Chamber News February 2010

The Greater La Pine Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Installation of the new 2010 Board of Directors
Left to right: Graham Balcer, La Pine Eyecare Clinic; Bob Cox, Edward Jones; Robin
Mirrasoul, Books, Boxes & Business Services; Jane Gillette, RE/MAX Sunset Realty/
Pahlisch Homes; Ted Scholer, RE/MAX Sunset Realty; Tom Weller, Midstate Electric
Coop; Art Uecker, La Pine Insurance. Andy Meeuwsen, COUNTRY Financial; and
Linda Johnson, RE/MAX Sunset Realty, pictured on the table. Dan Varcoe, Executive
Director at the podium doing the installation. Photo taken by Mike Jensen, JensenOne.
La Pine Chamber of Commerce— Annual Awards Banquet
When:
Saturday February 20th
Time:
Social Hour; 5:30pm
Dinner; 6:30pm
Place:
La Pine Senior Activity
Center
Annual awards, delicious
food, delightful company,
great entertainment, raffle
and door prizes!
Three Great Ways to
Promote Your Business!
Major Sponsor— get major recognition for your
business at the event!
Table Decorator—you
decorate an event table
including a table raffle
prize and favors for each
seating with your business
name prominently displayed.
Raffle Prize Donation—
you provide a raffle prize
with your business name
Prizes for best costume in each of the categories:
the Past the Present the Future.
Presidents Message
Page 2
Chamber Officers &
Board of Dir.
Page 2
“Lulu’s Luncheonette
Page 2
Ribbon Cutting
Page 3
The Chamber Breakfast
Page 3
Directors Message
Page 4
Membership Info
Page 5
Chamber Perk’s
Page 6
Roundtable/Events
Page 7
December Breakfast
Highlights
Page 8
La Pine Chamber
Officers & Board
of Directors
Art Uecker
La Pine Insurance Center
President
Bob Cox
Edward Jones Investments
Vice President
Andy Meeuwsen
COUNTRY® Financial
Treasurer
Jane Gillette
Re/Max Sunset Realty
Linda Johnston
Re/Max Sunset Realty
Tom Weller
Midstate Electric
Robin Mirrasoul
Books, Boxes & Business
Services
Ted Scholer
Re/Max Sunset Realty
Graham Balcer
La Pine Eyecare Center
President’s Message It is amazing how quickly time goes by. It seems like just yesterday we said
good bye to 2009 and here it is February already. This is the month of the
Annual Chamber banquet and I know it will be another big success. Teri M.
has cooked up a great piece of entertainment for all of us to enjoy. If you
have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to call the chamber or
send in your registration form. You do not want to miss this annual event
when we celebrate the successes of our members and have time to just sit
back and enjoy the company of the members of the best Chamber of ComArthur D. Uecker merce anywhere.
As I enter into my second term as President of your Chamber, I want to
thank the other members of the board for their support and I especially want to thank you, the
members, for your increased support and enthusiasm which is evident in the ever increasing attendance at the monthly breakfast. The “buzz” in the room and smiling faces show all of us on
the board of directors that you are engaged and confident in the value that your membership
brings to you.
As we begin to look forward to spring, there are a number of exciting items and events in the
wind. After all, this 2010 is the 100th birthday of La Pine. We will soon have a brand new “City
of La Pine” sign at the triangle park courtesy of Linda S. and the great team she has put together.
The City Council has voted to recruit and hire a “City Manager”. It seems that our voices can be
and were heard by the Council and I want to thank all those in the community who encouraged
the City to move in that direction. I strongly believe that a City Manager will free up the Council
to do even bigger and better things for our City. The City Council has also begun the process of
drafting a new City Charter and my sources tell me that they intend to include at least one “at
large councilor” position in the new Charter. Again, our voices have been heard and again we
must continue to encourage the City’s leaders.
