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Weekly News Update > Week of 4/20/2010
Thank you,
Chief Batts
Weekly News Update Presented by the
Oakland Metro Chamber
April 20, 2010
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Upcoming Chamber Events
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Letter from the President |
Dear members and friends,
Thank you, Chief Batts
Our thanks to Oakland Police
Chief Tony Batts for hosting
Chamber members and staff to
hear first-hand his plan for
Oakland.
In the Chief's own words:
The Strategic Plan
Framework is based on what I
have heard from members of
the Oakland community and
employees of the Oakland
Police Department:
- Parents want their
children to be able to play
outside
without fearing they will be
hurt or killed.
- Members of the business
community would like to open
and operate their businesses
without fear of being
harassed
or robbed.
- Many people have expressed
a desire for police to be
there
when they need them, and to
treat them with respect and
dignity.
The strategic plan will be
completed over the next
several months using your
feedback.
You can view the Strategic
Plan Framework here.
COBRA subsidy extended a
third time
On April 15, President Obama
signed into law the
Continuing Extension Act of
2010 (CEA), extending
various unemployment
benefits, including the
eligibility period for the
American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act COBRA
premium assistance subsidy.
The CEA extends the COBRA
subsidy eligibility period
to May 31, 2010 and applies
retroactively to those
involuntarily terminated
following the last extension
expiration date of March 31,
2010. Those eligible for the
65 percent COBRA subsidy are
still only eligible for a
total of 15 months of
subsidy. In addition, those
involuntarily terminated
after Feb. 28, 2010
following a reduction in
hours are also COBRA
subsidy-eligible upon their
involuntary termination.
Employers must notify
qualified beneficiaries
(i.e., former employees and
their dependents and
spouses) who experienced a
termination of employment on
or before April 1, 2010.
This notice must be provided
within 60 days of the CEA's
enactment (i.e., by June 14,
2010).
For more information,
contact Barney & Barney
(formerly known as Saylor &
Hill Co.) at (510) 466-6057.
God Bless America!
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CHAMBER EVENTS
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Please join us for these upcoming
Chamber event:
AFTER FIVE RECEPTION
(formerly known as Business After Hours
Mixer),
Thursday, April 22, Scott's
Seafood Grill & Bar, foot of Broadway at
Jack London Square, no charge for
Chamber members, $15 for non-members,
5:30-7:30 p.m.
RSVP.
The EAST
BAY WOMEN IN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
LUNCHEON will be held at the
Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square
on Friday, May 7, featuring sales expert
Alice Heiman. This unique event will
include Alice's "BizBlender" - an
inspiring networking format unlike any
other! 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
RSVP.
Watch Oakland A's play the San Francisco
Giants at CHAMBER NIGHT WITH THE A'S
on Friday, May 21. Your $40 per person
ticket enables you to have an
all-you-can-eat dinner at Francesco's
Restaurant beginning at 5:30 p.m.
followed by the game at Oakland Coliseum
at 7:05. As a special treat, former
Major Leaguer and current Oakland
businessman Dave McCarty, who played for
the A's in 2003 and the Giants in
1995-96 - and earned a World Series ring
when the Boston Red Sox won the World
Series in 2004 - will be on hand to join
in the fun.
RSVP
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WIN TWO FREE AIRLINE TICKETS
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If you are a current Chamber member
and you refer a new member that
joins before tomorrow, April 21,
2010, your company will be entered
into a contest to win 2 FREE
roundtrip tickets on Southwest
Airlines (anywhere that Southwest
flies). The winner will be announced
at the Chamber's April 22 "After
Five Reception" at Scott's Seafood
Grill & Bar in Jack London Square,
which begins at 5:30 p.m.
To refer a potential member or for
more information, contact Triche
Christmon at (510) 874-4800, ext.
321 or at
tchristmon@oaklandchamber.com.
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DISCOUNTS FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS
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The Washington Inn, a premier
boutique hotel located at 495 10th
St. in Oakland, is offering Chamber
members 25 percent off rooms from
the rack rate and 10 percent off on
food and beverages in their
restaurant and bar (promo code
49510) through April 30. And, during
Happy Hour, enjoy discounted drinks.
The Washington Inn also handles
banquets and catering. Info: (510)
452-1776,
event@thewashingtoninn.com or
www.thewashingtoninn.com.
Skin Deep,
located at 2525 Santa Clara Ave. in
Alameda, is offering a free eyebrow
wax with the purchase of any skin
care treatment and/or facial (a $25
value).Info: (510) 522-7487.
