MC Chamber - September 2020

CHAMBER newsletter

September 2020

Inside: Tips for a Swiftly Approaching September

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

SEPTEMBER 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 Heinrich

Events Coordinator & Administrative Assistant events@mecostacounty.com

instagram.com/mecostacountychamber

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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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!

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

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

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 hosted by St. Mary-St. Paul Ministry/Resale Shop on September 17th, 2020!

102 Williams St., Big Rapids, MI 49307. (231) 796-4580.

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 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. September 24, 2020 - Available!

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!

SEPTEMBER 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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Our Brother's Keeper Thanks Lowes

As fall approaches, the Board and staff at Our Brother’s Keeper are working to prepare the shelter for their guests when they open. Thanks to a significant donation from Lowe’s for primer, paint, paint supplies and trim, the workers have been able to make great progress in those preparations. They can always use volunteers and are thankful for the volunteers who have stepped up to help.

For more information regarding the shelter and its needs, contact Lila Ecker at 231-629-8033.

Top picture: Julia Raglin, The Corner Cup Owner and Felicia Bielecki, Chamber Ambassador.

Bottom Picture: Allison Heinrich, Chamber Admin Assistant and Julia Raglin, The Corner Cup Owner.

The Corner Cup 2963 Arthur Rd, Remus MI. Open Monday – Saturday 8am-4pm. Owner Julia Raglin, has always loved the feeling of a coffee house and specialty coffee which is why she decided to open one of her own. The Corner Cup opened in January 2020 and offers a variety of gourmet coffee as well as home décor. Located halfway between Mt. Pleasant and Big Rapids, The Corner Cup is a great spot to meet up with friends and enjoy specialty coffee. Visit them on Facebook to see their drink of the week or upcoming events.

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

HOW (AND WHY) ZOOM FATIGUE IS MESSING WITH YOUR MIND – AND HOW TO FIX IT.

By Lisa Smith, owner of InVerve Marketing Video calls are life now.

Since the country went fully into lockdown mode, almost every aspect of life has moved online. From work meetings and conferences, to day camps and even happy hours and game nights. There is no denying that the world is spending more time behind a screen than ever before.

While this seems like the best solution while the world tries to rid itself of a pandemic, there has been an unintended side effect of all this time spent on video calls.

It’s called Zoom burnout, and it’s very real.

WHAT IS ZOOM BURNOUT? It’s falling asleep after teaching a long class in Google Classrooms. It’s wanting to get as far away from your computer as possible after a day of video meetings. It’s being more tired than usual and not knowing why. It’s Zoom Burnout. Or Zoom Fatigue. Or even Zoom Gloom (Thanks, National Geographic).

And while there’s no scientific definition for it, this new malady refers to the feelings of exhaustion after being on video calls all day either for work or for fun.

These names are a little unfair to Zoom, given that this new fatigue is caused by ALL types of video calls, but those names just roll right off the tongue, don’t they?

While it’s a feeling that’s hard to define, the most important question isn’t what it is but rather what causes it and how can you avoid it?

WHAT CAUSES ZOOM FATIGUE? So, what does cause the exhaustion that seems to follow a day of connecting over video calls? We certainly seem to be using it to replace the face-to-face contact we all so desperately miss during quarantine while we social distance and stay home. Isn’t it just like meeting in person? No, it’s not.

Here are some reasons video calls are harder on our brains than in-person interactions.

OUR BRAINS WORK HARDER IN VIDEO CALLS Talking to someone (or a lot of people!) over a video chat, requires more focus than a faceto-face chat. When the person we’re talking to is behind a screen, we have to work harder to process their non-verbal cues (like facial expressions), the tone and pitch of their voice, and their body language. This makes sense

given that half their body isn’t even visible.

According to Gianpiero Petriglieri, an associate professor at Instead, paying attention to these cues takes a lot of energy.

