This month instead of the President’s Letter we are presenting the President’s and President Elect’s 2007 State of the Chamber Address as it was given at the Annual Banquet 2/23/08.

Good Evening and welcome to the 83rd Annual Chamber Banquet. The past year of 2007 was very thrilling and successful for the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. We are very excited for the year ahead. There is a lot of forward momentum on a number of stimulating programs to help promote the future growth and continued success of McCook and the surrounding areas.

Before I go any further tonight, I would like to give thanks to tonight’s Corporate Corral Sponsors: Many of these sponsors were highlighted in the Chamber insert—but we want to recognize all of them here tonight and request that everyone who is seated at their table to please stand as we call your company name.

Community Hospital
McCook National Bank
Little Hands 24 Hour Childcare & Preschool Center
Wells Fargo Bank
Wagner Chevrolet Buick Pontiac Cadillac/Wagner Ford Mercury Toyota
Parker Hannifin
City of McCook (2 tables)
First Central Bank
Hillcrest Nursing Home
AmFirst Bank (2 tables)
MCC College Foundation
Hubert Industries
Lehmann Saddle Co.

We also need to recognize the Chamber of Commerce staff for all of their hard work and dedication to ensure that the office and the efforts of the Chamber come off without a hitch!

Pam Harsh, the Executive Director of the chamber, Virginia Fickle, the Assistant Director and Linda Thieben, the Administrative Assistant. Please join me in recognizing these individuals. They’ve had a couple of busy weeks with the home show as well as this event.

How about the decorations and planning that went into making this Boot Scootin’ Boogie night? The Banquet Committee has worked very hard to ensure that this is a wonderful event. Let us recognize the following individuals:

The Chamber Staff of Pam, Virginia, and Linda
Leigh Ann Miller
Lynn Pinkal
Chris Hansen
Terri Shipshock
Kathy Eaton
Denise Volquardsen
Annette Wagner
Gina Stamm
Janet Weber

In addition, McCook Community Colleges’ Phi Beta Lambda Members helped decorate today, the Heritage Senior Center tied the napkins, Accents Etc. provided the Western Pictures and Acme Touch Printing furnished all the napkins. Thanks to all!

Be sure to review the program as the back page contains other businesses and individuals to thank for tonight’s event.

The McCook Cordials also play a very important role throughout the year in recognizing new members and promoting chamber activities, please refer to the Gazette Insert for each of these 18 members. Those in attendance please stand and be recognized.

I would also like to take a moment to recognize the leadership of our Past President, Richard Stull. Because of his leadership, the Chamber has continued to be successful and has a clear vision and direction for the future. Thank you Richard! Sorry that he was unable to join us this evening.

Finally, I would like to recognize the current members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. These are all volunteers that share their time and talent in monthly board meetings as well as committee meetings and assistance in preparation for the many chamber events that are held throughout the year. Please stand to be recognized.

Jim Ulrich, President
Janet Weber, President-Elect
Richard Stull, Past President (serving his last year)
Sharleen Riemenschneider
Chris Hansen
Rex Nelson
Bruce Lester
Terri Shipshock
Kristin Stagemeyer
Chris Wagner (serving his last year)
Kurt Fritsch
Stacy Priebe
Tom Wiemers (new Board member)
Daryl Volquardsen (new Board member)

By changing the terms of the members to match the fiscal year of the chamber—the transition year will soon be over. Richard Stull served his 18 mos. as President, I am serving my 8th month of 12 months as president and we are now on a fiscal year track of July to June.

2007 in Review

Throughout 2007, we had McCook’s 125th birthday celebrations that really turned out to be a great year-long celebration, from the Governor’s Ball to the First Ladies Tea to the Party on the Bricks and in between—we had some good times. In addition to this celebration we held our traditional events like Heritage Days as well as holding numerous ribbon cuttings and chamber mixers. Last week, we had a very successful home show.

