WNEG Radio Weekly Chamber Update 7-14-10

July 14, 2010

Hello this is Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President with your Weekly Chamber Update.

I have three things to share with you:

First – We want to assist our CHamber Members in doing everything they can to meet and attract new customers ONLINE. One of our goals this year is to assist members who do not have a web site with getting one to sell their products and services online.

The Chamber had over 10,000 consumers search the online member directory last year. That’s over 850 a month. From the Directory they bounce to our member’s web sites looking for products and services. However, approximately 25% of our members do not have a web site.

Currently, each Chamber member has a FREE marketing account on the web which includes a listing on the directory with a 200-character description of their business, hours of operation, driving directions and eight key words. For additional visibility they can post for FREE an event on the Community Calendar, post a Hot Deal to highlight their weekly specials and post a Job to reach qualified people.

For a FEE they can get even more visibility. Like a business logo next to their online listing and a mini web page with photos, a longer business description, a map link and online advertising spots.

It’s an E World! Let us help you develop a web page for your business and grow your customer base.

Second - The Lake Hartwell Marketing Alliance is hosting a personal watercraft racing tour on Lake Hartwell August 13-15 at the Big Oaks Recreation Area in Hartwell.

The event will feature top U.S. and international competitors racing around obstacles and pounding waves at speeds up to 80 MPH. It is like motocross on water, handle bar-to-handle bar designed to keep competition tight and fans close to the action. It will also feature a Freestyle event with two minute routines of choreographed tricks set to music.

In addition local competitors who have little or no racing experience will also have the chance to compete on the same course. Yes, each of the 6 counties around the lake will place a team on Friday the 13th in the Corporate Challenge and your Chamber President will compete that day.

Admission to the races and other events is free. Volunteers are needed! Please call the Chamber at 706-886-2132.

Finally - Come by the Welcome Center and meet our newest Welcome Center Volunteer Teresa French! We are actively recruiting more Volunteers to work 3 or 6 hour shifts alongside the Museum Volunteers. The hours are Monday through Saturday 10am to 4pm.

We provide extensive training on Toccoa-Stephens County as well as Hospitality Training - and we offer a friendly atmosphere. Come get involved in your community and help us welcome our special guests. Please call 706-886-2132 to sign up for the next training!

That’s your weekly Update. I’m Wendi Bailey your Toccoa Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President.

Toccoa-Stephens County Leadership Team Spotlighted in the July 2010 Georgia Trend Magazine

Hello this is Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President with the Weekly Chamber Update.

Have you seen the July 2010 Georgia Trend Magazine? Toccoa-Stephens County is featured in this month’s premier statewide business magazine. Georgia Trend’s “spotlights” highlight community strengths and opportunities and prove to be a great economic development tool.

Our marketing campaign slogan is Toccoa Means MORE Than Beautiful. It means water - and lots of it. It means accessibility - by air, rail and ground. It means small town charm and urban sophistication - with our festivals and symphony orchestra. It means entrepreneur and small business friendly and Certified Work Ready. It means an educated and prepared work force and business ready - with industrial parks open for business. It means a beautiful place to live – with unsurpassed natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities - just outside our doors. Toccoa Means MORE Than Beautiful!

We are excited about this opportunity and believe it will benefit our businesses and enhance our community when reviewed by Georgia’s business, political and economic development leaders.

Come by the Welcome Center and meet our newest Welcome Center Volunteer Alicia Nails! We are actively recruiting more Volunteers to work 3 or 6 hour shifts - alongside the Museum Volunteers. We provide an extensive “Community & Hospitality Training” and offer a friendly atmosphere. Come get involved in your community and help us welcome our special guests. Please call 706-886-2132 to sign up.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce has over 400 members and is growing. The online Business Directory gets over 850 hits a month. Where else can you get that kind of visibility for only .52 cents a day? Come grow with us!

That’s your weekly Update. I’m Wendi Bailey your Toccoa Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President.

2010 Community Branding Survey

January 27, 2010

The Georgia tourism industry gathered for the 2010 Tourism Day at the Capitol this week to celebrate the significant role tourism plays in Georgia’s economy - as the 2nd largest industry behind agriculture.

The tourism industry presented a BIG check to the state, representing the $850 million generated in state tax revenue, from tourism-related expenditures.

Your Chamber was recognized as one of 41 agencies who received grant funding from the state to promote tourism. Our Tourism Promotion Committee is using that funding to renew the Toccoa-Stephens County brand - for a new County advertising campaign - as well for a new County brochure and postcards.

So have we heard from you yet? Have you filled out the 2010 Community Branding Survey? We hope all Toccoa-Stephens County citizens will join us in our effort - and share what makes Toccoa-Stephens County special and unique to them.

Please visit www.toccoagachamber.com and click on the survey link on the bottom left of the Chamber’s home page.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Toccoa-Stephens County Leadership Team Attends Georgia Chamber Events

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber organized a leadership team to attend the January 11-12, 2010 Georgia Chamber Annual Meeting Dinner and Eggs & Issues Breakfast, along with Senator Butterworth and Representative Harden.

At the dinner we heard from keynote speaker, Governor Mike Huchabee who shared his thoughts on national issues including healthcare, education and the federal deficit.

At the breakfast we heard from the Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, the newly elected Speaker of the House David Ralston and Governor SOnny Perdue. They reviewed many of the key challenges the legislators are facing as the 2010 General Assembly gets underway, such as the economy, water, transportation and education.

