Paul Szmal: Good morning 837, FLX Morning Thursday, it's Chamber Thursday and joining us in studio each month from the FLX Chamber of Commerce, flxchamber.com, Tara Silvey, good morning.
Tara Sauve: Morning Todd, thank you. It's always good to have you here and you had a great harvest celebration at Lincoln Hill, way over 100 people and tell us all about it, I saw there's some pictures on Facebook.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, we had the record breaking number of 160 people, so most people who have ever attended, it was, we had a band from Brett Bond and his band, we had goats there with our famous photo booth and our harvest raffle and silent auction, so we got to highlight some of our members and it was just a great celebration and a great location as well, so we're really happy with all of our sponsors and the turnout and everyone that came out, so yes, it was great.
Tara Sauve: They really know how to plan, I saw that, you know, there's a big tent, so I think there wasn't any weather issue, was there? But if there had been, you've recovered.
Paul Szmal: Yep, it turned out to be a nice day, we were in the wedding tent over at Lincoln Hill Farms, so it was a great location and people love it and some people who've never been there before got to experience it, so that was great too, kind of bringing it up to different locations that we've had harvest, but it's been at Lincoln Hill Farms for the past three years now.
Tara Sauve: And you're saying that you might have booked a wedding or two there from attendees?
Paul Szmal: Yeah, yeah, some people showing up said, hey, this might be a good spot for my daughter's wedding, so we're happy to make that connection as well for them, so hopefully that works out for them.
Tara Sauve: A couple of years ago, I did a podcast with one of the people from there and then they took me around on the golf cart and did the whole tour, I mean, it's so well thought out because, for example, the wedding, they've got the big tent with a big dance floor so you can have your reception there, but then they also have, there's a little tent, there's a bride preparation area where she can get all made up and everything without having to go a long way and it's just, they thought of everything.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, the layout there is perfect, it's a great location and not too far.
Tara Sauve: So that was on Wednesday, September 25th, next, well, before we talk about the next mixer, we'll talk about the last one, which was at the Guerin Center for the Performing Arts at HWS, a fairly recent addition to campus and a beautiful spot.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, so we didn't have a mixer in September because of our harvest celebration, so we jumped right back into it in October, so we're very happy and thankful that Hobart and William Smith Colleges were able to host at one of their newer buildings and then people kind of got to have the opportunity to learn about some of the different programs that they have going on that maybe people didn't know about. So they, it was an awesome mixer, we had a great attendance and then people got to kind of experience the new building and then learn a little bit more about their programs that they have to offer.
Tara Sauve: It's a good chance to do a little town and gown information there because if you're not part of, I mean, I do sports there, so I'm on campus a lot and, you know, I know a lot of the faculty and the athletic people and everything, but for people in town that don't, it's a great chance to be reminded of the resource that HWS is in the city of Geneva.
Paul Szmal: Yep, yep. So that was a great mixer, we're thankful for them. We've had our annual dinner there in 2019, so we were in a different building then, so it's kind of nice to take people to a different location, maybe that they haven't been there yet on campus.
Tara Sauve: All right, so the next one, don't dawdle, get your tickets, these are going fast. It's on the train, Finger Lakes Railway train ride on Wednesday, November 15th, you'll get on board at 445, right near the Public Safety Building in Geneva, it's about a half hour ride out to Clifton Springs. Have you ever done it?
Paul Szmal: I have not, no.
Tara Sauve: Oh, it's beautiful. I did it the other way, from Clifton Springs to Geneva and back several years ago, but it's just those train cars, they're so luxurious, the ride is so nice. It's funny, because you're not far from any of the highways or anything, but it's like you're in your own little world, and there'll still be plenty of callers around, I think, at that time, that's going to be fun.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, so it's going to be from 4 to 6, so if people don't want to get on the train ride but want to just come and check it out, and just get on for a second to see what it looks like inside, you're able to do that. Then we'll start boarding around 445, leave by 5, half an hour there and then a half an hour back. So we're really excited for this one.
Tara Sauve: Yeah, that ride is just really beautiful, and I'll do another shout out, because they are the ones who host our Rotary Santa Train, which is the first Saturday in December, and they just really go overboard. Everybody at the railway works really hard to make sure it's a great experience, so I know they'll do the same on Wednesday, November 13th for the Rolling Business After Hours.
Paul Szmal: Now the December Holiday Mixer is going to be at the Chamber, and it's an opportunity for people to get professional headshots done.
Tara Sauve: Yeah, so this one is kind of a change in location, but it's going to be at our office in our 1 Franklin Square building. So yes, we are going to have a professional photographer there that if you don't have a headshot in need of one, this is a perfect opportunity to do so. So more details will be released soon, so people can kind of schedule accordingly when they want to show up to get their headshot done, and then they can stay for the Holiday Mixer. So we're excited for this one, and it's going to be a week, we're pushing it a week back, so it'll be on Wednesday, December 18th.
Paul Szmal: Okay, and then the Lunch & Learn, these series are great because it's a chance to just bring your bag lunch with you and learn a topic that's of importance to everybody. This one is Thursday, November 21st, it's Everyday Financial Planning, it's part three of the series, with Adam Rayburn from Edward Jones. So just a great chance, nothing fancy, just all the ducks in a row and all the ABCs that you might not have thought of.
