Edition Highlights: Music and beer festival attracts thousands Nonprofit to open store on Ga. 400 Casino night benefits humane society Lanier Tech honors GED graduates
September 2013
The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 299 292 Hwy. 400, North Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-6278
Winners of raffle split prize By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Mayor James Grogan may by the luckiest man in all of Dawsonville. For the second time in four years, Grogan went home after the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce reverse raffle Aug. 29 thousands of dollars wealthier. “You know, you just do things the right way and God blesses you. That’s all I can
say. That is really the truth and I really believe that,” he said at Big Canoe’s clubhouse where the raffle was held. With two tickets left, Grogan’s daughter Sara held on tight to theirs while Lynn Townley, who for the first time did not attend the drawing party, received a phone call saying she had purchased what might be the winning ticket. “I told James I’d split it in a
Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan and daughter Sara discuss the option of splitting the $10,000 prize during the Aug. 29 Dawson County Chamber of Commerce reverse raffle. Grogan took home $5,000.
heartbeat, so today I have a check for $5,000,” Townley said. Incidentally, Townley was holding the winning ticket and would have won $10,000 if she hadn’t agreed to the split with the mayor. But she’s happy to have won as much as she did. “I’m not a greedy person. I’m just happy to share and
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
See RAFFLE | 3
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Find the measure of quality for business If you were to ask any businessman or woman if they produced a quality product, they would say yes. It really wouldn’t matter if they sold food, car parts or a professional service. Of course we all produce quality. Otherwise we wouldn’t be in business.
It is a message that is pervasive in the marketing world as well. We have all heard the slogan “Quality is job one.” That may not be the right question though. I think another question that is just as important is: “What is our customer’s definition of quality?” or “what is important to our customer?”
For example, Kodak had a near monopoly on the acetate film industry for a long time. They had a great product. I remember when I was young, you could send your Kodak camera back to them in the mail, and they would print your pictures and return your camera loaded with more film. What a great service. As film
development became more commonplace, Kodak stopped doing that. One thing they never stopped doing was advancing the resolution and picture quality of their film. This is what I think Kodak saw See QUALITY | 2
Hill
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Chamber works with businesses Fall has officially begun. I hope y’all are excited as I am about football season (go Dawson County Tigers and go Dawgs), adventuring through corn mazes, picking the perfect pumpkin and the coming changing of the leaves. Fall continues to be a busy time of year here at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Office of Tourism Development. We just finished up the annual reverse raffle event. A big thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and attended our event at Big Canoe. Congratulations to Lynn Townley and James Grogan for each winning $5,000. We hope you will consider joining us for our upcoming Chamber Golf Tournament on Sept. 23, Business and Health Expo on Oct. 1 and Christmas Parade, which will be held in conjunction with the city’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting, on Dec. 7. People sometimes ask me what their money goes to when they purchase raffle tickets, sponsor an event or give other support to the chamber, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to answer that question.
If you ask 10 different people what a chamber of commerce does, you’ll probably get 10 different answers, and in all honesty, I would bet not a one Haynes of them would be wrong. Here at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, our mission is “cultivating a successful economic environment and desirable quality of life for our businesses and community.” We at the chamber work to create programs, build partnerships and promote our community in support of this mission. When you purchase a ticket, volunteer at an event or join as a member, you are supporting an organization with the desire to see our community truly thrive. We are committed to working with our members and the community to find ways to improve where we may need improvement, be a pillar where support is needed, be an advocate where a voice is needed and the list goes on. This may mean that one day we
‘We are committed to working with our members and the community to find ways to improve where we may need improvement, be a pillar where support is needed.’ are involved in workforce development, the next day we may be tackling transportation issues and the next day we may be working with a local business to help make sure their message is being heard. We greatly value the input of our members and community and hope you will continue to reach out to us. We also hope that if you are not currently a member of the chamber, you will consider joining us as we know that we can only continue to support this mission if the support of our community is behind us. Christie Haynes President
Chamber of Commerce 2013 Board of Directors Brooke Anderson
Etowah Water and Sewer Authority
Pat Anderson
Anderson Family Mediciine
James Askew
United Community Bank-Dawsonville
Charlie Auvermann
Development Authority of Dawson County
Jennifer Baker
United Community Bank-Dawsonville
Mike Berg
Dawson County Board of Commissioners
Carla Boutin
State Farm Insurance
Kathy C. Fuller
KC Fuller & Associates
Chris Gaines
Taylor, Turner & Hartsfield
James Grogan
City of Dawsonville
Christie Haynes
Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, tourism development
Peter Hill
Hill Design Associates Architects, Inc.
Andrew Leavitt
University of North Georgia
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Quality as their most important measure of quality. For a long time that was aligned with what their customers saw as important. However at some point, being able to shoot less quality pictures quickly and being able to send, save or share these lower quality pictures became more important to the customer. As a result the digital camera and the camera phone have made acetate film a relic of the past. No mat-
ter that the cheaper film was far better quality than a typical digital camera. The film quality wasn’t the most important thing anymore. Their customers saw speed, convenience and electronic capabilities as “quality.” All industries are evolving, some more rapidly than others. The best entrepreneurs are the ones who see that evolution early and react to it quickly. The industrialist on the other hand doesn’t look for changes. Rather, they want stability in the marketplace. This is so they can build a delivery system or a production plant around that stable market.
