CenturyLink Offers Tips for National Consumer Protection Week (March 4-10)

CenturyLink Offers Tips to Educate Consumers Regarding Online Safety

National Consumer Protection Week to be held March 4-10

MONROE, La. – CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) is dedicated to protecting its customers’ Internet experience and, timed with National Consumer Protection Week, has released a list of recommended precautions to promote safe Internet use. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is an annual campaign that encourages consumers to take full advantage of their consumer rights and make better-informed decisions. NCPW 2012 takes place March 4 -10.

“CenturyLink’s vision is to improve lives, strengthen businesses and connect communities by delivering advanced technologies and solutions with honest and personal service,” said Mike Brill, Vice President for Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. “Given the increasing use of the Internet, we felt it was important to offer tips to raise awareness of how you can protect yourself when you are online.”

Six Tips to Increase Internet Safety

• Always make sure that your PC or Mac system software is up to date

• Make sure you have antivirus software, and that the most current version is installed to protect against new threats

• Scan hard disk(s) at least once every two weeks to detect and remove all viruses, worms, trojans, or other software, which allow unauthorized remote control of your systems

• Replace “simple” passwords, such as 1234 or “password” with alpha-numeric ones

• Never post personal info in chat rooms or engage in offline chats or meetings

• Do not share contact info in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or similar posts or profiles

• For additional information and tips, please visit: http://security.centurylink.net/article/7-practices-for-computer-security

The official website of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), NCPW.gov, offers consumers tips and information from federal and state government and non-profit partner organizations.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice, wireless and managed services to consumers and businesses across the country. It also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink^TM Prism^TM TV and DIRECTV brands. In addition, the company provides data, voice and managed services to enterprise, government and wholesale customers in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers. CenturyLink is recognized as a leader in the network services market by key technology industry analyst firms, and is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises through Savvis, a CenturyLink company. CenturyLink’s customers range from Fortune 500 companies in some of the country’s largest cities to families living in rural America. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com.

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Job Posting: Client Service Coordinator

Client Service Coordinator

Bremen, IN

Brenner and Associates, a private wealth advisory firm of Ameriprise Financial, Inc, is seeking a full time client service coordinator to be based in our Bremen, Indiana office. We are a successful, fast-paced, growing, financial planning firm with offices in multiple cities across northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

Responsibilities for this position will include, but is not limited to the following:

• Greeting clients

• Supporting a financial advisor to include filing paperwork, preparing for meetings, producing meeting summary letters, etc.

• Fielding and directing client calls to meet their needs appropriately

• Help organize and manage the office

• Helping to develop relationships with centers of influence such as local CPAs via telephone

• Maintain the calendar for the office financial advisor

Strong written and verbal skills within a client service environment are necessary. Proficient computer skills in programs such as Microsoft Office are required. The ideal candidate will be extremely organized and demonstrate good time management skills.

Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.

Series 7, 66 and Life, accident and health licenses a plus. Obtaining these licenses within 12 months will be required.

Starting wage is $12-14 based on experience. Position offers health Insurance, life insurance, short-term disability, and long term disability as well as 401(k) match, PTO, and bonus structure.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to matthew.v.wold@ampf.com.

This posting is a service of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member business. Questions about the posting should be directed to the company in the posting.

Parks department seeking public input

Make your voice heard!
Parks department seeking public input

Youth Summer League Sign-Ups

The Bremen Summer Leagues (Little League Baseball, Girl’s Softball, Pony League, Transition, and T-Ball) will hold sign-ups Saturday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bremen High School commons area, outside Bowen Auditorium. If you have any questions pertaining to any of the leagues you may contact the following people.

Little League Baseball: Brian Town (574)546-4638
Girl’s Softball: Mike Huppert (574) 546-4561
Pony League: Bo Hundt (574) 274-6977
Transition & T-ball: Kelly Mammon (574) 546-2156

New Chamber Member: Bourbon Street Pizza

Welcome New Chamber Member:

Bourbon Street Pizza
209 N. Main St.
Bourbon, IN 46504
Phone: (574) 342-3032
Fax: (574) 342-0000

Owner: Tim Harman

Member-to-Member Discount Offered: 20% off entire bill, excluding deals and discounts.

