January 2018 Volume 51 No. 1
Happy New Year to You!
Calendar of Events
Dear Chamber members, I’ve enjoyed meeting so many Chamber members over the past month and have been warmly welcomed by all. If I haven’t had a chance to meet you yet, please stop by the Chamber office to say “Hi” sometime soon. I’d love to hear your story and why you choose to be a member of the Chamber. In December, the Chamber welcomed Visit Bemidji back into the Tourist Information Center. The office now has double the vitality to promote the shopping, dining, entertaining, vacationing and hospitality of Bemidji. We look forward to collaborating more in the New Year. This is certainly an exciting time to be in Bemidji. Who could have guessed that Bemidji would be named the BEST MN TOWN, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Visit Bemidji. We are fortunate to live, dine, shop and play in this city which beckons visitors to the True North. New Year’s resolutions are a tradition of mine – one that includes annual renewals like getting more exercise and eating healthier. However, this year my goals also encompass the health of the Chamber. I hope you will join me in finding new ways to get involved with the chamber, welcoming new businesses to the community, and recognizing members who continually go out of their way to make Bemidji a better place for everyone. 2018 will be an exciting new year for all of us. I look forward to being your business advocate by promoting Bemidji as a premier destination for travelers and business growth. Best regards, Deb Pfaff Sponsored by:
Program:
Wednesday, January 6, 2018 12:00-1:15 p.m. Hampton Inn South Shore Conference Center
Presented by Servant Leadership & Board Experience Scott Turn, Country Financial; Rosie Berg, Paul Bunyan Communications; Chris Vacek, RP Broadcasting RSVP to
[email protected] • $15 per person
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. DoubleTree Conference Room Program: Human Rights Act in the Workplace RSVP to
[email protected] • Thank You Sponsors
STAY CONNECTED: January 3 YPN Luncheon January 10 HR Connections January 19 Coffee & Connections GET INVOLVED: January 11 Ambassadors January 11 MN Chamber Policy Tour January 12 Bemidji Day at the Capitol Planning January 23 Grow MN BE A LEADER: January 10 CEO in the Classroom January 11 Executive Committee January 17 YPN Leadership January 18 Board of Directors January 1 Chamber Office Closed For all calendar information, go to www.bemidji.org
300 Bemidji Avenue Bemidji, MN 56601 218.444.3541 | 800.458.2223 www.bemidji.org
CANDY DISH OR PETRI DISH?
IF YOU’RE UNDER THE WEATHER, DON’T WAIT IT OUT. WALK IN. Expanded Weekend Hours Walk-in Clinic: Every day from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. 1611 Anne St. Pharmacy: Mon.- Fri. from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat. – Sun. from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. sanfordhealth.org/bemidji
040001-00102 2/17
Best MN Town In August of 2017, VisitBemidji started the process of submitting information for a contest to be considered as Minnesota Monthly’s Inaugural Best MN Town. Community organizations worked together to fill out an intense questionnaire and a community campaign for votes took over social media for a few weeks. In November, we learned that the competition was down to 5 towns, Austin, Owatonna, Waconia, Walker and Bemidji. All of that hard work paid off on November 30th. Twenty Bemidjians went down to the Twin Cities for a party hosted by Minnesota Monthly. Dressed in Bemidji’s signature red and black plaid, the guests waited with anticipation to hear who the inaugural Best MN Town would be. Finally the moment we had been waiting for came and Bemidji was announced the BEST MN TOWN! Cheering erupted, we hugged, laughed and cried. When we come together, we can do great things.
Websites Social Media Design Services Video Creation
We won! This is a win for our co m m u n i t y. We are working to make Bemidji a destination and with this honor, we will be even further along in that quest. Bemidji will Chamber Board Director, receive a full Mychal Stittsworth and spread in Director of Member M i n n e s o t a Engagement, Angela Liedke M o nt h l y Magazine, a marketing package valued at $50,000 and our very own town party. We will keep you informed of the festivities when we know more!
