Anacortes Communicator

Transcription

1 The Anacortes Communicator A Newsletter of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Volume 15 / Issue 12 Calendar December 2005 Dec ACT Theatre, A Little Princess, Dec. 2 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Chamber Community Tree Lighting 6 p.m Chamber Mission Winter Art Walk, 6-9 p.m. Winter Art Walk, 10-5 p.m. Lions Club Parade Downtown 11 a.m. Free Horse & Carriage Rides Downtown noon-4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 VIC Holiday Party 2:30-4:30, Dec. 7 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec/ 10 Ambassador Club Holiday Party, 6:30 p.m., Anacortes Museum Open House, Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Calico Restaurant, 8:30-11 a.m. Free Horse & Carriage Rides Downtown, noon 4:30 p.m. 12/10/05 Dec. 10 Model Train Show, noon- 4 p.m., 419 Q Avenue, Doug Dec. 10 Boat Parade 6 p.m., Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Dec. 17 Dec. 20 Business After Hours, 5:30-7 p.m., Anacortes Window & Door Free Horse & Carriage Rides, Down town noon-4:30 p.m. Salvation Army Community Caroling, Causland Park, 6 p.m. Combined Chamber Board 3 p.m. The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to improving the business and community life of Anacortes. It s a wonderful life in Anacortes, even more so during Christmas It is a wonderful life here in Anacortes, isn t it? Take advantage of the many holiday activities scheduled in the coming days, and don t forget to make visits to local shops and other businesses a part of your Christmas memories. Free horse and carriage rides downtown - Saturdays, December 3, 10 & 17 from noon until 4:30 p.m., sponsored by Donatello Flowers and Gifts, Cheesecake Creations, Upstage Boutique & Men s Store, Burton Jewelers and the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. Community Tree Lighting at the Chamber - Friday, December 2, 6 p.m. with entertainment, Santa and more! Winter Art Walk - Friday, December 2, 6-9 p.m. & Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lions Club Christmas Parade - Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m., downtown Anacortes. Pancake Breakfast with Santa at Anacortes Window and Door to host Dec. 15 Business After Hours event Explore your home improvement fantasies Thursday, Dec. 15 when Chamber members are invited to gather After Hours at Anacortes Window and Door. Anacortes Window and Door, located at th St., features retail / wholesale windows, doors, cabinets, skylights, millwork, shower doors, door hardware, and mirrors. Contact person is Paul Arends, As always, this Business After Hours event will feature door prizes and the opportunity for networking with fellow business people, so don t forget your business cards. Calico Cupboard Restaurant, 8:30-11 a.m., December 10. Anacortes Model Railroad Club Train Show, December 10, noon - 4 p.m., 419 Q Avenue, Anacortes Anacortes Holiday Boat Parade - Saturday, 6 p.m., December 1 0 Salvation Army Community Caroling at Causland Park 6:30 p.m., December 17. Don t miss the Lions Club Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3, starting at 11 a.m. RSVP today at for the 5:30 to 7 p.m. event, which will feature refreshments and door prizes. Anacortes Window and Door, th St. 819 Commercial Ave. Anacortes, WA Ph: (360) Fax: (360) info@anacortes.org Web site:

