Tis the Season - Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce

Vol. No. 5 • Issue No. 6 • December 2006
IN THIS ISSUE
4
‘Tis the Season
Holiday Mixer and Awards Luncheon,
Wednesday, December 13, 11:30am1:00pm at Skagit Station
Come celebrate the year’s
accomplishments w ith your
fellow chamber members during
the annual Holiday Mixer and Awards
Luncheon.
The Viewcrest Christian
School Choir will perform for us. RSVP
to karenm@mountvernonchamber.com or call the chamber
office 360-428-8547.
Business Book of the
Month
6
Good Leaders make Great L.O.V.E.R.S
Thursday, January 18, 5:30pm-8:00pm
The Skagit Valley Casino Resort
Government Affairs
6
The Year in Review
LEGACY MEMBERS
Join SCCEDA (Skagit County
Chamber Executive Directors) for
one of the best county-wide networking and social events of the
year! Board Chairpersons and
Presidents from all six Skagit
County Chambers of Commerce
will be in attendance to recognize
new and continuing board members for their individual organizations. Featered speaker will be Dr.
Violet Malone.
a woman who consider learning a lifelong
process. She started at WWU in 1991 and is now
a Professor (emeritus) at Western's Woodring
College of Education where she
taught adult and higher education.
Dr. Malone spent most of her career
working with adults experiencing
some phase of transition. In 1999
she was named to the Adult and
Continuing Education Society
International Hall of Fame. Her
academic background includes a
doctorate in adult education from
Dr. Violet Malone
Florida State University.
The event is sponsored by Puget Sound Energy
and produced by SCCEDA. Dr. Violet Malone is
For
more
information
contact
kristenw@mountvernonchamber.com or call
the chamber office 360-428-8547.
Platinum Members:
Bronze Members:
Governor and Legislative Leaders
Announce Worker and Employer Tax Cuts
Gov. Gregoire and Senate and House leaders have
announced that employers will save about $89
million in business taxes in 2007 due to lower
premiums for UI and workers’ comp insurance.
The governor is also proposing a six month sus-
pension of a portion of workers’ comp premiums, which would save employers and workers
another $315 million. In addition, workers’ comp
taxes will be lowered an average of 13 percent
next year for a savings of $58.4 million.
THE MOUNT VERNON CHAMBER of COMMERCE
Phone: (360) 428-8547 • Fax: (360) 424-6237 • chamber@mountvernonchamber.com • www.mountvernonchamber.com
Post Office Box 1007, 105 East Kincaid Street • Mount Vernon, WA 98273-1007
Mount
Chamber Day in Olympia
Chamber Day in Olympia Set for
February 7
The Mount Vernon Chamber of
Commerce
Government
Affairs
Committee will lead a group of business
leaders to meet with legislators for the
10th and 40th district for the fourth year
in a row on February 7th, 2007. The
Washington Chamber of Commerce
Executive Association is in the process of
coordinating a legislative breakfast,
proclamation of chamber day on the
House and Senate floor along with an
address to the group from Governor
Gregoire during the morning session.
The group will have individual appointments will the elected officials in the
afternoon. Space is limited, please call
the chamber office today to ensure your
seat on the bus.
Appreciation for Dedicated Service
The Mount Vernon Chamber of
Commerce has had – and continues to
have – great leaders! Our Board of
Directors is a group of “forward moving”,
energetic and positive business professionals who have helped create a good
foundation for the chamber. As we say
farewell to those members who have
served on the Board of Directors, we
would like to say thank you for your
time and energy.
Dan Berentson
Skagit County
3 years of service.
tw o
Dottie Piazza
Piazza Realty Property Mgmt.
6 years of service.
Donnie Keltz
Wycoff Insurance
3 years of service.
C h a m b e r C h a t N ews
Vernon
Member Announcements
Now thru 12/14 – “Break the Bank” at
The Skagit
Skagit Valley Casino Resort (The
Skagit) celebrates its 11th anniversary
with the largest casino drawing in
Washington state. Now through
December 14, visitors can earn drawing
tickets into the casino’s “Break the Bank”
promotion, in which one lucky winner
will receive a grand prize of $120,000
($10,000 a month for a year). An additional 29 cash prizes will also be awarded
throughout the promotion totaling
$62,000. Weekly cash prize drawings for
Break the Bank will be held on
Thursdays, November 30 and December
7, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Grand prize
drawings will be held on Thursday,
December 14, with a drawing for $5,000
at 2 p.m., hourly drawings for $1,000
from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the grand
prize drawing for $120,000 at 8 p.m.
