 Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce
22 North Manning Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 437-6401 Fax: (517) 437-6408
www.hillsdalecountychamber.com |
2010 Chamber
Associate Members
  
2010 Chamber Partner Member
County National Bank  |
|
|
A Note From Karri
Dear Chamber Member,
Where does the time go? I can't believe it's June already. Time flies when you are having fun. We have many irons in the fire this time of the year. We are busy putting the final touches on the 19th Annual Car Show and Summerfest, sales are in full swing for the classic car raffle, plans are underway for our annual golf outing, our shop local program (TUF) is up and in it's second month, we are working on plans for the 2nd annual locally grown foods picnic and we are planning to publish a map and visitor guide this year. In addition, we also cover the day to day operations including requests about Hillsdale County and referrals.
Our main two fundraisers for the year are the Classic Car Raffle and the 19th Annual Car Show & Summerfest. These two events help subsidize operations for the Chamber which allows your dues to remain affordable. Car tickets were mailed to all members, please return the tickets (sold or unsold) as soon as possible as we must have them for accounting purposes for the state.
The 19th Annual Car Show & Summerfest is going to be a great event. Many activities are planned including the car show, concessions, vendors, swap meet, craft show, ribfest, scooperbowl, chicken barbeque, two live bands (The Travelers and Small Town Son), games and much more. Sponsors are still needed for this event and sponsorship information can be found on page 7. Can you volunteer a couple of hours on Saturday, June 26 or Sunday, June 27? We need volunteers to help with gates, registration and the beverage tent. If you are able to help, please call the Chamber as soon as possible.
You may have heard the City of Hillsdale is thinking of giving the Mitchell Building to the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce. Many repairs need to be made to the building and the city is not in a financial position to make the repairs. The Chamber does not have the cash either, however we are confident that we will be able to recruit volunteers and donations to help keep the building operational. We have already heard from some of you who want to donate time, materials or money to ensure the building is maintained. We are excited about this opportunity and will continue working with the committee to finalize the details.
We added sixteen more businesses to the TUF program this month. Are you a participating business? If not, would you like information about how your business can be promoted? Do you have a TUF band? Bands can be purchased at the following locations: Bretty's, Broad Street Downtown Market, Century 21 Action Associates, Coffee Cup Diner, County National Bank (Hillsdale, Jonesville, Litchfield & Somerset), G & G Glass, Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce, Hillsdale County United Way, Hillsdale Market House, Layman's Service Center, Leutheuser Buick GMC, Mac's All Temp, Nash Drugs of Hillsdale & Jonesville, Performance Automotive of Hillsdale & Jonesville, Reading BP, Rob's Barber Shop, Saucy Dog's BBQ, SabreTech, Stadium Roller Rink and Stillwell Ford.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Respectfully, 
Karri Doty, IOM
President/Executive Director
|
|
Hello
Hillsdale County Breakfast
June 17, 2010
7:45 AM Breakfast Buffet
($10 per person)
Location: Johnny T's Bistro
Speaker: Michigan 58th District State Representative Ken Kurtz
Topic: Legislative Updates
Join us for breakfast and network with other Chamber Members.
Please RSVP for this event by June 14thRegister for this event by clicking this link!
Pre-payment or payment at time of breakfast is requested.
An additional $2 fee will be added for those being billed or for those without an RSVP.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to the event and
no- shows will be billed $12.
2010
Hello Hillsdale County dates & locations
July 22
Lunch
Hillsdale Golf
& Country Club
August 26
Breakfast
Saucy Dog's Barbeque
September 23
Lunch
Johnny T's Bistro
October 28
Breakfast
Warner's
Family Restaurant
November 18
Lunch
Saucy Dog's
Barbeque
December 16
Breakfast
Hillsdale Golf
& Country Club
|
Governor Granholm Declares June Youth Employment Month in Michigan
From: Mario L. Morrow
Source:Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
May 25, 2010 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has
proclaimed June as Youth Employment Month in Michigan. The annual proclamation is intended to help teens identify
employment opportunities and to help employers provide legal and safe working environments for the state's working teens. |
|
Welcome New Members
CR Motors
Tim Zacharias
5180 South Meridian Road
Hudson, MI 49247
(517) 448-2741
Chrysler, Dodge
& Jeep Dealer
Edward Jones - Don Toffolo, AAMS
Tonya Peters
255 East Chicago Street Ste. 1
Jonesville, MI 49250
(517) 849-7771
Investments and
Financial Planning
Mary Lou's Concessions
Linda & Jim Breece
P.O. Box 240
Jonesville, MI 49250
(517) 607-5710
Concessions |
Manage Your Customer Relationships or Perish
By: Darrel Zahorsky
Source: About.com
With an explosion of choice in product and service
selection winning more business is getting tougher each year. Reaching and nurturing customer relations are essential for a small business to survival. Central to managing any customer relationship is CRM or customer relationship management software. Discover the necessary survival strategy of managing customer relations with the technology of today.
