July 05, 2009 03:28 am
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Business mixer
PLATTSBURGH — Business After Hours, sponsored by Airborne Speedway, Northern Sanitation, Harmony Golf Club and Community and presented by the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce, will be held Thursday, July 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Airborne International Speedway, 70 Broderick Road, Plattsburgh, just off Exit 36. Turn left and go about a mile, then turn right on Broderick Road.
Visitors can check out the new and improved facility, learn about Harmony Golf Club, and meet the team from Northern Sanitation.
Some attendees may get to ride around the track in a NASCAR race car. Food, prizes and networking will also be featured.
The cost is $3 with a reservation and $4 without. All attendees must pay at the door. To make a reservation, e-mail attendee names to chamber@westelcom.com, call 563-1000 or fax to 563-1028.
Beach amenities
PLATTSBURGH — The City of Plattsburgh and The Kayak Shack have announced that kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals will be available at the Plattsburgh City Beach on Cumberland Head for the 2009 summer season.
"The Plattsburgh City Beach is definitely the most beautiful public beach on Lake Champlain and rivals many others we have seen all over the world." David Husband, co-owner of the Kayak Shack said. "We hope that the amenities we will be offering at the beach this year can help the city to realize the beach's full potential as a recreational outlet for its residents as well as visitors to the area."
The Plattsburgh City Beach opened its season on June 24 and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission is free to residents of the city and town of Plattsburgh, and is $6 per car for anyone else.
The Kayak Shack will offer rentals of sit-on-top kayaks by the hour, half day and full day. "These boats are ideal for the beach as they are very user friendly, safe and can be operated by almost anyone." Husband said. "What we are most excited about is the introduction of stand-up paddling to the Plattsburgh area."
Stand up paddling is the fastest-growing sport in the country and is done standing on an oversized surf board with a long paddle, he said.
"We have seen stand-up paddling for the last few years at trade shows and such, but really thought it was just a fad or that it may not be appropriate for our area. But its explosive growth and the multitude of places you can see people stand-up paddling made us take notice this year," Husband said.
Stand-up paddleboards and gear will also be available for rental at the beach by the hour, half day and full day. Plans for lessons and organized fitness paddles are also underway. "Stand up-paddling (SUP) is great for flat water or on the waves of Lake Champlain. You are going to see a lot of people out on SUP's in the coming years. The view, the freedom, the attitude and the workout the sport gives you is absolutely awesome," he said.
Business seminar
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a seminar for individuals who want to start their own business but do not know where to begin. The seminar will provide information about what to do before hanging up an "open for business" sign.
In cooperation with ComLinks Women's Entrepreneurial Business Center, OneWorkSource Malone and the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, the North Country SBDC will present this Business Basics seminar at ComLinks, 343 West Main Street, Malone, on Tuesday, July 21, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Presented by Rick Leibowitz, North Country SBDC regional director, and Andy Allison, North Country SBDC business adviser, this seminar will discuss the steps needed to start a business, including answering such questions as "When should I register my company?" and "Do I need a federal ID number?"
Prospective business owners will learn about writing a business plan, which is a guide for the start-up phase and a list of goals as the business grows. Leibowitz and Allison will also explain how to research potential markets for a new product or service and how to evaluate the chance of business success before investing money.
Entrepreneurs will also receive an overview of financing options available to new businesses, including information on SBA loan guarantees, what a banker looks for when evaluating a business loan application, alternative lenders and other financing options.
The seminar is free and open to the public. Pre-registration by July 20 is strongly encouraged as seating is limited. To register, contact the North Country SBDC by calling 564-2042 or register by e-mail to sbdc@plattsburgh.edu.
Training program
PLATTSBURGH — With the level of competition in today's workforce, it is more important now than ever to prepare young people by training them for the transition from school to work. However, due to high attendance costs, most training programs and seminars have been limited to larger companies and organizations.
Recently, Eric Parmeter, 26, the founder of Elite Individuals, has taken training from the workforce and placed it in the hands of parents and mentors who wish to provide an advantage to their child or a youth they may know. His recently authored training program, "Age 14 until 24. Your Life. Your Choices. Your Individual Results." is a 47-page interactive training program that includes science-based awareness training, goal setting, time and project management training and mentor training.
