COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JANUARY 10, 2018
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.
Director’s Note
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions for 2018? If so, you’re taking part in a tradition that has been
going on for over 4,000 years when ancient Babylonians reportedly made promises to the gods that they
would return borrowed objects and pay off debts which they believed would earn them good favor in the
coming year. Th ere are a lot of common resolutions ranging from weight loss to getting out of debt or
making amends with old adversaries. Sadly, an all-too-common theme when making resolutions is the fact
that they oft en only last for a short time before being forgotten or abandoned. To make a resolution that
lasts, there are several simple things you can do to avoid the much sadder tradition of giving up your goals
before Valentine’s Day. Here are a few simple and unoriginal, yet highly eff ective tips on how to make your
New Year’s resolutions become reality in 2018.
First, write them down. Th e simple act of putting thoughts into words and making a record will drastically
improve the odds that you will do something to achieve your goals. You don’t need anything fancy, just
a piece of paper and a pencil are all you need to take this fi rst and arguably most important step. I also
recommend keeping what you’ve written down someplace where you’ll see it oft en. For me, out of sight is
out of mind so the refrigerator, bathroom mirror or even the ceiling above the bed are great places to put a
list of my most important resolutions so that I’m constantly reminded of what I plan to accomplish.
Next, follow George T. Doran’s model and make sure your resolutions are S.M.A.R.T., that is; Specifi c,
Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Vague statements about what you want, rarely lead to
positive results so be clear about what you want to do and how you plan to do it. Measurable means
creating a way to track your progress as well as your successes and failures. If you can’t measure your
progress, you can’t tell if you need to make course corrections along the way and you won’t know if failure
is in your future until it’s too late. Attainable means you need to be realistic about what you are trying to
accomplish. Set goals that you know you can achieve. Stretch your comfort zone but don’t try to stretch
reality. Relevance in goal setting is important because it magnifi es the success of your other related goals.
When goals are relevant, each successful completion leads to increased chances for success in all of your
other goals. Timely means setting a start and end date for what you plan to achieve. “Someday” is not a
day of the week. Nor is it on any known calendar. Saying that you’ll do something “someday” essentially
means it will never happen. Give yourself a deadline, stick to it, and you’ll know exactly when you should
be able to celebrate. Th ere are numerous variations of Doran’s S.M.A.R.T. model and what each letter
stands for but no matter which one you choose, the point is that you are using a formula to set goals and
improve your odds of achieving them.
recognition for any business. We support the local economy through “Shop Local” campaigns, e-mail
connections, educational forums and many other services. Th e Chamber of Commerce off ers additional
exposure for organizations through web links and sharing social media postings. Every member business is
listed on our website and we have thousands of hits and visits to our website each month. We also develop
a user friendly business directory each year that we print and distribute to locals, visitors, and newcomers.
Th e Chamber’s monthly newsletter off ers another opportunity for companies to gain exposure. Th e
newsletter informs the community about local businesses and community events. Last but not least, we
recognize businesses for the great work they are doing because our local merchants are the backbone of our
town’s economy and help make Cottage Grove the great place that it is today.
Th e Chamber Awards Dinner is only 10 days away!
By now you should have received your invitation in the mail so please join us for a Red Carpet Event at the
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 69th Annual Awards & Installation Banquet. Th e banquet
will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2017 at the Cottage Grove Armory with catering provided by Stacy’s
Covered Bridge Restaurant. Enjoy an elegant night to include special recognition and awards for 2017 to
include Non Profi t of the Year, First Citizen, Business of the Year, the Junior First Citizen Scholarships and
Teacher of the Year, among others! We’ll also have the offi cial “Passing of the Gavel,” cocktails, dinner,
networking, and more! We want to thank our members for casting their votes to determine the winners of
each category. Th e nominees in each of the Chamber Award Categories are:
First Citizen
Greg Lee
Karol Kuhn Simons
Non Profi t of the Year
Family Relief Nursery
Parent Partnership
Trinity Lutheran Church
Th e Chamber Banquet is a fun time for all. Space is limited so don’t delay, make your reservations today!
541-942-2411
Ticket prices:
$500 – Full table sponsorship (includes 8 dinners)
$250 – Shared table sponsor (includes 4 dinners)
$ 55 – Individual reservations
My last tip is to give yourself a little peer pressure by publicly stating your goals. Tell your friends, family,
or someone that you look up to, what your resolutions are and you’ll not only have a support system but
you’ll also have someone besides yourself to answer to when it comes time to track your progress. Letting
yourself down might not feel like a big deal but when you’re held accountable by someone that you respect
and admire, it becomes a lot harder to go back on your word and you’ll be much more motivated to push
through any obstacles along your way.
A New Year’s Resolution for your Business
In 2018 we hope you’ll resolve to make the most out of your Chamber of Commerce membership. Pick
one Chamber of Commerce activity to participate in each month and put it on your calendar today. You
don’t have to participate in everything that the chamber does, just pick one thing each month that relates to
your own business goals and by the end of the year, you’ll have accumulated a signifi cant amount of time
and eff ort to promote your business and achieve your professional goals. Check and update your business
listing in our online directory. Each member has their own log-in for our website and we hope you’ll take
the opportunity to maximize your online presence. Finally, talk to other Chamber members about what
your goals are for growing your business. Most people genuinely want to help you succeed but they can’t
help if they don’t know what you are trying to do. Your membership dues support hundreds of activities
throughout the year that are designed to stimulate the local economy and make Cottage Grove a better
community by providing networking, educational opportunities, and advocacy for local businesses. Tell us
how we can better serve you and together we can all resolve to make 2018 a year for the record books.
