Ellsworth-Kanopolis Area Chamber of Commerce ecofc@eaglecom.net
@Nick’s Notes – September 2006 Update #656 www.ellsworthkschamber.net
To: Chamber Members
CHAMBER BOARD BUSINESS
At their regular September meeting the Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber Board of Directors conducted the following business:
Approved the purchase of a new office chair.
Approved President Linda Denning’s candidates for the board member Ad Hoc Nominating Committee; Georgina Bates, Chair; Stacey Gustin and Alice Robson, members. (See board seeks candidates below)
Approved: Changes to the Bylaws Article VI COMMITTEES, Section 3 (outlines procedures for establishing ad hoc committees) and adds Article VII FINANCES (financial management for the Chamber is currently provided under a set of policies). Article VII simply validates the present practice of the board’s use of Fiscal Management policies.
In other business; the board requested that the director revise the board member attendance policy to allow for excused absences in meeting established attendance standards; they also consented to amending the current “Board of Director Major Responsibilities” by including a commitment signature block to be signed by incoming board members.
“All of today’s medicines share one unpleasant side effect – They all cost too much,”
BUSINESS “BUZZ”
Manager: Soon to officially open, Post Rock Abstract & Title Inc, has hired Teresa Shaffer to manage the new downtown business. Teresa recently moved to Ellsworth and is in the process of preparing the property for opening. We will have more to report in the near future.
Relocation: M & J Furniture has completed the move to the former location of Pennington’s This n That at 304 N. Douglas. Orvetta Handlin remains the local store manager.
Congratulations to chamber member Terry Robl and Robl Farm Supply, Inc for being presented with the New Holland President’s Prestige Award. Robl Farm Supply, Inc was one of 288 New Holland Dealers in the United States and Canada to receive this highest dealership honor.
“People don’t fail. They give up trying.”
BOARD SEEKS CANDIDATES
With the appointment of the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee the current board of directors will be seeking six (6) individuals, for three (3) seats, who would be willing to serve a three year term on the board. The committee will meet in the near future to review the membership roster. In the meantime, it is hoped that some individuals will step up to the plate and submit their names for consideration. You may contact the office or any member of that committee named above. I believe we have been extremely fortunate to have qualified applicants on the ballots for the past three years. Eligibility is not limited to the voting member of a full business membership. He or she may want a staff member to serve and can transfer the voting privilege to that employee for the length of their service if elected.
WELCOME BAGS
Our welcome bags for new residents need to be replenished. I will be contacting businesses who have items in inventory so I do not get overloaded. Most have zero balances so you may wish to gather up 20 promotional items and have them ready. Don’t bring items without calling first, to see what I have, if anything for your business.
SCENIC BYWAY MEETING OFFERS NEW HOPE
Board President Linda Denning, Dennis Katzenmeier and I attended a brain storming session with the group sponsoring a new scenic byway that I mentioned in last month’s update. Program Manager Debbie Divine, Salina, was the facilitator of the discussion. The Friends of Maxwell byway corridor runs from Canton to the intersection of highways 141 and 140. We were pleased that the group recognized the value of including Ellsworth-Kanopolis in their corridor plan based on our western cultural heritage attractions. Several of our historic sites and annual events were presented for consideration. While we had previously thought that there was no hope for Ellsworth having a scenic byway on the 140 corridor, Ms. Divine advised us that there would be a good probability that we could add the 14 miles into Ellsworth later once the Maxwell group receives final approval. This would be a significant enhancement to tourism potential for our area.
“Anyone who will gossip with you about someone else, will gossip about you with someone else “
GIFT CHECKS UPDATE
a In August there were a whopping 150 checks processed with a value of $1,790. There were four deposits totaling $2,208. The ending balance representing uncashed checks is $4,234 as of August 31st. There were 25 pages of cancelled checks to review. I noted that several individuals had checks made out to them. Several did not have a payee on the check. I encourage business owners to assure that checks have your name on the check. I realize the customer endorses them but most of the business endorsements on the back are very difficult to read after the bank processes. I try to monitor monthly where checks are cashed. I found one unauthorized location in this month’s batch.
a Our thanks to the Ellsworth County Medical Center Employee Activity Committee for their significant purchase of gift checks for their employee recognition ceremony.
