Norwalk Chamber of Commerce-Dec. 2010 by Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community Newspaper

Chamber of Commerce

Serving and Supporting the Business Community Since 1923

December 2010 • Vol 1, No. 2 • www.norwalkchamber.com • info@norwalkchamber.org PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Betty Chacon President Wells Fargo Bank

Salon De Leon hosts November evening mixer

Happy Holidays from the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. This is a busy time of year for all of you. With parties, presents, and resolutions, you may not be thinking too much about the Norwalk Chamber but your Norwalk Chamber is thinking about you. We are hard at work this year, providing our members with many op-

Betty Chacon portunities for growing your business and creating a successful business environment in the Norwalk Community. Our goals are many, but one of the most important is to create events that give face to face networking a priority. This is why you will see more Mixers, Workshops and Networking events than ever. Every chance to get meet with other members and potential members is a chance to grow your business. This year was the 1st Annual “Small Business Saturday.” A nationwide promotion to encourage consumers to spend time on the Saturday after Thanksgiving shopping at the small businesses in their communities. Posters were placed around town in many small businesses and American Express even gave their cardholders a reward for using their card on that Saturday. We hope you took part in this first time ever promotion! And if you didn’t hear about it in time this year, then plan now for next

President Betty Chacon, Wells Fargo Bank, with Mayor Gordon Stefenhagen, presenting “Thank You” certificate to Olga and Jorge Leon, Owners of Salon de Leon year. 85% of the jobs in America are in small businesses and $63.00 out of every $100.00 spent in small business goes right back into your community! What a great way to support local business while getting some necessary shopping done. Also remember that the Norwalk Chamber is a resource for you. One of the benefits of your Chamber Membership is our Business Counseling sessions. If you have questions about how to take your business to the next level, about marketing, financing, or social media, we can provide answers through the Long Beach Small Business Development Center. Their counselors are in the Norwalk Chamber office twice a month for appointments with our business community. Check out the Norwalk Chamber website or contact the office for additional information about this and other member benefits. We look forward to a great ending to the 2010 year, and an even better start for 2011!

Salon de Leon, located at 12074 Rosecrans Avenue, was the location for the November Evening Mixer. Owners Olga & Jorge Leon were on hand to host the Chamber members and guests in attendance. Salon de Leon is a beautiful facility, offering many types of services from hair cuts, to facials - they offer anything you may need to attain the look you want. Members mingled and networked as the evening progressed. On hand to present a “Thank you” certificate was Chamber President, Betty Chacon of Wells Fargo Bank. Also in attendance were Board Members, Teri Bazen, Norwalk La Mirada Plumbing, Toni Grijalva, Cerritos College, Joe Derthick, AFLAC, Maria Gonzales, Norwalk Union 76 Service Center and Karla Butler, Thompson Bookkeeping. Chamber Ambassadors Carol Trujillo, Camino Federal Credit Union and Susan Arthur, Tastefully Simple also joined in the festivities. Our Hostess, Olga Leon shared with the attendees the history of the Salon and also provided tours of the facilities. The evening ended with raffle prizes and a big thank you to all who attended.

Social Media Workshop a success Do you Facebook, Twitter or are you LinkedIn? This was the topic for the Norwalk Chambers morning workshop held at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex on November 18th. Ryan, of the Long Beach Small Business Development Center was the trainer for this workshop. Participants had a wide range of experience with social media, but Ryan was able to provide something for everyone that attended. One item in particular that Ryan focused on was websites. He pointed

out that one main purpose for getting involved in social media was to direct potential customers to your website. With that it mind, it is extremely important to have an interactive website that is user friendly and accomplishes your purpose, which is to sell your product or service! Ryan also shared that the Small Business Development Center offers some free sessions with counselors for social media and websites. If you are interested in finding out more about their services, contact them at 562-938-5100.

go to: www.yourcitycoupons.net

2 NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010

TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

Norwalk

Chamber Of Commerce

12040 Foster Road, Norwalk, CA., 90650 Phone: 562.864.7785 FAX: 562.864.8539

info@norwalkchamber.com

Executive Committee PRESIDENT

Betty Chacon

Wells Fargo Bank VP FINANCE

Jesse Urquidi

Norwalk Lions Club PRESIDENT ELECT

Joseph Derthick

AFLAC VP COMMUNICATIONS/ SECRETARY

Karla Butler

Thompson & Associates IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS NEW St. Linus Catholic Church Maureen Linnebur Anna Betancourt Father Tony 13915 Shoemaker Avenue Norwalk CA 90650 562-921-6649 Email maureen@stlinus.org

35 Years CR & R Inc.

RENEWING

23 Years SELACO Workforce Investment Board

34 Years Wells Fargo Bank Coast Plaza Hospital

9 Years Community Legal Services 1 Year AltaMed

24 Years Little Lake Unified School District

The following companies and individuals renewed their membership with the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and the services we provide are made possible by of their support. "Support the Businesses that Support Economic Growth in Norwalk”

17 Years Nationwide Environmental 14 Years Payless Foods Costco Wholesale

THANK YOU!

