PHISHING SCAM WARNING FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS

The Phelan Chamber of Commerce is warning chamber members and the public about a phishing scam. Several Chamber members have reported receiving an email asking them to download and review a document hosted on Transferbigfiles.com. At first glance, the email appears to be from the Phelan Chamber of Commerce. However, upon further investigation of the sender, the email address is from "user(@)transferbigfiles(dot)com" and not the Phelan Chamber with a reply-to email address from an unknown individual with a Gmail account. This email was not sent by the Phelan Chamber of Commerce and is a scam. The Phelan Chamber of Commerce occasionally sends email blasts, invoices as attachments, and related correspondence. Emails from the Chamber will come from "phelanchamber@gmail.com" or end in @phelanchamber.info. Individuals who receive emails that appear to be from the chamber but look suspicious should contact the chamber at 760-868-3291 or phelanchamber@gmail.com. IMAGE OF THE EMAIL SENT TO CHAMBER MEMBERS:

With great sadness, the Phelan Chamber of Commerce announces the passing of long-time Chamber member Charlie Johnson.  He will be remembered as a father, husband, community leader, and friend to many.  Charlie passed away on June 25, 2022, just three days after his 77th birthday.  From the moment Charlie and his wife Terry moved to Phelan over thirty years ago, Charlie took an active role in his community.  As a member of the Phelan Chamber of Commerce, he served as a board director several times and has served as board president, vice president, and treasurer.  Charlie played key roles in many Chamber and community events such as the Community Fireworks Show, Annual Rodeo, and Phelan Phamily Phun Days.  At the time of his passing, Charlie was a Director of the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District, a volunteer and director for AYSO, a Director of the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Improvement Association, a member of the Snowline Community Cabinet, and an active member of his Church.  He will be missed.

The Phelan Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual general meeting (aka luncheon) on November 2, 2021, at the Phelan Pizza Factory, starting at noon.  At this time, the election of the 2022 Board of Directors will take place.  We are asking that all members attend this meeting to cast their votes. There will also be an option to vote online if you cannot participate in the meeting to vote in person.  An email will be sent to each Chamber Member with online voting instructions and a timeline. If you vote online, you will not be able to vote in person.  Any member wishing to write in another member for a position will be able to do so both in-person and online. Nominations will also be taken from the floor prior to the vote taking place.  

To comply with the newly adopted Phelan Chamber Bylaw changes passed by chamber membership earlier this year, board directors have been reduced from five directors to three directors. Additionally, all board positions are now two-year terms, with half of the board being elected in even years and the other half being elected in odd years.

Therefore, the following changes have been made for the 2022 year:

1. Treasurer: Currently, Jeanna Mills is holding two positions, Past President and Treasurer. She will be resigning as treasurer, and the board will be appointing Faith Maldonado as the treasurer for the 2022 year. The treasurer position will come up for reelection for a two-year term in 2023, which aligns this position with the current Bylaws.
2. Number of Directors: Currently, the board consists of 11 positions—five directors, president, past president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and honorary mayor. Starting in 2022, the number of directors positions will be three, with the total number of board directors reducing to nine.
3. Board of directors terms: Each board member position will serve a two-year term. The exception is the honorary mayor, who will be a one-year term and the past president, which is automatically filled by the most recent past Phelan Chamber president.
4. Yearly board elections: Half of the board will be elected in odd years, and the other half will be elected in even years, and the honorary mayor will be elected every year. The past president is an appointed position filled by the most recent past Phelan Chamber president. To align with the current bylaws, the board president, secretary, and two directors positions will be elected in even years, 2022 is an even year. In odd years the board vice president, treasurer, and one director will be elected. In both odd and even years, an honorary mayor will be elected for a one-year term. Additionally, to align the three directors' positions with the new bylaws, one current 2021 directors position will be a one-year term instead of two. Meaning that position will be up for election for the 2022 year. Previously, all directors' positions were two-year terms that came up for election simultaneously. The incumbents holding the remaining directors' positions have been informed and are aware of the term changes occurring for the 2022 elections.

The current 2021 Phelan Chamber Board of Directors is as follows:

• President: Rebecca Kujawa
• Past President: Jeanna Mills
• Vice President: Don Fish Jr.
• Secretary: Nikki Ewing
• Treasurer: Jeanna Mills
• Honorary Mayor: Currently unfilled
• Director: Robert Chacon
• Director: Michelle Hannon
• Director: Kathy Hoffman
• Director: Davy Feller
• Director: Isabel Natividad

The 2022 slate of candidates running for election to the Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is as follows:

• President: Rebecca Kujawa, incumbent, unopposed
• Secretary: Nikki Ewing, incumbent, unopposed
• Honorary Mayor: Todd Anton, unopposed
• Two Directors Positions: Davy Feller, incumbent, unopposed & Robert Chacon, incumbent, unopposed

Important bylaw changes will be discussed and voted on at the June Luncheon Meeting of the Phelan Chamber of Commerce.   Chamber members are asked to attend this meeting to take part in this most important vote.  

The bylaw changes can be reviewed in the document link below.  Changes are written in red.  Any questions can be directed to the Phelan Chamber of Commerce.

Proposed Bylaw Changes

At our January Chamber Member Zoom Luncheon, representatives John Kozyra, Keven Mahany and Wesly Shain from Providence St. Mary gave a presentation discussing the state of healthcare in the Tri-Community.  A video of their presentation can be viewed below and is available on our Facebook page HERE.

Rebecca A Kujawa

January, 2021

Dear Members:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as President of the Phelan Chamber of Commerce for the year 2021.  I would like to start by introducing myself.  I am a 17 year resident of Pinon Hills, Ca.  I have worked for the Snowline Joint Unified School District for almost 13 years as a Special Education Associate.  I have served on the Chamber in different roles; including Director and Treasurer, helping with events such as Concerts in the Park, Phelan Phun Days and Easter.  Most recently I was elected as a Director on the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Service District.

