Viewpoints

Columbiana Alabaster Wilton Chelsea Montevallo Helena Vincent Wilsonville Indian Springs Calera Pelham Harpersville

Westover Hoover

Shelby County ViewPoints February 2011

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Welcome New Members

Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club

Jennifer Trammell

P.O. Box 660

Pelham

Community Organizations

Champion Cleaners of Calera

David Whitehurst

2548 Rocky Ridge Rd.

Birmingham

Dry Cleaning Services

eCO Credit Union

Christina Smith

P.O. Box 2385

Birmingham

Financial Products

High-D Digital Advertising Network Inc.

James Jones

111 Windsor Ln.

Pelham

Advertising Specialties

Oxymed LLC

Jonathan Temple

201 Cahaba Park Cir., #500

Birmingham

Medical Supplies

River Place on the Cahaba

Cindy Beckham

4501 Old Caldwell Mill Rd. Birmingham

Apartments & Leasing

Scott Richards Insurance Agency

Scott Richards

2070 Valleydale Rd., Ste. 5 Hoover

Insurance

Trigreen Equipment

Machelle McCranie

2710 Highway 31 South

Pelham

Equipment Rental

Veolia ES Solid Waste Southeast, Inc.

Jason Nichols

P.O. Box 430

Moody

Waste Management

Woodbrook Trail Apartments

Misty Ford

1740 Woodbrook Circle

Alabaster

Apartments & Leasing

To find out more about any member listed or other Chamber members, visit the online Business Directory at: www.shelbychamber.org.

Building a Network of Opportunity The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is building a greater network of opportunities by expanding the events we offer this year to assist you in growing your business. Events are scheduled at varied times throughout the month creating more opportunities for you to participate. Below is a brief description of the February meetings we have planned. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Focus Helena • Chelsea Focus meetings are informal gatherings designed to allow you to network with fellow Chamber members and guests, and listen as city officials give a brief update of developments in that particular municipality.

Salon Touche’ will be the site of our Focus Helena meeting on Tuesday, February 1st, from 8:30 am until 9:30 am.

Ekklesia Coffee House will host Focus Chelsea on Tuesday, February 15th, from 8:30 am until 9:30 am.

There is no cost to attend a Focus meeting, but bring plenty of business cards to help promote yourself and your business too!

New Member Orientation

New Member Orientation will be held on Wednesday, February 16th, from 8:30 am until 10 am at the Chamber office. NMO offers new members and new employees of existing members an opportunity to learn firsthand the many benefits of Chamber membership. The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages finding your niche through involvement. Participation is the key in making your membership work for you! There is no cost to attend NMO but please RSVP by February 14th. We look forward to seeing you there and remember, bring plenty of business cards too!

NMO is made possible by the Continual Sponsorship of Cahaba Valley Computer Services LLC, www.cvcsllc.com, and Minuteman Press of Alabaster, www.alabaster.minutemanpress.com.

Social 280

The Greater Shelby County Chamber offers a variety of no cost events throughout the county, including Social 280, a new event for 2011. Social 280 is a late afternoon event and offers opportunities to network and get to know area business leaders. The first Social 280 will be held at The Pita Hut on Wednesday, February 16th, from 4 pm to 6 pm. The Pita Hut is located at 5361 Highway 280. There is no cost to attend Social 280, but bring plenty of business cards to share!

Business After Hours Jim ‘n’ Nick’s of Alabaster will host a Business After Hours event on Thursday, February 17th, from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Business After Hours offers additional networking opportunities for Chamber members to get to know other business persons throughout the area. Jim ‘n’ Nick’s of Alabaster is located at the Colonial Promenade shopping center at 295 Alabaster Boulevard. There is no cost to attend Business After Hours.

Ambassador of the Month

Juana Colvin Congratulations to Juana Colvin, Greater Shelby Chamber Ambassador of the Month for January 2011. Juana is with Allstate Insurance, Anthony Agency. Allstate is known for their savings to their customers and Juana will be happy to talk to you about any insurance needs. For more information, please call her at (205) 980-1505 or check out their website, www.jimanthonyagency.com. For more information about the Ambassador program and how you can get involved with the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, contact April Stone at (205) 663-4542 or april@shelbychamber.org.