Finally, I want to encourage each of you to consider donating either some of your time and talent, or some of your treasure to assisting one or more of the many local non-profit organizations
in La Pine. The economy is still struggling and many of our citizens are struggling also. I can tell
you from personal experience, when assist in one of these organizations, you will gain far more
than you gave. The look on the faces of those who benefit from your efforts is all the reward
needed. This is our community and when there is such need I am confident that you will do
what you can to help. Until next Month,
Chamber Staff
Executive Director
Dan Varcoe
Office Manager
Jane Gould
Lead Volunteer
Sharlene Baumgartner
Volunteers
Linda Moore
Carol Blackwood
Martha Lawler
Roger Allen
Judy Keller
Committees
Economic Development &
Gov’t Affairs Chair
Jayne Benner
Membership Chair
Sharon McDermott
Page 2
“Lulu’s Luncheonette”
“The Revenge of the Recipe”
A captivating comedy written by our own T. Myers.
Imagine that you live in a town that is finally settling down! It comes complete
with all of the repercussions of change and offers a vast amount of entertaining
events for the all of the locals. On just one afternoon, in late February, 1920,
Lulu's Luncheonette becomes the talk of the town when the new ranch hand
tries to grab a burger and several of the town's most important ladies react to
his handsome face and charming demeanor after having a few too many sips of
Lulu's "recipe"- a tea that provokes conversation, confession and more than a
little suggestion....
Is this a normal day in La Pine? Have the regulations put upon the locals made
it impossible to find a good burger in a safe place? Have the Leaders of the
town lost their ability to get things done? Come to Lulu's for all of the answers
and watch the fun and farce that happens when everyone is a judge and no one
can be cited for whatever happens in a fast paced changing community!
Come to the Chamber Annual Awards Banquet to find out more
about “LuLu’s Luncheonette and the Revenge of the Recipe.” Call
(541) 536-9771 to make your reservations.
(541) 536-9771 ● E-mail: director@lapine.org ● Website: www.lapine.org
Family and Community Together (FACT)
Located in
the La Pine Community Campus
Terri Newcomb - President for FACT
cuts the ribbon
Left to right: Shawn James, Instructor,
Dee Ann Lewis, FACT Executive Director, and Terri Newcomb Fact President.
Heather Wingate,
Special Education, FACT Board
FACT Resource Room
Join us on February 19th for “The Chamber Breakfast”
Featured Speaker will be Mike Supkis, the new La Pine Rural Fire Protection Chief. Topic “Making
Snowballs”. He will be giving us an update on the La Pine Rural Fire Department, as
well as, how our community’s willingness to fund local public services, and other
activities, will have a positive impact on our quality of life. Even in these very challenging times it goes to show what La Pine is made of and what it can become and
the rewards we can expect in the form of economic development in our area.
He has served top performing fire departments and public safety organizations and
their communities in Idaho, Oregon and Alaska since 1978. Chief Supkis began his
fire service career as a student resident Firefighter/EMT in Moscow, Idaho. He then
held positions in Lewiston, Idaho; Ontario, Oregon; and Fairbanks, Alaska. He holds degrees in forestry
and fire science, and is a graduate of the Alaska Department of Public Safety Academy and the National
Fire Academy Fire Executive Officer Program.
Breakfast
Sponsor
Door Prizes Donated by:
High Lakes Feed, JensenOne Marketing & Consulting, La Pine Feed and Pet Supply, Wise Buys, Home Federal Bank and Thorson Bookkeeping. If
you would like to contribute a door prize at the Breakfast call the Chamber at (541) 536-9771 or e-mail us at director@lapine.org.
Call now (541-536-9771) and sign up for Breakfast with the Chamber! Now only $7.00.
The Outdoors at your Front door
Page 3
Executive Director Message
“Good ‘nuff fer who its’ fer???” (or not!)
I am proud to say that, in La Pine, I have witnessed quite the opposite approach in the way our people approach things. The minimum standard is not
“Good Enough!”
