All Entries in the "From the Chamber" Category
Hayden: ‘The Gateway to Recreation’
Dr. Kory Wilson, DDS
Summer is coming! There isn’t any other place in the world I would rather be this time of the year than the Hayden area. Our area truly is “The Gateway to Recreation.”
If you missed it, our “After Five” in April was held at Avondale Golf Club. It is one of my favorite places to be in the summer and most likely if you are out there to golf or eat, there is a good chance I will be close by. If not on the course, then at my office, Avondale Dental Center, located on the first green. Knock on my window and say hi as you go by! Avondale Golf Club is truly one of the most beautiful and challenging golf courses in the region. I hope you come out and enjoy it this year.
Another one of my favorite things to do this time of year is enjoy the beauty of Honeysuckle Beach and Hayden Lake. On our way out, my family goes to Daanen’s Deli who has the best sandwiches and beer selection in town. We then spend the day at Honeysuckle Beach or on the lake fishing and wake boarding with family and friends.
This summer I also bought a road bike! The second annual Hayden Triathalon is coming up on July 21. You may see me at one of our local bike shops or riding around the lake to get ready! Make sure to say hi, or at least give me some pointers.
Some other things to look forward to are Hayden Days and The Hayden Summer Concert Series. These events are so much fun and have things your whole family will enjoy. To find out more information about these events and other great things to do this summer in the Hayden area visit our website at www.haydenchamber.org.
Join us for our After Five this month at Frontier Communication on May 10. It is a great networking opportunity and free to attend for all!
Put out the welcome mat!
Pam Houser
It’s the time of year when the promise of summer signals the arrival of visitors to our community. As a primarily leisure-travel state, most visitors to Idaho were here to visit friends and family, along with experiencing the outdoors, touring and attending a special event.
Did you know that Post Falls is home to world class rock climbing and a downtown History Walk? City parks and bike trails are open and just waiting for residents and visitors to take advantage of all we have to offer for a healthy lifestyle. Post Falls is proud to host a variety of events which draw visitors, the Julyamsh Pow Wow, regional stock car racing, car shows and big name concerts to name a few. Let’s all put out the welcome mat for the company who’s coming and who will leave behind a substantial and positive economic impact in our community.
Join us on May 15 at Templin’s for our Takin Care of Business Lunch with guest speaker Nancy Di Giammarco to learn more about the economic impact of tourism in North Idaho.
This is the time of year that many businesses amp up their staff and services for a busy summer. I want to encourage our readers to shop local, support those who support our community with sponsorships, charitable donations and tax dollars.
Dozens of events are scheduled this month that provide opportunities for small business owners, employees and citizens to engage in their community. We are looking for people to participate in the city’s strategic planning by completing a survey about where we are and where we are going, survey’s are available at the chamber office or online at the city’s website: www.postfallsidaho.org. This survey will assist in moving forward with a long range plan for Post Falls.
Express Professionals will host the Clydesdales on May 10 in the City/Chamber parking lot from 4-7 p.m., bring the kids down and enjoy an array of activities and refreshments. The Boys and Girls Club will hold their annual Jordan Johnson fun run on May 12 at the Greyhound Park in collaboration with the food bank setting out to break an “ice cream lick” record. The mayor’s youth awards will be handed out at 6 p.m. May 17 at Q’emiln Park, all are welcome in recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of our local youth.
For a complete list of activities, events, workshops, etc. visit our website at www.postfallschamber.com or www.visitpostfalls.org.
Celebrating National Tourism Week
Steve Wilson
May 7-12, 2012, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating National Tourism Week. This is an opportunity to reflect on an extremely important sector of our area’s economy. Without a strong tourism industry where would Coeur d’Alene be? What would our community look like? Where would many of us work? This month’s column was written by Business Development Committee member, Chris Copsted. Chris, as many of you know, is the owner of fyinorthidaho.com, the largest private tourism information resource in the region. Thank you Chris for your contribution.
— Steve Wilson
President/CEO
•••
Tourism is still thriving in our beautiful Coeur d’Alene area community. With a national economy that has been devastating to many areas, Coeur d’Alene continues to be the place to go, stay, play and to enjoy. It continues to be a family destination with something for everyone.
