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Community Connections<br />

“Powering up business throughout Martin County”<br />

Community Calendar upgraded<br />

October 2017<br />

Inside<br />

This Issue<br />

Page 2 - Every Little Thing<br />

Makes a Difference<br />

Page 2 - Membership Drive<br />

Page 3 - Junior Achievement<br />

Volunteers Needed<br />

Page 3 - Glows Parade<br />

Call for Entries<br />

Pages 4 & 5 - Business Briefs<br />

Page 6 - Legislative News<br />

Page 6 - Retail Committee<br />

Page 7 - Ambassador Visits<br />

Page 7 - Teachers' Banquet<br />

The Fairmont Area Calendar<br />

has been upgraded to provide more<br />

intuitive navigation, improved aesthetics,<br />

and greater utility. Those<br />

familiar with the previous landing<br />

page will note a more visually engaging<br />

experience, with easy-tofind<br />

navigation options and centralized<br />

resources for users.<br />

A more subtle, but perhaps<br />

even more valuable upgrade, can<br />

be found just below the categorical<br />

photo grid that first meets the eye.<br />

A button labeled “Submit an Event”<br />

now offers an easy to use interface<br />

for businesses, groups and organizations<br />

to submit their upcoming<br />

events. This seemingly minor addition<br />

offers immense potential by<br />

opening up this powerful resource<br />

ABOVE: The Fairmont Area Calendar website features a sleek new interface<br />

to all events in the Fairmont area, no<br />

longer limited by a smaller number<br />

of approved requestors. To browse<br />

upcoming events or download the<br />

mobile app, visit www.FairmontAreaCalendar.com.<br />

Seminar on millennial workforce<br />

ABOVE: Instructor Wes<br />

Pruett of HR Advisors<br />

The Fairmont Area<br />

Chamber, Minnesota Workforce<br />

Center, and the City of<br />

Fairmont have come together<br />

to sponsor a workforce seminar<br />

that confronts the changing<br />

landscape of employment.<br />

The afternoon workshop,<br />

titled “Hiring Quality<br />

Employees in the Age of Millennials,”<br />

will take place from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM on<br />

Friday, November 3rd in Room 012 of the Southern Minnesota<br />

Educational Campus (SMEC) in Fairmont. During<br />

the seminar, instructor Wes Pruett of HR Advisors,<br />

LLC will help you to learn best practices for recruiting,<br />

onboarding and retaining top talent in the wake of the<br />

generational shift now occurring in our workforce.<br />

Designed to satisfy the needs of business leaders,<br />

human resource professionals, managers, supervisors<br />

and organizational development, this half-day program<br />

will provide actionable (Continued on page 5)<br />

323 East Blue Earth Avenue • Fairmont, MN 56031 • 507-235-5547 • www.FairmontChamber.org • FairmontChamber


Mission Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce exists to promote a healthy business cli<br />

