On January 28, 2014 the Pike County Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Installation Breakfast and General Membership Meeting where they will induct new Directors and install the new slate of Officers for 2014. The ceremony and breakfast will be at Mount Haven Restaurant in Milford. Any person or business wishing to attend must call and make a reservation at 570-296-8700. The fee for a grand buffet breakfast is $17.00 for Pike Chamber members and $20.00 for non-members and will begin at 7:30a.m.

The mission of the Pike County Chamber is to accelerate business growth in Pike County, Pennsylvania, by representing business in promoting economic development while preserving and enhancing our community's quality of life, by providing value-added programs and benefits to promote membership and to help members achieve success and by building partnerships and coalitions for business to effectively work with community, government and educational organizations in the shaping of public policy.

In order to continue to carry out that mission, the Chamber continues to search for ways to provide more, complete and up-to-date information, services, and benefits to Chamber members and the community. Becoming a Chamber member will provide an individual or business with benefits and advantages only offered to members. The annual investment fees of members provide the funding necessary to continue and expand the many programs and activities that, which are designed to benefit local business as well as the community.

For more information about joining the Pike County Chamber of Commerce please call 570-296-8700 or visit www.pikechamber.com.

Have you made your reservations yet for the Jingle Bell Ball? If you haven’t already, don’t delay. You don’t want to miss the biggest holiday party in Pike County! The top entertainer of all ages, Voices of Legends Eric Kearns, will headline the evening in addition to the holiday sounds of the Delaware Valley Choral Society to get you in the spirit of the holiday season during the cocktail hour. This black tie optional event is this Friday, December 6th at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing Ballroom for only $50.00 per person, which includes dinner and the show by Eric Kearns. Visit us at www.PikeChamber.com for more information or just call 570-296-8700 by December 3rd!

The November News Flash is still available online! Visit us at www.PikeChamber.com to view our monthly newsletter and stay up to speed on all the happenings here at the Pike County Chamber. Don't miss our upcoming events! There's lots going on this holiday season!

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce they are hosting a Holiday Ball on Friday, December 6th. This premier holiday event serves for many as a way to kick off the holiday season, and this year's theme, "Jingle Bell Ball" promises to do just that. The Jingle Bell Ball is sponsored by Pike County Light & Power, Wayne Memorial Hospital, The Dime Bank, Dingman Delaware Insurance Agency, Inc., New Jersey Herald and ViaMedia.

The event at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras, PA starts with a social hour and cash bar at 6:00 p.m. and a fine sit-down dinner will begin at 7:00p.m. After your fabulous four course dinner you will be able to dance the night away with holiday music and dancing featuring Top Entertainer for All Ages “Voices of Legends Eric Kearns!” Mr. Kearns will sing all of your holiday favorites along with some classics. You can sneak-a-peek at Mr. Kearns’ talent by visiting http://youtu.be/tqOSzX49KQw.

Get together a group of friends, family or even make this your company holiday party where everyone can gather for a pleasant evening of eating a delicious dinner, singing along and dancing to their favorite music, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends. This is a black tie optional event so you should dust off your best party attire, dress to impress and get yourselves to the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s Jingle Bell Ball and celebrate the season with community fellowship.

Tickets are $50.00 per person and you can make individual reservations or tables of 10 are available. RSVP’s are required no later than November 22nd by calling 570-296-8700. Sponsorship opportunities are still available so call today; it’s going to be the biggest Holiday party in Pike County!

Photo – Voices of Legends Eric Kearns.

On Thursday, November 21st the Pike County Chamber will be hosting a Breakfast Seminar at the Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing promptly at 7:30a.m. This month's topic is "How to Get The Most Out of Your Chamber Membership." Featuring guest speakers Dr. John D'Ambrosio and Cheryl Cohen of the Orange County, NY Chamber of Commerce, this informational seminar is open to current Pike Chamber members as well as non-members.

