MC Chamber - April 2020

CHAMBER newsletter April 2020

April

is Stress Awareness Month

Inside: Tips for Stress and Crisis Management for Small Businesses

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

PLATINUM MEMBERS

2020 Executive Board of Directors Danette Doyle President The Pioneer Group Randy Ostrander Past President Lake and Lodge Realty, LLC Mindy Taylor Treasurer Mecosta County

2020 Board of Directors Connie Koepke Mecosta County Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Josh Pyles Downtown Business Association

Jim Sandy Mecosta County Development Corporation Pat Currie Currie's BP Amoco Josh Eling Isabella Bank Shelly Keene Michigan Work! West Central

Member At Large City of Big Rapids

LEADING BUSINESSES, LEADING COMMUNITIES For information on becoming a member of the Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce, please contact us.

Dave Hamelund Hamtech, Inc.

Stay connected by reading the Chamber’s blog! My Chamber Connect is updated frequently with helpful articles, information about the county, video tutorials and commentary!

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce 127 South State Street, Big Rapids Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 796-7649 • Fax: (231) 796-1625 mecostacounty.com

SOCIAL NETWORKING facebook.com/mcacc

Secretary

Heather Bowman

SILVER MEMBERS

Michelle Rasmussen Ferris State University

Jeff Godfrey Spectrum Health

GOLD MEMBERS

twitter.com/mcacc2017

STAFF

Allison Jackson

Events Coordinator & Administrative Assistant events@mecostacounty.com

instagram.com/mecostacountychamber

APRIL 2020

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

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7 COVID-19 CRISIS MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES A digital commerce data scientist and technology pioneer, who is also a small business owner, shares his advice on what companies can do to survive during the COVID-19 crisis.

"Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden Business as we know it will change after the COVID-19 pandemic. This year will be the year that changed the trajectory of e-commerce, telemedicine and remote work. I have the privilege to work with one of the true pioneers in the world of digital commerce. So, naturally, I wanted to learn more about his thoughts regarding e-commerce.

But surprisingly, the more I engaged with my friend and colleague, I found myself more interested in his point of view on how small business owners can coping with these unsettling and difficult times.

Vinod Kumar is the Head of Business Insights for Salesforce Commerce Cloud. As an early member of the Demandware team, the fastest-growing enterprise e-commerce platform that was acquired

by Salesforce in 2016 to become Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Kumar has had courtside seats to the evolution of ecommerce. He led the roll-out of industry-first E-commerce Benchmarking that enabled Commerce Cloud customers to compare their business performance with an anonymized peer group of sites. His responsibilities include leveraging data science to distill actionable insights from anonymized shopping behavior gleaned from almost a billion online shoppers. He is an occasional blogger and frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences.

When not pouring through digital commerce data, Kumar can be found pouring cappuccino in his local coffee shop that he owns and manages along with his wife in the town of Stoneham, Mass.

So by day, he is a digital commerce scientist, technologist, and futurist, guiding some of the biggest global brands on the Salesforce customer success platform, and by weekends he is working alongside his wife to own and operate a small business during a major crisis. I asked Kumar to share his advice with other businesses owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crises, at any level, are disruptive. During times of intense disruption, like the COVID-19 pandemic that we are experiencing, two things are important: 1. Navigating the immediate risks posed by the

crisis intelligently, to emerge with minimal damage; 2. Preparing for a post-crisis world that might look distinctly different from the world we live in today.

Every crisis is also an opportunity to earn the trust and credibility of our customers, partners, community, and family (not necessarily in that order) by helping them deal with the crisis.

Businesses large and small are showing their resiliency and their commitment to seeing this crisis through, in the right way. Patagonia, the OG of conscious commerce, announced that they will be closing their physical and online stores in an abundance of caution to help stem the spread of the virus. During the announcement, the closure was for a duration of two weeks and all employees continue to get paid during the time. In an effort to help small businesses, Square announced that they will be refunding all software subscription fees for the month of March.

In times like these, uncertainty and a vacuum of accurate information causes as much anxiety as the crisis itself. To counter that, Salesforce and Tableau launched an online data and visualization resource hub on the coronavirus and public response.

Salesforce also launched a Care Response Solution to help healthcare systems deal with the huge influx of requests due to the pandemic, in addition to making their collaboration platform -- Quip -- free for any customers and nonprofits to help with the teleworking mandates being issued. This is especially relevant if you are a small business that's traditionally operated from a physical office that suddenly has to switch to teleworking.

Individuals are stepping in as well. Reddit cofounder, Alexis Ohanian bought a billboard in Times Square urging people to help #FlattenTheCurve by staying home.

As a small business owner himself, Kumar sees small businesses in his community react and respond in their own way. Kumar has assembled a list of suggestions that businesses should follow to navigate these unchartered waters. These are immediately actionable and not time intensive.