Interested in advertising in ViewPoints?

Contact Molly Alexander, (205) 669-3131, at the Shelby County Reporter for exclusive member pricing.

Member Tip of the Month

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“Hot D eals”

Ambassador Spotlight

It seems everyone is coupon-clipping, searching for sales, and seeking “Hot Deals” when purchasing products or services. What is a Hot Deal? It’s a coupon, discount, incentive, or savings on products or services that is posted online by Greater Shelby County Chamber members only ... for FREE! When searching for products or services do you think of your Greater Shelby Chamber family first? You should.

Being a member of the Greater Shelby Chamber means you have access to like-minded business professionals at your fingertips. This is the time people are shopping so get your name out there! Visit the online Business Directory on the Chamber’s website first at www.shelbychamber.org and add your sales items today.

Are you having a sale? Do you have discounted items? Are you currently offering special savings on services? Heat up your business “deals” for FREE by adding a Hot Deal. Use your Member Login and password to add a Hot Deal today.

Need your Member Login and password? Call or email the Chamber: 663-4542 or info@shelbychamber.org.

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Review and Renew your online Business Listing on the Chamber website

Have you looked at your online business listing lately? Visit www.shelbychamber.org and click on “Business Directory” from the home page. Search for your business by name or by using the category search. Are you utilizing all of your online benefits? Use your Member Login and take advantage of your complimentary online benefits! With the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce implementing search engine optimization with our online business directory, member listings are showing up in online search engines, i.e. Google, Yahoo, Bing, that links them directly to the members website.

Here’s a brief list of what you can do by using your Member Login:

Greater Shelby Chamber February Luncheon!

The mayors from Shelby County municipalities will come together at the Greater Shelby Chamber’s luncheon to speak about accomplishments and plans for their cities. This is a time for the business community to learn more about the successes and challenges of individual municipalities, while gaining insight into what makes Shelby County a great place to live and work.

The luncheon, sponsored by Carr & Associates Engineers, Shelby County Reporter, and Susan Schein Automotive Group is February 23rd at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Networking with the Spotlight on the municipalities will begin at 11 am with the seated program beginning at noon.

Investment is $17 for Greater Shelby Chamber members and $20 for guests. Register online at www.shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542. Deadline to register is noon on Monday, February 21st. Early reservations are recommended as seating is limited and expected to reach full capacity.

Add to Your Online Business Directory Listing • 200 character Business description • Hours of operation • Driving directions • Personalized keywords FREE Advertising • Hot Deals - Enter ads or coupons that display prominently on the Chamber’s website • Job Postings - Post job openings for those actively seeking employment • Events - Submit events for consideration on the Chamber and Community Calendar Once you’ve received your member login and password follow these simple steps to open the door to your online benefits: • From the Chamber’s website, www.shelbychamber.org, select Member Login at the top right of the home page • Enter your login name • Enter your password • Use the menu on the left hand side to access your online benefits • Always remember to click SAVE if you make any changes!

Grow & Go Workshops The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce will partner with other area chambers for a series of Grow & Go workshops in 2011. You’ll want to send your employees (and register for yourself) for these workshops, which also will offer additional networking components as well. Look for details soon. Thank you to Cahaba Valley Computer Services, www.cvcsllc.com and Business Telephones, Inc., www.bticonnect.com for sponsoring the 2011 Grow & Go workshops.

2011 Continual Sponsors A.C. Legg, Inc. Alabama Power Company Alabama Telco Credit Union America’s First Federal Credit Union AT&T Business Telephones, Inc. Cahaba Valley Computer Services Carr & Associates Engineers, Inc. Charter Business FastSigns First Commercial Bank ITT Technical Institute Jefferson State Community College Legacy Community Federal Credit Union

Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics M&F Bank Minuteman Press of Alabaster Neil Bailey Insurance & Investments PAETEC RBC Bank Regions Financial Shelby Baptist Medical Center Shelby County Reporter Sirote & Permutt, PC St. Vincent’s Health System Stewart Organization Susan Schein Automotive Group

Snapshots

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Catch more photos of Greater Shelby Chamber events online at:

shelbychamber.org

shelbychamber.org

Thank you to Johnny Ray’s, Pelham Towne Center, for hosting the recent Focus Pelham meeting.

