Summer is here and with it comes a full calendar of events of things to do throughout Montgomery County and golf tournament season as well.  The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce reminds the community and business members to be sure to utilize the on-line calendar to post upcoming events and view it for potential conflicts when looking at a date to schedule an event.

“The on-line calendar of events is a great resource when searching for things to do, business promotions and sales, golf tournaments and just about anything our members have to promote,” states Chamber President, Deborah Auspelmyer.  “I encourage organizations to utilize it when looking to book an event as well to avoid conflicts.”

Also on the website are menus of business member restaurants, member-to-member discount coupons, a monthly poll, up-to-date chamber news and radio broadcasts, loan information, pertinent links for business start-up information and much more.  A comprehensive directory of over 550 business members is available as well, categorized alphabetically and by category to make utilizing local businesses easy.

“One of our goals as the Chamber is to promote buying locally and business-to-business,” continues Auspelmyer.  “There is a chamber member business listed for just about every type of service and product anyone might need.  We strongly encourage our members and the community to utilize these businesses, not only to keep their business local but to establish those business-to-business relationships.”

Popular pages downloaded from the chamber’s site include the chamber’s newsletter, restaurant menus, and the business directory.  Popular exit pages and links included those related to real-estate, employment, and general county information.

Visitors to the chamber’s site were from all over the world.  The top states viewing the site include: New York, California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, and New Jersey.

“People are utilizing the site for business and community information,” adds Membership Assistant, Andrea Brooks.  “Posting information on the event calendar regarding upcoming events, one-day sales and promotions is one more way to get the word out there about your business to the thousands of people that view the site.  I encourage everyone to add the site to their favorites and utilize this tool this summer.”

Visit the website at www.montgomerycountyny.com for more information on upcoming events, local businesses and other pertinent information regarding Montgomery County.

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has discounted tickets to the Great Escape available at their office at 1166 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam.  Tickets are only $30.00 and are throughout the 2011 season.  Ticket holders may upgrade to a season pass for only an additional $39.99 plus tax or a “C’mon Back!” ticket for any day during the 2011 season for just $19.69, plus tax.

Call the Chamber at 842-8200 for more information

Chamber members along with Kristie Simonds, proprietor, cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of Imagination Garden.

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce along with proprietor, Kristie Simonds, recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Imagination Garden. Imagination Garden, 1110 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, is a non-profit creative learning center, that provides FREE classes to inspire children ages 18 months to 5 years, and their families to learn about the world through imaginative play, songs, stories, art and movement.

Kristie is a licensed speech-language pathologist, and also has a group of early childhood teachers, social workers, and speech-language pathologists who have volunteered their help. Their goal is to offer free programs to the community and to do their best to reach all families and children in need.  Classes have begun, with new classes and teachers being added in July.  They have also created a “Mini” Creative Creatures class and a “Mini” Busy Bees class, for children 18-36 months.

Kristie has invested much of her own money into the cost of starting the program and preparing the space for classes. She has also received donations from various organizations, and individuals but still needs donations to achieve her mission and is reaching out to the community for support.

“No donation is too small,” states Membership Assistant Andrea Brooks, “Every dollar helps provide a learning experience for a young child within our community and I encourage businesses and individuals within the community to contact Kristie to learn more about this organization and all the good that it does.”

For more information on donating you support to Imagination Gardens or to sign your children up for classes, visit their website at www.myimaginationgarden.com.

For the fifth time in 2011 the Track of Champions Fonda Speedway was rained out on Saturday June, 25 with the next race on the schedule being a special event celebrating the Fourth of July holiday as the Morris Auto Group will present a regular show in all divisions along with a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday July, 2.

Pit gates on July, 2 for the holiday racing card will open at 4:00 p.m. with front gates opening at 5:00 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m.

Looking back one year ago July 2010 was the month of first time winners at Fonda as Elmo Reckner and Stewart Friesen took home first career wins at the Track of Champions in the modified division while Ricky Quick (open sportsman), John Bellinger (602 limited sportsman), and Pete Broderson (pro stock) also took home first time wins in their respective divisions last year.

Two special racing programs were also a part of the 2010 Fonda Speedway schedule last July with Jimmy Owens winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Series event and Chip Smith winning the Hondo Classic pro stock event in memory of the late Hondo Carpenter.

Looking ahead to July of 2011 at Fonda the Hondo Classic (which will also be a Thunder Series Pro Stock event) will be on the racing card on Saturday July, 9 along with a regular racing program in all other divisions while the Lucas Oil Late Models will be on the racing card on Wednesday July, 27 along with a 50-lap Thunder Series Modified event paying $5,000 to the event winner.

