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Serving the businesses of Poulsbo for over 50 Years!
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| Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce Newsletter - December, 2009
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Member Inserts
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Calendar of Events:
Thursday, December 3rd - Board Planning Retreat
Wednesday, December 9th - GPCC Holiday Christmas Party at Office Max - 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 25th - Christmas Day, Chamber Offices Closed
Thursday, December 31st - New Year's Eve,
Chamber Offices closing at 2 p.m.
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President's Message:
 It Was A Great YearIt is amazing how fast this past year has flown by. My year as the Chamber of Commerce President will soon be over. Despite the fact we have been in one of the most challenging economies of our lifetime, we kept our nose to the grindstone and had a successful year. One of our proudest achievements was that we were able to increase our membership because of the positive effect the activities of the Chamber have on business and the community. The members in our organization volunteer and participate so they can make a difference while promoting their business. We added value by offering a good variety of speakers for our luncheons and have seen an increase in attendance and also offered a training class in social networking. Expense management has been an important focus this year so we started sending out the newsletter via Constant Contact email. This saved the Chamber valuable resources that can be used on marketing and has allowed us to keep our membership updated weekly on events. Our Website has also been updated and we are committed to keep up with the latest technology. We also understand that our members have to be more cost conscious so we now offer members various payment options for their annual dues and we have enhanced our insurance benefits to offer more choices. Our volunteers in the office have increased in numbers and have taken on more duties to allow Adele and Constance to spend more time on promoting the businesses in Poulsbo. The marketing coalition,which we participate in, had success in it's first year of marketing Poulsbo and it's events and will continue into 2010. The Ambassador program continues to grow in popularity and encourages members to get involved and welcome attendees to our meetings and ribbon cuttings. The Chamber had a multitude of successful events this year including the Americana Music Festival, Business Expo featuring a Candidates Forum and the annual Golf Classic where we had a golfer win the $25,000 putting contest. I am looking forward to next year under the leadership of Linda Lincoln. Let's all work together to make the Chamber successful in 2010.
Glenn Anderson, President |
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GPCC Patron Members:
1st Security Bank; Margaret Bradshaw
American Family Insurance; Anna Jewel Agency
American Marine Bank; Gwen Hannon
Bank of America Home Loans; Rebecca Clifford
Bill Austin; Individual
Central Market; Tom Hall
Century Tel
Chase Finance Center, Sharon Mahler
Craig Benson Chiropractic Clinic; Dr. Craig Benson
Courtesy Auto Group, John Hern
Edward Jones; Todd Tidball, Glenn Anderson, Pat McFadden, and Donna Strep
Edgren, Hecker & Lemmon Insurance; Brian Edgren
Harrison Medical Center; Rhonda Brown
Hill Moving Services, Inc.; Kay Hill Cook
Kitsap Bank; Marlene Mitchell
Kitsap Community Resources; Lynne Lance
Kitsap Physical Therapy and Sports Clinic; Ron Mimaki
Kitsap Sun Newspaper; Barbara Sykes
Liberty Bay Auto; Kevin Hogan
Martha and Mary; Chad Solvie
Nilsen's Appliance; Bruce Nilsen
North Kitsap Herald; Donna Etchey
Paladin Data Systems Corportion; Michelle Dvorak
People's Bank; Cathy Shaffer
Poulsbo Inn and Suites
Poulsbo Mortuary/Stone Chapel; Rich Winter
Prowse & Company; Brenda Prowse
Puget Sound Energy; Don McDaniel
Sons of Norway Lodge #44; John Walsh
Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort; Russell Steele
The Copper Works; Jack Archer
Timberland Bank; Linda Lincoln
Tim Ryan Construction; Tim Ryan
Viking Bank; Pam Whitt
Wells Fargo; Jennifer Crosset
Whiskey Creek Steakhouse; Karan Ziarnik |
Getting to Know Our Members
Meet Aaron D. Murphy, Architect:
Aaron has a passion for architecture, for business and most of all for customer satisfaction and client relations. Living and working in a small community where relationships are everything, Aaron bases his work ethic and business decisions on knowing how important client satisfaction is every step of the way.
