American Red Cross Opens Shelter at Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum

In response to power outages throughout the Fort Wayne area, the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana will open a shelter at the Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. Friday for residents who cannot shelter at home.

Residents coming to the Memorial Coliseum shelter are encouraged to bring blankets, pillows, toiletry items, games and toys for children, and any other supplies that will make their stay more enjoyable.

For those residents without power who can shelter at home, the Red Cross offers the following safety tips:

Do not use candles for lighting if your power is out. Use flashlights only.
Use items in the refrigerator first, then freezer, then non-perishable foods.
Use generators correctly: Portable generators should always be kept outdoors. Never operate a generator indoors, including the basement, garage, carport or near an open window. Connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring.
Take action to prevent frozen pipes:
Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Move harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children.
Let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.

For more information about preparing and responding to winter weather, contact the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana (260) 484-9336 or visit NortheastIN.RedCross.org or RedCross.org.

Opportunity to Bid: Great Items for a Fun Cause

It’s not too late to participate in a silent auction to benefit Fort Wayne’s newest sport. Sled Hockey’s auction is being held at the MAC Ice Arena (3901 Abbot Street in McMillen Park), and participation is easy – visit the Arena, fill out a bid card and give a unique present to yourself or to a loved one!

Proceeds will provide youth and adults with disabilities an opportunity to participate in sled hockey. The MAC is home to Indiana’s first sled hockey team and their upcoming Bob Chase Frostbite Sled Hockey Tournament February 14-15, 2009.

The following items are on display at the MAC through this Saturday, December 20 at 6 p.m.:

* Dinner at Casa’s with Guy Dupuis (4 people plus Guy) – Current bid $250

* Album signed by Chicago – Current bid $50

* Doobie Brothers signed Telecaster – Current bid $300

* Be a professional wrestling manager – Current bid $20

* Be a Komet reporter for a day– Current bid $35

* Komet team signed jersey – Current bid $65

* Komet team signed pennant – Current bid $15

* Learn to drive the Zamboni (must be 18 to win this item) – Current bid $40

* Dinner at a Fort Wayne firehouse – Current bid $75

* Mayor of Marion, IN for a day – Current bid $35

* Magic Show by Terry Owens – Current bid $50

* 1992 “Dream Team” Kellogg’s promotional jacket – Current bid $25

* Ray Crowe biography signed by Crowe, Oscar Robinson, etc. – Current bid $35

* Saxophone Quartet performance at your event – Current bid $25

* Behind the scenes tour of TV Channel 15 – Current bid $10

* A hockey-themed fleece blanket – Current bid $30

* A collection of cool stuff from the Fort Wayne Derby Girls – Current bid $10

Submit a bid via email at samantha.smith@cityoffortwayne.org.

For those familiar with wheelchair basketball and tennis, sled hockey is similar in that it is a great sport for youth and adults, men and women. For more information visit www.mcmillenicearena.org or call the Ice Arena at (260) 427-6769.

FW Museum of Art Receives $750K Grant

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art announced that The Madge Rothschild Foundation has awarded a $750,000 grant in support of the Museum’s American Art Initiative Capital Campaign. This gift will put the Museum even closer to meeting its $7.5 million goal for its capital campaign.

Ms. Rothschild was a renowned and active philanthropist in Fort Wayne until her death in 2005. The members of the Foundation were unanimous in expressing their support for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art as a critical player in the cultural life and offerings in the community. The Foundation’s commitment to the Museum’s campaign at this level was consistent with what Ms. Rothschild likely would consider as appropriate for the future of the Museum and its mission.

Executive Director Charles A. Shepard III responded, “We are so appreciative of this extremely generous gift from the Rothschild Foundation. In honor of Madge Rothschild, the Museum will name our newly redesigned atrium after her”.

The Museum recently began construction of the new facilities, starting with the addition of 10,000 square feet of new gallery space. After the addition is complete, current galleries will close for remodeling. The project will reconfigure all of the Museum’s space to facilitate better visitor service, greater accessibility and more programming. A new café, museum shop and the new Madge Rothschild Atrium will create a new downtown destination, providing an amenable spot for visitors to shop, relax and meet friends.The new facilities are expected to be open by early 2010.

The expansion project will also help the Museum fill gaps in its permanent collection of American art, through support for future acquisitions and gallery space for additional exhibitions. Through the $750,000 donation from the Madge Rothschild Foundation, the atrium will become a new cultural hub in the revitalization of downtown Fort Wayne.

January 15 - First Morning Mix of 2009

The first Morning Mix of 2009 will take place January 15 from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. at the new Holiday Inn across from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Come check out one of the newest and coolest Fort Wayne hotels and enjoy speed networking at its best.

The Morning Mix 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 a Morning 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.

Feet on the Street

by Teresa Royer
Member Relations Specialist

Mike Ball, Division Director of the March of Dimes educated me on the history of their organization a few weeks ago. I’m sure many of you are aware of their origins, and how they earned their name. For those of you that are not, such as me; you may find this very interesting.

While FDR was President, we all know he had been stricken with polio and the disease was spreading fast. A single person started mailing in dimes to Washington as an effort to help FDR and others followed; as many people could identify with polio. They were sympathetic and wanted to do something about it! The health administration in Washington organized a foundation to eradicate it. Donation cards were created and sent out with several inserted dime-sized slots; citizens were encouraged to fill the slots with dimes and mail back to the foundation -- thus The March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes funded Jonas Salk’s research --over time Dr. Salk’s research and the March of Dimes’ funding paid off -- their mission was successfully completed – to find a cure for polio! Now they needed to find a new need and mission they could address.
Today the March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. I was amazed by some of the stats Mike shared with me of how one of their many services, education goes a long way to completing their mission ---- knowledge is definitely power!