To them, changes and evolution cost money. Compare this to your industry. What is your quality? What is your customer’s quality? Are they still aligned? If you haven’t been to a chamber event lately, come join us. You will find the room filled with entrepreneurs who are always looking for the next evolution of business and what our customers see as “quality.” Being around like-minded people has always been one of my favorite things about the chamber. Peter Hill Chairman
Steve Melching
Big Canoe Homeowners Association
George Parson
Cartridge on Wheels of North Georgia
Keith Porter
Dawson County Board of Education
Denny Putlak
Denny Insurance Group
Carol Tyger Individual
Mike Underwood
First Citizens Bank of Georgia
Gloria Wyatt, Northside Hospital-Forsyth Scott Yochum, Yochum Financial Group
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SEPTEMBER 2013
calendar of events Sept. 11: Dawson County Emergency Services will have a 9/11 Remembrance Service beginning at 9 a.m. The service will be held at Fire Station 1, at 393 Memory Lane, Dawsonville. Sept. 12: The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch meeting will be held at noon at Peach Brandy Cottage. The price is $15 the day of the event for members and guests. A discount is available for those who register early. Visit www.dawson.org or call (706) 265-6278 to make your reservations. Sept. 17: John Seibel Photography is offering headshots from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the chamber office. Discount prices are available and this is a great opportunity to get professionally captured images that can be used for a variety of marketing purposes. Appointments are recommended. Call (706) 265-6278 to schedule an appointment. Sept. 21: The Dawson County Woman’s Club’s “Racing Goes Glam” will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. A club fundraiser, there will be food, fashion and a silent auction. Tickets are $30 each. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (706) 344-8419. Sept. 23: The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by Northside Hospital-Forsyth will be held at Crystal Falls. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Corporate sponsorships are $500, hole sponsorships are $150 and individual golfers are $125. For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278. Sept. 24: The chamber’s monthly Business After Hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dawsonville Gun and Pawn. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors, Dr. Larry Anderson, Anderson Family Medicine and Kristie Myers, The Norton Agency.
County named regional veterans site By Amanda Head For the Dawson Community News
There are only two regional Veterans Day sites in Georgia, and one of them is once again in Dawson County. “We are very proud and very happy that we are, once again, selected for the regional site for the state of Georgia Veterans Affairs for Veterans Day,” said Donald Brown, president of the Veterans Affairs Committee of Dawson County. “There is only two in the state, Dawsonville and Atlanta, so that makes us a little more proud of what we’ve accomplished.” The celebration is set for Nov. 11. The specific time to start the event has yet to be determined,
but will begin with a luncheon for the veterans, a program to showcase all wars since World War I, music and a parade following. For the parade, Brown is hoping for vintage military vehicles and to have several military marching units, which will include surrounding high school ROTCs, University of North Georgia and possibly the ranger camp in Dahlonega. “We really want to encourage our veterans in Dawsonville and the surrounding area to come out for this program,” Brown said. “More than anything, I want the community to stand there and cheer on these men and women who have really put their lives on the line for this country. “There will be [veterans] there
from Vietnam, World War II, Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Storm. So these people need to know that the community is proud of them, that the community is behind them and [that the community] feels grateful for what they have done,” he said. Veteran affairs is a volunteer organization and relies on volunteers and the community for support. They offer help to veterans, not monetarily, Brown said, because they don’t have the funds to do that, but to help direct veterans to get the support that they need. For more information, veterans and potential volunteers can call (706) 265-7613.
FROM 1
Raffle that I got this much,” she said. While paying bills is her first priority, Townley said the family has talked about taking a trip with some of the winnings. “It’s just awesome,” she said. The mayor’s prize money, on the other hand, is earmarked for his daughter’s college education. “We went this morning and had a [senior meeting] with her counselor and were talking about getting scholarships to get Sara ready for college,” he said. “And I’m sitting back there and thinking about what $10,000 would mean to her and to us for her to have that for her education. “So I told her if we were to win, the money was hers, and it just worked out that way.” Peter Hill, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said he couldn’t be happier with the overall event.
For the Dawson Community News
Lynn Townley, right, won $5,000 last week in the chamber’s reverse raffle.
