Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce has ambitious plans as it launches its 2014-15 year. In addition to annoucing these plans, the chamber extends an invitation to individuals to become a chamber member for $50 per year. Here is an overview of projects in the works this fall.

THREE ATTACHMENTS TO THIS STORY INCLUDE:
• Fall chamber events calendar
• List of chamber benefits and member application form
• List of  NOACC member benefits

Chamber breakfast meetings
Meetings take place in the third floor of the town hall, 154 N. Main St., on the second Friday of each month. A free breakfast is served from 7 to 7:30 a.m. and a meeting follows from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Special workshops may follow breakfasts at 8:45 a.m.

Meeting themes will be announced each month. Chamber members are invited to sponsor any breakfast during between September to June. A sponsorship is $250. Here are the 2014 fall breakfast dates.
• Sept. 12
• Oct. 10
• Nov. 14
• Dec. 12

University business showcase
The annual event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, in Marbeck Center. Chamber members may register for a table to display their products and services to Bluffton University students. Registration details will be announced soon.

Fall Festival
Although not a chamber event, the chamber helps promote the annual fall festival, now in its 10th year. This year’s festival is Saturday, Sept. 27.

Cash mobs
Rounding out 2014 cash mobs, which are monthly events highlighting a chamber member, here’s the fall schedule:
• Aug. 27 – Greg’s Pharmacy
• Sept. 24 – Ten Thousand Villages
• Oct. 29 – CG Pro Bikes
• No cash mobs planned in November or December

Blaze of Lights
“Happy Holidays” is the 2014 Blaze of Lights theme. This is the 28th annual Blaze and it takes place Saturday, Nov. 29. The Blaze committee is making plans for the event and as details are confirmed they will be announced. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will visit with youngsters following the Blaze parade in the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. Businesses interested in decorating their windows are encouraged to use the “Happy Holidays” theme.

3/50 Project
The chamber supports this program planned by downtown merchants. In its third year, the project takes place October, November and December. The 3/50 Project invites shoppers to support three independently-owned businesses and spent $50 in each during the three-month period. Shoppers have the chance to win a monthly prize during the three-month promotion. Those details will be announced soon.

Holiday events
Bluffton downtown merchants will hold holiday open houses the second weekend of November. The holiday open house is from Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 6-8. Some businesses will offer specials during the three-day event. Other businesses will hold special events on Nov. 8.

Santa downtown
Santa Claus will make three additional visits to Bluffton in addition to the Blaze of Lights night. He will be in downtown Bluffton from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13. His visit locations are:
Nov. 22 – Town and Country Flowers
Dec. 6 – Greg’s Pharmacy
Dec. 13 – Citizens National Bank

QR Codes
The QR code project launched this summer will continue this fall. Chamber members will soon receive additional information on how to have a free QR code created by the chamber.

2015 Arts and Crafts Festival
Please put this on your calendar. The next arts and crafts festival is Saturday, May 16, 2015. Please note this is one week later than in recent years. In the past this event fell on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Not this year, however.

Other chamber events
Other events will be picked up by the chamber as the year progresses. Among those include establishing a downtown banner program, signage project with maps to show locations in the community, aggressive social media promotion of the community. (The QR code project is part of this.) The chamber will also propose various ways to promote tourism to Bluffton and will develop a long-term plan to continue annual fireworks in late June.

Members of the chamber board
Larry Hoffman, president; Tammy Whitlow, secretary; Bob Inniger, treasurer; Mark Alliman, Derek Dukes, Doug Luginbill, Aphaphanh Nussbaum, Sally Siferd, Adam Stedke and Phil Zimmerly. Jamie Mehaffie is the village liaison to the board. Vicky Myers is the Bluffton University chamber intern. Fred Steiner is the chamber CEO.