wallowa county w d ccc mp p m · staff of advisers. given the rural geography and limited staff,...
TRANSCRIPT
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Motel Tax Poll 1
New Members 2
Chamber Visitor Report 2
Tram Party 3
SBDC Awards 4
WC Barn Video 5
4th of July Donations 6
July Events 7-9
SBDC Services 10
Inserts: N/A
WALLOWA COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
309 South River Street, Ste B
PO Box 427
Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone: (541) 426-4622
Email: [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jessie Cunningham, President
Jenni Word, Vice President
Cynthia Warnock, Treasurer
Nancy Rudger, Past President
Kathy Casper, Director
Tammy Strampe, Director
Michael Vali, Director
Lawrence McBurney, Director
Bridget Brown, Director
John Williams, Director
Mike Hayward, Director
Cheryl North-Coughlan, Director
Heather Tyreman, Director
Penny Arentsen, Director
Susan Gilstrap, Director
CHAMBER STAFF
Vicki Searles, Executive Director
Diane Knox, Admin. Assistant
JULY 2018
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The Chamber is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic and commercial progress of our community. The Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future growth of the area. There are three primary functions of the Chamber of Commerce: (1) it acts as a spokesperson for the business and professional commu-nity and translates into action the group thinking of its members (2) it renders specific services of a type that can be most effectively rendered by a countywide organization both to its members and to the county as a whole, and (3) it is a primary contact for information to individuals/businesses wishing to visit or relocate to Wallowa County.
Objectives of the Chamber:
To promote a better understanding of the nation’s private enterprise system.
To coordinate, maintain, and strengthen a sound and healthy business climate in the Wallowa County area.
To give a voice to chamber members on issues affecting Wallowa County.
To sponsor aggressive programs of work and stimulate activities that will provide for full develop-ment and employment of our human and economic resources.
To provide creative business leadership and effective coordination of all interested parties in solving community problems and for initiating constructive community action.
To create a broad understanding and appreciation of the great opportunities in the Wallowa County area, and to promote the advantages and assets of our communities within the area, in the state and internationally.
CCCHAMBERHAMBERHAMBER’’’SSS OOOPINIONPINIONPINION PPPOLLOLLOLL FORFORFOR ANANAN IIINCREASENCREASENCREASE INININ THETHETHE WC MWC MWC MOTELOTELOTEL TTTAXAXAX
On May 1st, two members of the Wallowa Lake Tourism Association came before the Board of Directors with a question to be asked of our chamber membership to establish a position that reflects membership. This question asked members to vote on their support or non support of increasing the Transient Lodging Tax (motel tax), paid solely by the WC lodging industry, for the purpose of funding additional countywide services beyond the current 5% rate.
May 17th the Chamber notified membership of this poll. Here are the results:
Votes Percent
In favor of a tax increase: 21 20%
Opposed to an increase: 78 75%
No opinion: 5 5%
Total votes: 104
The overwhelming opinion of membership is to oppose an increase in the Wallowa County TLT (motel) Tax
for the purpose of funding additional countywide services beyond the current 5% rate.
New! Why do Visitors
Come to Wallowa County
Wallowa Lake 81
Wallowa Lake Tramway 97
Joseph, Arts & Galleries 85
Hells Canyon & Over Looks 71
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway 80
Wallowa Mountains 44
Wallowa Valley & View Points 18
WC Events 39
Fishing, Hunting, Outdoor Rec. 41
Visit Family & Friends 2
Family reunions, wedding, etc. 9
Barn Tour 12
Other, Oregon’s 7 Wonders 3
Chamber Visitor Report for June
Information Contacts June 2018 May 2018 Year to date June 2017
Walk-ins: Visitors/Business 410 273 1117 379
Information & Relocation Packets Mailed Out
43 84 239 47
Phone Calls, Website Requests & Emails
391 346 1884 402
Total Contacts 844 703 3323 828
Website Visits
17,829 9901 58,621 12,157
Membership Referrals 1936 1720 6613 3022
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Creating a Strong Economy Together
Please Welcome New Members to the ChamberPlease Welcome New Members to the ChamberPlease Welcome New Members to the Chamber
Chamber Mission Statement: Promote Business Development in Wallowa CountyPromote Business Development in Wallowa County
Enterprise Liquor Store
Contact: Rick Freeman 524 South River Street Enterprise, OR 97828 (541) 426-4393 Description: Our store carries a good variety of different liquors and distilled spirits along with mixers.
