OďŹƒcial Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
THE CHAMBER CORNER
March 2013
Volume 13, Issue 3
Bonnie Simmons holds the economic impact check for tourism, presented at Tourism Day at the Capitol. State and local tax revenues have increased 23.5 percent for the last five years! Also, the new state travel guide was unveiled which features Eatonton!
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
Nominations for 2013 Chamber Awards Are Open
Board of Directors Accepting Nominations
The Annual Awards Banquet will be held Monday, May 6 to recognize those in our community who have excelled this past year to make the Briar Patch a great place to live, work and play. Enclosed, please find a nomination form for Business Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Edward Rice Youth in Excellence Award. Our community is full of hard working individuals, and we are reaching out to our members to help us honor those who have gone above and beyond. Please submit your nominations by Monday, April 8.
The Chamber is looking for new leadership to serve on our Board of Directors. Having fulfilled two terms, Jon Butler, Joe Hudson and Marty Phillips will create three new positions, while Dr. Rita Daniel has served one term, being eligible to serve again. A nominating committee has been appointed by the Board, including Cynthia Wallace, Wes Lewis, Bryce McQuin and Joe Hudson. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please contact the committee before March 11. Nominations will be presented to the Board on March 21.
In addition to submitting a nomination, corporate sponsorships and table centerpiece donations are now being accepted. Corporate sponsorships are ...Continued on page 2.
StartSMART Offers Scholarships
The Macon Small Business Development Center is offering the SBDC StartSMART program to entrepreneurs. Owning your own business is the American dream. Building it to withstand the test of time requires a unique set of tools and a lot of hard work. StartSMART will evaluate and refine your business concept; improve your knowledge of business fundamentals; conduct research about your markets and competition; develop a thorough, yet practical business plan; and provide on-going consulting from SBDC professionals to keep you on track. In just eight, three-hour sessions, learn to evaluate and implement your vision by creating a strategic plan. Sessions meet every Friday, April 5-May 10. Scholarships are available. For more information, call (478) 757-3609, email smalloy@georgiasbdc. org or visit www.georgiasbdc.org.
Free Labor for Training Your business can receive free labor as the Middle Georgia Consortium is actively seeking businesses that are willing to become worksites for the Youth Employment and Training Program. Part-time, year-round and full-time summer positions are needed to match the interests of students with local employers in need of labor. The Consortium invites Chamber members to provide local youth with occupational skills in the work place while also being a positive influence in the community. Our youth are our future; please help us train them to be responsible adults in the work place. To participate in the program, contact the Chamber for a worksite application. For more information on this program, please email amcintosh@mgwib.com. The Middle Georgia Consortium receives federal funds to support workforce development in Middle Georgia under the Workforce Investment Act.
RSVP for Events
RSVP: (706) 485-7701 | becky@eatonton.com.
Serenity Hospice Care Networking@Noon
Wednesday, March 20, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Reception Hall of The Plaza Arts Center, 305 N. Madison Avenue, Eatonton. Agenda includes lunch, table talk, sponsor presentation, commercials and general networking. Tickets are $15 for members, $25 general admission.
Coffee Connections
Tuesday, March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Spillin the Beans, 646 Old Phoenix Rd., Suite B, Eatonton. Let us fill up your cup with new contacts, information and of course coffee. Meet with Chamber staff, board and fellow members. Sponsored by Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System, Putnam General Hospital, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc., Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Smith Communications and The Peoples Bank.
Leadership Putnam Graduation
Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Rock Eagle 4-H Center Dinning Hall, 350 Rock Eagle Road, NW, Eatonton. Celebrate the graduating Leadership Putnam Class while we recognize past classes, the 2013 project and the Most Outstanding Leader. Tickets are $15 per person. Sponsored by The Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System, Smith Communications, Putnam General Hospital, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc. and Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee.
Allgood Sponsors Business After Hours
Thursday, April 11, 5 to 7 p.m. at The Lodge on Lake Oconee, 930 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton. Leave work on time and attend Business After Hours to meet and reconnect with members of the business community.
