Cody Chamber E-Newsletter - October 23, 2015

Exec Bits 10-23-15

It is hard to believe that October is nearly over and I am still sitting at the desk of the Executive Director. When I accepted the offer to be the Interim Director last June, I had no idea how the gears turned but was confident that I could keep them turning. Well, there are lots of moving parts to be sure and much to keep track of. Rest assured that we continue to do our best to see that the Chamber moves forward while at the same time, adhering to its mission and vision working strategically to sustain our membership.

And speaking of membership, we have a number of members who are delinquent in their membership dues. Several of us will be making calls to encourage members to "catch-up" so that we may properly plan for our 2016 budget. If you are one of those who may have gotten behind, give us a call and we will be glad to work with you.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale was another successful event. Down a bit from the last few years, but nevertheless a success. From the inside looking out, this event is huge. I had no idea. I wish to extend a big thank you to all of our art show volunteers, committees, ambassadors, businesses and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West for working with us to make the show happen. This is not an easy event to coordinate, but I have to say, BBAS director Kathy Thompson has done and continues to do a tremendous job.

I think the entire Chamber Staff took a deep breath after the art show was finished. But no one has gotten too relaxed. We completed our Staff retreat and submitted our 2016 grant proposal to the Park County Travel Council this month. We are gearing up for our 115th Founder's Day Banquet, participating in the Executive Director search, completing the election process for our Board of Directors and preparing for the Board of Directors retreat, 2016 chamber budget, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Did I miss anything?

Shifting gears-the Holiday Inn's Live After 5 event was very well attended. Again, thank you to the Blair family and incoming Chamber Board President James Blair, for a very good time. Good conversation, good food and good music, what more could we have asked for?

Our Ambassadors showed up in force for the ribbon cutting at Legends Bookstore-always nice to see the blue vests. Our Ambassadors are important volunteers and we continue to work on ways to make them more inclusive. The most recent example was to have them submit to the Board nominations for "Business of the Quarter."

Lastly, I would encourage you to come to the Founders Day banquet (Oct. 29). This has been a long standing tradition and as we all know, Cody is big on tradition. Our Chamber has been around for many years and its vitality and spirit is dependent on us all. Call and make your reservation today!

Sincerely,

Dennie Hammer

Interim Executive Director

2015 Cody Chamber

Board of Directors

Scott Wagner

President

Buffalo Jump Winery

James Blair

Vice President

Holiday Inn - Blair Hotels

Theresa Donley

Secretary

Donley Team - Western Real Estate

Justin Sanders

Treasurer

Big Horn Federal Savings Bank

Krystal Baum

Rand Creek Ranch

Paul Brock

WY Firearms Experience

*Buffalo Bill Art Show

Nancy Tia Brown

Mayor, City of Cody

Mike Darby

Buffalo Bill Antler's Inn

*Cody Stampede

Jordan Jolley

Sports HQ

James Klessens

Forward Cody

Greg Pendley

Past President

Cody Trolley

Ashley Trudo
West Park Hospital

*Ambassadors

Vi Tryon

Grandma's Bazaar

*Cody Events Committee

Leslie Slater-Wilson

Traces of Light

*Ambassadors

Mark Westerling

Wells Fargo Bank, NA

Brett Whitlock
Whitlock Motors

Tom Wilder

Eastgate Liquors

*Committee's

Upcoming Events

October 23
Community Concert Series presents "Two on Tap," 7:30pm.

October 24
Cody Country Art League - watercolor workshop, 9am - 3pm.

Family fun day at CMA Church, 11am-2pm.

Yellowstone Quake Hockey, at the Riley Arena, 7:30pm.

October 25
Author Robert Vaughn at Park County Library, 1:30pm.

Yellowstone Quake Hockey, at the Riley Arena, 7:30pm.

October 29
Big Horn Basin Farmer's Market, 4:30pm - 6:30pm.

Chamber Founders' Day Banquet, 6pm.

October 30
Rec Center Halloween Carnival

Park Co. Library Halloween party, 10:30am - 11:30am.

Hootin' Howlin' Halloween at Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 2pm - 4:30pm.

October 31
Trick or Treat downtown Cody, 4pm - 6pm.

Yellowstone Quake Hockey, at the Riley Arena, 7:30pm.

November 2
Yellowstone Park roads closed as of 8am.

Operation Candy Buy Back, at Hill Family Dentistry, 4pm - 7pm.

November 6
Children's Resource Center - Cherished art auction, 6pm.

