McCook is Hopping!

At a time when everyone is looking for a glimpse of positive news in the midst of all of the national headlines, it is refreshing to find just what we need right here at home! The New Year brought a lot of activity around town which made a strong statement of good things yet to come.

A number of businesses relocated and in doing so made a statement which in effect said that they believe in our community and Southwest Nebraska! In a series of articles found herein, you will note the positive thread that runs through each. Yes, of course, we have been affected by the recession/depression in our corner of the world. The financial crisis is far too widespread to think that we wouldn’t see some of the fallout hit our doors. However, we are weathering the storm fairly well and we can proudly say that our conservative Western ways are paying off!

The Ship is on the Horizon!

.....Pirate’s ship that is! Now entering the harbor, the Chamber’s ship will drop anchor on February 7 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building.

Come early for the Grogg & Hogshead Hour beginning at 6:00 p.m. and immediately followed by the Cap ‘n’s Mess at 6:45 p.m. Catering Plus will be serving a bounteous meal meant for the pirate in you as we celebrate the theme “We Treasure Our Members”. Treasure chests, jewels, a ship’s cannon and even a parrot or two will compliment the authentic Chamber Pirate Ship.

Another noteworthy item is to make mention that, even though Johnny Depp had to decline our invitation, we have arranged for his stand-in to be on board to entertain. Cal Siegfried is scheduled to emcee for the evening so there may even be a little plank walkin’ going on. And receiving top billing are our very own Buccaneers (better known as Central Connection). The guest list continues to grow and will include Lt. Governor Sheehy. As you will recall, the Lt. Governor had such a great time helping with the auction last year that we were tops on his list of places to be in February of 2009! Auctioneer, Johnny Walker, will direct the treasure hunt again this year so the evening will fly by in a frenzy of bidding on the outstanding auction items donated by Chamber members.

It’s the event of the year, sure to foster some “piratifically” great memories.....we look forward to seeing you there!

The Chamber Salutes....

You for your decision to renew your membership with the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce! We will be facing unique challenges in the coming year but we must always remember that with challenges come opportunities. We must work even more closely together to capitalize on those opportunities. Now, more than ever, we must exercise diligence as we align our efforts to maintain and even grow our economy. It is our belief that success in this effort can best be realized through the collective sharing of time and talents coupled with a firm commitment to making our corner of the world a great place to live, work and raise our families. Together we can make things happen for Southwest Nebraska! Your commitment to the Chamber tells us that you are on board to do just that!

Again, we sincerely thank you for your faith in our continued efforts to keep the area economy strong and viable. Please let us know what we can do to better serve your needs as a Chamber member. We welcome and encourage you to share your ideas, suggestions or concerns. Please feel free to stop by or call anytime.

Home & Leisure Show Brings New Vendors

Linda Frank, Home & Leisure Show Coordinator, has generated some new interest in this event with the changeover which allows the inclusion of leisure product lines. A new addition to the show will be a line-up of special programs for the show visitors. You can learn about innovative ways to use cabinetry in your home, become a closet wizard as you learn tips for closet organization, learn energy saving musts for your home or business or get pointers for make-up techniques. There will be something for everyone at the 2009 Home & Leisure Show so make plans to attend! Although the show is filling steadily, there are still some booths available to promote your business. If you are interested in having a booth at the show, contact Linda at 340-7714 or the Chamber office at 345-3200.

Great Retail Promotion

Everyone loves an auction and that was evident at the Santa Auction held on January 3 when over 100 people participated. It was the wrap-up for the Christmas retail promotion and buyers were delighted to take home an ‘extra’ Christmas gift. Auction items were provided by participating retailers. In order to “buy” items, customers had to shop locally and convert their receipts into Santa Cash at the Chamber office. Providing a food product for the McCook Pantry or a cell phone for the MHS FBLA Club with a receipt, allowed customers to double the value of the Santa Cash they received. The highlight of the auction was the 42" Plasma TV and Home Theater System which sold for $8,000 in Santa Cash. All told, the auction items brought a total of $38,665 in Santa Cash! The consensus of the Marketing Committee is that the promotion was successful and they will consider repeating the event next year.

The Chamber Salutes....

Clay Jordan of Nebraska Auction Service for sharing his talents as an auctioneer. Clay sold the items at the Santa Auction and did just an outstanding job! Everyone enjoyed his banter and enthusiasm. We’ll be seeing more of this young man in our community. Thanks, Clay!

“Educator of the Year" Plans Made

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee met on January 15 to begin plans for the selection of the Educator of the Year Award funded by Allen Strunk. Charles Coleman was the 2008 recipient. The purpose of the award is “to encourage and recognize outstanding performance in the all important field of education with special emphasis on motivating students to reach their highest potential”. All active teachers, administrators, counselors and coaches in Dundy, Chase, Hitchcock, Hayes, Red Willow, Frontier and Furnas counties in Nebraska and Decatur and Rawlins counties in Kansas in both public and religious schools offering K-12 or parts thereof are eligible for the award. The selection process involves nominations submitted by any parent, student, former student, general citizen or fellow educator. Nominees are then notified and provided with an application which they must submit to be considered for the award. Nominations will be accepted beginning February 23. The award will be presented at the spring commencement of the recipient’s school.