Restaurant Rally 2010The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors ... HR 267Most major changes from the bill went into effect February ... Michigan Smokefree Air Law InformationThe Dr. Ron Davis Smokefree Act was signed into law ...
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Restaurant Rally 2010

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors invite you to support local business and spend a night on the town. For only $10 you receive hours of great food, free transportation and show support to local Jackson businesses.

The 4th Annual Restaurant Rally will take place on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6pm to 9pm.

Each restaurant will offer samples of signature and popular menu items and drink specials. Guests may start at any restaurant.

Free parking for this event is available at Cascades Manor House. Shuttle buses are provided by Jackson Public Schools.

Participating Restaurants include: Cascades Manor House, Ground Round, Night Light, Culver's, New Country China Buffet, Wildwood Cafe ,Bella Notte Ristorante, The Crazy Cowboy, Buffalo BBQ Wings, Airport Restaurant & Spirits and more

Buttons must be purchased in advance $10, available at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce office (141 S. Jackson Street, 49201) or at Jackson County Chamber of Commerce events.

To download the menu and map Click Here

For more information contact the Chamber office 517/782-8221

HR 267

Most major changes from the bill went into effect February 22, 2010. Here are the major changes:

1. Credit card companies have to give notice 45 days before they increase interest rates, change certain fees, or change conditions.

2. If credit card companies make major changes, they must give you the option to cancel the card before those fee increases take effect.

3. Companies have to tell you how long it will take to pay off your balance if you only make minimum payments and how much you need to pay to pay off your balance in three years.

4. New credit cards may not increase their interest rates for the first 12 months.

5. If a credit card company raises interest rates, the new rate only applies to new charges. Existing balances will keep the old interest rate.

6. Consumers can choose whether they want to allow transactions that take you over your credit limit. If a consumer opts-in, they can be charged one fee per billing cycle.

7. Credit card companies cannot charge you certain fees (such as an annual fee or application fee) that total more than 25% of the initial credit limit.

8. Consumers under 21 must be able to prove that they can make payments. They can also open an account with a cosigner. (If the credit card company wants to raise the credit limit, the cosigner must agree in writing to the increase.)

9. Credit Card companies must mail or deliver the credit card bill at least 21 days before payment is due. The due date should be the same each month and payments must be processed until at least 5 p.m. on that day.

10. When consumers pay their credit card balances, those payments will be applied to the highest interest balance first.

11. Credit card companies will not be able to impose interest charges from previous balances in the current billing cycle. (Puts an end to double-cycle billing.)

Michigan Smokefree Air Law Information

The Dr. Ron Davis Smokefree Act was signed into law on December 18, 2009 and will go into effect on May 1, 2010.

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw or call 866-59-SMOKE

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does the smokefree law cover?
The law will cover any workplace and any food service establishment. A workplace is a site employing at least one person. A food service establishment is any place with license to serve food or beverages. This includes any public place - restaurants, bars, shopping malls, bowling alleys, concert halls, arenas, museums, mechanic shops, health facilities, nursing homes, education facilities and child care centers.

Does this include restaurant patios?
Yes, these outdoor areas where food and beverage may be served will be smokefree. This includes patios at bars and restaurants.

What about VFW halls or other private clubs?
They will be smokefree. Any establishment that serves food and drink - which requires a license - can not allow smoking, even if it only serves once a week or once a year. If they don't serve food and drink, but employ at least one person, they must be smokefree.

What about casinos?
The only place you can smoke in a casino is on the gaming floors of Detroit's three casinos. Every bar, restaurant, hotel room, conference room and lobby outside the gaming space will be smokefree. State law does not govern Native American land, so smoking may be allowed at tribal casinos.

What about cigar bars and tobacco shops?
Smoking may be allowed at existing cigar bars that have a humidor and derive at least 10 percent of their revenue from cigar sales.