The cost of using ADM is well worth the professional insight that ADM can bring to the team for your project. The savings that can result in the finished product well outweigh and solidify the decision to have an architect involved in your project. When you select an architect, you want to know that they understand your vision and your dreams for creating a building space. ADM knows from experience how to listen and take your ideas and bring them to fruition. At ADM our many years of experience in the architecture field have involved all types of clients, projects, building sizes, scopes and budgets. We are a well-rounded firm that puts customer service above all else!
Thank you for the opportunity to share my business with fellow members of the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.
Contact us: ADM Architecture
Phone: 360-440-8475
 Check our Website for additional photos, office hours and contact information.
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Council Corner: Gateways:
Like looking at a book first by its cover, so we must stand back and see Poulsbo through the eyes of our visitors and tourists. During these economically challenging times, as we look around the downtown and beyond, and see the list of vacancies both stubbornly remaining empty and those adding to the list like the recent departure of Village Baker at the head of the waterfront downtown, we must all do what we can to welcome the customer to our midst.
Under our previous Board and Director, the partnership of Chamber and City resulted in the 'planting' of some dozen all-weather blue directional signs around town, with sponsor's business names attached underneath. Meant to direct vehicular traffic to business districts other than the regional shopping afforded at College Market Place, it added to the earlier older wooden signs at both ends of Highway 305 and the couple at Viking and Finn Hill intersections.
"Velkommen til Poulsbo" needs to be our motto, on both signage and on our lips, and in our minds. The City, in spite of temporary cutbacks in our Hotel-Motel Tax allocations to the Chamber and VCB to assist our Public Works and Police personnel costs associated with Viking Fest and Fireworks on the Fjord festivals (that the City in the past quietly absorbed) is keenly interested in promoting our businesses and shopping districts to our out-of-town friends.
In this regard, there is one pot of funds at the City that under the terms of the endowment of the bequeathed that made the gift, can only be used to beautify Poulsbo. Over $20,000 is in the Bjorgen Beautification Fund and unlike even Hotel-Motel Tax funds, is earmarked legally only for this very strict purpose. It has yet to ever have a dollar expended. Two years ago discussions ensued to use this money as seed dollars to support the largely volunteer-effort to embellish one of our towns major gateways, the Lindvig Bridge on Lindvig Way coming down and across Finn Hill Road to Front Street. This would create a major welcoming gateway into town.
But in the interim, perhaps a few of these dollars could be directed at quickly and simply embellishing Hwy 305 and Lincoln Road intersections with a great big sand-blasted into-the-blank-concrete abutments "Velkommen Til Poulsbo!", and call out our charm and heritage in one fell swoop? Council would need to approve this in December. There is some concern this would be seen as frivolous, but I dare say NOT !
With the demolition of the old pawn shop and burnt-out house at Highway 305 and Hostmark intersections this last month, our gateways to Poulsbo both cry out for attention, but hold promise too of what could be! Let us rise to the occasion and opportunity of 'filling in the blanks' now, and in partnership and cooperation plant the seeds for a brighter new year. Happy Holidays, all!
Ed Stern
Councilmen, City of Poulsbo
Boardmember, KRCC / PSRC / AWC |
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"Tis the Season" as they say in marketing while they entice you to come and shop. This year we hope that many of our members will "shop local" and find unique gifts for their friends and loved ones. From those special Front Street shops to those in Poulsbo Village to the larger stores in College Market Place we hope you visit Poulsbo's local merchants first.
The end of 2009 brings many emotions and memories that flood back to us as we spend time with our friends and families at holiday gatherings. We tend to eat too much so that January 1st brings the first resolution to lose weight and get into those clothes that somehow got a little snug.
But we need to stop for just a moment and realize what we are thankful for because it isn't how we look that makes us special, it's how we treat those around us. This time of year as we rush around let's be sure we say "please" to the shop clerk who helped us or "thank you" to the waitress who gave us good service. It isn't always the "tip" that makes them smile but your attitude and graciousness. I remember learning as a kid, that "please" and "thank you" always got me a bigger smile from my Mom or Aunt Louise.
On the other hand my Dad always said "give good customer service" and they will come back again and again. We owned a service station, and my Dad did not only dispense gas, he made his customers feel special. I remember many nights when he went out to change a flat tire or bring gas to someone and his customers loved him for it.
Let's all remember to be courteous to our friends, our valued shoppers and especially to our families during this holiday season. I hope every member has a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.