A Small Town with a
Bright Future
One good example was our Ford Leadership Group. They set a goal of striving
to purchase and install 5 street-lights on Huntington Road. Even in tough economic times, the La Pine Community joined the effort. Midstate Electric contributed to each light and installation and various businesses and individuals
Dan Varcoe
sponsored lights with actual dollars. We saw “Excellence” happen, right before
our eyes. The expectation was 5 new Street-Lights… the delivery was 10 lights. This is the “La PineWay”: “Under-Promise and Over-Deliver”.
It is nothing new to see this way of doing business in La Pine. We are in the habit of going above
and beyond what is required and what is expected. And it pays off in the end.
We are excelling... Excel: SYNONYMS: excel, surpass, exceed, transcend, outdo, outstrip. These verbs
mean to be or go beyond a limit or standard. To excel is to be preeminent (excels at figure skating) or to
be at a level higher than another or others (excelled her father as a lawyer). To surpass another is to be
superior in performance, quality, or degree: an athlete surpassed by none.
The La Pine Chamber is buying into this concept whole-heartedly. We are striving to provide
more value to our membership and the community than ever before. Enhanced communications
techniques are being utilized in the form of higher quality “Chamber Newsletters”, the “Chamber
Buzz” and “What’s Happening this Weekend in La Pine”… our weekly email updates. The
www.lapine.org Calendar of Events is updated regularly. Our members are highlighted and marketed in the weekly “La Pine Rocks! Chamber Connection” in the Wise Buys and Frontier Advertiser.
We are offering increasingly higher quality monthly Breakfast Meetings with a growing attendance.
We are continually striving to raise the quality of everything we do at the Chamber. (Try as we
might, we are
not perfect, we over-looked naming one of our Speakers and Sponsors in our last
newsletter.
Vic Russell, was a Featured Speaker. Vic and his wife Vicky, Vic Russell
Construction Inc, are another example of practicing “Excellence” in
their commitment to a high- quality of workmanship and contribution
in the community of La Pine. They always give more than
expected and go above and beyond the “Minimum Stane
v
te
S
Sue &
dard”
in whatever they do. Their heart for the community
Meyer
sell
Vic Rus
is very visible. We also overlooked naming the sponsors who were
Steve and Sue Meyer, with AFLAC. Our apologies to both.)
The point is… La Pine is a Small Town with a Bright Future!. And that is largely because of the
work-ethic and dedication that it’s people have toward providing added value to everything they
do, whether serving on the City Council, volunteering on a committee, heading up a non-profit
organization or playing on a La Pine Schools athletic team. La Pine’s pride of excellence lives on!
Mission/Vision
Statement
“We are the hub of the
business community, promoting commerce and
tourism making
La Pine a vibrant
community to work, live
and play!”
Page 4
Visitor Center Stats
for January 2010
58 Visitor* Packets mailed.
55 Visitor walk-ins
77 Visitor phone calls &,
PO Box 616, La Pine, OR 97739
5 Welcome Bags
P: 541-536-9771, F: 541-536-8410
(new Residents)
E-mail: director@lapine.org
*Visitors
are non-resident tourists
Website: www.lapine.org
(541) 536-9771 ● E-mail: director@lapine.org ● Website: www.lapine.org
Economic Development/Governmental Affairs Committee
Members met at our regularly scheduled time on Wednesday, January 13. Committee members attending included Vic Russell, Vern Walters, Dan Varcoe, Tony
and Kathy DeBone and Chair Jayne Benner. Members unable to attend that day
are Ted Scholer, Councilwoman Barbara Hedges and Graham Balcer.
It was noted that the list of accomplishments and goals the City has set for itself
were published in the last Newberry Eagle and that this was a good message to
the community to keep information flowing regarding the city.
Jayne Benner, Chair
Other good news is that La Pine Industrial Group (LIGI) Deschutes County, ODOT and the City of La
Pine now have a Memorandum of Understanding wherein LIGI will proceed with funding the traffic
study for Hwy 97 and 1st/Reed and that the City and other stakeholders will agree to work toward the
goals set forth in that study.
