Thursday, October 30, 2014

Nov. 15 is deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations

Do you know someone who deserves to be named Coweta County's Citizen of the Year, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride and a strong commitment to a better Coweta?

Here are the criteria for the award:

• The nominee should live in Coweta County and his/her activities should be centered in Coweta County and the surrounding area.

• Consideration will be given to those who demonstrate leadership and performance in multiple areas of community service over a period of years.

• The nominee may be an individual from any walk of life, and there are no requirements or restrictions relating to gender, age, race, religion, or ethnic background.

The Citizen of the Year program dates to 1992, and previous recipients include Bill Williams, Scott Wilson, Joe Crain Sr., Mike Barber, Lindsey Barron, Sally Bowen, Jim Hardin, Dennis McEntire, Don Phillips, Bill Loftin, Bernie Parks, Harold Barron, Gene Tyre, Bill Headley, Willie Boyd, Bobby Welch, Robin Tornow, Don Chapman, Annie Joe Berkowitz, Blake Bass, Steve Mader, Bette Hickman and 2014 recipient Frank Barron.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to November 15, and you can download the two-page application here. Applications are available for pickup at The Chamber and can also be e-mailed. For more information, call 770-253-2270 or e-mail valerie@newnancowetachamber.org.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Register early to save $50 off Winter Wonderland Big Expo registration!


Our Chamber members are hard at work on the 2014 Winter Wonderland Big Expo, including Nick Garrison of LifePlan Financial Advisors, above, shown at a recent expo committee meeting.

Are you planning to exhibit at the expo, set for December 4 at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan? If so, you have until Friday, October 31, to save $50 off the cost of registration. Why should you be at this event?

To showcase your business, because there will be 100+ businesses and 1,500+ visitors.

To participate in the Jingle Bell Shop. You can make money by selling items at your booth or table.

To invite your customers/clients, family and friends. We’ll have free admittance e-tickets you can print or forward to those you want to invite.

To download a flyer with all the information on corporate sponsorships and booth and table registration, click here. Ready to register through ChamberMaster? Then click here. If you have questions, e-mail julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Friday is deadline to register for Nonprofit Board Training


Because of the increased scrutiny on tax-exempt organizations today, it’s more important than ever that those who work with non-profit organizations understand the importance of serving on the board of a non-profit. On Tuesday, October 28, The Chamber is joining forces with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and the Coweta Community Foundation to host a Nonprofit Board Training at the Newnan Centre.

Friday, October 24, is the last day to register for the workshop, which is designed for anyone who serves on a board, works with boards, or works with a nonprofit organization. This event will be held at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the session running from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Topics covered will include the Importance of Nonprofits; Good Governance and Board Roles; Setting Strategic Direction; Committee Dynamics; and Risk Management. Those attending will learn the importance of serving on a board, understanding duties and developing high performance leadership that can advance the mission and goals of the organization. This workshop is perfect for nonprofit staff members and volunteer leaders seeking to learn about developing strategic direction, roles and responsibilities of the Directors (fiduciary, mission, finances) and the increased scrutiny on Exempt Organizations.

Leading the Board Training will be Robert C. Harris, CAE, a nationally acclaimed speaker and expert on boards of directors and association management. Believing that nonprofits should be as efficient as any commercial business, Harris has studied thousands of them, authored books on association management, and traveled the world to help organizations in countries like Japan and Ukraine. Having received multiple awards throughout his career and dubbed the "Martha Stewart of association management," Harris is actively promoting the impact of nonprofits in America and sharing his tips for success.

Registration fee for the Board Training is $15 per person or a flat fee of $225 per group for nonprofits. Deadline to register is Friday, October 24, 2014.

Register online by clicking here. For more information call 770-253-2270 or emailinfo@newnancowetachamber.org.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Are you using the power of the holidays?


The holidays are a great time for branding or showcasing your business to the public, and one of the best places to do so is our Winter Wonderland Big Expo coming up Dec. 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m. at Summit Family YMCA in Newnan! Have you made your reservation yet?

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo will include shopping featuring the newest products and services in Coweta and metro Atlanta; more than 100 exhibitors; an anticipated 1,500 attendees; the opportunity to meet potential clients, network with peers and generate quality business leads; and festivities for the whole family, including Santa and his Elves, a tour of Santa's workshop, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats, a Jingle Bell Shop and more. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

If you haven't yet registered for what is expected to be a sell-out event, the Early Bird Deadline is October 31 and you can save $50 off registration. To download an exhibitor registration form, click here. For ChamberMaster registration, click here. For more information, email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Have you reserved your spot for the Winter Wonderland Big Expo?


It's the most wonderful time of the year … and this year, The Chamber will help kick off the holidays with the 2014 Winter Wonderland Big Expo, Coweta's biggest and most influential business exposition!

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is set for Thursday, December 4, 2014, from 1-7 p.m. at Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

Features will include:

• A competitive shopping experience featuring the newest products and services in Coweta and the metro Atlanta business market

• More than 100 exhibitors

• Almost 1,500 attendees

• A great opportunity to meet potential clients, network with peers and generate quality business leads

• Festivities for the whole family, including Santa and his Elves, a tour of Santa's workshop, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats, a Jingle Bell Shop and more

If you haven't yet registered for what is expected to be a sell-out event, the Early Bird Deadline is October 31 and you can save $50 off registration. To download an exhibitor registration form, click here. For more information, email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.



