Chamber Honors Ambassador of the Year

Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Membership Manager Danielle Workman (left) congratulates Laurie Tennent of Laurie Tennent Studio for being honored as the Chamber's Ambassador of the Year at the 66th Annual Meeting breakfast at Birmingham Athletic Club.

Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber names new board

The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber has named Jeffrey Lance Abood, Kelly Lewis, Kim Luebke and Robert Pliska as new board directors for 2014. The appointments were made at the chamber’s November Board of Directors meeting.

“We are very pleased and grateful to have four such outstanding business leaders join the chamber board of directors,” said chamber President Joe Bauman. “We look forward to working with Bob, Kelly, Jeffrey and Kim, and the chamber no doubt will be a stronger organization because of their service to the chamber and the greater Birmingham-Bloomfield business community.”

Abood is owner of the Birmingham-based Abood Law Firm. He graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School with a doctor of law. Abood is also general counsel for the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.Lewis specializes in laser therapy as the owner and operator of Alpha Lifestyle Center of Birmingham, where her treatments help control smoking and weight related issues. She has obtained degrees in both exercise science and exercise physiology and previously worked as cardiovascular risk specialist at Bristol Myers Squibb. She has shared her time with the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber since 2008.Luebke serves as director of account services and partner at Brogan & Partners, a marketing and advertising agency in Birmingham. With a bachelor of arts degree in marketing and advertising and a history with the agency, she has become responsible for the marketing and account managing of business clients such as The Honey Baked Ham Company and Comcast.

Pliska is the managing director and owner of the Birmingham franchise of Sperry Van Ness | Property Investment Advisors, LLC, a commercial real estate and investment real estate firm. In his 35 years of experience, he has served local and national organizations as a speaker, author, radio guest, panelist and social media expert.

The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber is a membership organization dedicated to promoting the economic development, strengthening the business climate and improving the quality of life in Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Franklin, Mich. For more information, visit www.bbcc.com

Kelly Lewis

Jeffrey Lance Abood

Robert Pliska

Kim Luebke

LEND A HAND TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season?
Here's just a few local nonprofits that can use a hand.
For a complete list of our Nonprofit Partners, click here.

American Diabetes Association Mary Riegle 300 Galleria Officentre, Suite 111, Southfield, MI  48034 (248) 433-3830  www.diabetes.org/detroit          As the nation's leading organizing dedicated to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes research and programs, we need individual and corporate volunteers to help us raise awareness and funds.  Office and event volunteers are needed throughout the year; committee and volunteer leadership opportunities available to those who can help accelerate our mission.

Birmingham Area Senior Center (BASCC) Renee Cortright 2121 Midvale Street, Birmingham, MI  48009 (248) 203-5270 Share the Spirit The Birmingham Area Senior Center (BASCC) invites you to "Share the Spirit" with seniors in our community.  In 2012, BASCC touched the lives of more than 40,000 area seniors through Supportive Outreach Services which includes: Transportation, Information and Referral, Medical Equipment Loans, and Support Groups plus social, fitness and enrichment programs. Visit the BASCC website at www.bascc.org

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Annie VanGelderen 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd., Birmingham MI 48009 (248) 644-0866 Shop & Champagne Dec. 4, 6:30-9pm.  This preview party for the BBAC's Holiday Shop, kicks off the season with an elegant menu created by local chefs & restaurants, plus champagne, music & art. 10% off all purchases. Tickets start at $70; visit BBArtCenter.org. Supports educational & access programming.

Birmingham Education Foundation Laura Couger 31301 Evergreen Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025 (248) 203-3030 Birmingham Education Foundation Annual Fund Campaign & Unabashed Bash The Birmingham Education Foundation is Paving the Way for Inspiration in Birmingham Public Schools. Donors become part of a community supporting Birmingham teachers and students in key focus areas: academics, art, STEM, athletics.  The VEX Robot project represents enrichment activities occurring all throughout our district; made possible by contributions from caring individuals like you.  Learn more at www.supportbef.org

Birmingham Rotary Club Bryan Frank  725 South Adams, Suite 135 (248) 644-8818  BBSO Rotary Benefit Concert 8 PM December 6th at Christ Church Cranbrook; The Seasons concert put on by the BBSO to benefit the Birmingham Rotary Club. Tickets are $50 each or 2 for $90. Proceeds go towards clean water wells around the world. Each well costs $6,500 and lasts for 20 years. Donations also appreciated. 2014 Masters Raffle/Cash Raffle: Tickets are $100 each. 1st Prize is a trip to the masters or $5,000 cash prize, includes up to 24% taxes paid for prize. 2nd Prize is $1,000. 3rd Prize is $500. Only 400 tickets available. Drawing held March 13, 2014. Contact: Christine Winans (248) 505-1704

Birmingham Youth Assistance Diedra Righter / Nikki Keller 2436 W. Lincoln, Ste F102, Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 203-4300 Red Raiser at Rojo Mexican Bistro "Red Raiser," hosted by BYA and Rojo, aims to raise awareness of BYA's work in the community and of our wonderful sponsors and partners. We are looking for door prizes and raffle items from businesses in our community to help enhance the evening's fun. Monday, December 2nd from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The Bottomless Toy Chest Mickey Guisewite 735 Forest Ave., Suite 204 B, Birmingham, MI  48009  (248) 646-8931    The Bottomless Bowl Our second annual Bottomless Bowl will take place on November 7, 2014 from 7-10 p.m. at the Thunderbird Lanes in Troy. Please join us for a family fun evening of bowling, a great silent auction, and lots of other fun surprises. Visit www.bottomlesstoychest.org or call (248) 646-8931 for more info.

