I just came back from our City Hall here in East Jordan where I watched the filming of “Jack’s Journal” with Jack O’Malley interviewing Tom Sheridan and Denny Jesiek on the construction of “The Hum” replica. What a wonderful story and such a beautiful way to celebrate and tell the story about a very important part of our history.It was such a joy to listen to and watch Tom and Denny as they discussed how they embarked on the project, constructing the replica in the Sheridan’s basement last winter, the 1000+ hours they have invested in making this awesome replica a reality and the research they conducted on the history of “The Hum” and how vital a role it played to residents and visitors to East Jordan long before the automobile and roads arrived. What struck me most over and over during this interview today and any of the times I have spoken with Tom and Denny about this project – was their PASSION…so dedicated, so excited, so driven, so committed. What a great example these two gentleman present…so I guess the big question of the day is… what is my passion? What is your passion? What drives you? What can you or I do to make a difference or give back to make our community a better place? What in 2015 can I do to make a positive contribution back to my town to improve our quality of life?

Be sure to watch and celebrate Tom and Denny’s interview which will be aired on Monday, March 23, on the 6:00 PM news on TV 9 &10.

Thank you Tom and Denny for sharing your passion and talent. Your donation of “The Hum” to the City of East Jordan was a generous gift and a guarantee that the history of this boat will be remembered. “The Hum” is on display at East Jordan City Hall, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, be sure to stop in and check it out.

With February ushering itself out on Saturday, our thoughts are quickly turning to SPRING, warm weather, sunshine and increased activity both at our businesses and homes.

The Chamber staff has already began working with North Bays Design on our 11th Visitor Guide/Membership Directory. Please watch your mail for information on ad placement, update info cards, etc. We are so excited to be working on articles, gathering photos (if you have any photos of people, places and events you would be willing to share, please send them to info@ejchamber.org) and adding new members to our organization. If you know of a business, organization, church or individual that is not a member of our Chamber, please let us know so we may contact them regarding the many benefits of being a Chamber member.

And just to remind you “our members” your member benefits include…

Member Benefits of the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce
EXPOSURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

• Web Site Listing with unlimited categories
• FREE to link to your site from the Chamber site
• Visitor Guide & Business Directory – FREE listing (one category)
• Brochure, business cards, flyer display 24/7 at the Chamber Office
• Business news, events, award recognition, etc. In Chamber weekly “e-capsule” newsletters
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Area Literature distributed at State Welcome Centers
• Welcome Bags in East Jordan and Ellsworth for special events
• Member of the Month Business Spotlight
• Joint Partnership with Ellsworth and Atwood business communities
• Dual Membership with Boyne City Chamber

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

• Economic Development – Involvement with Jordan Valley e-Team
• Associate Member of the Northwest Michigan Chamber Alliance
• Membership/training
• Leadership on Local, Area, Regional Committees Events & Boards, Paddle Antrim Inc. and administrative arm of Breezeway Task Force
• Government Advocacy on City, County, State and Federal Levels
• Co-Sponsor of “Leadership Charlevoix County”
• How to Really Start a Business Class locations in East Jordan and Ellsworth
• Member Small Chamber Alliance
• Partner of “Music in the Park” concert series

NETWORKING

• Business After Hours Series – FREE admission & sponsorship opportunities
• East Jordan “Off the Cuff” series
• Annual Chamber Dinner/Auction/Awards
• Chamber Special Events – (Golf Outing, Countywide Business After Hours, Celebrity Dinner, Pumpkin Festival/Leaf Peeker Craft Show, Community Night)
• Committee Participation
• Ambassador & Junior Ambassador Program
• Community Updates
• Business Workshops
• Sponsor of “State of the Community” Forums for East Jordan & Ellsworth
• Customer Service/Hospitality Training

INFORMATION

• Club, Church, Organization Bi-Annual Update Meetings
• Communications (mail, e-mail, walk-in, phone)
•  Professional Development/Business Services
• Your Chamber Office is located in the Main Street Center – open year-round – full time
• Business Counseling – S.C.O.R.E. & Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA)
• Referrals – Members promoted to phone, mail and walk-in inquires
• One-On-One Business Counseling
• Business Resource Library at Jordan Valley District Library
• Downtown Business Open House

Congratulations to the Sno-Blast 2015 Winners:

2015 Belle of the Blizzard – Gretchen Bender & 2015 Winter Knight – Brandon Marr

2015 Belle of the Blizzard – Gretchen Bender
2015 Winter Knight – Brandon Marr

Poster Contest:
Neatness – Kamryn Webb
Best Incorporation of Events – Jaden Harris
Most Creative – Skylar Barnett