The following companies and individuals renewed their membership with the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and the services we provide are made possible by of their support.

Teri Bazen

Norwalk La Mirada Plumbing

Board of Directors Reggie Berry

Goals For Life Coast Plaza Hospital

Rob Cazares

Outback Restaurant

Rita DeBenedictis Café n’ Stuff

Lynda Fisher WalMart

Maria Gonzalez

Norwalk Unocal 76

Toni Grijalva

Cerritos College

Jennifer Kocaoglu

Team COSTCO with Board Member Jennifer Kocaoglu receiving their membership renewal plaque.

Costco Wholesale - Norwalk

Richard LeGaspi

Miguel Gonzales, Branch Manager of Union Bank of California receives their renewal plaque from Past President Teri Bazen, Norwalk La Mirada Plumbing.

Past President, Teri Bazen, Norwalk La Mirada Plumbing presenting renewal plaque to Anita Hutchinson of Little Lake Unified School District. In the background is a photo of the original school building.

TNT Fireworks

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Norwalk Florist/Flowers by Alan

Americare West Home Health Services launches website to support family caregivers

Gary Murphy Tracy Polley Kelco Sales

Lesley Watkins

Community Family Guidance Center AMBASSADOR CHAIR

Joseph Derthick AFLAC EVENTS CHAIR

Lynda Fisher Wal-Mart

Toni Grijalva

Cerritos College CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

Norwalk, California–To honor family caregivers, Americare West Home Health Services announces the launch of its caregiver support website to help adult daughters and sons of the seriously ill provide care for their aging parents. “Caring for a relative with a serious illness can be one of the most stressful times in a family’s journey together,”

WHY PAY MORE TO PRINT?

Teri Bazen

Norwalk La Mirada Plumbing LEGISLATIVE CHAIR

Julia Emerson

So. Cal. Gas Company

Cheri Kelley

City Council Liaison

Chamber Staff Executive Director

Vivian Hansen

Membership Services Director

Caren Spilsbury

Savings

Quality

OFF INK REFILL

$10

OFF TONER REFILL

Environment

Cerritos 13245 South St Cerritos, CA 90703 www.cartridgeworldusa.com

562-402-1035

One per customer. Not valid with other offers. Expires 9/30/2010. Code CCN

says Abygail Hieng, RN, PHN, Clinical Supervisor of Americare West Home Health Services. “But it can also be one of the most intimate and meaningful experiences. We created this website to provide insight and practical information that can make the family's job much easier.” Drawing upon the 24/7 accessibility of the Internet, Americare West Home Health Services created the “Elder Pages Southeast Los Angeles” website with 20 articles addressing medical concerns, emotional–spiritual issues, and important legal and financial decisions. It also includes an online directory listing both local and national services—from those that help with the costs of medicines, to insurance counseling, support groups, transportation services, and in-home health care. The website even offers a free enewsletter with monthly articles filled with tips and resources to make family caregiving easier. Although Americare West Home Health Services specifically designed its educational website to be helpful to

family caregivers, it also expects that the site will gain popularity with local physician offices and other professionals that come in contact with families

of the seriously ill. Office staff can look up services on the website and print the appropriate pages to give to their patients and clients. In addition, there are resource pages with information regarding recent research findings and links to national websites offering continuing education materials. To view the new family support website, go to www.elderpages.com/ southeastLA. For more information about the website, or if you have concerns about a family member who is seriously ill, email Americare West Home Health Services at info@americarewest.com or call (800) 823-8055.

TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Angel Tree Tag Program

Norwalk Chamber Angel Tree Tag gifts.

Once again the Norwalk Chamber Board of Directors has stepped up to help with the Angel Tree Tag Program. This is a City of Norwalk event that matches you with a child that has been selected to receive a gift of new clothing. The Norwalk Chamber has been an “Official Site” for the Angel Tree Tag program for many years, and our Board of Directors steps up every year to participate in the program. This year, more than 1,500 children in Norwalk will benefit from this program. The Norwalk Chamber is proud to have been able to participate. If you would like to become involved in the Angel Tree Tag event, contact the City of Norwalk Social Services Department.

Community Legal Services of Norwalk dividual over the age of 60. During a competitive bid process, in 1984, LASOC received funds which enabled it to add southeast Los Angeles County, where it is known as Community Legal Services (CLS), to its service area. LASOC's programs and services are aimed at stabilizing families and providing solutions that to help low-income individuals become independent. By becoming a partner, a volunteer or by otherwise supporting LASOC, you will: Protect spouses and children from domestic violence; Safeguard the elderly against fraud and abuse; Help families, children and elderly obtain health insurance and other benefits; Assist homeless individuals with legal issues to help Anthony Filer of Community Legal Services of Nor- them become self-sufficient; Provide individuals walk with his Staff. with help in filing taxes and obtaining tax benefits to promote equal access to the justice to which they are entitled; and Encoursystem through advocacy, legal coun- age economic development through its seling, innovative self-help services, Earned Income Tax Credit/I-CAN!TM in-depth legal representation, eco- E-File Program. Anthony Filer is the Director of the nomic development and community education. LASOC's client community Community Legal Services in Norconsists of individuals whose incomes walk, and can be reached at 562-864fall at or below 125% to 200% of the 9935 or emailed at afiler@legal-aid. federal poverty threshold and any in- com. Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1958 by a group of local attorneys. LASOC's mission is to provide civil legal services to low-income individuals and