Help Us Welcome New Board President, Chloe Beckes!
Chloe has lived in Cottage Grove for over 20 years and is the owner
of Jack Sprat’s Restaurant, which will celebrate 5 years in Business on
February 15 th ! As she was preparing to open her new business, Chloe
was inspired to join the Chamber by her late mother, Nancy Lewis-
Mounce, who at one time was the Executive Director of the Cottage
Grove Chamber of Commerce. Two years ago, Chloe decided to take her
membership to another level by joining the Board of Directors and now
she is helping to shape the decisions and future of this great organization!
Chloe reports that as a chamber member and board member she has
especially enjoyed getting to know the business community on a much
deeper level than she ever would have otherwise. Meeting other business
owners in Cottage Grove and being more informed about what is going
on in the community has helped her to make better decisions about
her business and off er better training to her staff . All of these things
contribute to a more positive and memorable customer experience,
which leads to repeat business and a much healthier bottom line. Chloe’s
husband and their two boys can oft en be found helping both in and out of the restaurant and at most
Chamber events. Please join us in welcoming and congratulating Chloe Beckes as our 2018 President of the
Cottage Grove Area Chamber’s Board of Directors!
Community Calendar
We are happy to publish your 2018 events on our community events calendar. Please submit them ASAP!
To submit your organization’s event:
Go to www.cgchamber.com
Click on “submit an event”
Fill in the blanks and submit
Once your event is approved, it will appear on the community calendar.
For more details on the events listed below, visit the Event Calendar on our website at www.cgchamber.com.
January
February
8
Regular City Council Meeting
2
Noises Off Opening @ Cottage Th eatre
13
Meet and greet
12
Regular City Council Meeting
12
Chamber Promotions Committee
17
Chamber Board Lunch
14
Chamber Annual Business Meeting
15
Business Aft er Hours -
18
Business Aft er Hours -
21
Chamber Board Lunch
20
Chamber Awards & Installation Banquet
26
Regular City Council Meeting
22
Regular City Council Meeting
23
Science Pub
27
Crab Feed Extravaganza
11/30 thru
2017 Visitor Center Stats
Phone calls:
Walk-In Visitors:
Relocate Requests:
Visitor Requests:
Referrals to Chamber Members:
2017 Website Stats
Business Directory Searches Total Listed:
Member Page Views:
Event Searches:
Events Viewed:
Hot Deal Searches:
Job Searches:
YTD
109
75
0
0
30
2,213
2,411
45
43
628
975
253
466
1338
27
34
8322
5770
11,135
12,842
339
497
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What is the purpose of the Chamber of Commerce?
Simply put, the Chamber of Commerce is here to serve our members and the business community. Th e
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce has defi ned its purpose into four diff erent categories; we
Promote, Connect, Recognize and Advocate for local businesses. Th e Chamber promotes businesses
through providing networking events where members can get to know fellow business owners and make
valuable connections. Another way that the Chamber promotes its members is by referring business to
chamber members. To help expose businesses, chamber members have access to low cost advertising
and sponsorship opportunities. Becoming a sponsor for a chamber event is a great way to create name
Business of the Year
Coast Fork Feed Company
Territorial Seed Company
Weyerhaeuser
Special Thanks to our 2017 Enhanced Members
PLATINUM PLUS
Cottage Grove Sentinel
GOLD
Pacifi c Power
SILVER
Banner Bank
Blackstone, Inc. – Windermer Real Estate
City of Cottage Grove
Emerald People’s Utility District
Lane Community College Cottage Grove Center
Lane Electric Cooperative
Northwest Natural
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical
Center
South Lane County Fire & Rescue
South Lane School District
Walmart
Weyerhaeuser
Sustainable, Carbon-Free & GREEN
Are you a Cottage Grove
Chamber Member?
High Quality, Unparalleled SERVICE
Low Cost, Clean & RENEWABLE
IT’S WHAT WE DO!
LANE ELECTRIC CO-OP
787 BAILEY HILL ROAD
P.O. BOX 21410
EUGENE, OREGON 97402
541.484.1151
Visit us at www.laneelectric.com to learn more!
Call the Sentinel today to
reach other chamber members by
placing an ad on this page!
2018 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
2018 Chamber Board of Directors:
Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time, commitment, and service!
Offi cers
Chloe Beckes, President
Danny Solesbee, Vice President
Ruth Linoz, Secretary
Gary Manly, Treasurer
Candace Solesbee, Past President
Directors
Bret Munk
Cassie Barrong
Don Williams
Judd Van Gorder
Layla Beth Munk
Lloyd Williams
Ryan Gifford
Shauna Neigh
Jack Sprats Restaurant
5 Flying Monkeys
South Lane Wheels
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Shampoo Dolls Salon
CC Oregon
Oregon Aviation Historical Society
Retired, Past Board President
Carousel House B&B and Catering
CG Body Studio
South Lane Television
Gifford & Gifford Attorneys at Law
Busterʼs Main Street Café
Advisors
Tim Herrmann
Richard Meyers/Mike Fleck
Garrett Bridgens
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
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, Sherry WendtPenny Westling,
Nolene Wheeler.
Staff:
Travis Palmer, Executive Director
Beth Martin, Offi ce Manager
Mavis Bradsby, Bookkeeper
Jessica Baker, Membership
Developement Coordinator
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.
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