Chamber News 12-07.qxd - Madison Chamber of Commerce

Chamber News 12-07.qxd - Madison Chamber of Commerce

Chamber News 12-07.qxd
12/6/2007
3:42 PM
Page 1
December
A newsletter of the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce
Sen. John Thune speaks to Madison businessmen at Industry Banquet
By CHUCK CLEMENT
Reprinted from the Madison Daily Leader
Sen. John Thune focused on a couple of
subjects near and dear to the local economy - renewable energy and farming when he spoke to Madison-area residents
on Thursday, November 29.
South Dakota's junior senator provided
his observations on two pieces of legislation, the 2007 Energy and Farm bills, that
he hopes will arrive on the President's
desk within the next two months. Thune
said South Dakota is well positioned for
the new era in energy production with its
ethanol production and potential in windgenerated electricity.
Thune, R-SD, told his audience that the
Senate version of the Energy Bill provided a renewable fuels standard set at 8.5
He also noted the importance of providing economic opportunities for new graduates and young families so they can stay
in South Dakota.
"The bottom line is making sure that we
create a better quality of life," Thune said.
When asked about the possibility of
having a balanced federal budget, Thune
said the majority of requests that politicians receive involve spending additional
money on programs and projects.
According to Thune, Congress should
have rules similar to the S.D. Legislature
which is required to produce a balanced
budget.
"What we need is some hard caps…We
need some discipline imposed on us,
because politicians like to spend money,"
he said.
INDUSTRY BANQUET ...............................Cont. page 3
Randy Cundy, (left) a current co-owner of B&G Transportation Inc., stands
next to two former owners of the company, Gene Phillips (middle) and Gene
Casanova, at the 2007 Salute to Industry Banquet held Nov. 29 at the Dakota
Prairie Playhouse. B&G Transportation was recognized for its 35th anniversary as a Madison business by the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce.
(Photo by Chuck Clement)
Gene Appelwick, co-founder of G.A.
Murdock Inc., accepted a plaque honoring the 15 years that the water
purification and installation supply
company has manufactured its products in Madison. G.A. Murdock and
three other companies were honored
on Nov. 29 by the Chamber's Industry
and Commerce Committee. (Photo by
Chuck Clement)
billion gallons of ethanol in 2008, 1 billion
gallons higher than the current RFS standard. He said the bill also contained a
wind energy initiative which could help
the state catch up to its neighbors.
According to Thune, a recent study indicated that South Dakota could supply
enough wind generated electricity to support 55 percent of the nation's needs.
"We've got the potential. We've got the
wind," he said. "This is where the energy
companies want to be."
Thune delivered the keynote address
during the 2007 Salute to Industry
Banquet sponsored by the Industry &
Commerce Committee of the Madison
Chamber of Commerce. The senator spoke
to more than 115 banquet attendees who
were gathered at the Dakota Prairie
Playhouse.
Thune said he had added provisions to
the Energy Bill that supported the establishment of a dedicated wind corridor and
production tax credits for the wind-elec-
tricity industry. He was hopeful that
those provisions would remain in the final
version of the legislation.
In speaking about the 2007 Farm Bill,
he noted the inclusion of a provision that
supported research and production of cellulosic ethanol. Thune has said that cellulosic ethanol production could provide the
next boost to South Dakota's ethanol
industry. He said it was important to pass
the Farm Bill through the Senate before
the Christmas break and far ahead of the
spring planting season.
Thune also noted the local importance
of the Lewis & Clark water project and
development of a four-lane highway east
of Madison. He acknowledged that the
city had completed the first phase of its
recreational trail system, a paved pathway from Madison to Lake Madison.
Thune said he would work with local and
state officials and the state Department of
Transportation to expand SD-34 to four
lanes.
Josee Tardif, plant manager at PPD
UHMW Industries, accepted a plaque
honoring the 20 years that the compression molding business has operated in Madison. PPD Industries was
recognized at the 2007 Salute to
Industry Banquet held Nov. 29 at the
Dakota Prairie Playhouse. (Photo by
Chuck Clement)
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2
December
Ph: 427-7526
Waddell & Reed
Roger Stordahl
Vice President
Ph: 256-6634
First Madison Insurance
Kathy Graff
Sec/Treas
Ph: 256-4551
Wells Fargo Bank
BOARD MEMBERS
Steve Shirley
Ph: 256-5146
VP of Student Affairs, DSU
Beth Miller
Ph: 256-0338
Classic Corner
Ken Meyer
Ph: 256-7630
Lake County State's Attorney
Bob Fodness
Ph: 556-7500
Real Estate Retrievers
Fill Your Stockings with the Spirit of Madison This Holiday Season
Shop the Madison Chamber businesses to
enter the annual Holiday Promotion "12
Days of Christmas." Registration will continue until December 24th, with the final
drawing being held that same day. No purchase is necessary to register. The initial
drawing will be for $25 in prizes and/or gift
certificates and will increase $25 daily. For
example, the winner of the first drawing
From the Board. . .
