COUNTY'S TOP HIGH SCHOOL GRADS HONORED FOR ACADEMIC STANDING
The top 10 percent of graduating seniors from all Madison County high schools will be recognized at the 51st annual Distinguished Students Award Program Tuesday, May 13, 6 p.m., at Reardon Auditorium. Joining our Chamber in planning the event are the Chambers of Commerce in Alexandria, Elwood and Pendleton. Guest speaker will be Dr. James Edwards, president of Anderson University.

Underwriting the costs of the special event celebrating educational excellence are the following sponsors: Gold - Anderson University, Anderson University Catering, Community Hospital Anderson, Nestlé, Saint John's Health System & St.Vincent Mercy Hospital; Silver - Anderson Federation of Teachers, E & B Paving, Inc.; Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Indiana Business College, Ivy Tech Community College/Workforce & Economic Development, K.R. Montgomery & Associates, Ricker Oil Company and The Herald Bulletin; Bronze -Carbide Grinding Company, Inc.; Elwood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Harvest Supermarkets, Inc.; Kleinhenn Company, Inc.; Mahoney & Heineman, PC; Nardco Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.; Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.; Surbaugh & Son Real Estate and F.C.Tucker/O.C. Clark Realtors.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS BREAKFAST MAY 15 TO SPOTLIGHT HOOSIER PARK FACILITY
Jahnae Erpenbach, director of marketing for Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, will be guest speaker at the Women in Business Breakfast Thursday, May 15, 7 a.m., at Elks Lodge #209, 1803 Broadway.

Member transferable season passes for this event and the remaining Women in Business Breakfasts July 17 and Sept. 18 are $39 while single tickets are $15. For reservations, call 642-0264.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in communications, Ms. Erpenbach has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 19 years and was instrumental in opening and marketing one of the first riverboat casinos in the Midwest for Players International & Merv Griffin Enterprises. Over the last decade, she has served as vice president of marketing for Harrah's Casino in Metropolis, IL, Argosy Casino and Penn National Gaming in Joliet, IL.

CHAMBER AND CITY JOINTLY SPONSOR DOWNTOWN PLANTERS AND CLEAN-UP
The Chamber and the City of Anderson are working to fill Meridian St. downtown with beautiful hanging flower baskets. Each basket can be adopted for a $75 adoption fee to cover the cost of new flowers and season-long maintenance. For more information or to adopt a planter, call 642-0264.

As part of the city's beautification efforts, The Chamber also is sponsoring its annual Spring Downtown Clean-up Wednesday, May 14, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to work all or part of that time. Gather for orientation and refreshments at Town Center across from the Paramount Theatre and bring your own clean-up equipment. Plastic gloves and bags will be provided by the city.

The 23rd annual Rev. J. T. Menifee City-Wide Clean-up will be held Saturday, May 17, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., with the main collection site at Athletic Park.

CHAMBER, UNITED WAY TO CO-SPONSOR GOLF CLASSIC JULY 11 AT MEADOWBROOK
The Chamber and the United Way of Madison County will co-sponsor the Chamber/United Way Golf Classic Friday, July 11, at Meadowbrook Golf Course. Sponsorship packages are available at the $1,000, $500 and $250 levels. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. Teams of four individuals can sign up for $400 per team. For more information contact Keith Pitcher, 642-0264, or Nancy Anderson, 643-7493.

HELP CHAMBER CREATE THEME FOR 26th BUSINESS TRADE SHOW OCT. 30
The Chamber needs your help in creating a theme for the 26th annual Business to Business Trade Show tentatively planned for Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Old Anderson High School Wigwam. Suggestions for a theme should be brief and submitted to the Chamber no later than May 30 by fax (642-0266) or by e-mail at andersonchamber@ameritech.net. The person whose theme is selected will receive a $25 Chamber CertifiCheck gift certificate.

MAKE YOUR GIFT SHOPPING EASY WITH CHAMBER GIFT CERTIFICATES
When you're looking for a special present, consider Chamber gift certificates. They are available in increments from $5 to $50 and are redeemable at many Chamber member locations. They are available for purchase at the downtown Anderson Chamber office, 205 W. 11th St., or by clicking on the CertifiChecks box on the Chamber's website, www.andersoninchamber.com. They are also available by calling CertifiChecks in Dayton, Ohio, at 877-770-4438 or by fax at 877-770-3234.

REACH FULL MEMBERSHIP EASILY WITH INSERTS IN CHAMBER BEAT
Chamber members can include an 8 ½ x 11- inch insert promoting their business in the envelope containing The Chamber Beat and mailed to over 900 people for the nominal cost of $150. The only requirements are that you call us at 642-0264 to determine availability and provide us with 900 pre-printed and triple-folded flyers by 20th of the month preceding the month you wish your insert included.

CHAMBERCARE HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDES SAVINGS TO OUR MEMBERS
Our Chamber, in partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, is offering members a discounted health and life insurance program called ChamberCare. The program provides insurance through Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and is open to companies with between two and 99 eligible employees. The program will include a discount of up to 5%. For more information, call 642-0264.

NEWS ABOUT OUR MEMBERS
(Deadline for items in this column is the 20th of the current month for the following month's issue.)

