| Issue No. 264 Serving the Entire Business Community August 2006 | ||
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| Fail to Plan . . . Plan to Fail Pandemic Preparedness Seminar A human pandemic influenza outbreak is expected to cause 30 to 40 percent of the work force to be ill or away from work tending to sick family members. For many employers, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will grant the employee the right to be off work, even if they are perfectly healthy. A pandemic may come and go in waves, each of which can last for six to eight weeks. Does your business rely upon 'just-in-time' delivery of essential parts and supplies? Is your business the supplier with customers that rely upon you as a part of their own 'just-in-time' inventory system? How will your business handle a disruption of the supply chain - either receiving or sending - because at any one time half of America's truck drivers and shippers are incapacitated due to illness? Can your business continue to operate under these conditions? If you have 7 employees could you continue to fulfill your business needs and obligations with 2-3 missing? What about larger organizations with 1,000 employees, could you survive with 300 to 400 employees out sick? How do you prepare for such a loss? What kind of impact would it have on the future of your business? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some sort of pan-flu, is overdue. Historically we get three pandemics in a century. Last century, the first pandemic occurred in 1918-19 resulting in 675,000+ deaths in the US and 50,000,000+ worldwide. The second occurred in 1957-58 resulting in 70,000+ deaths in the US and 1-2,000,000+ worldwide and the third pandemic occurred in 1968-69 resulting in 34,000+ in the US and 700,000+ worldwide. Although it is difficult to predict exactly when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be, we all agree it's a matter of when, not if, that it is going to happen. That is why we encourage our members to become informed, get involved, and get prepared! The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have developed a Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist to help address some of these issues. It identifies important, specific activities businesses can do now to prepare, and many items on this checklist that will help you in other emergencies. Even though this checklist is geared to large businesses, smaller businesses, which will also be hurt, can also benefit from the knowledge and will certainly be considerably ahead knowing what can be done to protect themselves too. Be responsible for your own destiny by attending the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce seminar for more information. This seminar will be given by Sherrie Daniel, Marshall County Public Health Coordinator and Clyde Avery, Marshall County Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, August 24, 2006, at 1:00 PM at the Plymouth Public Library, 201 N. Center Street, Plymouth, in the Laramore Rooms. BUSINESS PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLANNING CHECKLIST - CDC In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will playa key role in protecting employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efIorts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, speci fic activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies. Further information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov and www.cdc.gov/business. 1.1 Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your business:
  Servpro of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski & Fulton Counties 15147 W. Lincoln Hwy., Plymouth; 574-936-9938; www.servpro.com Servpro Corp. holds a national convention for all franchises to attend. This year the convention was held in Nashville, TN., June 26-30. Roger and Alison were both surprised by an award that was presented to them for Outstanding 2005 Sales Performance. They had just received the 2006 Executive Silver award. They want to extend their thanks to everyone for the great support in the Marshall, Starke, Pulaski & Fulton Counties and for the opportunity to work in an amazing area. They look forward to growing their business! If you are not sure what Servpro offers, please feel free to call for further information at 936-9938. RBS Lynk 600 Morgan Falls Rd., Atlanta, Georgia 30350; 770-396-1616 / 800-200-5965; www.rbslynk.com melinda.chase@salesLynk.net RBS Lynk is a national provider of end-to-end electronic payment, cash dispensing, and e-commerce services and products. RBS Lynk processes all forms of electronic payment transactions, credit, debit, EBT, fleet, loyalty, gift and check, from merchant point-of sale terminals, Websites and ATM machines. Other services include electronic funds distribution and Internet based reporting tools. RBS Lynk differentiates itself by focusing on a single source approach to serving its customers. They control the entire processing cycle, including authorization, settlement, reporting and customer service and entire processing sequence, including sales, merchant payment equipment, design and hosting of Internet storefronts, transaction authorization, capture, settlement and customer service. This strategy facilitates an integrated solution that gives RBS Lynk customers one-call support and allows them to control quality from start to