News from The Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce

Happy New Year and welcome to the first "Weekly Agenda" of the new year. 2008 was a great year for your Chamber of Commerce and 2009 is starting out the same.

Tickets are on sale now for the Chamber banquet. Also, Table Decoration Sponsorships are now being secured. Response has been good. Details for both are included in this email. Special emails will also be sent.

Chamber members recently received their 2009 Chamber Membership Investment Statements. Membership Investments are the lifeblood of any Chamber. Thank you for your past and future support!

What's Happening!

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

Monday, January 12
Executive Committee - 12:00 PM - Chamber Office

Tuesday, January 13
Leadership Weatherford Day - Economic Development

Wednesday, January 14
Banquet Committee - 3:00 PM - SWOSU Ballroom

Wednesday, January 14
Leadership Weatherford Committee - 4:00 PM - Chamber office

Thursday, January 15
Board of Directors - 4:00 PM - Chamber Office

Thursday, January 15
Ambassadors - 4:00 PM - Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, January 20
Heartland Cruise Committee - 7:00 PM - Chamber Of Commerce

Contacting Customers

Looking for a great way to electronically stay in touch with clients or customers? Then take a look at "Constant Contact", the online program used by the Weatherford Area Chamber to stay in touch with its members.

To review the program go to www.constantcontact.com or email the Chamber at director@weatherfordchamber.com

Community Coffees for 2009

Mark your calendar now for the 2009 Community Coffees. First of the new year was Thursday, January 8 at the Weatherford Public Library. Community Coffees are a great opportunity to learn what is happening in Weatherford while enjoying good food and fellowship. All Community Coffees start at 9:30 a.m.

February 12

Action Sports

March 12

Western Oklahoma Christian School

April 9

BancFirst

May 14

Sterling House

June 11

Weatherford Regional Hospital

July 9

SWOSU

August 13

Southwest National Bank

September 10

Great Plains YMCA

October 8

Bank of Western Oklahoma

November 12

Stafford Air & Space Museum

December 17

First National Bank & Trust

Banquet Tickets On Sale Now

Tickets are on sale now for the 2009 Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet. The banquet is set for Thursday, January 22, 2009, at SWOSU's Ballroom. The reception is at 6:30 p.m. with dinner served at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and on sale now! This year each ticket will be entered into a a drawing for a prize to be given away at the conclusion of the banquet. No additional purchase is necessary to enter the drawing. Individuals attending the banquet will be asked to sign the back of their ticket before entering the banquet. The winner will some lucky individual attending the banquet!

Also, all seating is assigned. To purchase your tickets, call the Chamber at 772-7744.

In addition to celebrating the successes of your Chamber, the banquet will also feature the announcement of the "Hall of Fame" recipient, and the names of the "Outstanding Service Award" and the "Roots and Wings" recipients.

Chamber Banquet Table Decoration Sponsor

Plans are underway for the 2009 Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Thursday, January 22, 2009 at SWOSU's Ballroom.

Continuing the tradition started in 2008, Chamber members are again being encouraged to be "table decoration sponsor." As a sponsor, a Chamber member will be responsible for decorating a table of eight (8) for the banquet. This is your opportunity to promote your business. Last year's table sponsors will have the right of first refusal for sponsoring a table in 2009. Deadline for table sponsors is January 12, 2009. Call the Chamber to secure your table sponsorship.

Ag Committee Gears Up!

Members of the Chamber's AgriBusiness Committee are now contacting Weatherfor area businesses to secure their support for the 2009 show season. Businesses supporting the AgriBusiness Committee efforts are supporting 3 different events.

First is the Weatherford Area Livestock Show, set for Saturday, February 14. Next up is the Custer County Livestock Show and the premium sale. Finally, is the Weatheford Area Horse show held in April. Remember, your one time donatation, support Weatheford area agriculture youth in three different areas.

Chamber Leadership

With the start of the new year, comes a change in the leadership positions with your Chamber. Tom Fagan, Vice President of Finance for SWOSU takes over as Chamber President, while Tiffini Lyda, Community Relations Manager for Public Service Company assumes the role of President-Elect. Continuing as Treasurer is Michele Hart, Hart and Merchants, CPA and Marie Hanza, Executive Director. Bruce VonTungeln will serve as Past President.

Kay Tautfest and Harold Wright completed their three (3) year tterm of office at the end of 2008.

Serving as your Board of Directors in 2009 are:

Term Expires 2009

Rick Dahlgren
The Cup

Anita Merida
Advanced Home Care Services

Colleen Schmitz
More Than Medicine

Allen McSparrin
Westok Auto Leasing

Bruce VonTungeln
BancFirst

Term Expires 2010

Jeff Berrong
Ed Berrong Insurance & Real Estate

Tom Fagan
Southwestern Okla. State University

Michele Hart
Hart and Merchant, CPA

Paul Tisdal
Weatherford Eyecare Center

Term Expires 2011

Debbie Howe
Weatherford Regional Hospital

Tiffini Lyda
Public Service Company

Radonna Sawatzky
OSU Extension Service

Ex-Officio

Mike Brown, Mayor
City of Weatherford

Marie Hanza
Executive Director

Calendar of Events

Weatherford citizens and visitors can keep current of events in Weatherford by checking out the Chamber's calendar www.weatherfordchamber.com. The calendar shows chamber activities as well as community events.

To post a community event on the calendar, simply create a new account, if you do not have an existing account, select the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, and then complete the form. Once completed, select the process button. A notice will then be sent to the chamber office, where the event will be reviewed and approved or disapproved for posting. When completing the form, please assign the event to a category and use the default settings for size of type and font color.

Bits 'n Pieces

Minimum Wage Poster - Need a copy of the new minimum wage poster? Follow this link.

Need Health Insurance? - The State Chamber's endorsed health insurance program, Oklahoma Chamber Blue, continues to grow beyond expectations. This health insurance plan features no medical underwriting; PPO and HMO options; prescription drug coverage; and qualifies for the state's InsureOklahoma! premium reimbursement program. To qualify for Oklahoma Chamber Blue, a company must have fewer than 100 employees; be a member of either The State Chamber OR their local chamber of commerce; and be headquartered in one of Oklahoma's 62 rural counties. As of June 30th, more than 1200 companies and 8,000 lives are covered! Ask your insurance agent about this fabulous program! For more information, click here. Contact Matt Robison.

Design Alliance Facade 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.

TV Commercial - Got friends or relatives in another part of the country who you want to "brag to" about Weatherford? Then send them the two links below. Weatherford video.

The first is the the The Chamber's Weatherford TV commercial now playing on OKC's Cox metro cable system. The second is to an article written by Melana Lott, owner of Inflamed Brain Creative, the company hired to produce the TV commercials and economic development video. Click here to read the article.

The Heartland Museum has been featured on Channel 4's "Great State Program." Click here to view the video.

Share this email with your co-workers!

Sincerely,

Marie Hanza
Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce