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Volume 29 Number 5
Newsletter
Ask these members why renewing
their Chamber Membership is
important.
Pictured are our previous years winners of $100 in
Chamber Bucks, for renewing their membership by the
June Friday Morning Coffee.
May 2012
Membership has its benefits
Here is just one of many:
For the past 13 months, a benefit of your Chamber
membership has been included in each newsletter
published. Not all benefits apply equally to all
members and members pick and choose when and
how to be involved in the Chamber. Here is a
recap of the items listed. Can you add others that
pertain to your business?
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LeBlanc’s Rice Creek
Hunting & Recreation
ElderCare of Minnesota
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Tri County Community
Action
Thielen Meats of Little Falls
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Ambiance @ 53
Jensen Builders
Free listing on the Chambers website
with active link to your website – other
Chambers charge for this service.
Free use of the meeting room in the Cass
Gilbert Depot.
Free advertising for your business on
Meet Me @ the Chamber on Central MN
Access Television.
Marketing opportunities to other
members via the Weekly Update inserts
and event sponsorships
Lindy Greeter visits with photos for the
newsletter
Affordable memberships due to the
Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair
Referrals to other members, visitors and
the local community
Chamber Bucks programming that keeps
dollars local
Educational seminars and programming
Printed membership directory with
purchased advertising
Monthly networking events
Another point of access into the political
process
Staff time dedicated to collaborative
projects and programs that benefit all of
Morrison County
As you receive the invoice for the 2012 – 2013
membership year dues in June, please think about
the true value of your membership. Being a
member of the Little Falls Area Chamber of
Commerce adds creditability to businesses. It
shows the public that you are a part of the greater
community and is simply good for your bottom
line! at the Capitol sponsored by the
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
From the Desk of the CEO
May 2012
- Debora K. Boelz
Greeting from the desk of the CEO!
From the Desk of the
It seems like the 1st of the month comes around awfully quick these days – but I am not
a student waiting for the first day of summer vacation!
Membership renewal time is approaching. Watch your email or mail box on June
1st for your invitation to renew your membership with the Chamber.
For the first time since 2005, membership dues will be raised. This information was
shared with the membership last spring when dues were not raised. The Fair Share
Investment Schedule will reflect a $25 increase in most categories. The individual and
nonprofits with less than 3 employees will not be raised. Special memberships will be
increased a percentage equal to this amount.
In these interesting economic times, maintaining your membership with organizations like a Chamber of Commerce is more
important than ever to keep your business connected to the community.
Spring Clean-Up: As the summer tourist season is upon us, I encourage business owners to make our communities as
welcoming as possible. This welcome can come in many forms from good customer service to the overall impression of our
communities. Having employees who are knowledgeable about what the area has to offer in the way of attractions certainly
is the first step. This welcome goes deeper than the face-to-face contact. Is the area immediately surrounding your business
clean and free of hazards? Look at your community with the eyes of a visitor. Take the time to pick up a piece of litter on
the sidewalk or parking lot, do a ‘once around’ your property and neighborhood and spruce things up!
If the preceding paragraph sounds familiar, it should. I have used it word for word from past newsletters. The classic soap
box speeches never go out of style!
With the signing of the Mississippi River Trail Bikeway, it is anticipated that we will see an increase in the number of
tourists visiting the area this summer. The Mississippi River Trail Bikeway is the on-road, marked bike route that from
Brainerd will follow highway 371 to Belle Prairie, cutting over to Riverwood Drive and into downtown Little Falls, turning
at 1st Avenue NE to the Post Office and across the bridge to Lindbergh Drive South. Reverse the directions for north bound
bikers!
The Mississippi River Trail Bikeway is not to be confused with the Camp Ripley / Veterans State Trail, which is the
“missing link” between the Paul Bunyan Trail to the north and the Soo Line Trail to the south, which is an off-road trail that
will complete the longest paved, off road bike trail in the world. This paved trail system is often placed on abandoned
railroad beds.
