The public is invited to the NHCOC Annual Awards Luncheon. Help us recognize our award winners for 2011: Small Town Hero Award – Rich Purgert, ABC Rental Center East, Small Business of the Year – Spennato’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, and our newest award - Chamber Star of the Year – Rhonda Solomon, No Time Cleaning Services. This event takes place at Gambitta’s Party Center on Thursday, May 12, 11:30 AM. Also on the agenda is the installation of the 2011-2012 NHCOC Board of Directors. This annual luncheon is sponsored by UH – Bedford Medical Center. The special prime rib lunch is $20 for members ($25 for non-members); salmon or chicken by request only. Anyone without an RSVP will not have his/her choice of entre’ so please RSVP by noon on Wed. by calling 330-467-8956.

Congratulations to the 2011-12 NHCOC Board of Directors, elected at the April Chamber meeting. The following Chamber members should be acknowledged and praised for their dedication to our business community and the Chamber of Commerce:

Officers:
President: Jennifer Mintz, South Pointe Hospital
President-Elect: Bonnie Horsfall, Memories Made To Order
Vice President: Cindi Seese Third Federal Savings
Treasurer: Kevin Waldron, Ridgway & Assoc. Insurance
Secretary: Jami Walker Aquino, FirstMerit Bank
Past President: Eric Daniel, Thompson Hine LLP

Directors:
Kathy Doytek, Sagamore Hills Medical Center
Julie D’Aloiso, SpiderCat Marketing
John Jackson, Hageman Pest Control
David Jellison, Jellison Construction & Design
Rich Purgert, ABC Rental Center East
Mike Burzminski, Batteries Plus
Joe Clark, Nordonia Hills Schools

I hope you plan to start your summer fun with us at the 11th Annual NHCOC “FRIDAY NIGHT HORSEPLAY” at Northfield Park. This event is scheduled for Friday, June 10. Thank you to our sponsor to date: Winner’s Circle Sponsor Williamsburg Townhomes. Admission to this event is $28 and includes dinner and soft drinks. A race sponsorship is $125 which includes your own horse race, your race name in the Program, a free color photo of you with the winning horse, and 2 dinners. If your favorite horse isn’t racing, try your luck with our Pick-a-Prize and 50/50 raffles. Discounts are available for groups of 4. Bring your co-workers and friends. This event is open to the entire Nordonia Hills community. Reservations are required. Please call Chairperson Alison Meredith (Williamsburg Townhomes - 330-468-3499) or the Chamber Office at 330-467-8956.

ATTENTION – RUNNERS, BIKERS, PUMPERS AND VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to Chamber President-Elect Eric Daniel, Thompson Hine LLP, for chairing the Nordonia Hills Duathlon on Sat., May 21. Individuals (age 13 and over) are encouraged to participate in this run- bike- run event. The race includes a 2.5 mile run, followed by a 10 mile bike ride, then finishing with a second 2.5 mile run. The first 300 entrants will receive a T-shirt; all entrants will share after-race refreshments. You may be interested in the Pump-n-Run or Pump-n-Row, chaired by Mark Nolan. Your “pumps” will help your running score. Or you can opt to “pump iron” only. The choice is yours. Pumping can be done the night before at Anytime Fitness or the morning of the event on the hospital property. Proceeds from the Pump-n-Run will benefit the Haven of Rest Ministries and Battered Woman’s Shelter Summit County. Packet pick-up will begin the evening before at Fleet Feet Sports in Northfield and race day registration begins at 7:15 AM. For more information, contact Eric (330-612-3234). To volunteer to help at this event, please call the Chamber office at 330-467-8956. You can also register online at www.hermescleveland.com or www.nordoniahillschamber.org. Thank you also to our sponsors to date: South Pointe Hospital - Cleveland Clinic Health System, Anytime Fitness, Faith Fellowship Church, Children’s House, The Collis Group, Fleet Feet Sports, BiPro USA, Sohar's, Lawrence School and Record Publishing. Sponsorships are still available from $150 - $5000. Your logo will be on over 300 t-shirts worn by the athletes and volunteers. This is a great way to get your “brand” out to our community and northeast Ohio. We, as a community of businesses, host this event. Many of us all ready show our support by volunteering and sponsoring this Duathlon. Let’s go the next step and participate.

Save money on your 2011-12 NHCOC Membership Renewal! You may even earn a FREE renewal. Attention Chamber members – earn a $25 credit towards your next Chamber renewal for every new member you bring in before May 31, 2011. You already know the value of Chamber membership. Spread the word to your business associates, suppliers and customers. Share with them that the benefits and savings of membership far outweigh the investment. They’ll thank you for the tip and you’ll thank them when you see the savings on your membership renewal! Call the office for more information – 330-467-8956.