Gone are the days of marketing to your potential customer base and sitting back to reap the rewards of a great ad campaign. Gone are the days of grabbing the hottest leads and forgetting about the warmer less inclined to buy now clients. Gone are the days of using a simple notebook or excel spreadsheet to collect your lead list. Read More
|
The 5 Biggest Sales Management Blunders
Avoiding Sales Management
Blunders
From: Darrell Zahorsky
Source: About.com
Hiring a sales staff for your small business comes with the responsibility to provide effective sales management. Learn the biggest sales
management blunders and how you can avoid them.
Read More |
|
Did You Know???
The 19th Annual Hillsdale County Car Show & Summerfest will be held June 26th & 27th
at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds? The Village of Jonesville presented Don Germann a plaque honoring the
Jonesville Lions Club for 75 years of service? Over 300 discounts and services can be found in the June TUF offers? The Hillsdale Academy girls track team won the MITCA division 4 state championships held at Gobles High School on Saturday, May 29. |
How to Manage a
Deadbeat Employee
By:Susan M. Heathfield
Source: About.com
"Deadbeat Employee"
A deadbeat employee is an employer's nightmare. You know the occasional employee I am talking about. He doesn't show up for work, calls in sick, and milks the time off policy, always walking on the edge, but never falling off. He walks the edge of the work policies and processes, too.
He does just enough to stay employed but doesn't grow professionally nor contribute like your other employees. He sometimes reaches his goals but exhibits a general lack of enthusiasm. The hallmark of the deadbeat employee is that he is always walking on the edge between succeeding and failing.
Some deadbeat employees actively criticize the
company and its policies, not through suggested routes, but in email, at the water cooler, and in the employee lunchroom. Others are constantly unhappy with whatever policy or direction the company sets. Their unhappiness runs all over their coworkers as they complain, gossip, and criticize1. Whatever form of behavior your deadbeat employee exhibits, it won't go away without your intervention. Bad habits, like good habits, become ingrained in workplace behavior.
Read More
|
|
|
|
The views expressed in the Commerce Connection may not necessarily
reflect the views of the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce or its staff.
|
|
GOT GIRL SCOUT COOKIES??? 
The Chamber office has all 8 flavors of Girl Scout Cookies - $3.50 per box. Available Monday - Friday during normal business hours or by appointment.
|
Launched May 1st
"TUF"
|
WIN THIS CAR!!!
The Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce will be raffling off
a 1956 Ford Fairlane - June 2010 at the 19th Annual Hillsdale County
Car Show & Summerfest.
Raffle tickets have been mailed to all members.
Tickets are $10 each, 3 for $20, 9 for $50 or 25 for $100.
All tickets sold or unsold must be returned back to
the Chamber Office by June 4th.
Car to be raffled off June 27th at the 19th Annual
Hillsdale County Car Show and Summerfest.
Raffle License #R03575
|
|
Car Show Volunteers Needed!
Can you volunteer for a couple hours on
Saturday, June 26 or Sunday, June 27 at the car show & summerfest?
Volunteers are needed for gates, registration and beverage tent.
If you can help, please give us a call at 517-437-6401.
|
|
The Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce presents the
19th Annual Hillsdale County Car Show Read More
|
|
A message from State Representative Ken Kurtz |
|
|
Over the last month the legislature has been hard at work trying to provide a path to a better Michigan. The major package of legislation which was signed into law was the teacher retirement package.
Economists have estimated that this package will save
approximately 3 billion dollars over the next 10 years and close to $680 million next year alone. This is certainly a savings that could not be ignored. It may not have been the most popular legislation among some in the teaching community, but our local school districts will see more money going into the classroom, where it belongs, because of this action.
I have also introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to allow citizens in Michigan to keep their outdoor burning barrels. At this time the DEQ would like to create a ban on burning barrels state wide. I believe this is a local decision that the state should not be infringing upon. There are many rural areas of the state that do not have the same access to garbage pickup service as cities and burning is the best option for them. A state wide ban would not be progress but more restrictions on the citizens of Michigan.
As always it is a pleasure serving you as your State Representative.
If there is ever anything I can do to help you please feel free to contact me.
Kenneth Kurtz
State Representative 58th District
Phone: (517) 373-1794
Toll Free: (866) 362-8812
kennethkurtz@house.mi.gov |
Sponsorship Opportunities!!!
Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce
Annual Car Show & Summerfest
This 19th annual event will be held at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds on
June 26 & 27, 2010. Many other festivities will accompany the car show including a rib fest, scooperbowl, two live bands, beverage tent, chicken barbeque, games & much more. This event coupled with the classic car raffle is our largest fundraiser annually. SOLD Corporate Sponsor - $2,500 - Company name and logo printed on all promotional items and advertising, company name printed in program, T-Shirt, banner sponsor and banner for the road, opportunity to display your company banner at show, opportunity to provide logo bags for goodie items, fifteen passes to the show, opportunity to present awards at show with photo opportunities, company link from the car show page of the Chamber's website to your website, five car show shirts, insert & ad (provided by you) in the Commerce Connection. ______ Gold Sponsor - $1,000 - Company name printed in program, sponsor banner & T-Shirt. Opportunity to displayyour company banner, ten passes to the show, two car show shirts, insert in Commerce Connection (provided by you).