BTW, how many remember getting vaccinated for polio?

Vera Bradley to Have Float in the Rose Parade

Fort Wayne's own Vera Bradley and their "Hope Grows" float will be number 17 in the lineup for the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA and will feature breast cancer survivors, including Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon. The float is being designed and built by Festival Artists Worldwide.

Fred Toenges Gives the Gift of Community

Beginning December 1 Fred Toenges Shoes and Pedorthics is offering customers a discount of up to 15 percent on shoe purchases for a donation of non-perishable food items.

Collection boxes will be in the store with all food donations going directly to the Community Harvest Food Bank. Customers simply need to bring the items with them to the store, place them in the box and receive their discount.

Toenges wants to give back to the community and provide needed help to local families in need. The collection boxes will remain in the Toenges store (2415 Hobson Rd.) throughout the month of December, through Christmas Eve.

Morning Mix Tomorrow

Aptera Software will host the last Morning Mix of the year. This event takes place tomorrow, December 18 at 7:30 a.m. Aptera Software will hold the Morning Mix at the Fort Wayne Country Club, 5221 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

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. 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.

Fort Wayne Families in Need of Assistance

The Community Harvest Food Bank is sending out the call for help from the community. Need for food staples is greater than ever with the suffering economy. Crisis Assistance at Community Harvest, which offers emergency food assistance for families in immediate, urgent need, was up 205% over November of last year.


There are a variety of fundraisers running currently that provide ways to give to Community Harvest and help Fort Wayne area families in need. For more information on ways you can help visit http://www.communityharvest.org/pages/ or call (260) 447-3696.

Free Live Christmas Trees

Generous area Christmas tree dealers have donated live trees to Community Harvest Food Bank. The public is welcome to pick up a free tree at Community Harvest in the parking lot along Tillman Road. There is no need to check in with anyone at the food bank.

On behalf of area Christmas tree dealers and Community Harvest Food Bank, Happy Holidays!

Mark Your Calendars - Cc: me on January 29

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January 29, 2009 marks the launch of the Chamber's new networking event Cc: me at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum lounge from 5 - 7 p.m.

Cc: me is the Chamber's new monthly networking event. Cc: me is THE place to build your business network and build lasting business relationships.

Leave the tie and the sales pitch in the car and come for great food, venues and exciting community networking. New to networking? Chamber "connectors" will be present to help connect you to those you should meet or know. As part of the Chamber's "Give the Gift of Community" campaign we are realizing that now, more than ever, we must support each other and Cc: me will help pave the way for relationships, support and better business networking. Please join us!

Thank you to our sponsor, First Federal Bank and our host, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. More exciting details to follow soon.

Free Skating at McMillen Ice Arena

McMillen Ice Arena will be hosting a FREE Holiday Skate Party on Saturday, December 20 from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

This $5 value for skating and skate rental is free to you – the Mac asks that you bring a food donation for the Community Harvest Food Bank. For every item that you turn in, you will receive a chance to win a prize.

There is more to do for the whole family: visit with Santa; kids can make a tree ornament at the arts and crafts table; and an instructor will be out on the ice to help any skaters.

So don’t miss the fun – join the party and tell your friends. Please RSVP by emailing Samantha.smith@cityoffortwayne.org or by calling (260) 427-6768.

McMillen Ice Arena is located at 3901 Abbott Street in McMillen Park.

ADA/FMLA Updates Seminar

Are you ready for the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) and the new FMLA regulations? Mark S. Kittaka of Barnes & Thornburg LLP will present a FREE seminar on these cutting edge changes to federal law. Please join us at the Chamber on Wednesday, December 17 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.Register through the Chamber calendar online by clicking here.

ADA Amendments Act effective January 1, 2009, includes:
The dramatic expansion of the definition of a disability under the ADAAA including the elimination of mitigating measures, the expansion of major life activities and the relaxation of the standard of review;
New changes to the "regarded as" disabled classification; and
Employers' expanded responsibilities for reasonable accommodation based on the expanded definition of disability.

FMLA Final Regulations issued by the Department of Labor which will be effective January 16, 2009, include:
New Service member leave regulations defining what is a "qualifying exigency" to support a leave of absence related to a family member's call to active duty;
Changes to the definition of "serious health condition";
Changed requirements for Notice both for employee and employer;
The effect of light duty work on FMLA leave entitlement; and much more.

For questions please contact Heather Neilson at (260) 424-1435, ext. 241.

Lincoln Collection Will Stay in Indiana

The Lincoln Financial Foundation will donate its collection of Abraham Lincoln artifacts and documents to the State of Indiana. Valued at more than $20 million, this is the world's largest private collection of memorabilia from Abraham Lincoln's personal and presidential life. It will be housed at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis and the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne. Among the more than 20,000 items in the collection are signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment; three-dimensional artifacts including Lincoln's wallet and a chair he sat in for some of his most famous photographs; artwork; thousands of documents; photographs; prints and rare books.

Over the past six months, Lincoln Financial Foundation reviewed proposals from organizations across the country that were interested in caring for and displaying the collection. The Indiana team, including representatives from the Indiana State Museum, ACPL, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Library, Friends of the Lincoln Museum, and Governor Daniels' office prepared the winning bid. An endowment, funded by private donations, will now be established to pay for expenses at the Indiana State Museum and ACPL to maintain the collection and make it available to the widest possible audience.

Get Involved: Leadership Development Roundtable

The next Leadership Development Roundtable recruiting meeting will take place January 28 from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. at the Chamber (826 Ewing Street). For more information on this excellent program please see below:

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