Sno-Sculpture Contest:
1st Place – The Zone Sports Lounge
2nd Place – Mary Uy
3rd Place (tie) – The Argetsiner Family
3rd Place (tie) – Missy Yawn

Thank you to everyone that attended the 2015 Sno-Blast Events, Supported our candidates and a special thank you to our event sponsors.
East Jordan Rotary Club
East Jordan Sno-Mobiler’s Club
East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce
Essence Hair Salon
BC Pizza of East Jordan
Darlene’s Restaurant
Tom’s Bait & Tackle
Mancelona Motorplex

Softball in the Snow Winners – 2015

We know snowmobile racers want to race, so due to the lack of snow in East Jordan we will move the Radar Runs & Drag Races to a track in Mancelona MI. (Valley Rd) Saturday, February 7, 2015 9:00 AM – Drag Race Registration, 10:30 – 11:30 -Radar Run/Test & Tune, 12:00 PM – Snowmobile Drag Races. Drivers must be 16 years old with valid drivers license and parent/guardian signature. Trophies awarded. For race questions: Tim Bingham 231-587-4807, Kevin Giar 231-533-8810 or 231-620 2292. Please spread the word. All other Sno-Blast events will take place as planned, so be sure to stop at the E.J. Sno-Mobiler’s Club House for the Antique Snowmobile Show & 2nd annual Blessing of the Sleds

WE NEED YOUR RESERVATIONS AND AUCTION ITEMS NOW for the Chamber Annual Dinner/Meeting/Auction/Awards!!!
Don’t be left out of the largest networking event of the year! Saturday, January 31st at Castle Farms.

Thank you to the following event sponsors thus far: Sponsorship’s still available.

GOLD SPONSORS
Burnette Foods, Inc.
Charlevoix State Bank
EJ
East Jordan Plastics, Inc.

SILVER SPONSORS
The Insurance Shop
Poineau Woodworking

It’s hard to believe we are only eight days away from Christmas! At least the light snow we are receiving today makes it feel like winter!

Our Chamber Office is in full gear preparing for the Chamber Annual Mtg, Auction, Dinner and Awards, January 31, 2015 at Castle Farms. Thank you to those businesses who have already donated an item or committed to a sponsorship for the event. Invitations are ready to go in the mail on Monday, January 5th. The plans for the 34th Annual Sno-Blast Winter Festival are also well underway. Several events will be returning including the Snow-Sculpture Competition, Belle of the Blizzard and Winter Knight, Chili Supper, Poster Contest and back by popular demand,Radar Run/Test & Tune, Snowmobile Drag Racing. Dates for the Sno-Blast 2015 are February 6 &7, 2015.

From the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Shannon and I – Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays to you and yours. Thank you for a wonderful 2014. Looking forward to a fabulous 2015!

The Chamber Office will be closed on December 24, 25 & 26 for Christmas and January 1 & 2 for New Years.

The Holiday fun continues tonight, December 10th in Ellsworth at the 9th Annual Wooden Shoe Festival held at the Banks Township Hall. The festivities will be from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Make plans to join Banks Township Citizen of the Year,Larry Essenberg for the lighting of the Community Tree. There will be caroling with the Pine Lake Winds Band and you can enjoy free pizza made by A Matter of Taste, a kids craft, hot chocolate bar with cookies and more. The night would not be complete without a fabulous balloon creation from Twister Joe – Balloon Artist Extraordinaire.

Join the Bruce Family and Mi Farm Market as they celebrate the grand opening of their new warehouse (9525 Lake Street, Ellsworth) this Thursday night, December 11th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. It will be a great time to see what’s new for holiday gift arrangements and to find out what MI Farm Market has been up to this past year.

Santa will also be making a few stops in the area this weekend. The Jolly Old Elf will make his first stop at the Banks Township Hall on Saturday morning, December 13th for the Ellsworth Lioness Breakfast with Santa. Santa will join the kids for a full breakfast and follow up with photos with Mrs. Claus and the kids, as well as handing out a stuffed toy to each child. Santa will then make his way to East Jordan on Saturday night, December 13th to great the kids at the Tourist Park Building. Refreshments and a warm fire will be part of the evening and be sure to drive through the park to view the Christmas Light Displays. Santa Claus will also be in East Jordan on Sunday, December 14th in the morning at the East Jordan Sno-Mobilers Club House for breakfast. He will be there from 9:30 – 11:00 AM

Have a great weekend and enjoy the many Christmas events in the area.