Board of Directors Officers:<br />

Chair<br />

Kerry Nagel Allen<br />

MRCI-WorkSource<br />

Vice Chair<br />

Les Anderson<br />

Martin County<br />

Farm Bureau<br />

Board of Directors:<br />

Deb Barnes<br />

Lakeview Methodist<br />

Health Care Center<br />

Stephanie Busiahn<br />

Visit Fairmont<br />

Chris Carstensen<br />

Carstensen<br />

Cabinetry and<br />

Woodworking<br />

Zephanie Cole<br />

Align Chiropractic &<br />

Acupuncture, PLC<br />

Staff:<br />

Margaret Dillard<br />

President<br />

Kandi Menne<br />

Office Manager/<br />

Director of<br />

Communications<br />

Past Chair<br />

Ron Kopischke<br />

Profinium, Inc.<br />

Treasurer<br />

Sara Pierce<br />

Pierce Accounting<br />

and Tax Services<br />

Dave Cone<br />

Kahler Automation<br />

Corporation<br />

Brandon<br />

Edmundson<br />

Krahmer, Shaffer<br />

& Edmundson, Ltd<br />

Mandi Kosbab<br />

Edward Jones<br />

Ann Terfehr<br />

Dan’s Appliance<br />

Curt Foster<br />

Director of Finance<br />

and Operations<br />

Benjamin<br />

Landsteiner<br />

Marketing & Social<br />

Media Coordinator<br />

Whether right or wrong,<br />

“When you do nothing…<br />

When fear rules…<br />

When you decide to<br />

surrender the quest and<br />

turn away from your<br />

mission, the world is a<br />

little less changed for the<br />

better.”<br />

By: Margaret Dillard - Chamber President<br />

Readers may remember<br />

an article I wrote titled, “Four<br />

simple steps that will change the<br />

world.” I began with a scenario about<br />

my sister wiping around sinks in<br />

public bathrooms citing a mission<br />

to leave things a little better<br />

than when you find them.<br />

Since then, I have delighted in<br />

orders delivered by Admiral William<br />

H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired)<br />

who wrote a book, “Make<br />

Your Bed: Little Things That Can<br />

Change Your Life...And Maybe the<br />

World.”<br />

Personally, I need to know<br />

that what I do makes a difference.<br />

That tiny, seemingly insignificant<br />

actions can change a small part of<br />

the world for the better is inspirational.<br />

On those days where it’s<br />

hard to address the “big picture”<br />

and the difficult actions, finding<br />

one tiny thing that helps someone<br />

else will jumpstart a trend where I<br />

am able to string all the little things together and come<br />

to the conclusion that the day was not wasted. The day<br />

and a few small contributions became of value. Somehow,<br />

knowing that in challenging times leads to better<br />

days ahead!<br />

The ramblings above and the mindset about<br />

value are precursors to Fairmont Chamber strategic<br />

session. Board and staff come together in October to<br />

guide the organization to promote a healthy<br />

business local environment. Then staff sets<br />

about to perform daily tasks that lead to achieving<br />

the overall results.<br />

During the weeks and months<br />

following, it’s easy to believe that<br />

tiny steps in the right direction are<br />

invisible. Focus measures, timelines<br />

and gauges along the way<br />

paint the picture of project success,<br />

mediocre results or failure<br />

of positive outcomes. When you<br />

do nothing… When fear rules…<br />

When you decide to surrender the<br />

quest and turn away from your<br />

mission, the world is a little less<br />

changed for the better. It is then<br />

that you have changed teams and<br />

are contributing to the slide.<br />

Chamber strategic sessions are<br />

October 18 and 25. We hope to change a part of our<br />

world for the better. If you are interested in promoting<br />

local business, we invite you<br />

Added value for new members<br />

It’s about caring for the community, making<br />

valuable connections, and creating an environment<br />

where businesses can prosper. By working together to<br />

take aggressive action, our businesses and our community<br />

can thrive! Your Chamber offers many avenues<br />

to help your business get noticed as well as opportunities<br />

to network with local leaders and professionals.<br />

New members who join before December 15<br />

will receive all member benefits for the remainder<br />

of the year at no charge. Individuals and Non-profits<br />

without paid staff are also encouraged to take advantage<br />

of this opportunity. Just pay your 2018 dues in<br />

every little thing<br />

makes a difference<br />

2<br />

(Continued on page 5)<br />

full at time of joining and receive the remainder of<br />

2017 FREE! Join today and help us make a difference!<br />

Call (507) 235-5547 for more information.<br />

We want to encourage all current members to<br />

complete and return their annual Business Verification<br />

Form. These forms help us to keep your business<br />

information up to date, allowing us to provide helpful<br />

and accurate referrals, maintain fair and reasonable<br />

membership dues, and ensure that your business<br />

receives relevant and valuable communications from<br />

your chamber office. Please watch for this verification<br />

form with your annual membership mailing.


mate through leadership, communication and education for its members in the greater Fairmont area.<br />

