MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Each Saturday through Sept. 27 Covered Bridge Farmers' Market, 8:00 a.m. to noon

Sept. 2 Community Improvement Corp., 4:30 p.m., City Building.
Sept. 4 Business Advisory Council, noon, Chamber
Sept. 8 Lake Development Corp., 4 p.m., CVB office.
Sept. 11 Convention & Visitors Bureau meeting, 7:30 a.m., CVB office.
Sept. 11 Chamber Golf Outing, noon, Northmoor Golf Course.
Sept. 11 Economic Development Coalition presentation of Jack Schultz and Boomtown, 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Center, Wapakoneta.
Sept. 13 Ribbon Cutting at renovated Auglaize County Council on Aging, 9 a.m., ACCA
Sept. 14 Historical Walking Tour, 1 p.m., Memorial Park Gazebo Chamber's Historical Playing Cards go on sale for $10 each
Sept. 17 Miami & Erie Canal Corridor Assoc., 7:30 p.m., MECCA office, New Bremen.
Sept. 19 Alliance of Ohio Chambers meeting, 9 a.m. Piqua Chamber office.
Sept. 23 Chamber Board of Trustees, noon, Eagles.
Sept. 25 Auglaize County Leadership Class
Sept. 25 Business After Hours, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Nitschke Chiropractic Center

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SPEAKER SLATED

Jack Schultz, renown author and founder of Boomtown Institute, will be presenting a special evening with a speech "Keys to Big Success in Small Towns".

Mr. Schultz is a leading authority in economic development and sought-after speaker on the topics of building up towns' economic outlook and revitalization of towns. He will be in Auglaize County on the evening of Thursday, September 11 at St. Joseph's Parish Life Center at 107 W. Pearl Street in Wapakoneta, speaking at a special event sponsored by The Auglaize County Commissioners and The Auglaize County Economic Development Coalition. The event will begin with cocktails at 6:30 and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

In 2005 Schultz was named Ernst & Young's Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2006 He received the Beta Gamma Sigma Medallion of Entrepreneurship.

His book Boomtown USA was published in early 2004 and took more than three years of intense research utilizing information from 15,800 small towns across the country. Out of those towns he choose 397 outstanding towns he fondly refers to as AGURBS.

Schultz's research has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Business Week and Economic Development America . He has been a guest on many radio and television programs including Bloomberg Business Television.

His speaking tour began shortly after the book was published. Since February 2004, Jack has spoken to over 300 communities in 44 states, traveling over 250,000 miles.

There are still a limited number of seats available. If you are interested in attending, please contact the City of St. Marys Development Director Todd Fleagle at 419-394-3303 extension 3117 on or before September 1. The cost is $40.

Construction is coming along at the Auglaize County Council on Aging and they hope everything will be finished by the beginning of September.

The ACCA is planning an open house at the ACCA in conjunction with the 2008 United Way Day of Caring on September 13, 2008 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. All agencies associated with the United way are invited to set up a table with information about their agency. The public is invited to attend and tour the new center, as well as visit individual tables and agencies for information.

Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded. There will also be raffle tickets available. To be eligible for prizes, individuals will be given a card upon entrance to be punched by the individual agencies. Ticket holders do need to be present to win.

Also planned are a Nintendo Wii demonstration and possibly some entertainment. They are still in the planning stages, but it will be a fun and educational day.

The ACCA wants to thank everyone for their patience during this period of upheaval and disruption. It soon will be finished and they will be better able to serve you. (article from Senior Reflections July August, September)

July 22, 2008

The Treasurer's Report was given by Joan Novotny who reviewed the various Chamber accounts. There has been interest earned from three CD's. We are dealing with a disputed long distance bill from Communications Options, Inc. There were several international calls placed on April 19, 20 and 23 that were billed to the Chamber incorrectly. The Chamber has addressed the bill with customer service and were issued a much lower bill for the month. However, COI states that the calls were generated from our phone and we would be responsible for the charges. The Chamber intends to persuade COI to drop the charges since it was not placed during normal office hours or by any staff member.

Doug Burch explained that the Executive Board has met and would like to close the Retail checking account and incorporate it into the regular checking account as a line item account to simplify the recordkeeping as soon as possible.

The Director's Report was given by Kill, who met with Fay Stanfield of Herald Printing. The Image Book needs updated. They will begin selling advertising for a new image book this fall. Kill also participated in the CVB strategic planning session at Wright State Lake Campus. There were several good ideas and some new directions to look at for the future. Kill reported three new members: Grand Lake Town Money Saver, Lininger Trailer Sales, Ray's Recycling. We now have 24 new members for last year.

The local License Bureau in St. Marys is going to be closed in our area. The Chamber would like to have members of the Board e-mail their opinions to the state policy makers to support the continuation of the local office. The Chamber's budget only allows current car allowance at $0.39 per mile; with the increase of gas prices a raise to $0.58.5 was approved by the board.

The St. Marys Beautification project was joined by members of the Ohio National Guard and the Boy Scout Troop 360 to clean the tow path, canal and the local parks. Even though the weather shortened the time available a great deal of work was accomplished. The August 2 meeting will be canceled until Aug 23 where the group will meet at the Gazebo.

