Shawnee Chamber of Commerce

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
.shawneechamber.com
Circulation 7.
America's Coolest Small Towns
- Food for Thought
December 2009
Nancy Kieth
President & CEO
Bigger is usually considered better. But, in a poll conducted by Budget Travel magazine, more than 100,000 small town
residents jumped to vote to have their community crowned the "Coolest Small Town in America."
The magazine was looking for Main Street, USA- places where you find real people, excited to be part of their communities. As for what makes a town "cool," the magazine found it's very subjective. It was determined it is not an exact science,
but in general, there are three really good markers for a small town.
• You have to be able to get a good cup of coffee.
• When people leave for the big city, they realize they've made a mistake and come back home.
• You'll see more art galleries than country stores. "This is not quaint America. This is cool America!"
I've selected a few of the winners from 2008 and 2009 to give you an idea of what people perceive as "cool." I think you
will recognize some of these qualities in our community and possibly ways we can add to our own "coolness."
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. (pop. 2,569)
The long-depressed former railroad hub reinvented itself as an artists' colony several years
ago, so the 19th-century storefronts traffic more in quirky than in quaint. "The Center for
Cartoon Studies offers lectures by cartoonists such
as Garry Trudeau. The Tip Top building, a former
bakery, is home to about 40 artists' studios. Residents are happy the town has maintained a sense
of community as it's grown. White River Junction
also has decent nightlife. You can catch a play by
the Northern Stage theater company and then eat
dinner to live jazz at "Elixir, a lounge in an old freight
warehouse.
LIVINGSTON, MONT. (pop. 7,062)
The many twenty-somethings who've moved to Livingston were drawn by the low rents and
the number of artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers who call the place home. Livingston's writing community frequently attends each other's readings at Conley's Books & Music.
Bands play several nights a week at "The Owl Lounge, and western artists show their works at
"Visions West Gallery.
JACKSONVILLE, OREGON (pop. 2,750)
Jacksonville, an old gold-rush town, is
surrounded by 17 wineries. South Stage
Cellars stocks bottles from nine of those
area wineries. The Garden Bistro at the
five-room McCully House Inn & Cottages
showcases local growers of a different
sort, with food products from 27 area
purveyors,
including
cheese from
the goats at
nearby Pholia Farm.
MOUNT VERNON, IOWA (pop 3,390)
An annual sidewalk-chalk festival takes place each May in Mount
Vernon. Hundreds of people
put their stamp on more than
4,000 square feet of the main
drag. Lincoln Cafe serves
dishes like the Carolina pork
BBQ sandwich which draws
diners from all over the state.
The unofficial clubhouse
for Mount Vernon's creative
types is Fuel, a 4-year-old
coffee shop that doubles as
^ an antiques store.
MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO (pop 5, 038)
Manitou Springs is home to
residents who come from all
walks of life. "Kinfolks Mountain
Shop sells outdoor gear, but
it's also a bar and live-music
venue. WeUsOur Artists Market
has unusual art on display, such
as giant pottery teapots and
portraits painted with coffee,
while "Cripple Creek Dulcimers
& Guitars is run by a tie-dyewearing former mayor who
bears an interesting
resemblance to the late
Jerry Garcia. At The
Mate Factor cafe, wraps
of hormone-free turkey
share the menu with
mate, a beverage popular in South America.
CATSKILL, N. Y. (pop. 4,340)
After a period of neglect in the 1980s
and '90s, Catskill is attracting artists
again, as much for its affordable
Victorian homes as for the surroundings. In 2005, musician Frank
Cuthbert turned a crumbling 19th-century building into the "Brik
Gallery, which hosts exhibits as well as classical-music concerts
and readings. Down the street sits a three-year-old gallery, "Open
Studio."
YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO (pop 3,675)
Yellow Springs has drawn artists
and creative thinkers for years. The
Winds Cafe & Bakery serves dishes
using ingredients mostly from local
farms. The main drag in Yellow
Springs, Xenia Avenue, is lined
with shops, cafes, restaurants, and
galleries. No Common Scents sells
more than 250 varieties of herbs
and spices from across the globe,
and La Llama Place, is stocked with
crafts from South America. Public
art has taken on a new meaning in the town, as well. One day,
knitting appeared wrapped around a tree downtown, and soon
passersby were bringing yarn to add to it. Now, the signposts up
and down Xenia Avenue are covered with knitted "graffiti."
Associated Press article...
"What takes this to a
different level is it is a
community thing," said
Corrine Bayraktaroglu,
an artist who helped
start the "knitknot tree"
project. "People are
really, really enjoying
it. They're coming from
towns to have their photograph taken with the tree. They're
adding stuff to the pockets."
www.shawneechamber.com
SHOP
SHAWNEE
IT PAYS TO SHOP THE GRETER SHAWNEE AREA!
CONGRATULATIONS VICKI LOWER
WINNER OF $1,000 IN CHAMBERBUCKS
Mike McCormick, Shawnee Business Council chair, presents Vicki Lower, a
customer of Richard's Drug, with $1,000 in Chamberbucks after her name
was drawn from a group of twenty semi-finalists.
Thanks to the following merchants, whose participation made the "Shop the
Greater Shawnee Area" campaign a complete success. Listed are the merchants and the customer who was chosen as each merchant's semi-finalist.
Communication Federal Credit Union
Debbie Nelson (Shawnee)
Communication Services
David Treat (Shawnee)
Dillard's
Richard Harper (Choctaw)
Edward Jones Investments-Pam Richardson
Faye McCalip (Tecumseh)
Ell's Jewelry
Phyllis Williamson (Wewoka)
Evan Williams Insurance
Rebecca Osife (Shawnee)
Expressions Home Accessories
Cathy Berkstresser (Shawnee)
Finley Cleaners
Judy Fletcher (Meeker)
GO Computer Services
Richard Wood (McLoud)
Hartoon Jewelers
Ruth Henderson (Shawnee)
House of Flowers
Rena' Jett (Tecumseh)
Mabeee-Gerrer Museum of Art
Claudia Hileman (Shawnee)
Medicine Shoppe
Ida Parish (Shawnee)
Pott. County Book & Office Supply
Sherri Martin (Choctaw)
RBC Agency
Dana Johnson (Shawnee)
Richard's Drug
Vicki Lower (Shawnee)
Tener's Western Outfitters
Mae Potts (Shawnee)
Troy & Dollie Smith YMCA
Amanda Ledford (Shawnee)
Van's Pig Stand
Sandra Roe (Shawnee)
White's Ace Building Center
Elaine Phillips (Shawnee)
Why We Should Always Shop Shawnee
Community Development. .. Purchasing locally increases sales tax revenue and thereby increases the
revenue on which our City government operates. That means improved law enforcement, fire-fighting, street improvements, recreational opportunities, community beautification, and much,
much more.
Community Support... The businesses in the greater Shawnee area generously support organizations and
events that are vital to our community, such as youth recreation programs, school activities and economic development projects. They unselfishly contribute to our quality of life and deserve our support.
Keep your shopping dollars at home to strengthen and enrich your community.
www.shawneechamber.com
Beautification Committee Distributes More Trees
The Greater Shawnee Area Beautification Committee distributed more free
trees to Shawnee Area citizens on Saturday, October 31 at the Shawnee
Municipal Airport. These trees are from the Oklahoma Tree Bank Foundation and are funded by the Apache Foundation of Houston.
Tree distribution began at 8 am and continued until about 11 am until all the
trees were dispersed. There was limit of three trees per household.
Beautification committee members as well as members of the Multi-County
Master Gardeners were present during the tree distribution to answer questions about the attributes of the trees. Tree planting information sheets were
also available.
The trees were in three or five gallon containers and included maples, bald
cypress, pistache, pine, oak, elm, and redbud trees.
When this distribution is completed, nearly 20,000 trees will have been provided to Shawnee area citizens during the past
twelve months courtesy of these generous foundations and the many volunteers who have assisted with the project.
Leadership Shawnee Class 2009 Sponsors the First
Annual "Shop with a Cop" Program
What it "Shop with a Cop?"
"Shop with a Cop" provides a joyful holiday for underprivileged children who, without
this event, may not experience the joys of Christmas. Beyond bringing joy to the
lives of many children, "Shop with a Cop" also provides positive interaction between
local law enforcement officers and the children.
How does it work?
Local children selected by a local service organization will be paired with law enforcement officers for a fun filled night of shopping at our local Wai-mart store. Each
child will receive a $50 gift card to purchase items for themselves or their family.
part of this great project
irt at 405-876-3700
child please
it 405-275-6060
Members of the 2009
Leadership Class learn
new skills while working at
McDonalds to earn tips for
"Shop with a Cop."
www.shawneechamber.com
Our Partners
Walmart
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CHAMBER .» COMMERC!