2 President Pam looks back on rewarding year As the year draws to a close, I am struck by how many wonderful people I have had the pleasure to meet and work with during my term as President of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. I was impressed by the volunteer work force that donated countless hours to produce the events and programs for the Chamber membership. My compliments and thanks for the work that was accomplished by these volunteers, and by the citizens of Anacortes who attended our festivals and events. What a great year it was! To suggest that I was honored to have the opportunity to serve this team as its captain, even if it was only a one-year term, wouldn t come close Pam Allen to describing the sense of gratification one experiences as President of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. I have developed a deeper respect for folks like Randy Burgess, Steve Henery, Duane Clark and Laurie Gere, to name a few of the many Past Presidents who have helped to mentor me during my term and have contributed so much to building a better Chamber for Anacortes businesses and community. I want to extend thanks to many of the individuals who helped make this year a success. Here, in no particular order, are some of the highlights that resonated for Special Thanks to... me during the year: To Cory Hunter, Dave Cortelyou, Kurt Oppel, and all of the rest of the volunteers who worked so hard to bring the new Arch on 11th and Commercial to a beautiful reality. To the 2nd Annual Jazz Festival team, with the stewardship of Bill Berry, Robin Pestarino, Mike and Sue Keller and Michael Broome. This event proved to be noteworthy, and has earned its right to become an annual festival. On the political front I was extremely proud of our Chamber partnership with the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Anacortes School District (including the debate team), KLKI Radio, the Anacortes American, the Skagit Valley Herald, the City of Anacortes and Soroptimists International to help the candidates get their messages out to the citizens of Anacortes. I was delighted and energized by the participation and attendance by candidates, volunteers and citizens of Anacortes. Add to my list the successful Waterfront Festival, Shipwreck Day, Garden Fair, potted planter program, flower baskets, President s Luncheons, AM Anacortes sessions, Educational Seminars, trick-or-treating, the glamorous seasonsetting white light contest, Christmas Tree Lighting and Art Walk event, our enviable After Hours mixers that keep growing -- and it s easy to see why our Chamber is so highly regarded by its peers. Not to be left out is the exemplary work of our capable marketing and communications team of Steve Berentson and Executive Director Michael Broome, who continue to produce great communications pieces like our newsletter, new Anacortes brochure and improved website. Our website enjoys a tremendous page view volume. That means people are not only getting our message, they now come looking for it. I had the privilege of working with our great chamber staff of Sue Keller and Michael Broome during a difficult but important staff restructuring this year. I extend my respect and thanks to them, and to each of the dedicated VIC volunteers, DOL staff and Board Directors for their hard work and support of the Chamber. I have also had the pleasure of welcoming Brooke Wiershum, our new accounting services provider, and Stephanie Hamilton, our new Chamber Events Director, both of whom are great additions to our chamber team. They have already demonstrated the kind of energy and commitment that will help us take this chamber to the next level of service we want for our members. From our talented Directors, to our generous sponsors, to the supportive media and the legions of volunteers who help us perform our work each day, my most sincere appreciation for all you do for the Chamber and for Anacortes. Best wishes for 2006! Pam Allen, Chamber President, Co-owner, Anaco Bay Inn and Anaco Inn Thanks to those who donated door prizes at the November Business After Hours. Donors included: Anaco Bay Inn Alldata Shredding Anacortes Soo Bahk Do Art Smart Buer s Floral & Gifts Chandler s Square Countrywide Home Loans Donatello Express Personnel Services Gracious Living Interior Design KLKI Radio Lighthouse RV Park & Mini Storage Pacific Design Peoples Bank Portalis LLC PrePaid Legal Services Read Me A Story Scott Richards Insurance, Inc. The Store Viking Moving Services

3 New Ambassadors The Chamber Ambassadors would like to welcome five new members to this lively group. Watch for them at Chamber events and be sure to introduce yourself. Each of these volunteers deserves our appreciation for the important job they do, providing a valuable sounding board for Chamber staff and lending a helping hand with events. Thank you and welcome to the following new Anacortes Chamber Ambassadors: Catherine Bearce Graphic Designer & Illustrator Bearce Design Mark Lione Owner and Manager Cap Sante Inn Linda Bishop Outside Representative Express Personnel Tracy Rogers Gallery Manager Art Smart Lisa Helm Customer Service Manager Whidbey Island Bank Stephanie Hamilton named new Events Coordinator Stephanie Hamilton has taken the position of Event Coordinator at the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce. I am excited to finally be working in the same community where I live, shop and worship, remarks Stephanie. The Anacortes Chamber is an awesome organization and I look forward to getting to better know our members. Stephanie graduated from the Edward R. School of Communication at Washington State University. Yes, folks, she s a Cougar! Her background includes working as the Marketing Director at the Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC); helping to launch Stephanie Hamilton Business Monthly Magazine; and acting as Interim Executive Director at the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie began working from home four years ago as a public relations professional, where she continued to sit on the Board of Directors of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, ending her term as Chairman of the Board this year. Stephanie is already off and running in her new role, getting ready for our 2006 events season. Members will be hearing from her soon! Anaco Bay Inn After Hours Dozens gathered for refreshments and socializing at the November Business After Hours event hosted by Anaco Bay Inn. Pictured here is Anaco Bay Inn co-owner Pam Allen (right) with Eloise Hammer (center) and Dee Hitchman. Numerous door prizes were given away, thanks to generous Chamber members. Anaco Bay Inn is located at rd Street. Grand Opening - The Beach House owners Cheryl and Jordan Kuhn (center) were joined by Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell, Chamber President-elect Bill Berry and many others for a wonderful grand opening celebration in November. Stop by and visit their new shop and get some of your Holiday shopping done at the same time.