This past year has been a challenge for our residents and businesses.  I hope in the coming year that we can support our local businesses and find ways to celebrate our great community, even if it does look a little different.

Sincerely yours,

Rebecca A Kujawa, President
Phelan Chamber of Commerce

Hello, Phelan Chamber of Commerce Members,

Polls are closed with 100% of the districts reporting 100% of votes counted for the 2021 Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Here is your 2021 Board of Directors:

• PRESIDENT: Rebecca Kujawa
• PAST PRESIDENT: Jeanna Mills (non-elected position)
• VICE PRESIDENT: Don Fish Jr.
• SECRETARY: Nikki Ewing
• TREASURER: Jeanna Mills
• HONORARY MAYOR: Tony Spampinato
• CHAMBER DIRECTOR #1: Isabel Natividad
• CHAMBER DIRECTOR #2: Davy Feller
• CHAMBER DIRECTOR #3: Kathy Hoffman (Current Director)
• CHAMBER DIRECTOR #4: Michelle Hannon (Current Director)
• CHAMBER DIRECTOR#5: Robert Chacon (Current Director)

Congratulations to the 2021 Phelan Chamber Board of Directors, and thank you to the 2020 Directors. Leaving the board this year are Charlie Johnson and Kyle Zimbro.

The Chamber Installation won't be until the new year; keep an eye out for an email with details. And don't forget to spread the word about our Home For The Holidays Booklet & Coloring Contest and the Angel Tree Gift Drive. Angel applications are due now, and Angel Trees will be up starting December 2nd through December 23rd.

We are looking forward to working together to make Phelan a better place to do business!

Thank you,

The Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

The Phelan Chamber Board of Directors Election is underway.  Ballots were sent out to Chamber members on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at about 6:00 pm.  Members, you've got until Friday 6:00 pm to cast your ballot.

This year the voting process has moved to an online platform.  An email was sent out to all members with a link allowing them to log-in to the Chamber website and cast their vote.  Who members vote for will be anonymous with the only requirement that members must log-in to their account in order to cast their vote and will only be able to vote once.

The current slate of candidates are:

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS A Phelan Chamber Business Promotion

Calling All Chamber Members! The Phelan Chamber of Commerce is producing an 8 page pull out booklet to be published in the November NewsPlus and on the Phelan Chamber website.  In addition, ads will be placed in the Mountaineer Progress for further promotion. The Home for the Holidays publication will include games, songs, recipes, stories, favorite traditions, and promote a coloring contest.  The activities will be for children and adults.  With the current Covid situation, this can be a fun additional activity for those confined to home. Additional copies of NewsPlus will be available for businesses to hand out during the length of the event. How can you be involved and promote your business? Choose to participate in any or all of the following, it’s up to you: Update your business information on our Chamber website.  It’s simple.  Log into the website by Oct 25th and make sure all your information is correct and membership fees are current.  Information to verify is: Company Name, Address, Phone number, Website Address, Email Address, Membership expiration.  (All current members will be published for FREE) Email us your favorite holiday tradition to be published with your name and business name. This is a two to three sentence description of your favorite tradition.  Simply reply to this email with your tradition, name and company name. All traditions are due by Oct 25th, so send it now. (All Members’ traditions will be published for FREE) Donate a cash prize to give to coloring contest winners.  First three businesses to sign up with a $300 donation will sponsor the coloring contest.  Additional mentions of your business will be in the publication and online.  Call or text 760-662-.3737 to sign up to be a sponsor. (Act now, only the first three sponsors will be accepted.) The coloring contest will have three age categories:  3-7, 8-12, 13-999.  In each age category, prizes will be for 1st place - $150, 2nd place - $100, and 3rd place - $50 Donate a gift basket from your business. In addition to the above cash prizes, gift baskets will be given to the winners of the contest.  Pictures of the winners with their prize will be published on the Chamber Website and in NewsPlus. (Gift Baskets must be dropped off at Mills Hardware by Dec 1st to participate) Join us online and cast your votes for each age category.  On Dec 12th, the final coloring entries will be put on the Chamber website for members to vote on.  (All members are invited to cast your votes)  Deadline to vote is Dec 15th.

We are looking forward to working together to make Phelan a better place to do business! Thank you, The Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

The Call for Nominations for the Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is open. Board service is a chance to grow personally and professionally, develop valuable skills, gain unique experience, and make lasting connections with other passionate and motivated local business owners and community members. Board service is a chance to help improve the programs and services that we offer to our members and provides unique opportunities to expand your network and gain recognition from your community and peers. 

The Call for Nominations opens every year in October, and we are seeking candidates for the following Board positions for the Phelan Chamber of Commerce:

• President (1-year term)
• Vice President (1-year term)
• Secretary (1-year term)
• Treasurer (1-year term)
• Director #1 (2-year term)
• Director #2 (2-year term)

Candidates must be of good standing and reputation, located or doing business in or in the vicinity of Phelan, and meet a professional standard of excellence by demonstrating the following: 

• be a Phelan Chamber of Commerce voting member in good standing*;
• interested in the purposes of the Phelan Chambers of Commerce;
• adherence to high ethical standards; 
• leadership; 
• Teamwork; and 
• diversity in all of its aspects. 

*Membership in the Chamber must occur before the election day and can be completed online at phelanchamber.info.

Deadline for Nominations: October 26, 2020.

Election Day: November 3, 2020.

The Nominating Committee consists of:

• Kathy Hoffman, Director
• Don Fish, Vice President
• Dane Mills, Member

We are looking forward to working together to make Phelan a better place to do business!

Thank you,

The Phelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors