Spencer County Chamber Blog

Friday the 13th - Is it more than just a movie?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:11:00 GMT

Ok, we've all seen the Friday the 13th slasher movies, but is there more to it than just a franchise of movies.

Here is what I found out about FRIDAY, THE 13

According to the 1925 book

Popular Superstitions

, fear of the number 13 is so widespread around the world that "it seems clear that, to the primitive mind of early Man, [13] had no real meaning--he stopped at 12. So persistent are these old instincts that, even today, we stop at `Twelve Times Twelve' in our school multiplication triplication tables, though there is absolutely no reason whatever why we should do so."

According to this theory, since 13 represented the unknown to primitive people, it was "dangerous."

According to David Emery of

About.com

, 13-phobia may have come from the Hindus, who apparently believed it was always unlucky for 13 people to gather in one place. A version of the same superstition also from the Vikings: Twelve gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla. Loki, the Evil One, god of mischief, had been excluded from the guest list but crashed the party, bringing the total to 13. Loki then proceeded to incite Hod, the blind god of winter, to attack Balder the Good, who was a favorite of the gods. Hod took a spear of mistletoe offered by Loki and hurled it at Balder, killing him instantly.

Sometime after that moment in history, the superstition attached itself to the story of the Last Supper of Jesus and the 12 disciples. (Twelve plus one equals 13.) Judas, who rose first from the table, was the first to die.

On the other hand, the Egyptians at the time of the pharoahs considered 13 lucky, because they believed life unfolded in 12 stages, and that there was a 13th stage-the afterlife-beyond. That meant the number 13 symbolized death-as a happy transformation. Egyptian civilization perished, but the symbolism of the number 13 lived on as fear of death. (In Tarot decks the "Death" card bears the number 13 but retains its original, positive meaning: transformation.)

Well, all I have to say was Friday the 13th meant sure death (and it didn't look like "happy transformation" to me) in all those movies I watched when I was younger. So tell me what you think. Do you believe in Friday the 13th?????

To Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2002/12/Freaky-Friday.aspx#ixzz1jGiWcL00TH !!!

Infintech Coming to Spencer Co. Chamber Members January 27, 2011

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:51:00 GMT

For Immediate Release: For Additional Info Contact:

December 22, 2010

Debbie Barrett, 812-649-2186

Krista Danias, 800-621-8931

Spencer County Regional Chamber Member Benefit Helping Local Businesses Beat Recession

In an effort to increase value to their members, the Spencer County Chamber decided to look into a regional program with Infintech, a local credit card processing company. Infintech is growing through its partnerships with Chambers of Commerce. By aggregating members of these organizations together, Infintech can offer rates competitive to those typically awarded to large corporations. Infintech ensures that each chamber member is receiving the lowest rate possible from Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

The success of the program, which started with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber four years ago, helped Infintech earn the state-wide endorsement from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives. Former KCCE Executive Director Aaron Cox, who was instrumental in establishing the partnership earlier this year, said business members are saving anywhere from 15 to 50 percent in the first two months of the program. "The biggest difference is there aren't any huge fluctuations. It's a set fee so you pay exactly what the credit card company charges with a small percentage," he said. Ryan Rybolt, President of Infintech spoke of the chamber program objective; "We're using the buying power of an entire community to drive down the cost for individual businesses.” The program is a growing success throughout the state of Kentucky. In addition to Spencer County, other chambers taking advantage of the program include, Greater Owensboro Chamber, Danville/Boyle County Chamber, Pike County Chamber and Bardstown Chamber.

With the momentum rising, Spencer County realized this program would be worth taking the time to look into. An important benefit of the Infintech Merchant Services Program is the fact that each chamber has its own local representative. They will take the time to meet with you, understand your business and help you find the most cost effective way to accept credit cards. Infintech ensures that each chamber member is receiving the lowest rate possible from Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Also, there are no hidden fees or costs. The pricing model is transparent to every cent that is being paid.

To learn more about this newest Spencer County Regional Chamber member benefit, please contact Debbie Barrett at the Chamber at 812.649.2186 or scrcc@psci.net. Or contact Infintech’s local representative, Matt Valego at 413.246.5509 or matt.valego@infintechllc.com.

State reaches agreement on plans to build SNG facility, bring jobs to southern Indiana

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:36:00 GMT

Here is the Press Release from Thursdays SKYPE meeting with Governor Daniels.

check out the slide show compliments of Phil Casper (Ghost Image Photography) with AEP at http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=pJ6gqhSh&a_id=4941750

News Release

For Immediate Release

State reaches agreement on plans to build SNG facility, bring jobs to southern Indiana

ROCKPORT, Indiana (December 16, 2010) – After four years of planning and negotiation, Indiana’s program to become a national leader in homegrown clean energy production took a long step forward today.

Governor Mitch Daniels made the announcement after the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) Board voted unanimously to approve a $2.65 billion project to build a new generation substitute natural gas plant in Spencer County, bringing hundreds of permanent and 1,000 construction jobs to southern Indiana and providing savings to energy customers.