I updated the committee regarding the first City of La Pine Utilities Committee meeting. We felt, for
the most part, that this was a positive meeting and set out some goals for the committee. Among
those goals is to research the cost to the city, ie. attorney fees, insurance costs if the utilities were
absorbed by the city, and other challenges which will present the city with additional debt service.
Upon completion of the research, the committee will present their findings to the City and the City
will then be able to report to the residents.
Tony DeBone reported that the land bill, which would allow transfer of BLM land to the City of La
Pine for rodeo, extended sewer treatment and the parcel of land in downtown La Pine, has been submitted to the Legislature. A final date for passage on this bill remains unknown at this time.
Economic development remains a primary mission for this committee. The ideal outcome of our
work would be to have the City of La Pine and the Industrial Park “Open For Business” once the
economy takes a positive turn. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the
committee for their time and their input on critical issues facing our community.
Welcome Our New Members!
Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, PC - Jeremy Green - La Pine City Attorney - Gold Member
Since our founding in 1915, Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, P.C. has been committed to counseling and advising individuals and businesses located in Central and Eastern Oregon. As a local law firm, Bryant,
Lovlien & Jarvis is vested in, and cares deeply about, the Central and Eastern Oregon Communities.
Areas of expertise include business entity formation and general business counsel, employment law,
tax law, securities law, real estate transactions and financing, mergers and acquisitions, construction
law, estate planning, and school and municipal law.
Benefits of
Chamber
Membership
• Referral Service
• Free internet link
from Chamber
web-site to yours
• Your flyer distributed in the newsletter
• Building business
contacts & customer base through
Chamber networking activities such as
monthly breakfast
and other events.
• Display your business brochure &
business card in the
Chamber Office
• Your business information placed in
Welcome bags for
new La Pine residents.
These are all ways to
improve & grow your
business - and there
are many more benefits to your Chamber
membership not even
listed here. We are
working for you Take advantage of
us!
Thanks to our Renewed Members!
The American Legion Post 45 - Non-Profit member - 2 years
Floral Designs by Linda, LLC - Bronze member - 1 year
Little Deschutes Grange No. 939 - Non-Profit member - 1 year
Home Federal Bank - Gold member - 13 years
La Pine Hwy Center Properties, Inc. - Bronze member - 26 years
La Pine High School - Bronze member - 24 years
Partnership to End Poverty - Non-Profit member - 2 years
H&R Block - Bronze member - 3 years
Midstate Electric Cooperative - Gold member - 23 years
Holy Redeemer Church - Non-Profit member - 3 years
Randy Yow Construction, Inc - Bronze member - 16 years
Timbercrest Inn - Bronze member - 3 years
Changed your
phone, fax,
website, or email?
Contact the
Chamber to
update your
business listing!
(541)536-9771or
e-mail us at
info@lapine.org
Thank you for your continued investment and confidence in
The La Pine Chamber of Commerce
The Outdoors at your Front door
Page 5
“Chamber Perks”
Remember to “Shop La Pine” and “Shop CHAMBER Members” first!
The following Chamber members are offering benefits to fellow Chamber members. Call the Chamber today to find out how you
can be included.
La Pine Eyecare Clinic
La Pine Tax
Services
New customers receive
10% discount on three
months bookkeeping or
tax preparation on first
visit for services at
LPTS offices. Call
Sharon for appointment
at (541) 536-1675.
Chamber members receive a 5% discount on all optical purchases and 10% discount on a complete pair of
glasses. Eye exam discounts also available. Some
exclusions apply. Call (541)536-2911 for details.
Precise Plumbing
New customers receive 10% off labor for service
call. Call (541) 536-2464.
Little d Technology
L & M Painting
Chamber members receive a 10% discount on a house painting or stain job
services. Call Mark or Leslie at (541)
536-4229.
S & R Storage
New customers receive
10% off the rental of any
storage unit for the entire time the unit is
rented. Available 7 days
a week, call (541)5367926.
Mt. Mazama Water
New customers receive 10% off for the
first 6 months of service. Call Brad at
(541) 884-1888.
