News from The Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce

www.weatherfordchamber.com

Weekly Update

For the week of July 21, 2008

In This Issue

Save the Date

Board of Directors Election

Subscribe to Our Email!

Greetings!

Weatherford is in the news! Check out the article about the TV commercial and special feature coverage.

Don't forget to complete and turn in your participation forms for the "Welcome Reception for New Education Personnel", "Home for the Holiday Promotion", and "Wellness Expo."

Later this week Weatherford will place host to mayors from all over Oklahoma as the annual Mayor's Conference is held here. Take a few minutes to look around the outside of your business to make sure you have your best foot forward. Company is coming! Thanks Mayor Brown for hosting this conference.

Contact Us

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

director@weatherfordchamber.com

What's Happening!

All events are subject to change! For complete details go to www.weatherfordchamber.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
·         Ribbon Cutting - All Star Gymnastics - 11:30 a.m. - 100 West Main
·         Kiwanis Club - 12:00 PM - Kiwanis Club
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
·         Weatherford Rotary Club Meeting - 12:00 PM - Weatherford Rotary Club Meeting
·         Health Education Committee - 5:15 PM - Health Education Committee
Thursday, July 24, 2008
·         Ambassador Committee - 4:00 PM - Ambassador Committee

**Membership Investment
Chamber members have 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.

If you have a question concerning your membership investment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Save the Date

and make plans to participate and/or attend

SWOSU's 48th Annual Picnic - August 18 - Memorial Circle, south lawn
Chamber Banquet - January 22, 2009

Additional information will be provided about these events.

Board of Directors Election

Debbie Howe, Director Weatherford Regional Hospital, and Radonna Sawatzky, OSU Extension Service are the nominees for the Chamber Board of Directors. If elected, they will begin serving a three year term on office starting January 1, 2009.

Tiffini Lyda, Manager of Community Affairs for PSO, was recently appointed to fill the unexpired term of Melissia Roe.

Ribbon Cutting

All Stars Gymnastics, Cheer, & Dance

200 West Main
Weatherford, Oklahoma 73096

July 22, 2008 - 11:30 a.m. - R/C

McKenzie Talcott, owner
806-570-8542
weatherfordallstars@hotmail.com

In The News

The Chamber's Weatherford TV commercial is already paying dividends even before it has aired! The "Oklahoma Gazette," readership approximately 10,000, recently carried an article highlighting the Stafford Air & Space Museum and the Heartland Museum. The article was written by Melana Lott, owner of Inflamed Brain Creative, the company hired to produce the TV commercials and economic development video.

"This is excellent publicity for Weatherford," states Jim Lovell, chairman of the Chamber's Tourism Committee. "Combine this with Channel 4's recent feature on the Heartland Museum and Oklahoma residents are quickly recognizing Weatherford's tourism opportunities. The museum has received several visitors because of Channel 4's feature and anticipation is that we can expect the same for both museums because of the "Oklahoma Gazette" article, Lovell concluded.

Tourism Update

Weatherford's tourism community will soon be featured in 30 second television commercial. The television commercial is a project of the Chamber's tourism committee and is funded by the Weatherford hotel/motel tax. A second commercial will soon be produced which will highlight specific events, activities or tourism opportunities in Weatherford.

The commercials are the second step in the committee's plan to increase the awareness of Weatherford's travel and tourism opportunities, the first step is the series of ads being run in "Oklahoma Today", the state's premier travel magazine. "The Chamber's Tourism Committee recognizes one big "opportunity" Weatherford has to overcome is the fact travelers don't know where Weatherford is located and are also unaware of what we have to offer. With these TV commercials and the "Oklahoma Today" ads we are taking steps to increasing awareness of Weatherford's location and travel opportunities," Marie Hanza, Executive Director stated.