WE FEEL LIKE WE’RE BEING WATCHED Well, we technically are, but apparently this feeling is wearing us out. Being on a video call also makes us very aware of our own appearance, what we’re doing with our hands or our face, and if we look like we’re paying enough attention or reacting appropriately.

It’s almost like being on a stage and being asked to perform every single day. Being aware we’re being watched also changes the way we act -we try to emote more to make up for being on such a small screen.

“Being performative is nerve-wracking and more stressful,” says Marissa Shuffler, an associate professor at Clemson University.

TECHNICAL ISSUES Are you sick of playing Conference Call Bingo? Mark your card every time you hear, “You’re muted” or “Can you hear me?” or “Are you there?” or “We can’t see you.” On a normal day, technical issues are exhausting. When they impact your critical daily interactions, they are downright exhausting.

It can be frustrating trying to have a conversation with someone when their internet is slow—interacting when they’re mouth is not in sync with they’re saying or there is a long delay is HARD. Then there’s the background noise when someone forgets to mute themselves and the even bigger challenge of trying to figure out how to politely tell them to mute themselves. These are not interactions our brains and bodies are prepared to have.

Technical issues are even worse when they are something we can’t control. If your productivity is limited by someone else’s tech issue and you can’t help fix it, it can be frustrating. Random silences add to this stress because not only are they awkward, they also increase our anxiety because we’re worried the technology we are relying on has failed.

MORE TIME PRESSURES Without the normal travel time it takes to get from meeting to meeting, many feel the need to make the most of their newfound time by scheduling meetings back to back. It makes sense, right? We don’t have to drive to our next coffee meeting or get across campus in time for that next presentation so let’s just pack

the meetings together in order to be the most efficient. But this is a recipe for burnout even in normal circumstances. Just because you can schedule meetings back to back, doesn’t mean you should.

One user told Business Insider, “her burnout stems from the expectation of going from meeting to meeting while remaining serious and professional.” Meetings like this leave no room for necessities…like going to the bathroom. Staying professional in a situation like this can be stressful, especially when many of us might have kids screaming in the background or pets begging for attention.

MULTI-TASKING Ah, multitasking. We think it’s making us more efficient, but it’s really slowing us down.

Studies have shown multitasking reduces our efficiency and performance because our brain can only focus on one thing at a time. That means, our brain lacks the capacity to do both of these things successfully. It can even lower our IQ. Ouch.

Yet, when faced with the opportunity to send an email while on a Zoom call, we jump on it. The other members of the call can’t really tell what you’re doing so why not crank out a few extra tasks?

Because it’s ADDING to our Zoom Fatigue.

According to National Geographic, “the prolonged split in attention creates a perplexing sense of being drained while having accomplished nothing. The brain becomes overwhelmed by unfamiliar excess stimuli while being hyper-focused on searching for non-verbal cues that it can’t find.”

SO, HOW DO YOU “CURE” ZOOM FATIGUE? So, what can we do about Zoom Fatigue when there is no end to Zoom calls in sight?

National Geographic thinks it’s possible that Zoom fatigue will abate once people learn to navigate the mental tangle video chatting can cause. But in the meantime, here are a few things you can try.

USE SPEAKER VIEW (RATHER THAN GALLERY) Speaker view feels more like you’re in a conference room listening to one person speak. It allows you to give all your attention to the person speaking rather than being pulled away by every single movement every participant makes. Gallery view (that Brady Bunch-style screen) “challenges the brain’s central vision, forcing it to decode so many

people at once that no one comes through meaningfully, not even the speaker.”

TAKE BREAKS BETWEEN SESSIONS (OR TRY!) This is going to mean advocating for your time. Try making calendar events longer than they need to be to give yourself some time for a bathroom break, or even just a “breathing” break. If you need a few minutes between meetings to get some water or just gather yourself, ask for it – we’re all in the same boat!

TALK FACE-TO-FACE (SAFELY) Zoom happy hours or chats with friends cannot replace real face-to-face contact. If it’s possible, make sure you’re making some time to safely visit family and friends. This might mean wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, but it’s better than yet another computer screen!