1. Provide reassurance. Everybody's life is being disrupted. Some more unfairly than others. The news cycle is not necessarily calming

people down. In your online and social media presence, spread a message of optimism, about getting through this as a community. Also, equally important, that your place of business is taking extra precautions to maintain a clean environment (and mean it). Leverage social media to your advantage to spread the message. The Salesforce Shopping Index shows that people, especially with Gen-Z consumers, look to social channels as an information resource (up to 34%) 2. People are craving for some normalcy to return. Help provide some of that for them. In the state of Massachusetts, at the time of writing this, restaurants and food establishments (e.g. coffee shops) are restricted to take-out and delivery only. Customers' routines are disrupted. In this situation, delivery service providers like GrubHub and UberEats are lowering the barrier for food establishments to serve off-premise customers.

Level up your customer service game by having a remote / off-premise service game plan. According to McKinsey, this market has been experiencing consistent growth and this crisis will only accelerate this trend.

3. Reach out to your lenders to negotiate short-term relief. This could either be in the form of deferred payments or extended credit lines.

The median small business holds 27 cash buffer days in reserve. Federal and State government agencies have announced several relief programs, which make it easier for lenders to have these conversations with small businesses. But as a small business owner, you need to be proactive in reaching out before the situation snowballs into a bigger financial challenge. Power tip: Follow your state government Twitter feed for timely relief information announcements. Also, follow NFIB to stay on top of emerging regulations that you will need to be compliant with. NFIB is the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America's small and independent business owners.

4. Reach out to your vendors to confirm supply continuity. Some of these could be small businesses as well and could be facing their own hardships. Some of them could offer you deferred payment terms as well. And while you are at it,

please consider doing the same for your customers if you happen to be a business-to-business shop.

5. Discounts are a win-win. While discounts are typically used as an instrument to promote store traffic, remember that several of your customers may have had their employment hours cut and are probably facing a personal cash flow crunch. Any discounts that help customers manage their expenses better, even for a short while, is bound to earn you loyalty in the long run.

6. Wear gloves. While this may seem obvious, it may be tempting to do this only while handling food or any consumables (if your business happens to be in that space). All employees wear gloves, especially at the point of sale -- you want your customers to be comfortable with the physical proximity of exchanging cash at the point of transaction. You can also place floor markers to show a minimum separation per social distancing guidelines (6 to 10 feet) while patrons are in your business for pickup and delivery.

7. Be empathetic in reducing employee hours. Inevitably, you will reach a stage where some of your employees' hours will need reduction.

If you are one of those businesses fortunate enough to stay open and not fully shut down, talk to your employees about their financial situation. You may be pleasantly surprised by the solidarity that people display during tough times by self electing to reduced hours, thereby, saving you from cutting down the hours for those who may be more dependent on the income from your business.

And, as active contributing members of your respective communities, please consider shopping small and local during this time of crisis, while prioritizing your safety and well-being.

In a future article, Kumar and I will share our point of view about how small businesses can proactively invest in technologies like an e-commerce platform, mobile applications, social collaboration documents, and community and social platforms to better position themselves for growth and new business models.

This article was co-authored by Vinod Kumar, head of Business Insights for Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

If you're looking for assistance or guidance through this "Stay at Home" mandate, don't hesitate to reach out to the Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce. We will be posting updated information on our website at www.mecostacounty.com/covid-19-resources as well as sharing tidbits on our Facebook page @MCACC. Our communities are strong, and we will make it through this together.

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

CHAMBER NEWS AND INFO Showcase your business!

Show the community what you do and host a Rise and Shine event at your location.

Rise & Shine Mecosta! Start your day with networking over morning refreshments. All Mecosta county area residents are welcome to attend this free networking event.

Are you interested in hosting a Rise & Shine? We still have dates available!

Give us a call at (231) 796-7649

Business After Hours scheduled for March and April are canceled until further notice.

Light refreshments are provided by our hosts, and there is typically a door prize! So bring your business cards and take advantage of this great networking opportunity!

RSVP is appreciated. Call the chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com to RSVP.

Business After Hours 2020 Schedule March & April Business After Hours are cancelled until further notice.

No Business After Hours in May June 18, 2020: Schuberg Insurance Agency July 16, 2020: Fremont Area Community Foundation August 20, 2020: Isabella Bank - Canadian Lakes Location

September 17, 2020: St. Mary-St. Paul Ministry/Resale Shop October 15, 2020: Altercare of Big Rapids November 19, 2020: Available No Business After Hours in December

Rise & Shine 2020 Schedule Enjoy breakfast refreshments, provided by our host, to start your day off right. RNS events begin at 7:30 a.m. and wrap up by 8:30 a.m. RSVP is appreciated.

Call (231)796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com to RSVP. March - Lunch & Learn hosted by July 23, 2020 Cardinal Spa & Massage August 27, 2020 - Life Resources of April 23, 2020 Northern Michigan May 28, 2020 - New Horizons Landscape September 24, 2020 June 25, 2020 October 22, 2020 - Available!

No Rise and Shine in November or December. See you at the Annual Meeting in 2021!

Special Thank You to all of our Ambassador Club Volunteers!

