Official Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
THE CHAMBER CORNER
Volume 12, Issue 9
September 2012
EAT -A- TON at The Taste of EATonton! Are you getting hungry? The Taste of Eatonton is only a month away!
Help put the Sizzle in Eatonton! Community Contest
The Eatonton-Putnam Tourism, Arts and Heritage Board announces a contest to develop a community wide marketing theme! Who can participate? Everyone is invited to participate! How do I submit an entry? Simply write a short description of your community that can be used to promote and market this great area. Submit your description, short enough to fit on a business card, by Sept. 21 to Sizzletheme@gmail.com. Who will pick? On Oct. 2, a panel of five judges will pick the top 10. Then on Oct. 24, representatives from every marketing organization in our community will decide on the top entry. When will we know the winning theme? The new marketing theme will be unveiled on Oct. 27 at the Briar Patch Arts Festival. Questions? Call (706) 485-7701.
Monday, Oct. 1 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The area’s largest foodie event! Sensational Silent Auction! Richard Petty Driving Experience Raffle!
Tickets:
$20 in Advance | $25 the Day of Event Children five to 12: $10 (Little mouths four and under eat for free.) Tickets go on sale Sept. 4 and can be purchased at Farmers & Merchants Bank Eatonton and Lake Oconee branches; Exchange Bank; BB&T; SunTrust Bank; Pinnacle Credit Union; and The Peoples Bank Eatonton, Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair branches.
Taste of Eatonton Sponsors: (Platinum) Lake Oconee Dentistry, WMGZ/Z-97, Smith Communications, Farmers & Merchants Bank, UnionRecorder & Lake Oconee Breeze, Putnam General Hospital, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System and Dock 103.9, and (Gold) Georgia Power Company.
Bring your appetite!
Calling all Leadership Putnam Nominations. Have an exceptional leader in your network? Wanting to get involved with our community? The Chamber is now accepting nominations for the Leadership Putnam Class of 2013. Starting each January for ten weeks, a group of approximately 25 diverse students meet weekly to learn about each other, our community and leadership. To be considered for Leadership Putnam, a person must be nominated by two people within the community. A nomination committee of Leadership Putnam graduates is selected to review the applications and choose the participants. Deadline to submit a nomination is Sept. 28. To print a nomination form, visit the featured event at www. eatontonchamber.com.
Who do you love? Who do you love? The local grocery store? Florist? Caterer? Restaurant? Boutique? The Chamber and Eatonton Mainstreet are proud to introduce the new shop local campaign “Love the Local.” This campaign is yours to use and promote by sharing it everywhere! We are rolling out the campaign throughout September, and you can look forward to ongoing community events and promotions. Stay tuned for more details!
RSVP For Events! (706) 485-7701 | Becky@eatonton.com
Networking @ Noon Sept. 19: Networking @ Noon sponsored by Allgood Pest Solutions, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Plaza Arts Center, $10. Agenda includes lunch, Chamber updates, a sponsor presentation, table introductions, commercials and general networking. The Plaza Arts Center is located at 305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton, Ga. 31024.
Coffee Connections Sept. 25: Coffee Connections, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Spillin the Beans. Connect over coffee with a representative of the Chamber board and staff along with fellow members. Spillin the Beans is located at 646 Old Phoenix Road, Suite B, Eatonton, Ga. 31024. Coffee Connections is sponsored by Central Georgia Technical College, Putnam General Hospital,The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Smith Communications and Farmers & Merchants Bank.
Business After Hours Oct. 11: Business After Hours sponsored by Pinnacle Credit Union, 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy networking, refreshments and a 50/50 cash raffle. Pinnacle Credit Union is located at 1076 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton Ga. 31024.
Lunch-N-Learn Oct. 17: Lunch-N-Learn: “Tips & Tools for Georgia Business Owners,” 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Lodge on Lake Oconee, $15. The Lodge on Lake Oconee is located at 930 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton Ga. 31024. The Lunch-NLearn series is sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, Putnam General Hospital,The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Central Georgia Technical College and Smith Communications.
Legislative Breakfast Oct. 23: Legislative Breakfast, 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Plaza Arts Center, $5. Enjoy breakfast, networking and updates from our legislators. The Plaza Arts Center is located at 305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton Ga. 31024. The Legislative Breakfast is sponsored by Smith Communications, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Putnam General Hospital,The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System and Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee. September 2012 / Page 2
Welcome!