finish. Founded in 1991, RBS Lynk has earned recognition as one of the fastest growing companies in the industry by Deloitte & Touche's Fast Technology 500 program and Inc. magazine's Fast 500 list. RBS Lynk is currently offering 100 FREE Gift Cards for new merchant customers. Job Fairs, Job Training & Small Business Summit Hosted by Senator Evan Bayh There will be a Job Fair, Job Training and Small Business Summit held at the Student Activities Center (SAC) on the campus of Indiana University South Bend (1700 Mishawaka Ave.) from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 hosted by United States Senator Evan Bayh. Senator Bayh will be speaking at 9:30 AM this date. As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Senator Bayh held a series of job fairs last year that offered more than 3,500 job openings for Hoosiers across Indiana. This will be the third round of job fairs to connect Hoosiers with jobs, promote small business growth and get important job training in-state. There will be a wealth of resources available, all in one place, to provide every Hoosier with the best chance of success. The Small Business Summits are designed to provide interested Hoosiers with advice and expertise on some of the unique situations facing small business owners. Explore this website www.bayh.senate.gov for more information on the Job Fairs, Job Training and Small Business Summits. You will find links to a list of cities where Senator Bayh will be hosting other summits, along with sites offering more information for both small business owners and job seekers. For additional information regarding this summit or how to participate in the Job Fair, contact Regional Director, Hodge Patel at 574-236-8302 or email Hodge_patel@bayh.senate.gov. Or, just attend the fair and check it out. There is not cost or reservations to attend required. Summit on Energy Security Richard G. Lugar and Purdue University On Tuesday, August 29, 2006, there will be a day long meeting held on the Purdue University campus that will bring together some of our nation's foremost experts on the energy issues facing America. The goal of this event is to find solutions to the growing crisis brought about by our country's dependence on imported oil. Registration dead line is August 18 and there is a $25 registration fee to cover the luncheon meal and other expenses. You may register online at www.conf.purdue.edu/LugarSummit. Additional information can be found on www.purdue.edu/energysummit. After Hours Cleaning 10777 14C Rd, Argos; 574-892-5228 After Hours Cleaning is a commercial cleaning operation and has planted new roots in this area. Relocating from South Bend, and while maintaining a firm base in that area, are expanding to the surrounding areas including Elkhart, Lakeville, LaPaz, North Liberty, Rochester as well as Plymouth. In addition to having over ten years of experience, they are regionally owned and operated, bonded, fully insured and pride themselves on quality, detail and professionalism. For more information or to receive a free quote for their services, call 574-892-5338. The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. 112 S. Center Street, Ste C, Plymouth; 574-935-4511; www.centerforhospice.org The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 112 S. Center St, Plymouth, will host a Business BEFORE Hours on Wednesday, August 30 from 7:30 to 9:30 AM. Join fellow Chamber members for networking, food, fun and door prizes. Meet some of the Center's newest staff members, including Terri Lawton, patient care coordinator, and Dave Haley, VP/COO. For more information, call Ann (574) 935-4511. Ancilla Domini College 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson; 574-936-8898; www.ancilla.edu John Razzano, chairman of Ancilla College's board of trustees, announced that $1 million had been raised to meet the challenge offered last summer by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. As a result, Ancilla College will receive $1 million from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. in a dollar-for-dollar match grant. In just 13-months, Ancilla received gifts totaling $1,015,989 to surpass the challenge's goal. This will result in the Lilly Endowment, Inc. matching the College's effort with a grant to bring the total raised to $2,015,989. In addition, this effort by the College met the Lilly Endowment, Inc.'s challenge six months ahead of the established deadline of December 31, 2006. In making his announcement, Mr. Razzano thanked the many donors that contributed to making this fundraising campaign a success. He specifically thanked trustee and campaign chairman Larry Faulstich for his leadership in this effort. Mr. Razzano also thanked Mr. Faulstich's campaign committee. Outgoing interim president, Neil Thorburn, made note of the fact that this was one of the most successful fundraising efforts the College had conducted in recent years. Neil Thorburn, head of the College during the length of this campaign, mentioned that this was also a wonderful way to start the new administration of Ancilla College's incoming president, Ron May. Ancilla College is a two-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college, located in northern Indiana and was founded, and is sponsored, by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. New Members
August 2006
August Inserts 
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