Working with a media buyer and using the Oklahoma Department of Travel and Recreation Department's tourism study as background, the Committee has selected the Oklahoma City metro area as the first market for the commercials to air. The commercials are aimed at what is identified as the "active doers" and the "scenic relaxers" tourists. These travelers are interested in family activities, affordable lodging. The commercials will air on select channels of the cable networks. "Because we have identified the type of traveler who would be interested in what Weatherford has to offer, we will be able to target them through the use of cable television," stated Hanza. "We believe that by doing this, using a media buyer to help purchase and place our advertising, and working with the Great Plains Country Association, the Tourism Committee is able to use the funds provided by the Hotel/Motel Tax efficiently and wisely," she concluded. To view the TV commercial, click here.

The next step in the Tourism Committee's plan will be the attendance at various travel shows located in Texas and Kansas.

Wellness Expo

Response is great for the Wellness Expo set fof September 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the SWOSU Wellness Center. Listed are the Chamber members who have signed on as of Friday afternoon. If you do not see your business listed, please let us know.

The event is open to any Chamber member. Corporate Sponsorship is $100. A sponsor at this level receives an 8' x 10' booth, their logo in print and electronic media advertising, and a sign to display in their business. Booth Fee Participants is $40. As a participant the business receives an 8' x 10' booth and a sign to display in their business.

Contact the Chamber at 772-7744 with any questions. Click here to download information and an application.

Corporate Sponsors

Advanced Home Care Services, Inc.
SWOSU - School of Nursing
SWOSU - Biology Department
Trinity Hospice
Weatherford Living Center

Booth Sponsrs

The Medicene Shoppe

Businesses are on Board! Are You?

Time is running out to become a part of one of Weatherford's best retail promotions "Home for the Holiday with Family and Friends." Set to begin in mid November, the promotion is designed to increase retail shopping in Weatherford during the holidays and reward lucking shoppers for choosing Weatherford for their holiday purchases.

Each week throughout the promotion - one lucky winner will be drawn to receive $1,000 in Chamber Bucks. When the winner is called, the individual will be asked to name two friends or family members, each will receive $500 in Chamber Bucks.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the 2008 Holiday Promotion letters. Response has been great. Listed below are the businesses who have signed on as of Friday afternoon. If you do not see your business listed, please give us a call. To download information and a sign up form, click here.

Santa Sponsors

BancFirst

Kelley Jewelery

More Than Medicine

Wal-Mart

Reindeer Sponsors

All Star Video

Caulkins Conoco

Floor Trader

The Kloset

Midwest Music

Myers Laundry & Cleaners

Nabors Shoe Center

Southwest Beauty Supply

Southwest National Bank

The Woodshed Frame Shop

Wright Wradio

Elf Sponsors

Western Equipment, LLC

School Personnel Welcome

By now, Chamber members have received information concerning sponsoring the drawing at the "Welcome Reception for New Education Personnel." Already responding to the request to be part of the drawings is State Farm Insurance - Debbie Shepherd, The Kloset and Kelley Jewelry. As a drawing participant, the business has agreed to provide a $100 donation to the recipient. Eligible to be entered into the drawing are individuals new to Weatherford education community who are in attendance at the welcome reception.

The Welcome Reception is August 19, 12:30 p.m. and is presented and hosted by First National Bank. The Welcome Reception is for anyone new to the Weatherford ISD, Western Technology Center or Southwestern Oklahoma system as well as any Chamber member. If your business would like to be included as drawing participant, click here to download the sponsorship form. Then fax the completed form to the Chamber office.

As a drawing sponsor, your business will be recognized during the reception and you will be allowed a few seconds to comment about your business. This is a great way to promote your business to more than 100 education personnel. If you have any questions, please contact the Chamber at 772-7744.

Bits 'n Pieces

Leadership Weatherford - Applications are now being accepted for Leadership Weatherford a nine month, one day a month program designed to energize our community and cultivate the next generation leadership The cost for the program is $300. Applications are being accepted until September 1

Design Alliance Façade Grant - Looking to do some improvement to your building. Don't forget to apply for a "Design Alliance Grant." Click here to download and application.

Chambers Count - Learn "The Real Value of Joining a Chamber of Commerce" by reading the study commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Prosperity Project -

Help your employees be informed before July 29th! Click on www.okprosperity.com/weatherford, to find out who is running in their district, view their candidates' Voter's Guides - and then go to the polls informed.

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."

Minimum investments for each are

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

Platinum Investors