Bluffton native and Allen County Common Pleas Judge Richard Warren will launch the 2011-12 monthly breakfast season for the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Judge Warren will speak at the 7:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 9, chamber breakfast held in the third floor of the town hall.

The meeting is open to the public, and RSVPs are required by Wednesday at [email protected]. As of Saturday over 60 persons have RSVPed.

Richland Manor provides breakfast -
Citizens National Bank event sponsor

Richland Manor will provide free breakfasts. Serving starts at 7 a.m. The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. Citizens National Bank is September's breakfast sponsor.

Several introductions

Several introductions will take place at the meeting. They include Barry Schneck, who joined Richland Manor this summer. Denise Dernberger, Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs, lead affiliate mentor and member of the Bluffton University faculty. Other Friday guests include Raymond Harner of CG Pro Bikes, Columbus Grove; and Cody Ridenhour and Chad Stearns of Modo Media, Lima. Both are Bluffton University grads.

Fall varsity coaches special guests

Special guests on Friday are fall varsity coaches from Bluffton High School and Bluffton University. Alex Hanna, BHS AD, and Phill Talavina, Bluffton University AD, will make those introductions.

Fortman Insurance Services, new chamber member and new Bluffton business, will be introduced. A chamber ribbon cutting at Fortman will take place following the breakfast.

Special recognition

Special recognition will be given to Everett Collier, recently retired Bluffton postmaster. During the breakfast, the chamber will officially hand over the Blaze of Lights silent auction to the Bluffton Public Library.

Breakfast musical entertainment from 7 to 7:30 a.m. will be provided by students of Krysti's Music Studio.

10 snowflake sponsors so far;
Sept. 9 deadline to participate

Businesses, individuals and organizations may sponsor a downtown 4-foot lighted snowflake this year. The deadline for 2011 sponsorships is Friday. Sponsorships are $399.

An example of the snowflake is hanging in front of Common Grounds. The chamber's garland committee is every excited to announce that 10 snowflakes are already sponsored. The following sponsors are already part of the project:
1 - Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce
2 - DTR Industries Associates
3 - Dwight Bixel
4 - Ropp Triplett
5 - Tom and Anne Heimann and Bill and Paula McKibben
6 - R.D. Neff and Associates
7 - Bluffton Center for Entrepreneur affiliates
8 - Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes
9 - Bluffton Volunteer Fire Department
10 - Family Eye Care

Photos of the snowflake are provided with this story. A snowflake sponsorship form is in the printer-friendly chamber newsletter attachment at the bottom of this story.