Two informative programs kick off the 2012-13 Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast series. Persons interested in attending either of these events may contact [email protected] for more information.

Friday, Sept. 14 breakfast
Rev. Kevin Mohr, president of the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association, and pastor of English Lutheran Church, is the featured speaker. He will provide information about an important, but little-known Bluffton “safety net”: the Bluffton Community Assistance Program.

The program, originally set up through the Bluffton Inter-Church Board, is now an independent organization with its own board of directors. It oversees:

     1 - Bluffton Food Pantry housed in St. John’s United Church of Christ, which is open once a month.
     2 - A community assistance program, which involves the Bluffton Police Department. The program provides the police department vouchers for use to individuals who may run out of gas on Interstate 75, or for persons passing through Bluffton who may have immediate cash needs.
     3 - One month utility or rent assistance for Bluffton residents in need of immediate financial help.
     4 - Twice monthly free community meals at the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. From 80 to 100 persons attend these dinners.

Smart-phone/wireless devise workshop
A free workshop takes place following breakfast at 8:45 a.m. Bill Smith, Cellular Central district manager, and Drew Snow, Bluffton Cellular Central manager, will direct this informative workshop. They will answer questions about cell phones and other wireless devises. Persons attending may bring their cell phones or wireless devises. The format will be a question and answer session.

Persons attending the workshop may submit questions to the chamber in advance. The questions will be given to the workshop presenters, so that they may get a feel for the needs of persons planning to attend.

In addition, the chamber will launch a free one-on-one consultation for Smart phone and wireless devises this year. This free chamber benefit will work similar to the social media consultations offered in 2011-12. 

The September breakfast sponsor is Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs.
The breakfast is provided by Richland Manor.