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Contrary to what the media is saying, the sky is not falling on real estate sales in Lake
County. The real estate market is alive and well in our community. Take a look at these
statistics as provided by the Multiple Listing Service of the Realtor Association of the
Sioux Empire:
In 2006, there were 92 homes sold and prices ranged from $7,000.00 to $600,000.00. The
total volume in sales has reached $12,652,160.00. The average price per sale was
$137,523.00 and the average "days on market" was 65 days.
To date, in 2007 there have been 90 homes. Prices range from $40,400.00 to 662,000.00.
The total volume in sales has reached $12,833,520.00. The average price per sale is
$142,595.00 and the average number of days on market is at 98.
A big difference between the two years is the average "days on market". This has
increased due to more homes being offered for sale now than a year ago. A combination of
factors is currently affecting the real estate inventory in our area. Some factors include job
relocation, higher gas prices, estate selling and the normal down or up-sizing of homes.
Despite what the pundits are saying, it is still a great time to invest in real estate in our
area. Interest rates are still favorable and home availability in all price ranges is excellent.
Overall, long-term real estate has proven to be a relatively stabile investment.
I would like to wish everyone a joyous Holiday Season and a very prosperous New Year!
Tracy Fox
Ph: 256-5693
DSU Foundation
Shannon Kauffman
Ph: 256-6641
Pamida
Beth Bernard
Ph: 256-3333
Pizza Ranch
EX-OFFICIO
Mechelle Nordberg
City Commissioner
Bert Verhey
Rep., Lake Co. Commission
Dr. Douglas Knowlton
President, DSU
Vince Schaefer
Supt., Madison Central Schools
Aaron Walter
Dir., Lake Area Imp. Corp.
SFC Terry Finck
211th En. Co. National Guard
STAFF
Sascha Albrecht
Executive Director
Penni Groce
Office Manager
Day with Santa is sensational!
Over four hundred children's faces lit up,
as they got their chance to visit with Santa.
The Chamber's annual event, held on
December 8, 2007, was embraced by several
area businesses looking to support this event
for Madison area youth. The overwhelming
sponsorships made this a remarkable event
for all. The Chamber would like to take this
opportunity to thank the following businesses
for their donations: Pamida, CocaCola
Company, Assist Financial Services, 2nd
Street Diner, East River FCU, ECCO,
Eyecare Center, Farmer's Insurance Group,
Gary's Bakery, Kundert-Williams Insurance,
State Farm Insurance, Bob's Electric, Dr.
Bernard Schuurmans, Getting Well
Chiropractic, Insurance & Real Estate
Market, Madison Chiropractic, Jubilee Foods,
Taco John's, Q-Set, Madison Instant Printing,
Dr. Derrill Hanson, Dakota Fixture &
Cabinet, Madison Vision Clinic, Vetter
Solutions, Wireless World, Montgomery's
Furniture, McDonald's, Dairy Queen, and
AmericInn.
In addition, several area organizations
boosted the merriment by providing games or
activities for the boys and girls to enjoy.
Madison Area Arts Council, Madison Daily
Leader, Buckle Up Bulldogs, Madison
Jaycees, Bethel Lutheran Home, ECCO,
Farmer's Insurance Group, ICAP and Phi
Beta Lambda each successfully entertained
Santa's guests throughout the morning.
Prairie Wave Communications and the
Madison Kiwanis Club made free photos with
Santa a reality. Now, each child will have a
Polaroid to remember this special event.
The Chamber would also like to thank all
of the individuals who assisted with the set up
of the event, particularly Dakota State
University's Men's Basketball team.
In true Christmas fashion, donations were
collected for the Lake County Food Pantry at
the Day with Santa. We were overwhelmed
with the response and excited to help those in
need during the Holidays. Those in attendance receive an extra treat, as more than fifty
prizes were given away. We are pleased to
make someone's Christmas a little brighter.
As you can see, this event was made possible by several area businesses. Please thank
them for their support. The armory looked and
felt magical during Day with Santa, and it is
due to the hard work of several individuals
who assisted in the set up and clean up.
Shannon and Sherise Kauffman, Linda
Brozik and Joanne Wheeler played a vital role
in this fun-filled day. It's safe to say that they
are all on Santa's "nice" list.
