Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Le Mars Area Chamber
of Commerce Newsletter
Chamber Executive
Board
Dave Shaver, President
Micah Lang, President Elect/ Vice
President of Organizational Development and Agriculture
Graham Forbes, Past President/
Vice President Membership Services,
Vice President of Community Development and Treasurer
Becky Klohs, Vice President Main
Street
Stacie Groetken, Vice President
Events and Marketing
Additional Board Members:
Mike Murphy
Angie Watson
Sandra Norby
Dave Smetter
Alex Szczech
Magdalene Landegent
Ryan Richardson
Todd Wendt
Jason VandeBrake
Delana Ihrke, ex-officio City Representative
Main Street
Committees
Becky Klohs, Vice President of Main
Street Program and Organization Chair
Paul Jacobson, Business
Improvement Chair
Joe Sitzmann, Promotion Chair
November 2010
Chamber Holiday Promotions
November 12 & 13 Holiday Open House
Buy a gift bag for $1.00 and you have a chance of having Holiday Dollars
inside. Each store will have their own Holiday Open House specials. Must
have a bag to get the specials!!
November 15 thru 20 Gift Certificate Giveaway
Stop in to participating Holiday Stores to register to win one of the gift
certificates given away. We’ll have over $1,500 in gift certificates to
give out! Lots of winners!
November 20
Holiday Dollar Sale
Over $26,000 in Chamber Holiday Dollars will be sold. 9:00am at the
Chamber office...line up early...adults 18 and over can purchase a total of
$200 in Holiday Dollars for $170.00 Dollars are good through December
24, 2010
November 26 27 and 28 Gift Certificate Giveaway
Stop in to participating Holiday Stores to register to win one of the gift
certificates given away. We’ll have over $2,400 in gift certificates to
give out! Lots of winners!
December 1 Chocolate Treat Night
Holiday store participants will have chocolate treats available to shoppers
from 6pm to 8pm. Stop in for specials at each business.
December 5 thru 11 Gift Certificate Giveaway
Stop in to participating Holiday Stores to register to win one of the gift
certificates given away. We’ll have over $3,200 in gift certificates to
give out! Lots of winners!
Linda Mayrose, Design Chair
Staff
Neal Adler, LBIC and Chamber Executive Director
Mary Reynolds, Main Street
Manager
Sue Butcher, Operations Manager
The Chamber will be closed on
Friday, November 12th.
WELCOME NEW CHAMBER MEMBER
NAI Electrical Contractors
Gabe Morgan Area Manager
Primebank Halloween Fun
Chamber After 5 at Am Bank Insurance
Employee of the Month
Nomination submitted by Dan Hystad, Assistant Vice President & Claims Manager
Forty years ago—on November 30, 1970, shortly
after graduating from Le Mars Community High
School, Connie Arnold began her first job as “Clerk”
at then named “Le Mars Mutual Insurance Company
( the name has been changed to Le Mars Insurance
Company) and holds the position of Claims Processing
Supervisor.
Connie is a strong leader in the claims department
with duties such as entering claim information, verifying claim coverage, making payments on existing
claim files and tracking statistical information. She
exhibits excellent customer service when responding
to telephone inquiries from claimants, adjusters, service providers, agents and others. Connie is a very
dedicated, hard working and dependable employee.
Connie resides in Merrill. She has one daughter,
Stacy and her husband Troy Dempster, who also live
in Merrill. In Connie’s spare time, she keeps active
enjoying her three grandchildren.
LOFT Invites You to Attend
As many of you know, when a person, couple or family moves to Le Mars, they are given a
gift basket from the Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the gift, they are invited to
LOFT (Lunch On The First Thursday) so they can meet other new (and existing) residents
from Le Mars.
On Thursday, November 4th LOFT will be held at the Public Library. It's from 12:001:00 pm and we'd love for you (or someone from your business) to attend so you can help
us make the new people feel welcome. The cost is $5.00 which will cover a light lunch. We
have a lot of fun visiting and introducing people to others and we'd love for you to be part of
that.
At about 12:40 Sue Kroesche will do a short program on what the Library has to offer in
order to familiarize the new people with what is available. We want them to feel right at
home here in Le Mars.
