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6A Daily News – Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Commerce business It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of negative news about the state of our country and the world. This feeling also makes it difficult to be confident as an investor. At times likes these, a little perspective might be in order. A good place to start is to remember that smart investing is not dependent on today’s headlines, but about build- ing wealth over a long period of time. With that in mind, here are five impor- tant reasons you should feel encouraged about your long-term investments: #1 – A stock market with room to grow The stock market (as & Index have the potential to generate record profits in 2011. Many firms have found ways to generate products and services in a more productive and cost-efficient fashion, which positions them for additional growth during more prosper- ous periods. #3 – The "echo boomers" are emerging Alan Foley measured by the S&P 500 — an unmanaged index of stocks and a benchmark measurement of the broad stock market) has regained much of the ground it lost between 2007 and 2009. In the 12 months ending June 30, 2011, the index generated a total return of more than 30%. Yet halfway through 2011, the index stood 15% below its peak reached nearly four years ago. Historically, the stock mar- ket trend has been growth — and there seems to be plenty of room for more of that. But even in light of the current bull market cycle, investors should always expect the stock market to fluc- tuate along the way. #2 – Companies are profiting even in a modest economic recovery Though the economy is not exactly growing at a sizzling pace, U.S. com- panies represented in the S&P 500 An estimated 75 million children of baby boomer par- ents are now coming of age. They were born between 1979 and 1995 and are already a part of (or will soon be entering) the professional world. As they begin receiv- ing incomes, they will begin buying homes, cars, and other essential (and non- essential) items. They make up the next great consumer class in America. #4 – Capitalism is a worldwide phenomenon Free markets are more widespread than ever before. Many of us grew up in a time when the U.S. and only a few other countries were capitalist centers. Now it is prevalent in places we wouldn’t have dreamed of a genera- tion ago _ including China, Russia and most of Eastern Europe. This trend is creating a burgeoning global middle class, and real consumers are emerg- ing by the millions in many new mar- kets, some with extremely large popu- lations. This creates huge business opportunities for companies that are well positioned to capitalize on them. Growth is alive and well in many of these newly developing free markets as well as in established markets enterprise 5 reasons for investors to be encouraged across the world. #5 – The pessimists have been wrong Investing in stocks means believing in the potential of businesses for years to come. Although pessimists in the current market call these "unprece- dented times," the same assumption was incorrectly made at other times throughout history. After a rough decade for stocks in the 1970s, one magazine ran a cover story on "the death of equities" that was followed by two decades of record returns for stocks. In the midst of the Great Depression, many questioned whether capitalism was still viable, but in the decades to follow America emerged as the world’s strongest economic power. There will always be doomsday pes- simists. But while problems exist, our history shows countless examples of companies that uncovered innovative solutions to problems confronting con- sumers, businesses and society that allowed these firms to thrive. That process leads to new jobs, more eco- nomic prosperity and better returns for investors. As an investor, consider whether the current market challenges are a roadblock that will prevent investment success, or the foundation of new opportunities for future profits. If his- tory is any guide, investors who can afford to ride through short-term mar- ket swings will have the potential to realize future profitability. Alan Foley is a financial advisor and business financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial, 2150 Main St., Ste. 8, and can be reached at 528- 1328. Insurance agency open in downtown RB Pine Street Plaza’s owner, Lynne Moule, and her staff at Business Con- nections welcome Futuri- ty First Insurance Associ- ates as the newest tenant to the Plaza. They are welcomed by Business Connections, Butte Community Small Business Development Center, Bytes and Pieces, Dr. Lesa M. Lane, Tehama Together, All State Insur- ance, Tehama County Young Marines, Open Range Communications, Inc., and State Theatre for the Arts. The office is at 332 Pine St., Red Bluff, and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, next to the Veteran’s flag- pole. Futurity First provides insurance coverage for individuals, families and businesses requiring life, annuity, long-term care and health needs. Unlike traditional insurance com- panies, Futurity First is an independent, nationwide Restaurant grand re- opening set for Thursday CORNING — Casa Ramos, 636 Edith Ave., in Corning is under new ownership and new manage- ment and will hold a grand opening and ribbon cut- ting at 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4. Teachers to receive free classroom supplies Staples, 580 S. Main St., is hosting Teacher Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 13, to make it easy to provide teachers the tools they need to be successful in the classroom. Each year, more than 90 percent of teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on classroom materials, according to the National Education Association. The first 100 teachers visiting Staples stores from 9 a.m. to noon on Teacher Appreciation Day, will receive a reusable lunch bag filled with pens, eraser caps, note tabs, a one-subject notebook, glue sticks and sticky notes. Teachers will receive a coupon sheet with great savings on classroom supplies from top brands. insurance organization that operates a network of community-based branch- es throughout the United States. Futurity First spe- cializes in the financial security and retirement savings needs of middle- income families and seniors, business owners and the self-employed. Because Futurity First is independent and does not manufacture its own insurance products, it is able to provide customers with some of the best Olive Fest approaching • Olive Festival