Chamber Corner, December 2013

Official Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce

THE CHAMBER CORNER

Volume 13, Issue 12

December 2013

2014 Membership Renewals With 2014 right around the corner, it’s that time of year to renew your Chamber membership. Please let your billing contact know that your renewal and sponsorship brochure should have arrived by mail. To keep your membership active, please renew by Jan. 1, 2013.

2013 Christmas Ornaments

When reviewing your renewal, remember, the optional Technology Donation is added into your total. As a member, you have a listing in our online business directory found at www. eatonton.com. The Technology Donation gives you an enhanced online business directory listing for only $15. If you do not wish to include the donation, simply subtract the $15 from your total. Upon renewal, you will receive login information to update your basic or enhanced listing.

Enhanced listings include the following upgrades: • Search Results - (Priority Placement, Logo & Description) Stand out in your category!

• Business Listing Page - (Logo, Header Image, Longer Description, More Keywords, Hyperlinked Bullet Points,You Tube Video Link & Photo Gallery) Creates a mini webpage that promotes your business!

Brer Fox

Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce 27th edition, 2013 Christmas Ornament Brer Fox is the third of five limited edition critters by local potter Elizabeth Collins, following Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in the series.

Ornaments are $15 each.

A limited number of past year ornaments are available for $15. All ornaments include complimentary gift wrapping.

Goodbye Becky, Welcome Holly!

Our Membership Manager Becky Needham will be leaving the Chamber for a new position at Newton Medical Center.

Becky has been with the Chamber for eight years where she has been passionate about serving our members and promoting them to our wonderful community. Becky’s last event will be at Business After Hours on Dec. 12 at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee. All are welcome to come say farewell and good luck.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve hired Holly Truman as our new Membership Manager who will be welcomed aboard this month. Holly brings first hand experience of entrepreneurship and small business marketing.You’re sure to love her like we do.

You’re Invited!

Business After Hours Sponsored by Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee Join us for the last Chamber event of 2013!

On Thursday, December 12 From 5 to 7 p.m.

At the Waterside Restaurant Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine while connecting with fellow Chamber members. Join us as we say farewell to Membership Manager Becky Needham.

Located At: 126 Cuscowilla Drive Eatonton, GA 31024

Sponsor an Event in 2014!

RSVP: 706-485-7701 | epchamber@eatonton.com

The Chamber is now signing up sponsors for 2014. Contact us today to customize your sponsorship package as some of the popular sponsorships fill up quickly, such as Networking @ Noon and Business After Hours. Enclosed in your 2014 renewal packet, you will find the brochure titled Maximize My Membership 2014. This brochure highlights all the sponsorship opportunities for the year, as well as the programs included with your membership that require you to sign up to participate. If you are interested in discussing the best sponsorships for your business, call 706-485-7701 or email epchamber@eatonton.com.

Networking @ Noon:

Jan. 15: Networking @ Noon will be sponsored by Eatonton Health and Rehabilitation Center at the Lodge on Lake Oconee from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Start your new year off right!

Welcome!

New Chamber Member Southern Classic Photography Philip Riley, Owner 706-623-1641 136 Briar Patch Road Eatonton, GA 31024 Children | Family | Weddings Corporate & Social Events | Portraiture

Welcome this new member to the Business Community by calling, visiting or sending a hand written note.

Buy in the Briar Patch this Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for our merchants and they are all asking Santa for a busy holiday season where everyone remembers to shop local! At the Chamber, we’re challenging our members to do everything they can to Buy in the Briar Patch this holiday season. If you can find it here, buy it here. As a friendly reminder on how you’re impacting our community through shopping local, please review the top ten reasons to Buy in the Briar Patch below. Also, if you need a gift for that hard to find person, read more on Bunny Money and how it supports the shop local initiative.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy in the Briar Patch

Bunny Money is the Gift of Choice

9. A strong Business Community attracts newcomers, tourists, business & industry.

Need a gift for that hard to find person? Bunny Money is the gift of choice. From birthdays to the holidays or from teacher gifts to stocking stuffers, Bunny Money gives the receiver the option to buy a gift he or she will love while keeping the dollars in our community.