New Chamber Members! America’s Swimming Pool Co. of Lake Oconee
Doug & Nancy Dozier (706) 484-9802 105 Clack Circle, Suite 500 Eatonton, Ga. 31024 www.asppoolco.com Locally owned, nationally recognized pool franchise. We service, maintain and renovate swimming pools, spas and fountains.
Bill & Jennie Sharp (706) 484-1386 103 Bulloch Hall Drive Eatonton, Ga. 31024 Individual Member
Health Plan Select
Asher Hakman (706) 549-0549 295 W. Clayton Street Athens, Ga. 30601 www.aahps.com Health Plan Select is a regional not-for-profit HMO dedicated to improving the health and well being of the citizens of northeast Georgia.
Rogers Entertainment LLC
Ernest Rogers (478) 414-6830 203 Church Street Eatonton, Ga. 31024 www.rogersentertainmentllc.com Entertainment consultant and performer for festivals, weddings, corporate events, parties and fundraisers. Grant writing services are also provided.
Month in Review On Thursday, Aug. 9, the Chamber held a New Member Reception to welcome our new Chamber members. The event was help prior to Business After Hours. New members welcomed included JBM Creative, Michael’s Window Treatments, The Mosquito Authority and Liberty Builders. The New Member Reception is sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, Central Georgia Technical College, Putnam General Hospital,The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Pinnacle Credit Union and Smith Communications. On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce coordinated the homecoming celebration for Olympic gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. Hancock won his second gold medal in skeet shooting - the first man ever to win twice or win back-to-back gold in the sport - in London on July 31. He brought home his first gold medal from Beijing in 2008. Festivities included a shooting exhibition; the unveiling of the new addition of “London 2012” to the county line signs claiming Putnam County as home to Vincent Hancock; a motorcade; a platform of presentations, proclamations and plaques; and a family concert with the Grapevine Band.
On Thursday, Aug. 9, Business After Hours was sponsored by Putnam General Hospital and held at the Lake Oconee branch of Farmers & Merchants Bank. Over 50 Chamber members attended and enjoyed a networking game of poker and a 50/50 cash raffle.
On Wednesday, Aug. 15, the Lunch-N-Learn: “Success Through Serving Your Customer” was presented by Glen Gould at The Plaza Arts Center. Twenty Chamber members attended and enjoyed a wonderful presentation and lunch catered by Save Room for Seconds.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, Coffee Connections was held at The Plaza Arts Center. Chamber members enjoyed meeting with fellow members; Board Member Terri Camp, Rock Eagle 4-H Center; and Membership Manager Becky Needham.
Lunch-N-Learn and Coffee Connections are presented by our Best of Business Sponsors: Central Georgia Technical College, Putnam General Hospital, The Peoples Bank, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Putnam County Charter School System and Smith Communications. September 2012 / Page 3
Member Events & News
Member -2- Member Events________________
Sept. 7: The Village at Harmony Crossing presents First Friday.There will be live entertainment, kid’s events on the lawn and merchants will be open late offering specials and discounts to shoppers. For more information, call (706) 923-0190 or visit www.vharmonycrossing.com. Sept. 8: The Plaza Arts Center presents The Hit Men Live, 7:30 p.m. Experience the greatest hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s the way you first heard them, from the guys who made and played them all. Such well-known hits include ‘Oh, What A Night,’ ‘Who Loves You,’ ‘Mr. Dieingly Sad’ and ‘Younger Girl’, as well as popular songs and more solid gold hits they helped make famous, ‘Walk Like a Man,’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ ‘Hanky Panky’ and ‘Mony Mony.’ For more information, call (706) 9231655 or visit www.theplazaartscenter.com. Sept. 8: Serenity Hospice Care presents the Miss Old Capitol City Scholarship Pageant at the Baldwin Fine Arts Center, 1 p.m. (Contestants ages 0-12) and 7 p.m. (Contestants ages 13-24). Tickets will be available at the door for $5 (children three and under are free). All proceeds will benefit Serenity Foundation to help hospice patients in need across Georgia. For more information, check us out on Facebook or email: pr.serenityhospice@ gmail.com. Sept. 10: Putnam General Hospital Foundation presents Food and Fun Night at the Silver Moon on Lake Oconee, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Come on out and enjoy food, drinks, live entertainment, raffles and Monday Night Football. This fundraiser is to help raise money for new cardiac rehabilitation equipment at the hospital. For more information, email hthrift@putnamgeneral. com. Sept. 13: OPAS presents Artful Reflections of America, located at Festival Hall in Downtown Greensboro, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Art & Wine Reception with The Magellan String Quartet and Art Auction. Live auction will start at 7:30 p.m. This is a free event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the OPAS Education & Outreach program. For more information, call (706) 467-6000 or visit the OPAS website www.OPAS.org. Sept. 14: OPAS presents A Musical Journey Across America, located at Festival Hall in Downtown Greensboro, 8 p.m. Featuring some of your favorite songs about our beloved America, from East Coast to West Coast. Performers include: Classic City Swing Band, Charlotte Dorsey, David Easley, Jeffrey Wells and Gene Yaws. General Admission is $20. For more information, call (706) 999-1518 or visit the OPAS website www.OPAS.org. September 2012 Insert
Sept. 15: Rock Eagle 4-H Center presents Saturday at the Rock, Birds of Prey from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Saturday at the Rock is geared for all ages and is $5 for participants five years old and up and free to anyone four and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is needed prior to arrival. Call Matt Hammons at (706) 484-2862 or e-mail mhammons@uga.edu to register. For more information, visit http://www.rockeagle4h.org/ee/community/SaturdayattheRock.html. Sept. 15: Steffen Thomas Museum of Art Family Workshop: “Weave-a-Bead or 2 or More!,” 10 a.m. until noon, taught by Toni Carlucci. Weave like an Egyptian, a Mayan or a Native American! Using large and medium Pony beads you’ll make an arm band, key holder/bookmark and headband/necklace. These work up fast and make great gifts. RSVP required. STMA members $8 adult, $6 child, non members $10 adult, $8 child.Those in financial need may attend free of charge. Call Pam at (706) 342-7557 for reservations or visit www.steffenthomas.org. Sept. 24: The FERST Foundation of Putnam and Greene counties present ACES Ferst Casino Night at the Bone Island Grill. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the gambling fun beginning at 5:30 p.m. For the ticket price of $35, you provide twelve months of books for a child and get admittance to the event, $2,000 of fun money and a chance to win the grand prize of beautiful jewelry from Aurum Jewelers. if you are interested in purchasing a ticket, contact Kathy Scott at kathy.scott@plantationcable.net. Sept. 27: Steffen Thomas Museum of Art presents Artoberfest, “An Evening in a German Beer Garden,” 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy German inspired food and drink, folk dancing by the German Friendship Folk Dancers, the Atlanta SanterkreisGerman Folk Singers, music from Doc 103.9 and Chip Lyness and dancing by everybody! Tickets are $45 each, reservations are required. For more information, call (706) 342-7557, email info@steffenthomas.org or visit www.steffenthomas.org. Oct. 5: The Village at Harmony Crossing presents First Friday. There will be live entertainment, kid’s events on the lawn and merchants will be open late offering specials and discounts to shoppers. For more information, call (706) 923-0190 or visit www.vharmonycrossing.com. Oct. 5: The Plaza Arts Center presents Dvorak’s Piano Concerto with Kazanetti, 7:30 p.m. The award-winning Kazanetti String Quartet has performed across the USA and in Europe, and in 2008 was appointed Artists-in-Residence at The Plaza Continued on back...
Member Events & News
...Member Events continued from front. Arts Center. For more information, call (706) 923-1655 or visit www.theplazaartscenter.com.