“Prosperity is that short period between the final installment and the next purchase.”
MONTHLY CHAMBER GATHERIN’
Our thanks to Georgina Bates and James Morford for hosting an enjoyable Chamber Gatherin’ at the Good Samaritan Village Chapel on the 21st. As usual, Mr. Morford had much to share regarding the continual improvements that the Good Samaritan Village has in the planning stages. Their health care efforts for our seniors are outstanding in housing as well as their assisted and total care facilities. Beginning January 1st the entire Good Samaritan Society in the U.S. will undergo a name change and establish a new logo. Inasmuch as many of the units in the country have various names that do not include the Good Samaritan label, the new designation will be “Good Samaritan Society” with the specific name placed under that banner. Appropriately, the local unit will be using Ellsworth Village. Not much of a change to remember. We congratulate and thank Good Sam for an enjoyable and informative start to our Thursday.
“Tomorrow. The day that all will be accomplished”
CHAMBER WEBSITE www.ellsworthkschamber.net
| Date | Total Hits | Daily Average |
| June | 3,948 | 131.60 |
| July | 3,934 | 126.90 |
| August | 4,073 | 131.29 |
“A lot of good arguments are spoiled by folks who know what they are talking about.”
TOURISM VISITOR INFORMATION
|
| Out-of-State | In-State | Local | Foreign |
| Hodgden House Museum | 20 | 38 | 11 | 0 |
| Kanopolis Guard House | 50 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| Ellsworth Art Center | 6 | 5 | 28 | 0 |
This will be the final summary of tourism information until next travel season. I will continue to update
Georgia’s Caboose Countdown: Goal: $14,000 ______$10,000_________$5,000 ____$3,158
NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT
The chamber board will be discussing possible plans for a fall recruitment drive for new members. In preparation for that meeting, I am asking every full board member to send me a one line statement relating why you are a member of the chamber. I plan to develop a “10 Reasons for Being a Member of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce.” If I have a sufficient response, and I believe you all care as I do about our continued growth, I will consolidate similar responses so each will be an important reason for joining. Your business will be credited with the statement. We also welcome any fresh thoughts you might have for encouraging your fellow businesses (over 40 non-members) to join us in doing all that we can for our communities. You or an employee may be one of our top new business recruiter volunteers!! Let me know when you send your statement describing why you belong or what the chamber means to your business.
“It’s not what a teenage son knows that bothers his parents. It’s how he found out.”
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 23 – Homecoming Parade, Immanuel Lutheran Church Soup Supper, 5-7pm. EHS vs S.E. Saline.
September 24 – Mosaic Golf Tournament Ellsworth golf course, 472-4081.
September 25 – Ellsworth County-wide Open Forum, noon, Ellsworth golf course meeting room. President Gerald Cook Salina Area Chamber of Commerce guest speaker, “Regional Partnerships. Luncheon $5. Reservations by 4pm Friday. Public seating will be available.
September 29– “The Great American Cattle Drive Experience” Johnny Western concert 7pm
September 30 – “The Great American Cattle Drive Experience” Michael Martin Murphy concert 7pm
October 1 – EAA #1127 Mark Cunningham Memorial/E.E.A. Golf Tournament, Ellsworth Golf Course – 3-person scramble. 472-4236.
October 1 – St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Fall Celebration- Meal, Games, Raffle, Silent Auction 11am – 3 pm
October 14 – Ellsworth County Historical Society Annual Soup Supper, Commanding Officer’s Quarters, 4:30 – 7:30 pm. Drawing for the log cabin play house.
- Craft Show, Kanopolis Community Building, 9 am – 3 pm, 472-0147
October 15 – Ellsworth Good Samaritan Village Annual Benefit Card Party, 2-5 pm - various card games plus “Anything goes”. A light lunch will follow. Free-will offering will support various activities at the Village.
October 16 – Board of Directors monthly meeting, 7:00 pm
October 19 – Monthly Chamber Coffee Gatherin’, Farm Bureau Financial Services, 8:00am.
PERSONAL – I will be on vacation from October 5-10. The office will remain open.
“Life should be deeper than it is long”
PASS IT ON! Please pass this update on to employees and friends! 
<< Home