BUSINESS AND LABOR LAW CORNER

: I have an employee who posted some very negative comments about our company on his Facebook page. Can I take action against this employee based on the Facebook comments? The rapid growth of the social media, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Plaxo, and many more, have raised a lot of issues for employers, including the proper response to the question posed above. Labor Code Section 96(k) protects an employee engaging in “lawful” conduct occurring during nonworking hours away from the employer’s premises.” In addition, all employees have the right to freedom of speech as guaranteed in both the U.S and California constitutions. Defamatory Comments That right, however, is not without limits. It is not permissible to post defamatory comments on social media, and employers can pursue legal remedies when blatantly defamatory comments are posted for everyone to read. Another example of when an employer can take action is when employees brag about misconduct on their Facebook page, such as calling in sick when they want to go skiing, revealing confidential information about the company, or even posting about spitting in food by a restaurant worker (yes, this was a question the Helpline received!). The more difficult issue is when an employee posts his/her opinion, which might not be pleasant, but isn’t specifically actionable. An employee can cause awkward, even possible harassing situations by misuse of social media.

Additional difficult situations result when former employees ask their former bosses to provide references, often on LinkedIn. Supervisors who do so should be aware that such a reference has the force and effect of a written recommendation, and therefore should proceed with caution. Suggested Guidelines To help prevent difficult situations, it is advisable for employers to issue guidelines to their employees. Some recommendations include: •Prohibit the use of their blogs and posts during business hours. •Give notice that misuse of social media may be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination. •Ask that employees bring any complaints to the company’s human resources contact versus posting on the Internet. •Prohibit employees from revealing the employer’s confidential information or trade secrets on social media. This list is by no means all inclusive, and it is recommended that employers consult their attorneys to draft appropriate language. Employers cannot ignore social media use, however. They must understand all the issues involved, and then draft policies and procedures to address those concerns accordingly. The Labor Law Helpline is a service to California Chamber of Commerce preferred and executive members. For expert explanations of labor laws and Cal/OSHA regulations, not legal counsel for specific situations, call (800) 348-2262 or submit your question at www.hrcalifornia.com.

“BREAKFAST BEFORE BUSINESS” NETWORKING EVENT

Norwalk Arts & Sports Complex 13200 Clarkdale Avenue Norwalk Event Date

SAVE THE DATE ANNOUNCING THE

NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS EXPO Has Market Uncertainty Got You Down? Do you need more customers?

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FUTURE - MAKE THE MOST OF THE NORWALK BUSINESS EXPO

4:00 TO 7:00 PM NORWALK DOUBLETREE HOTEL 13111 SYCAMORE DR.

* Display your products * Workshops * Employment Opportunities * introduce yourself to other business owners

Thursday, January 27th, 2011 8:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. Members $10 ~ Prospective Members $15 ~ Price Includes Breakfast RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED BY TUESDAY, January 25th

We Are Dedicated to Networking, Are You? At Every “Breakfast Before Business” You Can Experience: �Face To Face Business Contacts �Network With Local Business Leaders �Enter for a Chance to Win Raffle and Door Prizes �Expand your Business Contacts!

FOR DETAILS CALL 562/ 864-7785

BE AN EXHIBITOR

We recommend registering online anytime by visiting our website at www.norwalkchamber.com OR info@norwalkchamber.com Norwalk Chamber of Commerce 12040 FOSTER ROAD NORWALK, CA 90650 (562) 864-7785 | FAX (562) 864-8539

4 NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2010

TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211

A Handy Reminder

Open enrollment season is here — and it’s important to remember that the medical group you choose now also links you to a hospital. Bright Health Physicians is the only medical group exclusively affiliated with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH). If you want assured access to the area’s preferred hospital, switch to Bright Health Physicians.

Making the switch is as easy as 1, 2, 3: 1. Choose a health plan. 2. Choose Bright Health Physicians as your medical group. 3. Choose any Bright Health Physicians primary care doctor, and you’ll have access to PIH should you require hospitalization.

The doctors of Bright Health Physicians are trusted experts who take the time to get to know you and your family, and provide you with the personalized, high-quality care you deserve. We have over 150 primary care physicians and more than 180 specialists available to you. Chances are, you can switch to Bright Health Physicians and keep your current doctor. And we’re convenient — providing same-day access for primary care in most of our offices and an urgent care center to accommodate evening, weekend, and holiday needs.

Call the member services department of your health plan now, and make the move to Bright Health Physicians.

Call the Bright Health Physicians Information and Referral Service at