Chamber changes name to Greater Sandoval County Chamber of Commerce

The old Eastern Sandoval County Chamber of Commerce, which was formed in June 2006, has had a facelift. It is now the Greater Sandoval County Chamber of Commerce, also known as the GSCCC. According to C. Nick Vuillemot, IOM, the Executive Director of the Chamber, the name change was made to more accurately reflect the fact that the GSCCC represents businesses throughout Sandoval County as well as Bernalillo County businesses doing business in Sandoval County. Nick said that the GSCCC will be representing businesses from Cuba in the northern part of the county to Rio Rancho in the southern part of the county. Currently, the GSCCC represents about one hundred businesses and has a goal of having two hundred members by the end of 2008.

The Chamber is located across the street from the Bernalillo Town Hall in Room 5 of the Heartland New Mexico building at 848 Camino del Pueblo in Bernalillo. This is the old adobe building with the Coronado mural on the front wall. Nick said the Chamber is better able to serve its members with this central location in the county seat. He invites people to stop by and pick up a free copy of the 2008 New Mexico Vacation Guide.

The GSCCC offers benefits to its members, one of which is an exclusive Mini Group Health Insurance Plan. They also have retirement savings plans available for their members and a member social networking function from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, held at a different member’s place of business. The February 21 social will be at Stillbrooke Homes at Aldea, located off Highway 528 at Santiago Way in Bernalillo.

There are nine different investment plans for membership, ranging from $100 to $20,000 a year. Businesses can apply to join the Chamber on the GSCC website or in person at the office. For further information about the GSCCC, check out their website at www.SandovalChamber.com or call Nick at the office, 404-2073, or on his cell phone, 235-3829.

Haven House looks for sponsors

Haven House, the only dedicated domestic violence service provider of Sandoval County, is looking for sponsors for its “Run for Shelter, Phase II” motorcycle rally on April 19. The sponsorship levels are $5,000 (Hogs), $1,000 (Choppers), $500 (Scooters) and $150 (Sidecars).

Run for Shelter Chair, Rio Rancho DPS Sergeant Roberta Radosevich is calling for Rio Rancho and Sandoval County businesses and individuals to support Haven House, which serves the hundred thousand-plus residents of Sandoval County. Sponsors will be recognized in all event publicity, and “Hogs” will be awarded special recognition. Last year’s “Hogs” were Lovelace, John and Katherine Baber, and Breakthru Communications. For more information on sponsorship, contact Sergeant Radosevich at 891-5963 or Haven House Executive Director Diane Torrance at 896-4869.

The motorcycle run kicks off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Its goals are to increase domestic violence awareness and raise $20,000 in net proceeds for Haven House. This year’s run is named “Phase II” because Haven House is currently raising funds for a Phase II expansion of its facility. Last year’s rally attracted riders such as Gary Kanin, former Mayor of Corrales; Bernalillo Police Chief Fred Radosevich; Steve Shaw, retired Deputy Chief of Rio Rancho DPS; and Rio Rancho Municipal Judge Walker.

“Lovelace and Breakthru have already stepped up to the plate as ‘Hog’ sponsors for 2008. We are asking Rio Rancho and Sandoval County businesses to join them in supporting this event,” Sergeant Radosevich said. “Domestic violence knows no boundaries when it comes to race, social class, or gender. We need to stop it in its tracks.