Volunteer teachers in short supply<br />

3<br />

Junior Achievement has proven to be<br />

engaging and fun, while stressing the importance<br />

of an education, as economic concepts<br />

and information about the world of work<br />

are introduced to students. For the future of<br />

our community, it is essential for businesses<br />

to work with the schools so our children are<br />

aware of the opportunities here in virtually<br />

any occupation which they may be interested.<br />

Junior Achievement is an excellent way to start<br />

this process.<br />

The Junior Achievement program has<br />

included grades K-6. We are still in need of<br />

34 volunteer teachers to serve one hour each<br />

week for five weeks, during the school day.<br />

The following sessions are available.<br />

OCTOBER START CLASSES<br />

3rd Grade– 4 volunteer teachers needed<br />

4th Grade – 4 volunteer teachers needed<br />

6th Grade – 5 volunteer teachers needed<br />

JANUARY START CLASSES<br />

2nd grade – 6 volunteer teachers needed<br />

MARCH START CLASSES<br />

1st Grade – 7 volunteer teachers needed<br />

5th Grade – 5 volunteer teachers needed<br />

APRIL START CLASSES<br />

Kindergarten – 3 volunteer teachers needed<br />

All materials for your session are provided<br />

along with a training manual. If you or<br />

anyone in your business is interested in volunteering<br />

for this important community program,<br />

please call the Chamber at (507) 235-<br />

5547.<br />

Please consider helping the Junior<br />

Achievement program in any way you can.<br />

Your future workforce depends on such initiatives.<br />

We appreciate all past involvement and<br />

we hope that you can help again this year. We<br />

cannot do it without you!<br />

Please send your donation to:<br />

Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce<br />

P.O. Box 826, Fairmont, MN 56031<br />

Glows Parade Call for Entries<br />

It's time to place your entries for the<br />

2017 Glows Parade! The parade will take place<br />

Friday, November 17th beginning at 6:00 pm.<br />

Clubs, organizations and businesses are encouraged<br />

to participate is this time-honored<br />

Martin County Tradition. Get creative and let<br />

your lights shine!<br />

The registration deadline is Monday,<br />

November 6th. Contact Kandi at the Fairmont<br />

Area Chamber of Commerce to place your entry<br />

by calling (507) 235-5547.<br />

THINK LOCAL FIRST!<br />

Apart from a small percentage of<br />

revenue paid to delivery drivers and<br />

third-party sellers, all of the money<br />

spent at Amazon and other online<br />

retailers leaves our local economy.<br />

Local retailers have a proven trackrecord<br />

of growing the local economy.<br />

Fisher Group<br />

JEFF GREISCHAR CCIM<br />

Sales & Leasing Agent<br />

1961 Premier Drive<br />

Suite 404<br />

Mankato, MN 56001<br />

(507) 236-4980<br />

jeff.greischar@cbcfishergroup.com<br />

www.cbcfishergroup.com<br />

Tri-County Implement<br />

St. James<br />

Martin County Implement<br />

Truman<br />

Tri-County Implement<br />

Jackson<br />

www.deerequipment.com


Chamber member business briefs<br />

Shoe Sensation<br />

(507) 238-9211<br />

On Thursday, October 26, from 10am to 7pm, Shoe Sensation will again have<br />

their fall Clarks Trunk Show. They will have Bob Green, a Clarks representative<br />

in the store, with many, many Clarks shoes at show prices. Any size, any<br />

color of Clarks shoes can be ordered. A free gift will be given with each shoe<br />

sold, and at the end of the day, someone will win a free pair of shoes. Refreshments<br />

are available during this fun day as well. Please join us to see the newest<br />

that Clarks have to offer.<br />

Heritage Acres<br />

(507) 236-1257<br />

Heritage Acres will have there Fall Festival on Sunday,<br />

October 15, 2017. Ecumenical church service held in<br />

the chapel at 10:00 AM. Soup & Sandwich dinner will be<br />

the Prairieville building from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. There is a charge for the<br />