Where are the people coming from? According to restaurateur Rico Ciccone, from Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, his visitors come from all over the northwest, as well as from the eastern states and Canada. Tina Hough, owner of The Roosevelt Inn Bed and Breakfast and Jamie Garcia, General Manager of Shilo Inns, both agree with Ciccone. Both have had a huge jump in Canadian visitors this past year. Peter Grubb, owner of ROW Adventures, finds that in his industry they come from around the country. Visitors from Canada and the Tri-Cities have increased. The local Spokane market is still very important to us.
Why are they coming here? Hough stated our guests usually come for the lake and associated activities, and cycling. They all concur that visitors come for the scenic beauty, the lake and the outdoor recreation. Tourism overall may have declined over the past few years, but the events that Coeur d’Alene hosts have actually gotten bigger in terms of numbers of visitors. According to Ciccone, Car d’Lane and Ironman continue to grow. The biggest event I have seen in terms of growth has been the Annual Wooden Boat Show weekend. Other off-season events like Oktoberfest have also shown steady growth. Families love to visit North Idaho because of the landscape. Lakes, rivers, mountains, offer the ability to get away from the big cities for vacation. It is attractive for families, couples and retired folks.
High gas prices in 2008 slowed things down and that was followed by the recession in 2009, but it has been slowly coming back. Businesses are combating the economy in our successful community. All four note that visitors are definitely more price sensitive and value-driven. According to Garcia, pricing is always an issue for people on a budget. You don’t have to necessarily lower prices, but really show them the value by selling what they’re getting for the price. In the restaurant business people are spending more money on comfort food and the successful establishments are cooking to accommodate. Continually growing adventure companies like ROW have worked to position themselves as the primary, regional, go to, adventure travel company for locals, visitors, convention groups and others.
With our local businesses working and striving for success, working to greet visitors with a smile and a kind word, Coeur d’Alene’s tourism will continue to grow and prosper. Peter Grubb stated it well, “We are bullish on 2012 and booking trends would suggest that we’ll have a good season ahead.”
— Chris Copsted
Business Development Committee member
Post Falls Chamber Calendar
Post Falls Chamber
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Blood Drive at the Chamber: 2:30-5 p.m. RSVP to jame@postfallschamber.com to schedule an appointment to donate.
THURSDAY, MAY 10
Ribbon Cutting at the Chamber for New York Life: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Also, the Express Employment Professionals Clydesdales will be in our parking lot. Come have an evening of fun at the chamber.
TUESDAY, MAY 15:
Post Falls Chamber Takin’ Care of Business at Red Lion Templin’s: Doors open at 11:15 a.m. Register online at www.postfallschamber.com by Friday, May 11. Cost is $14. Featured speaker will be Nancy DiGiammarco of Silverwood.
FRIDAY, MAY 16
Member Orientation: If you are a new member to our chamber, you won’t want to miss this informative meeting at 8 a.m. RSVP to jame@postfallschamber.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 17
Post Falls Chamber Coffee Connections: 7:30 a.m. at the chamber. Come network with local business leaders and hear information from Justin Balk of Coeur d’Alene Marketing.
Post Falls Chamber Business After Hours: 5-6:30 p.m. at Inland Northwest Bank. Enjoy a bit of Italy. Come dunk you favorite local celebrity in the dunk tank!