Thank you to our March Lunch & Learn hosts at Cardinal Spa & Massage. Contact the Chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com if you are interested in hosting a Lunch & Learn.

APRIL 2020

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

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APRIL IS NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS MONTH. LEARN 5 WAYS TO DE-STRESS AND HELP YOUR HEART

ewellnessmag.com According a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, stress doesn’t have to ruin your life or your health. Constant stress — whether from a traffic-choked daily commute, unhappy marriage, or heavy workload — can have real physical effects on the body. It has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, and appetite problems — and yes, even heart disease.

The connection between chronic stress and heart disease isn’t well defined. It has been suggested that stress triggers inflammation, a known instigator of heart disease, but that hasn’t been proven. “I think the conventional opinion is that stress is bad for your heart,

but the data are much murkier,” says Dr. Deepak Bhatt, director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Yet stress may influence heart disease in more subtle ways. “Stress does cause some people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease,” Dr. Bhatt says. For example, when stressed, people often eat unhealthy food and don’t have the energy or time to exercise.

Stress can also lead us into other heart-damaging behaviors, such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Breaking the connection requires both learning to deal with stress and managing unhealthy habits. These five simple tips can help you do just that.

1. STAY POSITIVE. Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries, and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.

2. MEDITATE. This practice of inward-focused thought and deep breathing has been shown to reduce heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure. Meditation’s close relatives, yoga and prayer, can also relax the mind and body.

3. EXERCISE. Every time you are physically active, whether you take a walk or play tennis, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins. Exercising not only

melts away stress, it also protects against heart disease by lowering your blood pressure, strengthening your heart muscle, and helping you maintains a healthy weight.

4. UNPLUG. It’s impossible to escape stress when it follows you everywhere. Cut the cord. Avoid emails and TV news.

Take time each day — even if it’s for just 10 or 15 minutes — to escape from the world.

5. FIND WAYS TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF YOUR STRESS. Simple things, like a warm bath, listening to music, or spending time on a favorite hobby, can give you a much-needed break from the stressors in your life.

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

Downtown Business Association's Member of the Month

This month the DBA would like to recognize its member of the month, The Yellow Window.

Kelly Dennis’ dream to own her own lunch counter was born on a stool in the Ben Franklin store in Lapeer many years ago. Her aunt Evie ran that lunch counter there and many of Kelly’s fondest memories are of her mom and dad taking her to visit. Mom would shop, her dad would have coffee and shoot the breeze while Kelly got to sit and have a treat.

When you visit The Yellow Window and Little Brown Sack Deli in downtown Big Rapids, you get that same delightful old-time feel because it’s all there including the deli counter with a mouth-watering menu of sinful soups, sandwiches, quesadillas, wraps and salads to

satisfy your lunch cravings. Be sure to leave a little extra room though. Kelly is well-known for her baking skills so the counter is always full of freshlymade cookies, traditional pie by the slice and tasty hand pies.

While you wait on your food, you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee… or you can browse the hundreds and hundreds of knick-nacks, artwork, jewelry, baby clothing and accessories, and hand-made signs…..there’s so much to look at in this store! The plus is, whether you buy food, treats or gift/décor items, you are shopping LOCAL from local artists and business owners.

So if you’re in Big Rapids and looking for something unique and tasty, stop by The Yellow Window at 111 S. Michigan. Eat-in or take-out.

SAVE THE DATE!

SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2020 • 9:00 – 1:00 p.m.

FREE to the public • Vendor Table Space available.

Head to www.mecostacounty.com to the events tab for dates & to join the Chamber Connect group!

APRIL 2020

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

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Leadership Mecosta is a dynamic 9 month program for people who wish to connect with other leaders in the Mecosta County community. Members have the opportunity to learn leadership skills and principles, grow in serving the community, and lead into the future of Mecosta County. For more information on the 2020-2021 class, please visit www.leadershipmecosta.com

How to join the Chamber All types of businesses are welcome to join the Chamber and anyone that feels they would benefit from additional marketing, networking and educational opportunities are encouraged to take advantage of all of the benefits that the Chamber has to offer!

Joining the Chamber is easy, all you have to do is fill out the application form and submit with your annual dues. Payment options are available. You can receive the application form by going to our website at www.mecostacounty. com, by stopping in our office at 127 South State Street, Big Rapids or by

mecostacounty.com

calling us at 231-796-7649 and requesting a packet be mailed to you. Your benefits start immediately once the application is received. It’s just that easy!

Let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to serving you!

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

Explore

APRIL 2020

MECOSTA COUNTY Tourism and Coronavirus Tourism plays a very large roll in not only Mecosta County’s economy but Michigan and the nation as a whole.

Statistics have shown that visitor spending in the state supports over 224,000 tourism related jobs and has generated over $2.7 billion in state and local taxes. These numbers validate what a substantial and positive financial engine tourism is to the economy.