Many professionals do not really know what your Chamber membership can do for your business or organization. You will learn that it is not just about paying your dues and that's it. Joining the Pike County Chamber can provide you with long-term opportunities. You will realize that you need to participate and get involved in all that the Chamber has to offer. You should take advantage of promotional offers, social media, join a committee, attend networking and community events and so forth. With a better understanding of your Chamber of Commerce the membership will have a more cohesive community experience. With this new knowledge, you will soon find your opinions and idea are paramount and you, the members, are the most valuable tool a Chamber of Commerce could ever hope to have. When you become more involved and particpate and not just stand back and wait, you will find fulfillment and value in the Pike County Chamber.

The general public sees Chamber membership as adding credibility to businesses and shows the community that you are concerned about your business and that you are involved in making Pike County a better place to work and live. Discover that the Chamber is yours and it will be what you make of it. If you see any areas that need improvement and have suggestions of how to help or improve on them please speak up, but then be willing to help take some action. Your Chamber membership can be one of your greatest assets, but you only get out what you put in. Stay involved, do not ever give up and use your Chamber to help you.

We are convinced that you will find this breakfast to be worthwhile and you will enjoy the company of other Pike County businesspeople at the same time. The fee is $15.00 for Pike Chamber members and $20.00 for non-members which includes a great buffet breakfast. Reservations are required by calling 570-296-8700 no later than November 19th.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce President, Philly Viscardo, announced that after a review of more than fifty resumes, Marnie O’Dea Palmer has recently accepted the Board of Directors offer to become the new Executive Director. President Viscardo noted that there are many challenges for businesses, and that the myriad of experience Ms. Palmer brings to the Chamber, along with a combination of creative thinking, innovation and enthusiasm, made her the best choice, to carry out the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’ mission to market, promote and enhance the business climate in the region.

Ms. Palmer said that she is looking forward to working closely with the Board of Directors to expand the membership base and enhance current programs and services. Her immediate task is to focus on membership development. She is exploring ideas for finding additional incentives that make being a member of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce “a no brainer!” She believes that the Chamber of Commerce has a lot to offer, but the organization is only as good as its members make it! We need to change the mind set of those members who join, but don’t bother to get involved! She hopes to provide more encouragement for participation in mixers, group advertising and fundraising events. Marnie sees Chamber Membership as a vehicle for business owners to meet and share ideas that build a more inviting overall business environment. The Chamber offers opportunities for businesses to spotlight their bailiwick. It is up to the Chamber Member to grab that opportunity and advance it! The Chamber provides the means for individual businesses to spread the word about what they have to offer and how they can complement each other, especially in an area such as Milford, where there are many small specialty stores and services.

Marnie prefers to “focus on the positive” rather than dwell on the negative. She considers herself to have “passion driven enthusiasm” in whatever she does, and credits her parents, Dick and Mary (Colombo) O’Dea for her accomplishments. She grew up in the Real Estate and Insurance Business. Her dad was a member of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and a former President of the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors. She understands the value of membership organizations and has the energy, experience and creativity that the Pike County Chamber of Commerce will benefit from.

Marnie is anxious to meet both current and potential Chamber Members. She is hopeful that they will feel free to share their ideas, suggestions or any complaints that the might have, so that she can take the appropriate steps toward membership satisfaction!

As one of five children, Marnie reminisces about being her father’s shadow as a child and especially enjoyed accompanying him as he did business and made purchases in many Downtown Scranton Stores. It was no surprise to her family when she opened her first florist and gift store in her early twenties. Ms. Palmer and her husband owned and operated upscale Florist and Gifts Stores in the Clarks Summit Area, Downtown Scranton, Dickson City and Main Street Tunkhannock for more than 20 years. In 1992, with two stores in the Downtown and the Mall at Steamtown being built, she was chosen from among 46 applicants to be the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association. In 1996 she was again chosen from a significant pool of applicants for the position of Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Lackawanna County. In 2000 she was hired at the PA House of Representatives in Harrisburg. In 2006 she returned to the Scranton Area and subsequently, was hired in 2008 to manage the Lackawanna County Office of Environmental Sustainability until her position was eliminated in 2012. She is approaching her 16th year as a Clarks Green Borough Councilwoman, is an officer of the Abington Council of Governments and Vice President of the PA Association of Councils of Governments

For more information about the Pike County Chamber or to make an appointment to meet with our new Executive Director Marnie, please visit www.pikechamber.com or call 570-296-8700.