U P COMING EVENTS JANUARY 1 8 10 18 24 31 New Year s Day Chamber Board Meeting - 11:30 a.m. The Paramount Restaurant Holiday Events Wrap-Up Meeting - 5:00 p.m. Family Enrichment Center Reservations due for Chamber Luncheon Chamber Membership Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. Rose Harms Legion Post Business After Hours - 5:30-7:00 p.m. Patriot Mortgage Services, LLC FEBRUARY 12 21 27 Chamber Board Meeting - 11:30 a.m. Messina Restaurant and Lounge Joint Chamber Business After Hours 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cedarburg Cultural Center Ozaukee County Networking Exchange 7:30-9:00 a.m. The Paramount Restaurant Happy New Year! PRSTD STD U.S. Postage PAID Grafton, WI Permit No. 9 P.O. Box 132, Grafton, Wisconsin 53024-0132 Phone (262) 377-1650 Fax (262) 375-7087 OFFICERS President Amy Schleg Ozaukee Bank 375-5225 Fax 377-8900 Vice President Dan McKelvey Investment Center of Grafton 376-2220 Fax 377-2261 Treasurer Mike Goebel Donahue s Accounting & Tax Services 375-1900 Fax 375-1827 Secretary Debbie Lessard VISHAY Cera-mite Corporation 377-3500 Fax 377-7309
Grafton Chamber e-mail: graftonadmin@grafton-wi.org NANCY HUNDT Executive Director 262-377-1650 A Publication of the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce Happy New JANUARY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Thursday, January 24, 2008 Rose Harms Legion Post 355 11:30 a.m. Pasta And Salad Buffet Cost: $15.00 per person (includes coffee, tea, tax, and gratuity) Year Edition Featured Speakers: P ROG R AM STATE OF THE COMMUNITY Lester Bartel, Town Board Chairman Jim Brunnquell, Grafton Village President Dr. Jeff Pechura, Superintendent, Grafton Public Schools RSVP by faxing or mailing the reservation form below. CHAMBER NETWORKING LUNCHEON Business Phone JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2008 Names of persons attending @ $15.00 each: Payment Enclosed $ or Please charge my Visa or Mastercard Acct. # Expiration Date Mail form & check to: Chamber Luncheon, P. O. Box 132, Grafton, WI 53024 or Fax to 262-375-7087 by January 18.
Hello to everyone and Happy New Year! I hope this first Chamber Newsletter of the new year finds you, your family and your businesses happy, healthy and ready for 2008! There is a saying with Wisconsin seasons that if the season comes in like a lion then it will go out like a lamb. In Grafton, our 2007 had only lions. We started and ended the year with a flurry of wonderful activity. It seems we were continually busy welcoming new businesses, celebrating business milestones and business expansions. It is so much fun to be a part of a community that is growing, changing and leading the way. As Grafton rolls into this new year, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of 2007 and the goals and opportunities for 2008. I challenge the business community not to be satisfied with what we have done, but always continue to kick and make waves. Throughout the year, I look forward to seeing all of you at the various Chamber Events! The first being the Annual State of the Community Luncheon on January 24th at the Legion. Amy From The President Amy Schleg Ozaukee Bank Patriot Mortgage, LLC Business After Hours Jeff Schoen invites you and your associates to join him on Thursday, January 31 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. 1005 Washington Street, Grafton Refreshments will be served. Don t Miss This Chamber Member Networking Opportunity RSVP by January 25 Please phone in, fax, or e-mail the names of those attending Phone: 262-377-1650 Fax: 262-375-7087 Email: pam@grafton-wi.org O.N.C.E. AGAIN! Ozaukee Networking Chamber Exchange Network ONCE every other month with Chamber members from throughout the county. Please join us on Wednesday, February 27. This event is for those who want to experience salesmanship in action, form strategic alliances and willingly refer business to others. Time: 7:30-9:00 AM Full Breakfast Buffet The Paramount Restaurant, Grafton Cost: $12 Chamber member $24 Non-member 2008 Dates April 23, June 25, August 27, October 22 To register, mail or fax this form to the Grafton Chamber or call the Chamber office. P.O. Box 132 Grafton, WI 53024 phone: 377-1650 fax: 375-7087 Business: Attendees: Payment: $ check MasterCard Visa Credit Card # Exp. Date Signature:
AMBORSE GROUP 225 E. St Paul Avenue, Suite 304 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 273-8244 Fax: (414) 273-8250 Email: bill@ambgrp.com www.ambgrp.com Bill Patton We are a retained research and recruitment firm with offices in Milwaukee and Chicago. We conduct proprietary searches on behalf of our clients who are looking for specific individuals for professional positions in the banking/finance sector. BASIC PLUMBING 702 8th Avenue Grafton, WI 53024 (262)501-9400 Steve Garven Welcome New Members Looking for an honest, loyal plumber? I am a master plumber with 20 years of experience. No job is too small! HEARTLAND DEVELOPMENT GROUP 309 N. Water Street, Suite 430 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (262) 271-3729 Fax: (414) 298-9500 Email: clpodd@sbcglobal.net Curt Podd Residential and Commercial Development. IRWIN UNION INVESTOR SERVICES 555 N. Plankinton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203 (262) 442-9565 Email: mike.karbouski@irwinunion.com Michael Karbouski, CFP Unbiased and comprehensive investment and financial planning advise. SHOPKO 1771 Wisconsin Avenue Grafton, WI 53024 (262) 375-1144 Fax: (262) 375-3519 Tim Siegel, Manager Shopko has been dedicated to providing customers with quality merchandise and services at prices that communicate value since 1962. Our store is focused on customer lifestyles and meeting our customers' changing needs for casual apparel, home, family and healthcare products. Chamber Board Approves Go-Kart Sale The Chamber owns and stores a fleet of 10 go-karts that were used for the Celebrity Race of the Grafton Grand Prix. These karts are for sale, as is. To make an offer, contact the Chamber Office. Save the Date! March 6, 2008 at Lime Kiln Park Zaun Pavillion 8:00 Registration 8:30 AM Program begins 3:30 PM Program ends Well Workplace University: Building a Results-Oriented Employee Wellness Program. Drawing from the actual experiences of North America s best run corporate wellness programs, Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA), one of the country s most trusted voices on worksite health promotion, developed and refined a dynamic process known as Well Workplace. Through Well Workplace University, you will learn: Watch Your Mail for Registration Information The seven benchmarks of results-oriented workplace wellness programs Specific ideas, examples, and resources you can use at your worksite The process for winning a Well Workplace Award and joining the ranks of America s Healthiest Companies Brought to you by the Wellness Council of Wisconsin, local affiliate of Wellness Councils of America. Sponsored by Health Wave in partnership with the Village of Grafton, Aurora Health Care, Form & Fitness, the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the School District of Grafton.