With the economic downturn in mind,
Integral Protection Inc., a
local firm of security professionals
with a reputation for efficient and
cost-effective security solutions in
the protection of life and property,
is offering a 20 percent discount to
Chamber members for a standard
uniformed presence service. Info:
manager Joel Feder at (510) 633-1664
or at
joefeder@integralprotection.com.
Everyone has to do his and her
taxes. Why not get paid for it? New
Chamber member Liberty Tax
Service is offering all members
$50 in cash if you let them do your
taxes. The firm is located at 3207
Grand Ave. Info: (866) 871-1040.
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ABOUT TOWN |
AT&T
has launched a new campaign to raise
awareness about the risks of texting and
driving and to remind all wireless
consumers, especially youth, that text
messages can - and should - wait until
after driving. AT&T is committed to
educating wireless customers about the
risks of texting while driving. Learn
more about AT&T's new national public
safety campaign and how you and your
company can help get the word out by
visiting
www.att.com/txtngcanwait.
THE ARC OF ALAMEDA COUNTY'S
first annual "Bogey Bash" comes to Las
Positas Golf Course in Livermore on
Monday, April 26. The event
benefits the 600 people with
intellectual and developmental
disabilities that are served by the Arc.
Info: Contact Dick Fitzmaurice at (510)
357-3727, ext. 2107 or at
rfitzmaurice@arcalameda.org.
WELLS FARGO & WACHOVIA WORKSHOP -
Are you a Wells Fargo or Wachovia
mortgage customer facing mortgage
payment challenges? If so, you're
invited to get the answers you need at a
free workshop at the Oakland Marriott
City Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
April 26, 27 and 28. You'll
personally meet with a Wells Fargo
representative who will confidentially
discuss your financial concerns and
options. Info: (800) 405-8067.
SAMUEL MERRITT UNIVERSITY
will host its 20th annual
Picchi Memorial Lecture entitled "Pills
and Promises - Weight Loss, Youth and
Memory" on
Thursday, April 29 at the
school's Health Education Center, 400
Hawthorne Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Reservations are required and a $25
donation is suggested. Info: Contact
Elizabeth Valente at (510) 725-7980
(cell) or
evalente@samuelmerritt.edu.
The opening celebration weekend of the
OAKLAND
MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA, presented
by Target, will feature 31 hours of
continuous events celebrating the
creativity and cultures of California,
America's 31st state. There
will be free admission for the grand
re-opening on
Saturday, May 1 beginning at 11 a.m. and
running through Sunday, May 2 at 6 p.m.
Info: (510) 238-2200 or
www.museumca.org.
On
Thursday, May 6, the office of
Governor Schwarzenegger will host the
2ND
ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON SMALL BUSINESS &
ENTREPRENEURSHIP at the Oakland
Marriott City Center from 7 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Registration cost is $99. Info:
www.californiasbdc.org/governorsconference.
Local inner city business winners of the
national "Inner City 100" competition
for 2010 will be honored at
INNER
CITY ADVISOR'S (ICA) 12TH ANNUAL AWARDS
BREAKFAST on
Friday, May 21 at the Oakland
Marriott City Center from 8 to 10 a.m.
The prestigious award is given to the
fastest growing, privately held
companies in America's inner cities. For
information, visit
www.innercityadvisors.org.
'I LOVE OAKLAND' VIDEO CONTEST -
The Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau
is currently holding its 2010 video
contest featuring a grand prize of
$3,000.
Entries close June 1. What do you
love about Oakland? What do you think
visitors should see? Share your short
films with OCVB. Amateur and
professional videographers are invited
to showcase their finest works. For an
entry form and guidelines, call (510)
839-9000 or visit
www.oaklandcvb.com.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
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Behnam
& Associates, Inc.,
Construction
Escuela
Bilingue Internacional,
Non-Profit
LTD
Global, LLC,
Accounting & Bookkeeping Service
Pound
Management Inc.,
Management Consultants & Services
Old
Oakland Dental Care,
Dentists
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The Chamber of Commerce has a number
of exceptional networking and
informative events throughout the
year. For sponsorship, volunteer and
participation opportunities for
these events, please contact Morgan
Crow via telephone at (510)
874-4800x319 or via email at
mcrow@oaklandchamber.com.
Sincerely,
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Hank Masler
Communications Director & Editor,
Oakland Business Review
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of
Commerce
hmasler@oaklandchamber.com
(510) 874-4808
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