dinner. There will be 5 kinds of soups, country style farm bread, egg salad,<br />

meats & cheeses desserts & beverages. THERE WILL BE NO GATE FEE! Crop<br />

demonstrations all afternoon, pressing apples & free samples of apple juice,<br />

baking in the house, wagon rides for everyone. Train rides for kids, Robins<br />

blacksmithing & more. Market Square will be there with there vendors. For<br />

more information contact Jerry Simon 507-236-1257.<br />

Vision Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce will b<br />

Krahmer, Shaffer & Edmundson, Ltd.<br />

(507) 238-4717<br />

We are excited to announce the addition of a new associate<br />

attorney, Sara L. Edmundson, to our team. Sara received<br />

her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2006.<br />

She graduated from St. Olaf College, cum laude, with a double-major<br />

in English and Psychology in 2002. Her practice<br />

areas include real estate, estate planning, estate administration<br />

and elder law. Sara is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Texas<br />

(currently inactive). Sara can be reached at sara@krasha.com or 507-238-<br />

4717.<br />

Red Rock Center for the Arts<br />

(507) 235-9262<br />

Dan Weber coming to the Red Rock stage Saturday,<br />

October 14 at 7pm. Dan Weber a gifted storyteller<br />

that quickly won over audiences with his natural<br />

charisma, upbeat performances, authentic songwriting, and off-the-cuff<br />

hilarious stories from the many roads he’s traveled. Discount tickets are<br />

on sale now at Hy-Vee, Fairmont or you can purchase them at the door for<br />

regular price.<br />

4<br />

Fairmont Area Kinship<br />

(507) 238-4440<br />

Mentoring through Kinship is FUN! Mentors and<br />

mentees in the program spend between three<br />

and six hours per month together baking, playing basketball, doing crafts,<br />

hiking, biking, kayaking, going out to eat or to the movies together, and so<br />

much more! Mentees in Kinship improve their self-esteem, leadership, problem-solving,<br />

and socialization skills, and develop greater hopes and dreams<br />

for the future. Kinship needs more people to be mentors, especially men! It<br />

is easier than ever begin mentoring a child in need. Volunteers can complete<br />

our online application at sites.google.com/site/fairmontareakinship and can<br />

check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fairmontareakinship.<br />

Sweet Financial Services, Inc<br />

(507) 235-5587<br />

On November 18, 2017 Sweet Financial Services<br />

Presents LIVE at the Fairmont Opera House: ONE<br />

NIGHT IN NASHVILLE Featuring: The Warren Brothers<br />

& Josh Kear! Bryan Sweet was so impressed<br />

when he first saw this performance in Nashville, he knew he had to bring<br />

this once in a lifetime event to Fairmont to share with our clients. This will<br />

be a unique, authentic experience to hear three of the top songwriters in the<br />

country perform and tell the stories behind the hit songs you’ve heard time<br />

and time again on the radio.<br />

Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont<br />

(507) 238-8100<br />

It’s tailgate time again. Join Mayo Clinic<br />

Health System in Fairmont for a pregame tailgate at Fairmont’s Mahoney<br />

Field when the Fairmont Cardinals take on the Belle Plaine Tigers Friday, Oct.<br />

13. We’ll be serving a $5 tailgate meal from 5 to 7 p.m. All sales are donated<br />

to the Fairmont Booster Club.<br />

Edward Jones Investments - Mandi Kosbab<br />

(507) 235-8524 - Member SIPC<br />

Congress has designated the third week of October<br />

as National Save for Retirement Week. What lessons can you learn from<br />

this event? First of all, save early and save often. The earlier you start saving<br />

and investing, the less you will have to put away each year to accumulate<br />

the resources you’ll need for a comfortable retirement. And by putting time<br />

on your side, you’ll be able to take advantage of compounding the ability to<br />

earn money on your principal and your earnings. Here’s another suggestion:<br />

Contribute as much as you can afford to tax-advantaged retirement accounts,<br />

such as an IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. Finally,<br />

try to overcome barriers to building your retirement savings. One such barrier<br />

is debt because the higher your debt payments, the less you can afford to<br />

invest. Do what you can to keep your debt under control. By following these<br />

steps, you can go a long way toward putting the ideas behind National Save<br />

for Retirement to work for you all year long.