Adele Heinrich, Executive Director |
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Membership Renewals for November, 2009
Anderson Denture/Dental Center
Foster Financial
Heavenly Choices
Kitsap County Commissioners Office
The Home Depot
Office Max
Poulsbo Perk
Prowse & Company, Patron
Shoreline Gallery
Toro Consulting
West Sound Academy |
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New Members in November, 2009
Les Saisons Boutique
Local Choices
Madison Avenue Retirement Center
Nepstad, Betts & Associates
Pacific Eyecare of Poulsbo
The Balanced Body
Thermal Body Scan NW, Inc.
State Farm Insurance - Barb Brenner
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New Member Spotlights:
Erin Gallagher Whitson is very excited to be the new owner of Les Saisons Boutique located at 18833 Front Street NE. Prior to purchasing Saisons Erin had a busy career in real estate, working out of the Coldwell Banker office on Bainbridge Island and selling real estate on the island and North Kitsap for 24 years. Erin's mother, Marie Gallagher Bird opened the Real Estate office 24 years ago and Erin was her first agent. The company grew and at one point Marie and Erin ran two real estate offices with one of them being in Poulsbo, which Erin managed. About 5 years ago Marie and Erin sold the Coldwell Banker office yet maintain their licenses with the new owners.
Erin is married to Richard Whitson and they have a 24 year old daughter, Tiana.
Les Saisons is a gift shop for all Seasons that carries some great lines that people love, such as Vera Bradley, Baggallini, Thymes, Crabtree and Evelyn and more! Please stop by and say Hi, but give yourself some time to browse through all of the fun merchandise! Erin calls it "an adventure in shopping"!
The Balanced Body Inc. - Offering a Community Service with The Biggest Loser Local Weight Loss Challenges! Helping people achieve their weight loss goals through education & better nutrition. A place where people get paid to lose weight!
Personalized one-on-one coaching is our strength. Let us customize a program for you that will give you incredible results! I know, I personally lost over 70 pounds doing the program. Call today for more information.
Ledeana Strand
Personal Business Coach
206-365-7500
Thermal Body Scan NW, Inc. - conducts Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (Thermography). Thermography is a non-invasive, FDA approved diagnostic technique that converts infrared radiation emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses that are visualized in color. We use this screening technique to see changes in thermal activity in the body, particularly the breasts, to identify potential health issues. Just as unique as a fingerprint, each patient has a particular infrared map of their body. We take initial scans for the body and breasts, and rescan the breasts after three months. This allows us to establish baselines for each patient as well as see any changes occurring over time.
Studies have shown that when Thermography is added to a women's regular breast check-ups patients experience a 61% increased survival rate. Breast cancers in their earliest stages, as well as inflammatory breast cancers, may not be detected using mammography. Being able to see vascular changes in the breast tissue, in some cases YEARS before a mammogram will detect the problem, allows for early detection and early detection can save lives!
Contact us for your screening today.
Debbie DeMartini - 360-930-1954
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Military Corner
The Quarterly countywide Military Affairs Committee meeting was held in Kingston at Cleo's Landing Thursday the 19th of November. The meeting and luncheon was sponsored by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Present were representatives from the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, the Port Orchard, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island and Bremerton Chambers, the Navy, the Marine Detachment, the MWR and the Navy League. Upcoming events in the various towns and areas was discussed. Streamlining and organization of these events and other information for use of all involved was discussed. Sandy Scott from Safe Secure Enterprises volunteered to be the point of contact for this committee to consolidate communications. It was decided that a resource/contacts list would be assembled for all the participants. A form was presented to the attendees to be used for requests to the Navy for Military participation for events. Some minor changes will be made to this form. This form once edited and approved will streamline the requests from the various Chambers countywide.
The next quarterly countywide MAC meeting will be held in Port Orchard at a date and place to be determined. |
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The Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce:
Staff: Adele T. Heinrich, Executive Director
Constance Gooding, Administrative Assistant
Our Volunteers: Bobbie Fahy, Molly Wagner, Bill Gooding, Connie Tiedeman, Sandy Cutlip, Pat Dibert, Matthew Olson, Dina Penny, Francis Jacobson, Robynn Rother and Valerie Gillas.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1063, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Physical Address: 19351 - 8th Avenue, Suite 109, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Phone: 360-779-4999
Fax: 360-779-3115
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| New Member Invitation: |
Please feel free to bring a new member to any Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce Event and invite them to join. |
| Offer Expires: NEVER! |
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