A
Dwaine Chapel
Sincerely,
Bob Fodness, Broker/Owner
Real Estate Retrievers of Madison
Chamber Board Members
SSIC
A
L
NY
CORN
E
R
Dir., Community Center
will receive $25 and the winner of the last
drawing will receive $300. Twelve drawings
will be held in total.
Register at participating Chamber businesses for your chance to win during the
Christmas shopping season! Look for winners to be announced via KJAM, the
Madison Daily Leader, and your Chamber
Newsletter.
E
Becky Halma
President
12 Days of Christmas
C
BOARD OFFICERS
IM
T
TIME I
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7 DAYS/WK
• Call ahead & have your
order when you want it...
• Check out our DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS &
MONTHLY PIZZA SPECIALS.
• Have you checked out our HOT STUFF today?
Thank you to all our great customers
We appreciate your business
500 SE 10th St • Madison
256-0338
Note
from the
Director
SASCHA
ALBRECHT,
Executive Director
When I think about the month of
December, it makes me think of many
things: snowy days, caroling, cocoa, candy
canes, and of course the Holidays. Its rich
tradition reminds us to be thankful for
what we are given, and to show appreciation to others in our lives.
As employers, why not take time this
month to think about how you are thanking and appreciating your employees. In
our hurried, busy lives, sometimes we forget that little things can make all the difference. It won't cost you're a lot of money,
but showing your appreciation to your
employees will build a strong team environment and motivate your workforce.
Some simple ideas could be:
Thank Them: Thanking employees for
a job well done is so very simple, yet so
effective. Thanks can take many forms. It
could be a pat on the back from a manager, a call from the company president, a
special parking spot for a week, a certificate or taking them to lunch.
Recognize Them: Letting everyone else
in the office know that one of their peers
did a great job works wonders. A survey
by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources found that 68% of employees
said that being appreciated was important to their job satisfaction. If you have a
company newsletter, recognize employees
for their efforts in and outside of the company.
Listen to Them: Listening to employee
ideas and opinions makes people feel like
they are a valuable member of your team
and are part of the company's success.
Have an open door policy and recognize
employees for their suggestions.
Treat Them: Everyone loves an unexpected surprise. Recognize employees who
do something above and beyond the call of
duty with a token of appreciation. How
about a company promotional item, an
afternoon off, a gift certificate, a massage
or facial, a round of golf or afternoon
snack. Your token of appreciation doesn't
have to be expensive.
Be Flexible with Them: When you can,
make sure your business is flexible and
family-friendly. Allowing employees to
leave when family commitments and
events arise is important to them. Plus, if
you have a great employee and don't want
to lose them, listen to their employment
needs and see if there isn't a compromise,
such as job-sharing.
The important thing to remember is
that when an employee enjoys their workplace, they are much more motivated to
do their best for you and the company. Be
open to new ideas, say thank you and
show your appreciation - not only during
this season - but all through the year.
If you are interested in becoming a
Chamber member, please contact us at
256-2
2454 or by email at
[email protected].
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December
SD Chamber of Commerce
Dakota State SIFE claims
President to discuss
Duel in the Valley honor
legislative issues in Madison
Health Care Reform - the Zaniya project report has been completed and it is suggesting reforms that include expanding
public assistance programs and highlighting everyone's responsibility to be responsible for health coverage (through insurance or financial wherewithal).
Property Taxes - another attempt will
be made to change the tax system for agricultural land. This debate will focus on a
possible shift of taxes to urban areas which
is being done currently with the 150% rule.
The Liquor License System - this is a
debate about a community's sense of quality of life and whether a system designed in
1939 fits today's needs.
Use Taxes for Manufacturing - several new issues are being addressed that
impact our state's manufacturers' ability to
remain competitive
Hear about these issues and others at
the Madison Chamber's Legislative Forum
on December 12, at the Madison Elk's
Club, beginning at noon. Cost of the meal
will be $7.
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce
President David Owen will be the featured
speaker, providing insight on a variety of
topics to be addressed by the South Dakota
Legislature during the 2008 session. The
looming session could be very pivotal in
regards to the above issues. Owen will also
field questions on other topics of concern.
Please RSVP to the Madison Chamber of
Commerce, 256-2454.
INDUSTRY BANQUET ...................................................... ........................................................................Cont. from page 1
Thune told his listeners that after the
2008 elections, he expected that a new
president and Congress would work with
some courage and newfound discipline to
resolve the rising costs associated with
health care, Social Security and
Medicare.
After Sen. John Thune finished his
keynote address, several other speakers
addressed the men and women who
attended the 19th Annual Salute to
Industry Banquet.