e recognized as the leader in assisting area businesses to prosper.<br />

Chamber member business briefs<br />

Kahler Automation<br />

(507) 235-6648<br />

Kahler Automation is pleased to announce<br />

some new additions to our staff: Cole Lightfoot (Electrical Design) and Mitch<br />

Alm (Project Coordinator) joined “Team Kahler” in August, followed in September<br />

by Dawn Korsmo (Inside Sales Support). Also, belated congratulations<br />

to Holden Bohm (CAD Supervisor), Thad Leiding (Project Coordinator Supervisor)<br />

and Jesse Hoffmann (Electrical Design Supervisor) for their promotions<br />

earlier this year. Finally, additional kudos to Jesse for winning Kahler’s<br />

2017 Bison Award, which recognizes excellence in customer service and going<br />

above-and-beyond in one’s work, as voted on by everyone at Kahler.<br />

Marketlink, Inc.<br />

(507) 238-9030<br />

Marketlink, an Allied Global Company, located<br />

at 400 S. State St. Suite 100, announces outstanding employee achievements:<br />

Lizette Goddard received an award for exceeding 100% sales performance for<br />

12 consecutive months. Employee of the month awards were given for exceptional<br />

sales/quality performance and representing our company values and<br />

culture at all times (Positive, Success, Integrity and Excellence) Yarilza Alvarado<br />

in June, Damien Ferguson in July, and Amanda Ring in August. Congratulations<br />

to everyone. Marketlink has 7 centers in the US: Fairmont, MN, Des Moines &<br />

Storm Lake, Iowa, Wichita, KS, Johnstown, PA, Wheat Ridge & Thornton, CO.<br />

“Business Briefs” is a complimentary service provided by the Chamber for chamber members. Please limit your information to one paragraph of about<br />

100 words. Example: expansion, new employees, awards, monumental anniversary, etc… A photo or logo can be included. NO Direct Advertising.<br />

5<br />

Every little thing (Continued from page 2)<br />

Seminar (Cont'd pg. 1)<br />

to have a voice by joining the Chamber. Whether<br />

a resident or business, your membership investment<br />

contributes to local programs and projects.<br />

October 24th, we encourage new residents<br />

who are also new teachers at our schools<br />

by facilitating a banquet where they are treated<br />

to dinner and seated with their host who is a local<br />

business person.<br />

At 9 am the same day, we’ll hold a workshop<br />

to discuss cross promotion of local business<br />

via social media platforms just in time for the<br />

holidays.<br />

November 3rd, Wes Pruett of HR Advisors<br />

will lead a business seminar about recruiting<br />

and retaining employees and how that is different<br />

when thinking of millennials.<br />

Staff is also preparing to usher in the<br />

Christmas Season by inviting businesses, individuals<br />

and organizations to participate in the<br />

Glows Parade November 17th.<br />

Those are only some of the smaller steps<br />

we take during the year to improve the local<br />

world of business. In the meantime, keep in mind<br />

that no matter how small your efforts, you change<br />

the world. Start by making your bed or cleaning<br />

around the sink. If you have a suggestion or comment,<br />

I always welcome conversation about supporting<br />

local business and communities.<br />

insights, tools and resources to help you improve<br />

existing hiring processes or develop new ones.<br />

Attendees will leave the seminar armed with<br />

an array of valuable tools including hundreds of<br />

helpful ideas and best practices, a leadership selfassessment<br />

and a copy of the speaker's notes.<br />

The cost to attend is $100 per person,<br />

with discounts available for chamber members<br />

and multiple employees. Light refreshments will<br />

be served, but lunch will not be provided. For<br />

more information or to register online, visit our<br />

website at www.FairmontChamber.org and click<br />

on the recent blog post labeled “Hiring Quality<br />

Employees Seminar.”<br />

AS Mobile<br />

Apple/Android<br />

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT?<br />

The Fairmont Area Community Events Calendar has a Mobile App!<br />

You can access information for all the great events going on in Martin County directly from your iOS or Android-based mobile device<br />

using the free mobile app "AS Mobile" published by rSchoolToday! Of course, you can still view upcoming community events on your<br />

desktop or laptop computer by visiting the community calendar website at www.fairmontareacalendar.com. If you have any questions<br />

or concerns about updating your events to the Fairmont Area Community Calendar, please email the Fairmont Area Chamber<br />

of Commerce at info@fairmontchamber.org.<br />

Calendar Funding Partners: Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce, Fairmont Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Fairmont,<br />

Fairmont Area Schools, and Blandin Community Broadband Grant. Other Partners: Fairmont Community Education<br />

and Recreation.


Core Values: We value for our members, employees and community: integrity in all we do, collaboration with all our stakeholders, growth and develop<br />

Chamber Events<br />

Wednesday, October 11th - 6:00 p.m.<br />

Bureau 14 Meeting<br />

Wednesday, October 18th - 3:00 p.m.<br />

Board Meeting (Strategic Session)<br />

Wednesday, October 18th - 3:00 p.m.<br />

Ambassadors Meeting / Ribbon Cuttings<br />

Tuesday, October 24th - 9:00 a.m.<br />

Social Media Breakfast<br />

Tuesday, October 24th - 6:00 p.m.<br />

Teachers Banquet (Interlaken Golf Club)<br />

Friday, November 3rd - 12:30 p.m.<br />

Hiring Quality Employees Seminar<br />

REVAMP RETAIL<br />

The Retail Committee of the Fairmont Area<br />

Chamber is seeking committee members<br />

to join us as we work to make a positive<br />

impact in our local retail environment.<br />

Call (507) 235-5547<br />

WELCOME<br />

NEW MEMBER!<br />

Karen Toupal<br />

State Legislative News<br />

REP. GUNTHER REVIEWS 2017 K-12<br />

EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS<br />

ST. PAUL - With students soon to be returning<br />

to the classroom, State Representative<br />

Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) said now is the perfect<br />