TRY TRADITIONAL PHONE CALLS Traditional phone calls are less taxing on the brain because our senses aren’t so stimulated.

When the occasion allows for it, try a phone call rather than a video call.Bonus Tip: Get up and walk around when on the call. Walking meetings can boost creativity and reduce stress.

DON’T MULTITASK This will be hard. But if you can avoid it, just don’t do it. Some researchers suggest that multitasking can actually reduce productivity by as much as 40%…so, what’s the point?

Bonus Tip: If you need to keep your hands busy, try doodling or writing down your notes on a notepad instead of taking them digitally — it’s science. A study in 2009 showed that those who doodled when listening to information retained 29% more of what they heard.

JUST BREATHE Before each call, take a second to take a few deep breaths and ground yourself. Set aside distractions if you can and be prepared to focus for the duration of the call.

While it’s not the ideal way to interact, Zoom and other video chats are here to stay, so make sure you’re taking care of your brain by taking breaks when possible. Start to get creative in the ways you meet with coworkers, family, and friends.

Trying these tips and understanding how video chats impact your brain can help prevent feeling incredibly exhausted after a long day of video calls.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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5 TRICKS FOR MARKETING TO COLLEGE STUDENTS – WORKS EVERYTIME

By Lisa Smith, owner of InVerve Marketing Marketing to college students doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what they’re looking for. From there, you can base your marketing strategies and pattern your visuals. And speaking of visuals, you must work with a credible graphic design team. And that’s where Penji comes in.

Working with Penji means you can get unlimited graphic designs when marketing to students. Moreover, working with Penji means you get quality work fast and at affordable rates. In the meantime, you must focus on how to market to college students, so you’ll know what visuals to request from Penji.

University students are one of the most interesting markets to target.

They don’t have as much disposable income and are selective when using it.

For any company, having their business is beneficial. It provides a foundation for life-long usage. You must establish a connection early on to secure their business. It’s possible to remain true to your company while marketing to the target audience. Here’s how to use marketing strategies to target university students: 1. UNDERSTAND TREND CYCLES

If you want to market to university students, you need to understand how quickly trends come and go for them.

This isn’t the 90’s where trends can last up to a year anymore. In today’s world, trends can last from months to merely days.

TRENDS MOVE FAST FOR STUDENTS

Things that were funny and trendy a few months back are out-dated today.

This can be a huge frustration for marketers as, by the time you’ve got the marketing budget approved, your demographic’s interests have already shifted. Fear not, as you can easily stay

on top of their trends by following brands that excel at keeping up with millennials and students.

SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY: URBAN OUTFITTERS

One effective brand to know is Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters uses vibrant colors and patterns to help not only set trends but adopt rising ones.

In recent years, there’s been a revival of 90’s colors and styles. The company now uses shades and textures popular from that time period. It’s fueling the trend while also find a way to make it their own. Many of the models in their campaigns are college-aged people.

They look like the target market. Urban uses its full creative freedom to reach its audience effectively.

2. HIRE STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Who else can market to students better than students themselves? In recent years, brands have begun to turn to student ambassadors. These representatives go to local communities and colleges to promote the company.

They typically create relationships with on-campus organizations to work on a larger scale.

It provides a direct connection to the target audience by using them. They know how to interact with each other already, take advantage of it by paying them to represent your brand. Not to mention, they’ll likely know when the fading and coming of trends and can help guide your marketing efforts.

SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY: INSOMNIA COOKIES

Insomnia Cookies is a local cookie business already using student ambassadors to push itself further.

Labeled as ‘campus reps’, their goal to spread awareness of what the cookies taste like and the options available.

They work a few times a week on campus and events. The brand even specifies the position benefits certain

majors such as public relations and advertising. It targets the best kind of students to sell the cookies while still marketing to other majors.

