Greetings!
This is the 8th year for Downtown Rhinelander Inc. We are so happy to be celebrating a New Year with you!
January is a time for resolution-making. We hope that you will consider making a resolution to volunteer for DRI in 2014. In return, we promise fun, friendship, and a sense of satisfaction in knowing that you are participating at the very epicenter of our community.
We guarantee that your efforts as a volunteer - in any capacity - will help make our downtown stronger, more vital, and will ensure its future as a great place to shop, dine and play.
Please contact Maggie and let her know you're on board with us and will make DRI a part of your life. If you have comments or suggestions, send those to Maggie as well, at msdri@frontiernet.net.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The Editors
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The 'Buy Local' message is spreading by Dick Simmons
New marketing ideas are sometimes slow to catch on, but the "Buy Local" campaign has received more exposure with each holiday shopping season. The idea is now being promoted on Channel 12 and in local print media. DRI has encouraged downtown businesses to "talk it up" with their customers because it gradually reinforces its message with the general public; and that's ultimately where the success of "Buy Local" rests. Some businesses have signs in their windows and a few are offering monthly drawings. With the festive holiday decorations inviting folks to "shop here first," the idea begins to sink in, and that's a good thing. In addition to shopping locally, you can purchase a Consumer Card for $2, which will be punched at each participating member store. Ten punches earns you eligibility for winning a monthly prize.
To purchase a card, go to our website for the participating businesses. Our first month's prize is an 8-inch Android Tablet donated by Cirilli Law Offices. Half of the proceeds from each consumer card will be donated to a local non-profit organization. |
 Mainstreet with Maggie
by Maggie Steffen,
DRI Executive Director
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, everyone.
As we close out another year we take time to reflect. Did we accomplish everything we wanted to? Did we show appreciation to all of the people that helped us?
I am extremely proud of what the Downtown Rhinelander Inc. organization has accomplished in just one year. I want to share these accomplishments with you.
- Officially hired the new executive director
- Hired a part-time administrative assistant
- New website (downtownrhinelander.com)
- Created a new facebook page for PotatoFest AND an active DRI page
- Restarted the monthly newsletter (WHAT'S UP Downtown)
- Moved into a new location (26 N. Brown St.)
- Held the first "Open House for Available Properties" (received three new occupants downtown!)
- Hosted 14 events/promotions downtown
- Introduced a NEW event: "PotatoFest"
- Ran the I Buy Local Program with the Chamber
- Downtown Works Loan program gave out four loans to help downtown businesses
- Main Street USA: We had visit from a Tech Assistance-Business Consultant, who gave four of our businesses free assistance; a Progress Visit that gave DRI feedback on how we are doing and offered suggestions; and we received two winning awards and one honorable mention award from Main Street Awards
As for appreciation, the list is long. At the risk of missing someone I won't attempt to give the list here. However, please accept my deep appreciation and thank you to all the downtown businesses, the volunteers, the sponsors, and the community. We appreciate your support!
May 2014 be a happy and successful new year!
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DRI Facebook Page popularity soars Our Downtown Rhinelander Facebook page activity has increased by 50% this past month. We want to thank our new Promo Chair Sandy Buss for this increase. She has been capturing beautiful photos of our downtown dressed in holiday decorations by our local merchants and by mother nature. The sparkling lights against the fluffy snow has give us a "luster" that has crated a flurry of nostaliga with our participants.
Join in and find out what they are talking about. Add your own observation about downtown and create you own buzz.
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SAVE THE DATE
Let us know about your business events one month prior and we will post then here.
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Jan 4
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Meat Raffle to benefit Kids in Need 7PM
Music by Mark Wayne 8-12PM at Sacketts' Bar and Grill
| Jan 4
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Tunesmith Academy Band at Hext Theater 7PM
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Jan 16
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Volunteer Appreciation* (More information to be sent later)
| Jan 18
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Fiber Friends Exhibit 1-3PM
Diane's Frame Shop & Sew
Smart
| Jan 25
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The Magical Moments Bridal Expo 10AM-4PM
Bridal Show 1PM at Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie
| Feb 7
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Taste of Chocolate*
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*These are DRI Events
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 Fiber Friends exhibit downtown
Fiber Friends, a 10-member art quilt group from Northern Wisconsin, will exhibit their group's "challenges" and additional fabric art quilts during January at Diane's Frame Shoppe, 6 N. Brown St, Rhinelander. There will be an artist reception on Sat., Jan. 18, 1 - 3 pm, where some of the artists will be demonstrating various surface design techniques.
Simultaneously, Sew Smart, 9 S. Brown St., will showcase some of the artists demoing different embellishment and stitching techniques.
Diane's Frame Shoppe will host:
- Connie Warshall - machine needle felting
- Gale Wilcox - beading and embroidery on fabric
- Pat Rasmussen - gelli plate printing
Sew Smart will host:
- Sharon Rotz - free motion stitching
- Pat Gaska - Angelina fiber application
- Helen Tumas - enhanced decorative machine stitching
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Stay Connected
 
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Message by DRI President
Mark Gutterer,
Rhinelander Cafe & Pub
Mark is currently getting ready for a great New Years Eve party.
Stop by and say "hi!"
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 Volume 2 Issue 1
Downtown Rhinelander, Inc.
Maggie Steffen
Executive Director
26 N Brown St
P.O. Box 1638
Rhinelander WI 54501
Phone 715-362-7374
Fax 715-362-7340
msdri@frontiernet.net
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There we no meetings in December. Please join us to see if you are interested in finding out about our committees.
Design
Pat LaPorte, Chair
Next meeting January 14 8:00am
Economic Restructuring
Ray Burgan, Chair
Next meeting January 14 11:00am
Organization
Looking for a new Chair
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Executive Director
Downtown Rhinelander Inc.
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