time to share what was accomplished for<br />

K-12 Education during the 2017 session.<br />

"The biggest achievement of the 2017<br />

session was our historic investment in our<br />

students and schools," Gunther said. The K-12<br />

Education Budget includes more than $1.3 billion<br />

of increased funding to schools throughout<br />

Minnesota, including a provision to include a<br />

two percent yearly increase to the per pupil<br />

formula that was requested by many school<br />

districts. Gunther said this is money that districts<br />

can use to reduce class sizes, retain teachers,<br />

or provide new programs to their students.<br />

A number of reforms were also implemented<br />

during the 2017 session. This includes<br />

ending the "Last In, First Out" default layoff<br />

policy for schools to keep the best teachers in<br />

the classroom; investing in proven early education<br />

programming like pre-K scholarships and<br />

school readiness; and overhauling the broken<br />

teacher licensure system to help hire more<br />

teachers to address the shortage. "I am confident<br />

that all of these education measures, plus<br />

dozens more that were approved during the<br />

2017 session, will ultimately help all of our<br />

children succeed in school," Gunther said. "I<br />

wish all of the students, parents, and educators<br />

in southern Minnesota the best of luck during<br />

this school year."<br />

Gunther also wants to alert parents to<br />

save their school supply receipts, as Minnesota<br />

has both a credit and a subtraction for education<br />

expenses. Most school supplies qualify<br />

for the credit or subtraction, including writing<br />

utensils, textbooks, and musical instrument<br />

rentals. Common items that don't qualify for<br />

the subtraction or credit include school lunches,<br />

uniforms, backpacks, and more. Parents are<br />

encouraged to check the Revenue website to<br />

determine which expenses qualify. While the<br />

education subtraction is not subject to income<br />

limits, the credit is limited to households with<br />

incomes less than $37,500 for families with 1-2<br />

children, $39,500 for families with 3 children,<br />

and adding $2,000 per child for families with 4<br />

or more children.<br />

Full details about the Education Subtraction<br />

and Credit can be found on the Department<br />

of Revenue's website: http://www.rcvcnuc.state.mn.us.<br />

CONTACT INFORMATION<br />

Rep. Bob Gunther 23A<br />

563 State Office Building<br />

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.<br />

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155<br />

651-296-3240 or 800-684-4598<br />

E-mail: rep.bob.gunther@house.mn<br />

6<br />

Energy rebates<br />

for your business.<br />

The smart move for your bottom line.<br />

minnesotaenergyresources.com 866-872-0052<br />

Fine Jewelry<br />

Sovell Jewelry<br />

Your Professional Jeweler<br />

Since 1954<br />

Full Service-In House Repair<br />

Jessica & Steve Sovell<br />

Gemologist • Goldsmith<br />

Professional Window Cleaning<br />

Insured<br />

Residential &<br />

Commercial<br />

Cleaning<br />

Wouldn’t it be nice to have the windows<br />

of your home sparkling clean!<br />

Please allow us to give you a free estimate.<br />

You will be pleasantly surprised!<br />

Call Now! Matt Petrowiak at (507) 236-5207


ment for our members, recognition of accomplishments, effective communication, and doing all things efficiently and in a fiscally responsible manner.<br />

