Chamber Workplan 2014

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

Thank You! from the Board and the staff for your continued investment.

Your investment and support has made it possible to successfully accomplish many goals. The Chamber will continue being a community partner that fosters a sustainable and vibrant economy through business promotion, advocacy, education and service in 2014.

2013 Chamber Activites and Accomplishments … that help encourage Business Growth and a Healthy Community.

In order to have an active and strong community in which to live and work, there must be an organized effort working to better that community. That is what the Havre Chamber is; that organized effort. The organized effort comes from the dedicated volunteer Board and the many committee volunteers.

Partnerships….. Increase Strength • Membership sponsorships for many projects: Festival Days, Super Certificate, 9-C Hospitality Room and so many more • City and Alberta on 24-hour port at Wild Horse project • Montana Chamber to provide Chamber Choices Insurance plan • Havre Public Schools hosting 2013 Legislative “call-in” • Havre Public Schools, Leadership High School and Graduation Matters • Re-cycle Hi-Line community clean-ups and promotion of monthly

recycling events • City to maintain the 1st Street flower planters • Montana Department of Transportation to maintain the 1st Beautification Project Education … Develops an Effective Workforce • Sponsored business seminars and workshops Assistance for Business, Superhost Training and Health Care Forum, Ipad training Committee Projects… Drive the Chamber Ag Committee - The 18th Ag Appreciation Dinner and the Ice Fishing Derby funded $2,000 in MSU-N Scholarships, Northern Agricultural Research Center Field Day barbecue participation, members read to students at Highland Park School during National Ag Week and donate books to their library Athletic Committee - Hosts 9-C basketball tournament and Monday Night Football Book Ambassadors - Held 16 new Member Ribbon Cuttings and two re-Grand Openings Cash Mob project brings awareness to local business, Lunch with Santa and Food Drive and summer community clean-up project Business Development Committee - Six business tours to learn about our main street businesses: Border Patrol, Northern Montana Hospital, BNSF, Al’s Metal Works, Wildflowers, Henny Penny, Enell, Barkus Home Center and Pacific Steel and Recycling Havre Festival Days - Successful community parade and craft show, facilitate weekend, marketing and promo of the 33rd celebration Leadership High School - received PPL Grant, along with BNSF and NorthWestern Energy grants and membership sponsorships Town Square - Sounds on the Square features area bands, with support grants from

Devon Energy and Sleeter Fund Saturday Market - brings community together and another record year for vendor participation Tourism - visitation increased with expanded marketing to Canada and surrounding states through the committee and Tourism Business Improvement District branded marketing campaign, “Take a Look Around,” Living History Day Holiday Tree Lighting and Celebration purchased 1,000 new LED lights for the tree, cleaned and refurbished community pole decorations Programs….Support Members Christmas Cash Promotion – over $162 thousand loaned!

Chamber Gift Certificate Promotion – Over $260 thousand sold!

Check Alert for businesses Communications…. Informs Members Chamber Quarterly Newsletter ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ two new event posters ~ member calls by Board of Directors ~ many email notices to membership to inform on events, meetings, business updates

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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Incoming Chamber board president looks to 2014 Pam Burke Havre Daily News

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce has rung in the new year with its traditional change of officers, and Debbie Callahan takes over as president of the board for 2014.

As a member, Debbie represents Independence Bank, where she is senior vice president of lending. She has been with the Chamber, with just a few years away, since 1997. She served as president once before, in 1999, and was an integral part of the committee that spearheaded creation of Havre’s Town Square.

Debbie commended Chamber Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg and Office Manager Shari Robinson for the work they do year-in and year-out and said she looks forward to the opportunity to serve as president again.

“It’s just another great opportunity. It allows me to become a good ambassador for Havre and our community,” she said. “We have a wonderful community, we have great leaders in our volunteers, and I think between

those two, I believe, we have great and then we do Festival Days and opportunities for growth and then we’re involved in Christmas development.” cash and Leadership High School

She wants to continue with and all of those events, and it will what past-president Jacob Lorang continue each year. We kind of grow started in 2013, “to educate our and weed out some and change community, educate our businesses some but, over all, we continue to and educate our consumers — keep grow those areas.” them aware of what the Chamber

She wants the public to be actually does for our community,” aware that all the Chamber does she said. is done with great thought for the

“The makeup of the Chamber community and, when they do really hasn’t changed much over implement change, it’s for a reason, Callahan the years,” she said. “I’m a runner for the betterment of the project so I kind of compare it to that. I and the community. If people have train for 10 or 12 weeks and then you go to race questions or concerns about, or suggestions for, day and then it’s over. That’s kind of what the any of the Chamber activities, she urged that Chamber does. We have different projects year they should contact her or Vandeberg, or any round, and they work hard at getting them of the board members, directly. done, and then they’re done and then you just Debbie said she intends to continue with start on a different project. past-president Jacob Lorang’s goals to educate

“Some of the projects we’ve done, and people about the Chamber. will continue to do, is just here a couple weeks

She also looks forward to continuing ago we had a very successful (Christmas) tree outreach to the 300-plus member businesses, lighting ceremony down at the Town Square she said, and intends to step up the

communication efforts by starting some type of monthly member updates — through email, the Chamber’s Facebook page or added press releases to the media — in addition to the member newsletter already produced quarterly.

Communication is a goal that will never go away, she added.

A question Debbie said she often hears is about what the Chamber does for the community of Havre. While she can, and did, list a number of activities and services the Chamber takes care of — such as not only organizing creation of Town Square, but also paying the bills and maintaining it throughout the summer — Debbie said the answer has already come from the Chamber.