10. Entrepreneurship keeps the American Dream Alive.

8. Protect the Briar Patch’s local character & prosperity.

7. Local Businesses support local non-profits & little league teams.

6. Small Businesses keep money in the neighborhood.

5. Taxes are recycled back into Eatonton to fund more services.

4. Create and keep good jobs.

Bunny Money is the Chamber’s in-house Buy in the Briar Patch program and it has been revamped with a new look, now printed in color. Available year round, Bunny Money can be purchased in $10 gift certificates. Simply purchase the certificates at the Chamber office and they are redeemable at over 40 participating Chamber member locations.

Complimentary gift wrapping is also available in a variety of prints and colors depending on the occasion.

3. Eatonton has the brands and products you want, including Georgia Made Georgia Grown.

If you are a retail or restaurant business that would like to sign up to receive Bunny Money, please contact the Chamber for more information. Accepting Bunny Money is one of the many benefits of being a Chamber member. Be sure to take advantage of this money being spent locally.

1. Shopping Local Saves YOU Money!

Feel free to call in advance to place your Bunny Money order to be available for pickup. For more information, contact the Chamber at 706-485-7701 or visit us at 305 N. Madison Avenue.

2. Customer service is excellent & personalized.

December 2013 / Page 2

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Legislative Breakfast was held at The Plaza Arts Center. A room full of Chamber members met for breakfast, networking and an opportunity to let our local legislators know what is important to the business people in Putnam County. Panel members included Burt Jones, Georgia State Senator; Mickey Channell, Georgia State Representative; Rusty Kidd, Georgia State Representative; Andrew Blascovich, Representing U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson; Jim Hussey, Representing U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss; Jane Burrell; Representing U.S. Congressman Paul Broun; Aundrea Simmons, Georgia Department of Labor; Robert Purser, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Jeff Hamling Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Pictured, Pinnacle Credit Union’s Leslie Clark and Cynthia Rainey catch up with Senator Burt Jones.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Networking @ Noon was sponsored by the Putnam Greene Young Professionals at The Plaza Arts Center and catered by Save Room for Seconds. Members enjoyed a game of holiday trivia to break the ice and a variety of activities to get to know each other. Pictured, Matt Quattlebaum, Christian Roofing & Remodeling, and Sarah Peacock, co-chair of PGYP talk about the opportunities available through PGYP.

The Putnam Greene Young Professionals hosted a Holiday Celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Crooked Pines Farm. The group collected canned Kinorhook BBQ held a ribfood for local charities and played a game of Dirty bon cutting ceremony to Santa to give away door prizes. celebrate the new location at 207 Oak Street in Eatonton. Kinorhook BBQ is a local restaurant known for its old time, down home taste as well as catering services.

Co-owners Fred and Barbara Ward began the business out of their home before the recent expansion to the location in town, where they provide customers with all the favorites from the original restaurant, but with more convenience and space to cook the classic barbecue and stew.

Kinorhook is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and after church on Sunday afternoons. For more information on Kinorhook BBQ, call 706-485-8187.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, Duncan and Angela Criscoe On Thursday, Nov. 14, Maggie hosted a Leadership Alumni Reunion at Crooked Lane hosted a Chamber Open Pines Farm. The Criscoes are eager to start an House. Members networked and alumni program for graduates to participate in the shopped while enjoying music projects established by the classes over the past and refreshments. For more in- years while also participating in continuing educaformation, call 706-484-0406 or tion courses. If you are a graduate and did not revisit the store at 103 South Jef- ceive the information, please be sure to send your email address to angela@crookedpinesfarm.com. ferson Avenue in Eatonton.

Insert a flyer in this newsletter for $50. Submit 350 copies and an electronic version.