Bremen Chamber Releases 2012 Regional Legislative Positions

 2012 Regional Legislative Positions

Support Right-to-Work legislation

Indiana is losing job creation opportunities simply because we are not a right-to-work state. While labor unions have accomplished many important improvements to working conditions in America, employees should have the freedom whether or not to join a union, and unions should be prepared to demonstrate the value of membership to employees. Major economic development site selectors will not consider Indiana for job-creating projects because we are not one of the 22 states who have right-to-work laws.

Provide K-12 education funding to match new mandates

The state legislature provided new requirements for schools to evaluate teachers based on performance. While a worthy and understandable goal, innovative compensation programs will not be effective unless long-term funding is provided to sustain these programs.

Oppose all unfunded mandates

State lawmakers should review each proposal that impacts local governments, including school systems. If legislation requires action, and the action is not funded, the legislation should be opposed.

Protect long-term funding for transportation infrastructure

All Major Moves dollars at the state or local level generated from the lease of the Toll Road, or other roadways in the future, should be used exclusively for capital road construction projects. To expand needed road funds, continue to study and implement alternative funding mechanisms including toll roads, public/private partnerships, leasing of state property, state gas sales in excess of state budget forecasted needs and re-capture of the $121 million of fuel tax annually diverted to other state agencies.

Grant local government modernization

Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of governmental services is essential to providing a system that benefits taxpayers, communities, business growth and job creation. We believe local governments should be given great latitude, including pilot projects, to explore efficiencies that work. Consideration should be given to setting a minimum population requirement for townships.

Allow local collection of local option income taxes

In addition, we support legislation for a more transparent collection of local income taxes. Local governments need to know how much local income tax is owed and collected in their communities to ensure that money is returned from the Department of Revenue. Alternatively, allow local governments to collect those taxes themselves.

Improve access to health care

As the federal government continues to debate the recently passed health care plan, the state needs to search for ways to control costs to allow businesses to offer health insurance to employees. At the very least, the state must not create additional mandates on coverage.

Create a way to transition people on unemployment compensation back to work

Sometimes people will not take a job because it pays less than their unemployment compensation check. A program should be created that would allow for unemployment compensation to reduced should people be willing to take a temporary position that would pay less than unemployment compensation.

Support federal immigration reform

Illegal immigration and the hiring of illegal workers should be opposed. We support companies who use verification systems. However, immigration is essentially a matter that must be legislated at the federal level. The state legislature should not attempt to address the immigration issue at the state level, particularly by revoking an employer’s license to operate in the state if it employs even one undocumented worker.

Bremen Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 125
Bremen, IN 46506
news <at> bremenchamberofcommerce <dot> com
bremenchamberofcommerce.com 

* Chamber legislative positions approved by the board of directors at the December 14, 2011 Bremen Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Small Business Advisement Sessions

Individual SBDC advisement services are offered monthly in Plymouth. Entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs and business owners in Marshall County are encouraged to sign up for one on one business counseling with Alan Steele, Advisor with the North Central Small Business Development Center.

The next session will be Tuesday, January 3^rd at the offices of Marshall County Economic Development, 2864 Miller Drive, Plymouth.

Preregistration is required. Please call 866-508-7232 Ext. 0toll free, identifying yourself as a Marshall County participant.

Bremen Santa Hours

The last Chance to see Santa in his house in downtown Bremen will be Saturday, December 17th, from 11am to 1pm.

Marshall County EDC continues free business advisement sessions

Individual SBDC advisement services are offered monthly in Plymouth. Entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs and business owners in Marshall County are encouraged to sign up for one on one business counseling with Alan Steele, Advisor with the North Central Small Business Development Center.

The next session will be Tuesday, November 1^st at the offices of Marshall County Economic Development, 2864 Miller Drive, Plymouth.

Preregistration is required. Please call 866-508-7232 Ext. 0 toll free, identifying yourself as a Marshall County participant.