Marci's
Corner
For a tiny town - there is certainly a lot going on every month! As we've been updating our fall event calendar, it's amazing to me how many wonderful things there are to do. Between things like our live music, wine tastings, dinner theater and our first-ever zombie walk ... one would be hard-pressed to say there's never anything to do here. Thanks to all of you who put together these events for all of us - and our visitors - to enjoy!
We chat about upcoming events ever week during Chamber Chat on KAPS and KBRC; let us know what is happening with your business so we can spread the word.
And you can always check out the Chamber website. There are a lot of fun things to do this month!
We've just started working on the new Chamber website that will have a more user friendly layout, significantly more content, an interactive calendar for all of our events, and a whole host of other tools that are going to showcase all of the great things about visiting, vacationing, shopping, dining, and living in La Conner. I'll keep you updated as this project gets underway.
KUDOS TO WILD IRIS INN AND SALON ROUGE
... who were recently chosen as Official Best of Washington 2011 businesses! Salon Rouge was selected as Best Salon and Day Spa; Wild Iris Inn was selected as Best Romantic Retreat. You can see the promotional videos for both Salon Rouge and Wild Iris Inn here.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS!
Rexville Grocery
Owned & Operated by Stuart & Joyce Welch
360-466-5522
19271 Best Rd.
Open 7am - 7pm daily
Rexvillegrocery.com
La Conner Thai Restaurant
Owned & operated by Boon & Nid Unruan
360-466-9999
508 Morris St.
11 am - 9 pm Tuesday - Sunday, Closed Monday
Authentic Thai cuisine. Receive 15% off with coupon.
WAVE Broadband
Justin Harrel - Manager
jharrel@wavebroadband.com
115 Maple Ave.
PressGang Retail
Owned & operated by Tom Culver
360-421-0063
610 S. First St.
Pressgangretail.com
Noon-5pm daily
Cassera Arts Premiers
Owned & operated by David Cassera
719 S. First St.
310-801-9324
Casseraartspremiers.com
Wed-Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 12pm-3pm
Custom Bookkeeping Solutions, LLC
360-224-6776
custombookkeping@comcast.net
By appointment
Trumpeter Gallery
Owned & operated by Ramon Hayes
360-420-3624
610 S. First St.
trumpetergallery@msn.com
10:30am-5:30pm daily
La Conner Channel Grill
Owned & operated by Tim Bly & Joanna Gould
360-466-3800
110 N. First St.
Laconnerrestaurant.com
4pm - close Wed-Mon
The Artist's Remarque
Owned & operated by Gil & Rebecca Bolstad
360-466-2046
128 S. First St.
theartistsremarque@gmail.com
10:30am-5pm(ish) daily
Gail Harker Creative Studies
Gail Harker
360-279-2105
12636 Chilberg Rd.
Gailcreativestudies.com
Office open: 9am-6pm
CHAMBER DUES
For members on the quarterly dues plan, 2nd Quarter dues are now due. 3rd and 4th quarter dues will be due on January 1 and April 1, respectively. If you're not currently a Chamber member but would like more information, I'd be more than happy to come talk to you about the benefits of membership. Just give me a call at the Chamber office: 360-466-4778.
GROUPS IN TOWN
Vancouver B.C. FAM tour coming!
Join us as we welcome our Canadian friends October 16-18th. Lodging and dining have been arranged for the group and tours on Monday the 17th have been arranged as well. Our guests will have free time during their visit on the 17th (minimal) and the 18th (as much as they want).
We would like to give each of our VIP guests a Welcome to La Conner basket full of wonderful items to use during their visit or take home and enjoy and remember us by. If your business would like to contribute any item to our Welcome baskets, please let me know and I will stop by and pick up or you can drop off at the Visitor Center. We hope to have 20 or more guests and baskets; feel free donate as many items as you wish. Thank you and more details about this FAM tour will follow.
TRICK OR TREAT
The School Children's Parade & Trick-or-Treat will take place on Monday, October 31st. The Parade will start at the north end of First Street at 3:30 and walk down to the south end of First St. From there the kids will turn around and start Trick-or-Treating at each of the merchants who have a balloon outside of their store, indicating that that business has candy to hand out to the kids. A representative from PTSA will visit each business prior to Halloween to find out who wants to participate and who does not, then they will hand out the balloons.
This is always a favorite with the merchants and pretty exciting for the kids as well!
MAPLE HALL BRANDING GETS AN UPDATE
Check out the new look and branding on the Maple Hall website, emphasizing La Conner's incredible sense of place. The purpose is to broaden the scope of the hall's use, and to attract more Conferences, Conventions, Art & Music Events, Weddings, and Bike Conferences to La Conner.
New Site: http://www.maplehall-laconner.com
Follow us on Twitter: @Maple_Hall
Please join our email list on the La Conner Town Site.