Tara Sauve: Yeah, we're thankful that Adam Rayburn of Edward Jones is able to host this class, and this is going to be the last one. But we've had a great turnout for the first two, and it's a great chance just to ask him questions, maybe that you've been thinking of, but don't know what the right direction is, he'll be able to answer that, and then he kind of goes over some tips and tricks on what you should do. So the flyer is also on our website, so if you're interested, sign up now so we can get you on the list.
Paul Szmal: And the perfect thing about our Lunch & Learns, they're on Zoom, or you can come in person and have pizza and have lunch with us too. So it's a great option.
Tara Sauve: The first time we did this, we did it with our website designer Mark Dominguez out of Buffalo, and that was popular, Adam doing financial planning, and so that's great. So if people have other ideas of our members that want to learn something, maybe we'll put that on the list for upcoming Lunch & Learns, but it's been a popular program, so we're happy to offer this.
Paul Szmal: Now I talked about this in our last segment with Amy Fuller from Cuca County, remind us about the networking opportunities that Chamber Membership brings with the Harvest Celebration and the Business After Hours and all the events.
Tara Sauve: It's a great chance to get quickly known if you're new in the community, or like I say, you never know when you're going to have that chance encounter with somebody that you can do business with, either as a vendor or as a provider.
Paul Szmal: Exactly. So we're all about trying to make the connections where we can. So with Adam and just kind of meeting some of our members and local businesses throughout the Finger Lakes area, we were able to connect them and get them together. So if someone needs help in something or they don't have a financial advisor, they were able to talk to Adam and get that started, and same with Mark Dominguez. If people need help with their website or they need to rebrand or anything, Mark is there to help them. So he's made some great connections as well from some of our customers. So even though we host the Business After Hours, it's still great to get involved with some of these other programs and events because you never know who you're going to meet. And maybe down the road, you'll be like, oh wait, I know this person. And so it's funny how some of these connections get made.
Tara Sauve: Now you've really been working hard, especially since the change in approach and name to FFLEX Area Chamber of Commerce, to go, okay, what can we do that's one step better for our members? So you came up with the Annual Partners Program. Remind us how that works and then shout outs to your 2024 partners.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, so we are in the process of getting ready for the 2025 Annual Partners, it's hard to believe. But this program, you're included in all of our events and promotion materials throughout the year. So you're even listed on our website on the homepage. So your logo is listed right there in all of our newsletters, press releases. So you're a big part of everything that we do on a yearly basis. And then you also get some extra advertising out of it. And then you're included in the golf tournament and harvest celebration. So you are signed up basically throughout the year, and then you're involved in everything and we don't have to worry about that. And then you get the bonus of the advertising.
Tara Sauve: By the way, I don't want to circle back around because I forgot to mention this at the end of the upcoming Business After Hours, that the 2025 calendar is coming out soon and the new season pass program and you've got some new locations you haven't been to before coming up in 2025. So remind everybody what you get with that season pass.
Paul Szmal: Yep, so the season pass is similar, once you purchase the pass, you can get into all the business after hours. And the great thing with that is you get five extra guest passes. So if you want to bring a friend or a coworker to tag along with you, that is the perfect chance to do that. And then every year, the calendar, we try to break it up to different member businesses throughout the Finger Lakes and places that we haven't been before or kind of behind the scenes to learn about them. And then you try to get everyone together for the month and be able to network and just see each other in person is also great. So we're excited for that. So yes, we are busy planning for 2025 already with the Business After Hours schedule and annual partners. And then of course, the member milestone celebrations were created because the Business After Hours is so popular, they're booked up, you know, a year and a half in advance. So you've made it so businesses, and you don't really need a great excuse if you're celebrating an anniversary or you've expanded your product line or whatever it is you want to announce, you can host one of those celebrations and get in on the calendar.
Tara Sauve: Yep, that's been another popular program. And then we have two member milestones actually in the works, so probably December and January. So you'll see those on our Facebook page and in our upcoming newsletter and stuff like that to get those promoted for two of our member businesses.
Paul Szmal: FLXchamber.com is the website. Don't forget, Wednesday, November 13th, the Business After Hours on board the Finger Lakes Railway train. You do have to RSVP and there's limited seating and you're going to be kicking yourself if you miss that. So make sure you get on.
Tara Sauve: Tara, first off, congratulations on this year of membership. I know that's your big thing is membership and you've been just recruiting these members from all over the place, different locations and different types of businesses and new types of business that we don't maybe normally see as Chamber members.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, exactly. It's nice to see kind of the growth from the Finger Lakes region and just different industries that we've seen or be able to connect people with. And those logos of our new members are all on our homepage as well. So if you're interested in seeing those, but yes, we're very thankful for the growth that we've seen throughout the Finger Lakes, which is awesome.
Tara Sauve: All right. And I still haven't seen Miranda in like forever, but it's probably, it's as much my fault because when you had the Business After Hours here, that's when I was gone on vacation. Oh no. So I will make the effort to come to one of these events so I can say hi to Miranda.
Paul Szmal: Always good to say hi to you each month and thanks for coming in again.
Tara Sauve: Yes. Thank you, Todd. We appreciate it. FLXchamber.com. Tara Sovey is here this morning.
