WorkOne Programs Presented At SW Chamber
David Neff, team leader at WorkOne in Warsaw, attended the regular Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce board meeting April 10 and spoke of the different programs offered by WorkOne, a non-profit.
Among the programs offered by WorkOne is JAG, which helps high school students earn credits toward graduation and provides internship possibilities for participants.
WorkOne also offers incentives for employers to hire convicted individuals and it has a veteran’s program. Neff stated all their services are free, and WorkOne staff are available to provide workshops at area businesses. Neff noted Work One especially helps the unemployed by providing unemployment services.
Board members also asked Neff about Kosciusko County’s current unemployment rate, which is currently at 7 percent, the lowest in the region that he covers, which also consists of Elkhart, Fulton, Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
This summer the chamber may host an intern through WorkOne’s JAG program. Another option is an intern from Earn Indiana.
Membership to the chamber continues to grow with the board’s approval of five new members: ReMAX Partners, Wawasee Pet Grooming, Dynamic Landscaping, Kosciusko Board of Realtors and McCormick Motors.
Board members resumed discussions on membership retention with board member and ambassador program chair Chip Erwin stating he was coming up with a few plans to help. On the subject, the chamber’s executive director, Tammy Cotton, shared the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce’s experiences from being stagnate to signing up 40 new members through visiting every member.
Board member Beth Kroes brought proofs of the business cards board members and ambassadors would leave at area businesses during visits to increase the chamber’s presence. The cards will provide contact information, a space for the visitor to sign and the chamber’s mission statement.
The Young Entrepreneur Academy was discussed again after being tabled last meeting. Warsaw Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce is hoping to partner with the Syracuse Chamber with Syracuse paying $500 so two students can attend the academy. Cotton stated they could make sure the money goes to Wawasee students.
Board member Larry Biller expressed similar thoughts to vice president Matt Schwartz that they should instead focus on getting funding to the point that the chamber’s scholarships would provide funds for Wawasee graduates’ four years in college. Cotton noted the partnership is something they should consider since the academy will provide skills to participants along with a better understanding on how to run a business.
Discussion on the Young Entrepreneur Academy was tabled again until the board knows if any Wawasee students enter the academy.
In other chamber news:
• Kroes was announced as the winner of the board member competition to sell Village Keys. She received a dinner for two at the Sleepy Owl. Cotton noted they still need to sell more keys, plus get more businesses participating in the program.
• Two networking luncheons are scheduled to occur at 11:30 a.m. April 24 and May 8. The first event’s topic will be social media and marketing and it will take place at the Syracuse Community Center. The second event will occur at Lakeland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Milford and will be geared to health care and include a tour of the facility.
• Progress continues to be made on the chamber’s annual golf outing with teams priced at $275. Biller stated they already have a few teams, sponsors and prizes lined up. He added the task force hopes to put together an after party, which would include awards, drinks and finger food. They are still looking for a sponsor for the after party. Golf outing is slated for June 18 at Maxwelton Golf Club.
• A proof of the new chamber directory has been approved by the chamber’s membership task force. The directory has proven very successful for the chamber.
• Volunteers are welcome to join the chamber at around 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the old Arthur’s Grocery parking lot to help clean up Syracuse during Trash Bash. The chamber will be cleaning up trash along SR 13 from the railroad tracks going south, stopping near the McDonald’s.
• Board members discussed the possibility of switching merchant service providers and looked at a quote from TSYS Merchant Solutions. With TSYS, the chamber would save $75.57 annually. The topic was tabled until more quotes could be gathered.
The next chamber meeting is at noon Wednesday, May 1, in the chamber office.