Santa Bulbs to Brighten the Community

National City Bank has donated the approximately 24, 717 old bulbs from the historic lighted Santa display that brightens their building to Easter Seals Arc. The old bulbs were replaced this year with new LED bulbs, and will be cleaned, prepared, and packaged as ornaments by individuals with developmental disabilities at the workshop located on the Easter Seals Arc campus.

The ornaments will allow a part of the historic Santa display to be shared with the community as a keepsake, as well as contribute to the Easter Seals Arc 55th anniversary fundraiser.

The bulbs will be available for sale in the fall of 2009 at Anne's Hallmark stores and at Easter Seals Arc.

In This Issue...

In today's issue of Emphasis, the center section of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly...

In a special legislative issue we look at -

2009 at the Statehouse - what are the hot topics our legislators face

Letter From Joni Howell, Chamber Government & Community Affairs Manager on the upcoming session

Legislators Weigh In - special section with commentary from all Northeast Indiana's legislators

Also, its a new year and that means new networking events at the Chamber! Find out how to get ahead, get heard and get involved.

Training for Excellence

Chamber member Training for Excellence is celebrating their one year anniversary today!

To celebrate they are offering 25% off the regular price of their 12 or 24 module Compass training series.

For more information contact Dawn at 1-888-349-1776 or dawnm@trainingforexcellenceinc.com to take advantage of this offer.

Chamber President to Speak at SCORE Meeting

Chamber President & CEO Kristine Foate will be the featured speaker at the January meeting of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).

The meeting takes place Tuesday, January 20 at 9:30 a.m., at Indiana Institute of Technology, 1600 East Washington Blvd., in the Abbott Hall Conference room.

Anyone interested in becoming a counselor or engaging in SCORE activities are invited to attend the meeting or visit the SCORE Web site at http://www.score-fortwayne.org/ for more information.

Legends from Locals

The Embassy Theatre announces Down the Line 3. Legends From Locals, presented by Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Down the Line is a one-night music tribute to six legends of rock-n-roll to benefit the Embassy Theatre, on Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m.

Down the Line 3 will feature six local bands paying respect to those that inspired them by bringing their music to life:

The Band by Lee Miles & The Illegitimate Sons
Led Zeppelin by Left Lane Cruiser
Marvin Gaye & Smokey Robinson by Ty Causey & Band
Aretha Franklin by Fatima Washington
Jimi Hendrix by Brian Lemert & Friends
Bob Marley by Unlikely Alibi

Tickets for this all-ages show are $10 and $12 day of show and are available at the Embassy Theatre box office, all other Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com.

Down the Line artistic direction is provided by Matt Kelley, owner of One Lucky Guitar, and is sponsored by Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

MENtors Needed

Currently, 40% of low-income children in Allen County are not passing the critical educational milestone of reading at grade level by 3rd grade. Experts estimate that 74% of these children never catch up. Ultimately, our goal is that all students will read at or above grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

As part of this community effort, we plan to direct a unique intervention toward boys. Less than half of low-income boys in Allen County are passing 3rd grade reading compared to 61% of low-income girls.

You can help close that gap! Beginning in March, Real Men Read will place men in classrooms once a month to read with students and model the importance of reading. Boys will see diverse men who value reading and education. Students can improve their own literacy skills by listening to a fluent reader and reading along. Each student will also receive the book being read that month to build their own home library.

MENtors will be assigned to a 3rd grade classroom and given books with guided reading cards for March, April and May.

Please join the United Way to learn more:

January 8; 6 -8 pm
Fort Wayne Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna St.
RSVP to Jamie; jamieg@uwacin.org or 260.422.4776

Local Banquet Features Chicago Cubs General Manager

Chicago Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry will be the featured speaker at the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation’s (FWSC) Annual Banquet on January 29, 2009. The banquet and sports memorabilia auction take place at Ceruti’s Reception Hall starting at 6 p.m. and is open to the general public.

The reigning two-time National League Central Division champion’s GM will talk about his experiences with the Cubs and his 30 plus year career in baseball. Fort Wayne’s own Eric Wedge, skipper of the Cleveland Indians and 2007 Manager of the Year, will also be on hand to talk about his team and the Wedge Baseball Camp, which takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the ASH Centre.

The banquet will be followed by a live auction of famous sports memorabilia and other items including Major League game ticket packages.

Proceeds from the banquet and silent auction will go to the Special Olympics of Allen County and the World Baseball Academy planned for Fort Wayne, as well as the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation – which provides scholarships for kids to attend the Eric Wedge Baseball Camp.

To make reservations contact the Fort Wayne Sports Corporation at (260) 420-1305. Group rates are available.

English Bonter Mitchell Grant

The Chamber is pleased to announce that the Graduate Retention Program has received a $25,000 English, Bonter, Mitchell grant award for its 2008-2009 operating year. The Graduate Retention Program has entered its fifth year of operation with record results each year. English Bonter Mitchell has provided funding since inception of the program and their consistent support is appreciated very much.

The English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation was established in 1972 as a tribute to Dr. Calvin English – the first medical director of the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. A Fort Wayne native, Dr. English was instrumental in the formation and success of Lincoln Life. His wife, Mary Tower English, his sister-in-law, Louise Bonter, and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Mitchell, established the Foundation to honor Dr. English and to continue his legacy of community enrichment for the city he loved. The Foundation’s criteria in selecting recipients mandates that organizations must be operated for public purposes and qualify for not-for-profit status.

January 20 & 27 – Networking for Success: A Brown Bag Lunch

Need a refresher on networking before attending the Chamber’s Cc: me event? Then attend "Networking 4 Success: A Business Brown Bag." Learn from networking experts how to effectively engage others in any setting in order to build lasting professional relationships. This two part series will teach the difference between networking and selling and provide you with the skills necessary to build your business through relationships.

These seminars take place January 20 and 27 from 11:45 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. at the Chamber. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members to attend. Register online at fwchamber.org or at the door.

After attending the seminar come try out your newly polished networking skills at the Chamber's Cc: me event on January 29 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

ATHENA Deadline Extended Until Friday

The nomination deadline for the 5th Annual ATHENA Award® Program has been extended until Friday, January 9 at 5 p.m. The ATHENA Award® Program will be presented at a luncheon March 11 at Ceruti's Summit Park.

ATHENA celebrates exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their profession, have served the community in a meaningful way and have assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. Nomination forms and criteria are available at www.fwchamber.org.

For more information please contact Kristi Holmes, Vice President of Communications & Member Relations at (260) 424-1435 or kholmes@fwchamber.org.

Save the Date: IPFW Career Fair this April

(click on image for larger view)

Embassy Presents Gordon Lightfoot

Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot performs in Fort Wayne on Friday, March 20 at 8 p.m. at the Embassy Theatre. The legendary balladeer weaves tales of love and longing in eloquent musical masterpieces that have become enduring standards.

Tickets are priced at $60, $50 and $40 and can be purchased at the Embassy Theatre Box Office, as well as all Ticketmaster locations including Fort Wayne Memorial Stadium and Wooden Nickel or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Lightfoot’s poetic journeys have been told with such timeless, thought-provoking songs as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Early Morning Ran,” “Carefree Highway,” “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” and many more.

“Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever,” said Bob Dylan.