The leadership group from Toccoa-Stephens County networked with legislators, state agency representatives, and fellow Chamber and Development Authority colleagues to build and sustain relationships and goodwill as well as advance our agenda priorities including Hwy 17 expansion and keeping Traveler's Rest open for visitation.

It was a great opportunity for the leadership team to bond and share our community spirit and pride with key officials.

Chamber Membership is a Key Component of any Businss Plan

It's a brand new year and a great time to remind our readers that membership in the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber is a key component of any business plan. Networking and promotion are just a few of the benefits that Chamber membership can bring. We provide an opportunity for businesses to do together - what no business can do by itself. We are affordable and tax deductible. What business wouldn't want to be a member of the Chamber? Please call the TSC Chamber at 706-886-2132 for a consultaiton on all the benefits of membership.

Quick Links

COUNTY / CITY:

Stephens County

706-886-9491

Commissioners meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month in the newly renovated courthouse. On every 2nd Tuesday meeting times are 5:oo p.m. (work session) and 5:3o p.m. (regular meeting). On every 4th Tuesday meeting times are 8:30 a.m. (work session) and 9:00 a.m. (regular meeting).

City of Toccoa

706-886-8451.

http://www.cityoftoccoa.com/

Commissioners meet every 2nd and 4th Monday at 5:00pm in City Hall.

Stephens County Development

Authority

706-886-4242

http://www.scda.biz/

Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 8:15am in the Grand Jury Room.

The Main Street Program

706-282-3269

http://www.mainstreettoccoa.com/

Meets the 1st Wednesday of every month at 8:00am in City Hall, mainstreet conference room.

Stephens County Tax Commissioner

706-886-4753

Census Data

http://quickfacts.census.gov/

Georgia Statistics

http://www%2Cgeorgiafacts.net/

MEDICAL:

Stephens County Hospital

706-282-4200

http://www.stephenscountyhospital.com/

Wilkinson Center

706-886-2977

http://www.stephenscountyhospital.com/

Clary Care Center

706-282-1197

http://www.stephenscountyhospital.com/

Toccoa Clinic

706-282-4088

http://www.toccoaclinic.com/

Toccoa Cancer Center

706-297-7023

http://www.nghs.com/

EDUCATION:

Stephens County School Board of Education

706-886-9415

http://www.stephenscountyschools.com/
Meets the 4th Tuesday 5:30 to 6pm to address the board, 6pm Stephens County School System Administrative Office, 706-886-9415.

North Georgia Technical College

Clarksville: 706-754-7700

Currahee: 706-779-8100

http://www.northgatech.edu/

Toccoa Falls College

706-886-6831

http://www.tfc.edu/

TOURISM:

The Stephens County Historical Society

706-282-5055

http://www.toccoahistory.com/

Visit http://www.georgia.org/

Travelers Rest Historic Site

706-886-2256

http://gastateparks.org/info/travelers/

CONVENTION CENTERS:

Georgia Baptist Conference Center

706-886-3133

http://cmp.gabaptist.org/common/content.asp?PAGE=386

Camp Mikell Conference Center

706-886-7515

http://www.campmikell.com/

Camp Toccoa

706-886-2457

http://www.campfireusaga.org/toccoanews.htm

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:

North Georgia Community Concert Association

706-297-7121

http://www.negaconcerts.com/

The Toccoa Stephens County Community Theater

706-282-9799

http://www.tscct.org/

Toccoa Symphony Orchestra

706-886-7959

LOCAL NEWS:

Toccoa Record

706-886-9476

http://www.thetoccoarecord.com/

WNEG Radio AM 630

706-886-2191

http://www.wnegradio.com/programming.htm

WNEG Television News Channel 32

706-886-0032

http://www.wneg32.com/

REAL ESTATE:

Currahee Club

(706) 827-1000

Talan Properties
(706) 297-7480

James O'Hayes Realty, Inc.
(706) 491-6003

Ingrid Lee Realtors

706-886-7856

http://www.ingridleerealtors.com/

Hammock Realty

706-886-7451

http://www.ga-mountain-realestate.com/

Northview

706-282-0303

770-497-4427

706-491-0867

http://www.northviewproperties.com/

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS:

Lion’s Club of Toccoa

706-886-5787

http://www.toccoalions.org/

Rotary Club of Toccoa

706-886-3101

President of Rotary Club of Toccoa -Alan Coker, Vice President for Operations; Interim Vice President for Student Development.

http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/Home/homeC.asp?cid=3127

Don't Wait Innovate!

Don’t Wait Innovate is our theme for this upcoming Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber year. Success is when preparation and opportunity meet. The Chamber has laid a foundation for success by completing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation process to ensure high standards of practice, accountability to members and commitment to the community. Also, your Chamber President is a Senior in her four-year training to receive her Institute of Organization Management recognition and earn points towards her Certified Chamber Executive certification.

These accomplishments have not only prepared us but renewed and reinvigorated us for the new-year. While we have a strong foundation to build on, your Chamber Board is happy, but never satisfied. This year we are committed to focusing on providing our members with the business assistance they need to successfully innovate - not only to survive, but to grow and prosper.

We are in challenging and uncertain times. 2009-2010 will be another difficult year. Your Chamber will strive to live up to being a 4-Star Chamber and be Toccoa-Stephens County’s leading business organization. We are thankful for the experience and wisdom of our new Board and Committee Chairs as we begin our good work!