The group included Dwaine Chapel,
executive director of the Lake Area
Improvement Corporation, who provided
an overview of economic activity in
Madison during 2007.
Chapel's
address
included
an
announcement that Secure Banking
Solutions, a business started by Dr.
Kevin Streff, will move into the
Heartland Technology Center during the
first part of January 2008. SBS is a consulting firm that assists community
banks with improving their security.
Chapel added that LAIC was working
with another company that is interested
in locating its offices at the Technology
Center. He said the involved parties may
make an announcement about that agreement in the next few months.
According to Chapel, the committee
overseeing a housing study for Madison
was presented with a draft copy created
by its study group, Community Partners
Research of Lake Elmo, Minn. Chapel
said Community Partners Research could
produce the final version of the housing
study in the next few weeks. According to
Chapel, the study indicates that Madison
needs to expand its elderly care facilities
and provide more affordable housing.
John Goeman, Highway 34 Four the
Future committee member, listed the
progress the group had made in promoting the expansion of SD-34 east of
Madison.
Goeman said the group had presented
informational PowerPoint presentations
to the state's congressional delegation
and helped pass corridor preservation
resolutions through the Lake and Moody
county commissions. He added that the
highway expansion had grown into a
regional project by gaining the support of
the transportation committee for the
Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.
Cotton Koch, Madison Middle School
principal, provided a PowerPoint presentation outlining the middle school's latest
vocational education offerings. Koch said
that the integrated studies classroom
Gary Flynn, Arctic Cat plant manager, was presented with a plaque recognizing the 15 years that Arctic Cat
had operated a manufacturing plant
in Madison. Arctic Cat was one of
four businesses recognized at the
Salute to Industry banquet on Nov.
29. (Photo by Chuck Clement)
offers students a look at many occupations in today's technological world.
In the integrated studies classroom,
students can learn about careers in fields
such as robotics, plastics and polymers,
computer graphics and animation, flight
technology and audio broadcasting.
After the speakers had finished, the
Chamber's industry and commerce committee presented awards to four Madison
manufacturing companies recognizing
their years of operation - Arctic Cat, 15
years; G.A. Murdock, 15 years; PPD
UHMW Industries, 20 years; and B&G
Transportation, 35 years.
The Madison Chamber of Commerce
works to promote its members, the community and economic development,
resulting in a better quality of life.
Dakota State University's SIFE
(Students in Free Enterprise) organization
recently took home first place while competing in the annual Duel in the Valley at
the University of North Dakota campus in
Grand Forks, North Dakota held
November 8 -10. Six universities were represented in the competition, including
Dakota State University, St. Cloud State,
University of Minnesota (Crookston),
North Central University, Southwest State
and the University of Mary.
During the competition, the various
teams were given a hypothetical case study
describing the financial problems of a fictitious girl. The "Duel in the Valley" compe-
tition had to be completed within 36 hours,
during which teams could not contact their
advisors or other members not approved
previously by the judges. At the conclusion,
each team was required to give a 19
minute presentation with a 5 minute question and answer period for the judges.
The winner of the competition, DSU
SIFE, was awarded a cash prize of $2000
and the opportunity to compete in the
"Duel in the Desert" in Tucson, AZ on
March 6-9, 2008. This was DSU SIFE's
first opportunity to compete in a Duel.
Dakota State students competing were
Noah Sanderson, Eric Assmus, Erica
Christoph, and Jesse Erdman.
Don't get stuck in the kitchen
- exchange cookies instead
(ARA) - Treat your friends to a taste of
your baking skills this holiday season
with a recipe that yields delicious cookies
and lasting friendships. Host a cookie
exchange party. These festive swaps offer
a time-saving way to share an assortment
of baked-from-scratch treats.
Just invite eight to 12 friends and ask
them to bring six dozen of their favorite
holiday cookies. At the swap, exchange
cookies to end up with a variety of six
dozen new cookies.
The Secret to Cookie Success
"Reynolds Parchment Paper is my simple step to better baking for cookie
exchanges," advises Robin Olson, celebrated cookie exchange hostess and pioneer of the modern cookie swap. "Lining
my pans with parchment paper ensures
my cookies bake evenly and slide off the
cookie sheet. I also use parchment paper
to roll dough and stencil decorations. It's
my tool to keep cookie baking fuss-free."
For more how-to's on hosting a successful cookie exchange party, consider these
tips from Olson:
* Timing is everything. Choose a convenient date and time, perhaps a weekend
morning. Limit the party to two to three
hours.
* The more the merrier. Eight to 12
guests provide a nice assortment of cookies.
