Chamber Newsletter

January 2011

Vol 3, Issue 1

The Chamber Update
Keeping You In Touch

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Above: Decorated windows downtown

Upcoming Events

January 28 - Grape Expectations - A Gala Benefit for the Eight Libraries in the Bolivar County Library System 5:30pm - 8:00pm at the Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library.

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Above: Decorated windows downtown

March 18-19 - Italian Festival of Mississippi

Please be sure to check the Quick Links in the right column for other events.

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Team Cleveland Christmas Promotion

The Christmas Promotion was a huge success this season. Kick-off for the season was a Saturday Night Merchant Open House followed by the Sunday Merchant Open House. The Team Cleveland Promotion Committee - Heather Robinson; Chair, Libbi Logan, Lisa Miller, Sheila Clark, Amy Vance, and Laura Lee Connell met regularly for months to plan the activities that began the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Advertisements were on the radio, television and in newspapers. Downtown merchants shared the cost of the expenses for the promotions.

Many thanks to the participating merchants:

Hometown Gifts & Jewelry

Nancy's Cotton Row Frame Shop

Punkin Patch

Heidi's

Cleveland Trophy

Clark Jewelry

Kamien's

Gilbow's

Neysa's

The Wishing Well

Abraham's Clothing Shoppe

Flowers N Things

Kut Works Studio

Willow 166

Locals

Flavors From Home

Without these dedicated downtown merchants, the efforts would not have come to fruition. We had Santa in the Gazebo for "pictures with Santa". Thanks to Jim Gregory for his help.

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There was a huge turnout at the Cookie Decorating afternoon at Christina's-thanks Chris!

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The Carriage Rides had the largest crowd ever - thanks to Murry Roark, Jimmy Yeager and Billy Owen for their horses and carriages!

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A tree was decorated on the greenstrip with "bird friendly" ornaments one Saturday morning. Heather Short - Locals - held an ornament class prior to that Saturday, boy scouts participated, JA Mentor children and many others gathered to add their homemade bird treasures to the tree.

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Polar Express was shown on the side of the Flavors From Home building and in spite of the cold there were many enthusiastic viewers.

The "height" of the season was iceless ice skating in the Literacy Council parking lot for four days! The synthetic surface used regular ice skates which were supplied by the company hired, and the rink was full of adults and children for the four rented days.

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The hope of the Promotions Committee was to create a holiday ambiance downtown which was definitely achieved! Thanks to all that helped and participated!

Chamber Scholarships

We have had a great response for the 2011 Chamber Scholarship Fund. A big THANK YOU for those who have contributed this year.

We are still accepting contributions to provide Seniors with some financial assistance towards college.

Great Opportunity!

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HPER Outdoor recreation education program adds big bend national park and the Rio Grande river by canoe in texas as a field experience over spring break.

Cleveland, Mississippi - Delta State University College of Education Division of HPER, January 13, 2011: Todd Davis, the outdoor recreation education director under the "Dave Heflin Professorship", will be leading a student expedition down the Rio Grande River from Lajitas, Texas to Santa Elena, a 32 mile stretch in a remote section of Big Bend National Forest. During this once in a lifetime adventure, students will enjoy an amazing journey through Big Bend National Park by canoe down the Rio Grande River over Spring break observing a amazing landscapes, water features, and living on food, gear, and water that was brought with each person. Participants will learn all necessary skills prior to departure - no experience is necessary. Six days and five nights will be spent learning 'leave no trace ethics', canoe rescues & skills, primitive camping, day-hiking and back-country cooking. March 12-20, 2011, Todd Davis, $385 includes everything. Big Bend National Forest, Texas.

If you are interested please contact Todd Davis at 662-846-4750.

Board Meeting Recap

Above: Iceless Ice Skating in Downtown Cleveland

New members approved for membership

Macklyn Hubbell

Perry Auto Sales

Enterprise Rent-a-Car

ACT update/ College Career Day update : The Education Committee met Wednesday December 1 to review how we can improve the ACT attendance and College Career Day. We decided to invite the Superintendents, Principals, Guidance Counselors to a lunch to encourage better participation from the schools. A PowerPoint presentation will be presented showing the results of the ACT Workshop and College Career Day. This event will be put on the schedule this week for late January.

TFA: Planning has begun for the 2011 Teach for America Institute. The numbers for the Institute have increased again to approximately 1,035 (870 corps members and 165 staff). We will work with the City again to make sure our visitors are welcome. We will also work with restaurants and stores to help them maximize their exposure for this event.

Italian Festival: A & C, children's, and concession apps have been mailed and are posted on the web site. Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monsters will perform on Friday night. A Saturday band has not been booked yet. We will start meeting on a regular basis in the next couple of weeks.

Delta Legislative Day will be February 2^nd at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson. The Chamber Board is invited to attend. Contact the Chamber if you would like to attend.

The City of Cleveland and Delta State will host the MS Municipal League Youth Leadership on March 3^rdand 4^th. As many as 600 may attend.