“We’re out to pay Hoosiers instead of people elsewhere for the energy we need. We’re out to protect ratepayers against the likelihood of higher long-term gas prices. We’re out to put people to work in rural Indiana. And we’re out to become a leader in the high-tech field of cleaner energy. This project does all that, and it was worth all the work of the four years it took to get here,” said the governor.

The proposed substitute natural gas (SNG) plant would:

Bring $2.65 billion in private investment to southern Indiana for the plant.
Guarantee at least $100 million of savings in today’s dollars but likely be substantially more based on existing public forecasts.
Produce 1,000 construction jobs, 200 full-time jobs at the plant, and 300 mining jobs.
Operate with 99 percent fewer pollutants than a traditional coal plant.
Be designed to capture 90 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the agreement, IFA will enter into a 30-year contract with Indiana Gasification, LLC, a subsidiary of Leucadia National Corporation, to purchase 38 million MMBtus of substitute natural gas – approximately 17 percent of the total used by non-industrial customers in the state—when SNG production begins in late 2015.

Among the benefits of the plant:

IFA will purchase gas at a formulaic price for 30 years, providing Hoosier energy customers an insurance policy against jumps in the price of natural gas.
The plant will be built and operated by Indiana Gasification, which will assume the entire risk for construction and operation.
Indiana Gasification is required to provide a $150 million reserve to protect Indiana ratepayers during times when the price of SNG goes above the market price for natural gas.
Indiana’s coal resources will be used to produce SNG, essentially the same as the natural gas which is currently used to heat many Hoosier homes.
In addition to SNG sold under contract to the IFA, the plant will produce additional SNG and other byproducts (sulfuric acid, argon, and other rare gases) that will be sold to generate incremental revenues, half of which will be passed on to benefit the ratepayer.
Vitreous slag, which is one of the byproducts of the facility, will be given to the state for free and used for other processes such as building roads.
In a state emergency, the IFA has the right to direct the physical gas for use anywhere it deems necessary in the state.
The plant is designed to capture 90 percent of the carbon dioxide it produces as a co-product with the SNG. Indiana Gasification intends to sell compressed carbon dioxide as a liquid and transport it to the Gulf Coast to be used in enhanced oil recovery.

In 2006, Daniels began discussions with a group about constructing a SNG facility in Indiana. Subsequently, legislative sessions of the general assembly enabled the contract, which was announced today. The enacted legislation authorizes the IFA, on behalf of the state, to enter into negotiations for 30-year contracts for the purchase and sale of SNG for the benefit of Indiana customers.

The IFA has now completed its negotiations and will file a petition to the IURC for approval of the agreements related to this project. Indiana Gasification is in the final stages of negotiating its loan guarantee with the U.S. Department of Energy, which is critical to meet the terms established in the agreement. Depending on the completion of the IURC process and the federally mandated environmental impact study, construction is set to commence in early 2012.

An executive summary along with the forms of agreements may be found on the IFA’s website at: http://www.in.gov/ifa

-30-

Contact:

Jane Jankowski, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov

Small Business, Small Community, Big World

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:44:00 GMT

I recently read an article stating that in the long run a recession is actually good for the community. How? Well, when times are tough, in theory, only the best survive as their "unworthy" components wither away.

If that's true then who are the "best" and how do you make sure you are currently, and remain in that category? You're already offering a top product or service at a competitive price or you wouldn't be in business right?

I think the true survivors in a tough economy are the business owners that have learned to adapt and adapt quickly.

Business owners are being forced to look at things from different angles these days. To many, their "bread and butter" just isn't what it used to be so creatively finding new revenue streams has been essential to adjusting to "not so fruitful" times.

Recessions can often hit smaller communities the hardest because as business declines and jobs are lost it's often even more difficult for families to replace that income. So, small communities start to lose people to more lucrative areas out of necessity leaving fewer residents spending their money close to home.

There is however one playing field in which even the smallest business communities can compete. It's called the internet... maybe you've heard of it? Heck, maybe you think you're already using it. But are you really? Is the internet currently working for your business?

When times are good and our businesses are running without a hitch we get comfortable in thinking that changing anything just isn't necessary. After all, you've been doing business the same way for years and have always been able to put food on the table... when times are good.

But if you fish even your favorite pond without catching anything regardless of what bait you try what do you do? Well if you want to take home any fish you find a new favorite pond right? The fisherman who knows all the best ponds to fish is the one always bringing home his fill regardless of how fruitful any one pond is.

The internet, although thought of as one big group of people, is actually very similar to millions of ponds (smaller intersecting pockets of people) grouped by some common interest or goal. They're not going to come to you but if you learn what ponds to fish, what bait to use and in some cases when to fish them, you can learn to adapt to almost any market shift in your business. This is how you make your business recession proof!

How you best use the internet depends. Can you offer your products/services online? How about the knowledge you have gained in your market or even just running your business... would that be valuable to anyone? There are people out there looking for what you have or what you know from all over the world and if you have been able to fill a need in your community you can fill a need everywhere else... online.