Garrett County Chamber Of Commerce
 March 31 – April 6, 2025   April Lunch N Learn: Bereavement at Work – April 3Downstairs @ UNO Pizzeria & Grill – 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm.Enjoy a light lunch and hear from Dr. Kent Tonkin, Associate Professor at Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, on the topic of bereavement in the workplace. Lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees thanks to the generous sponsorship of C&S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A. One size does NOT fit all: Integrating employee preferences into workplace bereavement leave and communications policies. The Family Medical Leave Act guarantees most American workers up to 12 weeks of leave for a medical condition, but most employees can expect four days of bereavement time…if their employers offer it. This session will explore the impacts of leave policies on work-life balance during personal loss and the power that supervisors have in managing employee bereavement. Best practices for flexible workplace policies will also be discussed in the context of today’s work environment. Dr. Tonkin will apply the results of his qualitative research alongside trends and practices in the modern workplace to suggest ways in which managers and employers can create more grief-literate (and compassionate) workplaces. The purpose of this presentation is to: 1. Identify problematic managerial practices regarding grief in the workplace.2. Present the author’s qualitative research and seminal sources to provide nuanced details about the challenges faced by grieving employees.3. Suggest flexible best practices for better reintegrating and serving bereaved employees into their work environments. 4. Identify potential national policy changes which could assist employees and employers in creating more fair and equitable employment practices. Learning objectives:1. Create conversation regarding interaction with bereaved employees, including information sharing. 2. Discuss training and policy options for companies to better serve bereaved employees.3. Classify and explain best practices in creating compassionate workplaces. For more information and to register, click here  April Business After Hours 2025 – Pawn Run Bar & KitchenThe Chamber is pleased to announce that Pawn Run Bar & Kitchen will be hosting our April Business After Hours on Thursday, April 10th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Nestled in the mountains and off the beaten path; Pawn Run’s vision of a laid back, outdoorsy environment to enjoy craft cocktails, craft beer, wine and signature small plates has come to life. No matter the season, whether you are coming by car, bike or snowmobile – they are happy to have you! They love this land and the roots they have planted along the way. The owners of Pawn Run were presented with an opportunity to revitalize and protect the business and that is just what they did. Their passion for the history of the building has been the driving force behind their mission to keep the good times rolling for the community in this small corner of Maryland! Enjoy delicious food and drinks as you mingle with fellow Chamber members and Chamber staff at our monthly networking events. Don’t forget your business card to enter to win prizes. $10.00 in advance for members$15.00 for members at the door and non-membersTo register, click here.  Vote in the 2025 Board of Directors Election!Please be advised that official ballots for the 2025 Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors election are in the mail and will be delivered to all primary representatives of in-county Chamber members. The Chamber is governed by a 15-member volunteer Board of Directors and 1/3 of Board is up for re-election each year. Primary representatives of in-county members will receive a Board ballot, bio, and a return envelope. Please review the candidates, select five, and have your ballot delivered to Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, 15 Visitors Center Drive, McHenry, MD 21541 no later than April 9, 2025. New Board members and officers will be announced at the Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Cross Ireland Off Your Bucket List With Our 2026 “Shades of Ireland” Chamber TripThe Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an exciting new bucket list trip! We are partnering with the award-winning travel agency, Collette, to offer “Shades of Ireland” March 22-31, 2026. We will be holding a special Trip Preview Presentation on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, to give prospective travelers a taste of what’s in store during this life-changing tour and answer any questions you may have regarding the process, itinerary, and the lauded Collette Difference. Click here to download the “Shades of Ireland” flyer. Click here to register for the Preview Presentation.  Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Autumn Glory RoyaltyPlease help spread the word that the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is inviting all those Garrett County students currently in their junior year of high school to submit an Autumn Glory Royalty application for consideration. We will be choosing a King and a Queen to represent the 58th Annual Autumn Glory Festival at a variety of events throughout the summer and fall of 2025. Both the King and Queen will receive an educational contribution. As part of the application, you are required to submit a 300-word essay on why you think you should be selected to be part of the Royalty Court. In an effort to give all qualifying students a chance to become Autumn Glory Royalty we have eliminated the application fee. Interviews will be conducted by appointment in May and we hope to complete the process by June 1. Please click here to download the application. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Sharps at nick@garrettchamber.com or call (301) 387-8745. Help Address Your Workforce Issues with the Updated Work Ethic Diploma Program!After 5 successful years we feel it is time to make some changes to the Work Ethic Diploma (WED) Program to keep the it relevant and take it to the next level. The concept of the program was originally put forward to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce by employers who felt students were not learning the soft skills necessary to become productive members of the workforce.With the input of area educators, business leaders, and post-secondary representatives, we developed standards to evaluate the work ethic of our students. These standards are not being changed. Based on feedback from employers participating in the program and discussions with our stakeholders we have decided to replace the hourly pay incentive with a more tangible sign-on bonus to be rewarded after a qualifying length of employment. Another exciting change we are implementing is a Worth Ethic Diploma Reception that will recognize and celebrate students receiving the honor and our business partners participating in the program. This will be a great opportunity for you to network and recruit prospects. More details on this event will follow. Whether you are a current WED partner or looking to join the program, we ask that you please review and sign the new form and return it to holly@garrettchamber.com or 15 Visitors Center Drive, McHenry, MD 21541. You can also click here for the criteria and business commitment form updated with changes highlighted for your convenience. We appreciate your participation and look forward to working with you to grow and enhance the Work Ethic Diploma Program to better meet Garrett County’s workforce challenges.  Office Depot – April Monthly SpecialsThis April, enjoy members-only exclusive specials with discounts of up to 84% off folders, desk accessories, sticky notes, and more. Take advantage of these monthly specials when you shop online for office, school, and home essentials at ODP Business Solutions. Click here to view the April 2025 Monthly Specials. Click here for more information on the program and to register. |