“I think it was definitely a great event, and we certainly want to thank Big Canoe for hosting us and everyone that purchased tickets,” he said. “I’d also like to thank our board of directors and our ambassadors for selling the tickets, because
proceeds from the tickets certainly make up a big part of our operating budget.” The reverse raffle is the chamber’s biggest fundraiser each year with proceeds going toward programs that support local business.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Charity thrift store moves operation north
Ann McSapadden lines up her putt on the final green, while teammates Pat Frye and Sandra Fuller look on. David Renner Dawson Community News
By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Tourney benefits local arts council By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
The weather was fair and the grass was green recently at Crystal Falls Golf Club near the Dawson-Cherokee county line. The second annual Monet Ladies Golf Classic Charity Tournament, which benefits scholarship and education programs from the Dawson County Arts Council, gathered 96 women golfers on Aug. 12 to participate in a good cause. “We give scholarships to children who take art classes and theater classes. This is to fund that,” said Jeanne Tompkins, president of the arts council. “Or if we have ladies that want art lessons but can’t afford it. This goes toward that as well.” Tournament directors Patti McDonald and Mary Evans were hard at work much in advance to gather golfers from across the state to participate in the charity tournament, according to Tompkins. “Last year, Patti and Mary initially said they wanted to do something for the art center. They had an idea for a golf tournament, but it had to be classy,” Tompkins said. “That was her big stipulation. So we sat down ... and pitched the idea.” McDonald said she didn’t give it a second thought when it came to rais-
ing money for art education. “When Jeanne said they needed to raise money for the arts center, especially for the children’s programs, I said I would be glad to do this,” she said. Last year, the tournament also brought 96 golfers. The same number was used this year as a hard cut-off count in order to keep the after-events and food manageable. The tournament continues to draw a local crowd to show support for Dawson County arts. “A lot of my friends play here,” said golfer Bette Holland. “We got a group together to come out and play and support the Bowen Art Center.” One lucky Dawson County resident even took home a prize valued at $300 for sinking a hole in one during the tournament. Judy Finke has been playing golf for more than 40 years, but had never hit a hole in one prior the tournament. “I didn’t see the ball at first,” she said. “I thought it had rolled off somewhere.” After Finke and her team searched for a bit, the ball was found to have indeed rolled “somewhere,” straight into the cup. “I found out and I screamed, so did everybody else,” Finke said. “I was very excited. It was my first one.”
Dawson County will soon have a new location to shop for discounted merchandise and donate to charity, all at the same time. Abba House Inc., a long-term, residential ministry for women and children with addiction and mental health issues, has recently leased what used to be the Outdoor Traditions building at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Hwy. 136 East. “We’ve been working on this location for about four years, trying to get a lease on the building. It’s a beautiful facility,” said Jim Sharp, co-founder and executive director. “Right here on [Ga.] 400 is a great location. This was a successful operation previously, so we know it’s a good location. Almost everyone knows where Outdoor Traditions was.” Currently in its 13th year of operation, the organization has a 93.8 percent success rate of the women it takes in being relapse free and 100 percent not arrested again or taken back to a psychiatric hospital. Formerly, Abba House only had a small presence in Dawson County, according to Sharp, with a thrift store located near the Dawson/Forsyth County line at 6800 Dahlonega Hwy. on Hwy. 9 South. “We’re really excited about this,” he said. “I
think a lot more people know about us in Forsyth County. Hopefully this opening will bring more exposure to the people of Dawson County, not just on the south end.” Abba House currently feeds about 100 families a month in its facility near the Dawson County line. Sharp says that Abba House hopes to work with even more women with this new facility to get them back into society. “Our thrift stores are run almost exclusively by the women in the program,” he said. “This is a retail operation, but we have women in training as supervisors and retail workers.” By teaching the women to work, Abba House is providing those in their care a means to gain work experience and training. “A lot of these women have never worked before,” Sharp said. “When you are young, start using drugs and drop out of school, the only job you know is selling yourself or drugs. We’re teaching
Office: 706-216-4806 Fax: 706-216-4807 kfuller@alltel.net
them to do an honest day’s work and we hope this can be a center where a lot of women can come and learn job skills.” Abba House will also be working with the women on classes to get their GEDs, with hopes that this new facility will allow more funds to begin night classes on an outpatient basis. But this new store isn’t solely for the benefit of Abba House residents. The Dawson County community will also benefit from the new location, according to Sharp, by being able to purchase quality items at a lower cost. “We’re starting a few new programs here. Sealy Mattresses has selected us to be an outlet for their overstock merchandise,” he said. “So a set of mattresses that might cost about $2,000 retail, we can sell for about $500. That’s really exciting for us to be able to do that.” If you would like to volunteer or want more information on Abba House and its new location, call (678) 208-2000.
P.O Box 1096 137 Prominence Court Suite 240 Dawsonville, GA 30534
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Casino Night supports local humane society By David Renner drenner@dawsonnews.com
David Renner Dawson Community News
Big D’s Barbecue owner Darin Muenchow and wife Michele, center, gathered with restaurant staff members, Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan and members of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 28 to celebrate the opening of a second location in downtown Dawsonville.
Big D’s cuts ribbon on downtown location By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Easily seen as a Dawsonville staple off Ga. 400, Big D’s Barbecue now has a location open closer to downtown residents. The restaurant officially cut the ribbon on the new location Aug. 28 alongside fellow members of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan. “It was a lot of hard work getting this place where we could open,” said owner Darin Muenchow. “We really appreciate the community’s support.” According to Muenchow, the restaurant will be churning up plenty of good food for downtown Dawsonville, hopefully on par with its Ga. 400 location. “We probably smoke about 600 pounds here downtown,” he said.