Wallowa Lake Marina
Contact: Casey Barstad 72214 Marina Lane/PO Box 695 Joseph, OR 97846 (541) 432-9115 https://wallowalakemarina.com/ Description: We offer everything from kayaks to a pontoon boat to enjoy on the lake. We carry tackle, bait, ice, snack food, drinks, souvenirs, clothing, etc. Sell fishing licenses.
Visit Tri-Cities
Contact: Michael Novakovich 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd. Ste B Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 783-9005 https://www.visittri-cities.com Description: Welcome to Visit Tri-Cities, where 300 sun filled days offer year round outdoor paradise. Enthusiasts love Tri-Cities for bicycling, bowling, hunting, soccer, as well as fishing, water-skiing, and paddling on the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers.
First Street Suites
Owner: Gary & Nancy Parmenter PO Box 2440/19 S. Main Street Joseph, OR 97846 (480) 323-6002 Email: [email protected] Description: In the heart of Joseph is our quaint, cozy, apartment type space. One private bedroom, living area, full kitchen, you can cook or not, step up to a cute bath-room with a granite vanity and shower.
Chief Joseph Days Rodeo
Contact: Debbie Short PO Box 13/401 North Main Street Joseph, OR 97846 https://www.chiefjosephdays.com Email: [email protected] Description: Four action packed PRCA rodeos days plus six days of pure western entertainment. Our rodeo is always on the last week in July.
Alll About You Massage
Owner: Nancy Parmenter PO Box 696/1103 South Main Street Joseph, OR 97846 (480) 323-6002 Description: .All about you massage offers many different modalities including deep tissue, Swedish, aromatherapy, sugar scrubs and more. Therapeutic~Relax~Unwind! You will leave feeling refreshed and revitalized.
It was a Party — June 25th
Thank you to Mike Lockhart and Bill Whittemore, owners of the Wallowa Lake Tramway and our hosts for the evening. A thank you to Ed Millar of Terminal Gravity for the great beer.
Everyone would like to thank all of the Wallowa Lake Tramway staff!
Thank You
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PORTLAND, Ore – The United States Small Business Administration announced Blue Moun-tain Community College Small Business Development Center as the recipient of the 2018 Oregon SBDC Award for Excellence & Innovation. The Blue Mountain Community College SBDC also won the Small Business Development Center Excellence Award for the Pacific Northwest Region.
Wallowa Business is the anchor in Wallowa County for the Blue Mountain SBDC advising program. Advisors Kristie Athens and Dennis Cook apply complementary skills to providing free and confidential business advice to existing and prospective entrepreneurs.
“I am immensely proud of the work of our Blue Mountain SBDC team and the leadership of the Blue Mountain SBDC Director, Carol Frink,” said Oregon Small Business Development Center State Director Mark Gregory. “The Blue Mountain SBDC continues to demonstrate that rural communities can achieve great results by supporting small businesses with training and advice.”
In 2017, the Blue Mountain SBDC worked with 104 long-term clients (more than five hours of assistance), helped 16 new businesses start, brought an additional $1,048,450 in capital into the local economy and helped the area’s small businesses create 31 jobs while maintaining a client satisfaction rate of 99%. These metrics exceeded all the Center’s goals, many by more than twice what was expected of the Center.
The Blue Mountain SBDC serves an area of more than 18,000 square miles and has a limited staff of advisers. Given the rural geography and limited staff, many advisers help clients with a wide range of different issues. Blue Mountain’s advisers come from different business back-grounds and score among the highest in Oregon for their understanding of many complex business topics.
