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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JUNE 7, 2017 CHAMBER NEWSLETTER Our Mission: Th e Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce promotes economic vitality through advocacy and collaboration with its members and the larger community. June 2017 Director’s Note John Heywood once said, “Many hands make light work” and it’s a philosophy that I’ve tried to embrace as much as possible when it comes to leading the Chamber of Commerce. As social as people are, we still have a tendency to create “silos” for ourselves to work in. We get in a mindset where we feel like we have to block out the outside world and its distractions so that we can get our work done. I’ve seen this happen over and over again. Even within one single organization, there are often these “work silos” where departments or committees don’t communicate with each other and you often hear things like, “That’s their job,” or “That’s my client, don’t talk to them.” Each group wants to be left alone to get their own work done and not be bothered by the issues of any other departments. If you believe the old adage that “It takes the village to raise a child,” then isn’t it also fair to say “It takes the community to grow a business?” The Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce partners with multiple organizations in the community in order to cultivate a more hospitable environment for owning and operating a business. We work with the City of Cottage Grove to keep city leadership informed about what local businesses are struggling with. We work with Travel Oregon and Travel Lane County to promote the area as a tourist destination as well as a great place to host events. I serve on multiple boards such as the Community Development Corporation, Economic and Business Improvement District, Main Street Program, and the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway and Row River Trail Partnership, among others. Each of these groups has their own mission and goals but each one also has the ability to positively impact the success of the other organizations. I’ve seen entire organizations transform their performance records by putting an engineer with the marketing team, and having a service manager sit in on accounting meetings. I’ve even seen competitors frequently refer business to each other after they realized that they could both increase their bottom lines by referring clients to each other who’s needs were better served by going to the other company. The point I’m trying to make with all of this is to illustrate how partnerships can amplify the results of hard work and make diffi cult tasks much easier for everyone. The challenge is to look outside of the “silos” that we have created for ourselves and identify the common goals that we have with all of the other organizations around us. If your business is struggling (like many others are), now is the time to break out of your silo and fi nd a new path that leads to mutual success. Talk to other business owners, city leaders, community organizations, and fi nd out how their mission and goals align with yours. You’ll likely discover that you can help each other achieve greater success with a bit of coordinated effort. Keep those nominations coming in! Nominations for this Yard of the Week recognition can be made by simply turning in the address of the homes worthy of recognition to City Hall or the Chamber offi ce; by phone call the City Manager’s offi ce at (541)942-5501 or the Chamber offi ce at (541)942-2411; by email to: citymanager@cottagegrove.org or travis@cgchamber.com or in person at the front desk at City Hall or the Community Center. CHAMBER NEWS We hope you’ll join us each week for great music and fun in the Bohemia Park Amphitheater! Dates, bands and genres for each week: June 28th - Jerry Zybach and the Blues Kats - Blues & Classic Rock July 5th - Gabe Schliffer and the Sugar Pine String Band - Bluegrass & Americana July 12th - Overstand - Reggae/Rock July 19th - Rebel’s Journey - Rock & Roll July 26th - Blue Skies Big Band - Classic Big Band Swing Jazz August 2nd - Cowboy Cadillac - Country August 9th - The Huckleberrys - Blues to Bluegrass August 16th - Flies With Honey - Indie Rock August 23rd - The Rockin Reveleers - Classic Rock August 30th - Windy Ridge - Country Rock & Blues We are also seeking vendors for the 2017 Market that takes place in conjunction with the Concerts in the Park beginning June 28 continuing every Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00pm through August 30, 2017 at Bohemia Park. Food Vendors pay a fee of $20.00 each week or $15/week if paid in full at the beginning of the season. Non-Food Vendors (art, craft s, info displays, etc.) pay a fee of $10 each week or $5.00/week if paid in full at the beginning of the season. All Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce members can participate for FREE Market Rules and vendor application are available on our website calendar www. cgchamber.com/events /calendar/2017-06-01 or pick one up at the Chamber Visitor Center, 700 E. Gibbs, Cottage Grove. Th e Main Street Chili Cook Off is just around the corner. Join us on Saturday, July 22 for a day full of fun, fun, fun! You can participate as a chili cooker, chili taster (who gets to vote) or vendor. And don’t forget classic cars will line the streets at KNND’s Car Show with the cruise and street dance aft er. However you participate, you’ll be glad you did. Download the entry form from our website or pick it up at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 700 E. Put your chili recipe to the test and sign up today! MEMBER NEWS June Business Aft er Hours The City of Cottage Grove will host Business After Hours on Thursday, June 15 from 5:30 – 7:00pm, at Middlefi eld Golf Course, 91 Village Drive. Please join us for a time to network with others, learn something new, and have some fun! And don’t forget your business card to enter the door prize drawing. Your attendance reinforces the spirit in which the Chamber provides these monthly activities. Cottage Grove and Creswell Chamber members are encouraged to attend this classic, fun networking event! Th e 2017 Concert in the Park Season is Finally Here! Once again we bring you a variety of music to please the tastes of everyone! Join us on Wednesdays beginning June 28 at Bohemia Park Amphitheatre on 10th Street from 6:30 – 8:00pm. Bring a friend and support the musicians and their sponsors by attending. These concerts are made possible with fi nancial support through sponsorships. Join us in thanking our 2017 Season Sponsors: Northwest Natural and Blackstone, Inc. – Windermere Real Estate Th e chamber’s number one goal is to create a strong local economy. All of the programs and benefi ts supported by your membership investment go toward achieving that goal. Your membership is also a commitment to the entire community and a pledge of support for the economic growth and vitality of the Cottage Grove area. Th ank you! We look forward to a successful and profi table year! Tourism Ambasador Award Travel Lane County is pleased to announce the 2017 tourism ambassador awards. Th is year’s National Tourism Week theme was the Faces of Tourism, so we are thrilled to recognize some of our Lane County faces of tourism as we introduce the tourism ambassador award. Th ese awards recognize the partnership Travel Lane County has with each chamber of commerce in the region. Th e chambers know their community’s better than anyone and we asked them to select an individual, business or organization that exemplifi es the unmatchable hospitality locals and visitors experience every day. In alphabetic order help me recognize our 2017 tourism ambassadors. 2017 Chamber Board of Directors, Advisors and Staff Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 700 E. Gibbs • Cottage Grove, OR • P. (541) 942-2411 info@cgchamber.com • www.cgchamber.com 2017 Chamber Board of Directors: Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time, commitment, and service! Offi cers Candace Solesbee, President Chloe Beckes, Vice President Ruth Linoz, Secretary Gary Manly, Treasurer Joe Raade, Past President Directors Ryan Gifford Dean Kruschke Layla Beth Munk Danny Solesbee Don Williams Lloyd Williams Judd Van Gorder Shampoo Dolls Salon Jack Sprats South Lane Wheels Cottage Grove Sentinel South Lane County Fire & Rescue Gifford & Gifford Attorneys at Law Cascade Home Center CG Body Studio Five Flying Monkeys Retired, Past Board President South Lane Television Carousel House B&B and Catering Advisors Tim Herrmann Diana Knous Richard Meyers/Mike Fleck Garrett Bridgens PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center Pacifi c Power City of Cottage Grove South Lane School District Visitor Center Volunteers: Heidi Abbott, Dotti Bittner, Tara Sue Hughart, Susan Jeppesen, Suzy Kanich, Marie Longfellow, Judd Van Gorder, Sharon Van Gorder, Penny Westling, Nolene Wheeler, Cheiko Tomasulo. Staff: Travis Palmer, Executive Director Beth Martin, Offi ce Manager Mavis Bradsby, Bookkeeper Five Year Vision Statement: Th e Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce promotes Cottage Grove as a prosperous destination community. Economic vitality is at the heart of everything we do. As a resource for businesses, we are the conduit that provides advocacy, marketing, education, and networking opportunities to over 300 members.