Cd’A Chamber Calendar
Coeur d'Alene Chamber
THURSDAY, MAY 3
100-Minute Reception: Join the chamber in celebrating 100 years of success with these first Thursdays of the month, 100-Minute Wine & Cheese Receptions. The receptions will be held at the chamber building from 5-6:40 p.m. (100 minutes). Open to members in good standing only, the 100-Minute will be hosted by the Decade Sponsor with each month being a themed program. This month’s Decade Sponsor is Kootenai Health and will celebrate the ’70s decade theme. There will be fine wine and food, good company, prizes and giveaways. Information: Marilee, (208) 415-0111
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Spring Golf Tournament: The chamber’s annual Spring Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, May 4, at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. Corporate and hole sponsorships are now available. Take this opportunity to advertise to fellow business members in a fun, unique way. The tournament is always a sell-out event, so your sponsorship is guaranteed to be a huge success! Information: Brenda Young, (208) 415-0110
TUESDAY, MAY 8
Upbeat Breakfast: The Coeur d’Alene Visitor’s Bureau presents May’s Upbeat Breakfast, at 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Jerry Jaeger, Co-Owner of The Coeur d’Alene Resort and Gary Norton, Owner of Silverwood Theme Park will be speaking on tourism. Upbeat Breakfast occurs the second Tuesday of every month at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. On average, about 150 members attend making it one of the most popular networking events in our community. Trade tables allow members to display their business and speak briefly about it to the group. The program features a different speaker each month, highlighting various topics of interest. With a reservation, the cost is $14 and includes breakfast and coffee. Reservations are due at noon the Friday before the breakfast. Information: Brenda, (208) 415-0110
FRIDAY, MAY 11
2nd Friday ArtWalk: Every second Friday from April to December, stroll through beautiful Downtown Coeur d’Alene and enjoy local and nationally acclaimed artists. Visit supporting galleries, shops, restaurants and businesses with your friends and family. Come and join us! 5-8 p.m. just follow the yellow balloons! Information: Cheryl, (208) 292-1629
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14-16
Spring Membership Drive: 14th through the 16th, the annual Spring Membership Blitz will be going full speed! Teams of volunteers will compete to bring in new members and receive prizes for their efforts. Top producers will be awarded the title of Membership Royalty for the Centennial Celebration. We are currently looking for prize donations for team participants, new member leads and a few additional team members. Our goal is to see 100 new members join the Chamber in this two week drive. If you know a business who is not currently a member please let us know! Information: Marilee, (208) 415-0111
SATURDAY, MAY 19
Dog d’Alene: FREE event for dogs and their humans in beautiful Downtown Coeur d’Alene! May 19 this Coeur d’Alene’s 4th Annual Dog d’Alene. Come with your dog(s) and stroll through beautiful Downtown Coeur d’Alene and enjoy socializing, prizes contest, events and tons of fun! Information: Gay: (208) 415-0116
THURSDAY, MAY 24
Business After Hours: Join us for April’s Business After Hours, from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at Holiday Inn Express, 2300 W. Seltice, Coeur d’Alene. There will be prizes and food and beverages will be provided. Information: Brenda, (208) 415-0110
SUNDAY, MAY 27
Coeur d’Alene Marathon: The Coeur d’Alene Marathon/Half Marathon offers one of the most spectacular events in the country. At an elevation of 2,200 feet above sea level, the resort community of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, resting on the shores of spectacular Lake Coeur d’Alene, welcomes visitors to a plethora of vacation and recreational activities. The welcoming community and natural beauty have drawn events such as the Ironman USA Triathlon Coeur d’Alene, held here each year in June. Information: Charlie, (208) 292-1634
Chamber Rangers provide great visibility
Kory Wilson, DDS
I wanted to write this month about a group that has been a vibrant part of our Chamber of Commerce and provide great visibility and recognition to the businesses of the Hayden chamber. They are the Hayden Chamber Rangers!
You may have seen the Chamber Rangers at one of many recent ribbon cuttings celebrating chamber members. Some of their cuttings have been at The Copa, America West Bank, Cunningham Chiropractic and others. The Rangers do cuttings if you are a new member, a new business or you have a big change or remodel and would like to promote it. It is a great opportunity and benefit for you business. I am sure you will come to recognize their distinct green vests and cheerful smiles around town and in the newspaper. The Chamber Rangers also meet monthly at a different local restaurant/coffee shop to plan the month ahead!
Besides celebrating and opening up businesses around the community our Chamber Rangers can be seen marching at local parades such as the recent St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Look for them at our next local parade. If you would like to be a part of this great group, or you are a business who would like to hold a ribbon cutting, please contact Kandi Johnson at kjohnson@inb.com. I am very proud of this group of individuals and the work that they are doing in our community.
Remember our monthly breakfast is at Daanen’s Delicatessen at 7 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month and the “After 5” is the second Thursday of each month. We would love to see you there for some great networking opportunities. You can find more information at www.haydenchamber.org.
Partnering to promote job fair
Pam Houser
I want to start out by thanking our local state representatives for their service these past months in Boise. The Post Falls chamber weighed in on a number of issues concerning business, including personal property tax, Primacy and Dry Port legislation. We are pleased to partner with the Coeur d’Alene chamber each week with a conference call to the capital, allowing us to stay current regarding committee work and pending bills. The Governmental Affairs Committee is always looking for business professionals to participate in this important work of the chamber, so please consider this your invitation.