______ Silver Sponsor - $750 - Company name printed in program & sponsor banner. Five passes to the show & two car show shirts.
______ Bronze Sponsor - $500 - Company name printed in program & sponsor banner. Two passes to the show.
_____ 2 Trophy Sponsor - $100 - Company name printed on one trophy each day (two trophies).
______ 1 Trophy - $75 - Company name printed on one trophy.
______ Banner Sponsor - $100 - All banner sponsors printed on one banner.
______ Banner & Trophy Sponsor - $175 - Company name printed on one trophy each day (two trophies).
______T-Shirt Sponsor - $325 - Your company name will be printed on the sleeve of the car show t-shirt.
______ Beverage Tent Premiere Sponsor - $650 (1 available) - 1000 cups imprinted with company name & logo, opportunity to display your company banner by beverage tent, company name printed in the program, two passes to the show.
______ Beverage Tent Sponsor - $250 - opportunity to display your company banner by beverage tent, company name printed in the program, two passes to the show.
______ Scooperbowl Premiere Sponsor - $650(1 available) - 1000 bowls imprinted with company name & logo, opportunity to display your company banner by the Scooperbowl area, company name displayed at Scooperbowl tables and in the program, two passes to the show.
______ Scooperbowl Sponsor - $250 - opportunity to display your company banner by the Scooperbowl area, company name displayed at Scooperbowl tables and in the program, two passes to the show.
______ Rib-Fest Sponsor - $250 - opportunity to display your company banner by the rib-fest participants, company name displayed on all participant tables and in the program, two passes to the show.
______Band Sponsor - $250 - opportunity to display your company banner on the band stage, company name printed in program, two passes to the show.
______ Door Prize Items - Yes, I would like to donate a door prize.
______ Goodie Bag Items - Yes, I would like to donate items for the goodie bags (250 items). Company Name: ___________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________________ If you are interested in sponsoring the car show, please contact the chamber at 517-437-6401. All sponsorship opportunities are negotiable. If you have any additional ideas, please do not hesitate to contact us.
|
Featured Member
A.D. Sprow Tax & Accounting
Dan & Brenda Sprow
3671 Bankers Road
(517) 437-3677
Allen Dean Sprow started A.D. Sprow Tax & Accounting in 1964. Brenda Sprow joined the company in 1994. In 1997, Brenda and her husband Dan bought the business and then in 2000 their daughter Angela Swan joined them in the family business.
A.D. Sprow Tax & Accounting specializes in tax preparation. They stand behind their work and if their clients are audited they will
represent their clients and work to resolve issues with the IRS. They offer competitive pricing on their tax preparation services.
A.D. Sprow Tax & Accounting is a full service accounting firm that provides payroll and general accounting services for individuals as well as businesses and corporations. Brenda is also a Notary Public.
Brenda believes their family owned company, professional services and personal attention to their clients sets them apart from their
competitors. They pride themselves on knowing their clients and always answering the phone when clients call during business hours. When clients call after hours they can leave a message which is returned promptly.
To find out more about the services that A.D. Sprow Tax & Accounting offers, give them a call at
(517) 437-3677.
Interested in being a featured member? Please give Jon at call at 517-437-6401
or e-mail at jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com |
 HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
Spot Chamber Charlie in the newsletter
and call the Chamber to win!
Spot Chamber Charlie in this month's edition of the Commerce Connection,
be one of the first three to call the Chamber and correctly identify the location of Chamber Charlie and receive a free Chamber Lottery Ticket.
Awards and number of winners vary from month to month. One winner per year per company. For more information, give the Chamber a call
at (517) 437-6401
or e-mail Jon - jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com
|
Advertising, Email Blast & Insertion Rates
Advertising
3" x 2 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $25
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $175
3" x 5" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $42.50 or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $410
3" x 7 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $60
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $510
E-mail blast
E-mail blasts will be sent once per week - $35 per blast
Inserts
Chamber composes & prints - (black print & 1 side) $165.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $125.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
Chamber composes & prints (black print & 1 side) $115.00 (with other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $75.00 - Month
(with other inserts) $25 for ads created by Chamber Color printing - $25
Colored paper - $10 Second side printing - $10 black and white & $25 color
|
|
Chamber Board of Directors and Staff
Executive Board of Directors
Chairperson - Jeff Layman - Layman's Service Center
Vice Chairperson - Joe Sanford - Century 21 Action Associates
Member At Large - Raymond Lee - Raymond Lee Custom Carpentry
Treasurer (Non-Voting) - Jeanne Mills - Bottom Line Business Service
Board of Directors
Scott Phillips - Coldwell Banker
Cyndi Young - WCSR
Michael Lee Thorp - The Plant Nook Florist
Chamber Staff
Karri Doty, IOM - President/Executive Director
Jon Doty - Administrative Assistant
Sarah Sanborn - Administrative Assistant
Kathy Spence -Administrative Assistant |
|
|