“Down at [Ga.] 400, we run about 600-800 pounds a night, seven days a week. We smoke pretty much around the clock.” Both the mayor and chamber president Christie Haynes expressed their enthusiasm for the restaurant being downtown as well as their habit of frequent visits. “I’m so glad we have this great downtown location. I eat there a lot,” Haynes said. “There has been a lot of excitement around town about this location. It’s a great place to come.” Haynes said that no matter where she visits in the region and even the state, people are familiar with the Big D’s name. “I travel the state a good bit and people know Big D’s wherever I go,” she said. “They are a true testament on how to be a small business.”
The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame was full of food, fun and festivities aimed at raising funds for and awareness of the local animal shelter. Lucky Dog Casino Night, a fundraiser for the Dawson County Humane Society, was held July 27 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Guests enjoyed an evening of Las Vegas gaming, entertainment, dancing, trivia, a sumptuous array of food and the chance to win door prizes and the Lucky Seven Prizes. Games included Blackjack, Craps, Texas Hold ’Em and Roulette. There were also live and silent auctions.
“It was a fabulous evening,” said Carolyn Bowen, Dawson County Humane Society president. “More than $13,000 was raised to continue animal care, services and programs at the shelter so shelter animals have a chance of finding a loving home.” According to Bowen, there were more than 100 guests at the event. One-third of the expenses needed to maintain the shelter come from fundraising. “We cannot express how appreciative we and the animals are for the support of the community,” Bowen said. For more information about the humane society, call (706) 265-9160.
For the Dawson Community News
Joe and Ann Bosworth are presented an Apple iPad by Mayor James Grogan, right.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Local business owner takes African safari By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Dawson County is home to many hunting enthusiasts, but few can say they have hunted down the likes of zebras, impalas and elephants. Dawsonville Gun & Pawn owner Paul Mincey recently returned from a two week safari in Africa where he got to do just that. “I’ve wanted to go since I was 3 or 4 years old, watching PBS and seeing the abundance and diversity of wildlife,” he said. Mincey finally took the jump and booked the trip, which included several stops over a long, 30 hour journey. “It was a 16 hour flight to catch another flight, so it was close to 30 hours total,” he said. “The lack of sophistication in Africa was shocking.”
Mincey landed in Windhoek, which, according to his estimate, was about the size of Gainesville. Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. From there, he met up with the professional hunter assigned to the trip. They then loaded up and drove for six hours into the bush for hunting. Mincey said the experience wasn’t intended to hunt one specific animal, but the overall thrill of the hunt. “It wasn’t one particular animal on the hunt, but constant stalking,” he said. Mincey brought home the likes of an impala, zebra, black wildebeest, greater kudu, eland, warthog, three orxy, baboon and an elephant. Hunters are charged a price for each animal they kill. Prices vary from animal to animal.
“I had no ambition to kill an elephant because they are very expensive and there is a long waiting list — up to five years now,” Mincey said. “But while I was there, an elephant killed a villager and, like at parks here, if an animal kills somebody, they have to be put down. Namibia, instead of having a federal ranger putting it down, they offer it to the hunters at a discounted price. They discounted this one about 75 percent.” Mincey said he thought long and hard about going after the bounty, but said he couldn’t resist the 9,000 pound prize. “Because I have a wife and two small children, I had to really consider going after the elephant. It’s a dangerous game animal that had killed someone,” he said. “I thought about it and decided that I
For the Dawson Community News
Dawsonville Gun & Pawn owner Paul Mincey got the rare opportunity to hunt wild game in Africa, most notably a man-killing elephant.
wanted to be the guy that did it and not the guy that could have done it and never did. You’ll never have that kind of opportunity again.” But the kill wasn’t just for himself, Mincey said. This kill meant a lot to the villagers that had lost a friend and family
member. “To see the villagers rejoice to know it was put down — they wanted the elephant before the funeral so it could be part of the three-day funeral celebration,” he said. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend, but it meant a lot to them.”
Adult learning center recognizes graduates Courtney Allison, left, was among dozens of GED graduates recognized during a ceremony at the Dawson County Adult Learning Center Aug. 15. In addition to her graduation certificate, Allison also received scholarships from the Dawson County Woman’s Club, presented by Sylvia LaCagnin, right, and the Dawsonville Lions Club. A mother of seven, Allison is now attending Lanier Technical College.
Bulletin board • Improve your skills … take an online class. For more information, visit www.dawson.org. • Past issues of the Dawson County Chamber Chronicle can be found on the chamber’s Web site, www.dawson.org. Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Please let the chamber know when you have a special event.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Atlanta Motorsports Park
Gearing up to break ground for expansion From staff reports
Providing the Southeast with the ultimate driving experience, Atlanta Motorsports Park, a two mile, green and sustainable road course located in Dawsonville, plans to expand its country club facility and provide additional amenities to guests and members, accommodating avid racers as well as their families. Designed by famed Formula One architect, Hermann Tilke, AMP has begun construction on the additions to the facility and will provide a host of luxury amenities, including a swim-
ming pool, outdoor deck featuring a stone fireplace lobby, premier dining options, enhanced members-only lounge and more. Atlanta Motorsports Park CEO Jeremy Porter is extremely excited to introduce additional features to attendees. “I’m truly looking forward to rolling out this expansion to our loyal members and guests,” he said. “Our goal is to foster a family atmosphere and provide a facility that has a little something for everyone, providing a unique country club environment.
