Bitterroot Business News
406-363-2400 - fax 406-363-2402 105 East Main - Hamilton MT 59840 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER -- February 2019
Chamber Officers for 2019
The 2019 Bitterroot Valley Chamber President is Susan Wetzstein. Susan is coowner of Wetzsteon Electric in Hamilton, along with her husband Lonnie. She is also employed by Mikesell’s Fine Jewelry. Lucas Pernsteiner is out-going President. Lucas is owner of Bitterroot Chiropractic in Hamilton. Presidentelect is Jaime Williams. Jaime owns A2Z Personnel in Hamilton. Treasurer is Bill Capko. Bill is employed at First Security Bank in Hamilton. Congratulations to our newly 2019 elected officers!
Board Members
The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome our newest Board Members for 2019: Carol Holman- Carol has been in banking for 32 years and is an extremely active member in her community. She spends a lot of time volunteering for various organizations and is also a Volunteer Fire Fighter/EMT. She will be a great asset to the Chamber Board. Ronda Lang - Ronda is a long time resident of the Bitterroot. Ronda and her husband started out working at Triple Creek Ranch, then ran a B&B. Bought an outfitting business until they sold it in 2008. She is very involved in her community, which is Darby and is a realtor at Alpine Realty. We look forward to having her on the board. Robin Duncan - Robin is a Montana native and owner of Massage by Robin and The Robin’s Nest & Day Retreat, located in Hamilton.Robin served on the Condo Assoc., Board as President in Texas, and also worked doing Software Implementation for school districts. She has some great ideas.
In This Issue Letter from President .............Page 2 Letter from Director ............. Page 2 Chamber Banquet ................. Page 3 Ribbon Cuttings .................... Page 4 Membership Benefits .............Page 5 Chamber Magazine ................ Page 5 New Board ............................. Page 6 Calendar of Events ................. Page 7
Terry Berkhouse - Terry has worked at UM in leadership roles for almost 31 years. He is currently Executive Director for Academic Enrichment.He participates in various local, regional, and national organizations. Terry will provide valuable input to the Chamber Board.
Winners of the 2019 Annual Chamber Awards Banquet See page 3 Chamber would also like to thank all those who contributed Silent or Live Auction Items and were Program Sponsors.
Letter from our President ...
Susan Wetzsteon
As the 2019 President of the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce it is my goal to help our local businesses grow, to encourage new business opportunities, to promote tourism and to the ensure the quality of life in the Bitterroot for generations to come. Whether you are a long time Bitterrooter, are new to the Valley or just visiting, we all have one thing in common. We love living, working and playing here in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. We boast of spectular scenery and just about any outdoor activity you can imagine, world class research laboratories, highly qualified medical services, a thriving construction industry, a talented and diverse art community, many unique retail businesses, and a diverse infrastructure of service and professional businesses. If you are a Chamber member, get involved. Attend our monthly luncheons, host and attend our Business After Hours and New Business Ribbon Cuttings, our Annual Chamber Banquet and Member Barbeque. Join the Leadership Bitterroot Program. Get to know other BVCC members, volunteer. I guarantee you will receive way more than you give. If you are not a member, I welcome you to contact our team of Board Members, Al Mitchell, Chamber Director or Pat Easley, Administrative Assistant. We will be happy to visit with you and answer any questions and hear your ideas. Together we can and will continue to make the Bitterroot Valley a vibrant, prosperous community! Sincerely, Susan S. Wetzsteon 2019 BVCC President
Letter from our Director ...
In search of inspiration for writing this article, I looked through our archives of first quarter newsletters. It was filled with glowing reports of 60 degree weather in January and 70 degrees in March. As I look out my window, the snow is now piling up well over two feet deep and I find myself muttering about the current situation. Then I remember that at the end of February 2014 we had similar conditions and we lived through it. Great weather or terrible weather we still live and work in a terrific area. The small town atmosphere and wonderful neighbors make the Bitterroot Valley the best place on earth to habitate and raise our families. Its no wonder why we have so many families who have been here for generations. In Chamber news we had our Annual Retreat in late January and our current board is anxious to get about the business of representing you as we work to enhance the economic vitality of the Bitterroot Valley. February 2nd saw our Annual Banquet at the Bitterroot River Inn. The event was well attended and we honored several valley business people with some well deserved awards. Many thanks to all who attended or contributed to the event with auction items. A few weeks after the banquet, we helped the local high school and booster club host the Southwestern A Basketball Tournament. It was a huge success and once again thanks to all the folks who took out sponsorships ads in the tournament program and donated food items to the hospitality room. Your generosity made our valley shine! All the folks we visited with, had great praise for the professional work done at the tournament and the friendliness of all the local folks they encountered during their stay. Great Job Bitterroot Valley! In closing I heard someone say yesterday that you can be happy with the snow or be miserable. It is what you choose. I choose to be happy that it will soon be gone! Anyone care to go 50/50 on a hitman for that misguided groundhog? Think Spring!!!
