Livermore Chamber of Commerce Press Releases

LARPD to offer workshop for family caregivers

• “What You Need to Know About Medicare Part D and HICAP,” by Ada Schoch with the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). The session will discuss the cost of Medicare prescription drug coverage, which drugs are covered, who can enroll in a drug plan and more.
• “Managing Difficult Behaviors,” by Micheal Pope with Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay. Those in attendance will learn the causes of difficult behaviors and effective techniques for coping.
• “Avoiding Caregiver Burnout,” by Donna Shempp with the Family Caregiver Alliance. The session will teach about the signs of burnout and how caregivers can recharge their batteries.

• “Organizing Your Home for Caregiving and Planning for the Future,” by Mike Battaglia of Caring Transitions and Julie Schnitter of Hope Hospice. The session will talk about the secrets to making daily life manageable and safer. Participants will learn how to create an environment conducive to caregiving. The Advance Health Care Directive will also be discussed.
• “Depression, Compassion, Delirium and Dementia Amongst Seniors,” by Theresa Cleaver with ValleyCare Health System—Legends. This session will discuss the differences among various conditions and when to seek further help.
• “Self-Care for the Caregiver,” by Cait McWhir with Adult Day Services Network of Alameda County. McWhir, who is also a certified massage therapist, will go over getting re-energized and banishing stress and burnout. Some effective hands-on creative techniques derived from acupressure will also be discussed.

Our Savior Lutheran Ministries - 
Christmas Concert at Our Savior

November 2008 -- Livermore, CA - The community is invited to “Emmanuel – God with Us,” a concert of Advent and Christmas music presented by the choirs and musical groups of Our Savior Lutheran Ministries. The concert will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, in the sanctuary at Our Savior Lutheran Ministries, 1385 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore. Included will be choral and handbell music, as well as music for brass and strings. There is no charge for the concert and refreshments will be available following the concert. 

Arrive early to enjoy “Come to the Manger,” a display of nativity scenes from around the world that will be displayed in the sanctuary.

For Further information contact Glenna Sanlis at (925)447-1246 ext. 259

APELLANES ADVERTISING RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

San Ramon Advertising Agency Wins 2008 International Davey Award

November 11, 2008 -- SAN RAMON, CA - Apellanes Advertising took home silver 2008 International Davey Award for its design of the Apellanes Advertising logo. As the 2008 Davey Awards received over 4,000 entries from ad agencies, interactive agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms, and public relations firms, the win is an enormous honor for the San Ramon agency, which only entered two pieces for consideration.

The Davey Award is an international creative award that exclusively honors outstanding creative work from the best small firms worldwide. Named after the David that toppled the powerful Goliath, Davey Awards honor the achievements of the "Creative Davids" whose strength comes from ideas, intelligence and out-of-the-box thinking, not enormous budgets. Davey Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), and underwritten by Advertising Age Small Business Network.

"Apellanes Advertising has been very blessed with hardworking and creative people," said Debbie Apellanes, the agency’s president and CEO. "We have managed to gain new clients every day solely by word of mouth. We have the smartest and most professional clients that help us go above and beyond the agency/client relationship. We have worked very hard to provide our clients with bigger and better results than large agencies offer, without the big agency invoice."

About Apellanes Advertising - Apellanes Advertising is a full-service agency with offices and clients all over the United States. They specialize in strategic marketing solutions, working closely with their clients to maximize marketing dollars and achieve concrete results.  Apellanes Advertising helps their clients with Marketing, Co-Marketing, Design, Website Design and Maintained, Alliance Building, Event Planning, Public Relations, Website Promotions, Email Marketing and Analysis.

Apellanes Advertising is a part of the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, Livermore Chamber of Commerce, Business International Network (BNI) and B2B Gatherings. For more information, please visit https://www.apellanesadv.com.

Livermore Chamber of Commerce Search Engine Optimizes New Web Site

Online Press Release

October 3, 2008, Livermore, CA - The Livermore Chamber of Commerce has launched a new Web site (www.livermorechamber.org) which has already drawn praise from top advertising executives for its design, easy navigation and interactive elements. The Web site was designed by Anjin Jaymes of Kodiak Arts, LLC, and built and search engine optimized by Thomas Petty of WSI Internet Consulting & Education (www.wsismartsolutions.com), both from Livermore, California.

Livermore Chamber CEO, Dale Eldridge Kaye said, "In the first month since the site went live, site visits have increased 100% and the number of pages viewed has increased a whopping 400%, due to the new, easy-to-use structure and search engine optimization."