“We always strive to implement a high standard of excellence in all areas of the park and look forward to providing more fun activities for the entire family.” Another important goal of the park is preserving the grounds. Atlanta Motorsports Park property maintains the latest technology and environmentally-friendly practices to provide a green, sustainable facility. Using the use of energy saving appliances, a collection of recyclables, solar-powered fans for interior air movement, a reclaimed water irrigation
system, as well as additional ecological methods during operations, guests are able to enjoy the facilities and additional amenities while being provided the resources to “go green.” There are a variety of stateof-the-art activities available at Atlanta Motorsports Park, as adults are not the only ones permitted on the course. Children can enjoy go-karts for all-levels of drivers, providing a variety of rental options and a separate track available on-site. Both driving and go-kart activities are available for cor-
porate or team building events, as well as driving school opportunities ranging from teen programs to advanced private coaching. Renovations to the grounds are getting underway and completed expansions are tentatively scheduled for early 2014. Atlanta Motorsports Park is located at 20 Duck Thurmond Road Dawsonville. For more information, call (678) 381-8527 or visit www.atlantamotorsportspark. com.
THE #1 SOLUTION TO UNDERAGE DRINKING:
P A R E N T S .
Be Open. As the kids prepare to head back to classes, understanding the peer pressure they face at school allows you to provide the support system they need at home. Simply letting your kids know you’re there to listen can help to prevent underage drinking. For useful tips and resources, visit capa-ga.org or call us at 706-265-1981.
[ Be POWER OF PARENTS
the Key
]
P P POWER
OF
PARENTS
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Students plan new club at private school
Photos by Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Students at Dawson Christian Academy said they are ready to make a difference in their community and around the world by starting an Interact Club at the private school. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for students 12-18 years old. Rotary Club of Dawson County will sponsor the new Interact organization. Left, Dawson County Sheriff’s Maj. Tony Wooten, a member of the Rotary Club of Dawson County, talks to students about the new club.
Dawsonville’s Dance Studio
REGISTER NOW! Starting at Age 3 Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern, Lyrical, Pilates
(706) 974-9161 • www.balletetc.org • 258 Beartooth Pkwy. Ste. 170, Dawsonville balletEtcDawsnChamberAug2013
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SEPTEMBER 2013
EXTEND YOUR ADVERTISING MARKET in our monthly D A W S O N
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Chamber Chronicle is the monthly newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. The editorial content includes Chamber News and goals of interest to the business and residential community. The Chamber will keep the community informed about ribbon cuttings, business expansions, chamber functions QUICK TAKES and events, community events and the benefits of Chamber membership through Chamber REASONABLE RATES Chronicle. Advertising offered only to
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Frequency...Monthly 2nd Wednesday of Every Month Deadline: Monday One Week Prior to Publication
Call Jennifer Lyness at 770-205-8962 for rates
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Dawsonville: around the square
Thousands gather for festival By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
A new tradition may be brewing in Dawsonville after a couple thousand enthusiasts spent a weekend last month sipping beer and supporting live local music behind city hall. In its inaugural year, the Dawsonville Music and Beer Festival, held Aug. 23 and 24, was an “off the hook” good time for Chris Thomas, who came from Ball Ground with friend Colin Denlea to check out what was on tap. “We’re beer enthusiasts, and we’re glad to be here. We came to support local music and local events and cold beer,” he said. Denlea added: “This is great. They have all the essentials: Ample amounts of food and beer, live music and a very professional sound system. Cheers.” With more than a dozen live bands playing Friday night and all day Saturday, and a variety
of Georgia-based craft brewers, the festival was exactly what Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan hoped for when the city issued a permit months ago. “This was so much fun. Everybody’s having a great time. We’ve had no problems and all I’m hearing are good comments from everybody,” he said. “They’re all saying they want this to be an annual event.” Held in the parking lot and adjacent field behind the Dawsonville Municipal Complex, admission was $5 Friday and $10 on Saturday. Christie Haynes, president of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and office of tourism development, volunteered throughout the two-day event. “…were glad to support and participate in the first Dawsonville Music and Beer Festival. The festival brought many new visitors to Dawsonville and helped fill hotel rooms in our county,” she said.
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Beer enthusiasts Chris Thomas and Colin Denlea came from Ball Ground to see what was on tap Aug. 23 during the Dawsonville Music and Beer Festival.
“Events like this festival are positive examples of how we as a community can attract outside investment through unique tourism attractions.” Hansi Holloway said she was glad to see so many people in Dawsonville for the festival. “I think it’s great for Dawsonville and great for the local businesses,” she said. “I hope that they do it again.”