At the Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureau our mission is to promote tourism within Mecosta County to ultimately create “More Heads in Beds” or to promote more overnight stays in our hotels. Not only do the efforts of the CVB’s marketing and promotions help increase business at our hotels but it has a substantial impact through Trickle-Down Economics with area businesses, restaurants, gas stations and attractions benefiting as well.

The recent surge of the Coronavirus has certainly turned our world upside down in a way we have not seen in many, many years. Most of our businesses have felt a very heavy strain in having to limit their services offered or close altogether for the next few weeks. The tourism industry is no different. Our hotels in the area are having to make adjustments and have seen loss of business, but are still here to accommodate those needing lodging services.

Our Mecosta County hotels are all adhering to not only the national guidelines for cleanliness but exceeding these requirements as well to ensure the safety of guests and staff. Most are providing coffee and juice with some also providing “Breakfast To-Go” bags for guests.

Although hotel amenities such as indoor pool, hot tubs, restaurants and banquets facilities are temporarily closed at this time, guests still have options for local dining (delivery and carry-out) plus outdoor activities.

For those who had larger events schedules but are now on hold at this time, they are being encouraged to NOT Cancel but Re-Schedule

this April!

their events. We are facing some difficult weeks ahead but we will persevere. We all need to get back to some form of normalcy in the near future and be able to look forward to that wedding reception, family reunion or educational conference; which will be a welcomed return for both attendees and our hotels.

For restaurants in the county offering delivery and curbside service, visit our Facebook page as we are updating the changes of hours and services that are available.

Currently, guests can still enjoy activities while adhering to social distancing. City and county parks are still open as are the many trails in Mecosta County. The CVB has links to all parks in Mecosta County on our website at www.

BigRapidsorg and listed under the Things To Do tab. This is also a great opportunity to get outside with kids and pets and explore the great outdoors either on foot or on your bike. Visit our trails page at www.BigRapids.org/mecosta-county-trails for a complete list of trails in Mecosta County.

With Mecosta County being home to over 100 lakes plus numerous streams and the Muskegon River you can take in a boat ride or great area fishing. We provide information on not only all the great fishing hot spots in the county bur you can also purchase your fishing license online with our fishing page at www.BigRapids.org/fishingmecosta-county.

Other great ideas are to take a drive and check out the Mecosta County Quilt Trails, Robert Barnum Sculpture Tour or Bulldawg Tour listed on the CVB website (www.BigRapids.org) under the Things To Do tab and Special Tours.

As we all know, it will take some time to bounce back financially as a community and country as a whole but it is truly amazing and heartwarming to see how people are working together and supporting each other. I think the key for us all to remember is that we will get through this and that is important to “Not Cancel - But Reschedule.

Connie Koepke – Executive Director Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

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Stress Awareness Month Schuberg Agency is Celebrating 75 years!

Alice Schuberg Founder

Alice was born in Big Rapids on April 20, 1887. As a young woman, she attended County Normal classes at Ferris Institute. This program was designed to educate teachers and was taught

by Woodbridge Ferris.

In 1923, Alice married Carl A. Schuberg, a first generations swede and owner of Schuberg’s Bar. Alice would teach at various schools in Mecosta County.

Then, In 1945, Alice founded the Schuberg Agency and pledged to protect the financial security of our community.

In June of 1977, Rex joined Carly at the Schuberg Agency. Rex graduated from Big Rapids High School and Ferris State University. He was a member of the FSU Track team.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Rex was heavily involved with various local groups: Jaycees President, Chamber President, DBA President, chaired the Big Rapids Bandshell Project, created the pocket park music series, and much more. Rex set a new standard of excellence at the agency by winning awards such as Business Person of the Year, MAIA Insurance Agent of the Year, and 2 President’s Club Awards for being top 25 in life sales.

Carl M. Schuberg 2nd Generation

Carly joined the Schuberg Agency in August of 1946 after his discharge from the Marines. Selling insurance was one thing, but Carly also started Schuberg Reality, announced Horse Racing, was a huge supporter of 4-H, was an Auctioneer, made maple syrup, farmed, and served on the Chemical Bank Board. He was involved with various groups: Former Chamber President, was a founding member of the Big Rapids Jaycees, and served/contributed to many more.

None of us will forget the sleigh rides, the pancake supper or our Swedish roots!

Rex Schuberg 3rd Generation

Tyler Schuberg 4th Generation

HOME • LIFE • AUTO • BUSINESS The Schuberg Agency is celebrating 75 years of business in 2020.

To commemorate this special milestone, the Schuberg Agency is introducing a new logo!

After Graduating and playing football for Ferris State University, Tyler joined the Agency in April of 2004. Tyler married Marcie Rathje in 2006, and she joined the Schuberg Agency in December of 2006. Tyler and Marcie have worked along side each other truly making it a family business. He has also followed the footsteps of prior generations. Tyler has been apart of various local projects and groups: Jaycees President, past Chamber Board Member, Leadership Mecosta, past DBA Board Member, past chair of the St. Mary’s School Board, Artworks and enjoys coaching his kids youth sport teams. Tyler continues to follow Alice’s pledge to protect the financial security of our community.