Lou DiGuisto, Senior Partner of Louws Management, a consulting company for the top ad agencies around the world said he "was very impressed with the Web site's look and feel, easy navigation and relevance."

The Web site was designed to help brand Livermore as a destination, promote the Livermore Valley Film Commission, assist in the Chamber’s effort to go green by cutting down on paper and most importantly, to give Livermore Chamber members the ability to effectively promote their business.

According to Kaye, the most beneficial feature of the Web site is the optimization done by Petty, who is an Internet Marketing Consultant. "When your average rate of time on the site goes up 60 percent, your members benefit. When the number of pages viewed goes up 400 percent, your members benefit. When new visitors who have never been to site before goes up significantly, your members benefit."

She added that during economic downturns, it is essential for the Chamber to be creative in the ways they can promote their members' businesses without additional costs. "With more advertising being done on the Web than any other medium, it made sense for us to redesign our Web site to give our members the advantage of a cutting edge marketing tool."

The site also offers members interactive photo albums for ribbon cuttings, member events, and an interactive calendar with search, list and the ability to export to desktop calendars. The Chamber has had a blog for member input (www.livermorechamberblog.com) and has been on MySpace.com (www.myspace.com/livermorechamber) for the last year.

Livermore Valley Film Commission Succeeds in Bringing Productions To Area

On-line Press Release, Print Version

October 1, 2008, Livermore, CA - The Livermore Valley Film Commission, formed three years ago to promote filming in Livermore, has added Pleasanton and Dublin to its scope, according to Dale Eldridge Kaye, Film Office Director. The Film Commission works with production companies and location scouts to bring commercials, corporate videos, and feature film production to the area to foster economic development.

Offering a wide range of desirable locations, plus expertise in production, the Film Commission has been very successful in marketing the Livermore Valley. Hosting several productions a month, and using locations from ranches to offices to private homes, the Commission is gaining a following of production companies anxious to film here. The addition of Dublin and Pleasanton offers the opportunity to promote a wide range of locations. Having all the locations a production company may need in close proximity to each other helps them save money and time with minimal travel between sets. The commission already has earned a great reputation and veteran location scout Wilson Wu calls it one of the most effective film offices in Northern California.

Embraced by Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena and Alameda County Supervisor early on the film commission was made possible by a grant from Chevron. Considered a "green" business in many ways, filming comes to an area quickly, purchases supplies, uses lodging, pays location fees, and leaves the area better than when they arrived. Their small footprint plus the amount of money dropped while here make them a desirable business to attract.

The cooperation the three cities' government has been vital to the growth of the Film Commission's influence with film companies. Knowing that with the assistance of the Commission, a production on a short turn-around can get the permits and permissions needed from the three cities and the county quickly and efficiently often is the decisive factor in choosing a location. Residents and the business community have also been very supportive, and not only reap the financial benefits of a production in the area, but enjoy the excitement it brings.

The Film Commission, as part of the Livermore Chamber of Commerce, is also represented on the Chamber's newly designed Web site (www.livermorechamber.org). The locations library will be instrumental in piquing the interest of location scouts. Showing a broad representation of the variety of locations available, the site will show those making the proposals regarding where they will film that they can find whatever they need, all in the Tri-Valley. The Commission is in constant contact with the decision makers, and works closely with them to make sure all their production needs are met. The commission is staffed by veteran film commissioner Dale Eldridge Kaye who worked previously for both Florida and Tennessee State Film offices and also produced movies in Los Angeles as well as Jeanie Haigh, a noted photographer with a firm grasp of what the area has to offer.

For more information on the Livermore Valley Film Commission, visit the Livermore Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.livermorechamber.org, or call 925-447-1606.

Livermore Chamber of Commerce to Publish Updated Membership Directory

On-line Press Release

Livermore, CA, September 24, 2008 - Sales for the membership and community guide being produced for the Livermore Chamber of Commerce (www.livermorechamber.org) are underway, according to Dale Kaye, the Chamber's CEO. She and her staff are working with VillageProfile.com, Inc. which has been producing community publications for the Chamber since 2002.

The updated guide will be published this coming spring. The 7,500 printed copies will be distributed throughout Livermore and the surrounding area, to visitors, and to individuals and businesses inquiring to the Chamber about relocation.

The Chamber is taking part in the Village Profile® Convergence Publishing Program®, the only one of its kind available to Chambers of Commerce. In addition to the printed version, all editorial content and advertisements will be published online as a NewView eBook® at the Village Profile® Community Profile Network® Web site (www.villageprofile.com). The online publication will link from the Chamber's Community Profile Network® Web site to advertisers' own Web sites.