Yellowstone Quake Hockey, at the Riley Arena, 7:30pm.

November 7
West Park Hospital Health Fair, 8am - Noon.

Yellowstone Quake Hockey, at the Riley Arena, 7:30pm.

More events and details for the above, online at the Chamber's Calendar.

Upcoming Cody Club

Presentations

November 2

Chamber "summer roundup" presentation

December 7

Cody Snowmobiling Assoc. presentation

Watch your e-mail for further Cody Club Announcements!

Check on the current Member to Member Discounts.

Membership Offers

Is it sunny or rainy? Is it busy or quiet? See it all on the Webcam!

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Our Mission:

The Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, the community's "front porch", represents the interests of its members and the entire business community, extends exceptional western hospitality and promotes an unparalleled visitor experience.

We're here to help you!

Get social with us:

Feel free to contact us

with any questions at:
307- 587- 2777

www.codychamber.org

Welcome a new member!

JDP West

JDP West includes several businesses. They offer general contracting, men's & women's clothing, a spa and a caf�. Look for their upcoming Worth New York fall/winter trunk show. The trunk show will take place at 1322 10th Street. You'll be able to try on wraps, flings and jackets, as well as luxury designer coordinates from casual to business wear. The Roux caf� features freshly prepared take-away/to-go/eat-in orders available from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Daily delivery for shipping/delivery orders received by 9:00 AM the same morning. (Located at the old Mayor's Inn / Mayor's Inn Dinner House. For pickup orders, use the side east entrance.) View their menu online. 1413 Rumsey Avenue, 760-533-9866.

Chamber Board of Directors - Ballots have been emailed out.

On October 15th emails were sent out to the membership with Chamber Board of Director ballots. From those final nominees, 5 will be seated at the Board starting in January 2016. Their terms shall run for three years. Chamber members in good standing are allowed one ballot, and all ballots must be returned to the Chamber by 5pm on Friday, November 6, 2015. Thank you to those members that have returned their ballots at this time, it is appreciated!

Thank you!

We'd like to say a big Thank You to the community for donations to the upcoming "Trick or Treat" event on Saturday the 31st.

Trick or Treating will be on Saturday, October 31st from 4pm to 6pm downtown on Sheridan Avenue. Sheridan will be closed to traffic from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Sponsored by Dave Strike Custom Building.

We are still accepting donations of bags of candy (or money to apply to the cause). Local businesses appreciate your donations and assistance to make this a fun event for local families! Candy can be dropped off at the Cody Chamber of Commerce and we will distribute it to local businesses.

Now booking Live After 5 & Morning Mingle events!

Are you interested in holding one of these networking events? We're booking now for 2016! All dates are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, but businesses are welcome to join our waiting list.

Morning Mingle details:

Takes place: The second Friday of every month, limited to twelve per year. Morning Mingles run from 7:15 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. with 30 minute round-table discussions.

Chamber members can either attend, host or sponsor Morning Mingle. If you are interested in hosting, you can use your expertise to lead a discussion on a topic of general interest that is relevant to the business or Cody communities. Alternatively, you can use the Morning Mingle to follow up on a Cody Club presentation and further engage and educate members. If you are interested in sponsoring, the cost is $50 and proceeds are used to lower food costs for attendees: sponsors receive publicity through the above-listed Chamber communication channels and a special mention during the breakfast. Attendance is free for Chamber members (food costs are not included).

Full details available here on our info sheet.

Live After Five details:

Takes place: The third Thursday of every month, limited to twelve per year. The ideal hosting times are between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and we recommend limiting this function to two hours.

Live After 5 is primarily a networking function, secondarily a social function, that aims to provide the businesses with exposure and, potentially, new clients. There is no additional charge for Chamber members associated with hosting; nevertheless, hosts are responsible for any additional costs incurred (i.e. catering, etc.). Attendance is free and open to the general public.

Full details available here on our info sheet.

Contact either Liz (admin@codychamber.org) or Sheila (cody@codychamber.org) to book your event today!

Ambassadors recent ribbon cutting.

If you haven't been there yet, check out Legends Bookstore (1350 Sheridan Avenue). Current hours are: Mon-Sat 10am - 6:30pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm. Your local full-service book store featuring fiction & non-fiction books, magazines, maps, children's books, unique gifts, Made-In-Wyoming gifts, and cards. Coffee bar is open, serving House drip, French Press and Pour Over coffee made with Cody Coffee Roaster's organic, locally roasted beans.

Festival of Trees & Festival of Wreaths.

