GREETINGS MEMBERS! INSTEAD of throwing this newsletter away that your membership dues help pay for, why not get your……
Newsletter by E-mail!!
What a modern & wonderful idea!! Your Chamber will save $$$$$$$$$$$- YOUR $$$$$! Please call Tracy with the E-mail address you'd like it sent to.
General Membership Meeting!
We are no longer calling members to remind them of meetings, nor are we involved with lunch requests. Please bring your own lunch, or make your own arrangements.
WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 17 12 NOON -- AMERICAN LEGION -- DOWNSTAIRS
1
September 2003
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Wednesday-September 17TH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
12 NOON (Downstairs – American Legion)
Agenda:
Chamber fundraiser, 2003/2004 Budget info, New Webmaster
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
CHAMBER FUNDRAISER INFORMATION
RUMMAGE SALE & SILENT AUCTION OCTOBER 2, 3, 4 AMERICAN LEGION – UPSTAIRS
This is what you’ll receive if you donate goods:
1. A tax deduction receipt because of the Chamber’s non-profit status. 2. Our sincere THANKS for helping improve our financial position. 1. Time &/or pickup to help go get donations from homes & businesses & deliver to the Legion on September 29 & 30. 2. Volunteers to work at Legion anytime from September 29th – October 5th. Call Tracy @ 932-5131 or @932-5425 (home) to get on schedule. 3. Donations of anything of value that is CLEAN & IN WORKING ORDER. WE NEED ALL OUR MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY! Thanking you in advance, Tracy
This is what we need from our Chamber members:
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
IN THIS NEWSLETTER READ ABOUT:
The Postage Permit; Big Timber Centennial Buckles; A Note from Tracy; Computer Seminar and other important information.
CHAMBER E-MAIL - info@BigTimber.com WEB ADDRESS - www.bigtimber.com
2
PLEASE consider joining the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, TWO more BOARD MEMBERS are needed! Call 932-5131
SWEET GRASS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - 2003 Board of Directors Board of Director's Meeting - 2nd Wed. of Month - Citizens Bank
AVAILABLE POSITION Bryan Zales Mike McFarland Kathy Kenner Yvonne Armstrong Lisa Fauth Wagner AVAILABLE POSITION Richard Dews 932-5797 932-4387 932-5372 932-4948 932-5527 932-5131 B. T. Family Chiropractic Spring Creek Campground Cinnabar Creek Holmes & Turner Crazy Woman Trading Co. Interim Chamber Executive Term Ends 12/2003 Term Ends 12/2004 Term Ends 12/2003 Term Ends 12/2003 Term Ends 12/2004 Term Ends 12/2004 Term Ends 12/2004
THANK YOU for supporting the Chamber with your paid membership.
PAID MEMBERS as of August 1, 2003
American Bank American Legion Club BFI Waste Systems Big Timber Ace Hardware Big T IGA Big Timber Car Wash Big Timber Chiropractic Big Timber Glass & Detailing Big Timber Guides Big Timber KOA Big Timber Meats Big Timber Pioneer Big Timber Waterslide Blake Nursery Bob Faw Chevrolet Boulder River Ranch Budget Host Motel Burnt Out Lodge C & D Mercantile C. Sharps Arms Camp on the Boulder Carriage House Ranch Cinnabar Creek Citizens Bank and Trust City Club Lanes & Steakhouse Cole Drug Crazy Mountain Museum Crazy Woman Trading Co. Dime Insurance Farm Bureau Insurance Flying M Enterprises Gusts of Big Timber Hawley Mountain Ranch Hodges Fine Art Holmes and Turner CPA Hometown Realty Hospitality House Senior Center Intermountain Mortgage Inc. Janet's Spa and Salon Josephson, Dringman & Redmon K-W Feed Keepsakes Laverell's Septic Little Timber Quilts Lowry Insurance McLeod Resort ML Properties Mark Norem Real Estate Medicine Bow Ranch Montana Bunkhouses Mountain Home VacationRentals Overland Golf Course Paper Creations, Etc. Pioneer Medical Center Prospector Pizza Plus Pugmire Investments R & S Transportation Range Riders Ranch Retired Teachers Rippling Waters Guest House Road Kill Café Rocking Tree Ranch Rollin' Boulder Outfitters Roots, Dallas Rue's TV & Appliance Sadie Creek House Sagebrush Enterprises Sonny Todd Real Estate Spring Creek Campground Stephens Auto & Machine Shop Sterling Savings Bank Stetson Ford Stillwater Mine Sunrise Espresso Super 8 Motel Sweet Grass Title T. Y. Construction The Fort The Grand Hotel Thompson Ranch Tom Roe & Son Construction Town Pump 1 Town Pump 2/Country Skillet Triangle Telephone Ullman Lumber U. S. Forest Service Wintercamp Poetry Gathering
CHAMBER MISSION Promote business & commerce in Sweet Grass County through tourism, consumer & merchant education, community events, advertising & other activities.
