Feet on the Street: Pressing On

by Aimee Scott, Member Relations Specialist

If the walls of the Chamber could speak, you would hear that they are privy to some encouraging news.  There chatter has been more hopeful amongst local business representatives at the turn of this new year.  For many, “uncertain times” in 2009 held one thing for certain – there was no place else to go but up.  And things do seem to be improving.

At the same time, the devastation of an earthquake opens our eyes to heartache and basic human need.  It feels like it is next door.  And it is.  Not for profit organizations are tirelessly providing, supporting, and building to mend what feels like a trembling foundation.

The first Allen County social service agency is only 32 years old, but can you imagine the impact the organization has had?  Lutheran Social Services offers help in a time of need.  Whether it is financial assistance, counseling, educational services, adoption support, or disability outreach (to name a few), their after-effect is far-reaching.  I met with the President/CEO Donna Elbrecht and was impressed to learn that 13,500 volunteer hours are deployed annually.  “We strive to empower individuals and families to move toward social, emotional, and spiritual wholeness.  We’re able to work with each person and identify his or her strengths, build upon those strengths, and walk beside them as they move forward,” Donna says.

Having been previously involved with the Graduate Retention Program here at the chamber, I am especially hopefully about LSSI’s ECHO program.  ECHO provides support for parenting teens to complete their high school education.  The graduation rate for ladies in the ECHO program is 90%, compared to a national average of 32%!  Thank you, Lutheran Social Services, for making this deposit into the hearts and lives of young woman.

My hope is that your cash registers are ringing this year. But if you look to the left or to the right and you find yourself wishing you knew exactly how to offer hope of refuge to another, let your Chamber point you toward the pillars of our city. Get connected with a not-for-profit with which you share a passion. Be a powerful voice on their behalf, and let the hopeful chatter around northeast Indiana resound.

FWA hits USA Today

We've talked a lot recently about the Fort Wayne International Airport and their handing out their one millionth cookie in December... Well, the cookie discussion isn't over. Travel blogger Harriet Baskas recently wrote a column for USA Today and guess who was featured - FWA and their sugar cookies. Those sweets really make an impression. Check out Harriet's column, "Free at the airport: Cookies, popcorn - and toothbrushes."

The main thrust is - yes, smaller airports can mean paying a bit more for a ticket. But, they also mean smaller crowds, quicker processing, less hassle and worry, and better customer service. Not to mention, the more people utilize our airport, the more air service we can attract to it, and the greater the positive impact the airport will have on our local economy. Cause and effect, cause and effect. Check out the article, and if so inclined, join the discussion! Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Prairie Quest Wins Project

We would like to congratulate Chamber member Prairie Quest - they are heading up an IDIQ contract vehicle for 711th HPW Mission Support Services. Prairie Quest was awarded this IDIQ based on their ability to readily support current operations and functions and transition the program into the consolidated organization at Wright-Patterson AFB. The 711th HPW contract runs for 5 years, with a ceiling of $93M. Partnering with Lockheed Martin, Wyle Labs, and Engility, Prairie Quest will serve as the prime and oversee all task orders issued under this IDIQ.

I'm pretty sure all that fancy talks adds up to - Prairie Quest knows what they are doing! And it's always great to hear about a local business, and a Chamber member no less, experiencing success. Read more about this project at their news room. 

Prairie Quest is an award-winning professional services firm with an impressive track record of public and private sector contracts. With a wealth of experience and expertise, Prairie Quest provides innovative, cost-effective solutions in project management, acquisition management, advisory and assistance services, business process analysis, and technology services. 

Helping in Haiti

In the wake of such a disaster, the need for food, water, shelter, medical services and emotional support is immediate, and that is what the Red Cross helps to provide. They have pledged $10 million in assistance, and have released supplies warehoused in Panama, as well as employed a disaster management specialist to Haiti. They will be working in conjunction with the Haitian Red Cross. 

Let's cut to the chase - you're wondering what you can do to help. While the Red Cross is not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti at this time, you can help by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross has staff on the ground in Haiti who provide ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs. At this time, all the three American Red Cross staff in Haiti have all been reported safe.

The Haitian Red Cross was founded in 1932 and is one of the primary organizations in the country responding to disasters. Although earthquakes are less common, Haiti is frequently impacted by hurricanes including those in 2008, and the Haiti Red Cross has developed experience in disaster response due those disasters.

For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster. People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

CANI Seeks Noms for Annual Award

Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI) is accepting nominations for their 4th annual William G. Williams Award. If you know of someone who demonstrates a commitment to helping communities, families and individuals remove the conditions of poverty, then you need to nominate them for this award! William G. Williams was the first executive director of the Allen County Economic Opportunity Council (which is now called CANI).

The winner will be honored May 4 at the CANI RECAP annual meeting event. For more information on nomination qualifications, visit CANI's Web site at www.canihelp.org. You can also call Lauren Caggiano at (260) 760-8924 if you have questions. Nominations are due April 15.

If you're not familiar with CANI, they work to promote economic and family development, mentoring, adult education, and job training. They help families find quality childcare, preschool education, emergency food and utility assistance, affordable and livable housing, and medical and dental care.

