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Chamber NewsBreak - May 2013
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Golf outing right around the corner
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 Tickets for the 31st Annual Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing at Portage Country Club are on sale at the Chamber office. The committee is hard at work planning the outing which will be held on Wednesday, June 12 with a shotgun start at 11am.
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to network with many Chamber members!
We look forward to seeing all of you there for a fun day on the course!!
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Wood Stone Pizza
111 E. Haertel St.
Mike Wood at 608-358-8654
Delicious pizza made right here in Portage.
Amanda Thiele-PartyLite Consultant
314 W. Edgewater St.
Amanda Thiele at 920-737-7804
Your home fragrance expert offering candles, flameless candles, warmers and home decor.
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Business Profile: General Engineering Company
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General Engineering Company (GEC) was established in 1912 to provide professional consulting engineering services. Today, GEC has been serving the Portage community and surrounding areas for over 100 years as consulting engineers, inspectors, and professionals. General Engineering Company Headquarters is based out of Portage and also maintains offices in La Crosse and Black River Falls, in addition to serving Wisconsin and the surrounding Midwest regions.
A value that GEC stands firm to is relationships. This is evident through General Engineering Company's extensive track record of providing professional consulting services to some of the same communities for over 50 years. With over a 100-year history of delivering consulting engineering services in the upper Midwest region and possessing almost 350 years of staff experience, we truly offer our clients a rare and specialized form of engineering and service.
General Engineering Company provides its clients with a diverse selection of services, including Consulting Engineering, Structural Engineering, Surveying, Building Inspection, Building Design, Environmental Services, Zoning Administration, GIS Services, Cross-Connection Control, Grant Procurement & Administration, and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Design Services. Often times, clients come to GEC with an idea or project that might not be typical for engineering firms to complete, however with GEC's widespread services and expertise, GEC can help clients achieve project goals successfully.
GEC's diverse staff consists of professionals ranging from registered professional engineers, building designers, project engineers, engineering technicians, registered land surveyors, environmental project managers, and grant and funding personnel. Many staff members have made Portage their home and stay connected through the community by donating time and efforts to local causes such as Habitat for Humanity, the Portage School District, youth coaching and engagements, local theater productions, church involvement, and much more.
For more information on General Engineering Company and stay connected better, we invite you to visit our website at www.generalengineering.net and friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/generalengineering.net. If you are in need of professional consulting or just need some direction and recommendations, give us a call at (608)742-2169.
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Corner Pocket Sports Bar & Grill will be hosting a Shopping Night Out on Tuesday, April 30 from 6:30pm to 8pm featuring local home vendors, including Independent Pampered Chef Director Jamie Herrmann. The event will continue to be held the last Tuesday of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm.
Come to this event and shop, drink and eat. For more information, contact Jamie Herrmann at 608-516-8079.
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AmericanWay University is offering a Powerful Leadership Series throughout the month of May! Did you know the #1 reason employees leave a company is due to their manager? Did you also know the #1 reason employees stay with a company is due to their manager. Leaders have tremendous influence on their teams. How strong are your leadership skills? When is the last time you have invested in your own leadership development? Are you someone others want to follow?
Join AmericanWay University and make sure you have the qualities and tools to be a leader that employees rave about! This series is open to all leaders or those who are striving to become leaders, who could use a fresh perspective on what skills are needed to be a strong leader. This series consists of 7 different modules that are 4 hours each, running every Wednesday beginning May 1 and ending May 22.
Each session is packed with great information and interactive activities to ensure you receive the best value for your time. Pick and choose which modules will be most helpful to you at $59 per module, or attend all 7 for just $350.
Module Titles include:
· Stop the Revolving Door of Employee Vacancies!
· Coaching Skills That Build Winning Teams
· Why Doesn't Anyone Listen to Me?
· Reverse the 80/20 Rule (Focus your time on things and people who will give you the best ROI)
· From Conflict to Collaboration
· Turn Problematic Behaviors into Profit Generators
· Got PRIDE? (Build teams with Purpose, Respect, Innovation, Determination, and Excitement)
Please visit AmericanWay University's website for descriptions on each module and to register at: www.americanwayuniversity.com or feel free to call 608 566-1500 and ask for Tracy or Karrie.