4 Tourism Marketing Anacortes played a leading role in the 2005 Governor s Tourism Summit held November 17 and 18 in Seattle. The summit, which featured a keynote message by Governor Christine Gregoire, was sponsored in part by the City of Anacortes. Representing the city at the event were Mayor Dean Maxwell and City Attorney Ian Munce. Representatives of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce were Executive Director Michael Broome and Tourism Marketing Director Steve Berentson. Among a number of summit features was the unveiling of a new branding strategy for Washington State tourism. In the wake of a year of study and input from all corners of the state, tourism officials and consultants concluded our state should focus on themes of endless discovery and independent spirit. The average Washington tourist, both resident and guest, boasts characteristics such as intellectually, physically active and interested in the story behind the story. The slogan for state tourism will be SayWA, and the state tourism website has appropriately been changed to experiencewa.com. Summit attendees, from Chamber representatives to state agency officials and travel-related businesses, were encouraged to harness the power of the group, incorporating the SayWa slogan into their marketing campaigns. State ads featuring the new slogan will begin to appear in the spring of In her opening session remarks to the summit audience, Gregoire thanked participants for their commitment to tourism. She said she has also identified tourism as a target industry with great potential Among trade show booths at the 2005 Governor s Tourism Summit was the Washington Treasure Island booth featuring Fidalgo, Whidbey/Camano and the San Juan Islands. Pictured here (l. to r.) are Michael Broome, RoseAnn Alspektor, Deborah Hopkins and Robin Jacobson. First-term Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire hosted the 2005 Governor s Tourism Summit. She told her audience the tourism industry has exciting potential and she committed to support from her administration. for growth and contribution to the state economy. The governor cited the state s natural assets (ecotourism), but also emphasized the characteristics of quality and authenticity. She noted the approach of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in British Columbia and said she will work to simplify border crossing issues long before that time. Related challenges, she said, include the need to attract more direct flights to Washington from other parts of the world. Following Gregoire to the podium was Daniel Garza, a White House official filling in at the last minute for U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Garza, who once worked for Norton, is a native of Washington State. He and his parents were migrant workers who came to call Toppenish their home. Garza noted that travel and tourism is the nation s largest employer, and he said 85 percent of all U.S. tourism revenue comes from coastal states. In the evening, summit participants were given an opportunity to create a trade show style booth. Anacortes opted to participate with a booth theme of Washington s Treasure Islands (see photo, left). Partners included the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the San Juan Island Visitor s Bureau and the Whidbey- Camano Visitors Bureau.