Community Driven • Policyholder Focused • Education Based

www.schubergagency.com • OFFICE: (231) 796-5881 • FAX: (231) 796-5022

Thank You Mecosta County for Voting us #1!

Historic Downtown Big Rapids

Tyler Schuberg, CIC Principal

Diane Leichty

Commercial Sales

Marcie Schuberg Sales

Emily Robison Sales

Gail Jacobs

Account Manager

Marisa Johnston

Account Manager

Nedra Neumann Accountant

Jessica Lytle Receptionist

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

LUNCH & LEARNS FOR 2020 OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE April 8, 2020: Ice Mountain, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

May 13, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

June 10, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

July 8, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

August 12, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

September 9, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

October 14, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

November 11, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

December 9, 2020: TBD, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Call the chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com to RSVP.

APRIL 2020

APRIL 2020

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

As we all know figuring out how to live with COVID-19 is a learning curve for everyone. In order to help our community and small businesses survive these unknown times, we are launching Curbside Mecosta.

Curbside Mecosta is a digital, social media and print campaign informing the community that your business is still open and operating a curbside program, delivery service or drive-thru operation.

The campaign includes: • Your business logo/name with direct link to your website or Facebook page from the Curbside Mecosta Online Directory featured prominently on BigRapidsNews.com • Print newspaper ads published daily in the #1 local newspaper, Big Rapids Pioneer • Daily social media promotion on Pioneer’s Facebook page reaching over 8.3K followers Any business that can operate in accordance with state and local government guidelines for COVID-19 is eligible. Types of businesses can include restaurants, boutiques, flower shops, pharmacies, retail stores and more.

The Big Rapids Pioneer reaches 8K+ residents and BigRapidsNews.com has 121.7K+ unique visitors each month.

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

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APRIL 2020

2020 CENSUS

HEY, MECOSTA COUNTY! YOUR VOICE DOES COUNT!

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE STRESS AT WORK roperinsurance.com The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that 25 percent of workers feel that their jobs are the number one stressor in their lives.

They also found that stress at work is more highly correlated with health issues than family and financial problems.

When overwhelming challenges at work turn enjoyment and satisfaction into exhaustion and frustration, it can lead to illness, injury and job failure.

Causes of Stress Though every individual reacts to situations differently, there are several instances that can trigger undue stress at work: Uncontrollable issues that arise Heavy workload Pressure to perform at above normal levels Job insecurity Long work hours Excessive travel Office politics Conflicts with co-workers Work and family balance Since these triggers occur frequently, it is wise to look out for early signs of stress and resolve to take steps to reduce it.

Focus on what you can control Many Americans consider their jobs to be stressful. While specific sources of stress and the way we deal with them differ from person to person, many of us especially struggle to cope with factors that are out of our control.

Signs of Stress Look out for early symptoms of stress and take steps to relieve them quickly.

If you let them go unchecked, these symptoms can develop into more serious health complications such as heart problems, depression and anxiety. Be wary of the following stress symptoms: Insomnia Short temper Headaches Upset stomach

Sore back Job dissatisfaction Difficulty concentrating Increased errors Manage Stress at Work The good news is that it is possible to manage stress at work or life in general by becoming aware of what increases or decreases your level of stress. The following are seven methods to help you manage stress: Plan and prioritize: Set realistic deadlines. Creating pressure will only increase the probability that you’ll make a mistake. Always have an alternate plan in mind. Give yourself time to think projects through instead of rushing through them.

Focus on what you can control: Create a “to-do” list to prioritize your work. Break larger tasks into smaller, more doable steps. Begin with the most pressing tasks and then move on to less important projects. Make sure you are clear about the definition of your role and responsibilities. Ask your supervisor if you have any doubt.

Slow down: Think things through before you act, and begin with a clear goal in mind. In this way, you’ll prevent having to start over halfway through a misguided project.

Think outside the box: When you’re feeling overwhelmed or overworked, search for alternative ways to get the job done. By doing so, you could save time and money, and put your projects into fresh perspective.

Use all your resources: Learn to effectively delegate work that you cannot handle. If you cannot finish a project internally, explore outsourcing options.

Recognize that things will not always go according to plan and develop the flexibility to adapt when they don’t.

Take a break: To relieve stress, make time to take a break. Taking a walk or discussing your work situation with another person may help you to gain a fresh perspective.

Resolve Conflicts: Anticipate possible disagreements and develop a personal

conflict resolution plan to solve interpersonal problems with co-workers.

Balance Work and Life A successful employee needs to be able to balance his or her work with a personal life.

Learn to separate work and home life. Avoid taking work—or your work computer—home with you if at all possible. Avoid checking work emails from home or taking work calls.

Make time for friends and family, as spending time with those you love will help you unwind.

Live a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, eat

well and sleep at least 8 hours a night.

Spend time on outside hobbies, interests or passions. This will help you detach from the work environment and reduce your stress.

