MASON in Motion

UPDATE

December 15, 2015

Mid-Month Supplement to the Monthly "Mason in Motion" Newsletter

Mason Area Chamber of Commerce 148 E. Ash Street, Mason, MI 48854

Phone 517-676-1046 -- Fax 517-676-8504 masonchamber@masonchamber.org

www.masonchamber.org

A reminder: Names of MACC members are usually in bold type in our publications.

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Check it out!

USA Archery - 2016 U.S. Team Trials for World Archery Indoor Championships

December 18-20, 2015 - Ingham County Fairgrounds

The Mason Area Historical Society is celebrating the holidays with vintage party dresses! This seasonal exhibit features six unique dresses adorned with holiday and vintage jewelry. Hurry in! This temporary exhibit will disappear with the advent of the new year. The Mason Area Historical Museum is located at 200 E. Oak Street and is open Tuesdays & Thursdays (except for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) 1 - 3 p.m. and on Saturdays 1 - 3 p.m.

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Christmas Eve & Sing-A-Long with Jay Mitzner & Band

Join the staff at Bestsellers & The Vault Deli as they host Jay Mitzner and the Bayou River Band at their Extra! event room. Enjoy big band sounds of "White Christmas", "Jingle Bells" and many Christmas favorites, along with lunch specials and last minute gift shopping!

Event date: Thursday, December 24, 2015 - 11:00am to 1:00pm

Event address: 360 S Jefferson St., Mason, MI 48854-1652

The Mason Orchestral Society will present its 2015 Holiday Concert with the Mason Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras on Friday December 18, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing. Please plan to join us! There is no fee for admission; however, donations are greatly appreciated. The concert will feature the Romance for Viola and Orchestra in F, Op. 85 by Bruch with soloist Amanda Wilton, plus a selection of holiday favorites. The Mason Orchestral Society (MOS) is a non-profit community orchestra made up of students and adult musicians from around the Lansing area. The society sponsors three ensembles: the Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and the Philharmonic. Additional information about MOS activities and events can be found on the society's Web site at

www.masonorchestras.org.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION HOLIDAY CONCERT Mason Symphony Orchestra, Suren Petrosyan, Conductor & Musical Director Mason Philharmonic Orchestra, Brittney Brewster, Conductor Friday December 18, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. St. Thomas Aquinas Church 955 Alton Street East Lansing, MI 48823 Philharmonic Program BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 HERBERT Toyland Waltz from "Babes in Toyland" BROWN Christmas Fugue Symphony Program GLUCK Don Juan - Dance of the Furies MASCAGNI Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo BRUCH Romance for Viola and Orchestra in F, Op. 85 TCHAIKOVSKY Selections from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Combined Orchestras LEONTOVICH/WILHOUSKY Carol of the Bells ANDERSON Sleigh Ride BERLIN White Christmas CERULLI (Arr.) Holiday Pops Sing-A-Long

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Ingham County Animal Control's Home for the Holidays All-Nighter

Homes for Everyone! That is the wish of all the ICAC staff and volunteers this holiday season. Animal Shelter Volunteers will be staying for a Holiday All-Nighter at the shelter from 11AM Saturday, December 19th until 4 AM on Sunday, December 20th.

They'll be there for seventeen hours adopting homeless animals from the shelter at 600 Curtis St. in Mason. The goal is to put every pet in a home for the holidays.

Adoption fees will begin at $45 from 11am-4pm, on Saturday, December 19th, drop to $20 4pm until midnight then end with "chose your own" adoption fees starting at 12 am and lasting through 4am. Prices include the pet's spay/neuter, vaccinations and micro-chip. In addition, there will be hot chocolate, refreshments, a Kennel Decorating Contest at 8pm and an All-Nighter Pajama Contest at 11 pm.

