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Attend DrillersFest this Saturday and see the new ONEOK Field
The Tulsa Drillers will host DrillersFest 2010 on Saturday, April 3 at ONEOK Field from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. DrillersFest gives fans the first opportunity to officially view the inside of the new downtown ballpark.
During DrillersFest, the ONEOK Field Ticket Office will be open for fans to purchase individual tickets to all 70 home games, including all 12 fireworks shows. Individual tickets for the annual Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will also be on sale for the Friday, May 7 match up at ONEOK Field.
In addition, fans will have their first chance to visit the Drillers new merchandise store, Black Gold Outfitters. The store has more than 2,000 square feet of shopping area and features a large selection of Drillers merchandise and apparel with the team's new royal blue color.
Hornsby's Hangout, a play area for kids, will be operating free of charge during Drillers Fest. The area features a Jupiter Jump, obstacle course, inflatable slide and skeeball. The TD Williamson Kid Zone playground in the outfield plaza will also provide entertainment for young fans.
Selected concession stands will be open and serving hot dogs, soft drinks and ice cream for only $1 each. Selected specialty stands will also be open offering items at discounted prices.
Fans unable to attend the activities can purchase tickets online at TulsaDrillers.com or by calling 918.744.5901.
ONEOK Field is located in the historic Greenwood District of downtown Tulsa. The Drillers will open ONEOK Field and the 2010 season on Thursday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Chamber names new executive director of Tulsa’s Young Professionals
Brian Paschal succeeds Chris Oden as leader of the best-practice organization
Tulsa’s Young Professionals announced the selection of Brian Paschal as its new executive director leading attraction and retention efforts of young professionals to the area. Paschal was chosen from a pool of more than 100 candidates and joined the organization today, March 29.
“Brian is a successful project manager who will bring a fresh perspective to the organization, and I am confident under his leadership, TYPros will continue to raise the bar as one of the nation’s leading young professionals groups,” said Matt Pivarnik, executive vice president of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and founder of TYPros.
Paschal formerly resided in Pasadena, Calif., with his wife and two children and was looking for an opportunity to “boomerang” back to the city where he grew up.
“Tulsa shaped me into the man I am today, and I will love nothing more than to give back to the community by helping young professionals realize they don’t have to leave home to achieve their dreams,” Paschal said. “TYPros members are dedicated to the organization and to furthering the city, and it is their dedication that motivates me to achieve big things with the organization.”
Paschal is a 1995 graduate of Memorial High School and graduated magna cum laude in 1999 from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in cinema-television critical studies and a minor in business administration. He has served in various roles at Hollywood studios, including his most recent position as head of development and production at The Hal Lieberman Company, which had a production deal with Sony Pictures.
“We have found a wonderful ambassador for the Tulsa community,” said Michael Christian, 2010 chairman of TYPros and assistant vice president of alternative investments at Bank of Oklahoma. “I am excited to work with him this year to further grow the organization and engage our members in impacting the city.”
SourceLink program experiences successful first month
Since its launch Feb. 22, the Chamber’s new entrepreneur referral program, SourceLink, has successfully connected area small and emerging businesses with resource partners offering a range of business-building services.
In the program’s first 30 days, nearly 800 visitors to the site have conducted more than 300 searches for area resource partners. Weekly, SourceLink’s online “Resource Navigator” has been utilized more than 50 times. Visitors to the site have also researched the list of area entrepreneurial classes, seminars and helpful links.
Services for entrepreneurs are free, and resource partners are able to participate at no cost. Click here to learn more about SourceLink.
TPS superintendent discusses opportunities, challenges at Chamber luncheon
More than 330 people attended the Chamber’s State of Education last week to hear from Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard on a variety of topics, including budget constraints and the recent passage of the $354 million school bond.
“In these very difficult times, Tulsa really stood up,” Ballard commented regarding the bond issue.