During the final drawing, 10 winners will
be selected to break piggy banks with
prize indicators inside; nine will win
$2,000 cash prizes and one will win
$10,000 a month for 12 months.
For more information or to make
hotel reservations, call The Skagit at
1.877.2Skagit (1.877.275.2448) or visit
the Web site at www.theskagit.com.
December Movies at the Lincoln Theatre
12/1-12/5 – US vs John Lennon
12/6 - Sports Adventure Film Series Touching the Void
12/9 – Family Animated Film Series –
Brave Little Toaster
12/8-12/12 – Keeping Mum
The Lincoln Theatre is located at 712
South First Street, Mount Vernon, WA.
For more information and tickets call
360-336-8955 or 877-754-6284 toll free.
12/8-12/10 – Community Singers
Invited to Help Support Food Banks,
Salvation Army
The annual “Sing from the Heart”
event will be conducted Dec. 8 from 2-7
p.m., Dec. 9 noon-7 p.m. and Dec. 10
noon-5 p.m. at all Haggen Food &
Pharmacy stores. The stores will make a
donation of $50 for each hour a group
shares holiday music. Participating
organizations may designate a local food
bank or the Salvation Army as the beneficiary of the donation.
Sign-ups for times will begin Oct. 25
and can be accomplished at the guest
services counter of each store or by calling.
For more information, visit
www.Haggen.com.
December Entertainment at The Skagit
Valley Casino Resort
12/15 & 12/16 – Soul’d Out – 70’s to
90’s Dance and R&B. No cover, 9 p.m. to
1 a.m.
12/22 & 12/23 – The Goods – Top
40 Dance Hits, 60’s – 80’s Rock. No
cover, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
12/28 – Comedy Night – Dan
Moore (8-8:30 p.m.) and Pete Johansson
(8:30-9:30 p.m.). No cover, 8:00 p.m. to
9:30 p.m.
12/29 & 12/30 – Expertease – Top
40, 60’s to Today Dance Band. No cover,
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
12/31 at the Pacific Showroom –
“New Year’s Eve Gala” – “Top 40” dance
hits by top dance band Gruvbox, delectable prime rib and salmon buffet dinner, party favors, a no-host bar and the
big countdown at midnight. Doors open
at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person
and are available at The Skagit Box
Office (service charge free) and through
Ticketmaster (US: 206.628.0888; BC:
604.280.4444).
December 31 at the Winners
Lounge – “New Year’s Eve Party” –
Expertease (9 a.m. to 1 a.m.) and DJ
SuperDave (1 a.m. to 4 a.m.)
For more information or to make
hotel reservations, call The Skagit at
1.877.2Skagit (1.877.275.2448) or visit
the Web site at www.theskagit.com.
1/21 – Joan Rivers at The Skagit
Wickedly funny comedienne Joan
Rivers brings her irreverent brand of
humor to The Skagit for two shows on
Sunday, January 21, 2007, at 4 p.m. and 7
p.m. Currently known for her “mustsee” red carpet coverage and award-winning jewelry line on QVC, Rivers’ innate
sense of style and biting sarcasm blend
together for unconventional humor that
keeps audience members on the edge of
their seats. Tickets are $47 and are on
sale now. For more information or to
make hotel reservations, call The Skagit
at 1.877.2Skagit (1.877.275.2448) or visit
the Web site at www.theskagit.com.
Mount Vernon First Horizon Home
Loans office welcomes new Loan Officer
Candi Newcombe
Newcombe has four years of experience in assisting homeowners and contractors with loans. She is qualified to
help clients select the most appropriate
loan from a wide range of options,
including jumbo, interest-only and
www . m o u n t v er n o n c h a m b e r . c o m
continued on page 5
t h r ee
Chamber Promotes Area
Chamber staff will be attending Trade
and Travel Shows in Seattle and
Spokane in the coming months. Most
recently Kristen Whitener attended a
trade show at the Amtrak Reservation
Center meeting in Los Angeles promoting visitors to our area. Whitener
also spent two days meeting with travel writers and tour companies promoting the area.