SCAM SEASON IS HERE

Our friend and "Grow Mason Neighbor" Chris Holman of the Michigan Business Network has shares the following: "It's that time of year. Christmas displays in the retailers' windows. Expectations of snowy white flakes coming down on city streets. Merriment in the air. Yes, indeed, it's that time of year, Scam Season. Recently the Michigan Business Network attended a press conference at the State Police Command Post in Downtown Lansing. The State Police, in conjunction with Consumers Energy, Better Business Bureau of West Michigan and the Small Business Association of Michigan announced the latest scam to hit small businesses. Businesses are getting calls from someone pretending to be Consumers Energy stating that their bills were overdue and their power was about to be cut off if they didn't they didn't receive settlement of the bill by debit card immediately. This was a warning to all businesses of this particular scam but realize that there are many scams hitting small businesses throughout the state on a daily basis. "Be vigilant and have a great holiday season in spite of these attacks."

Mason recycles old Christmas trees until Jan. 31, 2016

The City of Mason will recycle your Christmas tree at one of two drop-off sites in the city: Bond Park - 135 Rogers (cross street East Columbia) Hayes Park - 827 W Columbia (beside the US-127 overpass) Be sure the tree is clear of all decorations and do not bag it in a plastic trash bag. Remember that Granger will not pick up Christmas trees from the curb. ATTENTION SENIORS - If you cannot get your tree to one of the drop-off sites, put your tree at the curb and contact Mason City Hall (517-676-5891) to make arrangements to have the tree picked up.

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DID YOU KNOW?

2016 is a Leap Year and February 29 is a Leap Day. Julius Caesar introduced leap years in the Roman empire over 2000 years ago.

Leap years are needed to keep our modern-day Gregorian Calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to circle once around the Sun.

In the Gregorian calendar 3 criteria must be taken into account to identify leap years:

The year is evenly divisible by 4; If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless; The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

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New Year’s Eve - GAME ON! Good Bites @ Bestsellers' Extra!

What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

Get to the Square! Go Green Go White

GOOD BITES @ Bestsellers Extra! GAME ON Menu: "Party on the Square" featuring Good Bites' Bounty of Gourmet Appetizers Served throughout Game's 1st Half. Your $30 Ticket includes tax & food gratuity. Cash Bar featuring Bestsellers' specialty Coffee, Wine, Beer & Cocktails. Bestsellers Bar Open 7:00 pm 'til the Courthouse Clock Strikes Midnight

Call 517-676-6648 to reserve your ticket for pickup OR CLICK HERE Event date: Thursday, December 31, 2015 - 7:00 pm to Friday, January 1, 2016 - 12:01 am Event address: 360 S Jefferson St., Mason, MI 48854-1652

MICHIGAN'S MINIMUM WAGE TO INCREASE JAN. 1 On Jan. 1, the state's minimum hourly wage will increase to $8.50 from $8.15. Source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Michigan's minimum wage earners will be greeted in the new year with a pay raise. On Jan. 1, the state's minimum hourly wage will increase to $8.50 from $8.15. The upcoming increase is the second of four increases that will raise the minimum wage to $9.25 by 2018. The Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2014 gradually increases Michigan's minimum wage to $9.25. The legislation was written to circumvent a ballot initiative that could have increased it to $10.10. Changes began Sept. 1, 2014, by increasing minimum wage from $7.40 to $8.15. Tipped workers' minimum hourly wage went from $2.65 to $3.10. On Jan. 1, 2016, the tipped employee wage rate will increase to $3.23 from $3.10. Two more increases - on Jan. 1 of 2017 and 2018 - will bring the minimum wage to $9.25 for hourly workers and $3.52 for tipped workers. If current inflation trends continue, $9.25 will only be worth about $8.50 by 2018, said Charles Ballard, an economics professor at Michigan State University, in an interview with the Associate Press. Under the 2014 act, the minimum wage is tied to inflation. The wage will increase annually with inflation by up to 3.5 percent starting in 2019, unless state unemployment is 8.5 percent or more in the previous year.

There were 96,000 Michigan workers earning at or below the minimum wage in 2013, according to the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget. That's 3.8 percent of Michigan's roughly 2.5 million hourly workers. Nationally, about 4.3 percent of hourly workers make minimum wage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alex Jenkins of Alix's Music Studio tell us her brother-in-law has recently had a book published! See the cover above.

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Welcome back to the Chamber:

Body Reflections Tanning & Nails 115 S. Cedar Street - Mason, MI 48854

Phone: (517) 676-2169 - juliehearit@yahoo.com Julie Hearit

Body Reflections Tanning and Nails is a full-service nail

salon with manicures, pedicures, shellac, artificial nails, and tanning. They provide friendly, clean, customer-

oriented, and professional services. They also carry Opi polishes and fashion handbags.

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Small Business Development Center at

Lansing Community College

Capital Region Seminars

(517) 483-1921 - sbdc@lcc.edu

Starting a Business - Free

Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. Start-up costs, financing options and business planning are introduced, along with necessary steps to getting started.

Thurs., Jan. 14th SBDC Office 9:00-11:00am

Tues., Jan. 26th Delta Library 6:00-8:00pm

Wed., Feb. 3rd SBDC Office 9:00-11:00am

Michigan Cottage Law: How to Start a Food Business from Your Kitchen - Free

So you've got a great idea for a food product, but the thought of investing in a building and restaurant equipment is daunting. Michigan's Cottage Food Law has opened up entrepreneur opportunities for small food producers to legally prepare certain foods right in a home kitchen and sell to the public.This information session will provide details on what foods can be made at home, how to sell, food labeling requirements, and some best practices of home-based food producers.

Tues., January 12th MSUFCU Farm Lane Branch

6:00-7:00pm

Wed., February 24th Charlotte City Hall

6:00-7:30pm

Writing a Business Plan - Free

Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for self-employment success, this course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing, finance, legal, regulatory issues, operations, market research and management are key components of this workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included.

Wed., January 20th SBDC Office 9:00-11:30am

Tues., February 9th Delta Library 6:00-8:00pm

Tues., March 1st SBDC Office 9:00-11:30am

Make Your Business Legal - Free Wednesday, January 27th from 6:00-8:00pm SBDC Office This course is an introduction to the different types of legal entities that are appropriate for structuring and starting a new business. Tax and liabilty issues are covered along with basic elements of a contract, collections, licenses, registrations, employment, property issues, leasing and insurance. It is designed to guide prospective business owners in setting up the organizational structure that will help protect them from unnecessary legal challenges.

Tips & Tricks for Successful Email Marketing - Free Thursday, January 28th from 10:00-Noon SBDC Office

Are you interested in learning how email marketing can help your business grow? Email marketing is an effective, affordable and easy to use way to enhance your small business image and communicate with your customers and prospects. Topics covered during this overview of email marketing include: * List building * Tips on getting your email opened * Best practices in email marketing * Tracking results and what to do with this information & much more!

Beginning Facebook for Small Business - Free Tuesday, February 2nd from 10:00-11:00am SBDC Office

Learn the basics of how to set-up and post to a Facebook account for your business. This beginning seminar will cover the basics of creating a social media plan, ideas of what to post and general business social media etiquette. Other topics will include the difference between a profile, a group and a page, and also Facebook terms and lingo.

Social Media 101: The Basics of Social Media for Business - Free Thursday, February 25th from 10:00-Noon SBDC Office

This seminar will give you a closer look at the popular social media networks - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+. We'll show you the benefits of using each, how other organizations are marketing with them and some dos and don'ts of each channel. You'll also get tips on how to tell if your social media activity is working.

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GREAT RESULTS! CONGRATS TO SALON 130!

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A REMINDER:

The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce takes no positions on public issues and doesn't endorse any candidates for public office. However, we do encourage members and their associates to get involved in government at all levels and even to run for office. This encouragement and facilitation helps in representing the local business community's interests.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce wants to give all people working and living in the Mason area the opportunity to participate in the community events hosted and sponsored by the Chamber. We are encouraging our member businesses and their employees to volunteer with us. We are encouraging area organizations or groups and their members to volunteer with us.

The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce hosts many community events each year. Mason's Thursday Night Live Courthouse Concerts, the Holiday Light Parade, Down Home Days, the Fourth of July Parade, are examples of those events.

Recently, the Chamber has extended the opportunity for those who live and work in the Mason area to become more involved in their community through volunteerism. Individuals and families can now spend a few hours helping to favorably impact the quality of life of all people in the Mason area.