Content Creation
Print & Online Directories
Check out our services at pinnaclemgp.com 4030 Technology Dr NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 218.444.2180 |
[email protected]
Real Estate • Business Law Estate Planning Commercial Transactions 201 7th Street Bemidji, MN 56601 P: 218.444.7564 w w w.bemidjilaw.com
The whole contingency from Bemidji dressed in the famous Bemidji Plaid!
Policy Tour Information The Minnesota Chamber has finalized the schedule for their 2018 winter Statewide Policy Tour. In this event, they host “tour stops” across the state where they travel to members to gain their feedback on the Minnesota Chamber’s 2018 legislative agenda. See how our state fares in key business climate benchmarks and hear what Minnesota companies are forecasting for growth. Please visit the Minnesota Chamber website (www.mnchamber.com) for more info! We would love to see you and your coworkers on January 11, 11:45am at North Central Door. This is a great way to network with your peers and it gives you a chance to give the Minnesota Chamber feedback on what you want to see done this year. Please send your RSVP to Deb by January 8th to
[email protected].
YPN Gives Back
FEATURING
The Young Professionals Network membership was excited to once again present two area nonprofits with a $250 donation. This year’s recipients were United Way of the Bemidji Area and North Homes Children and Family Services.
Friday, January 19, 2018 12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Tourist Information Center Held quarterly at the Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Information Center; Coffee and Conversation is a NEW member benefit event! We want to make sure you have every opportunity to connect with your peers. Please join us for our first gathering January 19th! We’ll have the coffee on. For more information contact Angela at
[email protected].
BUSINESS PHONE SYSTEMS
Information Technology for businesses like yours • • • • •
Networking System Administration Data Storage Web Design Web Development
A Big Thank You to Our Ambassadors! We are extremely fortunate to have this amazing, dedicated group of volunteers. They visited over 70 businesses this year, dressed in their best plaid vests. We are so proud to have these representatives welcoming and congratulating businesses on behalf of the Chamber. Thank you for your constant support and commitment to our organization!
1831 Anne St. NW • Bemidji
paulbunyan.net Call one of our dedicated Account Executives to nd out more
We’re Working for Our Members For November 2017 96 Visitors signed the guest book 368 Assisted in person from 30 states, 3 Province of Canada & 2 Countries 33,050 of the Official 2017 Bemidji Lakes Area Guides distributed Referrals Made: Ice Skating Times & Places Event Tickets
Bait • Fishing License Gift Cards for Local Restaurants
Delivery Candy Shop
Rosie Berg 218.444.1153
Kari Gregg 218.444.1146
Lorie Sathre 218.444.1148
Chloe Keprios 218.444.1157
Periodicals Postage Paid at Bemidji, MN Newsletter
PO Box 850 Bemidji, MN 56619-0850
(USPS 088-090) The Chamber Report is published monthly by the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 850, Bemidji MN 56619-0850. Periodicals-class postage paid at Bemidji, Minnesota, 56601 Subscription Rate is $15.00 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address change to above address.
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors and Staff
NORTHWAY INSURANCE SERVICES
218-751-0821 • Fax: 218-751-0985 E-mail:
[email protected]
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Chris Vacek, RP Broadcasting..................................................Chair Ashley Johnson, Northwest Minnesota Foundation...Incoming Chair Colleen Falk, Fieldstone Financial Group, Inc..................... Past Chair Lindsey Wangberg, Sanford Health..................................At Large Corey Rupp, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union............ Financial Director Betsie Curb, Century 21 Dave Kloha, Bemidji Appraisal Services, Inc. Kelly La Venture, Bemidji State University Caralee Nowak, Pinnacle Marketing Group Dave Smith, MJB Home Center Mychael Stittsworth, Stittsworth’s Meats John Svingen, American Family Insurance - Shannon Miller Agency Cindy Todavich, Todavich Electric Kayla Winkler, DoubleTree by Hilton STAFF Deb Pfaff....................................................................President Carol Olson..........Tourist Information Center Manager Angela Liedke.......... Director of Member Engagement PHONE...................................................... 218.444.3541 WEBSITE ADDRESS.......................... www.bemidji.org E-MAIL.............................................chamber@bemidji.org M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
minnesotaenergyresources.com 866-872-0052
The mission of the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce: To serve our members and advocate for our business community.
