Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce
111 S. Wabash St., Wabash, IN 46992
Galen Bremmer, Editor

http://www.wabashchamber.org
e-mail - wacc@wabashchamber.org
phone: (260) 563-1168
fax: (260) 563-6920

CHAMBER

MEMBER NEWS

Please route this newsletter to the other staff in your business to keep them up to date on services, functions and programs available to all employees of our member companies!

Have you had changes or improvements in your business? Have you received an award, reached a milestone, or completed additional training? We want to know. Share these things with your chamber partners. They too enjoy hearing. Call, FAX, E-Mail, or mail notes to the chamber office.

The Indiana Chamber reminds all businesses that the new Telemarketing Law goes into effect on 1/01/02 with significant fines and penalties for those not in compliance. Visit www.in.gov/attorneygeneral to order the Indiana do-not-call list or for further information on this law.

Please welcome a new member to management of a Wabash business. Ponderosa Steakhouse has appointed Dinda Thompson as their new general manager a few weeks ago. Please make her feel welcome in our community when you see her.

Along the same line, WalMart has also made a general manager change. Long time Wabash manager Carl Cole has been promoted and Ms. Dana Wells has taken his position in Wabash. We hope that her tenure will be as productive!

A new manager is also waiting to greet you at K-Mart. Scott Ward replaces long time Wabash resident Bob Karlin. Is a chamber membership in the offing?

The manager change list keeps rolling as Kroger welcomes Kent Breedlove to their ranks. Maybe we can even convince Kent to make Kroger a member????

A new business has moved into the old Cashway building on Old US 24 in Wabash. Let us welcome I.B.I. Inc. or Integrity Builders of Indiana, Inc. They are a steel erecting company relocating to the Wabash location from Marion. Jack R. Fite is the President. Their address is 3647 W. Old US 24 with the phone being 569-7711 and fax 569-1665. Hopefully we will be able to welcome them into Chamber membership later, but we are glad they are in our community.

VISIONARY WEB DESIGN is proud to announce a strategic partnership with TECHNO-GUIDE, INC. This allows for complete computer and Internet solutions to the greater Wabash County area. Web Design, training, networking, computer repair, technical training, technical support, and internet connectivity are just a few of the services that can be customized for your business or personal use. Call 569-0991 for details.

A new company, TECHNO-GUIDE, LLC is poised to provide an innovative mix of technology services to Northeast Indiana. President of the group is Steve Eigenberg in Warsaw. Local rep is Aaron McClone located in the same building as Visionary Web Design on Market Street in the Adko Travel building behind Blue Sky Graphics Outlet. Almost every computer service is available. Call 1-866-529-4734.

BUCHERI MCCARTY & METZ LLP has announced that it will be consulting with clients regarding the new regulations being issued as a result of the health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act through a new affiliate named Infotex.

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GIFT CERTIFICATE SALES TOP $100,0000

The Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce announces that the gift certificate program for member Businesses, in existence since 1985, has distributed over $101,000 of the certificates

since the new design came out late last year. The new certificates are printed in the Chamber office in any denomination, however, only $5 and $25 denominations are available to walk ins. To date over $60,000 have been ordered this holiday season. REMEMBER, THEY MAY BE REDEEMED AT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESSES SIMPLY BY DEPOSITING THEM AS A CHECK IN YOUR NIGHTLY DEPOSIT. PLEASE INFORM YOUR SALES PEOPLE TO MAKE REDEMPTION AS EASY AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!! Please do not redeem the certificates for cash; however, you may give change back up to the face value.

THEY ARE OUT THERE - ARE YOU GETTING YOUR SHARE/?????

In a report to the Board of Directors, Chamber President Galen Bremmer stated, "I am thrilled to see this free program continue to grow by leaps and bounds. It emphasizes clearly the concern and support that our community has for its local businesses." Studies have proven that dollars spent locally rebound in the local economy 5 to 7 times, thereby multiplying the positive effects on Wabash. The holidays are an important time for Wabash businesses. They must be supported and prosper now so that they will be there for our needs the rest of the year. The gift certificates are one of the best "shop local" programs the Chamber can offer that can really benefit everyone.

MAKING ACADEMICS COUNT IS OFF AND RUNNING

Chris Martin has been very busy visiting Wabash County businesses this fall, educating them on the new Making Academics County initiative sponsored by the Wabash and North Manchester Chambers. He has found a very willing audience, currently having over 60 County businesses on the MAC Honor Role. "I've not had anyone say no yet", emphasizes Martin. "When you explain the concept of encouraging current students to make the best of their time in school and using high school transcripts to confirm their efforts as businesses search for the best employees, both sides jump at the chance to sign on." When a significant number of our businesses have joined the effort, marketing attempts will begin to the students letting them know what they will be asked for as they apply for jobs. School systems have pledged their support in creating the transcripts on a timely basis. Yes, regular attendance, proper courses of study and realistic grades do mean something the student's later life. Watch for a complete list of MAC supporters!

HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN WABASH

An informal group of businesses convened in the Chamber conference room to discuss the immediate need for high speed internet access in Wabash. The group is currently polling all those companies advertising access in the area or coming soon to find out the real story. They have also started gathering names of individuals and companies willing to sign a petition requesting such service through cable modem or DSL lines. This list will be used as evidence of potential business in Wabash so as to encourage some company to make the investment in our community. This request sheet will be inserted in this newsletter either in this issue or the next. Watch for it.

STATE OF THE CITY

A new Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce function is currently in the formulative stages. Mayor Arvin Copeland has agreed to bring a State of the City address with question and answer period following to the citizens of Wabash. At this half -way point in his first term as Mayor, Arvin will outline successes and challenges from the first half and his hopes and aspirations for the second half. This program is tentatively scheduled for Monday, February 4, during the noon hour in the Honeywell Center. Details will follow as soon as final arrangements are made.

NEWSLETTERS DELAYED

Your newsletter editor (Galen Bremmer) wishes to apologize to you for the break in newsletters this October and November. Chamber activities just got so hectic that time did not seem to be available to get a newsletter to press. My New Year's resolution is to give this very important communication tool in our business community the preferred treatment that it deserves. Some inserts, too, did not make it to you in a timely basis.

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

(please add to your Buyer's Guide)

Wabash Putt-Putt - 3 Wateridge Parkway (access road to Field of Dreams), Wabash, IN 46992, Russ Abell, Owner, phone - 219-563-4931, e-mail rabell@wabash-putt-putt; Web Site: www.wabash-putt-putt.com New recreation business brings 2-18 hole putt- putt courses to Wabash along with a full array of batting cages and snack bar and game room. Hours will vary as the season progresses. Groups and birthday parties welcome along with any type of celebration. 9-holes are ADA accessible. Join the fun.

Techno-Guide, Inc. - P O Box 522, 54 W. Market Street with Visionary Web Wabash In 46992.

Aaron McClone, Wabash Consultant, phone-866-529-4734, fax - 219-268-2209, e-mail aaron@technoguideinc.com URL www.technoguideinc.com. Techno-Guide, Inc is a computer and technology firm headquartered in Warsaw now serving the Wabash area. It specializes in helping your business use technology in all forms. Computer repair service is one of the valuable services offered.

Rite Quality Office Supplies, Inc. - 710 N. Washington Street, Kokomo, IN 46970. Greg Binkerd Wabash area Representative. Phone-800-580-7483, fax 765-459-8262. E-mail - riteq@netusa1.net. This office furniture and supplies dealer is not new in business, just expanding into the Wabash market. They are a complete office furniture and supply dealer. They offer free next day delivery, require no minimum order, free design layout of your office space, free set-up on all office environments, and complete courteous and professional service.

Atlas Foundation LTD - 10555 N. Ogden Road North Manchester, IN 46962 Glenn Voris, Director. Phone 219-982-4774. This non-profit 501 C-3 foundation is dedicated to make available information by lecture, newsletter, videos, books etc on the subject of horticulture. They also plan, design, and build or assist in projects for civic and public areas such as arbors, walkways, theme gardens, play areas, fountains, ponds etc. Finally they present special awards for achievements in gardening and volunteerism. REMEMBER YOUR CHAMBER'S GOLD SPONSORS

Yohe Realty, Smurfit Stone Container Corp., Clarkland Properties, Indiana Lawrence Bank, Cinergy/PSI, Pettit Printing, Wells Fargo Bank, and Richard Ford.

CHAMBER CONTINUES LONG RANGE PLAN

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Business Before Hours

Date: February 13, 2002 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Business Sponsors -

Wildman Uniform & Linen - Fred Friedman

Yohe Realty, Inc. - Sharon Yohe

C.A.R.E./Our Children, Our Future - Pat Lynn

Rite Quality Office Supplies - Greg Binkerd

Americare Living Center - Linda Tilley

Emcee - Bob Fuller

Brown Bag Seminar

Date: January 10, 2002 Noon - 1 p.m.

Topic: Workplace Preparedness

Presented by: Emergency Management Agency

Location: Cinergy/PSI Meeting Room

Seminar Lunch Sponsor: Family Physicians Associated

Gold Sponsors: Cinergy/PSI, Indiana Lawrence Bank,

Pettit Printing, Wells Fargo Bank,

Clarkland Properties, Yohe Realty and

Richard Ford.

is April 10, 2002

Mark Your Calendars

January February

3 - Exec. Board Mtg - Noon 4 & 27 SBDC Counseling

8 - Expo Committee @ 5PM 7 - Exec. Board Mtg

10 - Brown Bag Seminar 13 - Business Before Hours

11 - Board Meeting 15 - Board of Directors Mtg

20 - Rally for Life @ Wabash Middle School EXPO 2002 IS COMING!

Mark your calendars now for March 9 & 10th. Reservation forms will soon be mailed.

Watch for info on the upcoming "State of the City Address"

Please notify us of any changes on address label

Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 371
Wabash, IN 46992

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