* Bake six dozen. Instead of asking each
guest to bring a dozen cookies for each
attendee, pick a quantity that won't
change with each RSVP. I usually ask
each guest to bring six dozen cookies.
*Variety rules. To ensure guests don't
all show up with gingerbread men, ask
what type of cookie they will be bringing
when they RSVP. If a guest wants to
bring a cookie that's already on the RSVP
list, help her think of an alternate.
* Make your favorite at home. Ask
guests to e-mail their cookie recipes to you
in advance. This way, you can print off
copies to hand out at the exchange so partygoers can make more at home.
When it comes to baking cookies for the
exchange, Olson offers this time-saving
advice:
* Roll dough with ease. Roll cookie
dough between two lightly floured sheets
of parchment paper to prevent sticking
and to keep work surfaces clean.
* Speed up cookie baking. Arrange
cookie dough on sheets of parchment
paper and slide parchment onto the cookie sheet when it's time to bake. When a
batch comes out of the oven, simply swap
out the sheets of parchment so there's no
waiting between batches.
* Line pans for brownies or bar cookies.
Turn the pan upside down and press a
sheet of parchment paper over the inverted pan. Remove the parchment paper, flip
the pan over and drop the parchment
paper liner inside, pressing folds in corners to fit liner inside pan. Spread batter
in parchment-lined pan and bake as
directed. When the brownies or bar cookies are cool, lift them by the parchment
paper from the pan onto a cutting board.
Fold back the edges of the parchment
paper and cut into bars.
* Stack cookies with ease. To transport
cookies to and from the party, place a
piece of parchment paper between layers
of cookies. This protects decorations and
prevents cookies from sticking to each
other.
For more cookie exchange tips and
cookie
exchange
recipes,
visit
www.ReynoldsSimpleSecrets.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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4
December
Memorial service
facilitates coping
with holiday grief
Ellsworth Funeral Home hosted their
20th Annual Holiday Memorial Service on
Sunday, December 9th. Rev. Becky
Senner of St. John Lutheran Church,
rural Ramona, led the service. The
Candlelight Memorial Service was open to
all families who had lost a loved one in
2007, regardless of funeral home preference. The program included suggestions
for coping with holiday grief.
Enjoy live
entertainment
at Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo will be hosting a Holiday
Open House on December 20 from 9:00
AM - 4:00 PM. Coffee, cider and holiday
goodies will be provided. Throughout the
afternoon, Wells Fargo will have the following live entertainment: Elda Person at
12:00 PM, Laudate Choir at 1:00 PM and
Kiwanis Barber Shop Quartet at 3:00 PM.
Join us at Wells Fargo to toast the
Holidays!
Members kick off
the Holidays at
Chamber
More than 75 Chamber members
descended on the Depot for the Chamber's
Holiday Mixer on December 3. The
Diplomats Committee hosted the event.
In addition to the food, catered by
Skipper's, and drinks, provided by
Madison Discount Liquor, individuals
registered for door prizes. JoAnn Owens
of Johnson Jewelers won the centerpiece,
which was donated by The Floral Shop at
Madison Nursery, and Dale Slaughter of
Krug Products took home $25 in Chamber
Bucks.
At the Holiday Mixer, the Chamber
launched a new look for its Web site,
www.chamberofmadisonsd.com,
and
unveiled the 2008 Madison Area Visitor's
Guide and Directory.
Decorations for the evening were provided by local flower shops. Grapevines
decorated the tree and Sample Our
Flowers provided a wreath. The decorations will be on display at the Depot for
the remainder of December. Thanks to all
who contributed to the Chamber's
Holiday Mixer!
HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?
Send your stories or events to
[email protected] or
call Sascha Albrecht at 256-2454.
Ben
Franklin
Your local
Office
Supplier.
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Two elected to Madison
Chamber Board of Directors
The Madison Area Chamber of
Commerce would like to congratulate and
welcome the following individuals to our
Board of Directors:
Russell Olson
(Heartland Consumers Power District) and
Bob Sahr (East River Electric Cooperative).
Beginning January 2008, these individuals
will fill positions left by Becky Halma
(Waddell & Reed) and Beth Miller (Classic
Corner Convenience) due to expired terms.
The Madison Chamber Board of
Directors held their annual planning
retreat on December 4, 2007, at the Karl
Mundt Foundation. The group held several
discussions as to the current role of the
Chamber and what the future entails. 2008
goals were set for the organization and will
be released in the January newsletter. The
Chamber wishes to thank Mechelle
Nordberg for facilitating the retreat.