With the recent announcement that up to 225 TPS teachers could be let go via a new allocation plan, Ballard emphasized the separation of funds between the bond, which will be used for classroom and building upgrades and not personnel payroll. TPS lost $7 million is state-aided allocations this year, and Ballard anticipates an increased cut for the 2010-2011 school year.
Ballard also discussed school safety, teacher effectiveness, performance pay and the district’s new strategic plan. He thanked area universities for producing quality teachers and the Tulsa Metro Chamber for partnering with TPS on programs like Partners In Education and Oklahoma Scholars.
“Going forward, we will be focused on a very rigorous curriculum to ensure students are college-ready,” Ballard said. “We will overcome the adversity we face at TPS. I believe TPS has a bright shining future.”
Following Ballard’s keynote address, he introduced a video created by students at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School as part of a competition to have President Barack Obama speak at the winner’s graduation. Ballard praised the school’s students. Booker T. Washington’s video entry has been viewed more than 12,000 times on YouTube. Click here to view the video.
Chamber’s legislative site is a tool for political action
The Tulsa Metro Chamber's newest tool for legislative action, OneVoiceTulsa.com, is a Web site devoted to making the voice of the Tulsa region's business community heard by local, state and federal officials.
With the creation of the OneVoice legislative agenda each year, the Chamber strives to unite the regional business community in advocating issues of greatest benefit to the region with a collective, unified voice. This site is designed to complement those efforts as a resource center and advocacy tool for issues of importance to members of the business community.
Here you will find up-to-date news and information on policies, issues and positions impacting the Tulsa regional business community at the local, state and federal level. Weekly legislative updates distributed by the Chamber during the state legislative session will be accessible through the site as well. Additionally, the site will feature take-action alerts keeping you aware of critical time-sensitive issues affecting the business community and connecting you with your elected officials to make your voice heard.
The Tulsa Metro Chamber and our OneVoice partners encourage you to explore the site, utilize the resources and allow your voice to be heard.
Affordable insurance options for members
The Tulsa Metro Chamber is partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma to provide more affordable insurance to small businesses as a member benefit.
Chamber Choice is available to members with two to 50 employees.
Benefits include:
• No medical underwriting
• BlueOptions PPO
• Blue Optimize PPO (new this year)
• BlueLincs HMO
• Prescription drug coverage
• Network availability in all 50 states
• Dental coverage available
• Group Term Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and disability coverage available
• Qualified Insure Oklahoma health plans
Today, nearly 700 employers are enrolled in the Chamber Choice plan covering more than 4,000 individuals.
Click here to download the 2010 Chamber Choice brochure.
To find out more about Chamber Choice, contact your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma representative or call (918) 551-3385 or visit http://www.bcbsok.com/chamber_tulsa.html.
Save on office supplies as a member benefit
The newest members-only benefit provided by the Tulsa Metro Chamber is helping Chamber members save money on the office supplies they use every day to run a successful business.
A program entered into with Office Depot now allows Tulsa Metro Chamber members the opportunity to participate in the nation's largest office supply discount program.
It's simple.
Step 1: Sign up
Go to tulsachamber.com/officedepot and follow the link to the Office Depot portal to create a new account.
Benefits include:
• Access to private website for order placement
• Free next-day delivery of in-stock items for orders over $50
• In-store discounts
• Additional discounts based on order size
• No contract or sign-on fees
Step 2: Order supplies
Shop online or in the store to receive great savings on hundreds of supplies used every day.
Step 3: Save money
Besides deep discounts on a core products list, members will also receive:
• Up to 83 percent off 196 key items on your "Best Buy List"
• Up to 10 percent off retail pricing on general catalog items
• Up to 20 percent off technology items through Tech Depot
• Up to 20 percent off copy print items
• Up to 10 percent off promotional products
For questions regarding the sign up process or problems with your account, contact Bobby Bingham at 918.845.5845 or bobby.bingham@officedepot.com.
For more information about Chamber membership, contact Karen Humphrey at 918-560-0250 or karenhumphrey@tulsachamber.com.
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