Thorson Bookkeeping
New customers receive 10%
discount on three months bookkeeping services on the first visit
at Thorson Bookkeeping. Call
Mary at (541) 536-2912.
Heather’s Bitchin
Stichin
New customers receive a
25% discount off total
embroidery order price.
Minimum order required.
Call Heather at (541)
536-3683.
Peggy Boone, Consultant
Take advantage of this one hour in-house Customer Service
Training for your team. This $100 session is offered to Chamber businesses for just $25.
Isagenix—World Leader in Nutrition—Health and Wellness Group: Improve the health, attendance and quality of life
for everyone in your organization by scheduling a lunchtime
nutritional briefing session for your team! This special offer is
just $2 per employee. Contact Peggy at 541-678– 3734.
Special Offer!
Flyer inserts for
Chamber Newsletter.
Full color copies 29¢
each* or color paper
- B&W copies 10¢
each*
*single side copies only
AFLAC!
We ‘re excited to announce Group Rates for Chamber businesses and individual members. Aflac pays
you cash when you're sick or injured and can't work. Aflac offers supplemental, dental, vision, cancer
and disability, for individuals and businesses. Call Steve or Sue Meyer at 541 598 4440
Barter Exchange Cooperative (BEC)
Very simply most business owners have a fee structure for their goods and
services every 10 dollars would be equal to one BEC credit. For more
information call Patti King,, Timberline Consulting, LLC, at 541-914-5110.
Cro’s Fencing
Chamber members receive a 10% discount on fence services. Call
Chris (541) 480-8603.
Purchase a New
Dell Computer
System from Little
D Technology and
we will transfer data and
Programs from your old
computer and more FREE:
We have great onsite service!
**Limited to stock
on hand.
541-536-1079.
MyOregonHorseForSale.com
Increase your business
exposure by taking advantage of reduced rates. We
offer Website banner
advertising (including
newsletter advertising) for
$50.00 a month. Space in
our newsletters for $10.00
a week. Want to advertise for FREE? Refer a
client to me, or swap links.
Have a horse to sell? Buy
an ad and we’ll upgrade
your ad to feature status.
Call Bonnie at (541) 7880444.
Travel Counsellors
Discount to Chamber Members. When a Chamber
member makes a referral
they will be entered into the
Ambassador Program and
start earning incentives that
will be awarded upon completion of the referred parties travel. Consider joining Linda Stephenson’s Panama Canal Cruise, January
2011. Call Gina Wearin
(541) 610-6719.
Highlight your Chamber Perks Coupon in Color! Only $20.00
Page 6
(541) 536-9771 ● E-mail: director@lapine.org ● Website: www.lapine.org
Business Roundtable & Events
February 2nd - Workshop...The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors will hold a Workshop at
51590 Huntington Rd, La Pine, at 9:00am until noon. The
workshop meeting agenda includes New Fire Chief Orientation and Long Term District Visioning. For more information call (541) 536-2935 Ext. 101.
February 4th - Nitrate issue meeting...with the DEQ
and DLCD from 6pm at the La Pine Senior Center. If you
have any questions call Robert Ray at (541) 536-3254.
February 6th - The La Pine Grange Flea Market (&
trading post)...10:00am - 3:00pm, at the La Pine Little
Deschutes Grange #939, for more information call 541-5361455.
February 6th - Grad Night Auction & Tri Tip Dinner...Class of 2010...at the American Legion Post 45, doors
open at 4:00pm to view auction items, Dinner at 5:00 pm
and auction at 6:00pm. Tickets cost $10.00. For more information contact Jennifer Slater at (541) 610-6355 or Kellie
Park at (541) 749-8418.
February 13th -14th Annual Valentine Spaghetti Dinner...at the Holy Redeemer Church from 4:30pm 7:30pm. Tickets are $5.00 for Single, $20.00 for Family (2
adults & children). For ticket sales call: 541-536-1992, 541536-3571 or 541-593-5990.
ment, raffle and door prizes! For more information contact
the Chamber at (541) 536-9771.
