News from The Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update

For the week of March 24, 2008

In This Issue

Why It's Important

Social Security Contact

Subscribe to Our Email!

Greetings!

Your Chamber has been receiving a lot of completed "Committee Preference Forms" and "Verification Forms." We'll make the additions and correction of information where necessary and include your name with the others serving on committees. Thank you for such a great response!

On a personal note, my thanks goes out to everyone for their support during my Mom's recent illness and passing. What a wonderful community I've chosen as my new home!

Contact Us

P O Box 857
Weatherford, Oklahoma 73096
580-772-7744

welcome@weatherfordchamber.com

What's Happening!

Tuesday

March 25 - Kiwanis Club - 12:00 PM - The Mark Restaurant

March 25 - Weatherford Arts Council Meeting - 5:15 PM - President's Conference Room, 2nd floor of SWOSU Adm. Bldg.

March 25 - Heartland Cruise Committee - 7:00 PM - Chamber Board Room

Wednesday

March 26 - Weatherford Rotary Club Meeting - 12:00 PM - Mark Restaurant

Thursday

March 27 - Southwestern Interscholastic Meet (SWIM) - 12:00 AM - SWOSU Campus

March 27 - Ambassador Committee - 4:00 PM - Chamber Office

Friday

March 28 - City Council meeting - 8:00 AM - Blair Hall

Saturday

March 29 - Tapestry Class - 10:00 AM - Weatherford Public Library

**Membership Investment

Chamber members recently received their 2008 membership investment invoices. Thank you to all those who supported the Chamber in 2007 and we ask for your support again in 2008. Your statement offered you the opportunity to increase your investment in the Chamber. Please take the opportunity to review your invoice and consider increasing your investment.

Why It's Important

Hello, My name is Bill and my company does contract work in the construction industry. I am bidding a job in your city and need some info concerning accommodations, and materials. Do you have a list of RV parks and maybe some motels that rent by the week. Also I will need a drywall supply company, and a lumber yard in which to purchase materials.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. Bill

The above is an actual email received by your Chamber of Commerce and is representative of the requests we receive everyday.

In responding to his request we only referred Chamber members, which is why it is important to be a member and especially important to return your verification form. We will use the verification form to make sure the information we have about your business is correct so that when we respond to these types of request the information is accurate.

We can't guarantee that you'll get business but we can guarantee that you were referred because of Chamber membership!

Commerce Offers Free Labor Study Downloads, Customized Studies at Discounted Rates

Like other states throughout the country, Oklahoma constantly monitors its workforce to better understand the demographics of its talent pool. This information represents a crucial component needed to sustain and grow Oklahoma's existing businesses and to recruit new companies.

More than 30 labor force studies are now available for free download. Visit www.OKcommerce.gov/laborstudies to make sure that your community and region are covered.

If your community isn't represented by one of our current labor force studies or you need updated data, contact Steven Barker, (steven_barker@okcommerce.gov), 405-815-5184 or 800-879-6552. If you contact the Oklahoma Department of Commerce before June, you'll only pay $4,920 for a customized labor force study compared to the regular price of $9,840.

To compile these labor force studies, Commerce works with the University of Oklahoma's Public Opinion Learning Laboratory. The labor force studies include:

Local labor force profile;
Numbers of underemployed workers;
Commuting patterns;
Willingness to change employers;
Education levels of Oklahoma's labor pool.

Businesses interested in expanding or relocating to Oklahoma use this information; grant writers often need to provide labor force information; and educational institutions designing curriculum programs to meet the needs of business and industry turn to these stats.

Don't keep your community and region out of this important data loop. Contact Commerce today to ensure that these important constituencies have access to the information they need about your local labor force.

Free Downloads: Labor Force Studies Folder.

Events Needed

The Chamber has received a request from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department advising us of the advertising and submission deadlines for

the 2009 Oklahoma Travel Guide and Calendar of Events. This is the State of Oklahoma's premier promotion piece, showcasing hundreds of Oklahoma communities and events. So take a few minutes now, start putting your information together, then follow the link to complete the form so your event and Weatherford will be well represented in the guide. Don't forget to send a copy to the Chamber!

Also, don't forget the Chamber's Tourism Committee is making plans for 2008 and a critical need is an annual Calendar of Events, highlighting those activities which would be of interest to the traveling public. If you are part of an organization which has an event or activity meeting this criteria please 1) email the Chamber with the following information, name of event, date, time, location, ticket price, contact person with contact information, and a brief description and 2) go the Chamber's Web site calendar at www.weatherfordchamber.com and add the event to the calendar.

The Calendar of Events will be distributed at the Chamber office, locations in and around Weatherford, and at various travel shows and events, Weatherford will be attending.

Committee Participation

Watch the mail for your Chamber membership door decal and placard. Included with the mailing is a "Committee Prefence Sheet." This is your opportunity to become involve in building a better Weatherford. Please make copies of the sheet and share it with others.