3. GIVE EXCLUSIVE STUDENT PERKS

Marketing to college students through perks and discounts is supereffective because the one thing 99% of students have in common is how many zeros are absent from their checking account. They’re all broke and always looking for “student deals” and discounts. Use this to your advantage and offer exclusive perks to students and they’ll line up for you as fast as they would for a Dave Matthews concert.

ID

EXCLUSIVE PROMOTION WITH A VALID

Have a promotion just for students if they can provide a valid student ID. It might mean lower costs or benefits like free items. Many brands use this to establish a connection with the audience early on. Ideally, they’ll see your business is worth paying the full price.

Another variation is longer free trials.

This is popular with tech companies.

The businesses offer the service for a few months to a year as long as they registered with a college email. Two stand-out options are Spotify’s bundle and Uniday’s phone app.

SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY: SPOTIFY

Spotify began with a discount for college students. The company offered its premium services for $5/month, compared to $10/month. It then added Hulu and Showtime to its lineup in 2018.

Any student with a Spotify account now has access to an ad-free music platform and two different streaming services.

For all three resources, it normally costs almost $30/month. This is an incredible deal because if they begin to use the bundle as a freshman, they get accustomed to having it. Once it’s gone after graduation and they secure

a career, they return to it.

Unidays is striving to become a onestop-shop for student discounts. The company offers reduced prices from hundreds of organizations known to the audience. It takes offering a simple discount and brings it to another level.

It gives them the tools to find things they were already looking for. The only difference is it’s more convenient and it benefits Unidays. Plan accordingly and your business could become a similar hub for them.

4. CATER TO THEIR DARK SENSE OF HUMOR

Next to oxygen, they need humor to survive and relate to one another.

College students are notorious for their dark, silly, and witty sense of humor. If you can send a message that speaks to their funny bone, they’re significantly more likely than any other demographic to give you a share and boosting your brand’s visibility.

DON’T TRY TOO HARD

Marketing to college students through humor can be a double edged sword. Be very careful when attempting to speak their language with humor as it’s easy to come off lame or cheesy.

Avoid using memes if possible as this comes off obvious to them that a brand is trying too hard to relate.

What college students find funny might be different from what you find funny. It’s valuable to understand their sense of humor to create a connection.

It’s difficult to fully immerse your brand in it, especially if it’s a serious product.

Some businesses are even ridiculed online when they attempt to follow it.

However, there is still room to execute this strategy. It’s about timing and understanding what’s funny before it makes mainstream media. Hiring young marketers is one way to do this.

Continued on Page 8

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

Continued from Page 7 They’re still young enough to connect with the humor and incorporate it into a business strategy.

exposed indirectly.

SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY: WENDY’S (TWITTER SPECIFICALLY)

As college students are more challenging to entice, your marketing strategy should be more aggressive.

Apart from freebies and discounts, you have to regularly update your marketing collaterals to keep them interested. And in this case, Penji can help through their unlimited graphic design services. Just use their platform and get professionally-made graphic designs that you can use for marketing purposes.

Wendy’s has considerable success on Twitter marketing to college students.

They understand the humor and tone of a university student. Most of it is heavily based on self-deprecation and their use of memes. It works with popular hashtags on its Twitter and even released a ‘diss track’. It doesn’t overwhelm its consumers with the humor but uses it to boost the chain’s personality. It’s not forced, and it doesn’t come off cheesy. It’s subtle at times but contributes to pop culture.

Best of all, it brings in a young audience of intrigued college students.

5. CREATE ENTERTAINMENT DRIVEN CONTENT

Marketing to college students using regular boring direct advertising or over the top TV ads simply won’t do.

Those work for the older generation, college students enjoy and are more likely to engage with meaningful and entertaining content. The higher the entertainment value of the content, the more likely they are to relate with the brand and even share your message.

You can place these content either on your company website or on your social media pages. Working with a good graphic design team such as Penji means having access to an unlimited source of images for your social media marketing.

SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDY: RED BULL

Red Bull has nearly perfect this practice. When you enter the company’s website, the first thing you notice is the lack of product placement.