We host and support a variety of events and programs throughout the year but one of my favorites is the Reverse Job Fair at Real Life Ministries. The Post Falls Chamber, Idaho Department of Labor and the Post Falls School District partner with more than 200 local professionals to interview more than 300 high school seniors in their career choices. This year our business and education community has provided $5,000 in scholarships and prizes. I am again grateful and in awe of what an amazing community we live in.
We are pleased to partner with our neighboring chambers and Department of Labor this month to host the Kootenai County Job Fair out at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds as well as the H4 Event (Hard Hats, Hammers and Hotdogs). For more information, just visit our website at www.postfallschamber.com.
Center Target Sports is generously donating their facility and staff for a fabulous evening of sporting games on March 30. Cabela’s and Buck Knives are also event sponsors providing fun, food and prizes. Tickets are available at the chamber for just $10.
The Post Falls chamber will host our 6th Annual Community and Business Fair on Thursday, April 19. The fair will provide a venue for 95-plus businesses and service organizations to show off their goods and services to our community under one roof (Greyhound Park and Event Center). Admission is free from 5-7 p.m., parking is free and dozens of prizes will be given away each hour on the hour. It’s a great evening, so don’t miss this opportunity to come out and meet your neighbors!
If you are new to our community, I want to extend an invitation to you to visit the community calendar on our website. Get engaged, meet new friends, make connections and then make a difference.
Editors note: The Kootenai County Job Fair has been canceled.
Celebrating our local economy
Steve Wilson
The Coeur d’Alene chamber has taken the attitudinal position that we will celebrate the positive components of our local economy. In doing so we have asked our Business Development Committee to write monthly features on businesses or industries that have worked diligently to remain financially solvent, create jobs and demonstrate passion and care for North Idaho. The group selected to focus this month’s feature on credit unions. The chamber has six credit unions that are actively contributing members, Global, Horizon, Icon, Numerica, Public Employees and the Chamber’s Diamond Member, STCU. In today’s interview, committee member Becky Monday interviewed Carla Altepeter, president and CEO, Numerica Credit Union.
1. Why do you think there is such a draw to Credit Unions lately?
Credit Unions are not for profit, financial cooperatives. We focus on serving the financial needs of our members and on helping them realize their dreams before focusing on making a profit. This is the foundation of our member relationships and it resonates with people. It is the idea of people helping people by pooling their resources, which has been our purpose since credit unions were first formed in the U.S. during the 1930s.
2. How healthy is the overall Credit Union industry right now?
Reports from our regulators indicate the overall health of credit unions has improved dramatically since the recession. Numerica is very healthy and weathered the recession extremely well. Last year we had very strong growth and earnings. We ended 2011 with more than $1.2 billion in assets, a 6.9 percent increase compared to year-end 2010. We funded more than $412 million in loans, a 22 percent increase compared to year-end 2010.
3. Are you hearing about people wanting to “hide money under their mattress?” What do you say when you hear things like this?
When I hear people wanting to hide their money under their mattress, I shudder. There are so many strong financial institutions to place money for safe keeping. Deposits at credit unions and banks are backed by the full faith of the U.S. government, up to $250,000 per account. Why would anyone want to risk their life savings by hiding it at home where it could be stolen or destroyed in a house fire?
4. Has there been an increase in job growth (in your industry) or a decrease? What is influencing these changes?
I can only speak for Numerica, and I am happy to say that we are currently hiring. We have departments and branches where staffing voids need filled in order to increase member service and allow our professionals to fully capitalize on the opportunities in our market now and plan for the years ahead. So far in 2012, we have hired 14 new employees, with six more pending this month. We have 30 new positions to fill by the third quarter.
5. It’s crystal ball time. Without veering into politics and keeping the perspective of financial professionals, are you optimistic, pessimistic or neutral for our financial future and why?
I am hopeful that the industry has learned from the past and will move us safely into the future. I believe credit unions as a whole have learned valuable lessons from the recession even though most were not responsible for the sub-prime mortgage lending that was, along with greed, at the root of the financial meltdown.