For more information about the Fonda Speedway you can go to their website www.fondaspeedway.com where you can also click on the My Laps link in order to get complete results from the last two racing programs held at Fonda in 2011.

Capital Region Chamber Presidents recently went to Washington D.C. as a group to discuss business challenges for the region. L to r: Mark Eagan, Albany-Colonie; Wally Hart, Fulton County; Peter Aust, Adirondack Regional; Deborah Auspelmyer, Montgomery County; Todd Shimkus, Saratoga County; Dave Colby, Columbia County; Tom Nolte, Colonie; Linda Hillman, Rensselaer County; Peter Bardunias, Southern Saratoga; Chuck Steiner, Schenectady County and Kathy Burbank, Guilderland.

Chamber Presidents Deborah Auspelmyer, Montgomery County Chamber, and Wally Hart, Fulton-County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined a group of chamber execs from the Capital Region that recently flew into Washington, D.C.,  to speak to elected officials about issues that can help continue the growth and success of the region.

Topics on their agenda included: Albany International Airport and the need for increased service and competitive pricing, as well as the need to attract new direct flights to serve the growing demand for the business community; the Rail System and the need for reliable transit as well as challenge of  congestion on the lines; and energy, the high cost of energy in New York and the Capital region compared to many parts of the United States as well as the challenges of efficient transmission of electricity from Western New York and the need for upgrades to the system.

“Meeting as a group was productive in that we were able to discuss the issues that can assist our region in continued development and growth collaboratively,” explained Chamber President Deborah Auspelmyer.  “It was also an opportunity to hear from our representatives about the actions they are taking and what they are working on to address these challenges.”

Also discussed were the rules prohibiting riders from New York City and Montreal to be able to bring their bicycles onto Amtrak trains.  Allowing them to do so would provide easier access to our communities and businesses.

The chamber execs met with representatives from Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer’s, office as well as Congressman Chris Gibson and Congressman Paul Tonko.

Hart noted, “This was a great opportunity for Deb Auspelmyer and me to join with our other Chamber executives, collectively we represent 12,500 businesses in the greater Capital Region.  Our message of unity on the issues was well received by our representatives.  We look forward to additional visits with these legislators to share the concerns of the business community.”

The chambers will be working on another regional trip and will be inviting business representatives to join them as well.

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce recently held a Ribbon Cutting Celebration and Open House to celebrate the relocation of Attorney Bethany Schumann-McGhee’s law office now located at 2465 Riverfront Center in Amsterdam.  Bethany was recently presented with the New York State Bar Association’s 2011 President’s Pro Bono Service Award for developing and implementing free educational clinics that help indigent New Yorkers learn how to handle their own divorce proceedings.

“It is wonderful to see a Chamber member be awarded for such wonderful work,” states Membership Assistant, Andrea Brooks.  “The Chamber wishes Bethany many more years of success in her law firm”

Visit the Chamber’s website at www.montgomerycountyny.com for more information on Bethany Schumann-McGhee Attorney at Law and other Chamber members.

The presidents from 11 Chambers of Commerce across the Capital Region will travel to Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 21 to meet with members of New York’s Congressional delegation, promoting regional collaboration while advocating for enhanced transportation and expanded energy in the Capital Region.

Participating Chambers include: Adirondack Regional Chamber, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber, Chamber of Schenectady County, Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, Colonie Chamber, Columbia County Chamber, Fulton County Regional Chamber, Guilderland Chamber, Montgomery County Chamber, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber, and Saratoga County Chamber. Collectively, the chambers represent more than 12,500 businesses that employ nearly 400,000 area residents.

The Chamber representatives will be meeting with the offices of New York’s Congressional delegation, including Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Paul Tonko, and Congressman Chris Gibson.

Among the issues on the Chamber representatives’ agenda will be: improving access and pricing to and from the Albany International Airport for both corporate and leisure travelers; increasing reliability of the regional passenger rail system and expanding high speed rail connections that travel to and from the region’s stations to such points as New York City, Boston, Montreal and Buffalo; and addressing the rising cost and demand for energy while easing congestion in order to attract companies to the Capital Region.

“This is the first endeavor of this group,” explains Chamber President of Montgomery County, Deborah Auspelmyer.  “I look forward to working collaboratively on these issues and working more closely on regional issues that can assist our businesses members and the community.”