Statistics from 2010 has the Wobegon Trail in Stearns County that comes into Bowlus averaging 11,000 riders per month
with 130,000 annually. The Paul Bunyan Trail has averaged of 25,000 users per month and 300,000 for the year ending
2010. We know there are people who ride bikes for pleasure, exercise and family fun!
Back to the Mississippi River Trail Bikeway and the potential impact! If you build it, they will come! This bikeway is
coming and Little Falls needs to be ready. Thank you to the Convention & Visitors Bureau for making marketing this new
venture a priority for the area. The City has begun the process with marked bike lanes along 1st Street north and south of
Broadway. If business owners want bicyclists to stop by their stores, bike racks will be needed. Adding “welcome bikers”
signs around our communities is a cost effective way to increase foot traffic. Businesses can also step up their efforts to ship
parcels ‘back home’ for those bikers who don’t have the ability to travel with the purchase.
Thank you to the businesses and individuals who financially supported the Leadership LindyLand community service
projects. This year the group did 2 projects; making fleece blankets for emergency situations with law enforcement in
Morrison County and raised funds to replace the fire rings at Lindbergh State Park, adding handicapped rings in the
process.
Happy Birthday to Us! The Chamber of Commerce was organized on May 15, 1888 with the filing of the Articles of
Incorporation, constitution and bylaws for the stated purpose of “advancing the commercial, mercantile and manufacturing
interests of Little Falls and the surrounding country”. Listed on the initial membership roster were 42 businesses.
For the past 124 years, the Chamber has been instrumental in the development and expansion of business in Morrison
County. The foresightedness of the founding fathers of the area laid the foundation for the Chamber as we know it today.
In closing, we are taking the summer off with scheduled Business After Hours events. Attendance in past years has been
low during June, July and August. We will still have Friday Morning Coffee to keep people connected as well as the Golf
Outing on August 6th. Starting in September, we will be back with full programming – enjoy the summer!
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
May 2012
Friday Morning Coffee
Congratulation’s to our May
Employee of the Month
Mary Pfeffer-Friese
Little Falls Workforce Center
Friday, May 18
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Morrison County Fairgrounds
15575 Hathorn Rd, Little Falls
Sponsored by:
Pictured: Mary Pfeffer Freise, Little Falls Workforce Center
We are proud to announce our May Employee of the
Month, Mary Pfeffer-Freise, employed by the Little
Falls Workforce Center. Mary has been with
the Little Falls Workforce Center for the past four
years.
According to her supervisor, Steven Jacobs, “Mary is
the first point of contact and performs a variety of
duties, but customer service is the first priority. It takes
a well organized person to be able to handle the
multiple tasks required every day. Mary has been able
to do this in an exceptional manner as well as travel to
other offices to fill in as needed. She is one of those
employees that I never need to worry about, dedicated
and hard working.”
Rehabilitation Counselor Kendra Mooney states, ”
Mary is a very caring and dedicated employee. Mary is
very detailed orientated and strives for excellence in her
work. She always greets customers with a smile and
provides exceptional customer service. Mary is willing
to go out of her way to support myself and the
consumers we serve”.
After announcements at 8:15 a.m. up to 4
people will have the opportunity to give a
30 second testimonial for another Chamber
member business. Word of mouth is a
powerful marketing tool!
Business After Hours
Tuesday, May 22
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
at Gold Cross Ambulance
111 5 St SE, Little Falls
Sponsored by:
Networking is one of the greatest benefits
of being a Chamber member. Take
advantage of your membership by joining
us at Business After Hours. This event is
free and open to all Chamber members and
their employees.
Congratulations Mary Pfeffer-Freise!
Arts & Crafts Fair Volunteers Needed
Recent Board Action
~ Approved additional funding of
$2,715 for computer networking,
back-up and system security
Be part of the Arts & Crafts Fair festivities September 8 & 9 by
being a block host. Block hosts greet and welcome crafters to Little
Falls, ensure that crafters are comfortable with their surroundings
and ready to sell their merchandise. Block hosts are an essential part
of the Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair and are well received by our
hundreds of vendors. Volunteers are needed starting Thursday,
September 6 to mark booth spaces. If you only have a few hours or
the whole weekend to help, contact Gina at the
Chamber, 320.632.5155, for more information.
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
May Meet Me @ The Chamber
Watch Meet Me @ The Chamber every Friday
at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on channel 6 in Little
Falls.
May guests are Brooke Aho, Knute
Nelson Home Care and Janelle Hansen of
the Boys & Girls Clubs of 10,000 Lakes Little Falls Branch
The Meet Me @ the Chamber
programming is an added value to your
Chamber membership. Each month two
members are highlighted in a 10 minute
segment free of charge!
