Holiday Shopping Got You Stumped?December 1998
January 1999
| Diane Stout, Editor | December 1998 January 1999 |
Holiday Shopping Got You Stumped?
Chamber Celebrated 57th Meeting Annual Reports Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings
Abound Ret Line High Tech Job FairHoliday Shopping Got You Stumped?
Why not give to Wabash? Support our local Chamber members!!!!!!We have chamber gift certificates available in either $5 increments or any denomination that you prefer. We have one member who has ordered OVER $7,500.00 certificates to be used for employees during the holiday season.
Do you all realize how many times each dollar will be passed through the local economy? Conservative estimates say that each dollar will circulate 5 to 7 times through the money chain. That's $37,500 to $52,500 filtering through our economy guaranteed to start with CHAMBER MEMBERS!!!!!! Our Chamber hat is off big time to that business.
The certificates couldn't be any simpler to use - through arrangements with Frances Slocum Bank, they are just like a check that your business can deposit with your regular receipts. We recommend that you ask the bearer to endorse the certificate like they would a check.
Certificates may be purchased at the Chamber Office during regular office hours. If you are purchasing a quantity, please call ahead so that we can have your order ready. If the quantity is large, please allow us several days to get them endorsed.
ORDER YOUR CERTIFICATES TODAY - SUPPORT OUR WABASH AREA BUSINESS COMMUNITY!
Go Back to the TopChamber Changes
January 1 will mark some changes in the office structure at your Chamber.Trula Frank, Chamber financial secretary, will be leaving her part time Chamber position to become the full time director of the Wabash County Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
The good news is, Trula won't physically be going anywhere. Her office will remain where it is at the front of our shared building.
Trula may also still assist us in answering your calls if we are occupied. However, Trula will be relieved of all direct Chamber duties such as financial statement preparation and accounts payable. We are taking this opportunity to computerize the Chamber's accounting functions. Diane will assume responsibility for these functions.
Your board of directors, in wrestling with the 1999 budget, made the tough decision to tighten our belt given our financial picture and at this time not to replace Trula's part time position. This may mean that there will be times when both Diane and I are busy or out of the office which will necessitate use of the answering machine and the "Be Back At" sign on the desk. Internal office procedures are being streamlined so that both Diane and I are out making contact with you - our members.
What this means is that services to the general public will be reduced so that membership services can increase.
Effective with this issue, the newsletter will become bi-monthly unless there is a special occasion. The next issue will be published around February 1, 1999. We will let you know about any other changes as they occur!
Go Back to the TopChamber Member News
SHASTAR has just relocated in Wabash Crossing Shopping Center from 1455 N Cass to 1461 N Cass St. Please join us in welcoming Shannon Brown to their new bright larger facility! Shastar, formerly Shastar Rent to Own, provides some very useful services to the Wabash community. Call 563-4994 if you have questions on their services or stop and see their new home!
"It's official" NORWEST BANK and Wells Fargo have joined forces to become the NEW WELLS FARGO CORPORATION according to bank president Ed Bellows. Their facility is located at 841 N. Cass St. 563-1116. New, modern consumer services will be added to the full line Norwest already provides.
Congratulations and thanks are extended to MAFCOTE - WABASH PAPER COATING on their brand new facility in the Wabash Industrial Park! What an investment in Wabash!
Earlier this fall REA LOGAN & CO., INC., CPAS purchased the CPA practice in Peru. Rea Logan now has offices in Wabash, Marion, and Peru providing a full line of accounting and tax services.
The Wabash County Area Network, a new service on the INTERNET offering area businesses advertising opportunities and online information to area residents, is now in operation. This service is a joint venture between chamber member Visionary Web Design, LLC and Hipbone Computers in North Manchester. "This network offers a comprehensive Web Guide and search center for the Wabash County Area", explains Mark Sapusek, Owner of Visionary Web Design. Eventually, it will include a chat area, bulletin boards, useful online tools, and a business directory. Found at www.wabasharea.net The site is truly interactive allowing visitors to add information online and in real time. Call Mark at 569-0260 for information.
Have you seen the changes at HOEFER'S AMOCO, INC. Hill and Wabash St? New state of the art gas pumps have been installed. Yet to come are the new beverage coolers in the front sales room along with fountain beverages. According to Deb Hoefer and Curt Gullett, sales have been so strong on their Cooper Tire line, they are also building a new structure adjacent to the building to house used tires. Be sure to stop in and see the changes at one of Wabash's last true "full service stations"!
Longtime chamber member ROBINHOOD is in the news again as the CVS proposal for a new building at Stitt and Cass Streets (the Robinhood location) is on the table again. The Chamber wishes Dennis Mulligan and his staff all the best as they continue to support the Chamber even as these changes will have a dramatic affect on the future of Robinhood.
GNC - General Nutrition Center has opened a new retail store in Wabash Crossing Shopping Center next to Walgreen's. The manager is Mikki Steffanatos.
The Hussler's House, a new pool gaming establishment has opened at 1018 N. Cass St - next to Mike's Bistro.
Isn't it wonderful to see all the activity in Wabash businesses? Thanks for letting us know what is going on in your business. Have a change or news about your business? Let us know by phone, mail, fax, or in person so that we may spread the word!
