May 5th, 2010
Chamber Blast Here are the events and opportunities for the week of May 3rd, 2010. There's a lot going on - check out all the items in the Blast so that you don't miss anything!





Mayor's Golf Tournament Register Early! Avoid disappointment - space is limited. The Mayor's 2010 Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held during the 2010 Telus World Skins game, coming to Vancouver Island for the first time as Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club hosts the event on June 21-22, 2010. The Mayor's 2010 Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be hosted the morning of Tuesday, June 22nd prior to the Skins game in the afternoon. Play golf in the morning and see the pros in action in the afternoon! For more details, call Lindy at Langford City Hall (250-478-7882) or email lkaercher@cityoflangford.ca. BBB 2010 Torch Awards Book your limo and reserve your seat now for the 2010 Torch Awards. Tickets are on sale now ($125 + gst) for the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards gala, May 14th 2010 at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa. Seating is reserved and space is limited. LA Limousines is providing free limo service from the Victoria Conference Centre to Bear Mountain (first come first served - contact Wendy at 250-386-6348, ext 109); in addition there will be a red carpet, special Torch Award cocktail, a five-course gourmet dinner and jazz and blues music while you eat. To complete the evening, take advantage of special room rates provided by Bear Mountain Report. To reserve your seat call 250-388-6348. Motor Cycle Ride for Dad Join hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts on May 15th for a police-escorted parade through the city, followed by a scenic poker tour. The Motorcycle Ride for Dad is being hosted by the City of Langford this year, starting and ending at Eagle Ridge arena at City Centre Park. Organizers anticipate 800-1000 riders will participate in this event, all of whom are working to raising funds for prostate cancer awareness and prevention. Click here for more information if you'd like to volunteer, ride, or just come be part of the fun! HST Information May 1st marked the beginning of the HST implementation for businesses charging now for products and services that will be delivered after July 1st. We are attaching an information sheet on the HST prepared by the government of BC. We have already hosted a seminar on preparing for the HST. If you are interested in more information or help on HST and its impact on your business, please let us know. We would be happy to schedule another workshop if there is enough interest. Click here for information sheet. Chamber Member Discount for Email Program You have probably noticed that we've been using a third party program for delivering our email Chamber Blast. Recently, Vertical Response announced a program whereby members of Chambers of Commerce receive discounted pricing on their services, which include email newsletters like this one, surveys, postcards, and other email marketing opportunities. The WestShore Chamber has been accepted into the program, which offers a 15% discount to all Chamber members who wish to use these marketing services. If you are interested in exploring whether this type of marketing could benefit your business, check out their website at www.verticalresponse.com. Let us know if you'd be interested in participating and we will provide you with further details.	Congratulations and Thank You! Our Awards of Excellence event last week was a huge success, and it was wonderful to share in the excitement of the finalists as they received their awards, and to celebrate the quality of business on the WestShore. Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists, and a huge thank you to our award and event sponsors! Click here to view list of winners. Click here to view our sponsors. Could You Share Your Boardroom? Our Business Speaker Series is getting so popular we are needing to look at a larger space. If you have a boardroom that comfortably seats 10-15 people around a table with a projection screen, and would be willing to allow us to use it when our numbers are higher than our space can handle, could you please call Charlotte at the office (250-478-1130) and let her know? Thanks so much. Effectively Managing Employee Performance This workshop is getting full! Don't delay in registering for the May 13th seminar in which you will learn: how to create a culture of accountability in your workplace to understand what progressive discipline is and how to use it when challenges with employees arise how to use documentation effectively how to take employees from problem to productivity Click here for more details. New Location for May Mixer The May Mixer is now being held at the Alexander Mackie Retirement Community, and they would love the opportunity to change your perspective on retirement homes. No stuffy, sleepy atmosphere here! Join us for live music, great food and some wonderful surprises. Please take note of the venue change. Alexander Mackie is located at 753 Station Road. Mark your calendars for May 12th from 5 to 7pm and we'll see you there! Chamber Member Highlight Rod Forbes - OnSite Group The OnSite Group works with companies and business owners assisting in a number of business productivity areas. Rod's services include assistance with hiring right, office and systems organization, team building and leadership training, customer service training, and more. Rod provides a third-party overview of sales and productivity with an understanding of the challenges in the workplace today. Contact Rod at 250-920-8249 for more information. The Star Within You At a time when people are being inundated with bad news, here's and opportunity to focus on the star qualities within you and the opportunities that 2010 and these challenging times can bring. Participants will engage in an interactive session designed to increase personal awareness, enhance accountability, and create a step-by-step action plan. Through real-life examples, small group exercises, and personal exploration, those who attend will leave inspired with the tools to reflect on who they are, where they are going, and how to lead others more effectively. Workshop presenter. Kevin McDonald, is a member of the International Coach Federation, a graduate of Coach U. and has developed and led the Coaching Program for the Club Managers Association of America since 2003. This is a great opportunity for business owners to engage in personal development and business growth. This seminar is being held at Olympic View Golf Course on Monday, May 10th from 1 to 4pm. Click here for more information.