If you are interested in this FREE
opportunity to promote your business to the
greater community, please contact Deb.
May 2012
Welcome new members:
Monahan's Marine LLC
Thomas Monahan
10982 Highway 10
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-5666
[email protected]
http://www.monahansmarine.biz
Sales of Shoreland’s trailers, docks and
lifts. Sales of Ice Castle RV’s and fish
houses. Warehouse distributor for
Shoreland’s Trailer Company; Sea Swirl and
Triumph Boats
Randall State Bank
Leadership LindyLand
Neil Anderson
307 Pacific Ave
Randall MN 56475
320-749-2265
Fax: 320-749-2148
[email protected]
http://randallstatebank.com
Full service financial institution.
The Source Computing
pictured: Leadership LindyLand 2011-2012
participants touring Pine Grove Zoo
The April 18 Leadership LindyLand April Session
was hosted by Linden Hill Historic Event Center and
was focused on tourism and community
heritage. The participants toured the Minnesota
Fishing Museum and Pine Grove Zoo. They heard
from the Little Falls Convention & Visitors
Bureau, executive director, Kris VonBerge
and Marilyn Brown ended the day with a talk on
community heritage. Thank you to our day
chairs Mavis Buker, Minnesota Fishing
Museum and Lisa Theilman, St. Camillus
Place. Thank you to our session
sponsor: Minnesota Fishing Museum and Linden
Hill Historic Event Center.
Pete Mooney
PO Box 521
Little Falls MN 56345
320-616-0355
[email protected]
http://www.thesourcecomputing.com
The Source Computing, based out of Little
Falls Minnesota, is a full-service network
integration firm providing professional
consulting and technology services.
Looking Ahead . . .
Sporting Clays
Tuesday, September 18
Rice Creek Hunting & Recreation
4:30 pm Station shooting begins
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
Chamber Golf Outing
Monday, August 6, 2012
Pine Ridge Golf Club
34500 Hillcrest Rd., Motley
Plans are now underway for the 23rd annual Chamber Golf
Outing. This scramble format Golf Outing accommodates golfers of
all skill levels. Take advantage of the early bird discount by
getting your team or individual registration in before June 29. Prior
to June 29 cost is $75 per golfer. After June 29, cost is $85 per
golfer. Included with your registration fee is 18 holes of golf, cart,
boxed lunch, dinner, 2 beverages, prizes, networking and a day of
fun!
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Hole sponsorship is
$75 per hole and includes signage at the Golf Outing event,
acknowledgement in event materials, listing on the Chamber
website, recognition in the Chamber newsletter, name recognition to
over 150 potential new customers, recognition in the Chamber’s
Annual Report and much more.
Corporate sponsorships are available. For $500 you can register
your team and receive logo and name recognition for this
event. Become a Corporate Sponsor and receive the
following: Foursome in the Golf Outing, 8 drink tickets, 4 boxed
lunches, 4 dinners, carts, logo inclusion on event materials, logo
inclusion on Chamber website, acknowledgement the day of the
event, recognition in the Chamber newsletter, professionally
designed banner with your logo included, and the exposure of your
business name and logo to over 300 Chamber members.
If you are not a golfer but would like to be part of the festivities,
join us for dinner. Cost is only $12 for dinner.
If you would like to register for golf, dinner, or become a sponsor
visit our web-site at http://www.littlefallsmnchamber.com If you
would like more information about the Chamber Golf Outing contact
either Deb or Gina at the Chamber by calling 320.632.5155 or emailing Gina at [email protected].
Lindy Greeter Visits
Thank you for your membership! Photos are from member visits made
in April 2012. Lindy Greeters Steve Andres of Design
Electronics/RadioShack and Rosi Przybilla of Marshik Insurance
Agency visited four member businesses to thank them for their continued
membership. The businesses were treated to a Chamber mug full of treats.
May 2012
2012 Board of Directors
2010 - 2012
Jim Birchem
St. Otto's Care Center
Chris Kruschek
ReMax Central Minnesota
Lori Kush, Secretary
Kush State Farm Insurance
Roxanne Matsen
Vice Chair of the Board
Larson Abstract Co., Inc.