5 New Members The Beach House Unique gifts from soft clothing & towels, pewter items, fun housewares, furniture, accent pieces, jewelry, wonderful candles and more! Cheryl & Jordan Kuhn 2216 Commercial Avenue Anacortes Mark Nishimura Individual member 6153 Kenneth Oak Way Fair Oaks, CA Anacortes Soo Bahk Do Colette & Andy Arvidson Martial Arts Traditional Korean Martial Arts and self defense for all ages. Temp Location: Anacortes Senior Center nd St., Anacortes Member Renewals Gracious Living Interior Design Kenmore Air Express Bayshore Office Products Quality Log & Lindal Cedar Homes Discovery Map March Point Cogeneration Company Washington State Ferries Trust Accounting Center Radio Shack American Dream Real Estate Services Domino s Pizza Port of Anacortes Secure 1 Networks Homeplace Special Care Center Donatello Flowers & Gifts December 15 deadline on new Member 2 Member discount program Thursday, December 15 is the deadline for participation in the kickoff season of the new Member 2 Member discount program, designed to complement the shop members first philosophy and campaign. The program will be launched in January of 2006, so there is still a window of opportunity for any Chamber members who desire to offer a discount to other members and their employees. Here is how it works: The discount offers will appear in a new Chamber membership directory that will be sent to all Chamber members, as well as on the Chamber s website. Chamber members who participate will sign up to offer a specific discount to other chamber members and their employees for six months. After the six-month period expires, a new directory and set of discount offers will be published. Member businesses will receive membership discount cards for Member News Notes Resident Survey If you wish to participate in a resident survey regarding a proposed development for the Waterfront at Fidalgo Bay, go to www. fidalgowaterfront.com. To date, about 86 people have responded, with 91.9 percent indicating support of a mixed use development through the PUD process. Holiday Artwalk Mark your calendars for the Chamber of Commerce Holiday Artwalk on Friday, December 2 from 6 9 p.m., after the Chamber s tree lighting ceremony and Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 20 merchants in Old Town Anacortes will show the work of local artists. There will be paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography and other grand creations to fulfill your needs. Come shop for the holidays and enjoy the event. Friday night s event will be in conjunction with the First Friday Gallery walk. each employee, valid for the six-month period. New discount cards will be issued each time a new directory and discount program takes effect. The cost to offer a discount in the program is only $50. This includes a one fifth page listing in the directory as well as a listing on the Chamber website with details of the specific discount being offered by that member. The level of discount offered is up to the member making the offer. This is a great way to reach thousands of Chamber member employees and drive additional customers to your doors. All for less than $10 per month! Chamber membership already qualifies you to receive a discount card to take advantage of the discounts. There is no additional cost, but there will be some significant savings! Call the Chamber at to sign up today! Salvation Army Centennial Christian author Philip Yancey will be principal speaker at a January 21 Salvation Army Anacortes Corps Centennial celebration to be held at Brodniak Auditorium at Anacortes High School. Yancey is the author of numerous books including What s So Amazing About Grace and The Jesus I Never Knew. The 100-year celebration event will also feature music by David Harsh, as well as a program about the Salvation Army s history, its current programs and its vision for the future. Call for information. Advance tickets are $15, available at the Salvation Army Anacortes Corps, 3001 R Avenue. Tickets will be $20 if purchased at the door.

6 Visit us on the web at Thank You, Volunteers! October 2005 Visitors 995 (1, ) Phone Calls 280 ( ) Information Request 74 ( Relocation Request 29 ( ) Web Sessions 19,181 (14, ) Executive Board President Pam Allen / Anaco Bay Inn President-Elect Bill Berry / KLKI AM 1340 Secretary Jean Fantini / Donatello Flowers & Gifts Treasurer Vince Oliver / Island Hospital Immediate Past President Randy Burgess / Ace Hardware Executive Director Michael Broome Board of Directors Shane Aggergaard / Island Adventure Charters Chris Borgen / Anacortes School District Mike King* / City of Anacortes Robin Pestarino / AllData Shredding John Pope / Tesoro Refi ning & Marketing Co. Nate Scott / Windermere Real Estate / Anacortes Dan Stahl* / Port of Anacortes Dave Storkson / San Juan Lanes & Stork s Restaurant Nels Strandberg / Strandberg Construction Carol Van Iterson / Horizon Bank Graeme Wilson / Cap Sante Marine Tom Wood* / Shell Puget Sound Refi nery The Chamber Staff extends Christmas greetings and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year! Anacortes Chamber of Commerce 819 Commercial Ave., Suite F Anacortes, WA * Ex-offi cio Staff Executive Director Michael Broome Membership Services Sue Keller Events Coordinator Stephanie Hamilton Licensing Sub-agents Kristi Daniels Crystal Ashford Newsletter Editor Steve Berentson Your Chamber newsletter is printed by 25th & Q St./ Anacortes, WA /