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| Farmers Market begins in May |
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The Portage Farmers Market, featuring home-grown produce items, homemade items and hand-crafted items, are held every Thursday afternoon from Noon to 6pm at Commerce Plaza in downtown Portage. For more information about the market, which runs through the end of October, call Gil Meisgeier at 608-742-5054 or 608-334-4207.
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| Agency House & Surgeons Quarters Open for the season May 15 |
 Join the Portage Rotary for a day at the races at the famous horse track Arlington Park on Friday, May 17. For only $90 person you will receive deluxe motor coach transportation, race track admission, reserved box seats, daily racing guide, combo box lunch, activities on the bus, door prizes and more!!
Depart from Portage at 11:30am and enjoy a Bloody Mary or Mimosa on the way, then relax in a box seat--the best outdoor seating available with commanding views of the track, all under the shelter of Arlington Park's world-famous cantilevered roof. After the fun-filled day at the track, return to Portage at 9:30pm.
Space is limited! Call Outta Here! Travel at 608-268-5718 or 866-593-1313 or Josh Vehring at 608-742-5408. |
| Dancers Run the World recital coming up |
Laura's School of Dance annual spring recital is being held Saturday, May 4 at Noon and Sunday, May 5 at 1pm at the Al Ringling Theater in Baraboo. This year's theme is "Dancers Run The World." Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-dance56.
Laura's School of Dance Summer Dance Lessons and Summer Princess Camps are open for registration! Call 1-866-dance56 for registration forms! The studio, expanding to two rooms by the fall of 2013, will be adding many more classes to include tumbling, zumba and street dance.
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Rachel Spreckels named manager at Summit Credit Union in Portage
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 Summit Credit Union has promoted Rachel Spreckels to branch manager at its 110 Henry Dr. location in Portage. Spreckels joined Summit Credit Union in 2010. Most recently, she was assistant branch manager at Summit's Waunakee and Westport branches, and before that, she held the same position for two years at the financial's Yellowstone and CUNA branches in Madison. Prior to joining Summit, she was branch manager at Amcore/Harris Bank Lodi.
Spreckels is completing her associate degree in supervisory management at MATC and is an alumna of Baraboo Senior High School. She lives in Baraboo with her daughter, Teagan.
Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative open to anyone in Wisconsin. Summit holds $1.9 billion in assets and has more than 128,000 members with a total of 23 locations throughout the Madison and Milwaukee areas. For more information, visit www.summitcreditunion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560.
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 Come for a fun night out filled with games, prizes and candles! Play Candle Bingo at the Days Inn, N5781 Kinney Road, on Monday, May 13 from 6 to 8pm. The cost to play is just $5 per Candle Bingo Card, entering you for a drawing for Candle Prizes. There will also be cash and carry Items available for purchase. you may earn more tickets for prizes by doing the following: Wearing red; Bringing a kite; and scheduling a Summer party.
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City of Portage has scheduled a Clean-Up Date for Saturday, May 4. This residential refuse collection is designed for large/bulky items. Bring the items to Municipal Garage, 616 Washington St., for a small fee. The fee listing can be found on the city of Portage website at www.ci.portage.wi.us
You must be a city resident to participate. Cash or check only accepted. For questions, call 608-742-2176.
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The Portage Presbyterian Church, 120 W. Pleasant St., is holding its Spring Fling on Saturday, May 4 from 10:30am to 1pm. Enjoy a Salad Luncheon for $5, Crafts and Bake Sale featuring breads, cookies, rolls, candy and more. The location is handicap accessible. Call 608-742-6006 for more information.
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| Geranium Sale; Register for DSH Run/Walk |
 Geranium Sale-Just in time for Mother's Day, the Partners of Divine Savior are holding their annual Geranium Sale on Wednesday, May 8 from 9am to 5:30pm and Thursday, May 9, from 9am to 4pm at the Divine Savior's Northeast Entrance, just off of Eastridge Rd. on the backside of the building.
