Welcome to new Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce member Bloomington Area Arts Council (BAAC).

The Bloomington Area Arts Council supports public participation in the arts by developing, strengthening, and promoting the cultural resources of Bloomington and Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan and Owen counties.

Individual, family, and arts organization memberships start at just $30 per year. Locally, the BAAC has assisted programs with Linton Public Library, Bloomfield Public Library, Linton Music Fest, and Shawnee Theatre, as well as other local arts projects.

For more information on programs your organization or school may qualify for through BAAC or for information on how to support the BAAC, contact Katherine Paschal, Director of Arts Outreach, at (812) 334-3100 or e-mail her at katherine@artlives.org.

Visit the BAAC's Web site to learn more on its programs as well as its calendar of events at www.artlives.org.

* Mark your calendar and plan to attend the Chamber's August meeting. Our speaker will be Congressman Brad Ellsworth.

Congressman Ellsworth will bring us a brief update on legislation effecting our area as well as answering your questions.

This meeting will be at the Phil Harris Golf Course at noon on Aug. 19. This meeting is open to the public.

We encourage everyone to come out and meet Congressman Ellsworth. We will also have "celebrity" cooks grilling lunch for us that day.

Arrangements have been made for a Chamber discount to be offered for anyone interested in playing golf following the luncheon. Non-members of Phil Harris can play 18-holes of golf w/cart for $160; and Phil Harris members can play for $10.

* Generations is now seeking nominations for their Age of Excellence Stars! Do you know someone who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of caregiving, community service and volunteerism, by or on behalf of another person?

If so, now is your opportunity to recognize them for the difference they are making. Nominations are due Friday, Aug. 29. The 11th Annual Age of Excellence Awards Luncheon which will be Oct. 2 at the Green Activities Center on the Vincennes University Campus in Vincennes beginning at 11:30 a.m.

For more information on the Age of Excellence awards contact Jane Hall at 1-800-742-9002 or (812) 888-5138.; jhall@vinu.edu. Applications for nominations are also available at the Chamber office.

* As promised, we are relaying more information from the Better Business Bureau from their July Hot Topics.

Please note the BBB has sent alerts on the following: No. 1 - "Publishers Clearing House" is sending a certificate to consumers congratulating them on winning $1 million. A check for $5,472 is enclosed. The "winner" is instructed to "contact your representative without any delay BEFORE depositing this check..." This is NOT the real Publishers Clearing House, and the check is counterfeit! No. 2 - Business Alert -- "Robert Dal" is sending letters to Indiana businesses. Dal claims to be with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), offering work to contractors. The DOT has now added "Robert Dal" to their fraudulent letter list. Take a look at www.dot.gov.

Cheryl is the executive director of the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce and can be reached by telephone at 847-4846.