COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Sept. 7, 2016
CHAMBER
5B
NEWSLETTER
Our Mission: Th e Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote the economy and business environment of the Cottage Grove area so its citizens and businesses will prosper.
Travis Palmer,
Executive Director
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Over the summer (thanks to some help from
Marc Bass), the Chamber of Commerce
has been lucky to have some students
from Cottage Grove High School doing an
internship with us. A strong and energetic
young man named Jesus is a junior attending
CGHS, and has been helping with set-up
and take down at our weekly Concerts in the
Park. Rain and Savannah are both seniors at
CGHS and have been a tremendous help in
the Chamber offi ce. In addition to spending
several hours each week helping with website
updates, one of Rain and Savannah’s projects
has been to contact and interview chamber
member businesses and write a “Chamber
Member Spotlight” that we can publish each
month. I’m pleased to be able to present
some of their work in this month’s Chamber
newsletter. You’ll see more of these “member
spotlights” in future newsletters so if you’d
like your business to be featured, please
contact us at the Chamber offi ce at 942-2411.
Chamber Member Spotlight:
Les Schwab Tire Center
– written by Savannah P. & Rain K.
Les Schwab has been a member of the
Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce
since 1982, so we decided to chat with Les
Schwab’s assistant manager, Arik Moore, to
ask him some questions about the business.
As a chamber member, Les Schwab is active
and involved in the community, sponsoring
many events around town. A personal
favorite of Arik’s is KNND’s Rock Roll and
Rumble Car Show, where many old cars
hit the roads once again for a cruise around
Main Street. This car show is produced in
collaboration with the Main Street Chili Cook
Off, an annual event put on by the Chamber
of Commerce. Arik believes that being a
Chamber Member is a great thing because it
keeps them involved in the community. He
says, “I think we’re just really involved with
every event that comes through here and try
to help out and sponsor as much as possible.”
Though having the word ‘tire’ in
the name may be a bit misleading, Les
Schwab offers more than just tire services.
They also do “a lot of brake work, a lot of
service work on vehicles, and a lot of stuff
to help people passing through town.” They
will often help people stuck on the side of
the road both in town and on I5. From those
just passing through who break down, to
local residents in need, they come across
“every single type of person.” Les Schwab is
dedicated to providing excellent service to all
customers. As Arik puts it, “We are a people
fi rst organization. It’s what we’re here to do.”
Les Schwab strives to be the best they can
be, and to provide the best, quickest service
possible. “People’s time is very valuable,
so we want to get them in and out as fast as
possible.”
Les Schwab understands not just the
value of quality in their work, but also in
their relationship with customers. We asked
Arik what set Les Schwab apart from the
rest and he replied, “Les Schwab is unique
because we are about people building people.
We have world class customer service. We
don’t just strive to be the best tire center, we
strive to be the best business. We really treat
our people like gold when they come into the
store and I think that’s pretty well recepted.”
Les Schwab even tries to make the children
feel at home in the store. The popcorn
machine in the lobby is there as a way to do
this. As the one who makes the popcorn, Arik
has had some fi rst-hand experience with the
children. He says, “They come in and they’re
real nervous” when they ask if they can have
some. “We want them to feel comfortable
coming into the store” and that is one thing
the popcorn machine is very good at doing.
Les Schwab cares about giving every person,
young or old, quality service.
Les Schwab is an active member with
the Chamber of Commerce, as well as
an important member of the community,
supporting the people and events that make
it great. It is on their behalf that Arik added
with fi nality, “We appreciate everybody that
comes and walks through the door and we
just want to give them the best experience
possible.”
Information Centers
Tourism Promotion
Referring Agency
A Chamber’s success is dependent upon what
fi ve things?
An active working membership
Its ability to anticipate and meet its community’s
needs and potential
Success in recruiting and involving volunteers
Adequate income to support its programs
A skilled staff supported by the membership,
because the fi rst four things can only happen
because of the manpower, resources and
prestige off ered by the members.
Don’t Miss Out!
There’s only two concerts left so join us
on Wednesday, September 7 th & 14 th s at
Bohemia Park Amphitheatre from 6:30 –
8:00pm for our fi nal concerts of the season.
Bring a friend and support the musicians and
their sponsors by attending. These concerts
are made possible with fi nancial support
through sponsorships.
9/07 Abandon Shoe
Abandon Shoe is a four-piece band that
brings all fl avors of musical madness to the
table. Abandon Shoe has been known to
be vocally driven with awe-inspiring and
percussive singing that has been compared to
bands like Blues Traveler, Sublime, and Bare
Naked Ladies.
9/14 The Sugar Beets
For over 25 years the Sugar Beets have
been bringing people to their feet with their
blend of traditional music and contemporary
original songwriting. Moving effortlessly
from bluegrass, or Celtic and old-time fi ddle
music, to Motown, country, swing and pop,
the sound is fresh and inspiring. The Sugar
Beets are an eight piece ensemble that formed
the group as students at the University of
Oregon in 1990. The rapport among these
long time friends is as endearing as it is
entertaining.
Fun Facts - Th e History of Chamber
Chambers were evolved from what Medieval
organizations?
Guilds
Guilds and subsequently chambers were
organized for what one basic reason or goal?
To improve the well-being of the community
using cooperative self-help.