The eBook is downloadable free to computer desktops and most wireless devices. The searchable membership directory will be accessible via smartphones, Web-enabled cell phones and similar wireless devices at www.vpmobile.us.

Advertising in your Chamber publication has even more advantages. According to a national study recently conducted by the Atlanta-based marketing company, The Schapiro Group, "consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local chamber" and "they are 44 percent more likely to think favorably about" the business.

The report further concluded that, "When business decision makers believe that a business is a chamber member" they are "59 percent more likely to buy goods and services from it."

Businesses interested in advertising should call Village Profile® Representative Sallie Jennings at the Chamber office, 925-447-1606.

Tri-Valley Conservancy announces application for accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance

 

Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC) is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance.  The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.    A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant's policies and programs.  Sharon Burnham, TVC Executive Director stated “Tri-Valley Conservancy adopted the Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices (S&P) many years ago.  Although TVC has been operating under those S&P’s we had not formalize our policies and procedures.  Completing our application package was challenging and daunting, but well worth the effort.  We are a much stronger organization now than ever before.”

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications.  Comments must relate to how Tri-Valley Conservancy complies with national quality standards.  These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust.  For the full list of standards see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/2008-indicatorpractices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.  Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Comments on Tri-Valley Conservancy’s application will be most useful by December 29, 2008. 

Livermore Chamber's Summer Luncheon - "The Future of Technology in the Tri-Valley"

Livermore, CA, September 11, 2008 - John Chen CEO/President of Sybase, a recognized technology industry leader and corporate turnaround specialist, will be the speaker at the September 25 Livermore Chamber of Commerce Wine Country Summer Luncheon. Mr. Chen, who was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year in Northern California for his outstanding leadership in building and leading a dynamic Sybase; Mr. Chen also serves on the board of directors for the Walt Disney Company, Wells Fargo & Co and the U.S Chamber of Commerce. He will speak on "The Future of Technology in the Tri-Valley." The luncheon will be held at Concannon Vineyards, 4590 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA.

The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will feature amazing food and wine surrounded by vineyards in a remarkable setting. It is sponsored by Patelco Credit Union. This is the fourth Wine Country Summer Luncheon out of a series of five Livermore Chamber of Commerce luncheons, each highlighted major issues that impact our lives every day.

Space is limited and advanced reservations are required. Please contact the Livermore Chamber of Commerce offices at (925) 447-1606 to make a reservation.

Survey Results Show Businesses Want Amenities

Livermore, CA, September 8, 2008 - Business people in Livermore have an ambitious vision of the City's potential and an impressive appetite for new and enhanced amenities. So says a recent online survey sent out by the Livermore Chamber of Commerce.  The survey, which was sent out by email to some 900 chamber members it received a response of approximately 17 percent.

The survey listed nine possible amenities and asked members to rate them on how valuable they might be to individual members' businesses. The survey showed that business people feel bringing BART to Livermore is the most important project.  County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who has worked hard to bring BART to Livermore, said, "Not surprisingly the Livermore community including its businesses has been unwavering in its support of the long-awaited earlier promised completion of the BART extension to Livermore.  I strongly encourage such advocacy which will become increasingly important as this project advances through the various study processes currently underway."

Closely following BART was the redevelopment of aging retail centers. City manager Linda Barton noted that this is also the top priority of the Livermore City Council and indicated that investments in these properties will make them future economic engines for the entire city. Also in the top three was the creation of a visitor's center to promote wineries, recreation and local businesses. Chris Chandler, Executive Director of the Winegrowers Association was thrilled to hear the response and said, "A regional visitor's center would serve as a gateway to Livermore Valley Wine Country and all its amenities and natural, cultural and historic attractions."  She added that, " I 580 is a major corridor between the Bay Area and Sacramento, the Central Valley and the Sierra Foothills and an ideal location to welcome visitors and provide information, schedules of events and even event ticket sales."

All of the projects listed in the survey received more than 50 percent support from those responding.

They showed strong support for:

• Promoting the existing film commission to generate income for local businesses
• Advocating for water for vineyards and other agriculture in North Livermore. This amenity tied with a new State-of-the-Art sports park
• A full service boutique hotel to be located in our downtown
• A large business park for the city
• The proposed 2,000 seat regional performing arts theater

Utilizing the online survey format, the Chamber of Commerce will periodically survey its members and encourage those receiving them to take a few minutes to provide feedback on local issues. These surveys are designed to assist the Chamber and its Board of Directors in prioritizing issues to best enhance the quality of life in Livermore.