The sale features red, pink, and white Geraniums, Martha Washington Geraniums, hanging baskets, tomato plants, and springtime and garden decorations. Proceeds benefit the work of the Partners of Divine Savior Healthcare
For more information about placing your order, please look for our pink boxes at the front desk of Divine Savior Healthcare, Tivoli and our Pardeeville Clinic or contact Wade Udelhoven at 608-745-5166 or wudelhoven@dshealthcare.com.
Registration for the 2013 DSH Run/Walk is now open. Visit http://www.dshealthcare.com for the link to online registration. This year's race will once again be held on Divine Savior Healthcare's campus at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1 in conjunction with Canal Days. There will be a 1 mile, 5K and 10K run and a 1 mile and 5K walk.
Following the race we will be holding our 2nd annual Kite Flying Festival featuring the Wisconsin Kiter's Club from 10am to 4pm. Watch them fly their kites across our campus and bring your own to fly if you'd like. There will be a kite making workshop for kids from 9am to 11am. Also on-site after the Run/Walk will be free inflatable fun as well. We will have a bounce house and an inflatable activity course, weather permitting.
As always, each Run/Walk participant receives a t-shirt, refreshments and eligibility for door prizes. In addition, runners will receive electronic timing, participation medal and trophies for top male and female overall finisher in each race and free post-race massages.
Runners: $20 per individual runner ($25 for race day registration)
Walkers: $15 per individual walker, $40 for a family of 3 or more with minor children. (Online registration is not available for the group rate, please contact Kari Due at kdue@dshealthcare.com for information.)
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May brings a number of events to the Portage Center for the Arts. The exhibit 'Encore Art 5', consisting of local artwork composed of Recycled and Reused Materials sponsored by the Sauk County Art Association will run throughout the month of May. Join us in the Drury Gallery for the opening reception on Friday, May 3 from 4pm to 6pm and meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and marvel at the talent we have in our community area.
The Gale Singers Spring Concert will be held on May 5, 2013 at 4pm in the Zona Gale Theatre. Admission is just $5.
The Brown Bag Lunch Series continues with a presentation on John Muir's Marquette County Neighborhood as told by Kathleen McGwin on Thursday, May 9 from Noon to 12:45pm. The great naturalist John Muir succeeded in influencing powerful people to take action to preserve great tracts of wilderness in the United States, but he didn't do so by himself. When he was a boy growing up in Marquette County, WI, the landscapes and the people around him shaped his view of the world and supported him in his quest to explore the wilderness that he so loved. In her presentation, Ms. McGwin will take you into the schools, farms and lives of those who lived near the Muir family, those who made up the settler neighborhood of mostly immigrants and some Yankees. Admission is only $5.
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Fore! Get in on the Splash Pad golf outing
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Portage Service Club Association Golf Outing - Splash Pad Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 11 from 11am to 6pm at Portage Country Club. The Service Clubs (Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists, Rotary, Elks Clubs and American Legion of Portage) joined together to raise funds for a Portage Splash Pad, a fun aquatic adventure that combines the movement of water through flowing, misting or jetting. Kids and adults will love it!
Sign up to golf and sponsor a hole and help our clubs raise funds for the Portage Splash Pad.
Click here for a registration form. There will also be hole prizes, raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds from this event will go to help raise funds for a new Splash Pad in Portage.
$15 - Lunch only
$80 - 18 holes golf, cart, lunch and prizes. ($320 4-some for golf)
if pre-paid by May 1st, $75 per person
$70 if a member of the Portage Country Club
$400 - 4-some for golf and co-sponsorship level.
$500 - 4-some for golf and single sponsorship level.
Hole Sponsorships
$100 - co-sponsorship level. The Hole is shared with another business.
$200 - single sponsorship level. The Hole is reserved just for your business.
Checks can be made out to the Portage Service Club Association. Return registration forms to Mark Braska at the Portage Country Club or call Mark at 742-5121 to register. |
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Decorate a cake for Mom; Event to support local Humane Soceity
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Decorate a cake for Mom at Pierce's Market Place on Saturday, May 11.  Get creative and decorate a cake for Mother's Day! Pierce's is located at 2915 New Pinery Rd.
Also, you can help support the Columbia County Humane Society during the Pierce's Market Place - Humane Society Adoptathon held on Saturday, May 18. Purchase pre-made gift bags at Pierce's Marketplace or pledge cash at the register. All pledge proceeds and gift bag items are donated directly to the Columbia County Humane Society!