Welcome!
New Chamber Members Georgia Duplicating Products
Scott Ramsey, (478) 781-8991 1180 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, Ga. 31206 P.O Box 3547, Macon, Ga. 31205 Copy Machines & Printers
Nichols Security
Paul Presley, (866) 680-9111 8106 Floyd St. NE, Covington, Ga. 30014 Home Security & Home Technology
Judge Trent Brown
Trent Brown, (706) 468-4906 P.O. Box 3085, Eatonton, Ga. 31024 Superior Court
Total Masonry & Construction LLC
Kevin Frazee, (678) 381-6931 1946 Aikenton Road, Monticello, Ga. 31064 Masonry - Brick / Block Contractors Correction from February Newsletter: The contact for a2b Fulfillment, Inc. is Ayal Latz; it was incorrectly listed as Ayal Lotz. Please note the correction.
Chamber Awards from page 1... $400 and will showcase your business on all promotions for the Annual Awards Banquet. Sponsors are recognized at the Banquet and receive two event tickets and five raffle tickets. Everyone can get involved at the Banquet by creating a centerpiece to be raffled to attendees. Centerpieces are encouraged to have a value for the winner (for example, gift certificate or composed of items of value) and to be creative by representing your industry (for example, a bank could create a money tree or a caterer could bake a cake). The Annual Awards Banquet will be held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center Dining Hall, on Monday, May 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails. Tickets are $40 and can be reserved by calling (706) 485-7701 or emailing becky@eatonton.com. The Annual Awards Banquet is sponsored by Putnam General Hospital, Georgia Power Company, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc., The Peoples Bank, Smith Communications, Pinnacle Credit Union and Putnam County Charter School System. March 2013 / Page 2
TenderCare Clinic Hosts Members at Business After Hours On Thursday, Feb. 28, TenderCare Clinic hosted Business After Hours with the Eatoton-Putnam and Greene County Chambers of Commerce. Attendees enjoyed tours, door prizes, great food and networking. TenderCare has opened a new medical facility in Milledgeville, Family Medical of Milledgeville, at 111 Fieldstone Drive, Suite 114 that offers health care services for infants through senior citizens. Pictured, Paul Presley with Nichols Security exchanges business cards with Rhonda Holbrook from Save Room For Seconds. For more information on TenderCare, call (706) 453-1201 or email LHudson@ tendercarega.org.
Leadership Putnam Continues Leadership Putnam 2013 is in the final stretch of the program with one month of classes left before graduation. The class has completed the retreat to St. Simons where participants learned about their personalities and how to work with other styles. After the retreat, the students attended the class Local Government and Effective Meetings. Leadership Putnam is sponsored by Smith Communications, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, The Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System, Putnam General Hospital, Farmers & Merchants Bank and Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc.
Banner Advanced Screening Services On Tuesday, Feb. 5, Banner Advanced Screening Services held a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Putnam, Greene and Morgan chambers of commerce. Owned by Brandi Mayo, Banner Advanced offers onsite drug testing with no travel fees. It does not matter if you have two employees or 200; Banner Advanced will come out to your place of business to administer drug tests. The business is located beside Park Place Animal Hospital and behind the new Bulldog Supper Club at 1020 Park Avenue, Suite 103 Greensboro, Ga. 30642. For more information, visit www.banneradvancedscreening.com or call (706) 286-4509.
R&R Insurance Group Relocates On Friday, March 1, R&R Insurance Group celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Eatonton-Putnam and Greene County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the new office at 1060 Salem Walk Drive, Suite 1 in Greensboro. Owned by Donnan Oyler, R&R offers a full range of risk management services, including auto insurance, home and property insurance, life and health insurance, recreational insurance, and business insurance. For more information, call (706) 991-9832 or visit www.rrinsurancegroup.com. March 2013 / Page 3