Parade – The Olive Festival Parade is coming up at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26. It will begin at the Veterans Memorial Hall and proceed east to Third Street. The Chamber will be sending entry forms in the mail soon but if you have never been in the parade or it has been several years you will want to come by the office and pick one up, or you may call 824-5550 and ask to be mailed one. The Corning Does it Bedder Bed Races will be after the parade as usual, so you will want to get your teams ready to compete. • There are many ways to participate in the Olive products representing the best-known companies available in the market- place. The insurance prod- ucts offered are routinely managed to maintain quality and competitive- ness while assuring the financial strength of the carriers represented. Futurity First Insurance Associates’ office is oper- ated by agent Christina Marie Stanley who encourages all interested to visit her in Pine Street Plaza or call 223-0334. Festival besides the parade and Bed Races. There will be two cook-offs; one is the Dutch oven cook-off, and if you are interested in competing you may contact Don Mason at dmason50@att.net. There is also the Bell- Carter Olive Cook-off with cash prizes of up to $200.00. Call the Chamber office at 824-5550 for more information. The Talent Show will be held at the park at 1 pm and if you have a talent and would like to par- ticipate call the Chamber and let us know. • Miss Corning Contest – We are still looking for interested contestants for the Miss Corning Program at 7 p.m. on Aug. 13. The contestant chosen will reign as Queen of the Olive Festival and as Miss Corning through out the year, representing the Corning Cham- ber of Commerce. Call the office for more information. • Youth Fair – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 the Annual Youth Festival will take place at Northside Park. There will be activities for kids, informational booths, face painting, and a raffle for backpack with school supplies, food and drinks and fun for the whole family. Free swimming at the City Pool from 1 to 3 p.m. sponsored by the Corning Rotary. For more infor- mation contact Carol Curry – 824-7670. • Movie – 2nd Saturday at the Mill – 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug.13, Lucero Olive Oil and Slow Foods Shasta Cascade will be presenting the first movie showing at Lucero Olive Oil. The movie, Truck Farm, is a documentary. Bring your lawn chairs to watch this outdoor movie. You can learn more about the movie by going to www.truck-farm.com. If you aren’t interested in the movie there will still be plenty to experience. The event is open to everyone. The movie, vendor sampling, and popcorn are free to attendees. Wine and beer tick- ets may be purchased at the event. The 2nd Saturday at the Mill event series was devel- oped by Lucero Olive Oil and Slow Foods Shasta Cas- cade to support sustainable food from local producers. This event series gives people a chance to experience what our community has to offer with friends and fam- ily. This column is prepared and submitted by the Corning Chamber of Commerce. ——— Chamber Ambassadors They’re practically everywhere – but here When a new business opens in other communi- ties, celebrates an anniver- sary with a reception open to the public, or the Cham- ber sponsors an evening social mixer, you’ll see them there. When a con- vention comes to town, often the organizers will receive a gift basket of local products presented by a team of these folks. When a team of local dig- nitaries visit the state capi- tol on a mission, some- times a team of these good folks accompany them. They’re Chamber of Com- merce Ambassadors, often Re-Grand Opening Celebration August 4, 2011 3 AREA LOCATIONS! RED BLUFF 2001 Main Street 530-527-2684 CORNING 636 Edith Avenue 530-824-3123 WILLOWS 247 N. Humboldt Avenue 530-934-0600 Corning location 5-8 pm Mariachi Band Corning Casa Ramos is now under it’s original ownership. wearing matching sports jackets festooned with pins and badges from all the state Chamber Ambas- sadors’ conventions they’ve attended – to which they arrive bearing gifts and samples donated by local Chamber businesses. I was first a Chamber Ambas- sador in Rohnert Park in the early 1980s. Then in the middle of that decade in Napa while concurrently a Chamber director. During my decade as publisher at the newspaper in Coos Bay, Ore., the Ambas- sadors Committee was very active – they elected their own officers, held their own lunch meetings, and totally ran the show when it came to came to ribbon cuttings and pre- sentations to visiting groups or representing Coos Bay as a great place to live, work and visit when they attended events out of town. Most of those Ambas- sadors – and those with whom I earlier served as a member, myself – were representatives from Chamber businesses that had a high priority of local B2B relationships – Busi- ness to Business relation- ships. Banks, radio sta- tions, restaurants, insurance agen- cies, title compa- nies, stationery stores, and of course the local newspa- per. At Coos Bay, while I was busy going through the chairs in that Chamber, two of my newspaper’s advertising representatives were active on the Ambas- sadors Committee. I’m on a hunt for some folks who would like to serve on an Ambassadors Committee to represent the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Com- merce – or even better, help to get it started and lead it. If you run a busi- ness that could use some additional exposure, would like more hand- shaking opportunities with other local business opera- tors –even if you are too busy, perhaps an associate or someone on your sales team would make a perfect Ambassador candidate. Establishing an active Chamber Ambassadors’ committee is one of my goals for this Chamber year. Here’s a YouTube video of an interview with an Ambassador from the Pensacola, Fla. Chamber: www.youtube.com/watch? v=baiLFP2Zyg8 — Cut and paste to your browser. Or visit the National Asso- ciation of Chamber Ambassadors website at www.chamberambas- sadors.com. With our renewed sense of pride in place, hopeful- ly now is the time for our Chamber to join the long list of those that boast teams of active, enthusias- tic, welcoming local busi- ness folks who are proud to be called … Chamber Ambassadors. Greg Stevens is chairman of the board of the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce and publisher of the Daily News. COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. 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