Our Chamber Office is a flurry of activity this week as we are putting the finishing touches on our Community Night plans. Hope to see you tomorrow night (Thursday-December 4th) at East Jordan’s Community Night. The Soup Cook-off with six soups, The Lighted Parade has a record number of entries (still accepting more!) the Carolers are ready to sing around the Community Tree Lighting. Our Citizen of the Year, Debbie Carey will officially light the community tree at 6:15 PM. Jordan River Arts Council will be holding “Make and Take Craft” and the Members Art for Sale, Businesses will be hosting open houses and refreshments and of course – Santa Claus will be on hand to hear all the children’s wishes. Plan on spending the evening downtown with family and friends to kick off the holiday season!

Atwood will be celebrating Christmas in Atwood on Saturday, December 6 with the businesses hosting special sales, open houses, refreshments. Santa Claus will be at Work N Play Shop from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

The Ellsworth Wooden Shoe Holiday Festival is all set for Wednesday, December 10 starting at 6:00 PM at Banks Township Hall. A wonderful evening of caroling, tree lighting, kids games, refreshments and Twister Joe – Balloon Artist is planned.

Celebrate the Holiday Season Across the Breezeway!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Holiday Business After Hours on December 1st at A Matter of Taste @ Tapawingo. The event runs from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM and is sure to be a wonderful kick-off to the holiday season. Admission will be a monetary donation to Care & Share and Good Samaritan Food Pantry’s. Food will be provided and a cash bar will be available. This Business After Hours is proudly sponsored by EJ.

The list of events for our Annual Holiday Community Night, December 4th, is shaping up nicely. Make plans to stop in at the Community Center from 5:30 – 7:30 PM to taste and judge the fabulous soups prepared by local restaurants (all proceeds to Care & Share). The East Jordan Co-Op Nursery School will be holding a bake sale as well. At 6:00 PM the Lighted Parade will make it’s way down Main Street bringing the Jolly Old Elf and Mrs. Claus to greet and hear wishes from the children at 126 Main Street (Old Chello’s Building). Santa will be handing out handmade stockings sponsored by the EJ Lioness & Lions Clubs. Cookies and Hot Cocoa will also be provided from the East Jordan Lioness Club & the Senior Center. The East Jordan Girl Scouts will be there to do face painting. Directly following the parade, join us at the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, across from Memorial Park, to sing Christmas Carols. The Jordan River Arts Council will be having a “Make & Take Craft” for kids at the Arts Council Building. Don’t forget to drop off your entry forms for the Business Basket Raffle and buy your tickets for the Freedom Festival Family Fun Raffle at the Community Center. Many downtown businesses will be holding Holiday Open Houses and having special promotions. It’s a great time to check off some items from your gift list. After a night of holiday family fun downtown, be sure to take a drive through the Tourist Park to view the over 30, one-of-a-kind lighted displays made by local clubs, churches, businesses, families and individuals at the East Jordan Lions Club Lighted Christmas Village. It’s a holiday display you will want to experience over and over from December 4 through January 4.

The Christmas fun doesn’t stop there – mark your calendars for December 6th to experience the Atwood Christmas Celebration. Store specials, refreshments, samplings, Santa and more round out this fun Saturday Family event. The Ellsworth Wooden Shoe Festival will be held Wednesday, December 10 at the Banks Township Hall in Ellsworth. Caroling, Tree Lighting, Kids Games, Refreshments and more all beginning at 6:00 PM to make December a non-stop, fun filled month.

Thank you to everyone who attended the East Jordan State of the Community on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

Special thank you to our presenters:  Matt Stevenson – East Jordan Public Schools Superintendent, Mayor Russ Peck, Tom Erhart – Northern Lakes Economic Alliance Entrepreneurship Director, Tom Teske – East Jordan Downtown Development Authority Chairman. Thank you Tom Erhart for coordinating the FAB Lab to be available for tours prior to the Sate of the Community. Special thank you to Harvest Barn Pastors Kimon and Bridget Criner and members of their church for allowing us to hold the event at Harvest Barn and for all of their help in setting up for the record number of attendees. Thank you Charlevoix State Bank for sponsoring our dessert and to East Jordan Public Schools for catering the luncheon. A lot of exciting projects, people and events are making East Jordan a great place to live, visit and do business in. I hope you are able to get up to the Community Auditorium today or tomorrow to participate in the ongoing Master Plan process.

Save the Date…Our Holiday Business After Hours – Monday, Dec 1, 2014 – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at A Matter of Taste at Tapawingo. Proudly Sponsored by EJ. All cash donations at the door will be donated to the Care & Share Food Pantry and the Good Samaritan. Kickoff the holiday season with your Chamber members!!