Open House Celebration Today

Join Moore & Associates as they celebrate the grand opening of their new 20,000 square foot office location with an open house today from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Moore & Associates began their celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier today, and are continuing their celebration by opening their doors to the public.

Stop by for tours of their fantastic facility, refreshments, and to learn more about what they do!

Moore & Associates is an Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisory Practice headed by Christopher P. Moore, CFP® and Senior Financial Advisor.

Moore & Associates is located in the former “Jorgensen Building,” now known as the Moore Financial Center at 6226 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

Get Tickets Now - YLNI Masquerade Ball

Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana: 4th Annual Masquerade Ball

When: New Year's Eve - 12-31-08, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Where: Embassy Theatre Lobby, 125 West Jefferson Blvd.

Tickets: $35 in advance, $30 for YLNI dues-paying members (up to 6 tickets), $40 day of event if available

Featuring: Casino Night, Music & Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, Prize Drawings, hors d'oeuvres by CataBlu, Chocolate Fountain & Cash Bar

* Masks required - Prize given to best mask
* Black tie optional
* Purchase tickets at YLNI events or at http://www.ylni.org/
* Contact social@ylni.org with any questions

Santa's Coming to Fort Wayne

Kick off your holiday season with friends, family and coworkers at the annual downtown lighting of the Santa Claus. Make an evening of this magical holiday event and take advantage of all downtown has to offer.

The annual lighting of the Santa Claus display on the National City building is next Wednesday, November 26. Entertainment begins at 5:45 p.m. with the lighting taking place at 6:15 p.m.

The National City building is located at the corner of Calhoun and Main street in downtown Fort Wayne.For more information on the history of the Santa display and how Santa has gone "green" this year, click here.

2009 This is Fort Wayne Member Directory

Members - don't miss out on this great opportunity to promote your business in the Chamber's "This is Fort Wayne" member directory. Several important deadlines are pending:

Ad Reservation Deadline ~ November 21
Ad Material Deadline ~ December 12

For more information, please contact Business People magazine at (260) 497-0433.

Chamber Update Sponsorships Available

Each week a Chamber member can sponsor the Chamber Update email newsletter which allows your company to have a 2" by 6" color advertisement for over 2,500 recipients to view. The cost of the sponsorship is $200 and as a sponsor, your company's logo and information will be sent to numerous area business professionals and Chamber members.

If you are interested in more information or other Chamber sponsorships, please contact Nicole Wilkins at (260) 424-1435 ext. 262 or nwilkins@fwchamber.org.

2009 Legislative Agenda Preview Reception

Are you interested in getting heard and getting involved with the issues that matter to your business? Then be sure to attend the Chamber's 2009 Legislative Agenda Preview Reception on Tuesday, December 9 from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber (826 Ewing Street).

The Legislative Preview will take a look ahead at the upcoming 2009 legislative session with area legislators. Ask questions and find out what issues will be important in the upcoming year. Food and beverages will be provided.

For more information please contact Keith Knepp, Government & Community Affairs Coordinator at kknepp@fwchamber.org or (260) 424-1435, ext. 228.

Thank you to this year's sponsors: Five Star Distributing, OmniSource, Parkview Health and Verizon.

Community Harvest Receives Operating Gift from Parkview Health

Parkview Health has pledged to Community Harvest Food Bank what will potentially amount to over $150,000 in operating funds over the next two months. Parkview will donate $50,000 to the food bank immediately, and as an incentive to encourage other business leaders and healthcare organizations within the Parkview and Community Harvest service area to step up and join them, Parkview has pledged an additional dollar-for-dollar match for donations received by companies up to $50,000 through December 31, 2008.

“Community Harvest is facing a dire situation due to increased need,” said Mike Packnett, President and CEO, Parkview Health. “By increasing our annual contribution to the food bank, we are encouraging other business leaders to come together and work collaboratively to help Community Harvest meet the demand for its services.”

“This is one of the largest single operating gifts the food bank has ever received,” said Community Harvest Food Bank Executive Director, Jane Avery. “We are so grateful for their generosity and thrilled by their progressive approach with the match which will translate into even more contributions from area businesses.”

Community Harvest Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the alleviation of hunger through the full use of donated food and other resources, and collects and distributes over 10 million pounds of donated, surplus food annually through a network of human service member agencies.

Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system that servers Northeast Indiana, western Ohio and southern Michigan. Parkview is home to the region’s only Verified Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center. Parkview’s mission is to provide quality health services and improve the health of the communities it serves.

Morning Mix Tomorrow

Sam’s Club will host this month’s Morning Mix. This event takes place tomorrow, November 20 at 7:30 a.m. at Sam’s Club, located at 6736 Lima Road

The Morning Mix offers speed networking at its best and is designed for professionals who are involved in sales, business development, public relations, or any career that requires getting the word out. You will experience 20 minutes at three different tables, receiving the opportunity to present your "unique selling proposition" to a couple of dozen businesspersons in a fast-paced, fun and structured setting.

