Welcome Packets

to be Assembled

The traditional Summer Welcome Packets will be put together from Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5...ready to be distributed to our guests and visitors.  All tourism related businesses are invited to bring 2,500 brochures or flyers to the Chamber office before Friday, April 29th to be included.  Coupons or discounts are encouraged!  This service is free of charge to Chamber members!

This is a major undertaking...over fifty businesses participate and forty volunteers are needed to work on the packets.  Please see that 5.5 x 8.5 inches is the largest size submitted. Anything larger must be folded before submitted.

This Welcome Packet concept is over twenty five years old...and it seems to have worked very well.  The theory is to provide visitors with additional information on area attractions and drive them into White Lake Businesses!

Volunteers are needed!!!  Call the Chamber at 893-4585 if you have the time to share with us.

You are invited to the

White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Leads Group Visitor's Night

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

5pm-7pm

Arts Council of White Lake

8695 Ferry Street, Montague

The White Lake Area Chamber Leads Group is a networking group comprised of business owners and professionals who refer business leads and development ideas to one another. 

Wine and light refreshments are provided, with no cost to attend.  Please RSVP to the Chamber by Friday, April 29 by calling 893-4585 to take part in this excellent business opportunity!

     The White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its twelfth annual Legislative Luncheon on Monday, May 16, 2011 at Alcoa/Howmet Plant 10, 3850 White Lake Drive, Whitehall, MI.  Again this year, there will be time to meet and greet our invited legislators at11:30 am for one-on-one interaction, followed by the luncheon and program at 12 noon.

     The luncheon will feature United States Representative Bill Huizenga, 2nd District.  Congressman Huizenga will inform the attendees of his work with the committees  in which he is involved and give an update on local and current issues in Washington D.C., expectations for the future, as well as responding to questions from the floor.

     Other invited legislators include State Senator Geoff Hansen, 34th District, StateRepresentative Holly Hughes and State Representative Marcia Hovey-Wright.  County and local officials along with several additional honored guests from the area will also be participating in this annual luncheon.  Be sure to come out and interact with this new slate of legislators.

     A broad, cross-section of people from the White Lake Area's industrial, commercial, and business communities have expressed the importance of attending this luncheon.  This is a great opportunity for interested citizens to communicate with these leaders.

     This year's event is generously sponsored by PNC Bank and hosted by Alcoa/Howmet.  Dave's Kountry Katering is planning a delicious lunch along with table service by Debby Does Dishes.  Event cost is $22.00 per person.  Reservations are required.  Contact the Chamber office at 893-4585 to RSVP.

Business

After Hours

Thursday, June 9, 2011

5pm -  7pm

White Lake Yacht Club

6748 South Shore Drive

Whitehall, MI

Come on out for a fun evening with other Chamber members and a time to meet and greet with neighborhood friends.

Guests are encouraged to bring business cards  

for networking and to enter awesome drawings.

The White Lake Yacht Club welcomes the

community to join them!   Delicious appetizers,  

beverages and spirits will be served.

What a great way to kick off the summer!

     The Board of Directors and Executive Director of the WLACC participated in a comprehensive strategic planning process during the first quarter of 2011.  The meetings and planning process were facilitated by Vice Chair, Mark Zickel.

In addition to the extensive benefits and services currently offered to WLACC members, the Board adopted the following 5 major strategic goals for 2011-2012.

1. Economic Development Focus

2. Municipal Marina Turnaround

3. Creation of an Events Division

4. Chamber Building Improvements

5. Membership Growth

Over the next several months we will be sharing more  information about these important goals as the White Lake community members leading the initiatives develop, implement and begin to execute their plans.  We will also be reaching out to get more community members involved within each of these major strategic initiatives.

A laser focus on these goals will contribute significantly to our    recently refined vision statement:

" To be the best resource for sustainable business growth, networking opportunities and tourism in the Montague, Whitehall and surrounding areas by integrating government, business and community."

FORE!!!  Listen for the shotgun start and then tee off for a really good time!  The date is quickly approaching for the    Annual Chamber Golf Classic.  The four-man scramble is set for Wednesday, June 1 at Lincoln Golf Club, 4907 Whitehall Road in Muskegon.  There will be a 1:00 pm shotgun start.  What a great way to meet and greet old friends and members as well as some new ones!

     We will have the Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, along with other fun holes.  Don Rypma will once again be sponsoring the Hole in One contest.  Following the 18 holes of fun, we will have a delicious dinner by "Just Classics", the on-site restaurant and caterer.  There will also be plenty of prizes, including a 50/50 drawing, the new "Dumping for Dollars" special event, as well as raffles for many other prizes.  Please send in your team'sreservation form, which is enclosed in this newsletter, to reserve your spot!  Be sure to check out sponsorship opportunities!

The 33rd Annual

White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival

Goodrich Park Annex, Whitehall

Now that spring is upon us, we are once again looking toward another fun and exciting event.  Our annual Arts & Crafts Festival will once again be heading back to the Goodrich Park Annex along beautiful White Lake, which also hosts our Arts & Crafts by the Lake   during Maritime Festival.

· Saturday, June 18 from 10am to 5pm and  

Sunday, June 19 from 11am to 4pm

· Over 75 juried exhibitors and booths with a wide variety of participating artists.

· Food vendors including cinnamon roasted nuts, pizza, brats, cotton candy taffy, along with our favorites like elephant ears, lemonade and much more.

· Continuous live entertainment, including Keith Scott and local favorite Mike Snell.

· Various activities for children, such as face painting and balloon animals.

· The continuation of the Arts & Crafts Festival poster series, featuring artwork by a White Lake Area student.