Happy Holidays!

The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Board Members and Staff would like to wish you a very happy holiday.

The Winter Edition of Pulse – Lorain County’s Magazine is due to hit mailboxes at the end of the month. If you are unfamiliar with Pulse, or do not receive the free subscription, be sure to go to www.pulselorainmag.com and subscribe today. The Winter issue’s cover story focus on the aerospace industry in Lorain County — a highly successful group of companies doing exciting things not everyone knows about. Plus, it looks at the ethnic groups here in the county, how they have shaped the cultures of the area and what they are doing now within their own clubs. You’ll also find great dining specials for every day of the week so you can start planning where to eat next month. Lastly there is info about a new ice cream place in Oberlin that uses organic cream, a place where you can make your own stained-glass art and the county’s first gourmet cupcake-oriented shop. Plus, the ballot for the 2012 Best Of Lorain County is included in this issue, so be sure to vote!

Planning and Responding to Workplace Emergencies
Nobody expects an emergency or disaster. Yet emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. Employers should establish effective safety and health management systems and prepare their workers to handle emergencies before they arise.

Planning
Where required by some Occupational Safety
and Health Administration standards, firms with
more than 10 employees must have a written
emergency action plan; smaller companies may
communicate their plans orally. Top management
support and the commitment and involvement of
all employees are essential to an effective emergency
action plan.

Employers should review plans with employees
when initially put in place and re-evaluate and
amend the plan periodically whenever the plan
itself, or employee responsibilities, change.
Emergency procedures, including the handling of
any toxic chemicals, should include:
• Escape procedures and escape route assignments.
• Special procedures for employees who perform
or shut down critical plant operations.
• Systems to account for all employees after evacuation
and for information about the plan.
• Rescue and medical duties for employees who
perform them.
• Means for reporting fires and other emergencies.

For additional information regarding Planning and Responding including Chain of Command, Emergency Response Teams, Training, Personal Protection and more, please go here:  http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplaceevergencies.pdf

It’s hard to believe we are less than 3 weeks away from a new year.  This past year has seen some great news for Lorain County with expansions, ground breakings and announcements that will help redefine our community in the coming years.  We’ve also had some news of layoffs, closings, cut backs and political changes across the County.  As most years, though, Lorain County Chamber members have been quick to respond to the challenges laid out before them by not being afraid of some hard work, intelligent planning and the ability to use our educated workforce,  Our new year will be filled with new challenges, but by utilizing your membership in the Lorain County Chamber, we hope to make it a good year for our communities and members. We welcomed nearly 75 new members into our ranks in 2011 and we are confident that number will grow by the end of the  year, as we prepare for our 2012 Membership Directory and Resource Guide, as well as a Calendar filled to the brim with chances to utilize your membership this coming year.

The First Thursday in December is always the date of our Annual Holiday Reception.  This year, it fell on December 1st, so our party kicked off the month with a bang!  One of our largest attendance figures in recent history showed up at DeLuca’s Place in the Park ready to network, enjoy some food and camaraderie and take a chance on some great prizes – which has become the signature of our holiday reception.. Nearly 250 County Chamber members and their guests showed up from the time the event started and stayed while the band was packing up their instruments.  Again this year, we had 7 stations of food ranging from the endless bowl of shrimp, the ever popular pasta bar, stir fry, turkey breast, fruit, cheeses, holiday egg nog and desserts. Attendees could buy a chance to win $1000 worth of jewelry from Levit Jewelers. Or an I-Pad2 from Pulse Magazine, Ramada Elyria and Campana Insurance. Everyone loves live music and FireSide provided entertainment again this year. And Janet’s Cookie Jar cookie favor of the ice skating Polar Bear was the don’t miss ending to an amazing night. The combination of all of the above made for a great night and if you missed this event, mark your calendar for December 6, 2012, the first Thursday in December next year. Thanks to all of our sponsors, our attendees and their guests, everyone who purchased raffle tickets and to the staff who work hard to make this event the top notch outing it has become!

Our December e-Newsletter goes out a little earlier than normal and we still have our December Safety Council coming up on December 21st.  The Lorain County Coroner Dr. Stephen B. Evans will be addressing our group.  Dr. Evans will be addressing what the Coroner's office is, its duties, history and some general related items of general interest.  Also touching on the subject of work-related deaths and when to call the Coroner.  Not exactly Holiday topics, but a much needed and necessary subject for our members to know about. This week will also see the Lorain County Growth Partnership’s Holiday Party as well as our friends at the North Coast BIA too.  Elyria Sunrise Rotary will be manning the Santa House in Ely Square until 12/22 and the many boards and organizations we belong to will also be celebrating the season in many different ways.  Our members love a good party, we all know that!  But our members are great partners and we thank them continuously for supporting us and allowing us to help them celebrate their successes too.  Shout out to the Melissa Schlabach and the Sprenger Health Care System for an always amazing Holiday Party and Ted Wallingford from Best Technology for a great networking and socializing opportunity too!

Lastly, just a gentle reminder to all of our partners and member companies to please try to pay past due invoices from this year and to promptly pay your Holiday Reception invoices. We, like everyone else, are trying to get in the money due in the year in which it was billed, so we can close the books on 2011 and start 2012 with a fresh start. Please contact Kristy in our A/P department (klewandowski@loraincountychamber.com or 440-328-2552) if you are unsure if you owe for anything. We appreciate you taking care of this ASAP.

Have a safe and happy holiday season to all of our members. As we look toward 2012 and our 25th Anniversary as your County Chamber, may it be prosperous for us all.