Rally for Rail this Saturday

This Saturday, January 16 at 2 p.m. community leaders will gather for a Rally for Rail at the Baker Street Train Station (221 West Baker Street). The event is brought to you by the The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association (NIPRA). Some of the speakers include Congressman Mark Souder, Mayor Tom Henry, Senator Tom Wyss, and Leigh Morris, Deputy Director of the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The public is invited to come to this rally and hear what these speakers have to say about high speed rail. The NIPRA believes that expanding rail can result in hundreds of new jobs for the region, as well as be an energy saver.

ATHENA Noms Due

The time has come - please don't forget to submit your nominations for the 6th Annual ATHENA Award® ceremony. Noms are due next Tuesday, January 19. Don't miss this opportunity to nominate someone in your life who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively assists women in realizing their full leadership potential. It is an honor to be nominated for ATHENA, let alone to win!

Visit our home page for nomination criteria and forms, or contact Laureen Voirol for more information. Thanks to this year's sponsors: Lincoln Financial Foundation, National City Bank, Vision Management Consulting and Prairie Quest Consulting.

Workplace Wellness: Save the Date

Dean Shakedown: Manchester's School of Pharmacy is on the Search

Fort Wayne recently received great news - that the Manchester College School of Pharmacy would soon be joining our business community. Well, Manchester has embarked on a nationwide search for a founding dean for the new school. The school opens in Fall of 2012 (it will be here before we know it!) with its four-year doctoral program. We love it when we get to claim "firsts" - well, this is the first school for pharmacists in northern Indiana.

The founding dean will have the unique opportunity to, in many ways, shape the new program. He or she will lead the accreditation process, recruit a leadership team and faculty and lead curriculum development and fund-raising.

Manchester intends to work closely with health-care organizations in Northeast Indiana, including providing experience for pharmacy students in the form of practicums. Speaking of firsts - this is Manchester's first doctoral program and first satellite campus. The parent institution offers a two-year pre-pharmacy program on its North Manchester campus, a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program. The Manchester doctoral program will welcome students from other pre-pharmacy programs as well.

Founding dean candidates must possess a doctoral degree, preferably in pharmacy and a record of pharmacy leadership, teaching, scholarship and service. For more about the Manchester College School of Pharmacy, visit www.manchester.edu.

Aids Task Force Celebrates 25th Anniversary

by Lauren Richwine, Communications Specialist

At the first gatherings of Chamber member AIDS Task Force in the 1980's, those early volunteers passed around a coffee can to raise money. Over the years, memorial contributions from families and friends were plowed back into programs that provided education and care.

Since 1985, friends of the Task Force have supported fund raising events that included truck raffles, yard sales, benefits, dinner dances, garden parties, walks, house parties, garage sales, and a smattering of activities that involved bikes, cheesecake, bands, choruses, and ribbons.

Right now, with the fantastic assistance of our community's arts and cultural groups, the AIDS Task Force is in the midst of commemorating its 25th anniversary.

Continuing through May 2010, the Fort Wayne Community will be commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Aids Task Force with various events and activities, which will culminate with the 14th annual Vive le Rouge! AIDS Walk through Headwaters Park. For more information visit www.aidsfortwayne.org.

Federal Student Aid Event this Weekend

PHP Offering Scholarships

Physicians Health Plan is generously providing the opportunity for high school seniors to obtain scholarship funds if they are planning to pursue a career in a health-related field. Let's be honest - what better place to pursue such a career than in Northeast Indiana? We have plenty of opportunities! PHP will award a one-time scholarship of $3,000 to the first place winner, a one-time scholarship of $2,000 to the second place winner, and a one-time scholarship of $1,000 to the third place winner. All entries must be postmarked by February 26, 2010. Entry requirements and applications are available at PHP's Web site. Or, you can call (800) 982-6257, ext. 331. 

What's the Little Fork for Again?

We have been looking forward to our next Business Brown Bag workshop here at the Chamber. This is a topic we have yet to tackle - business etiquette. Karen Hickman, Etiquette Protocol Expert and owner of Professional Courtesy, LLC will be presenting "Beyond the Fork: Dining for Business and Pleasure." This event will take place Tuesday, January 19 from Noon to 1 p.m. here at the Chamber. The cost is only $5 for members, and $10 for non-members.

I don't know about you, but I am always wondering which fork I'm supposed to use! I'm looking forward to having those questions answered. Here are some of the topics that will be covered:

• When and where to use Continental style of dining vs. American style.
• Technology at the table.
• The "gender neutral" business meal.
• How to navigate difficult to eat food gracefully.
• Napkin etiquette.
• Host and hostess duties.
• Guest duties.
• Receiving and reception lines.

We would appreciate, though do not require, an RSVP to fwchamber.org or to lvoirol@fwchamber.org. You can pay at the door. Hope to see you there!

P.S. Chamber members will soon begin a complimentary trial of Connect For Lunch - this will be a great way to prepare! 

Career Expo: Mark Your Calendar