Also, smoking may be allowed at tobacco specialty shops with 75 percent of sales coming from tobacco products. Tobacco shops cannot serve food or drink.

What about hookah bars?
Hookah bars can operate as tobacco specialty shops, but they cannot serve food or drink.

What happens if smoking is occurring?
If someone is smoking, the owner or manager is required to ask them to stop. If they don't, the owner or manager is required to deny service and ask the smoking patron to leave. If they still don't stop, police could be called.

What happens if an establishment is allowing smoking?
If a bar or restaurant is allowing smoking, the local health department can be asked to investigate. Then, it is handled in a similar fashion to any other health issue, like spoiled food.

If the establishment does not stop the smoking, the health department can shut them down.

Is there a penalty?
The fine for smoking in a smokefree establishment will be $100 for the first offense and up to $500 for subsequent violations. The restaurant, bar, worksite and/or smoking patron/employee can be fined.

We're Better Together Open House

Open House
Wednesday, February 24
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Bella Notte Ristorante
137 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI

Light food and refreshments will be available

Please RSVP to Sheila Troxel at 517-841-4121 or stroxel@cpfederal.com.

Spurred on by a vision from Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth, We're Better Together is a nonprofit, all-volunteer initiative based on increasing our level of engagement with the people and organizations in our community. It's the clubs we belong to and the committees we serve on. It's helping out in your child's classroom, volunteering at Relay for Life, collecting donations for a charity, and much more.

The goal of We're Better Together is to generate more citizen involvement and energy in all of our schools, nonprofit organizations, local governments, companies, civic organizations and neighborhoods.

Restaurant Rally 2010

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors invite you to support local business and spend a night on the town. For only $10 you receive hours of great food, free transportation and show support to local Jackson businesses.

The 4th Annual Restaurant Rally will take place on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6pm to 9pm.

Each restaurant will offer samples of signature and popular menu items and drink specials. Guests may start at any restaurant.

Free parking for this event is available at Cascades Manor House. Shuttle buses are provided by Jackson Public Schools.

Participating Restaurants include: Cascades Manor House, Ground Round, Night Light, Culver's, New Country China Buffet, Wildwood Cafe ,Bella Notte Ristorante, The Crazy Cowboy, Buffalo BBQ Wings, Airport Restaurant & Spirits and more

Buttons must be purchased in advance $10, available at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce office (141 S. Jackson Street, 49201) or at Jackson County Chamber of Commerce events.

For more information contact the Chamber office 517/782-8221

Guerilla Marketing

Demystifying the Social Web

Start the New Year off right by learning to market your small
business by leveraging free technology through popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Qik, Shoutlet, WordPress and other Internet tools.

Part 1: February 5th/ 9-10:30 am is an overview. Class size is limited to 45. Cost is $10
Registration is currently closed, however names are being taken for a waiting list.

Part 2: February 17, 2010/ is the Hands On portion. There will be two separate classes on this date. BASICS: 9 am - Noon ADVANCED Class: 1 - 4 pm. Class sizes limited to 50. Cost is $10 for each.

For more information, on this website, go to Events/Educational Opportunities.

Vote for the Chamber/CVB Christmas Tree

Vote for the Chamber/Convention & Visitors Bureau Christmas Tree at the Michigan Theatre.

The trees will be on display following the downtown holiday parade the evening of Friday, November 20th until Monday, December 28. $1 = 1 vote

To view a picture of the Christmas tree,
click here.

SAU iGNITE Scholarship

To view information on Spring Arbor University's iGNITE Scholarship,
click here.

City of Jackson Candidate Answers

View the City of Jackson candidate answers to key issues impacting your business.
click here.

Business Questions and Answers About 2009 Flu Season

To download the Business Questions and Answers about the 2009 Flu Season,
Click Here.

To download the Quick Reference for Businesses and Employers
2009-2010 Influenza Season Planning and Response,
Click Here.

To download the Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza,
Click Here.

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