Solutions, Inc. Sam's Club #6435 Steve Richardson & Company, CPA's Tanner & Guin, LLC The Hart Group, Inc. The Peoples Bank & Trust Company/Englewood Elementary School The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Toyota WalMart Supercenter
Thanks to these businesses for donations of goods and services.
Bow Regards Buffalo Rock/Pepsi First National Bank of Central Alabama Golden Flake Henegar Rast Mortgage Hudson-Poole Fine Jewelers Krispy Kreme Kwik Kopy Printing Nancy & Company Fine Jewelers Publix #75 Lake Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Blueprinting Reprographics WTBC 1230 AM/Catfish Country 102.9 WVUA 7
The Northport Advisory Council, led by Tracy Waldrop of First National Bank of Central Alabama, held its last meeting of 2007 on the evening of November 5th at Steamers to discuss key issues affecting Northport and the Council's goals for 2008.
Key issues identified by the group are: Retail & Business Development; Increase Tax Base & Revenue; Traffic & Highway Infrastructure; Water & Sewer issues; Lack of High-End Residential Areas.
Possible strategies are: To study other communities' incentives for retail development; Build closer working relationships with elected officials; Stimulate landscape & beautification; Help elected officials understand needs of business.
If you'd like to be a part of the Northport Advisory Council, please contact us at 758.7588.
As part of the overall development of the Greater Downtown Tuscaloosa planning process, a group of about 30 volunteers recently spent a Sunday afternoon on a Downtown Tuscaloosa "walkabout".
Beginning with an orientation and training session at The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the teams spent about 3 hours each surveying a great portion of the 100 blocks that make up the central business district.
Led by Connie Cooper of Cooper Consulting, the teams surveyed, photographed, measured and analyzed the characteristics of buildings, streets and sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and the overall physical appearance and condition of Downtown Tuscaloosa. The teams' comments and observations will be submitted as part of the ongoing planning process for the development of the downtown area.
The teams reviewed, up close and personal, a wide range of issues, from roof styles to building materials, from signage to the condition of sidewalks, from compatible uses to incompatible land uses.
"Participating in this process was certainly an eye-opener", stated Chamber President Johnnie Aycock. "Until you walk in the Downtown area and observe closely, it's really hard to understand the potential and the challenges that need to be addressed to build a greater central business district. And there were so many creative ideas and fresh, diverse perspectives gained from the participants in the survey."
The Greater Downtown Tuscaloosa plan is expected by end of 2007 or early 2008 for review and comments. Watch for additional information.
Circuit City has officially relocated from its previous location in Bama Mall. The new store, an anchor for Midtown Village, held a grand opening celebration on the evening of October 11th. A special guest, former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings, was on-hand for the festivities.
In 1949, when Samuel Wurtzel opened Ward's, Richmond, Virginia's first retail TV store, his goal was to provide the community with a new technology that would change the face of consumer electronics forever. More than 50 years, over 600 stores and several name changes later, the technology continues to change, but Circuit City's commitment to its customers remains strong. The technologies and solutions they provide can make your life easier and more enjoyable. Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 am to 10 pm, Sundays 10 am to 8 pm, and Monday and Tuesday 10 am to 9 pm. Please call 342.0706 for more information or visit www.circuitcity.com.
Panera Bread, also in Midtown Village, held a grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony on October 26th. Samples of its artisan baked goods were enjoyed by all in attendance. Ten percent of total net sales for this whole day were donated to the DCH Breast Cancer Fund.
Stop in today for freshly baked breads, bagels, baked egg souffl
VoterVoice
The 14th annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Tennis Tournament was recently held at Indian Hills Country Club. Thanks to Title Sponsor Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa and Eagle Sponsors Ellis Architects, Inc; JVC America; Learning Experiences; McGiffert & Associates; NHS Management; Phifer Incorporated; Planit Solutions; The University of Alabama; and Tuscaloosa Toyota; the benefit tennis tournament generated more money for Adopt-A-School than any previous tennis tournament! 
Circuit City has officially relocated from its previous location in Bama Mall. The new store, an anchor for Midtown Village, held a grand opening celebration on the evening of October 11th. A special guest, former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings, was on-hand for the festivities. 
Panera Bread, also in Midtown Village, held a grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony on October 26th. Samples of its artisan baked goods were enjoyed by all in attendance. Ten percent of total net sales for this whole day were donated to the DCH Breast Cancer Fund.