December 2013 / Page 3

Georgiia Post 583 PO Box B 3693 Eatonton, GA 31024

Georgia Postt 6686 PO Box 37783 E Eatonton, GA A 31024

PUTNA AM COU UNTY VETERAN NS WALL L OF HO ONOR PR ROJECT T Noveember 11, 20013 Dear Friend ds and Neigh hbors: On Novemb ber 1st, the Putnam P Cou unty Board of o Commissiioners approoved a Resollution authoorizing the Putnam Cou unty Posts of o the Amerrican Legion n and Veteraans of Foreiign Wars to create, estaablish and construct a V e t e r a n s W a l l o f Honor s i t e o n counnty propertyy. This sitee will be deesigned to “honor Vetterans, wherrever and whenever w theey had serv ed, who aree now or haave been ressidents of Putnam Cou unty, and where w approp priate cerem monies and ppublic eventts can be coonducted onn Veterans Day and oth her occasionss each year”.

It will inclu ude several walls w display ying bricks in ndicating thhe name, servvice and dattes of service of those who wish to be recog gnized, the crests of th he five serv rvices, flag poles, bencches and apppropriate g. landscaping We are now w engaged in n a county-w wide effort to o raise funds to cover thee projected $$75,000 costt to create this site, wh hich we plan n to dedicatee at 11:00 on n Novemberr 11, 2014 - a year from m now. In aaddition to the sale of th he bricks, we w are seekin ng donations from busineesses, civic aand faith-baased organizaations and individuals. We will no ot receive any y governmen nt funding fo for this project. a asking fo or your suppport by sendding a donaation to the American To accompllish this inittiative, we are Legion’s Po ost Office Bo ox. We are also a enclosin ng a copy off a Brick Purrchase Form for your infformation.

If

you

would w

like

additionall

informatiion,

pleasee

call

501(c)(19) Non-Profit Organnizations

Boob

Landau

at

706-4484-2331.

AMERICAN LEGION AND VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

PUTNAM COUNTY VETERANS WALL OF HONOR

We are raising money to help pay for the creation a Wall of Honor recognizing all Veterans who live or have lived in Putnam County. The bricks are 4” x 8” and will be placed on one of the walls within the site. Each Brick is $30.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----Yes, we’d like to reserve a permanent brick. Please engrave our brick as follows:

Each line can contain up to 21 characters. Characters are letters, numbers, punctuation marks or spaces). PLEASE PRINT - ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Check if Died in Line of Duty  ALL TEXT WILL BE CENTERED

4 x 8 Brick

4 x 8 Brick

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AND YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO:

Veterans Wall of Honor Project P.O. Box 3693, Eatonton, GA 31024

Name:______________________________________________Phone: ______________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________State:___________Zip: __________________ Email Address: _____________________________________Amount Paid: ___________________ FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 15, 2014.

501(c)(19) Non-Profit Organizations

The Chamber Corner, December 2013

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Eatonton, GA Permit No. 6

706-485-7701 | Fax 706-485-3277 PO Box 4088 | 305 N. Madison Avenue Eatonton, GA 31024 epchamber@eatonton.com www.eatontonchamber.com www.facebook.com/epchamber www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber

Chamber Staff: Roddie Anne Blackwell, President Holly Truman, Membership Manager Victoria Sanchez, Welcome Center Manager Bonnie Simmons, Tourism Manager

Board of Directors: Lowell White, III, Chair Calvert & White Custom Homes Jay Gregory, Vice Chair Gregory Bridge Company Bryce McCuin, Treasurer Reynolds Plantation Eric Arena Putnam County Charter School System

2013 Chamber Champions!

Terri Camp Rock Eagle 4-H Center Duncan Criscoe Crooked Pines Farm Rita Daniel Eatonton Chiropractic Center Carrie Dietrich Central Georgia Technical College Brandy Huskins Huskins Law Firm LLC Wes Lewis Georgia Power Company Brett Mauldin MarbleWorks, Inc. Cynthia Wallace Real Estate Agent

Mission:

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is committed to the promotion, enhancement and unity of the business community, and is vested in the development of Eatonton-Putnam County as a premiere tourist destination.

Strategic Goals:

1. Support Business & Community 2. Support Tourism

Values:

Growth, Prosperity & Unity