Come out and visit with all the animals... and perhaps find your perfect match!! Also, animal care services offered for your pets!!! For more information about either of these events, call 608-742-2386.
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Portage Historic Preservation Commission Open House
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The Portage Historic Preservation Commission Open House will be held on Tuesday, May 7 beginning with a meet and greet at 5:30pm. A seminar on Homeowner's Tax Credit Program sponsored by Wisconsin Historical Society will begin at 6pm, followed by a presentation on restoring and remodeling at 6:50pm.
At 7:05pm, the Municipal Register and Historic Preservation Award Ceremony takes place followed at 7:15pm by the Vendors Q & A session. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. This event, held at the Museum at the Portage, 804 MacFarlane Rd., is FREE and open to the public. |
 St. Mary's Best Fest is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, May 17-May 19. Check out the schedule of events below:
Friday, May 17
4pm Carival Opens
4pm-10pm BBQ Pork Sandwiches and home made fries from PO Boys of Rio and Mexican food from Sombreros Burrito House of Portage served
7pm-11pm Music by "Honeyshot"
Saturday, May 18
7:45am-8:30am 5K/1K Run/Walk Registration
10am-11pm- Fabulous Chicken Dinner being served!!!
9am 5K/1K Run/Walk Begins
11am-10pm Carnival Open
11am-4pm Vendor Fair (St. Mary School Gym)
1pm 2nd Annual Bed Races
Sunday, May 19
7:30am-12pm KC Breakfast- St. Mary School Cafeteria
12pm-3pm DJ
12pm-3pm Carnival
3pm Raffle Drawing
Call 608-742-6998 for more information.
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Tickets still available for River Haven concert benefit
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Get your tickets before their gone!! Mike Powers and friends will perform a musical concert to benefit the River Haven Homeless Shelter on Saturday, May 11 from 7pm to 9pm at Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St. Tickets are $15 per person and are available at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce office, 104 W. Cook St.
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Family Day at Leopold Center; Tours begin
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Our fourth annual Family Day event at the Leopold Center, E13701 Levee Road, is coming up! This is a free, family-friendly event, featuring hands-on activities for kids and families, including hikes, live reptiles, hayrides, watercolor painting, and more! Your family can visit the Leopold Shack and explore the woods, prairies, and river just like the Leopold family did 75 years ago.
Family Day will run Noon-4pm on Saturday, May 18. Come on out and bring the kids for an afternoon of fun. If you would you would like to volunteer during this event please contact Anna Hawley at anna@aldoleopold.org or 608-355-0279.
Also, tour the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm, a National Historic Landmark beginning Saturday, May 25 from 1pm to 3pm and continuing on Saturdays through October 19. The land surrounding the Shack provides a living classroom for exploring dynamic ecological relationships and conservation history. Guided Shack tours last approximately two hours and are led by Aldo Leopold Foundation education staff. Come hear stories about the incredible land restoration initiated here by Aldo Leopold and his family, visit the inside of the famous Shack, and stroll along restored prairie, woods and river trails with our guide.
Reservations are required for guided tours. If you are coming in a group of 10 or more participants, we request that you schedule a separate tour date and time in advance. Aldo Leopold Foundation Members are FREE. Adults: $15 / Seniors (Age 62 or older): $10 / Children (Age 11-17): $8 / Children (Age 10 or under) free. Visit http://www.aldoleopold.org or call 608-355-0279.
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| Celebrate the Agency House grand re-opening |
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Wisconsin and Ho-Chunk Gaming invite you to the Grand Re-Opening of Portage's Historic Indian Agency House. On Sunday, May 19, help us celebrate the unveiling of the newly restored 1832 Winnebago Indian Agency and our 81st year of protecting and sharing Wisconsin's history.
Enjoy a day of community and culture, featuring traditional performances by singers and dancers of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Ho-Chunk Gaming is generously sponsoring two performances, to be held at 1pm and 3pm. The site opens at 10am, with concessions, Native American vendors and artisan demonstrations adding to this unique experience. In addition, guided tours of the Historic Indian Agency House by trained docents will be offered several times throughout the day with the normal required fee waived. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets for this open air event.