There are two 'festivals' coming up that you can participate in! Brookdale Absaroka Assisted Living is holding a "Festival of Trees" on December 4-7th. Prior to that time they are taking decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces. They have a participation form you must fill out and specific guidelines that include no live greenery, ornament caps must be glued to the ornament and any tree skirts or fabric on the decorations must be fire retardant. They decorated trees will be auctioned off to raise money for the Wyoming Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Please contact Brookdale Executive Director Kelly VanDeer before November 6th for a complete set of instructions and any questions you may have. She can be reached at Kelly.VanDeer@brookdale.com or call 307-527-7080.

The Riley Arena is holding a "1st Annual Park County Festival of Wreaths" on Friday, November 13th. The goal of their event is to promote the Riley Arena through community engagement and to raise funds for their "Ice the Debt" campaign. The event will include entertainment throughout the day and a $10 "soup & skate" that will be from 5pm - 9pm. Wreaths can be holiday-themed or non-holiday themed, and must be artificial. They have a participation form you must fill out. Please contact Lisa McDonald at 250-4633 to register or for more information.

WYogurt - Try Their New Hotdog Bar!

Come on in for a quick, hot to-go lunch. Or eat in and take some yogurt to go! WYogurt now has a hot dog bar! Featuring gourmet hot dogs, beer brats and polish dogs. Choose your favorite toppings, just like our yogurt bar, from a range of sauces and condiments, all for $6 per dog!

Catering for small offices is available, just call in plenty of advance time for additional items to be made to order.

WYogurt, located at 1362-B Sheridan Avenue (next to Zapata's), 586-3768.

Specials posted on their Facebook page daily!

Ambassadors wanted!

Have you seen the photos of folks at ribbon cuttings and wondered about joining the Ambassador committee? This group is currently looking to add a couple new members! To qualify for membership in Ambassadors, an individual must be a member of the Chamber in good standing.

The Cody Country Ambassadors function as the good-will representatives for the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce at appropriate functions, visit and welcome new businesses to the community, acknowledge and congratulate firms making improvements, changing locations or celebrating significant business milestone, and maintain and improve the image of Cody Country. The committee meets monthly and attends ribbon cuttings and other events as requested.

If you're interested in volunteering for this group please contact Liz Stuard at the Chamber (admin@codychamber.org).

Gottsche is Moving!

Cody Cupboard - Food Drive Coming Up.

The Cody Cupboard food drive is on Saturday, November 7th from 9am until noon. They will be accepting non-perishable, non-expired food items. Toiletries and monetary donations are also greatly appreciated.

If you want to volunteer on collection day, they need help with canvassing neighborhoods, and sorting and weighting the items that are collected. To volunteer call the Cody Cupboard at 586-3732 and leave your name and phone number.

If you don't have time to volunteer, consider leaving a bag of food on your porch or doorstep on Saturday, November 7th in the morning. Food can also be dropped off at the Cody Auditorium, 1240 Beck Avenue, as they will be there all morning.

2015 Governor Matthew H. Mead's Business Forum

Featuring Rob O'Neill, Navy SEAL

Date: November 17, 2015 - November 18, 2015

Website: http://www.wyomingbusinessalliance.com

Location: Little America Hotel & Resort, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Contact: Jennifer Duncan, wyba@wyomingbusinessalliance.com

Date/Time Details:
Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Wyoming Business Hall of Fame Celebratory Dinner
Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 7:00 AM - 12 Noon.

Registration:
Forum Only (advance registration) - $250 ($275 registration at door)
Celebratory Dinner - $100 (advance registration only)
Forum/Dinner Package - $330

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Newsletters are published bi-weekly on Fridays (with rare exceptions due to holidays). Ads need to be submitted no later than three days prior to publication. For example, the newsletter comes out on Friday the 20th, submissions need to be in by Tuesday the 17th. Ads may be placed in either the first or second issue of the month at the Editor's discretion due to space, unless specified as to which issue you want the ad placed.

If you want to place a graphic based ad, please design your ad as follows: Main column ads should be no larger than 500 pixels wide x 600 pixels long. Side column ads should be no larger than 300 pixels wide by 800 pixels long. Be sure they're web ready, ie at 72 dpi resolution and in jpeg format.

If you want to place a text based ad, just email the exact ad details of what you want to advertise. If you have a logo or small photo you want placed with a text ad, be sure to send that along too. Logos/photos must be no wider than 500 pixels, 72 dpi resolution, jpeg format. Email questions or ads to admin@codychamber.org