Communiqué A Newsletter of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce

2014 Chamber Board of Directors

President Keith Thomas

Portales Home Medical

President-elect Matt Hunton

Hunton Insurance

Secretary/treasurer Megan Hamilton

Trader Horn True Value

VP, Membership Services Ron Jackson

J.P. Stone Comm. Bank

VP, Community Affairs Chris Wood

Frost Mortgage

Members Viola Gonzales

Portales News-Tribune

Ronnie Birdsong ENMU

Scott Davis Valley Furniture

Amber Hamilton RGH

John Pugh Something Different Grill

Dianne Parker Portales Schools

Sheryl Borden KENW-TV

Cecile Archibeque Yucca Telecom

Angelica Powell CAFB

Gordon Smith SBDC

Don Thomas Central Christian Church

Jan Henderson First Financial

Mandi Park Roosevelt County

Doug Redmond City of Portales

Chamber Mission: To build community and pride in Roosevelt County by serving as an information resource and by coordinat-ing community enriched events and activi-ties that contribute to the prosperity of the area.

Roosevelt County Chamber

100 S. Avenue A Portales, NM 88130

(575) 356-8541 chamber@portales.com

Volunteer of the Month

Welcome New Chamber

Members

Sandy Vigil Individual Member

On the Way Clovis Cabs 575-218-8113

J Bar C Communications

(575) 551-2667

March 2014

Chamber Calendar Mar. 3 — Health Insurance Seminar, 1:30 and 6 p.m., Yam Theatre

Mar. 8-9 — Spring Arts and Crafts Fair, Clovis Civic Center

Mar. 10-14 — Spring Break for ENMU and public schools

Mar. 12 — SBDC CRS/Gross Receipts, 9 a.m., CCC Rm. 101

Mar. 20 — Chamber Quarterly Luncheon, noon, Yam Theatre

Mar. 20 — Yam Music Series, Amy’s Not Breathing, 7 p.m.

Mar. 27 — SBDC Basic Accounting/Records, 2 p.m., Chamber

Mar. 28 — Kids’ Movie Night at the Yam, 6 p.m. Yam Theatre

Mar. 29-30 — Clovis Home and Garden Show, Clovis Civic Center

April 5 — Sidewalk Chalk, Downtown Portales

April 12 — Great American Cleanup, 9 a.m., City Park

April 19 — Portales Easter Egg Hunt, 2 p.m., Softball complex

April 25-26 — Relay for Life, Greyhound Arena

For more check the online calendar at:

portales.com

Business of the Month

Connie Moyers, second from right, received the Volunteer of the Month award from the Roo-sevelt County Chamber. Moyers is the Roosevelt County Extension Home Economist but she also provides volunteer hours as a part of that role. At this year’s N.M. Ag Expo she partici-pated in two seminars and served on the Ag Expo committee. Ambassadors and Chamber staff presented the award.

Roosevelt County Electric Coop was named the March Business of the Month by the Roose-velt County Chamber. Managed by Jerry Partin, the Coop is a vital institution in the county whose employees stay in close touch with the community through service and volunteerism. Recently RCEA was a sponsor at N.M. Ag Expo and participated by having employees per-form safety demonstrations throughout the Expo. Ambassadors and Chamber staff presented the award

The Roosevelt County Chamber in conjunction with La Casa Family Health Center and the Association of Commerce and Industry will host seminars on indi-vidual healthcare insurance Monday, March 3 at 1:30 and 6 p.m. at the Yam Thea-tre in downtown Portales.

The seminar will be led by a representative of the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange and discuss the various options that are available now for individu-als and families under the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Persons who are not en-rolled by March 31, 2014 will have to wait until the next open enrollment period

at the end of the year. La Casa will have trained

healthcare guides available after the seminar to enroll people either in the Expand-ed Medicaid Program or the Insurance Marketplace.

Individuals who will be screened and/or enrolled should bring the following documents: Birth certificate or citi-

zenship documents Photo ID Social Security numbers Proof of household in-

come Last year’s tax returns

with W-2s Recent check stubs (last

month) Email address

Legislative session topic of Quarterly

Chamber co-hosting healthcare seminar

Results of the 2014 New Mexico Legislative session will be the topic of the Roo-sevelt County Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Luncheon March 20 at noon at the Yam Theatre in Por-tales.

“We have Sen. Stuart In-gle confirmed to speak with us and we’re working on getting other area legislators to participate,” said Cham-ber Executive Director Karl Terry. “The timing for this topic is great with the 30-day session just ending and a variety of bills now on Gov-ernor Susana Martinez’ desk that could affect our busi-nesses and citizens in Roo-

sevelt County.” Quarterly Luncheons are

one of the Chamber’s busi-ness mixer functions that members find important, according to Terry.

“Besides networking with fellow business people, we try to inform you and feed you well,” he said.

Chamber member Bryan Nixon of Cowboy Chuck-wagon will cater the lunch-eon with a barbecue beef plate with the trimmings.

Cost of the luncheon is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Non-members are $15. Reserve your spot online at portales.com or call the Chamber at 356-8541.

BOM

VOM

Kids’ movie night set Ambassadors have set

Friday, March 28 at 6 p.m. as the next Family Movie Night at the Yam. The mov-ie is free.

While the movie hasn’t yet been selected, Ambassa-

dor President Matt Hunton says it will be a family mov-ie appropriate for kids.

Pizza, popcorn, drinks and other items will be available at the concession stand. Do-nations are welcome.

Chamber to focus on membership growth Chamber President for 2014 Keith Thom-

as has placed an emphasis on growing the organization by increasing membership.

“We want to get all businesses involved in the chamber,” said Thomas. It’s important for businesses to be involved so they have a voice in how our community grows and evolves.”

Executive Director Karl Terry says mem-bership in the Chamber experienced solid increases in 2011 and 2012 but over the last decade or so the membership has been rela-tively flat while the community has experi-enced population and business growth.

Terry believes somewhere just over a third of the potential members belong to the Chamber. Thomas says he believes there is a potential to grow by 100 members in the next year.

“Growth is needed to keep the Chamber strong financially so that it remains vibrant and independent,” Thomas said.

Ron Jackson is vice president of member-ship this year and Thomas says Jackson has pledged to take an active role in helping ac-complish the goal of growth.

“The Chamber’s voice and the benefits we provide have been strengthened since I came to the Chamber three years ago.” said Terry. “Our members have responded positively to our efforts. It’s time to make sure others are taking advantage of what we have to offer.”

Terry says benefits range from basics like copier and fax service to marketing pro-grams like the Portales Pride cards and the Cannon and ENMU welcome packets.

Terry said the base rate for business mem-bership is a great bargain at just $48.75 per quarter. Larger businesses will pay more while non-profits and individuals are less.

While putting the focus on membership growth, Terry says the membership commit-tee is also going to use the coming months to carefully study the membership needs so that we are as great a value to our members as possible.

Terry and Jackson are available to discuss membership with a new business or business owners can drop by the Chamber at 100 S. Ave. A for a packet. They can also join online at portales.com or call 356-8541 and one will be mailed or emailed to you.