Proceeds benefitted the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Camp Southern Ground, musician Zac Brown’s program for kids. Rumors floated around throughout the two-day festival that Brown would make an appearance, but fans were not deterred when the reports proved untrue. “We’re having a fun time
tonight,” said David Slaton. Originally from Charleston where beer and music festivals are the norm, Slaton said he predicts Dawsonville’s festival will keep “getting better and better.” “This is the first year and the bands have been great, so hopefully they’ll get more vendors in and it will continue to grow,” he said. Jeremy Satterfield, lead guitarist for Dahlonega-based Coal Mountain Band, said he liked to see that too. “Playing so close to home, we saw a lot of the regulars out there. We notice it a little more at every show. With every show, it keeps building up a little at a time,” he said. Bandmate Jordan Ligon agrees. “The festival was great. What a fun time. We’re trying to get out here, get as much exposure as possible, give the fans and everybody out there a good time,” he said.
City officials attend annual GMA convention From staff reports
Mayor James Grogan, city clerk Bonnie Warne and city council members Chris Gaines, Angie Smith, Mike Sosebee and Jason Power were among more than 2,000 officials to attend the Annual Convention of the Georgia Municipal Association, or GMA, in
Savannah June 22-25. The convention held two days of training, along with two days of policy committee meetings, the election of new officers and numerous sessions on topics affecting municipal government. The convention gave city officials the opportunity to hear from state leaders and local
government experts on issues affecting cities. It also allowed city leaders from around the state the chance to network with each other and learn about innovative programs. “We spent a lot of time in sessions, but one of the most valuable experiences is talking to other city officials,” Grogan said. “Being with other city
officials from around the state gave us the opportunity to learn about innovative programs cities have implemented. “Now, more than ever, we are looking for ways to provide services with less revenue and maintain a high quality of life in our city. The information we get at the convention is
invaluable. In addition, there are new laws and regulations we need to be aware of, so that information is also very valuable.” Topics discussed at the meeting included the economy, the revised open meetings/open record laws, city revenues and creating strong downtowns.
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SEPTEMBER 2013
Golfers to tee up for the chamber By Michele Hester
mhester@dawsonnews.com
Golfers will soon hit the greens for the annual Dawson County Chamber of Commerce golf tournament. One of several fundraisers for the chamber of commerce, the Sept. 23 tournament at Crystal Falls Golf Club supports the chamber’s initiatives throughout the year. Sponsored by Northside HospitalForsyth, registration for the tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a hole-in-one contest for a chance to win a new car from John Megel Chevrolet and Cruise One is offering a putting contest for a free cruise.
Bojangles will be providing breakfast. Lunch will also be served. “It’s always a fun day and one of the most entertaining parts of the day is getting to laugh when the men dress in drag to get to tee off from the ladies tees,” said Christie Haynes, president of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Corporate sponsorships are $500, hole sponsorships are $150 and individual golfers are $125. Additionally, for $25 players can purchase two mulligans, a putting contest entry and a door prize ticket. For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.
new members Dawsonville Antiques 23 Hwy. 9 North Dawsonville, GA 30534 (770) 883-1785 Dawsonville Lions Charities Inc Post Office Box 408 Dawsonville, GA 30534 (678) 410-9090
member renewals Special thanks to the following members for renewing in August • Tom and LeeAnn Harter • Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson County
monthly totals Walk-in visitors: 98
Referrals: 88 Newcomer packages: 15
dawsonChamber091113_ChamberChronicle
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Amicalola Wells gives back to community EMC donates to community ambassador of the month
From staff reports
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Damon Wells, who was named Ambassador of the Month for August. Wells is on staff at Alexander, Almand & Bangs, a CPA firm in Gainesville that has been a chamber member for more than 20 years. He said he volunteers as a chamber ambassador “to give back to the community, promote local businesses and showcase my firm’s desire to be involved in the growth of the area.” “As such I have been designated as our firm’s point person for the chamber and have been given the green light by the firm’s partners to work volunteer projects with the chamber into my schedule,” he said. Being involved with the
Ambassador Program “has allowed me to meet some absolutely excellent professionals throughout the Dawson
area,” he said. Wells was selected as Ambassador of the Month for his commitment to promoting the chamber and its many programs. He also recently volunteered to register guests during the chamber’s reverse raffle. “I have met a broad range of interesting people, with some of those new relationships possibly maturing into friendships,” he said. “Generally, I am just enjoying the opportunity to meet so many high-energy people and hope I can offer something back for the benefits I am personally receiving.”
The ambassadors are a group of volunteer chamber members who act as liaisons between the business community and the organization. Ambassadors attend ribboncutting ceremonies, grand opening celebrations and volunteer at chamber functions to promote the chamber. In his spare time, Wells enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with wife Sheryl. The couple has been married for 20 years and lives in Winder. Wells also enjoys college football. “I do love my Georgia Dawgs and do my best to make every single game of the season,” he said. For more information on the Ambassador Program, call (706) 265-6278.
