May 2019

Volume 17, Issue 5

Please visit us @www.garychamber.com and catch a lifeline...

Lifeline

“CONNECTING BUSINESSES TO CUSTOMERS”

GAMING EXECUTIVE

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MINORITY EXPO

CHAMBER ANNUAL LUNCHEON

The Gary Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Spectacle Entertainment (Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel) will hold its Annual Member-ship Luncheon/Meeting on Friday, May 3, 2019, promptly at 11:00 a.m. at Majestic Star Casino Hotel Ballroom, One Buffington Harbor Drive, Gary. The Chamber welcomes Jahnae Erpenbach, Executive Vice President of Operations for Spectacle Entertainment and General Manager of Majestic Star Casinos as our keynote speaker.

Jahnae will update the Chamber of Spectacle Entertainments vision for the Majestic Star Casinos and the affect it will have on Northwest Indiana and its business community. Immediately following the meeting/luncheon, attendees will have the opportunity to connect at the Business To Business Minority Showcase Expo at Majestic Star Casinos Event Center.

The expo program begins with Welcome/Greeting at 1:00 pm., Expo at 1:30pm. Great Networking opportunity begins at 10:30 am. Bring your Business Cards.

The cost of the luncheon is $25.00. We accept American Express, Master Card and Visa Credit and Debit cards

Advance reservations are requested. Call the Chamber office at 219 885-7407 to reserve your seat(s) today.

Another Huge Success

Highlights from the 4th Annual

World Civility Day Celebration.

►Centier Bank announces a new Neighborhood Loan Special for Small Businesses. Centier Bank is encouraging anyone with a small business to apply or inquire into this program. Contact Centier Banker at 1(888) 236-8437 (see flyer attached). ►Faith Farms & Orchards, a farm operated by FAITH Community Development Corp. (FAITH CDC) is being prepared for the 2019 season. The farm is next door to Progressive Community Church, 656 Carolina St., Gary. Chamber member Curtis Whittaker is Pastor. This year a chicken coop is being added as well as watermelons, strawberries and fruit trees. You can support FATH CDC by contacting: (219) 880-0850. ► May 1, 2019—Congratulations on the opening of the Outpatient Pharmacy at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, 600 Grant Street, Gary. ► May 2, 2019—Everybody Counts, Inc. will host: Gary & the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): A conversation with the Mayoral Candidates. Each Gary Mayoral candidate will share their thoughts on how things are now, and what plans they have for the future. Open to the public, questions welcome. 1:00pm – 3:30pm, Gary Public Library & Cultural Center, 220 W. 5th Avenue, Gary. For info call: (219) 769-5055.

►May 5-11, 2019 – National Small Business Week. Shop small..Get out, enjoy and support the small businesses in your commu-nity. ► May 4, 2019 – Methodist Hospitals hosts 2019 Spring Spa Day. A free event for women with Cancer or who are Cancer Survi-vors an opportunity to be educated and pampered. 8:30 am to Noon, Hellenic Cultural Center, 8000 Madison St., Merrillville. To register call: 888-909-3627. ►May 18, 2019—SideWalk Talks – Cline Avenue Bridge. Learn about the ongoing construction of the New Cline Avenue Bridge and future plans of “The Gateway” Bridge to Lake County via the IN Harbor Canal, 9-10am, Cline Ave. Bridge Main Office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, IN. Refreshments provided. For info and additional dates, contact, (219) 276-8902 or www.clineave.com (see flyer). ►May 21, 2019 - Kicking off the new 2019 season, the Gary SouthShore RailCats vs. Sioux City Explorers. Purchase tickets for the 7:10pm game at the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office, One Stadium Plaza, Gary, by calling 219-882-2255, or by visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com. ► May 24, 2019 –The Project Outreach and Prevention (POP) Foundation will host its’ 4th Annual Youth Violence Prevention Leadership Conference during National Youth Violence Prevention Week, 10am – 1pm, Hammond Civic Center, 5825 S. Sohl Avenue, Hammond. For information, e-mail Kris Taylor: kdominique912@icloud.com or call 219-798-0744 (see flyer). ► MAY 25, 2019 – West Side Theatre Guild Performing Arts Department presents The WIZ, West Side Leadership Academy, 9th Avenue & Gerry Street, Gary. For ticket information call: (219) 390-9784

SAVE THE DATE JUNE 20, 2019 EBD Committee Business Fair

What’s Up Chuck? - WORLD CIVILITY DAY THANK YOU!

GARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - UP COMING ACTIVITIES - Mark Your Calendar!