HOSPITALITY
Business After Hours
Vision Bank - Shawnee
4300 N. Harrison
December 10, 2009
Project Heart
830 W. Ford Street
January 28, 2010
5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Business After Hours are GREAT networking events. Each month a Chamber member opens his/her doors to the entire Chamber
membership for networking, hors d'ovures and drinks. Can you think of a better way to introduce yourself and your business to the
community? Don't forget to bring your business cards.
COMMITMENT
mbassador of the Month
Kim Steen, Shawnee Medical Center Clinic, Landon Middleton, Tech
Rescue, Amanda Williams, Evan
Williams
Insurance Agency, and
JULY
AUGUST
Donald
Pyeatt,
Success by Six
Kim Steen
Landon Middleton
achieved
Ambassador
of the Month
SMCC
Tech rescue
status in July, August, September
and October respectively. We are
pleased to recognize their service as an Ambassador, and the countless hours
they have given to the community through other Chamber activities.
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
Donald
Pyeatt
Amanda Williams
Success
by Six
Evan Williams Insurance
Welcome New Members
ADG Painting & Handyman Services
Leba Chiropractic
Alpine Exterminators
LRJ, Incorporated
COHRA
Multi Country Insurance Center
DC Cake Appeal Bakery
Select Janitor Supply
Extreme Roofing Solutions
Shawnee Travel Shoppe, Inc.
TEAMWORK
iank You Renewinq Members
Ada Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Inc.
America's Best Value
American Chiropractic Clinic
American Eagle Plumbing
American Heating & Air Conditioning
Back 40 Design, Incorporated
BancFirst
Belshe Industries
Bill Palmeter, GRI
Blain Dewees-Landman, Incorporated
Brown Furniture Company
Carls Jr.
Cazadorez Mexican Restaurant
Central Disposal LLC
Central Oklahoma Eye Associates, P.C.
Century 21/ Golden Key Realty
Chicago Street Deli
Choice Title Insurance Agency
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Cornerstone Chiropractic & Wellness
Cornerstone Dental, PLLC
Country Cottage Primitive Lavender Farm
Crossroads Head Start & Early Head Start
Danny K. Cochran CPA PC
Dennis Morris State Farm Insurance
Dolese Brothers Company
Edward Jones Investments/ Richardson
Elaine Holiday
Ell's Jewelry & Gifts
Evan Williams Insurance
Expressions Home Accessories & More
E-Z Ship & Copy
Factory Direct
Faith 7 Housing, Incorporated
Firelake Designs
Flowers & Laster, Attorneys
Garfield's Restaurant & Pub
Gary Vogel State Farm Insurance
Great Plains Graphics of Shawnee
Hartoon Jewelers
Haskell Lemon Construction
Heartland Hospice & Home Health
Heartland Hypnosis Services, LLC
House of Flowers
Jason Moery Motors, LLC
Joe Cooper Ford of Shawnee
Jones Theatres
Kasterke Auto Mart, Incorporated
Kickapoo Casino
Kizzia Heating & Air Conditioning
LaQuinta Hotel Suites & Inns
Liberty Baptist Church
Main Street Fruit Market
McAlister's Deli
Monkey Business Children's Consignment
Mrs. Field's Cookies
Neal's Home Furnishings
OG&E
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
pdcpages
Pioneer Rental LLC
Pott. Co. Farmers Cooperative Marker, Inc.
Project Safe, Incorporated
RE/MAX of Shawnee
Rural Enterprises, Incorporated
Russell Cellular, Incorporated
S & S Farm Center
Sehorn Yamaha, Incorporated
Service Master Commercial Services
Shawnee Animal Hospital
Shawnee Beauty College
Shawnee Conservation District
Shawnee Electric Incorporated
Shawnee Fire Fighters Association
Shawnee Glass Company
Shawnee Iron Company
Shawnee Little Theatre, Incorporated
Shawnee MRI Associates, LLC
Shawnee Police Association
Shawnee Rotary
Shawnee Steel Company
Shawnee Suds
Shawnee Tag Agency
Sherwin Williams Company
Sonic
State Beauty Supply
State Farm Insurance - Chris Rick Agent
Stink Free, Incorporated
SubWorks, Incorporated
Technology Development Group, Incorporated
The Buckle, Incorporated
The Price Group Architects & Planners
Thomas E. Swearingen, Incorporated P.C
Troy & Dollie Smith YMCA
Van Eaton Ready Mix, Incorporated
Vision Bank of Shawnee
Waddell Family Chiropractic
Windmill Development Company
Wolverine Tube