The St. Marys Historical Walking Tour will be held Sunday September 14 promptly at 1:00 p.m.

The Business After Hours will be held at Spectacular Adventures Thursday July 24 between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The next Business After Hours events have been planned for September 25, and November 13.

Midwest Publishing is working on a new plat book and would like for the Chamber to be an outlet. There will be no up front cost. Because of the internet and GIS systems, few trustees felt the cost was worth any benefits to the Chamber and rejected the offer.

ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT SET

The St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Golf Tournament with a shotgun start at noon on Thursday, September 11 at Northmoor Golf Course. The public is invited to participate.

Any team or individual who would like to participate is encouraged to complete an entry form and get it to the Chamber office as soon as possible. Entry fee is $35 each for Northmoor club member and $45 each for non-club member. The tournament will consist of 18 holes of golf. Registration includes golf, cart, prizes and dinner.

For more information, contact the Chamber Office at 300-4611, Jim Heistan at 394-7200. All entries must be received by Sept. 7, 2008. (See form in this issue)

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR PLANNED

The St. Marys Chamber, under the direction of Kimberli Rompilla, has organized a Historical Walking Tour to take place on Sunday, September 14 beginning at 1 p.m. starting at Memorial Park. There will be a presentation on the history of St. Marys with the different eras outlined. The tours will then begin with a "historian" placed at each of nine sites to explain the history of the site.

The Historical Sites will include:

1. Lock 12

2. Heritage Park/Herzing Flour Mill/Lock Keepers Office

3. Power Plant, Tumbles, and Sawmill

4. Gristmill and Railroad

5. Woolen Mill and Lock 13

6. First National Bank Building

7. The Fountain Hotel Building (Fort Barbee)

8. St. Marys Theater

There will also be an opportunity for others to set up tents and/or tables to share their own St. Marys historical memorabilia. The Chamber's historical playing cards will go on sale that day for a cost of $10. Music will be provided to culminate the historical day.

Those serving on the walk's committee and other helpers are: Kimberli Rompilla, chair; Robbie Burke, Derek Vogel, Kathy Sampson, George Neargarder, Stan Davis, Steve Dorsten, Neal Brady, Todd Fleagle, Mike Kuck, Kraig Noble, Doug Spencer, Ed Broyles and Doug Brookhart. Also assisting are members of Memorial High School chaired by Sue Zink.

CHAMBER PLAYING CARDS DEBUT

Wander down memory lane as you leaf through a deck of the Chamber's Historical Playing Cards. See the famous elephant on a tight wire, the old high school, the "new" high school, plus many other old scenes.

Each card, sponsored by a local business, presents a historical photo and information about the photo. The deck will sell for $10.

For more information, contact the Chamber office, 419-300-4611.

FARMER'S MARKETS COMING TO AN END

Fresh produce, crafts and performances have kept locals going to the Covered Bridge Farmers' Market this year for a second consecutive year. This year's Farmers' Market will be ending on September 27. The St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce has offered available booth areas for local merchants on the covered bridge in Memorial Park in St. Marys every Saturday morning beginning May 31st from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Several merchants have participated with a wide variety of produce, crafts, fine art, performers and homemade bake goods. The market has attracted a steady stream of buyers looking to shop.

BECOME A BOARD TRUSTEE

Each year one third of the Board of Trustees of the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce retires and the board needs new trustees. If you are interested in serving a three-year term as a trustee or know of some one who would make an excellent candidate please nominate them. Once the nominates are presented and they have agreed to serve, a vote will be taken by the Chamber members. This allows you help serve your community and share your talents with other. For more information, call Kelly Kill at the Chamber Office 419-300-4611.

UPGRADE YOUR COMPUTERS?

If you are upgrading your computer system and are looking for a good place to donate your older system, the Grand Lake Theatrix, Chamber's newest member, is in need of laptops or desktop computers. The Theatrix uses the computer for their tutoring program.

The Grand Lake Theatrix is a theatre group for youth in the community and surrounding area. They have presented such works as "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and "Marry Me a Little". They are currently working on "Bye Bye Birdie".

The organization is holding a Sew-A-Thon on September 13 at 9 a.m. to help make costumes for their upcoming production. They are asking if anyone can sew, iron, use scissors or put clothing on a hanger to help. They will also begin set construction that day and are looking for volunteer carpenters, painters, and do-it yourselfers.

The work day will be held at the Regent Theater, 105 W. Spring St. in downtown St. Marys.

EAST WEST PTO CHILI SUPPER

The East--West School PTO Chili supper will be held Friday, September 19 at McBroom Cafeteria between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Large meals for $5 include chili, chicken sandwich or hotdog, Jell-O or applesauce, homemade desserts and a drink. Small meal for $4 include chili or sandwich, Jell-O or applesauce, homemade desserts and a drink. Carry out will be available.

Come and enjoy a good meal and support our schools. For more information please contact Lisa Tobin 419-394-6610.

St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce
Board of Trustees

24th Annual St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
Click here for a registration form(pdf 92Kb)

TAILGATE PARTY

Click here for downloadable version

National Entrepreneurship Week in Ohio

Click here for downloadable version

Historic Walking Tour

Click here for downloadable version