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It’s an organization that has decades of experience in the thoughtful and strategic implementation of a strategy to improve the way business leaders improve their communication.

We’re talking about Toastmasters International and right here in Sarnia-Lambton there are several clubs to choose from if taking the next step in being a better communicator/presenter is one of your goals.

One of those clubs meets at the offices of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce every Thursday at noon and Julie Jenkins, broker of record and owner of EXIT Realty Twin Bridges Brokerage, would love to have you check out one of their gatherings.

“Members learn from each other in a fun and encouraging environment,” notes Jenkins. “Toastmasters has been one of the best things I have done for my career. It’s helped me to gain the self-confidence to succeed in business and I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve.”

Drop by any Thursday or contact Jenkins if you have further questions. She can be reached by email or by phone at (519) 328-4963.

The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce will convene its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, to take place at the St. Clair Corporate Centre, 265 Front St. N., Sarnia, Ontario.

Networking begins at 6 p.m. and the formal business portion of the event follows at 7 p.m.

All members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce are hereby invited to attend this event, which will include the nomination and swearing in of members of the Board of Directors.

A guest speaker—Liwordson Vijayabalan, CEO of TMRRW Inc., a creative agency based in Sarnia (and Chamber member)—will be featured at this year’s AGM.

The following documents may be accessed by members prior to the AGM:

2019 AGM Agenda

AGM minutes Feb 28 2018

2019 AGM proposed slate of directors

Daniela Oana, a teacher/coach at St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Sarnia, is part of a team that is hosting the 2019 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Boys’ AAA Soccer Champi0nship this June.

Daniela is reaching out to Chamber members with an unusual but not quite unique request: she is seeking promotional items that could be included in “Welcome” packages for some 20 teams that will be visiting Sarnia-Lambton from across Ontario.

The three-day event will be held at Lambton College and the Sarnia Girls’ Soccer Fields.

Anyone interested in discussing this opportunity further can reach out to Daniela directly by email (daniela.oana@sccdsb.net).

Trying to save money on your industrial energy bill? You’ll want to attend a half-day seminar next Monday, February 25 to find out details of a federal grants program.

The event, which is FREE to attend for Chamber members, takes place at the Best Western Guildwood Inn, beginning at 8 a.m.

Jim Moran, president of Simplify ISO, is working with representatives of Natural Resources Canada to present information on financial assistance for energy management projects.

There will also be representatives of registrars who will help explain the process of achieving the ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems standard.

Simplify ISO is sponsoring this event, which is being offered free of charge to members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

The ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard is an internationally recognized voluntary standard that gives organizations a structured framework to manage energy.

Organizations that have implemented ISO 50001 have reduced energy costs and increased competitiveness while minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts. According to Natural Resources Canada, industrial companies that have implemented ISO 50001 have achieved an average cumulative energy performance improvement of nearly 10% within the first two years, resulting in up to $2 million in annual energy cost savings for large Canadian companies.

Members interested in knowing more about this seminar can REGISTER (the event is FREE) to indicate their interest. Attendees coming from outside the area should indicate to the staff at the Best Western Guildwood they are attending the February 25 seminar for a special rate.

Businesses who host the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce Business After 5, a monthly event that attracts hundreds of members and guests to the hosting business, know that it is  a proven method of generating buzz in the community.

With a history of creating memorable networking experiences, it could very well just be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Gail Ann Bondar, manager of Member Engagement & Services, would be pleased to discuss how a Business After 5 sponsorship in 2019 would work for your company.

“Business After 5 are one of the Chamber’s most powerful networking events,” said Gail Ann. She can be reached by phone (519) 336-2400 or email.

A new monthly “casual drop-in” event is being organized by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce as part of a strategy to better connect with members, says Gail Ann Bondar, manager of Member Engagement & Services.

The first “Touch Base Tuesday” will take place on March 5. Members (both prospective and current) are invited to drop by anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for this informal connection, an opportunity to put “a face to the names” of people who are committed to making the Chamber experience an even better one.

There will be coffee and treats, but even more important, a chance to connect on a one-on-one basis.

We hope you keep “Touch Base Tuesday” (starting Tuesday, March 5) in mind as you’re “out and about.”