At the National Tour Association’s
annual conference in Salt Lake City in
November, the
Mount Vernon
Chamber’s Membership & Tourism
Director, Karen Mills, had the opportunity to meet with many different Tour
Operators. Some of them already knew
about the Skagit Valley, others had their
eyes opened about all we have to offer!
Most of them wanted more information
for planning multi-faceted tours encompassing a variety of activities. The areas
of most interest to them were: The Tulip
Festival, Bald Eagle Festival, Whale
Watching, Casinos, Arts Festivals,
Agriculture, Lincoln Theatre, McIntyre
Hall, Skagit Speedway and Shopping.
The Tour Operators who were interested
in Washington State were from as far
away as Florida! Many of them were
from Canada and the surrounding
states. Good connections were made
and the Tour Operators who weren’t
coming to the Skagit Valley before are
making plans to do so in the future!
The Radical Leap
Business Book of the Month
By Steve Farber
The business world is ready for an
entirely new approach to leadership.
Steve Farber has written the perfect book
to energize business leaders and help
them make the leap into extreme leadership. In fact, taking a giant “L.E.A.P.” forward is exactly what Farber prescribes.
What exactly is an extreme leader? One
who cultivates love, generates energy,
inspires audacity, and provides proof.
In his exciting and innovative new business parable, The Radical Leap, Farber
explores an entirely new leadership
model, one in which leaders are not
afraid to take risks, make mistakes in
front of employees, or actively solicit
employee feedback. His book dispenses
with the typical, tired notions of what it
means to be a leader.
Farber’s book reveals the questions leaders must ask themselves and the actions
they must take to truly become extreme
leaders.
procedures that suck our energy?)
Why do I love my business, my employees, and my customers, and how can I
show them how I feel?
How are we going to change the world of
our company, our employees, customers,
marketplace, and industry?
What effect do my actions have on
the energy of the people around me?
(OR, what are the unnecessary, timeconsuming, bureaucratic policies and
What have I done today to show my
commitment to my colleagues and customers?
f our
C h a m b e r C h a t N ews
Member Announcements – cont’d
continued from page 3
adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans.
Newcombe also can arrange residential
loans for purchases, refinances and new
construction, as well as home equity
lines of credit.
She is a member of Skagit Island
Builders Association, Skagit Women in
Business and Toastmasters.
First Horizon Home Loans is
among the country’s top 25 mortgage
providers in originations and the top 15
in servicing. It also recently earned a top10 ranking for customer satisfaction
from J.D. Power and Associates. Office is
located at 3302 Cedardale Road, Suite
A600, next to Karttrak Indoor Raceway,
just off Interstate 5 Exit 225. For more
information, call the office at 848-0819.
Karen Elizabeth’s Skin Treatment
Studio Gift Certificates for the Holidays
Let the professionals at Karen
Elizabeth’s help simplify your holiday
shopping with customized Gift
Certificates. We are committed to providing services that exceed your expectations for optimal skin health. Come into
our tranquil studio to experience invigorating skin treatments, decadent body
treatments, luxurious manicures & pedicures, relaxing massage and extraordinary holiday make-up!
Call Karen, Mary or Terry at 360419-7123 to begin your journey to skincare wellness.
Allison Morelan of Relaxation Station
will be hosting a “Small Business
Rejuvenation SPA”. During the two content filled 4 hour sessions Laura Lavigne, a
life coach in Anacortes, will help you take
a close look at you and your business.
Together we will discuss ideas and brainstorm solutions; we will take a close look
at your hopes, your goals and we will
remember that unless you’re happy ...
your business can’t truly be happy either.
Laura will have each person fill out an
information sheet on themselves so she
will know a little bit about each person
and their goals ahead of time. The sessions are scheduled to be most likely the
3rd Saturday in January and the 3rd
Saturday in February. Laura will give us
things to work on during the month in
between. The cost is $99 per person.