New resource for
travel professionals
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota
Office of Tourism recently launched a new
web site designed specifically to provide
useful information to travel agents, meeting planners and group tour operators
with the hopes that the site will help them
bring more visitors to the state. The site
provides details on planning group tours,
and suggests vacation destinations and
convention locations.
"The information on the new site is useful and easily accessible," said Billie Jo
Waara, director of the South Dakota Office
of Tourism. "Anything we can do to make
the planning process quick and easy for
travel trade professionals is a step closer
to them booking South Dakota on a group
tour, or suggesting South Dakota to a
client."
The site, www.TourSDakota.com, also
allows travel trade professionals to sign
up to receive monthly updates on what's
new and interesting to their audiences.
Travel professionals also will have access
to receptive services listings, South
Dakota's convention and visitor bureaus,
and order forms for travel information to
customize their clients' trips to South
Dakota.
"The new site provides vital information to professionals in the travel trade
industry, in both domestic and international markets," said Maureen Droz,
Trade Sales and Marketing Manager for
the South Dakota Office of Tourism. "This
site will act as a one-stop shop where travel trade professionals can access information such as mileages, drive times, motorcoach services, major attractions, restaurants, accommodations, convention services, group-friendly properties and contact
information."
The site was developed in conjunction
with Lawrence & Schiller of Sioux Falls,
the Office of Tourism's advertising agency
of record.
The new web site is part of Goal 1 of the
2010 initiative to double visitor spending
in South Dakota. The Office of Tourism
serves under the direction of Richard
Benda, Secretary of the Department of
Tourism and State Development.
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5
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December
CommissionSoup sees
considerable growth in 2007
Solid growth and expanding services in
2007 leads affiliate marketing group
CommissionSoup to more hires, promotions within
Madison, SD - The leading online affiliate marketing group, CommissionSoup,
has made significant promotions and hired
new team members to keep up with thriving business due to the company's solid
growth and expanding services this year.
CommissionSoup has added several
new faces to the affiliate marketing team.
Tracy Wieneke joined CommissionSoup as
an account representative, providing
account management and customer service to current and new clients. Angela
Peters, Database Marketing Coordinator,
will specialize in email campaigns, monitoring current trends and statistics and
helping clients improve email performance. Emily Christensen has joined the
team as Quality Control Assistant, monitoring client programs to ensure they're
meeting all compliance standards. John
Eining, Programmer, will develop web
applications and implement marketing
practices using CommissionSoup's proprietary technology.
"At CommissionSoup we work with
each client individually to provide the
most innovative strategies and ensure
that affiliate program campaigns hit peak
performance," said Darin Namken, presi-
dent of CommissionSoup. "These new
hires will help us continue to maintain
personal relationships with all of our customers and stay abreast of the latest
trends in the online marketing industry."
Promotions within Commission Soup
are: Kendra Wire promoted to Client
Support Services, Jill Molstad promoted to
Strategic Sales Coordinator and Sara
Arizmendis promoted to Interactive
Project Planner.
"These women have all put in a lot of
hard work with CommissionSoup, and we
are glad to give them these promotions
and see them move up within our company," said Namken.
For additional information about
CommissionSoup or to enroll in the
CommissionSoup network visit www.commissionsoup.com.
About CommissionSoup:
CommissionSoup provides online marketing solutions through their performance-based affiliate marketing network.
CommissionSoup focuses on online marketing solutions by providing an online
connection for marketers and merchants
to create mutually beneficial relationships. With a variety of online programs to
market and cutting-edge technology, marketers can find the programs and options
to make their marketing efforts a success
with CommissionSoup.
Did we miss something?
Send it to [email protected] or call Sascha Albrecht at 256-2454.
PUC and energy providers launch
South Dakota Energy Smart
NorthWestern Energy, Heartland among partners
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Public
Utilities Commission and the state's energy providers pledged their partnership in
South Dakota Energy Smart, a statewide
initiative that recognizes and promotes
energy efficiency.
"South Dakota Energy Smart goes beyond
simply offering sage energy conservation
advice like 'turn down the heat' and 'turn
off extra lights,'" said PUC Chairman
Dusty Johnson. "While those are easy and
important ways to reduce energy bills,
South Dakota Energy Smart is a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency.
Consumers, energy providers and regulators all have a responsibility to be reactive
and proactive to rising energy costs, take
steps toward energy security and independence, and be stewards of the land.
This initiative addresses all those things,"
he said.
South Dakota Energy Smart partners
include the PUC, Black Hills Power,
MidAmerican Energy Company, MontanaDakota Utilities, NorthWestern Energy,
Otter Tail Power Company, Xcel Energy,
Heartland Consumers Power District,
Missouri River Energy Services, the South
Dakota Municipal Electric Association,
and the South Dakota Rural Electric
Association. Representatives of each entity
signed a formal South Dakota Energy
Smart pledge during an announcement
event held Nov. 27 in Sioux Falls.