They’re not promoting their drinks, but upcoming competitive events. It’s effective because it draws in sports fans. These are popular at any age range, but for university students, this is thrilling. They’re able to see first-hand experiences and interviews from some of their favorite athletes. It’s on the extreme end for content marketing, but their tactics do work. Best of all, they’re already on Red Bull’s website and are

HOW TO USE PENJI FOR UNLIMITED GRAPHIC DESIGN

REQUEST PENJI HAS ITS OWN Easy-to-use platform where you can send your requests. Just click ‘Create New Project’ and fill out a form. This could only take you a few minutes to complete.

Add your design specifications and include any special requests. Once done, you can already submit the request and a designer will be assigned to you.

REVIEW

Your first draft will be submitted within 24 – 48 hours and from there, you can send points for revision. This is easy to do as you just need to click, point, and write your insights directly on the design. It will be sent back to your designer immediately to make the necessary changes.

ENJOY AND START USING THE DESIGNS

Download your source files from the same platform and use the designs to your heart’s content. There’s no need to send multiple emails for follow-ups and to get the final designs. We made sure that the platform is user-friendly and is highly efficient.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hiring an on-demand graphic design service such as Penji is an investment for your business. We can take a load of responsibility off your shoulder and you can focus more on winning the market.

For a fixed price of $479/month, you can enjoy unlimited graphic designs for all your marketing needs, including website and even merchandise.

HELLO SEPTEMBER, HELLO FALL It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. Even with all of the craziness that 2020 has brought us, it certainly seems like summer is moving way too quickly!

Fortunately, we live in a community that is blessed with amazing natural resources to enjoy summer recreational activities like trails, waterways, golf courses and parks. All of these fun activities can continue to be enjoyed, while adhering to social distancing through the fall season as well.

September is a great month to not only enjoy these activities but to celebrate a few of them as well.

Labor Day weekend will soon be here. Take time to not only explore some of the great recreational offerings here in the Big Rapids Region, but enjoy a local get-away at one of our amazing hotels or area campgrounds.

Michigan’s Trail Week is fast approaching this month. For complete details on trails in Mecosta County visit our online Trails Page at BigRapids.org.

No matter if you are looking for a casual and relaxing stroll or a more challenging and adventurous outing, Mecosta County has the trail for you.

September is also the month that we celebrate World Tourism Day. The tourism industry has faced a large struggle as have many businesses, during this year,

but it still continues to represent a very large and positive economic driver for not only the state but our local economy as well.

Even as September is nearing, you still have time to enjoy a little more summer by visiting one of our local wineries, going on a kayak or boat ride and shopping at one of our many great and unique shops and local restaurants. Take an afternoon drive and search for the numerous quilt block or bulldogs throughout the county.

We have maps available for both.

You can stop by the Welcome Center on the corner of State and Elm Street or go on our website under the Brochures tab and look for Things to Do and Special Tours Category.

Now is also a great time for planning a fall color tour either by car or by boat! We will have details for our county wide color tour coming soon. Need help planning your day or two adventure of exploring the Big Rapids Region?

Reach out to us today and we will be happy to help you.

We hope you have an amazing time Exploring the Big Rapids Regions this September!

Connie Koepke – Executive Director Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureau Your Official Tourism Resource for Mecosta County!

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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

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New Admissions Welcome!

(231) 592-1000 Big Rapids • Boyne City • Cedar Springs • Cheboygan • Gaylord • Gladwin • Grayling Houghton Lake • Newaygo • Portland • Rogers City • Roscommon & West Branch

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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“Helping Buyers & Sellers for over 50 years”

SILVERNAIL REALTY

Call Today!

231-796-6329

Sue Glatz

www.silvernailrealty.com Sue Glatz, GRI, CRB, ABR, Broker/Owner

Salespersons: Terry Weaver, Katy VanCuren

Property Management • Land Contracts

Katy VanCuren

We sell all types of real estate and offer property management.