When dealing with stressful situations, ask for assistance from family members or friends. A support network is vital for a healthy lifestyle.

While stressful times and events occur in everyone’s life, stress does not have to become a way of life. Following these suggestions and learning what stressreduction strategies work best for you, can help you to reduce stress and its impact on your life and your job.

APRIL 2020

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

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COVID-19: HOW TO PREPARE Manage Anxiety & Stress

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and • Excessive crying or irritation in your family can help you cope with stress. younger children • Returning to behaviors they have Helping others cope with their stress can outgrown (for example, toileting accidents also make your community stronger.

STRESS AND COPING or bedwetting) Things you can do to support The outbreak of coronavirus disease • Excessive worry or sadness yourself 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for • Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits • Take breaks from watching, reading, people. Fear and anxiety about a disease • Irritability and “acting out” behaviors or listening to news stories, including can be overwhelming and cause strong in teens social media. Hearing about the pandemic • Poor school performance or avoiding emotions in adults and children. Coping repeatedly can be upsetting. school with stress will make you, the people you • Difficulty with attention and • Take care of your body. Take deep care about, and your community stronger. concentration breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat Everyone reacts differently to • Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise stressful situations. How you respond past regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid to the outbreak can depend on your • Unexplained headaches or body pain alcohol and drugs. background, the things that make you • Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs • Make time to unwind. Try to do some different from other people, and the other activities you enjoy.

There are many things you can do to community you live in.

• Connect with others. Talk with people support your child People who may respond more strongly you trust about your concerns and how • Take time to talk with your child to the stress of a crisis include you are feeling. or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Older people and people with chronic Call your healthcare provider if stress Answer questions and share facts about diseases who are at higher risk for gets in the way of your daily activities COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen COVID-19 for several days in a row. can understand.

• Children and teens • Reassure your child or teen that they REDUCE STRESS IN YOURSELF • People who are helping with the are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel AND OTHERS response to COVID-19, like doctors upset. Share with them how you deal with and other health care providers, or first your own stress so that they can learn how Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and responders to cope from you. understanding the actual risk to yourself • People who have mental health • Limit your family’s exposure to news and people you care about can make an conditions including problems with coverage of the event, including social outbreak less stressful.. substance use media. Children may misinterpret what When you share accurate information they hear and can be frightened about Stress during an infectious disease about COVID-19 you can help make something they do not understand. outbreak can include people feel less stressed and allow you to • Try to keep up with regular routines.

• Fear and worry about your own health connect with them.

If schools are closed, create a schedule and the health of your loved ones for learning activities and relaxing or fun FOR PARENTS • Changes in sleep or eating patterns activities.

• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating Children and teens react, in part, on • Be a role model. Take breaks, get • Worsening of chronic health problems what they see from the adults around plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well.

• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or them. When parents and caregivers deal Connect with your friends and family other drugs with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, members. they can provide the best support for their People with preexisting mental FOR RESPONDERS health conditions should continue with children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially Responding to COVID-19 can take an their treatment and be aware of new children, if they are better prepared. emotional toll on you. There are things or worsening symptoms. Additional you can do to reduce secondary traumatic information can be found at the Not all children and teens respond to stress (STS) reactions: Substance Abuse and Mental Health stress in the same way. Some common Services Administration website. changes to watch for include • Acknowledge that STS can impact

anyone helping families after a traumatic event.

• Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).

• Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.

• Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.

• Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.

• Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE Being separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be stressful, even if you do not get sick.

Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine. Some feelings include : • Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones • Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 • Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious • Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine • Other emotional or mental health changes Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine.

16

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

ut It! o b A l l A d a Re ber r fellow Cham

h you Share it wit to us as Got news? y sending it b y it n u m m uld d your co photos sho & s members an le ic rt A of each attachment. n the 10th an MS Word a th r te la d no month’s be submitte luded in the following e inc s to: info@ month to b es and photo cl ti ar d n se e 96-7649. issue. Pleas m or give us a call (231) 7 icles ty.co straints, art n mecostacoun co e m ti due to ion.

Unfortunately, ct to omiss je b u s re a late submitted

Members Bulletin Board

This section is dedicated to Chamber members who are utilizing their marketing opportunities as one of the many values of belonging to the Chamber:

Artworks.

Big Rapids Community Library bigrapids.lib.mi.us

Activities & Events have been suspended through April 13th.

The following events are subject to cancellation.

Please see website for details.

Playgroup

April 23, 10 am-12 pm Babysitting Workshop

April 16, 23 & 30, 3:30-4:30 pm Mary’s Book Club

April 17, 12 pm

Tween Book Club

April 21, 4-5 pm

Understanding Dementia

Activities & Events have been suspended through April 13th.

Please follow us on our website or Facebook for updated information.

