Since blood has a shelf life of 42 days, donors will help patients throughout the most challenging time of the year to maintain our state’s blood supply. At the time of year when Arizona’s patient population is at its highest, blood donations are at the lowest. “We hope to encourage more blood donations while people are focused on the spirit of giving,” said Audrey Jennings, Executive Director for United Blood Services/Arizona. “The gift of life is the most important gift of all and doesn’t cost anything, except a little of your time.”

Visit www.BloodHero.com (sponsor code: see list below) to schedule your life saving appointment at an East Valley blood drive. You can also call 1-877-UBS-HERO (1-877-827-4376) toll free. All Dec. 18 – Jan 14 Donors will be thanked with a voucher for a ticket to the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf Tournament.

Tuesday, December 27
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center 7:30am-3:30pm sponsor code: mercygilbert
Chandler Regional Medical Center 7:30am-3:30pm sponsor code: blooddrive
Banner Gateway Medical Center and MD Anderson 9am-1:30pm sponsor code: bgmc

Thursday, December 29
Town of Gilbert 830-11am 50 E Civic Center 130 -330pm 75 E Civic Center sponsor code: gilbert
Gilbert Hospital 7am-11am sponsor code: gilberter
Banner Ironwood Medical Center 10am-2pm sponsor code: bannerironwood

Join Sunrise of Gilbert as we celebrate 30 years of Sunrise with an Ollie the Trolley Holiday Lights Tour in appreciation of our valued professional partners.

5:00 PM – Pre-boarding delectables and holiday beverages will be served in our Terrace Club neighborhood.

5:30 PM – All aboard for an unforgettable tour of the best holiday lights in the East Valley.

A new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Gilbert Police Blue Line of Love Charity is your ticket aboard Ollie the Trolley for you and one adult guest.

Seating is limited to the first 60 guests. RSVP by December 12th!

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is looking for an outstanding woman in business and is asking for nominations to name a business woman of the year at the second annual Business Woman of the Year Award Luncheon, sponsored by SanTan Learning Center.

Nominations should highlight a business woman who is actively involved in the Gilbert Chamber and the community, has achieved excellence in her chosen field, and who has demonstrated leadership, resourcefulness and creativity in her career. Nominations will be reviewed and an honoree will be selected by the Chamber’s What Women Want…In Business event committee with final review by the Board of Directors.

The second annual Business Woman of the Year Award Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 24th at the Elegante Conference Center in Gilbert, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The special event will honor all nominees and award this year’s winner. In addition to title sponsor SanTan Learning Center, the event is supported by National Bank of Arizona and SRP.

The Business Woman of the Year nomination form can be found on the Chamber’s website, www.gilbertaz.com, or can be requested by e-mail to marty@gilbertchamber.com. For additional information, contact Marty at (480) 926-6003. All nominations must be received by Monday, November 28th.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations and representing more than 51,700 employees. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

The community will come together next week at a special networking fundraiser organized by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce to benefit youth needing assistance with tuition for programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert.

Last year, the event raised more than $2,000 for the community club. San Tan Ford will sponsor the event again this year and hopes to raise even more money.

“This organization holds a special place in my heart as much of my youth was spent in my hometown Boys & Girls Club,” said Tim Hovik, General Manager and Owner at San Tan Ford.

Hovik said he still shares many lasting friendships with members of his championship-winning Boys & Girls Club basketball team.

The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert, 44 N. Oak Street, in Gilbert. General admission is $35; chamber member admission is $25 at the door or $20 with pre-registration. Lunch will be provided by Chick-fil-A of San Tan Village.

Raffle tickets are on sale now at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce for the prize drawing of a 42-inch flat screen, high-definition television. Each entry is $20 and the winner will be drawn and announced at the luncheon, although ticket holders need not be present to win. All proceeds of the raffle with directly benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert.

To register for the event or for more information, contact the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce at (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com. Raffle tickets may be purchased in-person at 119 N. Gilbert Road, Ste. 101, in Gilbert.

Additional event sponsors include International Minute Press of Gilbert and Newman Realty.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations and representing more than 51,700 employees. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

Elements of Fiction Writing 64650
Saturdays, 10/22-11/19.
12:30-2:30 PM.
$50. $10 copy fee paid to instructor.
Southeast Regional Library
775 North Greenfield Road (corner of Guadalupe and Greenfield)
Gilbert, AZ.
Registration: 480-503-6200.

Romance Writing Workshop 64653
Saturdays, 10/22-11/19.
10:00-12:00 PM.
$50. $10 copy fee paid to instructor.
Southeast Regional Library
775 North Greenfield Road (corner of Guadalupe and Greenfield)
Gilbert, AZ.
Registration: 480-503-6200.