If you plan to attend we will need to have a reservation so Sue knows how many to lunches
to have ready. Please RSVP by Monday, November lst by 9:00 a.m. by calling: Misty Szczech
at 712-540-1941
Hope to see you there!
Misty Szczech and Karol Horken
Claussens Holds Chamber After 5
Red's Printing Co. receives 2010 Print Image
Excellence Award for Vehicle Wrap
designed and printed for WesTel Systems
NAPL/NAQP presented 2010 Print Image Excellence Awards to 20 U.S. printers
from across the nation at the Annual Association Awards Luncheon on October 1st in
Chicago . Contest entries are received from companies throughout the United States.
Emphasis is placed on the overall design of the entries and they are then divided into
specialized categories. Red's Printing Co. earned 1st place in the large (wide) format
printing category. The winning entry was a vehicle wrap that was designed, printed, laminated and installed for WesTel Systems.
In presenting the awards at the recent NAPL/NAQP conference in Chicago, NAPL
President and CEO Joseph P. Trucale commented: "These awards showcase the breadth
of printing, signage and related service excellence among quick printers/sign shops and
small commercial printers. The high level of craftsmanship and industry knowledge exhibited by these honorees is a testament not only to their individual acumen, but the
quality that is the trademark of our industry. We are very proud to be honoring them
with 2010 Print Image Excellence Awards.
Red's Printing Co. has been providing graphic design and printing services to businesses, professional organizations, and individuals in Le Mars and Northwest Iowa since
1984 and all types of signage, vehicle graphics and banners since 1994. This is the
fourth consecutive year that Red's has earned national awards in the NAPL/NAQP print
Excellence competition.
Chamber New Years Eve Celebration to be Held
The Chamber of Commerce Main Street Organization Committee will
be hosting the second annual New Year’s Eve dance.
Becky Klohs and Theresa Westra will serve as co-chairwomen for
the event. The dance will be held Friday, December 31st upper
level at the Le Mars Convention Center. The Mighty Nish Band, pictured above, will provide live entertainment.
“There will not be a dinner served, we want to encourage people to dine out in Le Mars
restaurants and then come up to the convention center and dance from 9:00pm to 1am,”
said Klohs. “We will be providing munchies throughout the evening.”
Cost to attend is $10.00 per person. Make plans now to attend this fun New Year’s Eve
event. To make reservations, contact the Le Mars Chamber at 546-8821.
Holiday Dollar Sale
The Chamber of Commerce will be selling $26,000 in
Holiday Dollars on Saturday, November 29th beginning
at 9:00am in the Chamber of Commerce office at 50
Central Ave SE. Chamber dollars can only be redeemed at participating Chamber Holiday stores.
The Chamber Dollar Sale is sponsored by
American Bank
Kingsley State Bank
Primebank
First National
N.W. Iowa Credit Union
Great Southern Bank
You can purchase $100 worth of Holiday Dollars for $85.00—
you save 15%. The day of the sale, each person can buy a total
of $200 worth of Holiday dollars - the cost would be $170.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Chamber Holiday Dollars need to spent by Thursday, December 24th.
After that date Holiday dollars become void— no exceptions.
N.W. Iowa Credit Union Hosts Chamber Coffee
The Education Station Inc
CELEBRATES FIRST
NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD
TOY STORE DAY ON NOV. 13
More than 500 stores from coast to coast
will participate and announce The Best Toys
for Kids Award List
Remember the magical feeling of shopping in your neighborhood toy store as a child—
strolling the aisles, examining the exciting options, finally selecting the toy that promised days
filled with discovery and adventure?
Recapturing the wonder and the awe of your childhood is as easy as visiting your local toy
store. In this fast-paced world, it is heartening to know that, some good things never change.
Today’s local toy store may offer special modern conveniences but they still provide the same
personal touch shoppers have come to expect from independent toy stores.
On November 13, The Education Station Inc will join over 500 stores across the country to
celebrate national Neighborhood Toy Store Day.
"When you shop at an independent toy store, you are entering a universe of play possibilities," explains Kathleen McHugh, President of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). "Neighborhood Toy Store Day is about celebrating the role the local store plays
in the community. We are highlighting the expertise your local store has in selecting just the
right toy to help your child grow and learn through play."