6. What are credit unions doing to remain competitive and what direction should they be going to keep it that way?
Credit Unions need to create and maintain products and services that are relevant to the market place and offer those products and services at fair prices. In addition, we need to provide convenient branching, ATM networks and electronic services such as home banking, electronic bill pay and mobile banking. Consumers are demanding fast, innovative access to their financials.
This article represents a new approach to our communication, let us know what you think; send an email to steve@cdachamber.com. If you happen to be a chamber member (and all businesses should be) watch for a detailed online survey soliciting your thoughts and ideas the week of April 10.
Looking forward to good things
I just got home from the Hayden Chamber Board of Directors meeting and I am just amazed at the group of dedicated and vibrant people that we have running this chamber. These are people that go above and beyond the call of duty because they truly care about the community they live in and the businesses that are a part of it. If you are not currently part of our chamber or are a member but haven’t got your hands dirty yet with all of its benefits it is time to do so. There are so many great things coming up in this chamber and I promise that you want to be a part of it.
On March 24 the Hayden Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Banquet at the wonderful Hayden Lake Country Club. With that comes the great privilege of recognizing the recipients of the H.A.Y.D.E.N Awards. It is an opportunity to highlight some of the great people in our community who embody what the city of Hayden and the Hayden Chamber of Commerce stands for.
Kory Wilson
The six recipients are nominated in categories that come from each letter in the name “Hayden.” They are: History and Humanities, Arts, Contributions to Youth, Distinguished Service, Education and New Business. This always proves to be a fabulous night of celebration in one of the most premier spots in the area to dine. There will be entertainment as well as a keynote speaker. I won’t divulge who yet, as the details are still being worked out, but it won’t disappoint, I promise. We would love for you to send in a nomination for one of the awards. You can also reserve your banquet tickets now. Reach us at info@haydenchamber.org or 762-1185. I can’t wait to see all of you there!
Hayden is such a great place to live, and I hope you take the time to come and visit some of the great businesses that are part of the Hayden Chamber of Commerce this month. Whenever we can, if we all choose to “buy local” and support each other we will continue to grow and prosper in the place we love to call home.
I hope to see you at the “State of The City” Breakfast on Feb. 23. The Business After Hours is March 8 at America West Bank on Hayden Avenue.
Business at its best!
My favorite event of the whole year is in the month of March. There are no ticket sales, no entertainment to book, no dinner to serve and no items to buy. This event is organized and facilitated by business professionals and volunteers truly dedicated to the youth of this community. This month the Post Falls Chamber Business Education Committee will partner with Post Falls High School, to hold our 6th annual Reverse Job Fair.
The Reverse Job Fair is an annual event that started in 2007. Our first year we gave two $500 scholarships. In 2011 10 students earned scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000. This event prepares high school seniors for marketing themselves to potential employers through classroom instruction and real-world interaction with local business professionals.
Pam Houser
Class time is provided for students to prepare materials and research their career interest fields. Business professionals are sometimes invited to the class to address issues, concerns and questions students may have about their particular area of expertise, or how to be better prepared for this event.
Up to 300 school students present themselves to business professionals at a two-hour event held in the auditorium at Real Life Ministries church. They come prepared to interview with a resume, portfolio and presentation board. Interview time is approximately 10 minutes. Each student experiences 4-5 interviews. Students are matched to business professionals based on their career interests. The business professionals evaluate each student and feedback is given to the instructors, who share with the students.
The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce will hold its Reverse Job Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 in the auditorium at Real Life Ministries church in Post Falls.
Our event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 and we are seeking professionals to “interview” students. Everyone is invited to volunteer, but professionals in the medical/health care, arts/communications, engineering/industrial systems and human recourses are practically sought. If you have experience from your past or are currently serving in one of the above mentioned career sectors, please consider participating this year. I promise you an amazing experience. Brochures are available at the chamber, 201 E. Fourth Ave., Post Falls.
If you are looking for a fun night out, you won’t want to miss the 3rd annual “Shooting for Success” game night at Center Target Sports on Friday, March 30. CTS has partnered with Buck Knives and Cabela’s to bring you a great evening of sportsmanship and competition for the whole family. $2,500 in prizes will be given away throughout the evening. Proceeds from this event benefit tourism in Post Falls. Details can be found on our website at www.postfallschamber.com.
For a complete list of programs and events, visit our website or call us at (208) 773-5016.