Officials with Alabama State Parks and Johnson Controls held a groundbreaking on a new energy efficiency project.

Attendees enjoyed music, fellowship, and an array of dishes donated by fellow Chamber members at the Holiday Open House.

PC Rescue, a full service network, computer and laptop technical support and repair company, celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony

Property Enhancement Services, a local roofing contractor servicing central Alabama, celebrated their opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Thank you to Susan Schein Automotive for hosting the recent Business After Hours.

Online Networking is Where it’s Happening Online networking is quickly becoming the way to communicate business-to-business. The Greater Shelby Chamber invites you to join us on our sites as we share news, events, and posts from our members.

Social networking is certainly an invaluable tool to build an expanded audience for products or services. Integrate social networking into your existing marketing plan today It’s the wave of the future, and it’s here today! Embrace it by connecting with the Greater Shelby Chamber on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Plaxo. We’re here to help share your news too! Login or sign up today ... together we are building a greater Shelby County.

6 Tax Renewal Election Set for February 8, 2011 Shelby County residents will be asked to “Renew Now for Our Children’s Future” when they go to the polls for a special election on February 8, 2011. Residents will vote on whether to renew 30 mills of existing ad-valorem property tax for an additional 30 years.

Shelby County residents currently pay 30 mills of ad-valorem property taxes, which are due to expire in 2017. The request to renew the taxes early is being made to help the district plan long-term capital improvement projects and to maintain high quality instructional programs that are funded through local tax dollars.

“The vote to renew the taxes would not result in a tax increase,” Shelby County School Superintendent Randy Fuller explained.

“Residents would continue to pay the same rate they are currently paying. For someone with a home valued at $100,000, they would continue to pay $300 per year.”

Fuller explained the revenue generated from the existing taxes is used to fund additional teacher units for art, music, physical education, as well as additional core subject teachers, instructional support personnel, and guidance counselors. This revenue also helps fund rising utility costs, technology, and repayment of bonds used to finance past capital improvement projects. Over the past 25 years, these bonds have financed the construction of 15 new schools and the addition of classrooms and renovations to the remaining 24 schools.

“The bonds secured over the past 30 years will mature in six years,” Fuller said. “A portion of our current 30 mills of property tax are used to repay these bonds. Because there are only six years left in these existing property taxes, the school district is unable to secure additional bonds for capital improvements until the taxes are renewed.”

Fuller noted that Shelby County continues to grow each year, with a projected total of approximately 3,000 students over the next six years. In the coming years, the district will still have a need for additional classrooms and new schools. The district is already developing a capital improvement plan that would target communities with the highest level of growth including Alabaster, Calera, Helena, and Chelsea. Schools in other areas of the county would also be included for improvements and modernizations.

“Without the renewal, we will be unable to build any new schools or make future plans for additions or renovations to our existing schools,” he said. “By holding a special election, we will be asking Shelby County residents to make a 30-year investment so that we can maintain the high standard of education that we have all come to expect. That would include our ability to finance much needed capital improvement projects in some of our highest growth areas.”

The present economic environment provides opportunities to take advantage of the near historical low interest rates and low construction costs. In addition, the board will be able to reduce the existing debt service, as well as provide additional financing for planned new construction projects.

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Senator Shelby speaks in Helena Article taken from Shelby County Reporter shelbycountyreporter.com

By KATIE HURST/ Lifestyles Editor HELENA — Senator Richard Shelby, R-Ala., spoke to a crowd of county residents in the Helena Community Services Building Jan. 12 on issues facing the country including the national debt, tax reform and government spending.

During his address to the crowd, Shelby first thanked residents of Shelby County for giving him 83 percent of the vote for his fifth term in office.

“I’m grateful for that and for your support,” he said.

Shelby addressed the economic state of the nation, citing overspending and under-

saving as the reason behind the nation’s $14 trillion deficit.

“We’re on the road big-time to financial destruction,” he said. “With that we’ve got some challenges in Washington D.C. we’ve never had before. If we don’t get our finances in order this country as we know it will be gone.”

