SERVING CENTRAL KITSAP SINCE 1973..........

Chamber Holiday Social 

Hosted by Outback Steakhouse on December 13 th at 11:30

Reservations are handled just like a membership luncheon. $17 if paid for by December 7 th . $20 if paid for after the 7 th .

This event always sells out so be sure to make your reservation to guarantee a spot.

Activities include a dessert auction by the Chamber Ambassadors, networking games, and more.

American Marine Bank After Hours

December 11 – 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Join Mary Hoover and her staff at American Marine Bank's new location at 10100 Silverdale Way for a bit of holiday cheer!

Silverdale Fine Art Ribbon Cutting 

December 14 – 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
9020 Washington Avenue
Old Town Silverdale

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

We are still in the midst of our recruiting drive – don't forget you can win your membership investment and Patron status for 2008 if your name is drawn for recruiting a new member before December 12.

NEW STAFF EMAIL ADDRESSES
Effective immediately the staff addresses at the Chamber are changing.  If you'd like to reach the director send and email to darla@silverdalechamber.com.  If you want member services or event information email karen@silverdalechamber.com.  For general information send an email to darci@silverdalechamber.com.

EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Take advantage of this special offer to renew your membership investment at the 2007 rate. Contact the Chamber office or fax back the flyer in your November ‘Currents' and we will invoice you at the 2007 rate. Early bird renewals must be paid by December 31.

MEMBER BENEFIT OF THE WEEK

WESTSOUND BUSINESS EXPO
The peninsula area Chambers of Commerce are combining forces for an all-Chamber event to be held on February 13 at the Sun Pavilion at the Kitsap Fairgrounds.

The event will kick off with an all-Chamber Business Showcase with nearly 150 spaces available and the evening will end with some entertainment by the Joey James Dean Band.

Exhibition space will be available on a first response-first reserved the application is in your newsletter or on the chamber website

MEMBER NEWS

Brewton Hight Insurance Open House

10 th annual Open House
December 12 th – 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy hors D'eouvres, wine, savories and entertainment

SANDY SCOTT TO ADDRESS NETWORKING GROUP

The Olympic Business Exchange BNI group invites all interested parties to join them Thursday 13 at the Silverdale Beach Hotel from 730 -900.  The speaker, Sandy Scott, a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, will be presenting important information regarding the Identity Theft "Red Flags Rule" under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.  It impacts business owners with a quickly approaching compliance date of November 2008. 

FIRST ANNUAL CENTRAL KITSAP GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST

Bring your decorated Gingerbread House to the Silverdale Beach Hotel by Dec 14 to enter. Houses will be on display at the hotel and the public is invited to come in and vote for their favorites.

A limited number of undecorated kits are available from the hotel, compliments of Costco.

Come to the hotel on December 22 for a reception and award ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be many prizes, donated by area merchants.

Categories: K – 3 grade, 4 – 6 grade, 7 – 9 grade, 10 – 12 grade.

For more information call 307-7632.

YMCA Splash & Jam - December 15 th , 6-9 pm
It's truly a great time for everyone of all ages. The supervised evening offers a choice of activities swimming; gym games, arts and crafts, food, a G-rated movie, and more. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Free for members, and the public-at-large is welcome - $5 for non-members.   

Teen Late Night! Every Friday night from 8:30-11 p.m. (Except 12/18 and 12/25)
For teens, ages 13-19: bring your friends and experience a night filled with many fun activities. Teens are able to swim, use the hot tub , play basketball, wallyball or board and table games, plus more. Refreshments, including pizza, are served. There is no cost for YMCA members and non-members pay only $5 per person. 

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION

S. 2300 and how this legislation will benefit small business.

Our fight for the removal of large firms from federal small business contracting has reached a point where the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has heard our plea and is introducing comprehensive legislation to remove large firms from federal small business contracting with S. 2300 the, “Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2007.”

S. 2300 addresses:

• Contract bundling
• Annual re-certification via CCR (with out additional bureaucracy see Sec. 502)
• Subcontractor misrepresentation
• Expands opportunities for minority, women and service-disabled veteran owned small business.

Please email your elected officials today and ask them to support S. 2300.

Regarding HR 3567, our team was in Washington , DC recently and I feel quite confident that HR 3567 will not be moving out of the Senate in 2007. Also the Senate has re-authorized the SBIR program via DOD bill.

Click below for more information on S. 2300 and your Representative's contact information.

http://americansmallbusinessleague.blogspot.com/

COMMUNITY BRIEFS  

Hello Trail Lovers
Clear Creek was raging on Monday! Timbers, boardwalk and trees were moved around in Nature's game of chess. Please use extreme caution when using the trail, especially behind Group Health, and both the eastside and westside trails south of Ridgetop. As of yesterday, the boardwalk just east of Silverdale Way that parallels Waaga Way was still under water as was the boardwalk bridge north of the Bowling Alley.

Seeking applicants for the Central Kitsap Community Council

Kitsap County Board of Commissioners Chair Josh Brown is seeking applicants for an upcoming vacancy on the Central Kitsap Community Council. The council serves as an important communication link between the citizens of Central Kitsap and the Kitsap County Commissioners. Public meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month, 7 PM – 9 PM at the Water District Office at Dickey & Newberry Hill roads, Silverdale, except for April and October Town Hall Meetings.

Central Kitsap County residents interested in growth management issues such as land use and zoning, public utility service delivery, transportation improvements, parks and recreation, design standards, public safety, taxes and fees, and environmental protection are encouraged to apply.

An application and position description may be obtained from Jan Koske, Kitsap County Volunteer Services Coordinator, at (360) 337-4650 or jkoske@co.kitsap.wa.us. An application may also be completed on line at www.kitsapgov.com/volunteer/frmbrdapp.htm. Applications accepted until 4:30 PM on December 21, 2007.

2008 DECISION MAKERS BREAKFAST

Highlighting the 2008 Decision Makers Breakfast will be keynote speaker John Mitchell, former Western Region Economist for US Bank. He will once again be sharing his insight and humor as he discusses the economic outlook for the Puget Sound region and for Kitsap County .

In addition, we will be looking at workforce issues on both regional and local levels.

WHEN : Tuesday, January 29, 2008
WHERE : Kitsap Conference Center , Bremerton Harborside
TIME : 7:30 a.m.

Be sure to mark your calendar - and be watching for registration information in the coming weeks.

LUNCH-N-LEADS

"A smart way to promote and market your business"

Our group focuses on internal referrals among member businesses with emphasis on "word-of-mouth" advertising and warm-lead generation.  There is business exclusivity in this group, so" contact Virginia Anderson at (360) 692-8808 to see if there are openings in your industry.

OLD TOWN SILVERDALE ASSOCIATION
For information about the Old Town Silverdale Association contact Mary Earl at 698-0522.