February DRI Newsletter

Volume 3 Issue 2 February 2014

Dear (Contact First Name)

As we enter the season in which the "hearty" people of the North stick around to work and play, we find ourselves looking for fun, and Taste of Chocolate was made to order. It's the perfect event for gathering with friends and walking about in your warm clothes to savor the rich taste of chocolate.

From the chocolate and popcorn offered at the Rhinelander Brewery to the chocolate treats at 13 Gifts, and up and down the streets of Downtown Rhinelander, you will find tasty morsels to sample and great bargains to buy.

See you on the Street!

The Editors

Taste of Chocolate

Downtown Rhinelander has just the thing to help you through this particularly long, brutally cold winter: Taste of Chocolate. Mark your calendar for Friday, Feb. 7, from 5 - 8 pm.

Make it your date night or a fun evening out with friends or family. For just a $5 ticket not only are you entered in the Printpack $1,000 Golden Ticket Downtown Bucks drawing, but you get to taste a wide variety of chocolate delights that 30 participating businesses have concocted for your melt-in-the-mouth pleasure.

Several establishments will be offering live entertainment, and many stores will feature specials for the evening and/or coupons for future shopping. So what better opportunity is there, while you savor chocolate, to shop for deals and fulfill that pledge you made to yourself to "Buy Local" this year!

Participating businesses are identified by a red heart on their window.

2014 Taste of Chocolate Participants:

13 Gifts

Bath and Body Creations - Inspired by Jan

Big Daddy's

Book World

Bucketheads

Calvary Baptist Church & Headwaters Christian Youth

Carpetiers

Coyote 93.7FM

Danner's Shoe Store

Diane's Frame Shoppe

Dubl Digits

Frasier's Showplace Kitchens

Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe

Hext Theatre/Stage Left Café

House of Spirits

Imaginuity

Jake's Tattooing

Kids In Need Youth Program

Knight Gallery

Lattitudes

Mel's Trading Post

Northern Coffee Haus

Northland Music

Northwoods River News

Old School Arts and Learning Center

Rhinelander Brewing Company

Rhinelander Café & Pub

Rhinelander United Church of Christ

Trig's Cellar 70

Trig's Floral and Home

Zadniks Bistro

Zion Lutheran Church

Mainstreet with Maggie

by Maggie Steffen,

DRI Executive Director

The heart is more than what keeps us alive or the keeper of our love, it can stand for a promise (cross my heart), or strong dedication (put your heart into it), or it can be a guide (go with your heart).

When you work for a non-profit organization, whether it's a paid position or as a volunteer, the heart is surely involved. Everyone is putting in the time and doing the work because they believe in the cause. "Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success." (Swami Sivanandan)

I am proud to be a part of DRI, it has put me in the company of the most successful people.

If you would like to be a part of this successful team, please contact us.

Maggie

DRI Committee News

Design

Pat LaPorte, Chair

We're beginning to plan for the flower baskets. We need a coordinator for that project. See details to the right.

Economic Restructuring

Ray Burgan, Chair
One of the major goals of the Economic Restructuring committee is business recruitment in order to fill our vacancies in our downtown. We currently have a 12% vacancy rate and hope to get it to 7% by year end.
We had an exciting meeting at Nicolet College this month with members from the city, Chamber, OEDC, UW-Extension, and others. We are now forming a planning committee to investigate how to accomplish setting up an incubator in Rhinelander.

According to economic development experts, business incubators are one of the most successful ways to bring new businesses into current vacant buildings.

Organization

The committee held a Volunteer Celebration to honor our voluenteers at Hext Theater. It was a great success. See names of honorees on our webpage.

We're looking for an Organization Chair. See details to the right.

Promotions

Sandy Buss, Chair

We met with the Oneida County Leadership Team to begin working on PotatoFest. Please join us on Mondays at 4 pm at the DRI office if you have ideas to share for the 2014 PotatoFest.

Finished up plans for Taste of Chocolate.

New Business Update:

Several new businesses have moved into town during these past few months, and we'll be highlighting them in in forthcoming newsletters.

Bath and Body Creations

Michelle Baumgartner,
Owner of Bath and Body Creations

Bath and Body Creations started in September 2013 in the Brown Street Mall. The store specializes in candles, shampoo, creams for all parts of the body and other aroma therapy items.

All of Michelle's products are made with health as the focus. With her background of 19 years doing product research at Foster and Smith, Michelle is an expert at sourcing the right ingredients for her custom-made products. She loves doing special orders. In fact, Michelle says if you have a specific issue, come and and visit and she will research your needs and create a product just for you.

To learn more, stop by her store between 10 am and 5:30 pm Monday-Friday, and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, or visit her website: bathandbodycreations.com

In This Issue

SAVE THE DATE
This is just a sample of many events going on downtown. Call the specific shop for more details.

Downtown Events

Feb 6-7	Anita Good Designs Workshop, Sew Smart; call 715-362-8321
Feb 7 *	Taste of Chocolate, Downtown Rhinelander, 5-8pm
Feb 8	Bucketheads - 4th Floor Band, 9:30pm-1:30am
Feb 14	Hext Theater - On the Spot Improv Comedy, 7pm
Mondays	Baby Story Time - Library
Feb 26	@ The Movies (for Kids,) Library 2-5pm
	*These are DRI Events

Message by DRI President

Mark Gutterer,

Rhinelander Cafe & Pub

With the warmth of Mexico gone but not forgotten, we are back in downtown Rhinelander making plans for an exciting 2014. Taste of Chocolate promises to be as fun as always, a new batch of Hodags On Parade are being manufactured and artistic renderings will be solicited soon, and planning is underway for an even bigger and better PotatoFest.

The year is shaping up in other ways as we continue to plan for a renovated streetscape and have several new board members with new energy and ideas. And as always, we are ready for more volunteer help in each of our committees. One special need we have is in our Organization committee. If you enjoy people and communicating, then this is the area for you. Ask Maggie, Sally or myself for more details.

I would like to send a special thank you to all of the retiring board members and volunteers. Each person brings a unique set of skills to DRI, and we wouldn't be successful without each of your contributions.

See you on the Street!

Your President, Mark Gutteter

Volunteers Needed

Downtown Rhinelander Inc. has the following opportunities for volunteers.

Organization Chair:

The organization committee oversees communication, volunteers and fundraising for the organization. This important committee meets once a month and the chair sits on the Downtown Rhinelander Inc Board of Directors. Some of the items this committee is responsible for are the monthly newsletter and the volunteer recruitment and recognition events.

Organization Committee Members:

The committee meets once a month. Members could have interests/skills with newsletters, strategic planning, and volunteer management.

Car Show Project Leader:

We're seeking a leader for the Second Saturday in June Car Show - June 14, 2014.

The leader is responsible for registration, prizes, volunteers, layout & design of show, entries, and overseeing operation of the day. This established and successful event requires someone with a passion for and knowledge about antique cars.

Promotion Committee Members:

This committee oversees and evaluates all DRI events. This committee meets once month, and assists in planning and work with project leaders to ensure the events are successful.

Handy Man:

We're looking for a handy person who can assist the staff at DRI office with minor repairs, building shelves, and other small projects.

Flower Basket Coordinator:

Main responsibility: Oversee the coordination of the annual hanging flower basket sponsorship in Downtown Rhinelander. Make calls to last year's contributors and ask it they would like to sponsor a basket again this year. Make calls also of other potential contributors. On a timely basis, follow up with sponsor/contributor using prepared materials.

Please contact DRI if you'd like more information or if you're interested helping Downtown Rhinelander:

715-362-7374

msdri@frontiernet.net