Child Safe Michigan Ashley Fell 30680 Montpelier, Suite 250 Madison Heights, MI 48071 (248) 353-0921 Holiday Card Campaign Please come by the Birmingham Community House show November 14-16th or the Birmingham Winter Markt December 6-8th to purchase holiday tribute cards. 85% of the proceeds go directly to children in need. You can also visit our website at www.childsafemichigan.org and click holiday giving to give the gift of charity this holiday season!

Common Ground Lenda Jackson 1410 S. Telegraph Rd.  Bloomfield Hills, MI  48302 (248) 451-3731 Common Ground's 24-hour Resource & Crisis Helpline Have you ever saved a life?  You can make a difference by volunteering at Common Ground's 24-hour Resource and Crisis Helpline! Our Crisis Helpline helps people move from crisis to hope by providing access to confidential crisis intervention, emotional support, debriefing, information and referrals by phone, via text or by webchat. Get involved! No experience required. We will train you.  Contact Rose Chisolm at (248) 456-8150 or email getinvolved@cghelps.org. For more information visit www.commongroundhelps.org and click volunteers under "about Common Ground."

The Community House Kathie Ninneman 380 South Bates Street, Birmingham (248) 644-5832 TCH Events in 2014 The Community House, is seeking volunteers to work for several fundraising events in 2014:  TCH Gala, March 15;  Farm to Table Block Party, September 6; Birmingham House Tour, September 25; OUR TOWN Art Show and Sale, October 8-11; Winter Holiday Gift Show, November 13 &14. All fundraising  events support TCH Outreach Programming for at risk youth.

Defeat the Label  Jamie Greene 6441 Inkster Rd.  Ste 160. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 (734) 536-1289 Defeat the Label, a 501 c3 non profit anti bullying organization is seeking the support of local businesses for our Anti Bullying Defeat the Label In Your School Programming, Anonymous Bully Reporting App and our 2013 Stand4Change Day, which encourages students to take a stand against bullying. More information about Defeat the Label is available at www.defeatthelabel.com

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County 150 Osmun Street Pontiac, MI 48342 (248) 338-1843  Year-End Appeal to serve low-income families in Oakland County this holiday season Since 1995, Habitat Oakland County has served over 165 families through building and rehabilitating homes in a dozen communities in Oakland County. These homes are provided for families living often in deplorable conditions and Habitat Oakland is there to give them a hand up. To become a home owner partner, families put in 300 hours of sweat equity in building or rehabbing their home and they also pay for their new home through monthly mortgage payments to Habitat...which allows the cycle to continue to provide homes for other deserving families.

Kids Kicking Cancer Cindy Cohen 27600 Northwestern Highway Suite 220 Southfield, MI 48034 Phone: (248) 864-8238 Welcome ongoing donations and volunteers Kids Kicking Cancer a 501c3 non-profit, uses martial arts therapy to empower and ease pain in children with serious illness. Services include martial arts classes & hospital interventions for patients & siblings. Kids learn breathing, relaxation techniques and martial arts. Cost-free program includes classes, uniforms, transportation & family support outings. www.kidskickingcancer.org

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House  Rita Tinetti www.manresa-sj.org (248) 644-4933 ex. *815   December 1 - OPEN HOUSE 3 to 6 PM. Carols, decorations and holiday treats. Free December 8 at 3 PM Concert - Cantate! an a cappella chamber ensemble. $25 includes an afterglow. December 9 at 1 PM - Advent Tea $15 248-644-4933 or www.manresa-sj.org Save the Date! Manresa's Leadership Banquet April 12, 2014 at Cranbrook Institute of Science

The Pink Fund Molly MacDonald PO Box 603 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303 (248) 505-5222 Looking for volunteers to help process files, manage thank you notes. Monday-Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Donations of manila file folders, gift cards for gas and food gratefully accepted and appreciated during holiday times.  May be mailed to the address above.

The Salvation Army Royal Oak Citadel (serving Southeast Oakland county) Captain Peter Mount 3015 N. Main Street, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 (248) 585-5600 We have many holiday volunteering opportunities, including: bell ringing, toy shop helpers, food box distribution, and even more! Please call for more information.

Sky Foundation, Inc. Sheila Sky Kasselman  33  Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 130 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 (248) 978-9845 November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more at skyfoundationinc.org

Variety the Children's Charity 600 South Adams Road, Birmingham MI 48009 (248) 258-5511 Variety will sponsor a Bikes for Kids Party on December 11. Bikes will be given to 150 deserving children. To sponsor a bike call Variety at (248) 258-5511. Variety also sponsors an adopt-a-family program. Needy children will be provided clothing and toys.

Wish Upon a Teen Laura Hansen, Program and Events Coordinator 36880 Woodward Avenue. Ste. 106. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 (248)792-2938   Wish Upon a Teen- Design My Room Program Wish Upon a Teen requests the following items; New bedding, sports memorabilia, new rugs, wall decals and/or gift certificates to Target, Kohl's, etc. For use in our Design My Room Program for teens with terminal, life limiting or chronic conditions that require long-term hospitalization. For more information, please visit www.wishuponateen.org