We work for buyers AND sellers!

17810 205th Ave., Suite #1, Big Rapids, MI 49307

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

NOMINATE YOUR HEROES

Even as we face uncertainty and a new reality, many of our friends, family and neighbors are rising to the occasion, making our communities a better place to live even in crisis.

Inspiring stories of hope and helping in the face of the unknown are popping up on our screens, right from our neighborhoods.

Festival of Banners 2020

We want to share those stories.

Hometown Heroes

To submit your heroes, please visit www.bigrapidsnews.com and search "Nominate your Heroes Unmasked in Mecosta County"!

Artworks, along with the City of Big Rapids and the American Legion Auxiliary, is proud to honor our servicemen and servicewomen by facilitating the Hometown Heroes program as part of Festival of Banners 2020. We will be honoring local residents and their family members who are serving, or are Veterans who have served our country in the United States Armed Forces. Each banner will include branch of service, dates of service, medals received, and a photo. The banners will be displayed on street poles in Downtown Big Rapids and along the Baldwin Street bridge from November 2020 through March 2021 to both celebrate and remind the community of their dedication to our country.

Your Lakefront expert!

The cost of each banner is $100. For each banner sold, a portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting local Veteran programming and services such as therapeutic art lessons for disabled Veterans and educational programming for the community. Once the banners come down, your banner will be yours to keep.

Please submit this form to Artworks by August 14, 2020. Applications will be subject to a jury process to be sure every branch is fairly represented. Once you banner has been approved, you will be contacted with instructions on submitting payment and a photo. Payment and photo are due no later than September 10, 2020. If payment is not received by this date, the next applicant on the list will be contacted.

Please limit two applications per family.

Contact Heidi Kinnally at Artworks with any questions: 231-796-2420 ext. 11 or artworkseducation@gmail.com.

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8520 100th Ave. Canadian Lakes, MI 49346

231.972.8300

KATHY ADAMS

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kadamscblakes@gmail.com

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101 S Michigan Ave 101 S Michigan Ave 101 Michigan Ave Big Rapids, MI 49307 101SSBig Michigan Ave Rapids, MI 49307 Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-5446 Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-5446 231-796-5446 231-796-5446

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Decorated (Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star) ____________________________________________ Years Served _______________ to _______________ Contact Information: Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

106 N Michigan Ave Big Rapids, MI 49307 Phone: 231-796-2420 Fax: 231-796-6595 artworkseducation@gmail.com

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING WITH YOUR BUSINESS DURING THE SUMPTUOUS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

By Samuel James White, Medium.com I recently wrote an article on what you should be doing with your business in August. As everyone knows, August is largely a down month for most people. On the other hand, September is one of the best months of the year.

I like to see it as the beginning of the second half of the year because it’s the runup to the holiday season.

So, what should you be doing with your business during the month of September?

execute. It’s impossible for them to do that in November, or even in October.

to give a new product or service a shunt now.

So now is the time to start promoting yourself. September is the prime period for selling just about anything.

GIVE YOUR COMPANY A COMPETITIVE EDGE BY STARTING EARLY

INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS NOW With the business crux of this season in mind, it’s time to start investing in your business. No matter what you have to spend, now’s the time to start using it.

YOUR PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO BUY NOW NOT LATER

Invest that money in marketing campaigns. You need to tell people you exist now, even if they don’t necessarily buy until later.

Businesses should be going into September with as much intensity as they can. Yes, it’s months before the main holiday season starts, but if you’re in business you need to start selling now.

Studies show that the more times someone sees something the higher the chances of them remembering you. The longer runup you have, the more chance you have of making that happen.

Retail businesses selling to customers need to consider the fact customers are not buying at the last second. They’re preparing for the holidays now. They’re already thinking about the gifts they’re going to buy.

Plow your money into your business operations now.

Businesses selling to other businesses need to think about how another company is preparing to capitalise on the holiday season.

They have to begin preparing their promotional content now not later.