February 25th - When the time comes...could you pay
for Long Term Care? Plan to attend the Long Term Care
Seminar, Thursday, at 6:00pm at the La Pine Senior Activity
Center. Homemade Pie and Coffee to be served. Featuring
Andy Meeuwsen, Financial Representative & Jim King, CLU
of COUNTRY Financial. Please RSVP by February 22nd.
Call 541-536-0340 to reserve your spot.
March 5th - 7th - The Bachelor Butte Dog Derby...is
a return to racing sled dogs in the Cascade mountains near
Bend/Sunriver, OR. The event is a trophy race scheduled at
Wanoga sno-park. For more information contact Bino
Fowler at: bfowler70@q.com. Entry forms, when they become available, will be posted here: RaceEntryForms
March 1st...The Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation
(OAEF) is offering a $1,000 Oregon Farm Bureau Memorial
Scholarship funded by COUNTRY Financial. The goal of this
scholarship is to “help future community and business leaders obtain a baccalaureate education with the aim of
strengthening understanding, cooperation and mutual respect among rural, urban and suburban Oregonians.” Application must be postmarked by Monday, March 1, 2010. Letters of Recommendation must be received by March 1,
2010. For more information or to access the application
please visit: www.oregonfb.org
February 13th - Relax at the Tree Top
Lounge...Concert by Lino. Valentines Day Celebration
starting at 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Tickets $15 per person or
$25 for couple. Location Diamond Stone Guest
Lodges. Call for tickets and reservation (541) 536-6263.
March 13th - 8th Annual Crab Feed...All you can eat
crab fresh from the Oregon Coast. Lots of sides, beer &
music. For information go to www.lapinefrontierdays.org.
Tickets available at the Chamber.
February 13th - Valentine Prime Rib Dinner....at the
Red Rooster Coffee House & Cafe from 4:00pm to
8:00pm. $17.00 reservations required. Call (541) 536-5181
for reservations.
Lodgepole dodgers - Snowmobile Club …2010 Raffle
for a Gold Beach Get-Away. Four 104 Mile Mail Boat trips,
One Night Lodging for Two at Jot’s Resort, $200.00 cash
card. $10.00 per ticket, only 500 being sold! Contact Gary
Pankey at 541-593-5927 for more information.
February 14th - Family Valentine Day Brunch...at the
La Pine Senior Activity Center, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Cost is $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per child 10 and under.
Come and join us for a wonderful brunch!
February 16th - Notice of Public Meeting on the
Community School Program…at the High School auditorium, at 6:00pm, on a After School Program/Teen Center. The public is invited to give their input on what the
program should look like. Free Food and Beverages will be
provided. Sponsored by the La Pine Community Action
Team.
February 20th - A Small Town - the Past, Present,
and Bright Future...Join us for the Chamber 2010 Annual
Awards Banquet. Social Hour starts at 5:30 and Dinner at
6:30. Location is the La Pine Senior Activity Center. Annual
awards, delicious food, delightful company, great entertainThe Outdoors at your Front door
Home Federal Bank Announces Ultimate Checking! Now you can have it all – a safe, secure, local, friendly
bank AND 3.01% APY* on qualifying balances. No minimum balance, no monthly fees and up to $20 in ATM fee
refunds if monthly qualifications are met. This account is
available beginning January 27, 2010. Visit our La
Pine branch today to sign up! *APY=Annual Percentage
Yield. $50 opening deposit required. Fees may reduce
earnings on the account. Some restrictions apply. Member
FDIC.
Do you have an upcoming event? Let us know & we
can post it .
Page 7
January Chamber Breakfast Meeting
Breakfast Sponsor
Mike Jensen - Breakfast Sponsor, also presented a
goal setting workshop.
Speaker
FBLA Members
Dez Patton
John Ebner
Peggy Boone,
Health &
Wellness
Group
Peggy presented a ComplaintFreeWorld.org concept
Photographs by Mike Jensen
Membership Networking
January Breakfast door prizes donated by:
Robin & Art drawing
for door prizes