Monday, October 13, 2014

Mark your calendars for Thursday's Political HobNob!

Last week we hosted a Candidate Forum at CEC, and this week you can find out even more about our local candidates for office at the 2014 Meet the Candidates Political HobNob on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

Sponsored by Batson-Cook Construction, the Political HobNob gives businesses, citizens and candidates the opportunity to mix and mingle just in time for the Nov. 4, 2014 election. Coweta candidates running for office this year include Georgia Senate District 28, Cynthia Bennett (D) and Mike Crane (R); Georgia House District 70, Lynn Smith (R); Georgia House District 71, David Stover (R); Georgia House District 72, Matt Ramsey (R); Georgia House District 132, Gene King (R) and Bob Trammell (D); County Commission District 2, Tim Lassetter (R); and County Commission District 3, Bob Blackburn (R). The HobNob begins from 5-5:30 p.m. with a VIP Meet & Greet for Sponsors, Enhanced Investors and the Board of Directors. General Admission will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. A Straw Poll will be held during the Political HobNob as well. Everyone attending will be issued a ballot, and beginning at 5 p.m. you may vote in the straw poll. There will be only one vote per person per race. Voting closes at 6:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 6:50 p.m.

While you mix and mingle, you'll enjoy great barbecue and beer provided by Business-After-Hours Sponsor Shane’s Rib Shack and Beverage Sponsor Georgia Beer Wholesalers. General admission tickets are $20 each, and Chamber member admission is free. Tickets include food, drinks, access to candidates and networking with attendees. Tickets are available at The Chamber and from event sponsors. For more information, contact The Chamber at info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Robert Harris to lead Nonprofit Board Training


Have you heard about our Nonprofit Board Training coming up Tuesday, October 28 at the Newnan Centre? We're joining forces with the Coweta Community Foundation and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce to host this special workshop with Bob Harris, a nationally-acclaimed speaker and expert on boards of directors and association management. This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to learn about the importance of serving on a board as well as the duties and leadership roles of board members.

Registration for this workshop is $15 per person or a flat fee of $225 per group for nonprofits. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the program will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

To download a registration brochure, click here. To learn more about Harris’s valuable nonprofit resources, click here.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Mark your calendar for Thursday's Candidate Forum!


Election Day will be here before you know it, and to help you make an informed decision in the November 4 election, The Chamber has two events coming up where you can meet the candidates and find out where they stand on the issues. This Thursday, October 9, there will be a Candidate Forum from 6-8 p.m. at Central Educational Center, 160 Martin Luther King Drive in Newnan. This forum is sponsored by The Chamber as well as the Coweta County Democratic Party and the Coweta County Republican Party. Candidates for Georgia House District 132, Bob Trammell (D) and Gene King (R), are running to succeed retiring Representative Carl Von Epps. The candidates for Georgia Senate District 28 are incumbent Mike Crane (R) and challenger Cynthia Bennett (D). The public is invited. 

Each candidate will get to make an opening and closing statement and will be presented a series of questions vetted by the sponsoring organizations, including questions submitted before the event and from the audience. Moderating will be Dean Jackson, Public Information Officer for the Coweta County School System and The Chamber's Vice Chair for Advocacy.

The Candidate Forum is being offered by the three co-hosting organizations as a public service for Coweta citizens, to help them make an informed choice in the November 4, 2014 election. There is no charge to attend, and seating will be on a first come, first seated basis. For more information, contact The Chamber at info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Just one week later, on October 16, The Chamber will host a Political Hobnob at the Newnan Centre on Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan. This event will feature Coweta's Georgia House and Senate candidates as well as candidates for the Coweta County Commission. General Admission tickets are $20, and Chamber Member Admission is free. Click here to learn more about the Political Hobnob.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Pinewood Atlanta Studios developer featured at NuLink Early Bird Forum

Jim Pace, lead developer for the Pinewood Atlanta Studios project, is welcomed by NuLink Early Bird Forum emcee Danny Beck of Beck Janitorial.

The theme was “Lights. Camera. Action.” at the Newnan Centre on Tuesday as Chamber members attended the NuLink Early Bird Forum to hear from Jim Pace, lead developer of the massive Pinewood Atlanta Studios film production facility in Fayette County.

Pace explained how the project landed in Fayette County and discussed the economic impact of Pinewood on Fayette, Coweta and surrounding areas. The parcel that includes Pinewood Atlanta Studios is part of an 800-acre development that will include commercial, retail and a residential section described by Pace as “like Seaside on steroids,” referring to the hugely successful Florida panhandle development fronting the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City.

Businesses that support the film industry, including one that produces high-tech fabrics used to create special effects, have opened to support Pinewood. Pace said film industry professionals and their families are moving to Fayette and Coweta in great numbers as they anticipate major growth in local film production. Pace said Georgia is now the third most popular state in the US in film production behind only New York and California, but warned those present that, “We have to keep those (film production) tax credits to keep them coming here.”

He said new jobs are being created almost daily, and most new employees are learning about employment opportunities from the Experience Coweta-Fayette-Spalding Facebook page. He advised anyone seeking a film industry job to “check it out.”