Th e fi rst offi cially chartered Chambers of
Commerce were established in 1802 in what
country?
France and membership was mandatory
Th e oldest Chamber in the English speaking
world was established to raise the quality
of goods, abolish smuggling and to lobby
against tariff s in what city?
Glasgow Scotland
Th e fi rst American Chamber was established
in New York to promote and protect
commerce. In the past 200 + years the
American Chamber has evolved to include:
Developing and expressing business opinions
Promotion of the best interest of the community
Could your business be the next
Dutch Bros?
Dutch Bros got its start with Small Business
Management classes through their local
Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) where the owners learned the
skills they needed to create a coffee empire.
Whether your business is small and growing
or remaining the same size, you can get the
skills you need for success through Lane
Community College’s Small Business
Management program. LCC’s SBDC offers
classes alongside individual counseling from
experienced business people. This fall, the
Small Business Management program will
be offered in Cottage Grove. Stayed tuned
for more information regarding an upcoming
networking session or call 541-463-6200 to
get started today!
September Business Aft er Hours
Emerald People’s Utility District will host
Business Aft er Hours this month. Cottage
Grove and Creswell Chamber members
are encouraged to attend this classic, fun
networking event! Please join us on Th ursday,
September 15 from 5:30 – 7:00pm at Saginaw
Vineyard, 80247 Delight Valley School Road,
for a time to network with others, learn
something new, and have some fun! Catering
provided by Shady Oaks. Bring your business
card be ready to talk about your businesses
to other business representative from the
area and enter the door prize drawing. Your
attendance reinforces the spirit in which the
Chamber provides these monthly activities.
Th ank you to EPUD for being our host for
this month’s Chamber of Commerce Business
Aft er Hours!
Future Business Aft er Hours
October 20
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove
Community Medical Center
November17 Village Green Resort
December 15 Cottage Grove Sentinel
Board Elections
As a membership organization our members
have the right to petition additional names
of candidates for directors on the board.
Nominations by Petition as stated in our
by-laws: Additional names of candidates
for directors can be nominated by petition,
bearing the genuine signatures of at least
three (3) qualifi ed members of the Chamber.
Such petition shall be fi led with the
Nominating Committee within ten (10) days
after notice has been given of the names of
those nominated. So look for those letters in
the mail later in Septeember!
Member Benefi t Highlight
Chamber Membership Directory
It’s time to prepare for the production of
our 2017 Chamber Membership Directory.
Letters will be in the mail soon requesting
members review the listing information we
have on fi le and make any corrections you
want to occur in the new directory. It is also
an excellent reminder to “Shop Chamber
Members First”. In addition, the directory
is another one of the ways we promote our
member businesses. As a chamber member
you receive a free listing in our directory and
have the opportunity to purchase advertising.
Travis will be contacting you to discuss
a variety of ways you can promote your
business through the directory.
For those of you who have thought about
membership, if you wish to be in next year’s
directory, now is the time to move ahead with
your plans to join the Chamber. Participate
in chamber membership and watch your
marketing dollars stretch. To those of you
who are already members, we thank you and
hope you enjoy this great chamber benefi t!
Please contact Travis at the chamber offi ce
regarding your intent to join so that we do
not miss including your business in the 2017
publication.
2016 Chamber Board of Directors,
Advisors and Staff
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
700 E. Gibbs • Cottage Grove, OR
info@cgchamber.com • www.cgchamber.com
P. (541) 942-2411
2016 Chamber Board of Directors: Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time,
commitment, and service!
Offi cers
Joe Raade, President
South Lane County Fire & Rescue
Candace Solesbee, Vice President Shampoo Dolls Salon
Rhonda Worley, Secretary
CJW, LLC
Amanda Akers, Treasurer
Commonwealth Financial Network
Tiffany Thackara, Past President
Emerald Valley Resort Event Center
Directors
Chloe Becks
Dean Kruschke
Lindsay Laycock
Gary Manly
Cameron Reiten
Danny Solesbee
Don Williams
Lloyd Williams
Judd Van Gorder
Jack Sprats
Cascade Home Center
Lindsay Laycock – Keller Williams Realty
Cottage Grove Sentinel
KNND
Five Flying Monkeys
Retired, Past Board President
South Lane Television
Carousel Delicatessen & Ice Cream Shoppe
Advisors
Garrett Bridgens
Tim Herrmann
Diana Knous
Richard Meyers
Mayor Tom Munroe
Shauna Neigh
South Lane School District
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
Public Utilities
City of Cottage Grove
City of Cottage Grove
Main Street Coordinator
Visitor Center Volunteers:
Heidi Abbott, Dotti Bittner, Tara Sue Hughart, Susan Jeppesen, Suzy Kanich, Marie
Longfellow, Jennifer Robinson,
2016 Chamber Goals
Sunny Kennedy, Sharon Van Gorder,
• Increase membership by 25/year
Sherry Wendt, Jim Vander Plaat,
• Increase networking opportunities by one/
Penny Westling
month
Staff:
Travis Palmer
Beth Martin
Mavis Bradsby
Executive Director
Offi ce Manager
Bookkeeper
• Increase advertising eff orts outside Cottage
Grove
• Organize and be viewed as a business
conduit and resource for businesses
• Improve communication about legislative
issues aff ecting business