Oct. 6: Crooked Pines Farm Pumpkin Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come to the farm to find a perfect pumpkin, enjoy local vendors, live music, kids play area and much much more. $5 gate fee applies to attendees 12 years old and older. For more information, call (706) 347-0274 or visit www.crookedpinesfarm. com. Oct. 20: Rock Eagle 4-H Center presents Saturday at the Rock, Historical Cemeteries and Stories from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rock is geared for all ages and is $5 for participants five years old and up and free to anyone four and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is needed prior to arrival. Call Matt Hammons at (706) 484-2862 or e-mail mhammons@uga.edu to register. For more information http://www.rockeagle4h.org/ee/community/SaturdayattheRock.html. Oct. 25: Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty/Lake Country invites you to a Business After Hours with the Greene County Chamber and an Open House with the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (706) 453-9405 or email svonhanstein@cblakeoconee.com Oct. 27: Eatonton Mainstreet presents The Annual Briar Patch Arts Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Eatonton. Specialty arts and crafts vendors will be showcasing handmade soaps, photography, paintings, jewelry, pottery, wood working, handmade glassware, clothing, potted plants, children’s items and much more. Live entertainment on the Music Stage will keep you tapping your toes. For more information, contact the Eatonton Mainstreet Office (706) 749-9150 or visit www. eatontonmainstreet.com. Member -2- Member Weekly Events___________ The Plaza Arts Center presents Modern Clogging Dance Class for kids at The Plaza Arts Center every Thursday. Learn hip-hop moves set in a clogging format. Tap shoes (new or used) and street shoes are acceptable. Clogging at 3 p.m. for ages three to six and at 5 p.m. for ages seven to ten. Jazz Dance Class at 4 p.m. for ages five to eight. Enjoy learning a combination of modern dance, hip hop and gymnastic moves in this energetic dance class. Tennis shoes are needed for class. $30 per four classes; $50
per four classes for two siblings. Please call The Plaza to register at (706) 923-1655 or visit www.theplazaartscenter.com. The Village at Harmony Crossing Farmers Market, every Saturday. Local merchants offer fresh produce, dairy, meats and an assortment of handmade arts and crafts. For more information, call (706) 923-0190 or visit www.vharmonycrossing.com. Goodwill Lake Oconee will be offering Job Connection classes weekly to assist in job searching, resume building and more. For more information, call (706) 485-0245. Crooked Pines Farm presents weekly horse courses. Each Sunday the farm will host equestrian Julie House who will offer 45 minute lessons, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. These lessons are customized to meet the skill and experience of each rider. The cost for the lesson will be $45 per student. To reserve your space, please call (706) 347-0274. For more information, visit www.crookedpinesfarm.com. Member -2- Member News_________________ Central Georgia Technical College presents Leadership Skills for Managers and Supervisors, a program for new managers, supervisors or team leaders who are interested in acquiring effective leadership skills for managing employees. The classes will meet on September 12, 19, & 26 and October 3 & 10 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the CGTC’s Professional Development Center. $249 per student. Save 15 percent when three or more people from the same company register. To register, call (478) 757-3445 or visit www.centralgatech.edu/ce. Georgia Watersports Labor Day Celebration Sale. Twenty percent off all tubes, wakesurfers and waterskis; savings on wakeboard and binding closeouts; and 25 percent off life vests and wetsuits. Schedule a winterization appointment before Oct. 15, and get 15 percent off. Shipwrecked table has new and used items at unbelievable prices. Bring a container and save $10 per gallon of Yamalube oil. Sale now through Sept. 30 or while supplies last. For more information, call (478) 454-0084 or visit www.GeorgiaWatersports.com. Mothers Against Crime is currently collecting recycled school uniforms to give away at the Back to School Party on Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montgomery Homes. Please bring uniforms in good condition of any size to the EatontonPutnam Chamber of Commerce office prior to the event. For more information, call Georgia Smith at (706) 485-5332.
Please remember to submit your Member to Member News & Events formatted in a 50 words or less paragraph to becky@eatonton.com by the 20th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter. September 2012 Insert
Contact Us: Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Eatonton, GA Permit No. 6
305 N. Madison Avenue P.O. Box 4088, Eatonton, Ga. 31024 (706) 485-7701 | (706) 485-3277 (F) Becky@eatonton.com | www.EatontonChamber.com
www.facebook.com/epchamber www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber
Advertise in this newsletter: Reach over 600 contacts with a newsletter insert for only $50. Submission deadline is the 20th of each month. Supply 250 copies and an electronic file.
Chamber Sta Roddie Anne Blackwell, President Becky Needham, Membership Manager Bonnie Simmons, Tourism Manager Chairman: Wes Lewis, Georgia Power Company Land Department Vice Chair: Jon Butler Treasurer: Lowell White, III, Calvert & White Custom Homes Terri Camp, Rock Eagle 4-H Center Marcia Clanton, Putnam County Charter School System Rita Daniel, Eatonton Chiropractic Center Carrie Dietrich, Central Georgia Technical College Jay Gregory, Gregory Bridge Company Joe Hudson, Farmers & Merchants Bank Bryce McCuin, JBM Creative Marty Phillips, Techknow Gurus Cynthia Wallace, Real Estate Agent September 2012
Chamber Champions! Thank you to our 2012