From staff reports
Amicalola EMC rounded up its latest collections given by its members and presented them to the Reading Education Association of Dawson County, through Operation Round Up. The $1,500 grant was made possible through Amicalola EMC’s customers who voluntarily participate in the program. Members can choose to sign up and automatically have their electric bill rounded up to the next dollar each month or they can choose the “round up” option on their bill on a monthly basis. Currently, there is a 38 percent participation rate from Amicalola EMC customers. “Amicalola EMC is helping so many in our community through Operation Round Up,” said Sandy Lipkowitz, R.E.A.D. executive director. R.E.A.D. receives a portion of the Operation Round Up funds through the EMC’s served communities program. Since inception of the program in 1993, more than $1.7 million has been donated back into the communities Amicalola EMC serves.
ambassador spotlight
Eatery sponsors breakfast From staff reports
Bojangles’ sponsored the July Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador breakfast. The restaurant, at 25 Main Street in downtown Dawsonville is open from 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bojangles’ core menu of fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits and one-of-a-kind “fixin’s” like dirty rice and Cajun pintos has remained the same for more than three decades.
For football season, Bojangles is offering specials on Big Bo boxes, perfect for tailgating. The staff is also excited that the restaurant’s popular smoked sausage biscuit is now available for a limited time. The business is also proud of its involvement in the local community, especially in school sponsorships. Most recently, the restaurant provided dinner for the band during Dawson County High School’s season home opener.
File photo
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Lanier Tech, schools sign agreement for dual enrollment By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Lanier Technical College and the Dawson County Board of Education kicked off another school year last month by signing an agreement to continue the dual enrollment program shared between the college and the high school. Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take courses from a state public or private college while still enrolled as a high school student and receive credit. “We’ve worked so closely with Lanier Tech through the years and it’s been a great relationship,” said Dawson County Superintendent Keith Porter. It’s been very beneficial to our students and the program continues to grow. We’re very excited to continue working with Dr. Ray Perren and we appreciate the partnership.” According to Jeff Fitzpatrick, high school coordinator for Lanier Technical College, Ray Perren, the college’s president, suggested the college deviate from
the normal procedure of signing the agreement at the college campus. “Each fall, we sign our agreement, but this year, Dr. Perren suggested we attend a board meeting and get it approved formally this year,” Fitzpatrick said. On behalf of Lanier Tech, Perren said during the board meeting that the college “look[ed] forward to working” with Dawson County “for years to come.” “We see this as a true win-win-win; a win for the school district, it’s a win for the College, and most importantly, it’s a win for the students,” Perren said. “Statewide, 98 percent of students involved in dual enrollment go on to graduate from high school. That’s a tremendous track record across the state. We appreciate the strong community support that Dawson County shows to Lanier Technical College.” Porter praised the program’s success rate, citing its high record of getting students much-needed jobs. “When a student fin-
The Dawson County Board of Education, along with administrators from Dawson County High School, Hightower Academy and Lanier Technical College, gather after the agreement is signed. Photos for the Dawson Community News
Ray Perren, president of Lanier Technical College, center, and Superintendent Keith Porter, right, sign the dual enrollment agreement as Joanne Tolleson, vice president of operations and Lanier Tech Dean Troy Lindsey look on.
ishes their program at Lanier Tech, they have a 98.6 percent job referral rate for the workforce, which enables students to achieve working status very quickly upon completing their programs,” he said. “We also see this as a winwin-win, as well.” According to the school system, dual
enrollment provides an opportunity for the Dawson County School System to expand the curriculum at no extra cost and enables high school students with an opportunity to jumpstart their college education and career skills. Perren also announced during the meeting that, starting this year, Lanier
Technical College will exempt the portion of the tuition and fees that are not covered by the HOPE Grant for students that qualify for the HOPE Grant. This exemption is designed to help to remove any financial barriers that students might have in order to help them dual enroll and to have more opportunities to get involved.
Students interested in dual enrollment should see their guidance counselors for more details, or they can visit www. laniertech.edu/dualenroll. For more information about Lanier Technical College and dual enrollment, call (770) 531-6300 visit www. laniertech.edu.
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Corn maze ready for season By David Renner
drenner@dawsonnews.com
Uncle Shuck’s has opened its doors for another fall of fun and events. Operating for 12 years, Uncle Shuck’s, off Hwy. 53, offers a wide variety of activities for all ages. Visitors can pay for hayrides, which come with a bonfire and marshmallow roasting on the trail, take a few shots with the corn cannon, pick a pumpkin at the patch and get lost in the signature corn maze. The theme for this year’s maze is moonshiners, with the maze cut into the shape of a moonshiner watching over his still. “We’re trying to highlight the heritage of moonshiners and stills,” said owner Mike Pinzl. “This county has a rich heritage and with the distillery downtown, we thought it would be a great way to pay respects to that.” Pinzl said the agritourism destination will be holding a number of events over the coming months. Some of these include a free foster family day on Sept. 14, Boy and Girl Scout campouts and a haunted trail in October. “The haunted trail is our big fundraiser for the high school,” said Pinzl. “For 10 nights, the high school supplies the talent and we get a great fundraiser going. The kids get to go out and scare other kids and make money for their school while doing it.” While the prices of activities vary, there is no admission fee to come on the grounds, view and shop for pumpkins and fall decoration. Prices, per person, are $10 for the corn maze, $5 for the hay ride, and $13 for the haunted maze. Deals are available, with the corn maze and hayride bundled for $13 and all three can be purchased together for $16. Corn cannon shots are three for $1. Children four and under are free. For more information, call Uncle Shuck’s at (770) 772-6223.