Laura is awesome, you can find out more
about her at www.treehousecoaching.com
. Call Allison at 336-0930 to reserve your
space now, limited number of openings
are available.
2/1/07 - Southern country-rock pioneers
The Marshall Tucker Band coming to the
The Skagit
The Marshall Tucker Band is set to
bring their eclectic “southern rock”
sound to Skagit Valley Casino Resort
(The Skagit) on February 1, 2007 with
shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
In 1973, The Marshall Tucker Band
released its debut album with its “Top
40” hit “Can’t You See.” The combination of rock, country, blues and jazz propelled the band into stardom, launching
the “southern rock” genre. Since then,
the band has seen several other releases
reach gold and platinum status
Tickets for the show, priced at $25,
go on sale November 4 and are available
through Ticketmaster (US: 206.628.0888;
BC: 604.280.4444) or at The Skagit Box
Office (service charge free).
For more information on hotel
packages for these appearances, call
Skagit Valley Casino Resort at
1.877.2Skagit (1.877.275.2448) or visit
the Web site www.theskagit.com.
3/4/07 - Billboard country hit-maker
Heartland to perform at Skagit Valley
Casino Resort
With a current country music charttopper to its credit, Heartland takes center stage March 4, 2007, at Skagit Valley
Casino Resort (The Skagit). The group’s
hot single, “I Loved Her First,” is currently holding down the number one spot on
Billboard’s “Hot Country Chart,” and
their CD of the same name recently
debuted at number three.
Tickets for Heartland are $25 and
will be available for sale through
Ticketmaster (US: 206.628.0888; BC:
604.280.4444) or at The Skagit Box
Office (service charge free) beginning
November 4. For more information on
hotel packages for these appearances,
call Skagit Valley Casino Resort at
1.877.2Skagit (1.877.275.2448) or visit
the Web site www.theskagit.com
To have your event or announcement included in the monthly edition
of Chamber Chat, please send the
information to karenm@mountvernonchamber.com before the 20th of
the previous month. If you prefer that
your article not be edited, try to keep it
100 words or less. The newsletter is
mailed between the 10th and 15th of
each month.
Thank You!
www . m o u n t v er n o n c h a m b e r . c o m
f ive
Mount
Welcome
Membership News
New Members
Allstate – Charles Seaton Insurance
Charles Seaton
130 S. 15th Street, Ste. 102
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 848-0939
Insurance
Truck City Truck Stop/Longhaul Café
Bart & Patty Smith
3228 Old Hwy 99 South
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 428-7021
Restaurant
Business Net Intel
Alan Matier
2915 Shawnee Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 420-3444
Accountant
Walker’s Healthy Pet
Scott Price
1515 Freeway Drive, Ste C
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 424-6200
Pet Retail
Mount Vernon First Christian Church
Steve Coleman, Pastor
900 Skagit Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 336-2737
Church
Thank You
Renewing Members
Allelujah Business Systems
Avenue Catering
Backman Marketing Inc.
Backyards
Coach Corral
Coldwell Banker/American Tradition
Dally’s Auto Body
Day Wireless Systems
Employee Benefits Planning LLC
Hansell Mitzel Homes
Mount Vernon Red Apple Market
Mount Vernon School District
Mountain Glen Retirement Center
Northwest Business Monthy
Peter’s Towing
Quizno’s Sub
Sherri Stites CPA
Skagit Valley Gardens
Skagit Valley Herald
Tazer Valley Farm
The Bridge at Mount Vernon Care Center
The Lunch Box
US Bank
Val Pak of Western Washington
2007 Legislative Caucuses
Leaders Announced
Chopp, DeBolt, Brown and Hewitt to
Lead 2007 Legislative Caucuses
The 2007 legislative leadership has been
unveiled. House Democrats will be led by
Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle; Majority
Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam; and Whip
Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle. House
GOP leadership includes Minority Leader
six
Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis; Floor Leader
David Buri, R-Colfax; and Whip Lynn
Schindler, R-Spokane. Senate Democrat leadership includes Majority Leader Lisa Brown,
D-Spokane; Floor Leader Tracey Eide, DFederal Way; and Whip Debbie Regala, DTacoma. Senate Republicans have chosen
Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla,
and Whip Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham.