LA CONNER VISITORS GUIDE COMING IN JANUARY 2012
The La Conner Weekly News will be launching a brand new La Conner visitors guide in January 2012.
They will print 100,000 guides that will have a "soft fold", meaning folded in half to fit in brochure racks.
Certified Folder Display will handle distribution in hundreds of locations, including SeaTac, the ferry terminals and ferries, the I-5 corridor, Canadian border and Eastern Washington. Directory/guide listings will start at $100; full-color display ads will start at under $400. We will offer free bonus photo and text space for people who take out half-page or larger display ads. Launch of ad sales will start soon. Anyone who is interested in reserving space ranging from 1/8 page to a full page, can call Barb on her cell, 360-708-3585. She has enough information to help start planning an ad. Things still in the works include a plan to put the guide online and integrating items like a mobile phone 'app' to make it more useful.
3RD ANNUAL "SEASON OF GIVING" PROGRAM
For the third year in a row, businesses in the town of La Conner will be celebrating the "Season of Giving" this holiday season. For three Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 10% of sales at participating merchants will be designated to a different charity. The program will begin on November 27; proceeds from sales on that day will be donated to the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. The December 4 charity will be the Humane Society of Skagit County, and the December 11 recipient is the Boys and Girls Club.
Last year we had 30 businesses participate and we are asking for your participation this year. The Chamber will be sending out press releases, promoting this on our website, and adding bylines to advertising about the event. Each charity will include our event in their newsletter, and will send out reminder emails to their members as well. We would love to list your business as one of our partners!
For more information, contact Cathie Wyman via email or call her at: 360-466-4148.
 We're looking for Fun La Conner Facts!
The finishing touches are being put on the Children's Passport, and we're looking for fun and/or silly facts to put on the History of La Conner page. If you have the skinny on something that kids would like (and would make them laugh), we'd love to hear from you. You can contact Marci at the Chamber office, or Sara Eisen, project coordinator. Let's give kids not only fun things to know about La Conner's history (or residents/pets/stories), but things that will help them remember us for years to come.
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COMMUNITY OR HEALTH RELATED
La Conner Wellness Adventure Weekend
October 7-8. Many local hotels are offering specials and a host of wellness providers, workshops and services will be offered in town.
Arts Commission Openings
There will be two positions open in January 2012 on the La Conner Arts Commission. The Commission meets the first Monday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Garden Club. If you are interested in one of these positions, or have questions about the openings, contact Lori Clumpner at City Hall; 466-3125 or Kelly Wynn, Arts Commission Chair; 661-0930.
Wellness Guide for La Conner
Contact Marci if you'd like to participate with an ad in the "go to" guide for wellness practitioners and body workers/spas/health providers in La Conner. 360-466-4778.
Investment Planning
Monthly coffee club at Edward Jones, Friday, October 28 at 9 AM. Please RSVP to Terra Forkner at 466-2933
Tulip Festival Poster Unveiling 
Join us on November 3rd at Skagit Valley Gardens from 5:30 to 7 pm, as we unveil the 2012 festival poster by Kate Larsson, as well as the other official products, including the Yellowbook phone directory cover, chocolates by Forte Artisan Chocolates, sweatshirts and t-shirts. Invitations to the event can be obtained from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Office or from any Skagit County Whidbey Island Bank branch. Cost is free to attend this fun, annual event.
Pransky and Associates Free Class:
"How a simple shift can make a difference in your life"
We recently had the opportunity to present to a local organization promoting leadership skills for community leaders. The appreciation for what people were learning and the desire to bring family, friends and colleagues together inspired us to schedule a series of meetings to present this simple way of making sense of life to our community. Many of our clients come from around the country and this seemed like a good opportunity to give something back to the people in our own backyard. We have scheduled the first as an evening, primarily as an introduction. Two mornings will follow. You may attend any or all of the sessions. They will build on each other but we will provide a review for those not able to attend the evening or first morning.Taught by George Pransky and Kara Stamback, these classes will be fun, interesting and refreshingly simple. There is no charge, but you must RSVP ahead of time.
The sessions will take place:
Thursday, October 27, 2011 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 9:00 - noon
Thursday, November 3, 2011 9:00 - noon
Check here for more information, or contact Kara Stamback via email, or give her a call: 360.466.5200 x117 to reserve your spot.
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LISTEN TO MARCI EACH MONDAY MORNING
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Business To Business (B2B)
Moorage Available
The Swinomish Yacht Club has two dock spaces open for moorage; available from Oct 1st to May 1st, 2012. The space is open dock which can handle sail or power boats.We charge $390/month for 50 feet of dock, but we include the power in the fee. We have space for two boats. A smaller boat will be a smaller fee depending on the dock space required. For more information, contact Ed Brooks at 425-750-4312, or edwardbrooks51@yahoo.com.