The Instructor:
Marilyn June Janson, M.S., Ed.
Author and Instructor
Janson Literary Services, Inc.
Editing, Manuscript Analyses, Proofreading, Copywriting, and Advertising Services.

Contact Ms. Janson @ 480-699-6389 for tutoring, guest speaking engagements, and author visits. Log on to Ms. Janson’s website @ www.janwrite.com

Come and enjoy a wonderful night under the stars with your family and friends. The BBQ will be held at the Gilbert High School East Patio. Tickets: $7 presale $8 at the door.

“What we found is a fine slate of candidates running for Council this year,” said JW Rayhons, Chairman of the Board. “Each candidate brings their own unique strengths that would benefit our community; which makes it extremely difficult to endorse one over another. We are confident though that we could work with any of the candidates to strengthen the business community in Gilbert.”

After considerable evaluation and discussion, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce endorses the following candidates (in alphabetical order) for Town Council: Linda Abbott, Ben Cooper, Dave Crozier, and Les Presmyk.

In determining candidates for endorsement, the Chamber requested responses to a questionnaire from each candidate, participation in a formal candidate forum, and individual personal interviews. More than 100 members actively participated in the Chamber’s process which included an electronic survey regarding each of the candidates. All information was compiled by the public policy committee and Board of Directors to determine which candidates would bring the expertise in understanding business issues, provide long-term strategic visioning and implementation policies, as well as, support the growth and attraction of successful businesses in our community.

The Chamber’s website at www.gilbertaz.com (under business advocacy) provides all of the candidate’s questionnaires as well as video from the candidate forum.

Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

For more stories like this, please visit: NEARBY NEWS

Each child will receive a laminated photo ID card and CD with photo, digital fingerprints, video, voice recording, and child safety tips.

Registration is required. Appointment times must be made by calling 480-635-7521 or 480-635-7520 or 480-635-7522.
This program is sponsored by the Arizona Crime Prevention Association, Inc., Target, Pediatric Dental Specialists

Should it be needed, this information provides the necessary information for Police Departments and the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce will again feature business referral strategist Victoria Trafton as she presents Referral Institute, a series to help businesses significantly increase their referrals and change their networking model.

“Chamber members have found a real value in Victoria’s teachings,” said Kathy Tilque, president and CEO of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. “It is becoming increasingly obvious which of our members are putting her strategies into practice as their networking tactics have really transformed.”

According to Tilque, the last two workshops have drawn more than 100 attendees.

This workshop will build on concepts to Strengthening a Referral Network and is sponsored by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Gilbert Insurance Group, Maddy’s Pool Supply & Service, MAX Solutions, PLLC, Rayhons Financial Solutions, and The I.T. Workshop.

Referral Institute will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at Val Vista Lakes Meeting & Banquet Facility, 1600 E. Lakeside Dr in Gilbert. Registration and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the program will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Chamber member admission is $10 and includes breakfast. Non members must pre-register by calling (480) 926-6003.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations and representing more than 47,000 employees. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

Local businesses and members of the community will come together this month for A Chance To Give, a unique networking event organized by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce to benefit youth needing assistance with tuition for programs at the Gilbert Boys & Girls Club.

Sponsored by San Tan Ford, this special networking event will give attendees an opportunity to make monetary donations and learn more about how the Boys & Girls Club services our community.

“The children, teens, and ultimately the young adults that find joy, friendship, challenges, and opportunity for growth through their activities at the Boys and Girls Club of Gilbert will be the very same adults to give back to their community in the future,” said Jeff Mundt, fleet director at San Tan Ford. “Their fond memories of the gifts and benefits they receive from membership in the club will motivate them to care for and help the community of Gilbert grow will into its future.”

A Chance to Give will be held on Wednesday, December 15th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Gilbert Boys & Girls Club, 44 N. Oak Street, in Gilbert. General admission is $25; chamber member admission is $5. Register online at www.gilbertaz.com or by calling (480) 892-0056.

In addition to the event, San Tan Ford and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce are selling raffle tickets to benefit the Boys & Girls Club and will raffle off a Vizio 47” LCD television.

“We want to sell as many raffle tickets as possible so we can make a very significant contribution to the operating fund of the club,” Mundt said. “Our proceeds will provide needed income to cover the expenses of membership for underprivileged children.”

Raffle tickets are available for purchase at San Tan Ford, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and through Chamber Leads Clubs. Each ticket is $20 and the winning ticket will be announced at the event, although ticket holders need not be present to win. Cash or check only, no credit cards.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.