Go Back to the TopWant to Market Your Business?
The Chamber has just the opportunity for you! The Business Before Hours breakfast series enters its 11th year!
There are currently openings for Business and Community sponsors for next year's events. Dates for the Business Before Hours will be:
February 10
April 14
June 09
August 11
October 13
December 8 (11th birthday)
Pick the date that best suits your business. Attendance continues to range from 80 to 100 business community leaders.
It really is a perfect place to network your business. Call the Chamber office to reserve your sponsorship date.
Go Back to the TopIt Has Finally Happened
Earth has been broken for the new portion of U S 24 between Wabash and Huntington!! What started out as 2 gentlemen looking for a project to work on, grew into an ad hoc Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce committee, then to a regional organization, finally to weild influence at the national level. The Hoosier Heartland Industrial Corridor finally has some dirt stirred to add something tangible to the intangible words of commitment that there will be a four-lane highway from I-65 at Lafayette to I-69 at Fort Wayne. A huge amount of Chamber and non-chamber blood sweat and time has gone into this project over the past 14 years. The great thing about it is that Jack Porter and Glenn Tanner are still very much an active part of the effort! Only time will tell just what effect this will really have on Wabash and the business community here. One thing for sure - a lot of people celebrated big in this victory!
Go Back to the TopChamber Celebrated 57th Meeting
For the 57th time, members of the Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce gathered to review the past year and change the leadership of the organization. This year you might say it was a Ford night as The Ford Meter Box Co. was honored as Business of the Year and Richard E. Ford was named the 1998 Distinguished Citizen. Humorist Bryan Townsend added a very appropriate message entitled "Making Good Things Happen" to his comic address that had portions of the audience laughing until the tears formed. Karen Halley passed the Chair gavel to Troy Cole. A special presentation was made to Bruce Storm in recognition of his 9 years of service to the Chamber as Executive Director/President. There was even time to preview "The Summer of the Monkeys" premiering in Wabash the next evening. The Annual Dinner Committee once again deserves a huge pat on the back for providing another class evening of excitement and entertainment.
Go Back to the TopAnnual Reports
The Membership Committee has announced some changes in distribution of the 1998 Annual Reports of the Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce.
In the past the Annual Reports were distributed at the Annual Dinner as they were this year. They were also individually mailed to each member. In almost all cases, this was duplication. This year in consideration of the current financial position of your Chamber, the committee has opted not to mail those duplicate copies. We will try to determine member businesses not attending the dinner and mail those reports as usual.
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A REPORT, OR WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE REPORT, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AND LET US KNOW. We will mail those out also. This would also apply if your copy from the dinner never made it to your file at your business or you would like to display copies of the report at your business.
Go Back to the TopRibbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings Abound
This fall has been a busy time for new businesses in Wabash! Things are really starting to pop in the city! New businesses opened in October in the downtown area: Robert's Computer Works offering RCW Custom Computers at 115 W. Market St. and Blue Rabbit Antiques opened by Mary McNoldy at 64 W. Market St. November has seen Maxx Tan open on North Cass St. and GNC - General Nutrition Center open in Wabash Crossing next to Walgreen's. November also saw two housing developments announced in the city limits. First a 34-acre site has been purchased by Pathfinder Services for development into 70 - 80 building lots just off highway 13 at the south end of the city. Second, Tyson & Son Construction has announced development of a 6-acre site just off Stitt St. in the heart of the city for about 14 homes. Both are targeting middle income family homes in the $80,000 range. However, Pathfinder Services will build some of the homes in their area for the Pathfinder program making homes affordable for families with modest income levels. Finally, on the construction side, a ribbon-cutting was held for the new Mafcote Wabash Paper Coating building in the north Wabash Industrial Park. The building is a welcome addition to the park, and Mafcote is adding to their labor force upon production start-up the first part of December.
Go Back to the TopRet Line
There have been several opportunities recently to activate the old "retail ret line".
This was a calling system designed to inform Wabash area businesses (only Chamber members) quickly of situations in the community that could have an affect on their business. Examples of this would be shoplifting rings, bad check scams, security issues, and in this case counterfeit money.
As we made the first call on the circuit from the office, we found that basically the program had died.
One of the struggles with calling networks is just one person not following up on their calls breaks the chain. With limited staff, the office just is not able to make all the calls. However, with new technology, we have the capacity to let the computer do the work for many of you using the fax machine.
The membership committee has unanimously supported my request to try to reconstruct the network hoping to primarily use fax distribution with phone back-up to those not having fax access.
By separate cover, I will be sending out enrollment forms to ALL BUSINESSES to complete if they are interested in being informed on these situations. We may need some assistance if there are too many phone calls to be made. If you are interested and have not received this mailing by Christmas, please let the Chamber Office know.
Go Back to the TopHigh Tech Job Fair
Purdue University will hold a high tech job fair for Indiana Companies February 12, 1999. This job fair is specifically for smaller companies seeking to fill full time and summer intern opportunities. For further information look to the web site: www.ecn.purdue.edu/JobFair/ or contact David R. McKinnis at 765-494-6258. We do have a registration form at the Chamber.
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