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Al Mitchell
Chamber Award Winners
Business of the Year: Naps Grill accepting is Jeff Gilder
New Business of the Year: Main Street Toys
Community Asset Award: Lost Trail Powder Mountain Scott and Judy Grasser
Business Person of the Year: Cody Omlid
Volunteer of the Year: Carol Holman
Business of the Year: Naps Grill Tyler Gilder
Spark Plug Award: Melissa Greenwood Economic Development: Cybernet1
Unsung Hero Award: Dan Mitchell pictured with Dan is his dad Al and his mom Carol, who was the first recipient of the Unsung Hero Award in 2001
Chamber Office Volunteer of the Year: Bert Bovee
You are cordially invited to the
Bitterroot Valley Chamber’s 113th Awards Banquet Saturday, February 2, 2019
at the Bitterroot River Inn Conference Center 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Hawaiian Attire
Dinner ~ Awards ~ Live & Silent Auction ~ Gun & 50/50 Raffle
Newsletter - Page 3
Ribbon Cuttings/Open House Our first Ribbon Cutting for 2019 was held at First Security Bank in Stevensville. They are located at 318 Main Street. A beautiful facility. Make sure to stop in and say ‘hi’.
Chamber - Connecting Businesses Valley Wide
The second Ribbon Cutting for 2019 was held at A Taste of Paris and Bitterroot Beanery, for their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting. They are both located at 109 North Fourth Street #106 in Hamilton. If you are looking for great food and coffee, look no further!
If you would like to have a Ribbon Cutting or Business After Hours for your business, please give us a call at the Chamber 363-2400, and we will be happy to help you. Our regular monthly Chamber Luncheons will resume in March. The Chamber will be sending out more information as to where. The luncheons are always on the fourth Thursday of the month at noon. We travel up and down the valley. This is a great opportunity for you as a business owner to attend and let us know what is happening in your business world.
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Membership Benefits
The one thing most people ask is ‘What Does The Chamber Do For Me?” Since working at the Chamber - this being my 23rd year - I have had to answer that question more times that I care to count. So for all of you who are new as well as those who have been with us for several years, here are some of the many benefits that you receive by being a Chamber Member. 1) Display of brochures and business cards in our lobby. 2) Rotating business to business referrals. Chamber members like to shop with Chamber members. 3) Listing in the Chamber Membership Directory. Many of our members look in the Membership Directory before the standard phone issue telephone directory. This is an excellent way of networking and shopping local. 4) Chamber sponsored business seminars. The Chamber hosts seminars designed specifically for our Chamber members to better help you operate, manage and expand your business. 5) Ribbon Cuttings. As a new member, you re entitled to have a ribbon cutting at your place of business when you join the Chamber. You can also have a Ribbon Cutting for a new location or remodel. 6) Attendance to the annual Membership Barbeque. Every year the Chamber hosts a free picnic for our members and their families. 7) Chamber Monthly Luncheons. Every month the Chamber hosts a Community Luncheon up and down the valley. Businesses are invited to attend and bring along a guest. This is an opportunity for you to let us know what is going on with your business as well as your community. 8) Business Referrals to visitors and phone traffic. Our office staff and volunteers greet thousands of visitors every year and not all of them are tourists. In addition, they field thousands of telephone calls inquiring about businesses in the valley. Chamber members are always referred first. 9) Business After Hours. This is a great way for you to network with other businesses, meet people and hand out business cards. Our Business After Hours are hosted by our Ambassadors. 10) Free event driven membership emails. If your business is hosting an event for the community or having a grand opening
Destination you’ve reached your
2019/2020 Tourism and Relocation Magazine