"The ages from 14 to 24 are the transitional years from school to the workforce, "Parmeter said. "Between these years we move from student to worker, possibly working right along side your high-school teacher, mother or uncle. I wanted to provide them the advantage of training for their future."
What began as an independent study for his biology professor, Parmeter used as an opportunity to bridge the transition from high school to a career. Dependent upon the environment a youth may grow up in, they may not receive the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in today's workforce.
"By training a young individual to become the leader of their choices and actions, and to take responsibility for their level of success in their transition from school to work, we are inherently strengthening America one individual at a time," he said.
At the end of May, Parmeter attended BookExpo America in New York City with an attendance of nearly 30,000, where his program was featured in the New Title Showcase. Parmeter is currently a pharmaceutical scientist as well as the founder/author of Elite Individuals. He holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology from the SUNY-Plattsburgh.
Anyone interested in purchasing a training program, or in providing innovative training to students or youth organizations, may visit www.EliteIndividuals.com or e-mail Eric Parmeter at Training@EliteIndividuals.com.
Network joined
PLATTSBURGH — Fidelis Care has welcomed Adirondack Audiology Associates P.C. at 11 Hammond Lane, Plattsburgh, to its expanding provider network.
"As Fidelis Care continues to grow, our goal is to ensure that local residents have access to the health-care services they need and deserve," said Fidelis Care President and Chief Executive Officer Mark L. Lane. "We are pleased to have Adirondack Audiology Associates as partners in quality patient care."
Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, is the largest government programs-based health insurance company in New York State.
Serving nearly 500,000 members in 46 counties statewide, it was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Through the Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid Managed Care programs, members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care and more. Fidelis Care offers Fidelis Medicare Advantage in 22 counties and Fidelis Dual Advantage for residents eligible for Medicaid and Medicare in 17 counties. Fidelis Care members have access to a provider network of more than 36,000 health-care professionals statewide.
Individuals seeking affordable health-insurance coverage should contact Fidelis Care toll-free at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit www.fideliscare.org.
Gas-price promotion
PLATTSBURGH — Hyundai Motor Co. has offered to allow customers to lock in fuel prices for new vehicles at $1.49 per gallon for a year in a sales promotion that takes aim at the economic anxiety of American consumers.
The Hyundai "gas lock" program builds on the Korean automaker's customer assurance program launched in January that has supported its sales during the worst U.S. auto downturn in nearly three decades.
Customers who buy or lease an eligible Hyundai vehicle from July 1 to August 31 would be eligible to lock in the gasoline price for a maximum number of gallons that equals up to 12,000 miles divided by the combined EPA fuel economy of the vehicle.
For example, a base four-cylinder Sonata is rated at 25 miles per gallon combined by the EPA, making that car eligible for up to 480 gallons under the Hyundai plan, or if gas is $3 per gallon, a savings of about $725.
Research showed nearly 40 percent of potential new car buyers were staying on the sidelines due to uncertainty over gas prices and the program aims to give them price stability, Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik said.
Chrysler offered a sales incentive in 2008 that allowed customers to lock in fuel purchases at $2.99 per gallon using a prepaid card good for three years on many models. Gas topped $4 per gallon in the United States last year.
The Hyundai program covers new Accents except for the base model, as well as Tiburon, Elantra, Elantra Touring, Entourage, Sonata, Azera, Santa Fe, Tucson and Veracruz models.
AMC donations
SARANAC LAKE — The conclusion of an innovative loan program at Tri-Lakes Federal Credit Union not only saved money for borrowers, but greatly benefited the programs and services of Adirondack Medical Center.
In early 2008, Tri-Lakes Federal Credit Union announced a special program that allows its members to reduce the interest rate on a loan by up to one percent if the borrower elects to make a donation to Adirondack Medical Center. For every $20 donated to AMC, the credit union lowers the loan interest rate one-tenth of a percent up to one percent for a maximum donation of $200.
The program was initiated by Edward Lis, CEO of the credit union, because he believes the program was a good fit with his organization's mission and vision of helping its members become financially independent, promoting thrift, and in turn helping to support a good cause within the community. Lis also contends the credit union, much like AMC, has similar obligations to remain active in the local community.
Recently, credit union officials presented a $4,200 check to the AMC Foundation for a total of $8,000 generated over the span of the loan program.
For more information about the credit union, log onto www.trilakesfcu.com. For more information about the programs and services at AMC, log onto www.amcCares.org.
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