2011 - 2013
Kyle Hoggarth
Edward Jones Investments
Doug Veillette, Treasurer
Dairy Queen
Jodi Weaver
The Gumdrop Tree
Tom West
Morrison County Record
2012-2014
Bridget Britz
Immediate past chair
Horizon Health
Roxanne Thompson
Riitters & Thompson, PA
Julie Zupko
Chair of the Board
Bieganek Insurance and
Randall State Insurance
Chamber Staff
Debora K. Boelz
President / CEO
[email protected]
Gina Vetter
Project & Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
Stacy Zeigler
Office / Financial Coordinator
[email protected]
Dr. Allison Zak, D.C. LLC
Pictured (from Left): Dr. Allison Zak, D.C. LLC and Lindy Greeter
Rosi Przybilla, Marshik Insurance Agency.
Dr. Allison Zak, Chiropractor has relocated her office to 72
East Broadway in downtown Little Falls. Her philosophy,
treatment style and hours will all remain the same. She is joined
by office manager Heather Winters.
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
May 2012
Lindy Greeter Visits
Thank you for your membership! Photos are from member visits made in April 2012. Lindy Greeters Steve
Andres of Design Electronics/RadioShack and Rosi Przybilla of Marshik Insurance Agency visited four member
businesses to thank them for their continued membership. The businesses were treated to a Chamber mug full of
treats.
Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc.
ReMax Central Minnesota
Pictured (from Left): Lindy Greeter, Steve Andres, Design
Electronics/RadioShack; Dave Fischer, Terry DeRoiser, Chris
Kruschek, Bob Coffin, Jeff Kruschek, Olga Archer, and Josh
Klosowski, ReMax Central Minnesota. Not pictured are Karla
Carr and Jamie St. George.
ReMax Central Minnesota, owned by Jeff and Chris
Kruschek. They are excited to announce their move to a
larger office just a few doors down from their original
location in the Lora B’s Plaza. Since opening in November
of 2010 with three agents and an office manager, they now
have six full time agents (and two more in training) along
with office manager, Jamie St. George. Their new space is
2.5 times larger and sports additional offices, conference
rooms and a lounge area. ReMax Central Minnesota has
also added new signage on the building and a large lighted
sign on Hwy 27 for added exposure.
Pictured (from Left): back row. Gary Zimmerman,
Sharon Dobis, Janelle DeSmith, Brian Gapinski, Rural
Minnesota CEP, Inc. Lindy Greeter Steve
Andres, Design Electronics/RadioShack. Middle left
– front row – Bonnie Becker, Megan Parrington, Rural
Minnesota CEP, Inc.
Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc. at the Work Force
Center is a private, non-profit agency with a focus
on employment and training opportunities for
unemployed and underemployed people
within Morrison and Todd Counties. They work
with many individuals on the dislocated worker
program and those on the Minnesota Family
Investment Plan. They offer assistance to people
of all ages with resume writing, interviewing
skills, computer training, networking and financial
management. They are also a test site for the
National Career Readiness Certificate which is a
certified ACT product. Their goal is to match
people with meaningful employment and training
opportunities.
D & D Beer Company
Pictured (from left): Mike Dick, D & D Beer Company and
Lindy Greeter Steve Andres, Design Electronics/RadioShack
D & D Beer Company has been in business since 1977. It
was previously known as Dick Sales. Since 1985, brothers
Gregg and Mike Dick have run the business selling beer to
over 700 accounts in their market area. D and D Beer
Company has 28 employees.
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
May 2012
Lindy Greeter Visits
Lindy Greeters Steve Andres, Design Electronics/RadioShack and Tom Scherling, Century 21 New Horizons
Realty conducted several visits in April to some new, expanded and renovated businesses in Little Falls presenting
some businesses with their first dollar of profit and welcoming them to our area.
AirBorn Little Falls
Pictured (from Left): Lorence Eckblad, AirBorn Little Falls;
Lindy Greeter Tom Scherling, Century 21 New Horizons Realty
and Bob Guck, AirBorn Little Falls
Kush State Farm
Pictured (from left): Patti Houle, Amy Copa,
Denise Dvorak, Lori Kush, Kush State Farm and
Lindy Greeter Steve Andres, Design Electronics /
RadioShack.
Kush State Farm Insurance on East Hwy 27
recently completed remodeling which will
help them serve their customers more
efficiently. The updates will help guarantee
their client's privacy when meeting to discuss
all of their insurance and financial service
needs.