Opportunities to volunteer at local community events include Mason's Thursday Night Live Courthouse Concerts, the Holiday Light Parade, Down Home Days, the Fourth of July Parade, Spring Fling, and working at the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center booth at various events.

While volunteering in the visitor's booth during sponsored events, Chamber members bring promotional material about their business or group with them. That way they have the opportunity to talk about the Mason area, and also their own business or group. It is a great way to encourage people to come back again to visit the Mason area after an event is over.

Volunteering favorably impacts our community's quality of life in a number of ways. It allows volunteers to make and maintain professional contacts while gaining transferable leadership skills. In addition, they get the added benefits of meeting new and interesting people, while enjoying cultural, educational and recreational events.

On the rare occasions that community volunteers don't have an affiliation with a Chamber member business or organization, they might consider associate status with the Chamber. They may choose to pay a fifty dollar per year fee for that status. However, now people may also volunteer just two or more hours of your time each year to become eligible. This status works well for residents who are retired, for example. If you are interested in volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, just stop by the office located at 148 E. Ash Street across from the downtown Ingham County Courthouse. The office and Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fill out our volunteer form and get more involved in your community. For information, please email masonchamber@masonchamber.org or call (517) 676-1046.

Businesses and organizations like yours make Mason, Mason. That's why we're partnering with Google to get every business online and to put Mason on the map. These days, many people often turn to the web first to find local products and services. When your business or organization is online, it's easier for people to find you. That means new people doing business with you - and a stronger community for all of us.

Getting your business online is free and easy through the Let's Put Mason

on the Map program. GET STARTED AT WWW.GYBO.COM/MI/ MASON

See you on the web.

P.S. This program is free for all businesses. Tell a fellow business owner that they can help Put Mason on the Map.

Why being online is important:

97% of consumers look online for local goods and services

Business that make use of the web expect to grow 40% faster than those who don't

1 in 5 searches is local. When people search for a "dry cleaner" they're likely looking for something nearby

Google has built community profile pages/websites for our area. A link is found at the bottom of this message. Putting our businesses on the map is an easy process: 1. Go to your community profile page link

Type in business name and click find your business

Add your business for free if it isn't on the list

Review suggestions on how to add or update your business info and improve your Google presence

2. Verify your business

3. Mange your business information

Make sure Google has the right details for your business, including phone number, address and hours

4. Keep your information up to date

Check back to manage reviews, add photos, update your info and more...

www.gybo.com/mi/mason

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UNTIL DECEMBER 30th ONLY!

"Mason Montages," "Making Mason Memories" CDs, and Mason 150 lapel pins are available at the Chamber office for a contribution of $15 or $10 or $5 respectively. Show your Mason 150 pride!

Tell folks to stop by 9-3, M-F. Cash or check only. No mail orders, please.

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Do you have your MACC Member Value Card?

If not, stop by the Chamber office to get one today! Check out all the values at the

http://www.masonchamber.org/valuecard.html website. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER UPDATE TO OTHERS AND INVITE THEM TO SEE OUR REGULAR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ONLINE

CLICK ON NEWS AT:

www.masonchamber.org TO VIEW UPCOMING MASON AREA COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS

Click on Community Events at:

www.masonchamber.org

MACC distributes UPDATE in "Constant Contact." This "Mason in Motion Update" bulletin is being sent to those who have e-mail addresses registered with the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce as contact people for Chamber members, associates of Chamber members, and

select Chamber stakeholders.

To be removed from this list automatically and permanently, do NOT reply to this e-

mail. Instead, use the UNSUBSCRIBE button or send a new e-mail with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to: masonchamber@masonchamber.org

Also, whenever you know of anyone who isn't getting this, but should be getting this by e-mail,

just let us know. We'll be glad to add their e-mail address to the list!

Mason Area Chamber of Commerce | 148 E. Ash Street | Mason | MI | 48854

FOR A .pdf FILE OF LAST MONTH'S PRINTED "MASON IN MOTION" NEWSLETTER AND OTHER MASON AREA

COMMUNITY INFORMATION, GO ONLINE AND CLICK ON NEWS AT WWW.MASONCHAMBER.ORG