PUC Vice Chairman Gary Hanson said:
"The South Dakota Energy Smart is a
resource to help consumers make wise
energy choices. Energy efficiency must be
part of any discussion about the future; our
Earth's fossil fuels are not infinite, once
they are depleted they will be gone forever.
Wise energy use helps extend our
resources and helps reduce everyone's utility bills."
"I commend the leadership of each partnering utility and association in coming
together to support the South Dakota
Energy Smart initiative," said PUC
Commissioner Steve Kolbeck. "The initiative is a sensible collaboration among partners who have a common interest in advocating energy efficiency. Each of the energy provider partners offers energy efficiency programs or is in the process of developing programs for their South Dakota customers. That shows their true commitment
to helping South Dakotans be more efficient users of energy," he concluded.
South Dakota Energy Smart includes a
new Web site, www.SDEnergySmart.com
and a statewide television campaign urging homeowners to prepare their homes for
winter.
More than 25 South Dakota organizations
and agencies have signed on as South
Dakota Energy Smart supporters. These
groups represent the housing sector, service agencies, and government offices. For a
complete list of supporters, go to
www.SDEnergySmart.com.
The LAIC Perspective
By Jim Iverson, President
A number of years ago, the LAIC looked
into what assistance could be given to a
local company in their daily operations.
Our then-executive director, Russ Olson,
and the LAIC board asked ourselves if we
could help Rosebud Manufacturing in considering transitioning from an operation
that was using a number of building sites,
to an operation that would be housed in
one facility. After some initial inquiries,
our discussion on the subject was dropped.
We were pleased when we heard that
talks with their management had
resumed, and that a new building in our
new industrial park was exactly what
Rosebud was considering. We were excited for Rosebud, imaging what a new
building could do for their operations both
now and in the future.
Then, in September, was the news of
the forthcoming closure of the Arctic Cat
plant here in Madison. Such news is like
that of a death of a loved one or friend. For
Arctic Cat was home for ninety hardworking neighbors and friends. I had the
privilege of touring the Madison plant on
several occasions, and was always
impressed by the pride, professionalism,
and dedication of their employees. Each
one was proud to work at Arctic Cat - and
it showed!
These folks needed to know that there
were people and agencies ready to assist
them when the news of the plant closure
was announced. The LAIC was working
with the Arctic Cat ownership prior to the
official announcement, making sure that
when the employees first heard the word representatives from the state department of labor and the Career Center were
present. On site. Ready to assist those
who needed it. We at the LAIC made it
possible.
Two totally separate events. One not
linked with the other, only that the LAIC
was offering assistance in both cases.
Now, with the news of the Arctic Cat plant
closing, the LAIC was able to coordinate
plans with Rosebud Manufacturing to
enable them to purchase the existing
building that would be vacated next
spring by Arctic. The news of the death of
one plant brings new life and vitality to
another.
The LAIC is committed to help our
existing companies grow and survive
tomorrow's challenges, equally committed
to aid in times of difficulty, transition and
closure. I am very proud to be a board
member of the LAIC, and proud of the
work both Dwaine and Kari do each day
on our behalf.
Heartland speaks for load serving
entities at wind conference
BY DANIELLE ROSHEIM
Mike McDowell, General Manager of
Heartland Consumers Power District of
Madison, served as a panelist at a conference
organized
by
the
National
Wind
Coordinating Collaborative entitled "Wind
Energy and Transmission: The South
Dakota Landscape." The conference, held
November 29 and 30 at the Sioux Falls
Convention Center, addressed South
Dakota's exceptional opportunities for wind
power, examined transmission constraints to
increased wind development in the state and
explored possible solutions that would facilitate and enhance wind energy in the region.
Thursday's events focused on setting the
stage for wind power in South Dakota and
discussed the state's potential role in
President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative
for 20% wind energy in the U.S. Panelists
included Steve Lindenberg, Acting Program
Manager for the Wind and Hydropower
Technologies division of the U.S. Department
of Energy, Dave Corbus, Senior Engineer for
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
and Hunter Roberts, Assistant Energy
Director for the South Dakota Infrastructure
Authority, among others.
Friday's follow-up featured presentations
and panel discussions with representation
from various power supply companies,
including Missouri River Energy Services,
MidAmerican Energy Company, East River
Electric Power Cooperative, Great River
Energy and Otter Tail Power Company.