For class descriptions, fees, and registration, visit artworksinbigrapids.org/classes or scan QR code

Story Time

Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am Community Playgroup

Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 am Knit Night

April 28, 6-8 pm

April 16, 6:30-8:30 pm

Diedre Fagan Poetry Reading & Book Signing

Tiny Tots Tinker Lab

April 30, 7-8 pm

APRIL 2020

Fridays 10:30-11:30 am

Card Wildlife Education Center Website: www.ferris.edu/card

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

17

Big Rapids Department of Parks & Recreation Programs To register for programs please contact City Hall Recreation Department 226 N. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231)592-4038

PICKLE BALL

9:00 am - 10:00 am (Intermediate)

COST: $5 per participant

Learn coordinated steps to a variety of music.

A social and aerobic activity. Bring a Friend.

TIMES: Mondays & Wednesdays 5-7 pm, Fridays 8-10am

Artworks, Dance Studio

GROOVE

DATES: September 30th - May 1st

RECYCLE! Of Mecosta County MONDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

424 N. 4th Street Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 796-9872

LOCATION: Ferris Racquet and Fitness Center

SENIOR FIT TIME

January 6th - May 18th

No need to have a paddle, all new players are welcome! All money goes to help pay for court rental, tape, balls and other supplies.

Tennis shoes are required for on court play.

All players must wear tennis shoes in the facility.

January 7th - April 30th

Mondays

Tuesday: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Thursday: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

COST - $2 per participant

Cost: $2 per participant

Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria

Style Station (1619 Catherine Street)

Instructor: Janitza Sawyer

(No class February 24th - March 4th)

No dance experience required or fancy choreography to memorize! Do the simple steps your way, at the intensity of your choice, and add your own style! Have fun moving and groovin' to ALL genres of music. GROOVE is a great opportunity to cultivate your innate creativity and self-confidence. Wear comfy clothes to move in & comfy shoes (or go barefoot). Be sure to bring along a water bottle and a towel (or yoga mat) for light stretching at the end. Come for the fun and stress relief! Take a sneak peek of the class at bodygroove.com.

CO-ED VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE Sundays League Games Begin: January 19th Cost: $300 per team Location: Big Rapids Middle School Gym Games are played on Sundays starting at 1:00pm and ending as late as 9:00pm. 10week season. Ages 18 and older. Registrations due by January 3rd

Instructor: DeMar Hatchew, Certified in Senior Fitness A senior fitness class geared to get those in need of a low impact routine emphasizing cardio, balance and muscle stretching. The class will get you feeling energized and active! Bring a mat, water bottle and personal weights.

WATER AEROBICS January 13th - May 8th

TAI CHI

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

January 6th - May 6th

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

ZUMBA GOLD

Mondays & Wednesdays

Cost is $4 per class or $40 for a punch card, good for 12 classes

COST: $2 per participant

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Cost: $2 per participant Instructor: Mary Loesch, Certified International Instructor

Please call ahead or check out an organization's website for up-to-date schedules & information!

stretching, balance work, strength training, and vocal and facial exercises. Caregivers are welcome to join participants.

An ancient form of exercise originally developed in China as a martial art. This exercise has benefits to allow participants to improve muscle tone, flexibility, balance and coordination. New comers are always welcome!!

Ferris State Recreation Center Pool (No class March 9th - 13th and April 10th) Instructor: Sherry Williams Low impact exercise offered for adults.

Beginning in the shallow area and progressing to the deep water to allow for a full body workout.

DELAY THE DISEASE FITNESS FOR PARKINSON'S

LINE DANCE CLASSES

COST: $2 per participant.

January 7th - April 30th Cost: $2 per participant

LOCATION: Style Station (1619 Catherine Street)

Instructor: Diane Jones

DATES: January 7th - April 30th

Come join choreographed line dancing while increasing your heart rate for a great cardio workout! You can select the class that best fits your needs.

TIME: Thursdays - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (No Class February 24th - March 4th)

MORNING LINE DANCE Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00 am - 9:00 am (Step Instruction and Easy Beginner Dances)

INSTRUCTOR: DeMar Hatchew, Continuing Education in Parkinson's Disease Training Methods A fitness class designed to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. No matter what stage of the disease you are battling— it’s never too late to start exercising! The class will incorporate a variety of chair exercises,

LOCATION: Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria DATES: Thursdays - January 9th - May 21st (No Class March 19th or March 26th) TIMES: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Zumba Gold is perfect for active older adults, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle, who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity.

The design of the class introduces easy-tofollow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination.

WALKING PROGRAM COST: FREE DATES: November 1st - April 24th Monday - Thursday TIME: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm LOCATION: Big Rapids Middle School Hallways (No walking January 22nd, February 17th and March 23rd - March 26th) To register, please call or stop into City Hall.

A map of the facility with distance is available.

18

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

Help brighten our days by coloring this page & take a photo of your masterpiece and share it on the MCACC Facebook page! (@MCACC)

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

APRIL 2020

19

TAKE TIME TO UNWIND...

Stress happens. Sometimes it's unavoidable, at times it's unbearable. That's why taking time for yourself is invaluable. It's healthy to relax, renew, and rejuvenate.