Take Shape for Fall and Life!
with Veronica Spencer, RN
Are you or someone you know struggling with overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol or other health issues? Let me help! Lose up to 2-5 pounds/week without hunger, feel great, and have more energy. Our program is fast, safe, affordable, and FUN! And, with a complete support community and me as your FREE Health Coach, you'll master simple, proven lifestyle habits to manage your weight and improve your health for life. NOW is your time to take care of yourself, get healthy and look and feel fabulous for the holidays and beyond! Please call me at 360-630-5429 for a free consultation. We'll talk about where you are and where you'd like to be with your weight and health and you'll qualify for more than $300 in Fall discounts.
Calling All Boaters!
La Conner Maritime Service and Maritime Fabrications
has been in business here in La Conner for more than 30 years! They are offer a SPECIAL discount through November 30th - 10% off labor & materials for winterization work (includes shrink wrapping) and 10% off labor for service work found during winterization inspection. La Conner Maritime Service is proud to introduce their new Service Manager of the mechanical department, Tom Clark. Tom has over 40 years experience in various aspects of marine services, repair and installation. Please join us in welcoming Tom Clark to La Conner Maritime Service. For more info or to schedule and appointment, call 360-466-3629 or check out our website. Located at 920 W. Pearle Jensen Way.
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GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS
From time to time we get requests for contact information for various state and federal agencies. Below are links you might find useful:
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KEEP US INFORMED!
Let us know what is going on with you! Our Calendar of Events is an amazing resource - based on the information you continue to provide to us. Thanks, and keep up the good work! We also love pictures that would entice visitors to stay and play ... send them along with your news so we can post them as well. (p.s. we especially love it when you send them as a jpg or a gif!)
Thank you,
Marci Plank
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Marci Plank
Executive Director
PO Box 1610
La Conner, WA
360.466.4778 or toll free 888.642.9284
Reinhild Thompson
VIC Director
PO Box 1610
La Conner, WA
360.466.4778 or toll free 888.642.9284
La Conner Chamber
Board Meetings
Third Tuesday
of the month
8:30am
La Conner Garden Club
~Open to all Members~
If you have comments or questions for the board and are unable to attend, email Marci Plank with "Member Comments" in the subject line. Your comments will be read at the board meeting.
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WELCOME WAGON
Would you like the new chamber members to know about your business? The La Conner Chamber now has an Ambassador Committee to help welcome new businesses to town and encourage them to become members of the Chamber. If you'd like to find out more, contact Marci at the Chamber office.
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Washington Tourism Alliance
"TOURISM IS NOT AN EXPENSE, IT IS AN INVESTMENT"
- $15 Billion is spent overall on tourism in WA State
- $1 Billion in tax revenue is generated by tourism
- 140,000 jobs are tourism-related
- 80% of small businesses in WA State are tourism-related
- $365 per household taxes is paid by tourism
The WTA, a non-profit 507(c)6 organization, was created in February 2011 following the announcement of the closure of the Washington State Tourism office in June of 2011, in order to sustain the Washington State tourism program. According to WTA: "At a time when our economy is faltering and the state will no longer direct tourism marketing, the responsibility falls to
those who have a vested interest in the industry to make bold moves."
In order for Washington State to continue to promote tourism, businesses and individuals simply MUST help support the WTA.
How can you help? By joining WTA either as a business or an individual member. By getting involved, and supporting WTA. By recognizing that without WTA, our ability to influence and attract the tourism industry - and continue to reap its economic benefits - is severely limited by the size of our community, and our inability to adequately fund tourism marketing on our own.
Individual Members: $25
Company Members: $300
If you want more information, give Marci Plank a call at 466-4778. You can also go to the WTA website, or send them an email, for more information or to become a member.
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Member Resources
EDASC Fall Classes 
Check the EDASC website for details on each of the classes below.
- 10/4 - Marketing on the Internet. Sedro Woolley Council Chambers at City Hall, 325 Metcalf Street. $10 member, $20 non-members. Noon - 1:30pm Lunch provided.
- 10/11 - Planning and Financing a Business. FREE! 1:00pm - 4:30pm. Refreshments provided.
- 10/18 - SBA Business Programs. FREE! 10:00am - 11:30am. Refreshments provided.
- 10/27 - The Intentional Customer Experience. $10 member, $20 non-members. Noon - 1:30pm. Lunch provided.
Unless otherwise listed, all workshops are at the EDASC offices at 204 West Montgomery in Mount Vernon. Register online at least 24 hours before the workshop; to register, click here, then click on the individual class to go to the registration page. Sessions are produced in partnership with Skagit Valley College and the Small Business Development Center (SBA).
Computer Training
If you or someone on your staff could benefit from additional computer training, Skagit Valley College has a wide array of computer classes available at their computer labs located in both Mount Vernon and on Whidbey Island. For a schedule of Fall classes, or to learn more about SVC's business training division, check out their Website.
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Seahawks Shuttle
Save the hassle of driving down and paying for parking - ride the Bellair Sports Shuttle to home Seahawks games! $23 Round trip.
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