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  Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce

ubcc BLOG

UBCC Blog: Committees Matter

7/24/2019

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​BY MELINDA RIZZO
Volunteering makes you feel good!!

There’s science behind it. Doing something for someone else triggers oxytocin,  the ‘feel good’ chemical in the brain essential to bonding and dopamine, the ‘motivational’ brain chemical that gives us that ‘get up and go’ feeling.

Did you know UBCC relies on its volunteers to further its mission of support to the business community we serve?

Without them, we would not have the Foodie. Or our annual Golf Classic in June and fall Clay Shoot outings. Our networking events wouldn’t be possible without businesses willing to host members for mix and mingle evenings.

“Member volunteers are critical to service – they are ambassadors who offer face-to-face networking,” said Joseph G. “Joe” Wingert, UBCC board president and publisher of Bucks County Herald.

Real time interactions – and those ‘feel good’ feelings are “…something the Internet cannot duplicate,” Wingert added.
Who doesn’t want to join a group that’s doing great work?

Members, whether they volunteer or not for a specific committee like Membership or Government Affairs and Public Policy can still be active by sharing the word about the UBCC to others.

Share the good work, too UBCC does during your lunch break, at business meetings or with colleagues around the office and around town.

Invite a future member – someone you’d love to see involved, to the next chamber mixer, the first time is on the house.

“UBCC committee members are our chamber champions!  They serve…as our enthusiastic leaders who assist the chamber in the mission and vision for the Upper Bucks region,” said Danielle Bodnar, UBCC executive director.

Committees like Membership meet monthly. 

Others are seasonal, like Foodie, Golf and Clay Shoot.

“The volunteers on the Foodie Committee work hard to make the event not only successful but fun. Without the volunteers we could not hold the event,” said Leanna Knight, vice president at Warren Weiss Agency.

She said the committee’s diverse make-up brings essentials skills to the table to make the Foodie Upper Bucks County’s premiere food and drink tasting event.

What’s more, Foodie proceeds benefit Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), a summer entrepreneurial camp for high school juniors and seniors.

That’s something to feel really good about.

“I love PFEW’s approach to giving them experience on what running a business is really like.  The Foodie helps send local kids to get the experience,” Knight said.

Bodnar said chamber volunteering causes a ripple effect of goodwill that’s hard to replicate any other way.

“Our members are thinkers and doers, out in the business community. They’re helping the chamber make the connections or ‘bridges’ so vital to the supportive and positive business climate here,” Bodnar said.

For those of us who have received so very much, giving back is the right thing to do.

“As a community member and a parent I think it is important, to not only give back, but show my kids the importance of giving back,” Knight said.

For more information on UBCC Committees email info@ubcc.org or call the office at 215.536.3211.
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UBCC Blog: Stand Up, Be Counted on Census Day - April 1, 2020

7/10/2019

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BY MELINDA RIZZO
Picture
Let’s debunk some Census taking myths!
​

#1 It’s voluntary, so I don’t have to do this. Participation isn’t voluntary, it’s required by law. “Three out of four individuals thought it was voluntary, according to the 2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes and Motivators Study,” Bodnar said. And prompt responses save money, too. Voluntary participation costs about 47 cents. When a Census Enumerator comes knocking at the door the cost spikes to about $57, Bodnar explained.

#2 My confidential information won’t be kept confidential. Under the law Census Bureau data is only used in the aggregate – or on the context of the whole for data reporting purposes. Individual responses aren’t singled out. Because individual data is protected under the law it can’t legally be shared for any other purpose.

#3 My information will be used against me. This is a big worry for roughly 25 percent of people responding to the survey, and again it’s not true. Under Title 13, it is against the law to share any personal data collected by the Census with law enforcement or immigration officials. What’s more, Title 13 prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing an individual’s personal information with any other government agency.  Period.

The 2020 Census will be easier than ever because respondents may answer questions for the first time either online, by phone or by mail.

Did you know there’s more than $675 billion in federal funds available for distribution to states and local communities, and the Census is used to determine who gets the money.

It’s a daunting task for those doing the counting.

Conducted once every 10 years (it’s a decennial!), census taking is the federal government’s best method of accurately counting population and gathering demographic and economic data.

“UBCC will be coordinating with Census 2020 because this data guides local decision-makers and important community planning,” said Danielle Bodnar, Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce executive director. 
 
Census data helps officials track trends and forecast needs. It’s used to guide transportation, infrastructure, locations for health care facilities and hospitals, retirement and nursing care facilities, and anticipated housing growth.

That means the data is important to, and for, everyone. From local government and educators to business and entrepreneurs, housing and retail developers and those concerned with infrastructure like roadways, thoroughfares and public transportation accessibility.

What’s more, Census data helps forecasters and business owners and managers understand labor markets.

“Businesses need statistical information to make business decisions like open another shop, research to know where their customer base is, and if there is enough population that could support a new shop, etc.,” said Adela Moraux, Philadelphia Regional Census Center partnership specialist.

The number of Congressional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives is directly tied to Census population numbers, as are voting district lines.

“These things all improve our region, and they also determine boundaries for our legislative districts,” Bodnar noted.

Census numbers help public safety planners as well. Information gathered during the census helps to identify areas which are prone or may become so, during natural disasters.
​
Census invitations will be arriving by mail in March.  The invitation provides details for responding.  The optimal time to answer is during March and April to avoid enumerators knocking on your door, asking you to complete the questionnaire. Operations end in September, 2020.
 
“Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce is supporting the Census of 2020 and you should, too,” Bodnar said. 
 
The optimal time to response to census questionnaires will be from February through June, 2020, with operations ending in September, 2020.
 
Those who don’t respond to outreach via phone or online will see Census enumerators at their doors beginning in May, Moraux said.
 
“Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce is supporting the Census of 2020 and you should, too,” Bodnar said. 
 
“We’ll be helping to dispel myths and share correct information with our members to ensure they know the Census Bureau protects their response,” Bodnar said. 
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