They need time to plan and to

It’s also one of the best times to start releasing new products. When I was a child, I loved video games. Yet I always wondered why the biggest titles of the year came out in autumn. I found it odd and irritating.

As an adult, now I understand. All major developers release their titles between September and November so they can capture the holiday market.

Don’t be afraid to invest a little more

The early bird always catches the worm. That’s why everyone is looking to invent something new. They’re not looking to rehash what’s already available, they want to find that unique product.

Whilst you don’t always need a unique product to succeed, it demonstrates perfectly how advantageous it can be to get a head start on potential competition.

The same applies to businesses working in the same industry.

Look, most consumers aren’t going to spend hours researching different providers. Unless it’s something like a car or a house, they’re going to spend a few minutes at the most.

In other words, they’re looking for the first good looking product they can see.

If you’re not starting to attack in September, by October you’re already competing for the eyeballs of consumers who have already seen your competitors. It’s going to take a hell of an effort to get them to now care about what you have to offer.

And, sorry, it doesn’t matter if you see yourself as the superior brand.

These customers are already half won.

They’re not going to take the time to take more than a superficial glance at your company.

That’s why inferior brands seem to do so well. They’re excellent at marketing and turning shit into silver.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR CHANGING THE WAY YOUR BUSINESS WORKS When I say you need to start going on the attack, you’re not supposed to be bringing about wholehearted change within your business. That’s a task for a down month like August or January.

Anyone who has ever worked any sort of job knows that after August things get crazy. Imagine how difficult it would be if your boss wanted to alter the way the company operates.

That opportunity has passed and it’s now time to work with what you’ve got. Consider it the end of the NFL draft and you already have your starters locked in.

Every resource the company has must go towards conquering your competitors during the most lucrative time of the year.

Dedicate every spare minute and every spare dollar to that and your most profitable months are right around the corner.

What do you think you should be doing with your business during September?

SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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SEPTEMBER 2020

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.

Hand Built Pottery

Mondays, Sept. 14-28 & Oct. 5-26 6-8 PM

Big Rapids Community Library bigrapids.lib.mi.us

Library Closed Sept. 5-7 for Labor Day Activities & Events have been suspended until further notice.

For more information and updates visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Open Studio

Every other Tuesday, 5-8 PM Basket Weaving: Roxanne's Sock Basket

Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 AM-3 PM Beginning Stained Glass

Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 AM-2 PM Introduction to Watercolor

TBA

Plein Air at the Park

Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 AM-12 PM Fundamentals of Photography

Tuesdays, Sept. 15 - Oct. 20, 5:30-7:30 PM

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

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

Creative Night Out: Stained Glass Suncatcher

Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 PM For class descriptions, fees, and registration visit artworksinbigrapids.org/classes or scan QR code

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

Call for Artists!

2020 Holiday Market November 16 - December 23 Deadline for Applications: October 19 at 5 PM The holidays are sneaking up, and it’s time to start thinking about getting your art ready for the 2020 Holiday Market!

This is a great opportunity to have your work available for sale, in the Batdorff Gallery, during the gift giving season. Folks are always able to count on us, to have the unique, one of a kind gift options they are looking for.

If you are interested in joining us please submit the application by the deadline. We supply a table (varies in size depending on work) and we ask you to bring a black tablecloth. We like to have you assist in the set up if possible.

The Holiday Market opens November 16, 2020 and runs through December 23, 2020. Drop off for the Market will be scheduled the week of November 9th and take down is scheduled the 26th-31st of December.

There is a $20 Fee and a 60/40 commission split.

Artworks provides bags and wrapping materials.

You will be provided with an inventory sheet to fill out, and all items will be entered into the POS and assigned an item code for scanning when purchased. The Gift Shop Manager takes care of this.

Checks will be written and mailed to the Artists on 2 dates. December 15th (sales for November) and January 15th(sales for December).

Please contact the Gift Shop Manager, Stacie Wright, with any question.