AirBorn Little Falls is a 100% employee owned business
headquartered out of Georgetown, Texas. Lead by Lorence
Eckblad, Sales/Past President and Bob Guck, Division
President, AirBorn Little Falls has relocated to a new 52,000 sq.
ft. facility in Chief Hole-In-The-Day Industrial Park. With this
move they were able to combine two manufacturing sites under
one roof. The new building provides an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of
combined manufacturing and office space for AirBorn Little
Falls to expand their stamping, metal finishing, molding,
automation and tool design/build areas to better serve the
connector industry with their high reliability interconnect
solutions. AirBorn services the Military, Aerospace, Automotive,
Medical and Commercial markets. It is a fully employee owned
company with 10 manufacturing sites around the US and Europe.
L'A Rose Creations
Pictured (from left): Lisa Rose Kicker, L'A Rose Creations and
Lindy Greeter, Tom Scherling, Century 21 New Horizons Realty
L’A Rose Creations at 75 East Broadway in Little Falls is
the fruition of a longtime dream by seamstress, Lisa Rose
Kicker. Lisa Rose has been sewing since childhood and
honed her skills as an apprentice to her mother, a professional
seamstress. She has been on her own doing alterations since
1995 working for shops in Brainerd, Bemidji and
Blackduck. L’A Rose Creations serves alterations of all
kinds with dry cleaning and laundry service through Meyers
Cleaners. Lisa Rose will also be offering a boutique of
handmade items, fabrics, trims and notions.
Secret Treasures
Pictured (from left): Linda Wentland, Amy Wentland,
Secret Treasures and Lindy Greeter Steve Andres,
Design Electronics/RadioShack
Linda and Amy Wentland opened Secret Treasures at
116 East Broadway, Little Falls as an outlet for the
good deals they have found while shopping. They
thought it would be fun to pass on the savings they love
seeking out. They offer a wide variety of products
including clothing (infant through plus sizes and
maternity), jewelry, handbags, lotions and fragrances,
household items and basic tools, home and seasonal
décor, as well as toys and books.
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter
May 2012
CALENDAR OF EVENTS & CHAMBER MEETINGS
Chamber events and meetings are in bold. For an expanded list of community events
visit our website at www.littlefallsmnchamber.com
May
1 ~ Lindy Greeter Committee, noon, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
2-3 ~ Randall City Wide Garage Sale ~ Randall MN
2 ~ Little Falls Community Schools Day of Caring
2 ~ Little Falls Business Association, noon, Chamber of Commerce
2 ~ Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair Council, 3:30 pm, Chamber of Commerce
3 ~ Morrison County Sheriff's Office Sandbox Fill
4-6 ~ Greater Minnesota 2 Cylinder Club Annual Field Days & Swap Meet, Morrison County Fairgrounds
5 ~ Author Tea Retreat with Alic Alme, 1:00 - 3:30 pm, Linden Hill Historic Event Center
5 ~ Party for the Arts "Cinco de Mayo", 4:30 - 7:30 pm, Great River Arts Center
8 ~ Great River Arts Association Senior Lifestyles Expo, 9:00 am – noon, Great River Arts Association
9 ~ Leadership LindyLand Session & Graduation, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, Initiative Foundation
10 ~ Chamber Board of Directors, 11:00 am, Chamber of Commerce
11 ~ Great River Arts Association Children of Bob Multi Media Storytelling, Great River Arts Association
17 – 19 ~ Minnesota Fishing Museum Spring Garage Sale, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm - Thursday & Friday, 8:00 am –
noon – Saturday, Minnesota Fishing Museum
17 ~ Take Back the Night, 5:30 pm, Maple Island Park
17 ~ Watoto Children's Choir Concert, 7:00 pm, Grace Covenant Church
18 ~ Friday Morning Coffee, 7:30 - 9:00 am, Morrison County Fairgrounds.
Sponsored by: Morrison County Ag Society
18 ~ Healthy Communities Collaborative Rock, Ride & Run, 4:00 - 8:00 pm, LeBourget Park
22 ~ Business After Hours, 4:30 - 6:00 pm, Gold Cross Ambulance. Sponsored by: Gold Cross Ambulance
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
200 First Street NW
Little Falls, MN 56345
Proudly Serving Morrison County Since 1888