Listed are the 2008 Chamber Committees. Participation in any committee is open to any representative of a Chamber member. To become a part of one of the committees, simply contact a committee chairman, return the Committee Preference Sheet or call the Chamber of Commerce @ 772-7744. Noted are the 2008 Committee Chairmen and the meeting times. All committees meet at the Chamber unless otherwise noted.

Agri-Business - Tim Lowry, Radonna Sawatzky, & Andy McPherson - 1st Thursday-7:00 pm

Ambassadors - Nancy Kimble & Barbara Jones - 4th Wednesday-4:00 pm

Education - Bruce Belanger - 4th Thursday - 12:00 noon

Health Education - Lucas Grounds & Dawn Hollander - TBD

Heartland Cruise - Joanne Chain - 3rd Tuesday-7:00 pm

Leadership Weatherford - Linda Hays - 3rd Wednesday-8:00 am

Membership - Harold Wright - TBD

Public Affairs - Jeff Berrong - TBD

Retail Trades - Linda Bartel & Colleen Schmitz - 1st Tuesday-8:00 am

Tourism - Jim Lovell - 3rd Thursday-2:30 pm-Stafford Museum

Weatherford Design Alliance - Rick Dahlgren & Mark Yearwood - 3rd Wednesday-9:00 am-The Cup

Information Central

As you make plans to visit other areas of the State of Oklahoma, stop by the Chamber office to pick up a copy of the 2008 Oklahoma Travel Guide and the 2008 Calendar of Events. The guide provides great information about tourism attractions and events around the state. Also available is tourism brochures from around the state.

Your Chamber also has telephone directories available. Stop by and pick up an extra copy for the home or office.

2008 Community Coffees

All dates have now been booked for the 2008 Community Coffees. Thank you to those members who have agreed to host a Community Coffee. Noted below are the 2008 dates.

2^nd Thursday of the Month - 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

April 10 - BancFirst

May 8 - Sterling House Assisted Living

June 12 - Weatherford Regional Hospital

July 10 - SWOSU

August 14 - Southwest National Bank

September 11 - City of Weatherford

October 9 - Weatherford 4-H (held @ Bank of Western Oklahoma)

November 13 - Stafford Air & Space Museum

December 11 - First National Bank

Bits 'n Pieces

CompSource Oklahoma, the source for Workers' Compensation Insurance, is holding an education fair, Monday, April 7 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at their OKC offices, 1901 N. Walnut Avenue. To RSVP online: www.compsourceok.com/educationfair.htm or call(405) 962-3259 or (800) 347-3863 x 3259. RSVP deadline is April 2.

SWOSU Upward Bound program is looking for community service opportunities for their students. For more information contact Paula Buckmaster, Student Services Coordinator @ 774-7029 or go to www.SWOSU.edu/upwardbound.

The 20th Annual State Trash-off day is set for Saturday, April 12. To learn more contact the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Beautification office @ (405) 521-4037 or http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/beauty.

Social Security Contact

Jose M. Olivero, is the newly assigned Social Security Administration's Annual Wage Reporting Specialist for the state of Oklahoma and northern Texas. His mission is to be a resource to the community as it pertains to Business Online with Social Security. He is offering any assistance to the Chamber and the community about issues related to Social Security in general and wage reporting in particular.

Below is his contact information

Jos� M. Olivero
Public Affairs/ Wage Reporting Specialist

Social Security Administration
Shepherd Mall
2615 Villa Prom
Oklahoma City Ok 73107-9972
Tel (405) 605-3001 ext 3996
Fax (405) 605-3078

jose.olivero@ssa.gov

Over and Above

The Chamber wishes to recognize the businesses and individuals listed in the areas below. These members have agreed to increase their financial support to their Chamber this year. Take a few minutes now to review the list and make it a point to say "thanks" the next time you see one of these members. Every effort is being made to make sure this list is complete. If you have increased your membership to a level to be included in one of the areas listed and do not see your name, please contact the office. We'll make the change and get your recognized in the next "Weekly Agenda."

Most recent upgrades are SWOSU Foundation and Chesapeake Energy.

Minimum investments for each are

Thanks and appreciation goes out to all members who have renewed their membership for the 2008 year!

Special thanks and appreciation goes to Advanced Home Care Services and Tautfest Furniture for supporting your Chamber's efforts to upgrade computer software and equipment.

Platinum Investors

Advanced Home Care Services, Inc.

AEP/Public Service Company of Oklahoma

BancFirst

Bank of Western Oklahoma

City of Weatherford

Economy Storage

Ed Berrong Real Estate & Insurance Agency

First National Bank & Trust Company of Weatherford

FPL Energy Cowboy Wind, LLC

John M. Huser, Jr, MD

MidFirst Bank