As part of the festivities The Education Station Inc will offer 25% off all Games and Toys,
Demonstrations of games, door prizes and light refreshments.
These neighborhood store owners and managers have spent countless hours stocking their
shelves with only the most innovative, unique, and engaging toys for children. Shopping at an
independent retailer is like having your own personal shopping consultant.
And now, The Education Station Inc as a member of ASTRA, has made a list and checked
it twice. On Neighborhood Toy Store Day, participating stores will announce The 2010 Best
Toys for Kids Award list. John MacGregor, Vice President of The Education Station Inc explained, “With our expert understanding of how kids play, ASTRA members have selected the
toys that deliver the highest value, inviting imaginative discovery and encouraging creative
thinking.”
And consumers can be confident that more of those dollars spent in local, independentlyowned stores, stay in the community—25% percent more in contrast with national chains, according to the 3/50 Project. Resident business owners pour more money and energy back
into the community in the form of everything from tax dollars to charity donations to participating in local initiatives through civic associations and area chambers of commerce. McHugh
urged shoppers to think of their local
stores first, “By shopping locally, consumers will find great toys while supporting vibrant communities and sustainable economic development. Visit your neighborhood toy store and you may bring home
more than just the perfect gift, you'll share
the spirit of the season.”
Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting at Cork It
Chamber
Coffees
Dates to
Note
Lighted Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 4
Wednesday, November 3
Chamber Coffee
Hotopp Jewelry and Gift
9:30am to 10:30am
Wednesday, November 10
Chamber Coffee
Jobas
9:30am to 10:30am
Wednesday, November 7
Chamber Coffee
Ply. Soil & Water
Conservation District
11— 12th St SW
9:30am to 10:30am
Wednesday, November 24
Chamber Coffee
Bixenman Insurance
9:30am to 10:30am
Pioneer Village Christmas
Sat and Sun December
4 & 5 and 11 & 12
Santa’s Palace
Saturdays—Dec 11 & 18
New Years Eve Dance
Friday, December 31
Chamber Annual Dinner
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Ice Cream Days
June 15 thru 18
Chalk Art Festival
September 17 and 18
Plymouth County Fair
July 27 - 31
Visit with Santa
and Mrs Claus
Saturday, December 11 &
Saturday, December 18
at
Habitue’ Coffeehouse
and Creperie
Upper Level
9am to 4pm
Children will receive a color book,
crayons and a sugar cookie.
Bring your cameras—we’ll take
pictures of you and your family with
Santa and Mrs. Claus
Happy
Thanksgiving
From Neal,
Sue and
Mary
Mark your calendars for Saturday,
January 29th for the Le Mars Area
Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.
Contact Sue to make reservations
call 546-8821
Wireless World /Verizon Wireless hosts Chamber
Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year
nominations are due in the Chamber Office
by 5:00 pm Wednesday, December 15th
The Chamber of Commerce will be accepting nominations for the “Business of the Year”. The Community Development division of the Chamber will select the “Business of the Year” recipient from all
nominations submitted. All Chamber member businesses are eligible regardless of size or type. Recognition will be awarded based on one or more of the following criteria: community involvement, job creation,
innovative practices, employee benefits, major expansion or overcoming an adversity. Businesses can self
nominate or be nominated. The award presentation will take place at the Chamber Annual Dinner.
Do you know someone who exemplifies dedication and service through personal involvement in the
community? If so, nominate them for the Citizen of the Year Award. Nominations are being sought and
accepted at the Chamber office. Letters of nomination must be submitted to the Chamber by 5:00 pm,
December 15th.
Any information that would acquaint the committee with the nominee’s qualifications are confidential.
The Citizen of the Year will be selected by a committee from the Chamber and will be based on the individual’s record of dedication and service to the community. The award will be presented during the
Chamber Annual Dinner on Saturday, January 29th, 2010 at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper
level.
.
Floyd Valley Hospital Foundation Gala
“Shall We Dance”
November 6 6:00 p.m.
upper level Le Mars Convention Center.
Tickets are $50 per person and include a five-course meal
served by Timmy’s Catering, silent and live auctions,
and a dance featuring the Hundred Proof Band.
For reservations, please call
Ruth at 546-6434 or Elvira at 546-4486
Plymouth County Domestic Violence Hosts Chamber Coffee