May 3, 2019 Annual Membership Meeting/Luncheon

Majestic Star Casino Hotel Ballroom 11:00am One Buffington Harbor Drive, Gary Business To Business Minority Showcase Expo—Majestic Star Event Center 1:00pm

May 7, 2019 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY – CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED May 15, 2019 Economic/Business Development Committee Meeting - 9:00am

* May 20, 2019 Executive Committee Meeting - 11:30am

May 27, 2019 MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED – CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED

Community Civility Counts and the Gary Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee would like to thank all of our sponsors, vendors and participants in the 4th Annual World Civility Day. Thank you Sponsors: Methodist Hospitals, The Times Media Co., Teachers Credit Union, IUN School of Business & Economics, Legacy Foundation, Spectacle Entertainment, iChange Nations, Shared Ethics Advisory Board, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, Strack & Van Til, Southwest Airlines, Trans-forming Lives & Communities, Tomco.TV, Fresh County Market, and South Shore Con-vention & Visitors Authority. A Special Thank You to: Melba Moore, Reggie Thornton, Michael Turner, South Shore Dance Alliance, Dr. Fred Seamon, Larry Alt & Associates. Pictures provided by: V2J Elite Productions and Cheryl Scott-Fields.

SideWalk Talks – Cline Avenue BridgeSidewalk Talks Events: Come learn about the new Cline Avenue Bridge at a series of free, public “Sidewalk Talks” events this Spring ,Summer and Fall. Held on one (1) Saturday morning of each month. The events offer a great view of the ongoing construction of the New Cline Avenue Bridge. Guest learn firsthand from construction team leaders about construction techniques, history and future plans involved in this innovative bridge that is “The Gateway” to Lake County across the Indiana Harbor Canal. Refreshments will be provided at all events.

Sign-A-Segment “Time Capsule” Event. Make a personal connection with the New Cline Avenue Bridge when you participate in one of two Sign-A-Segment “Time Capsule” Events held June 22 and August 17. After learning about the construction progress, guests off all ages can sign their name on the inside of an actual concrete bridge segment, forever enshrining the names of its visitors in a Time Capsule.

Upcoming Event Dates 2019:Saturday April 27, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312Saturday May 18, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312Saturday June 22, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312 * Sign-A-Segment “Time Capsule”Saturday July 20, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312Saturday Aug. 17, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312 * Sign-A-Segment “Time Capsule”Saturday Sept. 21, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312Saturday Oct. 19, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312Saturday Nov. 16, 2019 -9-10am Cline Avenue Bridge Main office, 219 Riley Road, East Chicago, Indiana 46312

** Saturday November 16, 2019 – will concluded sidewalk talks. ** Any inclement weather – “Sidewalk Talks” will be canceled, contact Cline Avenue Bridge for updates.

www.clineave.com, 219-276-8902

Dear Principal, Administrator, School Representative and Businesses,

The Project Outreach and Prevention (POP) Foundation is bringing the excitement of promoting peace and unity to Northwest In-

diana as par t of National Youth Violence Prevention Week. This week will culminate with our 4th Annual Youth Violence

Prevention Leadership Conference (10am - 1pm) Friday, May 24th, 2019 for all NWI high school students at the newly

renovated Hammond Civic Center 5825 S. Sohl Avenue, Hammond, IN 46320. We are writing to request that you send as many

students as possible to this leadership conference. It is being provided free of charge for the purpose of helping your students

to create safer schools and communities. We are asking that you secure bus transportation for your students and schedule their

lunch to be delivered to the Hammond Civic Center for the day of the conference.

POP Foundation has formed a special partnership with the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere

(SAVE). SAVE is a student, peer-led program that strives to decrease the potential for violence and risky behaviors in schools and

communities by promoting meaningful student involvement, education, and service opportunities. We have started SAVE chap-

ters in NWI schools and would like to expand to all schools throughout NWI and Chicagoland areas. Our goal is to invite leaders

from each school and encourage them to organize SAVE Chapters at their perspective schools.

During the conference we will provide a memorable conversation about safety, conflict resolution, tolerance and peace. We will

have motivational speakers and entertainment to engage students. Additionally, there will be a special Public Health presentation

on “Stop the Bleed” Initiative for the students. The theme for this conference is “Not One More Life, One More Day” and the fo-

cus will be on our No Drugs, Healthy Choices, Stop the Violence Campaign. It’s a way to bring students from various high

schools across NWI together in a responsible manner to promote unity and peace during National Youth Violence Prevention

Week. Together we can show students that it’s cool to not do drugs or alcohol while making healthy choices, as well as help de-

crease the epidemic of violence. A special highlight for this year again is for participating students to nominate the School Service

Officer of the Year from their schools.

For more information, e-mail Kris D. Taylor: kdominique912@icloud.com or call 219-798-0744.

RSVP Instructions:

RSVP by e-mail: kdominique912@icloud.com

The deadline to RSVP is March 29th, 2018.

Include the number of students you plan to send to the conference, your school name, school contact person/student

chaperone, school address and telephone number.

If you would like to participate and your school can provide transportation for your students, include that with your

RSVP. If your school is unable to provide transportation, please let us know immediately, so that accommodations

can be made for your students.

In Service,

Michael A. McGee, MD, MPH, FACEP Reuben Rutland, MD, MBA

Founder, Project Outreach & Prevention Foundation Co-Founder, POP Foundation

Chief, ER Department, The Methodist Hospitals Chief, Trauma Services, The Methodist Hospitals