During the first half of this fiscal year, the Chamber has begun on a promotional campaign for McCook and the surrounding area. In the months ahead a development of a website to promote new retail business opportunities will be launched and then followed up with other related promotional activities. We thank the City of McCook for their continued financial support of these efforts.

In the last month, the Chamber office has conducted a survey of past Chamber events and an assessment of how we could improve your membership satisfaction. To date we have received 62 surveys with numerous constructive comments that will help in our planning for the future. Thank you for your participation and feedback.

New Chamber Members

The following new members of 2007-08 to date (in alphabetical order) are to be commended for supporting our efforts to make McCook a strong community. Would anyone associated with these businesses please stand and remain standing until all new members have been recognized. Even though some new members may not be in attendance tonight, please thank them the next time you see them or are in their place of business. Please hold your applause until all are named.

Accents, Etc.
Angus Garey
Armada Media Corporation (High Plains Radio)
Christian Counseling
Colonel Richard M. Patterson, Retired
Cornerstone Cattle Company
Curves for Women
Dashabout Roadrunner
Don Hall
Four Winds Animal Clinic
Fraternal Order of Eagles #2769
Great Plains Communications
Huskerland Communications (US Cellular)
Janssen-Kool Honda
Lehmann Saddle Company
Lifetime Eye Care
Little Hands 24-Hour Childcare Center and Preschool
McCook Art Guild
Painting Plus
Phone Directory Company
TJ’s Fun Center
Viaero Wireless
Waddell & Reed
Willow Creek Meats

The Leadership Institute (formerly Leadership McCook) got new life this fall thanks to the efforts of the steering committee headed up by Bill Burton and committee members of Pam Harsh, Angela Wagner, Jason Schmick, Clark Bates, Denise Ringenberg, and Janet Weber.

Members participating in this year’s class include: Students for the first time—Amy Been, Cory Gaston, Amy Lester, and Hank Lichtenwaldt; and community members—Troy Bruntz, Lisa Felker, Brenda Gillen, Sue Hageman, Pam Harsh, Deon Leitner, Brent McMurtery, Leigh Ann Miller, Kimberly Miracle, Karen Shepherd, Cassie Spencer, Darryl Volquardsen, and Janet Weber.

Finally, I look forward to the remaining 4 months of my term and to the future of the Chamber of Commerce and the McCook Area. As a community and the McCook Area, we have a lot of energy and efforts in place to continue to progress forward and that is exciting.

I would like to introduce Janet Weber, who is serving as the Chamber’ President-elect and will step into the President role in July of this year. Thank you and enjoy the evening.

Looking to Our Future

The McCook Chamber of Commerce is very excited about the 2008-2009 year. We look forward to further marketing and promotional efforts for McCook and the surrounding area of Southwest Nebraska. Our Community and this area provides for a wonderful opportunity for new businesses and families. The new promotional website is taking shape and hopefully, will be available soon to recruit new families and businesses to McCook.

Building efforts in the areas of Lied Main Street and Home Town Competitiveness are helping to further the momentum of increasing the strength of our community and pushing forward the efforts of Economic Development. The Chamber will be highly involved in each of these efforts. The Chamber will also continue its very close working relationship with the MEDC. Pooling our efforts can only be a benefit.

The Leadership Institute is already making recommendations for participants for next year’s class to continue the tradition that had been conducted for a number of years only to take a three-year break and got started last year. This year’s class is checking into the possibility of placing a brick sculpture on the corner of Norris and B Street. Watch for details and your chance to contribute.

Work will continue to emphasize Marketing and Promotion of McCook and the surrounding areas to once again strengthen and further grow our business community. The purpose of the chamber is to orchestrate change, unify the public spirit of McCook and Southwest Nebraska, and to organize efforts of our membership to make the McCook Area one we can all be proud of. We couldn’t do these things without YOU—our members and to you we are grateful.

We are YOUR Chamber and with the help of all of YOU chamber members—together we will move McCook forward. On to a great 2008-2009 year for the Chamber and McCook!

Thank you and enjoy the evening. Have fun dancing after the banquet.