McDowell, joined on panel by Mike Hanson,
President of NorthWestern Energy, and Jim
Wilcox, Government & Community
Relations Manager for Xcel Energy, spoke on
behalf of load serving entities' perspectives.
Specifically, he addressed the opportunities
for wind development in Heartland's service
territory and discussed the Big Stone II and
Wessington Springs Wind projects, which
will provide additional transmission capacity
for wind development in South Dakota and
meet potential future renewable resource
portfolio standards by supplying wind energy
to Heartland Customers, respectively.
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), an active
supporter of wind energy development, was
the Keynote Speaker for the conference. In
May of 2007, Thune hosted a Wind Energy
Roundtable in Sioux Falls that focused on
developing transmission infrastructure in
South Dakota. He also introduced the Wind
Energy Development Act of 2007, which
would extend the 2-cent-per-kwh tax credit
for wind energy for four years through 2012
and increase the successful Clean Renewable
Energy Bonds from $1.2 billion to $2.25 billion. In June, the Senate passed Senator
Thune's
Clean
Energy
Corridors
Amendment, which established a streamlined process for building transmission lines
that transmit renewable electrical energy
from rural power generation sites to urban
areas.
"Transmission bottlenecks stand in the
way of sending both South Dakota renewable wind energy and clean coal energy to
load centers," said McDowell. "Lengthy,
cumbersome review processes by state agencies are a major cause of delays of as much
as 10 years in approval for badly needed
transmission projects. These delays raise
costs to all electric consumers. We support
efforts by Senator Thune and others to enact
federal legislation that would facilitate timely construction of transmission lines needed
to provide reliable energy, including renewables, at the lowest possible cost to
consumers."
Heartland Consumers Power District, a
non-profit public corporation headquartered
in Madison, provides supplemental power to
the City of Madison from a diversified mix of
resources in the Midwest. The City of
Madison then retails the power to its residents, businesses, and industries. For more
information about the Wind Energy &
Transmission Conference, visit the National
Wind Coordinating Collaborative website,
www.nationalwind.org/.
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December
EVENT
DECEMBER 2007 EVENTS
Dec. 7-24 ..........................................12 Days of Christmas Promotion Drawings,
Madison Retailers
Dec. 11 ................8:30am - 1pm ......Leadership Madison 2007 Session VII: Leading from
the Middle, East River Electric
Dec. 11 ................4:00pm ................Chamber Board of Directors Meeting , Depot
Dec. 11 ................5:00-7:00pm ........Chamber Mixer at ProCellular, 107 S. Egan
Dec. 12 ................10:00am-12:00pm....Grain Commodity Outlook Meeting,
Dakota Prairie Playhouse
Dec. 12 ................12:00pm ..............Legislative Forum, Madison Elks Club
Dec. 12..............................................Long-Term Care Partnership Educational Program,
Madison City Library
Dec. 13-14 ........................................Board of Regents at Dakota State University
Dec. 16 ................2:00pm ................DSU Fall Commencement
Dec. 20 ................9:00am-4:00pm ..Wells Fargo Holiday Open House
Dec. 20 ................Noon ....................Waddell & Reed Lunch & Learn: Sheltering Earned
Income from Taxes, Depot
Dec. 24..............................................Christmas Eve - Chamber Office Closes at Noon
Dec. 25..............................................Christmas Day - Chamber Office Closed
Dec. 31..............................................New Year's Eve - Chamber Office Closes at Noon
Madison Area Chamber of Commerce
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote our members, the community, and
economic development, resulting in a better
quality of life.
DON’T MISS OUT!
ADVERTISE IN THE JANUARY EDITION!
DEADLINE IS MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 • 3PM
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in local coverage.
JANURARY 2008 EVENTS
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
1................................................New Year's Day - Chamber Office Closed
2 ..................Noon ....................Education Committee Meeting, Rumor's Steakhouse
8 ..................4:00pm ................Chamber Board of Directors Meeting, Depot
9 ..................4:00pm ................Junior Achievement Board of Directors Meeting, Depot
10 ................Noon ....................Community Promotions Committee Meeting, Depot
15 ................8:00am ................Leadership Madison 2007 Session VIII: Understanding
the Legislative Process, Pierre
Jan. 15 ................8:00am ................Madison Hosts the Legislature, Pierre
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Call your Waddell & Reed financial advisor today
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Waddell & Reed, Inc. (05/06)
MADISON CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
732 S. Washington • Madison, SD
Phone: 605-427-PLAN
Fax: 605-427-7528
www.waddell.com
Member SIPC
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Over 10 Years Experience
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207 N. Egan Ave.
Madison, SD 57042
Dr. Jason T. Evans
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(605) 256-0336