Ambassadors applaud achievements<br />

7<br />

CCF BANK (FORMERLY WELLS FEDERAL)<br />

Chamber ambassadors commemorate the name<br />

change and rebranding of chamber member Wells Federal<br />

Bank to CCFBank.<br />

PETERSON-ANTHONY INSURANCE AGENCY<br />

Ambassadors congratulate chamber member Peterson-Anthony<br />

Insurance on their office relocation with<br />

an AM Espresso and ribbon cutting.<br />

KRAHMER, SHAFFER & EDMUNDSON, LTD.<br />

Ambassadors celebrate the addition of Chamber Board<br />

Member Brandon Edmundson as partner with member<br />

business Krahmer, Shaffer & Edmundson, Ltd.<br />

Join us in honoring area educators<br />

Teacher Recognition<br />

Banquet<br />

The Business Education Committee of<br />

the Fairmont Area Chamber is sponsoring the<br />

Teacher Recognition Banquet to welcome new<br />

teachers to the Fairmont area and honor those<br />

that have been in the district for twenty-five<br />

years or more.<br />

The banquet will be held at the Interlaken<br />

Golf Club on Tuesday, October 24th at 6:00<br />

p.m. The cost is $25 per person. We encourage<br />

you to attend and get acquainted with our local<br />

educators.<br />

This is a good time to meet and extend a<br />

warm welcome to our new teachers and to honor<br />

those who have taught our children over the<br />

years. We invite businesses to donate items for<br />

gift bags that are given to teachers.<br />

If you would like to attend the banquet,<br />

sponsor the meal of a teacher, or donate items<br />

to be included in the welcome bags, please contact<br />

the Chamber by Friday, October 13th. Call<br />

Kandi at (507) 235-5547 or email her at info@<br />

fairmontchamber.org for more information.<br />

Over 32 years of experience,<br />

and ready to help you with<br />

that important decision.<br />

507.235.5547<br />

info@fairmontchamber.org<br />

Dale Splinter<br />

1304 Blue Earth Ave., Fairmont, MN<br />

507-238-4786<br />

(507) 238-4949


October programs at CER<br />

8<br />

The new Fall/Winter CER Catalog of activities is filled with “Learning<br />

and Leisure Opportunities for all Ages.” Copies were mailed September<br />

23 and also located at various drop points for pickup. If you need a<br />

copy, please contact the CER Office (507-235-3141) or check the website<br />

at fairmontareaschools.portal.rschooltoday.com<br />

October is filled with special FREE events such the Region 9 Diversity<br />

Forum on Race, the Minnesota River Agency on Aging forum on<br />

Aging Population as well as the November 1 Healthy Living Expo. Take<br />

advantage of these to have conversations on needs of our area related to<br />

diversity healthy lifestyles and aging well. Look for information in our<br />

catalog on these events as well as other free, informational classes on<br />

Fishing With Friends, Dementia Friends, Health Savings Accounts, Adult<br />

Basic Education and English, Social Security and Estate Planning.<br />

CER Opportunities for youth and adult offered also include Afterschool<br />

Enrichment, Fishing Club, Minecraft Camp, Dog Obedience,<br />

Gardening, Art, Snowshoeing, Computers, Cake Decorating, Archery,<br />

Snowmobile Safety, Baton Twirling, Roller Skating, Zumba Flair, Pitching<br />

Clinics, Hockey, Ice Skating, Basketball, Wrestling, Scuba Diving, Co-Ed<br />

Volleyball, Open Gyms and much more!<br />

For an up-to date list of activities, see the CER Web Store at<br />

fairmontareaschools.portal.rschooltoday.com<br />

A SAMPLING OF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES<br />

Dog Obedience October 10<br />

Health Savings Accounts October 10<br />

Region 9 Diversity Forum on Race October 11<br />

Zumba Flair October 11<br />

Parents Forever October 12<br />

Cake Decorating October 12<br />

Upholstery/Caned Chair Restoration October 12<br />

Dementia Friends October 17<br />

Family Roller Skating Afternoon October 19<br />

Archery I and II October 12<br />

Minecraft Command Blocks Camp October 23<br />

Girls Basketball PreK & Level 1 October 24<br />

MNRAAgency on Aging Conversation October 25<br />

Fabulous Fun Friday (Grades 3-6) October 27<br />

Jr Cardinal Boys Basketball (Grades 4-6) October 30<br />

Resources for a Lifetime of Healthy Living Expo November 1<br />

…and much more!<br />

For more information, contact the CER office located in the<br />

Fairmont Elementary School Door 15A, 714 Victoria Street, Fairmont<br />

Call 507-235-3141 or Email rdauer@fairmont.k12.mn.us<br />

Cross-promotion & Social Media - October 24 th<br />

The next<br />

Social Media<br />

Breakfast will be<br />

held on October<br />

24 from 9 am<br />

to 10 am at the<br />

Southern Minnesota<br />

Educational<br />

Campus, 115 S. Park St., in Fairmont.<br />

During this month's seminar, instructor<br />

Liz Wheeler will facilitate a session covering the<br />

benefits of small business cross-promotion using<br />

social media. Businesses and organizations<br />

will be given the opportunity to share their upcoming<br />

events and promotions to establish collaborative<br />

efforts for mutual benefit, just in time<br />

for the upcoming holiday season.<br />

Visit our website at www.fairmontchamber.org<br />

to register for this event or to find<br />

out how you can sponsor a future event.<br />

Fairmont<br />

Area Social Media<br />

Breakfast is made possible in part by a technology<br />

grant from the Blandin Foundation.<br />

VISION CARE<br />

CONTACT LENS<br />

COMMITMENT.<br />

COMPASSION.<br />

COMPETITIVE.<br />

www.fairmontarealife.com<br />

410 Downtown Plaza | Fairmont, MN 56031<br />

800.795.1215 | www.techbuildersinc.com<br />

Paul Seibert, O.D.<br />

1307 ALBION AVE., SUITE 102<br />

FAIRMONT, MN<br />

PH: (507) 238-4228<br />

James Busche, O.D.<br />

Spencer Seibert, O.D.<br />

111 E. 6TH ST.<br />

BLUE EARTH, MN<br />

PH: (507) 526-2020

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