Admission is FREE, due to the generosity of our sponsors and donors; thank you to Ho-Chunk Gaming, Great Circle Foundation, Alliant Energy Foundation and the City of Portage Tourism Promotion Committee for making this event possible! Donations are encouraged for the benefit of educational programming and general operations.
The Historic Indian Agency House has limited on-site parking available, with shuttle service kindly donated by Portage Cab Company also available several times throughout the day from Portage's downtown Market Square parking lot to the site. (If you have an interest in utilizing this free shuttle service, please contact Director Udelhoven at 608-742-6362 to help us better plan for the day.)
After years of fundraising during one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression, and months of intensive rehabilitation and restoration by some of Wisconsin's top preservation experts-at a price tag of over $400,000, the Wisconsin Dames are very excited to share the breath-taking results with our generous donors, the Portage community, and all of our Wisconsin and Midwestern history-loving friends. This 181 year-old structure, recently recognized as Nationally significant on the National Register of Historic Places, is now ready for another century of public service!
Please plan to attend and help this Nationally-significant landmark commemorate a very special year in a very special way. To learn more, call 608-742-6362 or visit www.agencyhouse.org.
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| Upcoming Business After 5 |
Business After 5 - May Business After 5 - The home of Dave and Judy Eulberg, 522 W. Edgewater St.
Tuesday, May 14 from 5pm-7pm hosted by the Eulbergs. Join fellow Chamber members for networking, conversation and refreshments at our monthly Business After Five.
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| 2013 State of the Madison Region Summit |
Thrive, the economic development partnership for the eight-county Madison Region, is collaborating closely with its partners to boldly bring the Advance Now Strategy to life. This year's State of the Madison Region Summit showcases the workgroups charged with steering the strategy's transformative ideas, as well as the launch of a brand for our region. We'll also be joined by Gary Farmer, a business executive at the helm of Austin's wildly successful economic development efforts, and expert consultant Mac Holladay, who returns to inspire our vision for a stronger region.
Thrive's 2013 State of the Madison Region Summit will be held on Thursday, May 23 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm at the Madison Marriott West with reception to follow. Come see what's new. Learn more and register online today at
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 Join us for the Fly-In Breakfast from 7am to 1pm on Sunday, May 26. Enjoy eggs cooked to order along with pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee. See the planes up close and talk with the pilots. The Portage Airport is located at 1011 Silver Lake Dr. Call John Poppy at 742-3300 for more information.
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Canal Days will be held Friday through Sunday, May 31- June 2 and will feature a Friday night Fish Boil with Music at the Market Square Parking Lot. Saturday features a parade, the Divine Savior Healthcare Run/Walk and kite flying festival, a narrated Downtown Walking Tour and tours of the Historic Indian Agency House and Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters along with music that night by Road Trip and food.
Encampments take place during Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday you can join the Kid's Fisheree and the canoe rides on the Portage Canal. Contact Gil at 742-5054 or 334-4207 for details.
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| Memorial Day Ceremony & Parade |
Join us for a Memorial Day Ceremony & Parade on Monday, May 27. The parade begins at the intersection of West Slifer Street and Airport Road and heads east to Blue Star Park, where a ceremony is held following the parade. The parade begins at 10:30am. Contact Dave DuVall at 608-745-1680 for additional information.
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Community Events
www.portagewi.com
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| May Chamber Meeting & Event Dates |
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1st Ambassador Meeting at Community Bank 8am
27th Chamber office closed for Memorial Day
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| Give Portage Green Gift Certificates! |
Portage Green Gift Certificates make an excellent gift. Used just like cash, the certificates can be purchased from the Portage Chamber in $5 and $10 increments. Recipients of the Portage Green may redeem them at these participating Chamber member businesses. By buying Portage Green Gift Certificates, you are helping to boost local business by keeping thousands of dollars right here in Portage. For more information, call the Chamber at 608-742-6242. |
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is providing leadership for
building a healthy economy and a high quality of life in the Portage Area. |
NEWS BREAK is a monthly publication of the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce. Please contact the Chamber if you have news about your business that you would like to include in the next issue.
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