Little 500 Festival - Black & White dinner Thursday, May 22, at Anderson Speedway under the event tent. Dinner will be from 6:30-8 p.m., with dancing from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $35. Hosting the event are past Chamber of Commerce ATHENA™ Award recipients. Sponsors also are being sought at levels from $100 to $1,000. Proceeds from the event support the Dixie Contos Hovermale Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.little500blackandwhite.com.

SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) -- The Anderson Public Library will host a workshop, "Marketing with a Customer Focus," Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m. Barbara Alder, SCORE volunteer, will help you develop your own marketing strategy by "finding out what your customers want and giving it to them." She will help you determine: Who/What is your market? What are the trends of your market? What is your market share and the trend? How can you increase your market share? How can you increase profitability within your market share? Reservations are required, call 641-2456 or e-mail PostMaster@ScoreAnderson.org.

Anderson/Madison County Association of REALTORS - Golf and picnic outing Wednesday, June 4, at Grandview Golf Course. Shotgun start at 12:45 p.m. with dinner at 5 p.m. Cost is $50 per person. For more information or to register, call 649-8106.

Church Builders Plus - The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability announced the accreditation of Church Builders Plus, a ministry-focused service organization serving the Church of God that provides church loans and consulting services to congregations in the process of expanding their ministries.

Indiana Business College -- Are you looking for someone in business administration, administrative assistant, accounting, medical assistant or health claims examiner? If so, contact Marcy Fry, director of career services, at 644-7514. She can provide resumes of the latest graduating class. The college also can provide interns/externs (non-paid) to assist in day-to-day operations. They may work 160 hours over the 12 weeks.

Anderson University - Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Certificate program begins June 3. Companies investing in supply management professionals are better able to deliver high quality goods and services at the lowest possible cost. Offered by the Professional Development Services department, the four-course, non-credit program is designed for people who want to quickly enhance their value in the workplace. Participants will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 16 at the AU Flagship Center. For more information, call Kerrie Aborn, 648-2889, (toll-free: 877-428-2765, Ext. 2889), e-mail pds@anderson.edu or visit www.anderson.edu/pds.

Operation Love Ministries, Inc. - The following new Chinese furniture is available for a small donation: one 4'x4' white wooden table; two 3'x3' black tables with leaves; eight black wooden chairs with cushions in blue and red; two high-backed leather camel-colored chairs, and three round serving trays. For more information, call Clara Wright, 644-2121.

Community Hospital Anderson -- Free skin cancer screenings Saturday, May 17, at the Madison County Cancer Care Center from 8:30 a.m.- noon. Call 800-777-7775 to sign up. Visit www.CommunityAnderson.com for more
information.

Anderson Symphony Orchestra - Season ticket sales for the 2008-09 schedule consisting of five concerts are now available. It will be the 20th anniversary for Music Director Rick Sowers and Concertmaster Byron Plexico. For more information, call 644-2111 or e-mail andersonsymphony@eintouch.com.

K's Blossom Shoppe, Inc. -- Sunday, May 11, is the 100th anniversary for Mother's Day. You can nominate someone for "America's Favorite Mom" to be announced on TV. Stop in the shop at 3805 S. Madison Ave. for details on how to enter and see the wide selection of fresh flowers, blooming plants and gift ideas to show mom just how special she is to you. You can also call 644-4449 or visit www.ksblossomshoppe.com.

Paramount Theatre Center & Hardacre Ballroom - The theatre has launched a new programming campaign including a dance club, free family events, gospel performances, dinner theater, antique shows, ballroom brunches and more, according to new Executive Director Darrin Murrell. For more information, call 642-1234 or visit www.andersonparamount.org.

DELTEC Information Solutions - The firm has launched two new systems - a managed disaster recovery service that provides constant monitoring and storage of data, avoiding tape back ups; and a managed internet security service that far exceeds the security and capabilities of traditional firewall systems. For more information, call 286-5639.

CHAMBER MEMBER RENEWALS

BI Incorporated*
Buckeye Planning Concepts, Inc.*
Cornell Johnson Financial Group
of Raymond James*
CSO Architects
East Side Dolphin Club*
Four Star Promotions*
Ivy Tech Community College*
Jimmies Dairy Bar*
Mancor Indiana, Inc.*
Meijer*
Neopost, Inc.*
Pendleton Chiropractic Centre, P.C.*
Pendleton Community Public Library
Stoops Automotive Group*
Tractor Supply Company*
United Bank Card*

*Also includes voluntary technology investment

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
Business Furniture
Kristen L. Stuckey
6102 Victory Way
Indianapolis, IN 46278
Phone: 317-216-1600; Fax: 317-216-1615
E-mail: stuckeyk@businessfurnitureindy.com
Website: www.businessfurnitureindy.com
Business: Contract Furniture

Citizens State Bank
Angie Mastin
129 So. Pendleton Avenue, Stop 600
Pendleton, IN 46064
Phone: 765-521-7497; Fax: 765- 521-7493
E-mail: amastin@townfin.com
Website: www.csb-nc.com
Business: Banking and Lending Institution

Frazier's Dairy Maid, Inc.
Brian & Tammy Frazier
3311 Main Street
Anderson, IN 46013
Phone: 765-644-5406; Fax: 765-644-5406
E-mail: dairymaid1954@hotmail.com
Website: www.frazier'sdairymaid.com
Business: Ice Cream