3
…….the Chamber Board of Directors is planning a Fundraiser in October? A rummage sale will be held at the American Legion on October 2, 3 & 4. Since we are a non-profit we are able to give receipts so donations can be deducted on tax returns. Our hope is that our members will do some cleaning out of home & businesses for goods to be donated! Also needed are volunteers with time & trucks to pick up donations. Call Tracy for more information - 932-5131 (CHAMBER) OR 932-5425 (home).
……… space on a coupon sheet is available to any member of the Chamber? This sheet of coupons will be given to anyone that visits the Visitor Center to encourage them to travel INTO Big Timber. Chris at Gusts will be putting this together so please call her at 932-5451 with your information for your coupon. The minimum coupon size will be 2” x 4” (about business card size).
Hey Members! Did You Know………
……..Chamber Bucks are a great way to promote Sweet Grass County & Big Timber Chamber Businesses? They are purchased individually for any amount, by anyone, to be given as gift certificates to friends, family, employees, employers, associates, etc.!
………1983 Big Timber Centennial Belt Buckles have been donated to the Chamber from the Big Timber Rodeo Club represented by Buzz Finn? They are a very wearable buckle, dated, numbered & are solid brass. They are being sold for $50 each & are on display at the Visitor Center. A big THANK YOU to the Rodeo Club!!!
………if you are thinking about doing a bulk mailing promoting your business you can use the Chamber’s Postal Permit for a minimal fee of $25? This is a member benefit and the potential savings for you is great. Our initial investment for this Postal Permit was around $350 in 2002. Please call Tracy (932-5131) for more details BEFORE your mailing is ready to be mailed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 2003 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 2,3,4
RUMMAGE SALE FUNDRAISER FOR CHAMBER
@ American Legion on October 2, 3, 4 Need Volunteers to Be Helpers & Cashiers Preparation for Sale – September 29, 30, October 1, 2 Need Volunteers to Pickup, Deliver & Sort Goods
October 18
Toot, Snoot `n Hoot Wintercamp Benefit – Chili Cook-off & Variety Show – American Legion – Contact Gwen @ 932-4227
January 16, 17, 18 – WINTERCAMP – AMERICAN LEGION – Gwen @ 932-4227
Call Chamber Office with DATES of any other COMMUNITY events or for more information.
4
For Your Information
A Note from Tracy:
Thank you for the opportunity to be the Administrative Manager of the Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce for the past 20 months. I have notified the Chamber Board of Directors that I plan to leave this job in September. I’m taking a position at Sterling Bank here in Big Timber. The Manager’s job has been definitely challenging but rewarding at the same time. I have learned many new skills and I feel some great improvements in the Chamber and the Visitor Center have taken place in my time here. I have learned that the Board of Directors I have worked with have invested many hours and much effort for somewhat of a thankless job. Let me be the first to say ‘Thanks” to them for those efforts and Chamber members, feel free to do the same AND then ask what you can do to get involved and lighten the load. It will be a better organization for it, which in turn will make our town & county better and ultimately the good will trickle down to you and your business. Thanks again,
THE 2004 DATE OF SWEET GRASS FEST IS UP FOR DISCUSSION. The Board of Directors is trying to make a sound decision that will be a positive one for the community and Chamber both. Please talk to one of the Board Members and give them your input. Some suggestions have been: Rodeo weekend, because people are already planning on being in Big Timber for the rodeo, reunions, etc. The weather is mostly good (not 100+ degrees!!): A weekend in September/October, because it would bring people & business into town while the weather is not so hot and help promote Big Timber on the off-season. _______________________________________________________________________ THE INSTITUTE FOR TOURISM & RECREATION RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-MISSOULA has some statistics that you might be interested in, on non-resident visitors who spent 5-7 nights in Montana in 2001. Where they stayed: 33 % - Glacier Country, 32% - Yellowstone Country, 12% -Custer Country, 12 % - Gold West Country, 9% Russell Country, 2% Missouri Country All Reasons for Trip: 80% - Vacation, 39% - Visit Family/Friends, 13% - Business Planning Ahead: 49% Used the Internet, 33% Used None of Listed Info Sources 33% Used an Auto Club Group Characteristics: 76% are repeat visitors, 80% plan to return within 2 years
5
These two following articles were taken from the June, Livingston Job Service ‘Livingston Employer Breeze’ newsletter. Please read and consider.
