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.