Federal Occupational Health Stress does not merely afflict your mind; it can also affect you on a cellular level. In fact, long-term stress can lead to a wide range of illnesses—from headaches to stomach disorders to depression— and can even increase the risk of serious conditions like stroke and heart disease. Understanding the mind/stress/health connection can help you better manage stress and improve your health and well-being.

THE FIGHT RESPONSE

OR

FLIGHT

The sympathetic stress response is a survival mechanism that is hardwired into our nervous systems.

This automatic response is necessary for mobilizing quick reflexes when there is imminent danger, such as swerving to avoid a car crash.

When you perceive a threat, stress hormones rush into your bloodstream—increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels.

Other hormones also suppress functions like digestion and the immune system, which is one of the reasons why chronic stress can leave you more vulnerable to illness.

If you suffer from chronic stress and can't influence or change the situation, then you'll need to change your approach. Be willing to be flexible. Remember, you have the ability to choose your response to stressors, and you may have to try Danger triggers the stress various options. response. Unfortunately, so can • Recognize when you don't have work conflicts, concerns over debt, control, and let it go. bad memories, or anxiety in general.

• Don't get anxious about Although one bad day at work won't situations that you cannot change. compromise your health, weeks or • Take control of your own months of stress can dampen your reactions and focus your mind on immune response and raise your something that makes you feel calm risk for disease. and in control. This may take some COMBAT YOUR STRESS

mind.

• Develop a vision for healthy living, wellness, and personal growth, and set realistic goals to help you realize your vision.

• Take a walk • Read a book • Go for a run • Have a cup of tea • Play a sport RELAX AND RECHARGE • Spend time with a friend or loved Be sure to carve out some time one • Meditate to relax and take care of yourself each day—even just 10 to 15 • Do yoga minutes per day can improve your While you can't avoid stress, you ability to handle life's stressors. can minimize it by changing how Also, remember that exercise is an you choose to respond to it. The excellent stress reliever. ultimate reward for your efforts is a

Everyone has different ways they healthy, balanced life, with time for like to relax and unwind. Here are a work, relationships, relaxation, and practice, but it pays off in peace of few ideas to get you started: fun.

20

Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com

*All events are subject to change or cancellation.

MECOSTA COUNTY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL 2020

April 5

AMVETS Auxiliary Monthly Breakfast 9-11:30AM

April 5

Stage M Presents: The Foreigner @ CCA Auditorium 2:30-4:30PM

April 6

CDL - A Truck Driving Class @ the MOISD 8AM-4:30PM

April 8

Lunch & Learn @ Ice Mountain 11:30AM-1PM

April 12

Mecosta VFW Pancake Breakfast 8-11:30AM

April 16

Babysitting Workshop @ BRCL 3:30-4:30PM

April 16

Business After Hours @ The Brook of Big Rapids 5-6:30PM

April 17

Mary's Book Club @ BRCL at Noon

April 21

Tween Book Club @ BRCL 4-5PM

April 23

Babysitting Workshop @ BRCL 3:30-4:30PM

April 24

WISE Annual Dinner Theater @ the Holiday Inn 6PM

April 25

Community & Family Expo @ BRMS 9AM-1PM

April 28

Understanding Dementia @ BRCL 6-8PM

April 30

Babysitting Workshop @ BRCL 3:30-4:30PM

April 30

Diedre Fagan Poetry Reading & Book Signing @ BRCL 7-8PM

APRIL 2020

SPECIAL DAYS GFWC MONTHLY MEETINGS

2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY AT THE BIG RAPIDS PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. CALL 231-349-7743 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

BIG RAPIDS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS

PICKLEBALL - MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 5-7PM TAI CHI- MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 12-1PM LINE DANCE - JAN 7-APRIL 30 MORNING LINE DANCE TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS: 8-9AM (EASY), 9-10AM (INTERMEDIATE) SENIOR FIT TIME - TUESDAYS 4-5PM, THURSDAYS 3-4PM WATER AEROBICS - MON, WED, & FRI 8:30-9:30AM DELAY THE DISEASE FITNESS FOR PARKINSON’S -THURSDAYS 1-2PM GROOVE - MONDAYS 5:30-6:30P

ARTWORKS PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILED CLASS & EVENT INFORMATION

BIG RAPIDS COMMUNITY LIBRARY STORY TIME - MONS & WEDS 10:30-11:30A COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP - TUES 9:30-11:30A KNIT NIGHT - 1ST & 3RD THURS 6:30-8:30P TINY TOTS TINKER LAB - FRIDAYS 10:30-11:30A

BIG RAPIDS ROTARY CLUB MEETS EVERY TUESDAY AT NOON AT FALCON HEAD BIG RAPIDS LIONS CLUB MEETS EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS OF THE MONTH, 6:30 P.M. AT #52 SPORTS BAR AND KITCHEN. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, CHAPTER 18 A SERVICE OFFICER IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST VETERANS IN RECEIVING BENEFITS. THURSDAYS 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT THE DAV IN BIG RAPIDS. ALL VETERANS WELCOME