Shelby said the key to reducing the debt is to cut government spending, which he is willing to do.

“I’m willing as your senator to do some tough things,” he said.

“We should look at every program and say ‘What’s essential for this country?’ We’re going to have to do some cutting and I’m willing to do that.

“I believe we should go back to the 2008 budget,” he added.

2011 Greater Shelby Chamber Board of Directors Terri Gualano Chair AT&T Keith Barfield Finance Chair Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith Phillip Heard Development Chair Alabama Gas

Ken Collier BE&K Trent Cotton BBVA Compass Bank Dave Davis Legacy Community Federal Credit Union

Lisa McMahon Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino David Nolen M&F Bank Tim Prince Shelby County Newspapers, Inc.

Jim Garner The Insurance Store

Joe Sullivan Sullivan Communications

Chris Bottcher Sirote & Permutt

Silvia Hoyos Hispanic Interest Coalition of AL

April Weaver Shelby Baptist Medical Center

Tim Bowen Alabama Power

Vivian Johnson Sam’s Club

Keith Brown Jefferson State Community College

Bill Keller Regions Financial

Jennifer Trammell Greater Shelby Chamber

Elizabeth Roland Governance Chair Attorney at Law

Reporter Photo/Jon Goering

“Will we be cutting across the board? Absolutely. Will we be making people mad? Absolutely.

You can count on me. I’m going to make some votes that are tough votes.”

After Shelby’s address, he took

questions from the audience addressing his opposition to Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds and government-run health care. He also addressed his stand on immigration laws in response to several questions.

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Upcoming Events Find more details of what you can expect about any event listed by visiting the Greater Shelby County Chamber’s website at: www. shelbychamber.org. Register for events online at www.shelbychamber.org, call the RSVP Line 663-8923, or the Chamber 663-4542.

2011

2011

February

March

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8:30 am – 9:30 am ~ Focus Helena Salon Touche’, 2600 Hwy 58, Suite B, Helena No RSVP required. No cost.

8:30 am – 9:30 am ~ Focus Chelsea Ekklesia Coffee House 109 Foothills Parkway, Suite 110, Chelsea No RSVP required. No cost.

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8:30 am – 10 am ~ New Member Orientation Chamber, 1301 County Services Drive, Pelham RSVP required by February 14th. No cost.

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4 pm – 6 pm ~ Social 280 The Pita Hut, 5361 Highway 280, Hoover No RSVP required. No cost.

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5:30 pm – 7:30 pm ~ Business After Hours Jim ‘n’ Nick’s of Alabaster, 295 Alabaster Boulevard No RSVP required. No cost.

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8:30 am – 9:30 am ~ Focus Indian Springs North Shelby Library, 5521 Cahaba Valley Road No RSVP required. No cost.

11 am – 1 pm ~ Membership Luncheon Pelham Civic Complex, 500 Amphitheater Dr., Pelham RSVP required by noon, Monday, February 21st.

Investment: Members $17, non-members $20.

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8:30 am – 9:30 am ~ Focus Alabaster Joe’s Italian Pizza Pasta & Cafe, 21 Weatherly Club Drive, Ste. 500 No RSVP required. No cost.

11 am – 1 pm ~ Membership Luncheon Pelham Civic Complex, 500 Amphitheater Dr., Pelham RSVP required by noon, Monday, March 28th.

Investment: Members $17, non-members $20.

CANCELLATION POLICY REMINDER If a reservation is made for the luncheon and you are unable to attend, you will be charged for the luncheon unless a cancellation request is made at least TWO business days prior to the event.

Becoming Alabama and 193rd Shelby County Birthday Celebration On Sunday, February 6, 2011, the Shelby County Historical Society will host a Birthday Celebration in honor of the 193rd birthday of the founding of Shelby County, Alabama.

This celebration is open to the public and will be held at the Shelby County Museum & Archives in Columbiana from 2 pm until 3:15 pm. Governor Robert Bentley will be honored, among other guests.

In addition, the Shelby County Historical Society will partner with the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Tourism Association to participate in “Becoming Alabama” for the next five years. Shelby County was created February 7, 1818, almost two years before Alabama became a state on December 17, 1819.