Hours September: • 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday • 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays October: • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Thursday • 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday Haunt nights: Oct. 4 and 5, 11-13, 18, 19, 25, 26, 31 Begin at dusk, last ticket sold at 10 p.m. Haunt night maze is only open on Friday and Saturday Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent Photos for the Dawson Community News
This year’s theme is moonshiners. The corn maze, top photo, has been cut to depict a moonshiner at his still when viewed from above. Above, visitors roast marshmallows at a fire pit as part of the hayride offered by Uncle Shuck’s.
Nov. 1-24 • 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays • 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays
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Group donates to adult literacy
lanier tech
Graduates take stage From staff reports
For the Dawson Community News
The Dawson County Democratic Party donated $500 Aug. 20 to the Dawson County R.E.A.D. program to be used to help students pay for the GED test. From left, Tom Foley, executive committee of the Dawson County Democratic Party; Joe Hirsch past chair of R.E.A.D.; Bette Holland, chairwoman of the Dawson County Democratic Party; Sharon Cole, lead instructor for the GED program and Pat Story, instructor and vice-chair of R.E.A.D.
Amicalola hosts after hours event
David Renner Dawson Community News
Lauretta Dean a ranger at Amicalola Falls State Park gives an owl demonstration during the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Aug. 27 event at the lodge. The chamber would like to thank the individuals and businesses that donated door prizes and congratulate the winners. The next Business After Hours event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Dawsonville Gun & Pawn. Special thanks to Larry Anderson, Anderson Family Medicine and Kristie Myers of The Norton Agency for sponsoring the chamber’s monthly cash drawing, which is $250 for the September event. You must be present to claim the cash prize if your name is drawn.
More than 300 GED graduates, including 57 Dawson students, walked across the stage on Aug. 31, at Free Chapel in Gainesville to receive their diplomas from members of the Lanier Technical College Board of Directors. Brigitte Accary, originally from France and a former GED student, spoke to the new graduates. “I am from France, and I am an American citizen and proud of it. With the support of my teachers and staff who convinced me, I decided to go for a criminal justice diploma to serve this country,” she said. “I deeply encourage you to go further, college is your next step, take it, it will change your life for the best.“ State Representative Kevin Tanner (R), District 9, was the keynote speaker. Prior to his first term as State Representative, Tanner was the Dawson County Manager where he oversaw dayto day-operations as the county’s chief operating officer. He is also a successful small business owner. Tanner was recognized in 2011 as the Appointed Official of the Year by Georgia’s Association of County Commissioners, and in 2007 Georgia Trend Magazine named him one of Georgia’s 40 under 40. Tanner serves on the Georgia House of Representatives Education Committee and several other committees. Speaking to the graduates, he reminded the graduates that they had all … faced many obstacles in [their] life” and “had to overcome to be where [they] are today.” “I am reminded of what James Agee said: ‘God doesn’t believe in the easy way.’ It is through this adversity, through these challenges that we grow and become stronger,” Tanner said. “We are being molded into the type of people we are meant to be. We should never forget where we have come from but I have to think Thomas Jefferson was correct when he said: ‘I like the dreams of the future better than history of the past.’” Tanner continued by reinforcing the idea that technical college/school gradu-
ates did not need to carry the stigma that they had in the past. “For decades we have pushed our young people to attend four year colleges. We have made those that attend technical school feel like second class citizens,” he said. “The reality of the situation is that if we teach someone a skill in technical school they will succeed in the workforce. Lanier Technical College’s placement rate upon graduation with a certificate, diploma or degree is around 98 percent within the field of study within six months of graduation. Most of our colleges are less than 50 percent and many will never be employed in their field of study after graduating college. This is why we are seeing an increasing number of individuals with a college degree entering technical school to learn a trade.” Tanner encouraged the graduates to keep moving forward and to keep working hard. “You have had to overcome many obstacles to be sitting in front of me today having earned your GED. I know you have worked hard and there were probably many times you wanted to give up, but you persevered and you succeeded,” he said. “No one can ever take this moment and this accomplishment away from you. It is said that ‘Success isn’t measured by the position you reach in life; it’s measured by the obstacles you overcome to get there.’ Today you have reached success. Don’t let this be the end of your education. Education should be a life long journey.” He finished his speech by sharing some further words of wisdom from one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs. “Mary Kay Ash once said that, ‘Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.’ God only gives each of us one opportunity to live this life,” he said. “I encourage you today to make the very best of it. Live it to the very fullest you possibly can. Learn each day and give back to others every chance you have. When you come down to the end of your life make sure that you have played every song that is in you. That when you die there wasn’t one verse of music left unplayed.”
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