C h a m b e r C h a t N ews
2006 – What a Year we Had!
Upcoming Business
Resource Center Workshops
Rep. Dave Quall speaks to Thanksgiving snowstorm
chamber members at the 2006 surprise!
Candidates Forum
Business Workshops
2006 Chair Karen Westra looking elegant at the Gala
Write Like a Pro
Speak Like a Pro
Business Planning & Management
Creating a Culturally Competent
Environment: Awareness (Part I)
Conflict & Change in Communities
Starting 1/24
Smart Money:
Select the Right Financing
1/16
1/17
1/23
1/25
1/31
Non Profit Workshops
Just one of the guys!
Growing Your Non Profit
1/11 & 1/18
Non Profit Contact Management 1/25 & 2/1
Personal Solicitation for Non Profits
1/26
Computer Workshops
Dan Youngren addresses the
crowd at the 30th Anniversary
celebration. Youngren was presi- Bill Rancie enjoyed his time in FAM Amtrack trip to Seattle
dent at the time of incorporation. Skagit County Gala committee. King St. Station
Introduction to
Microsoft Publisher
1/8 & 1/10
Getting Started w/Internet & PC
1/13
Microsoft Office 2007 1/16 & 1/18
Introduction to Microsoft Excel 1/16 & 1/23
Introduction to Quickbooks
1/20
Introduction to Microsoft Windows
1/27
Intermediate Microsoft Excel
1/20 & 2/6
Introduction to Microsoft Access 1/29 & 1/31
Continuing Professional Education
Flagging & Traffic Control
1/8 & 1/10
Introduction to Lean Manufacturing
1/11
Kaizen & Kaizen Event Planning
1/18
Behavioral Approach to Beat Stress
1/20
Waste Reduction & Creating
Standard Work
1/25
Real Estate
Fundamentals
Continuous Enrollment
Past president Jerry Kauffman reminisced
about his favorite chamber memories.
Golf & Trade Show yields car for
one lucky hole in one winner!
Mayor Bud Norris puts for
birdie at the HARP Golf &
Trade Show.
The Skagit Valley College Business Resource
Center is YOUR RESOURCE to meet workforce training needs. Some of our professional development training includes:
• Toolkit for Supervisors and Managers
• Communicate Like a Pro
• Small Business Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Human Resource Certificate
• NonProfit Management Certificate
• Computer Applications Training
(360)416-7873
Members get some networking done at the July Bizz
Buzz meeting.
Backyards and Valley Cabinets
& More Business After Hours
draws over 150 people.
Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart
appear at Skagit Speedway
Please call for more information
Marketplace Trade Show
attendee Dawn Latimer of Mr.
T’s Trophies
Skagit Station Meeting
www . m o u n t v er n o n c h a m b e r . c o m
Mount Vernon Chamber
interns graduate with a bright
future from Cascade Job Corp.
se ven
O F F I C E
S T A F F
B O A R D
President/CEO
Chair
Kristen Whitener
Dr. Karen Westra
Riverside Health Club
Membership/Tourism
Director
Karen Mills
Vice Chairman
Carrie Case
Go Dig Corporation
VIC
Keith Ridgley
Marinus Rouw
Treasurer
Frank Tuzzolino
Geiger’s Custom Cleaning
O F
D I R E C T O R S
Alicia Huschka
City of Mount Vernon
Teresa Knight-Pugh
Synergy Salon & Day Spa
Scott Sutton
Kirk Duffy
Hawthorne Funeral Home Printwise, Inc.
Dawn Latimer
Mr. T's Awards and
Embroidery
Didi Hagman
Valley Cabinets, Kitchens
& More
Barb Lowery
People’s Bank
Donnie Keltz
Wycoff Insurance
Tiffany Youngren
Dottie Piazza
Youngren
Piazza
Realty
&
Property
Rachelle Eason
& Associates
Management
The Eason Law Firm, P.S.
Legal Counsel
Dan Berentson
Skagit County
Mount Vernon
TJ Larrick
Mount Vernon Goodwill
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
MOUNT VERNON, WA
PERMIT No. 47
PO Box 1007
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-1007
Phn: 360.428.8547
Fax: 360.424.6237
www.mountvernonchamber.com