etc. you will receive a free email blast to our entire membership, listed in our calendar of events and posted on our Facebook Page. 11)Free Chamber website listing. Our website gets a tremendous amount of traffic every month. As a member you are listed on our website in the membership directory. 12) Committee participation. As a member you are welcome to attend and be a part of our committees in action. We have a listing of various committees that you can belong to. 13) Leads Group Participation. This group is made up of different types of businesses that meet every second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. 14) Listing in the “Chamber Recommends” brochure. Since we have so many different types of businesses inquiries, we have published a few ‘categorized’ brochures of our larger categories. Real Estate, Contractors/Builders, Restaurants and Lodging are the four we have in our office. 15) Hospitality bags. These are a favorite among people who are visiting our valley and are here for a convention, tournament or other events. The Chamber helps promote our valley by helping organizations with an assortment of various coupons, brochures or novelty items that welcome visitors to our valley and encourage their business. 16) If you are reading this article then you are receiving one of the benefits of being a Chamber member. Our Newsletter comes out quarterly and is emailed to our entire membership and posted online. These are some of the benefits of being a Chamber Member. Think about them and realize the many opportunities you could be taking advantage of. There are also effective advertising opportunities that you can purchase to help your business. If you know of a business that would benefit from being a Chamber Member, please have them give us a call 363-2400. We will be more than happy to help their business become a part of our Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce. Or if you are already a member and need more information regarding any of the benefits listed, please let us know. We are here to help you in any way we can. Thank you ... Pat Easley Office Manager
The 2019-2020 Issue of the Chamber’s Tourism and Relocation Magazine is about ready to go to press. The publication contains information regarding all of our communities, calendar of events, things to do and helpful information for your relocation or tourism stay or visit. We send this publication out to all of our tourism and relocation inquiries as well as various towns throughout montana and surrounding states. The advertisers in this publication help make it possible for us to recruit not only tourists but those looking to relocate as well. The publication should be available around mid-March, just in time for tourism season. This is a biennial publication and we try to get as much information as we can into it. If you would like some delivered to your place of business, give us a call and we will make sure you receive them. Newsletter - Page 5
Welcome Your 2019 Board of Directors
Susan Wetzsteon President Wetzsteon Electric
Dr. Lucas Pernsteiner Past President Bitterroot Chiropractic
Jaime Williams President-Elect A2Z Personnel
DeDe Adams Montana Basket Bistro
Robin Duncan Massage by Robin
Julie Winthers Hidden Treasures
Eric Elander SP2M Marketing
Scott Watters Watters Edge Design
Ronda Lang Alpine Realty
Bill Capko Treasurer First Security Bank
Levi Dunn Ravalli Electric Co-op
Terry Berkhouse UM Academic Enrichment
STAFF:
Al Mitchell Director
Pat Easley Office Manager
Committee Chairs: u
Ambassadors: Dr. Lucas Pernsteiner,
u
Tourism & Marketing:
u
Government Affairs: Fred Thomas,
u
Marvin Edstedt - Bert Bovee - John Trangmoe Ruth Hazelton - Ida Mann Mary Kay Browning
Newsletter - Page 6
Membership Outreach: Chamber
Board u
Bitterroot Valley Chamber Volunteers
& Teri Polumsky
Natural Resources: Pat Connell, & Wayne Hedman
u
Leadership Bitterroot: Pat Easley
u
Leads Group: Darren Bayer,
u
Tournaments: Al Mitchell
Carol Holman Stockman Bank
Calendar of Events 2019
MARCH MARCH 2 Free Family Movie Night at Hamilton City Hall www.h2hm.org for more information. MARCH 2 Hamilton Friends of the NRA fundraising banquet at the First Interstate Center. 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Call 406-381-0354 for more information. MARCH 2 The Daly Mansion’s 6th Annual Roaring 20’s Gala. Theme this year is Mardi Gras Masquerade! Call 363-6004 for more information.
MARCH 8 The Hamilton Middle School Families for Education (HMS FFE) is holding their 7th annual “Seussival” Carnival on Friday, March 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Hamilton Middle School. Call Kelly Hanley 512-751-1427 for more information. MARCH 9 Linda Massa Youth Homes Gala at the First Interstate Center. Call 375-5498 for more information. MARCH 9-APRIL 6 (all Saturdays) Daly Mansion presents Spring Speakers Series to be held at the Daly Mansion Trophy Room. All series begin at 10:00 am, door open at 9:30. Call for reservations 363-6004 #4. MARCH 10 BR Celtic Society will have a pre-St. Paddy’s celebration with a pint night at BR Brewery. Band will be TopHouse. Call 406-274-8886 for more information. MARCH 16 Men’s Wild Game Feed at 6:00 at Hamilton City Hall. www.h2hm.org for more information MARCH 16 Mule Deer Foundation at First Interstate Center from 4:00 to 10:00 pm. Call 363-3411 for more information. MARCH 17 St. Paddy’s Day Brunch at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 North 10th Street in Hamilton. 10:00 to 1:00. Tickets sold at the door, $12 adults and $6 for ages 6 to 12, under 5 free. Call 363-2800 for more information.
