News from The Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update

For the week of March 31, 2008

In This Issue

Oklahoma Today

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Greetings!

No foolin', the first quarter of the year is nearly complete and Spring has arrived! Your Chamber has enjoyed a VERY successful first quarter! That success can be traced directly to you, the members, who donate your time and talents to a variety of Chamber projects!

Thank you and keep up the GREAT worrk!

Contact Us

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

director@weatherfordchamber.com

What's Happening!

Tuesday

April 1

Retail Trades Committee - 8:00 AM - Chamber of Commerce

April 1

Kiwanis Club - 12:00 PM - The Mark Restaurant

April 1

Bulldog Blitz Talent Show - 7:00 PM - SWOSU Fine Arts Center

April 1

Westview Writer's Festival - 7:00 PM - SWOSU Conference Center

Wednesday

April 2

Story Time @ the Library - 10:00 AM - Weatherford Public Library

April 2

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

Thursday

April 3

Agri Business Committee Meeting - 7:00 PM - Chamber Board Room

**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.

Oklahoma Today

Look for Weatherford's print advertisement, the first step in the Chamber's new tourism campaign, in the May/June issue of "Oklahoma Today." The Chamber's Tourism Committee is in the process of finalizing a plan of action and budget for increasing tourism awareness about the Weatherford area.

"Oklahoma Today" was chosen because of its reputation as the state of Oklahoma's premier travel magazine. "We wanted our first effort to be one which would reach the greatest number of people and we believed "Oklahoma Today" would meet that goal," stated Marie Hanza. "The ad was developed by the creative folks at "Oklahoma Today" and approved by the Tourism Committee," she continued.

Can't wait for the magazine? See below for a sneak preview.

Save the Date

and make plans to participate and/or attend

Weatherford Day - May 16 - Erick Travel Center
All State Girls Basketball Games - May 31 - Weatherford
Heartland Cruise and Car Show - June 13 & 14 - Weatherford
Great Plains Country Annual Meeting - June 25 - Stafford Air & Space Museum
Chamber of Commerce Wellness Expo - September 20 - SWOSU Wellness Center

Additional information will be provided about these events.

Heartland Cruise and Car Show

Downtown Weatherford and Radar Park will host the 18th Annual Heartland Cruise and Car Show June 13 and 14. Starting on Friday night with a "Welcome Party & $1,000 Cash Giveaway" for cruise participants, the event will move to Radar Park on Saturday. There, attendees can view the cars and in some case purchase one of the beauties, witness the Burn Out Contest and protect their ear drums during the Loud Exhaust Contest. Also available will be craft and food venders. Presentation of trophies and the cash drawing will be Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

Entry forms can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce.

Retail Trades

Check your email for a letter from Linda Bartel concerning the 2008 Christmas Promotion. If you did not receive one, let us know and will send another.

Next meeting is April 1, 8:00 a.m. at Blair Hall.

Welcome

This past week, your Chamber recognized the businesses noted below with ribbon cuttings. Welcome to the Weatherford business community

Dough-Belly's

1115 E. Davis Ave.

580-772-7100

Donna Barlow is the Owner/Operator

Diesel Works Plus

1620 N. Airport Rd.

580-772-8785.

Brock & Christina McSperitt and Kenneth & Jan Gage are the new owners

Thank you to the Chamber Ambassadors and members who attended. Any Chamber member can attend a ribbon cutting.

If your business is having a grand opening or celebrating an anniversary or changed ownership, call Nancy Kimble, IBC Bank, 772-8731 or the Chamber office to schedule the event.

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

Software Update - On Friday, your Chamber took a giant step forward with the installation of CCASSIST, a software program which will allow your Chamber to track its membership efficiently and effectively! As we make the transition from the spreadsheet, where we currently keep the records, to this new program, the membership will be asked to verify the information we have on hand concerning their business and representatives. Please send those forms back ASAP when they are received! Thanks in advance for your help!

Tour Groups - Weatherford continues to be a popular destinations for tour groups. Latest to book tours into Weatherford are

Meadowood Baptist Church - JOY (Just Older Youth) Group - April 26 - from Midwest City
St. Phillip Neri Church - seniors group - April 26 - from Midwest City
National Association of State Personnel - July 14 - state convention headquartered in OKC

Web site - If you visited the Chamber's Web site lately, you may have noticed some updating needs to take place. Please know we are aware of the issue and working to address the needed changes. Thank you for your understanding.

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."

IBC Bank was inadvertently left off the list of Gold Sponsors for the Chamber. Our apologies for the error and our thanks for their support.

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