Phone: 231-796-2420 Email: shopartworks@gmail.com ****If you are a current Artworks Artist**** If you are looking to add more space for your products in the Batdorff Gallery there is a $15 fee and your commission will remain as it is. We want to see new items on this Gallery space side for our shoppers.

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

It is with a heavy heart that we must say that due to current restrictions set by the Michigan government, we must cancel our 2020 Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival.

We look forward to hosting this festival in 2021, and hope that our friends and members will understand this difficult decision.

To stay updated with future events, visit our website at www.mecostacounty.com and follow us on Facebook @MCACC.

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

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GFWC BIG RAPIDS INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

Picture – left to right – Ann Stellard, President, Linda Telfer, 1st Vice President, Sue Johnson, GFWCMI Past President, Pat Rossi, 2nd Vice President, Celeste Szczerowski, Secretary and Dee Van Horn, Treasurer.

LUNCH & LEARNS FOR 2020 OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE 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.

On a warm summer evening, members of GFWC Big Rapids were able to meet outdoors at the Pavilion at St. Peters Church, enjoy a meal together and install the Club officers for 2020-22. The installation was conducted by GFWC MI Past President Sue Johnson, a Big Rapids Club member. The new officers are Ann Stellard, President, Linda Telfer, 1st Vice President, Pat Rossi, 2nd Vice President, Celeste Szczerowski, Secretary and Dee Van Horn, Treasurer. Delayed from their usual event in May due to meeting restriction, they were also able to host GFWC MI State President Ruth Ann Northon from Evart and GFWC State 1st Vice President Kathy Lewis from Rochester Hills, honor their Woman of Achievement Ruth York and the Clubwoman of the Year Pat Rossi. For more information regarding GFWC Big Rapids, contact Pat Rossi at 231-972-0700.

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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

SEPTEMBER 2020

Sept 6

AMVETS Auxiliary Monthly Breakfast @ Post 1941 from 9-11:30 AM

Sept 7

Labor Day

Sept 9

Lunch & Learn - TBD

Sept 9

Bulldog Bonanza - Virtual @ Ferris State University from 4-7 PM

Sept 9

Swiss Steak Dinner @ Big Rapids Eagles from 4-7 PM

Sept 10

Library Board Meeting @ BRCL starting at 5:30 PM

Sept 11

Patriot Day

Sept 11

47th Annual Wheatland Music Festival

Sept 12

47th Annual Wheatland Music Festival

Sept 13

Grandparents Day Breakfast @ Big Rapids Eagles from 9AM-Noon

Sept 13

47th Annual Wheatland Music Festival

Sept 13

WISE Annual 5K Fun Run & Walk @ Northend Riverside Park starting at 12 PM

Sept 13

Mecosta VFW Pancake Breakfast from 8-11:30 AM

Sept 17

Foot Care Clinic @ Mecosta Senior Center from 10AM-2PM

Sept 17

Business After Hours with St. Mary-St. Paul Ministry Resale Store at 5 PM

Sept 19

Choose To Stay Remembrance Walk @ Northend Riverside Park starting at 9 AM

Sept 19

Big Rapids Mom Prom

Sept 23

Brats & Sauerkraut Dinner @ Big Rapids Eagles from 4-7 PM

SEPTEMBER 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.

ARTWORKS HAND BUILT POTTERY: MONDAYS SEPT 14-28 & OCT 5-26, 6-8 PM OPEN STUDIO: EVERY OTHER TUESDAY, 5-8 PM FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: TUESDAYS, SEPT 15-OCT 20, 5:30-7:30 PM AFTER SCHOOL ART: TUESDAYS, SEPT 10 - NOV 19, 3:45-5:15 PM CREATIVE NIGHT OUT - STAINED GLASS SUNCATCHER: SEPT 24, 6-8 PM PLEIN AIR AT THE PARK: SEPT 19, 10 AM-12 PM

QI GONG RED FOX MARKET

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS BEGINNER: 10-10:30 AM ADVANCED: 10:30-11 AM

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