MARCH 31 Solid Rock Baptist Church Annual Dinner at the First Interstate Center, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
APRIL APRIL 3 BR Celtic Society will have a Tartan Celebration and pint night at the Kettle House Brewery. Call 406-274-8886. APRIL 6 Ravalli Republic Indoor Garage Sale at the First Interstate Center. Call 363-3300 APRIL 6 Knotty Knitters Mardi Gras Fashion Show. Call 363-1400 for more information regarding this event. APRIL 20 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bitterroot Banquet at the First Interstate Center from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. APRIL 19 Good Friday Service at 6 pm at Hamilton City APRIL 27 Rockin’ Community Carnival at the First Interstate Center from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Support your RC 4-H. Game booths, silent auction, food and door prizes. Call 375-6611 for more information. APRIL 28 Father Daughter Dance at Hamilton City Hall. www.h2hm.org for more information. All proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. MAY MAY 1 Bitterroot Secret Garden Tour Tickets go on sale at Chapter One and local Nurseries.
MAY 11 Daly Mansion presents Mother’s Day Tea from 11:30 to 1:00. Call 363-6004 regarding this event. MAY 11 Ladies Luncheon & Meeting at 12 at Hamilton City Hall. www.h2hm.org for more information. MAY 17-18 2019 Bitterroot Gem and Mineral Show at the First Interstate Center. Demonstrations, speakers, displays and lots of gems and minerals for sale. Fun for the whole family. MAY 18 HDA’s Wine Fest from 6:00-9:00 at City Hall. Call 360-9124 for more information. JUNE JUNE 8 39th Annual Bitter Root Day in Hamilton at the RC Museum. Salish dancers and drummers, raffle, competitions, jerky contest and recycle crafts, music, vendors, kid’s activities and lots of fun. Call 363-3338 for more information. JUNE 8 American Cancer Society Relay for Life at First Interstate Center. JUNE 14-15 Corvallis Fire Department Convention Dinner at the First Interstate Center, beginning at 5:00 pm JUNE 15 Youth Arise ages 4 and up from 10 am to noon, Barnabas Ministries, 273 Fairgrounds Road. Free archery, jumping castle, dance, arts & crafts, prizes and free hot dogs. www.h2hm.org
MAY 1 4TH Grade Farm Fair at the Fairgrounds. 7:004:30. Call 363-3411 for more information.
JUNE 18 Culpepper and Merriwether Circuls in Stevensville. Performances at 5 and 7:30. Call 777-3773 for more information.
MAY 4-5 406 Consignary Sale at the First Interstate Center from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday and 9:00 am to 12:00 Saturday. Call 406-240-2587.
JUNE 22 Christian Paintball from 1 to 3 pm at 298 Blodgett View Dr in Hamilton. Reservations required. 406-350-2360.
MAY 3-19 The Stevensville Playhouse presents The Tin Woman. Call 777-2722 or www. stevensvilleplayhouse.org
JUNE 28 Western Heritage Days in Stevensville! Celebrating the past and present. Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Friends of Fort Owen are adopting this festival to make it uniquely Stevensville. For more information 777-3773.
MARCH 20-22 Back Country Horsemen of Montana 2020 State convention at the First Interstate Center. 18 Chapters throughout Montana.
MAY 4 Naomi Chapter Eastern Star presents Spring Fair at Victor School Gym from 9-3. Call 9615624 for more information.
MARCH 23 HDA Annual Crab Fest at the Bedford Building (city hall) from 6-9 pm. Fun for the whole family – food, drinks, raffles and lots of crab! Email for more information www. hamiltondowntownassociation@gmail.com
MAY 4 Centershot Archery – free at 10 am at Hamilton City Hall. www.h2hm.org for more information. MAY 11 Hamilton Fire Department’s Firemen’s Ball at the First Interstate Center from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
JUNE 29 Archery Tag from 1 to 3 pm at 298 Blodgett View Dr in Hamilton. www.h2hm.org for more information If you Do not see your event listed Please call 363-2400 and let us know This calendar is just through June
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