Admission is $5. In addition, please make sure to bring a stack of your business cards. Continental breakfast is included. If you are interested in being a table captain for tomorrow's Mix please contact Teresa Royer at (260) 424-1435 or troyer@fwchamber.org.

To reserve a space, contact the Chamber at (260) 424-1435 or sign up online at fwchamber.org. You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend.

Holiday Art Gallery Benefits Community Harvest

(click on image for larger view)

United Way to Launch 10-Year Reading Initiative

The United Way is to publicly launch a 10-Year Reading Initiative with a news conference on Friday, November 21 at 10:30 a.m. The news conference will take place at Brentwood Elementary School, 3719 Stafford Drive. United Way encourages a common vision and helps bring the entire community together to find effective solutions to vital issues.

Chamber of Commerce President Kris Foate will be among other Fort Wayne leaders attending the launching:

United Way President and CEO Jerry Peterson, Allen County Education Partnership Executive Director Brian White, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, New Haven Mayor Terry McDonald, FWCS Superintendent Wendy Robinson, EACS Superintendent Kay Novotny, Corporate Council President Kirk Kemmish, Economic Development Alliance President Rob Young and students and faculty of FWCS and EACS.

http://www.unitedwayallencounty.org/

Kids Kampus Holds Annual Thanksgiving Day Fundraising Marathon

Kids Kampus childcare center of Huntington is hosting the 4th annual Turkey Trot 5K run and fun walk on Thanksgiving morning, starting from McDonald’s in Huntington. The Turkey Trot and fun walk is a fundraiser sponsored by McDonald’s, The News Sentinel, H.H. Niswander’s, El Shaddai, Inc., Markle Bank and the Kil-So-Quah Roadrunners. Proceeds will benefit the Kids Kampus Early Childhood Education Center Scholarship fund.

Ronald McDonald will help get the race started at 8 a.m. Registration for the 5K begins at 7 a.m. The one-mile fun walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Cost for the race is $15 for those who pre-register, and $20 the day of the race. Those who register before November 14 will receive a free long sleeved t-shirt.

Cash prizes of $50 will be awarded to the winners of each age division, and the overall winner will receive $100. Age divisions are:

• Best Boys and Girls (15 and under)



• Men’s and Women’s (16 to 34)



• Men’s and Women’s (35 to 54)



• Men’s and Women’s (55 and up)
  

Kids Kampus is a division of Pathfinder Services, Inc. Registration forms are available online at http://www.kidskampus.org/

ITT Technical Institute Introduces 2-Year Nursing Program

ITT Technical Institute of Fort Wayne is addressing the growing demand for nurses by introducing a new associate degree program in nursing. The program is designed to help graduates prepare to become Registered Nurses (RNs).

Denise Jordan, Program Chair for Nursing at ITT in Fort Wayne says “We are helping Indiana in its quest to provide qualified individuals an opportunity to become RNs. With the state facing a projected 30 percent shortage by the year 2020 it is important communities have ample programs available for qualified individuals. ITT Tech is prepared to help people pursue their dreams of becoming a nurse while helping to ease the community’s nursing shortage in coming years.”

ITT also cites statistics from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing that nursing will be the fastest growing job market through 2012, and that the country will face a shortage of a half-million nurses by the year 2025, as well as information from Indiana workforce development stating that the nursing occupation is expected to grow nearly 30 percent by the year 2014 in the state of Indiana due to high demand.

ITT Technical Institute is holding informational seminars on its new nursing program:

November 25, 2 – 3 p.m.
December 4, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the seminars or the associates degree visit http://www.itt-tech.edu/campus/seminar.cfm or call (260) 497-6251.

Stepping Stones Child Development Center Open House

Stepping Stones Child Development Center, a division of Easter Seals Arc, is holding an open house event on Wednesday, December 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The event is a chance for one-on-one tours of the 60,000 square foot Stepping Stones facility (4919 Coldwater Road) with a certified classroom teacher. Attendees will be able to walk through classrooms, meet teachers and Stepping Stones’ registered nurse, and interact with the president of Easter Seals Arc, Steve Hinkle. Subsidy sign-up assistance as well as other resources and information will be available. Refreshments will be served.


Events of the day include:

• Speak with Easter Seals Arc president, Steve Hinkle: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.


• Sit in on a dance therapy session: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.


• Storytelling time with local sports figures: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Stepping Stones strives to create solutions, and change lives. Serving children of all abilities in a fully inclusive environment, proving the only disability in life is a bad attitude. Stepping Stones represents support to each milestone a child makes during the developmental years. Stepping Stones is state licensed and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited. Stepping Stones is also Level 4 Paths to Quality Certified.