At the Breakfast with Santa, Jolly the Elf, a.k.a. Patty Gallun-Hansen, and Leah McKelvey strategize before Leah s meeting with Santa. The Chamber sponsored the 2nd Annual Paramount Plaza Tree Decorating Contest. Kim Meisinger and Melissa Oehme of the Bloomin Olive stand in front of their winning tree. 2nd Place was awarded to The News Graphic and 3rd place to the Grafton Lion s Club. Santa in his New Ride, provided by Home Depot, welcomed in the 2008 Holiday Season. Dr. Jim Becker, the Chamber s 2007 Outstanding Citizen served as the Grand Marshall for the Parade. Chamber President Amy Schleg presents the Chamber s Outstanding Community Group Award to representatives of Starting Point of Ozaukee Board President Ed Schmidt, Board Treasurer Andy Gremminger, and Prevention/Education Specialists Sharon Brown and Carey Gremminger. Our thanks to Lyn May of the News Graphic, Karron Stockwell of Coldwell Banker and the entire Holiday Events Committee for providing a special day of Christmas celebrations on November 24. Also, many thanks to all of the businesses whose donations made the Tree Lighting, Breakfast With Santa, 28th Annual Christmas Parade and Community Christmas Party & Auction possible. We would like to hear from anyone in your business who may be interested in serving on the Holiday Events Committee. The kick-off meeting of this committee is in June, subsequent meetings are held monthly in August, September, October and November.
Let the Chamber Promote Your Business! Chamber Members: Chamber member $50.00 Non-member non-profit $75.00 Non-member $200.00 Mailing Labels Grafton Area Businesses, Including Industries: Chamber member $75.00 Chamber member non-profit $50.00 Non-member non-profit $100.00 Non-member business not available Please allow one week for membership labels requests. Newsletter Inserts Chamber member $75.00 Chamber member non-profit $50.00 Non-member non-profit $125.00 Non-member not available Grafton Industries Only: Chamber members $25.00 Chamber members non-profit $50.00 Non-members not available 300 pieces 8½ x 11 folded in half must be provided by the 20th of the month of the requested service. The Messenger is a bi-monthly publication. Please call ahead to reserve insert space. Want to promote a special event to fellow Chamber members via email? We will email advertisement - limited to 50 words or less (no graphics) for $25 for one insertion. Payment and message must be received by Friday noon of the week prior to the date you'd like it sent. We will include only 2 to our Chamber Shorts each week on a first come first serve basis. Examples of acceptable items are: special sales, events, promotions, seminars, workshops, space for lease/sale (business related only, no private entries accepted). Notes From Nancy... Thank you to our members who sent holiday wishes our way with cards, festive arrangements and other treats. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated! Good News for Chamber Members!! Display your Chamber Membership Plaque prominently and proudly! Information provided to our Chamber from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and Small Business Network, Inc. relates that a national study by The Schapiro Group, an Atlantabased market research firm, reveals a number of important findings about how consumers and business owners perceive the local Chamber of Commerce and the businesses that are their members. Their research indicated that when consumers know that a business is a member of the local Chamber they are 44% more likely to think favorably about it, 51% more likely to be highly aware of it and 57% more likely to think positively of its local reputation. Consumers are 63%more likely to buy from Chamber members. The study also revealed a positive perception for the local chamber itself, supporting previous findings, the study stated regarding the Chamber s impact on the local economy, 82% of respondents believe that the local Chamber of Commerce helps create jobs and promotes local economic development. The results of the Schapiro study are clear: Positive perception increases among consumers and business owners when a business is identified as a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. Is it time for your business to review your credit card processing operation? Are you able to offer Gift Cards through your current provider at a reasonable cost? The Chamber has reached an agreement with Fifth Third Processing Solutions to be its preferred credit and gift card processor. To find out more about how this partnership can benefit your business, please call the Chamber office at 377-1650. Congratulations to Grafton State Bank on the opening of its fifth branch office at 1590 Cardinal Drive in the City of Port Washington recently. The bank is located just west of Hwy 32 and south of County Highway LL at the site of the old Port Motel.