“Northeastern Oregon has great small businesses that are as diverse as our landscape and our communities. It is a privilege to work with these business owners as they continue to in-spire and do amazing things,” said Frink. “I am so proud to take this award back to our Cen-ter. It is our business owners, advisers and staff who come together to make this possible. At the end of the day our business are better and our communities are stronger, contributing to the overall well-being of our state”
The Oregon SBDC Award for Excellence & Innovation is awarded annually by the SBA’s Port-
land District Office. The Small Business Excellence Award for the Pacific Northwest Region is
awarded annually to an SBDC in Oregon, Washington, Idaho or Alaska. Kristy Athens, Business Advisor; Carol Frink, SBDC Director;
and Dennis Sands, Business Advisor
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Volunteers
in the video:
Wendy McCullough
Susie Brown
Glenn Brown
Sue Barstad
Fred Barstad
Erl McLaughlin
Videographer
Mike Mustoe
The Chamber is working
with Elkhorn Media to
produce a new barn tour
video. The video will be
completed in July. The
purpose of the video is
to strengthen our promo-
tional efforts to bring
more visitors to our
events during the off
season month of
October.
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A Special Thank you to the
Supporters of the 2018 Shake the Lake Fireworks
$1500 GRAND FINALE SPONSOR: BRENT & CONNIE MCKINLEY, TRIPLE CREEK RANCH
$1000-$1500 CONTRIBUTORS:
Debbie Surface, Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Wallowa County Chamber,
$500-$999 CONTRIBUTOR: Wallowa Lake Tramway, Wallowa Lake Tourism Association,
$100-$499 CONTRIBUTORS: Mountain View Motel & RV Park, Gary Anger, Edward Jones, Community Bank, Wallowa Lake Vaca-tions Rentals, Wild Carrot Herbals, Copper Creek Mercantile, Hancock Forest Management, Bank of
Eastern Oregon, Wallowa Lake Resort & Flying Arrow Resort, Wilderness Inn, Ponderosa Motel, Macy’s Skin Care, Wayne & Marilyn Bloom, Trouthaven, Park at the River, Eagle’s View Inn & Suites, Eagle Cap Chalets, John & Elaine Isley, Wallowa Lake Lodge, Jacob & Catherine Camier, Jerry King, Bollman Funeral Home, Carolyn Gilbert, James & Sharleen Rowan, Jim & Judy Rygg, Barton & Karen
Nelson, Marieners LLC, Alder Slope Nursery, Anton’s Home & Spirits, Market Place Fresh Foods, Wallowa River RV Park, Thompson Auto Supply, Cabin Rentals at Wallowa Lake and Larry, Shirley,
Brad & Vikki Snook
UNDER $100 CONTRIBUTORS Les Bridges Agency, Sara Bethscheider, Brian & Pat Adelhardt, Bill & Nancy Rudger, Robert Wil-liams, Marilyn & Robby Dalton, Patrick & Colleen McDonald, Patricia Ryan, Lisa Dawson, Vicki & Kerry Searles, Janet & Keith Graham, Terry Gaulke & Cheryl Hughes Gaulke, Farmers Insurance/Rogers Co., Stewart Jones Designs, R.C. & J.L. Nagele, Mel Witters Lab, Good Time Properties,
Charles & Charleen Haines, Chuckwagon Sisters Catering, Richard & Sandra Richelderfer, Jolene & Timothy Cox, and James Falk
Funds Raised To-date for the Fireworks: $9,476
Still Need $3,524 2018 Goal $13,000
Without the volunteer ground work there would be no fireworks:
WC Sheriff Department: Chief Deputy Fred Steen (Marine Program Coordinator)
Marine Deputy Lawrence McBurney and all other who helped
Lending of Boat for Firework’s Crew Lawrence McBurney
Dock Preparation: Lawrence McBurney & Crew
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309 South River Street, Ste B PO Box 427 Enterprise, OR 97828
Shake the Lake Fireworks
Funds Raised to-date for the Fireworks: $9,476
Still Need $3,524 2018 Goal $13,000