RECOGNIZING AND VALUING YOUR EMPLOYEES
by Karen Greathouse
Personal growth within the workplace is what attracts the best people to any successful organization. The growth and effectiveness of your company is directly proportional to the personal and professional expansion of your employees. No one doubts that these are tough times. How do you get your employees Up for the business when the economy is Down? You don’t have wads of spare cash to reward your employees for their hard MOTIVATION!!! Hiring qualified employees in today’s labor market requires a major investment of both time and money. Once you’ve hired the right person, take extra measures to keep them! Respect your employees and treat them as you would a good friend or business partner or a client of the business. Don’t be afraid to show appreciation – remember the longer your employee is with you, the more valuable they become to your business. Thank them personally … give credit when/where credit is due…help your employees achieve what they want and to conquer their fears…communicate – get to know your employees on a more personal level… give your employee choices, if possible, allow flexibility in their jobs. Remember, the success of a good leader can be determined by his/her ability to elicit extraordinary performance from people. It makes sense to spend
time with your employees to motivate and keep them, especially in today’s tighter labor market. work, so how can you increase productivity and profitability without spending money?
ETHICS COUNT! By Karen Greathouse Most people work best in an environment which is marked by mutual respect, personal dignity and support which utilizes one’s skills and abilities and encourages more productive work. Work ethic guidelines allow employees to act with honesty and responsibility, and it helps to put the best interests of the organization first. The following are just a few examples of work ethic guidelines: Trustworthiness: Work scheduled hours – Arrive to work on time – Provide honest feedback on progress & problems – Give proper notice of anticipated absences – Be honest, reliable and ethical on all business dealings. Respect: Treat supervisors, co-workers, vendors and customers with courtesy, honor and respect – Build mutual respect and long-term relationships by listening to and communicating openly with others within the workplace and with customers -- Be friendly and cooperative – Work as a team member. Responsibility: Take pride in your work. Show initiative, recognize what needs to be done, pay attention to detail, pursue excellence, be prepared – Strive to improve abilities, learn new skills and take on broader responsibilities – Manage time and resources wisely – Set realistic goals and strive diligently to achieve them. Fairness: Promote & model a positive attitude – Use tact and courtesy – Be flexible regarding diverse expectations, situations and leadership styles – Listen to and respect the opinions of others and the differences in others. Caring: Demonstrate a positive attitude – Show kindness and sensitivity to the feelings of others – Take time to help others – Take blame for your honest mistakes and learn from them. Plan for success in your business! By following workplace ethics, both you and your employees win. Treating your employees well will make them feel validated and your productivity will shine!
6
SWEET GRASS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P. 0. Box 1012 Big Timber Montana 59011
(406) 932-5131
Contact Chris @ Gust’s @ 932-5451 to order merchandise or see our display @ the Visitor Center.
MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM
Prices current as of August 1, 2003
SWEATSHIRTS - Suggested Retail $29.95
KHAKI S___ M___L___XL___XXL___XXXL___ # of pieces ___ BLU E S___ M___L___XL___XXL___XXXL___ # of pieces ___ Sweatshirt total ____ @ $17.00 = ________
T-SHIRTS - Suggested Retail $17.95
BLUE
KHAKI S___ M___L___XL___XXL___XXXL___ # of pieces ___ S___ M___L___XL___XXL___XXXL___ # of pieces___ T-shirt total ____ @ $10.00 = _______
CAPS - Suggested Retail $15.95
KHAKI/BLUE one size fits all
# of pieces___ @ $9.00 = _______ Total Due at Delivery $_____________
BUSINESS NAME: ________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: _______________________________________ PHYSICAL ADDRESS: ______________________________________ PHONE NUMBER: _________________________________________
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER!
7