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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