“In our mission statement we kind of say it the best,” she said. “We’re here ‘to promote Havre and its businesses through effective advertising, planned events, community service, networking and education of the public. We’ll continue to play a leading role in attracting new business and residents to our community, which is a benefit to all of us.’”

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Members A Plus Health Care Aageson Agency-Allstate Aaron’s Sales & Leasing Adams Chiropractic ADM/CHS, LLC AmericInn of Havre Anderson Appraising Atrium Mall Association B&B Sheet Metal Baker Amusement Baldwin Insurance Associates Barkus Home Center Bear Paw BBQ Bear Paw Credit Union Bear Paw Development Bear Paw Hunts, Inc. Bear Paw Lumber Bear Paw Meats Bear Paw Paint Bear Paw Technologies Bear Paw Veterinary Clinic Bearly Square Quilting Beaver Creek Designs Beaver Creek Golf Course Ben Franklin Crafts Bergren Transmission Better Business Bureau Big Equipment Company Big R Stores Big Sky Images Bill Baltrusch Construction Bing ‘n Bob’s Blair, Les & Mary Blue Cross Blue Shield BNSF Bob’s Greenhouse Bosch, Kuhr Dugdale Boxcars Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Brandon’s Drapery & Floor Covering Bricker, Darlene Bright Ideas Advertising Budget Rent-A-Car Bullhook Clinic Bullhook Property Management CK Builders CM Management Canton Restaurant Cape Air Carquest Auto Parts Cavaliers for Men & Women Cellular Plus Char’s Family Dining Charter Communications

Circle Inn City of Havre Clack Museum Foundation Clausen & Sons Coca-Cola Consumer Direct Cottonwood Cinema 4 Creative Catering Creative Leisure Credit Bureau of Havre Crystal City Casino Culligan Custom Collision Repair D.A. Davidson Dairy Queen Destination Travel Diesel Doctor, Inc. Dollar Zone Domino’s Down Under Fitness Center Downtown Gardens Duchscher Insurance Duck Inn Eagles Club Eagles Manor Edward Jones El Toro Inn Elite Tan & Styling Salon Emporium EMT Car Wash Enell, Inc. Erickson Insurance Group Evergreen Campground Ezzie’s Wholesale, Inc. 5th Avenue Christian Church 5th Ave Grind Farm Bureau Financial Services Fifteen West Finest Boot Repair First National Pawn Fivehead’s Fleet Wholesale Supply Flynn Realty Frontier Lawn & Landscaping Galusha, Higgins & Galusha Gary & Leo’s IGA Glassworks Golden Spike Lounge Great Northern Fair Great Northern Inn Gregoire Insurance Agency Guadalajara Restaurant Gusto Distributing H. Earl Clack Museum

H&R Block Hamilton Consulting Group Hank Tweeten’s Auto Body Harada Family Dental Care Havre Assembly of God Church Havre Beneath the Streets Havre Daily News Havre Day Activity Center Havre Dental Group Havre Distributors Havre Elks Lodge #1201 Havre Ford Havre/Hill County Preservation Havre Jaycees Havre Job Service Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning Havre Hi-Line Realty Havre Optometric Clinic Havre Public Schools Havre Ready-Mix Havre Refrigeration Havre Rental & Hi-Line Polaris Heberly & Associates Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes Herberger’s HiLine Audio & Video HiLine Radio Shack Hi-Line Gold Casino Hi-Line Lanes Hi-Line Motel High Plains Gallery Hill County Commissioners Hill County Conservation District Hill County Electric Hill County Extension Office Hill County Health Department Hill County Printing Hill County Title Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday Holiday Village Mall Holland & Bonine Holt Plumbing & Heating HRDC Independence Bank Independent Inspection Integrative Medical Solutions JM Donoven Designs Jones Plumbing & Heating Keller Williams Capitol Realty Kentucky Fried Chicken Klimas Financial Services, Inc. Kmart

Koefod Agency Lelok Travel Lorang Law Lunch Box Magic Carpet Travel Magic Diamond Casino Master Sports Maui Nites Casino Maurices McDonald’s McLean’s Grocery McNair Furniture Meadowlark Property Management Midwest Diesel Injection Milk River Cooperative Montana Lil’s MSU-Northern MSU-Northern Foundation Murphy’s Pub Nalivka’s Pizza Kitchen Nault Plumbing & Heating New Concept Lawn, Inc. New Media Broadcasters Norman’s Ranch Wear North Central Auto Parts (NAPA) North Star Dodge Northern Ag Research Center Northern Home Essentials Northern Montana Health Care Northern Winz Casino Northwest Farm Credit Services Northwest Security Services NorthWestern Energy Northwestern Mutual Life Nu Wave Oil Tools Office Equipment Opportunity Link, Inc. Oval Office Advertising Overcast Restoration PJ’s Pacific Steel Parkview Apartments Patrick Construction Pepsi-Cola Pizza Hut Prairie Farms Golf Course ProBuild Property West Punkin Doodles Emporium R-New Trading Post Rails Inn Raymond James Financial Services Red’s Auto Parts Rock Solid Enterprises

Rod’s Drive-In Rolling Hills Ruff Real Estate St. Jude Thaddeus School Saddle Butte Custom Smoking Scharfe, Kato & Co. Schine Electric Schubert Insurance Agency Schwan’s Home Service Sears Serv-Ur-Self Furniture Sherwin Williams Siesta Motel State Farm Insurance – Anthony Cammon Steve Mariani Insurance Stockman Bank Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway Sundogs Super 8 Motel Sweet Temptations Taco John’s, Inc. Taco Treat The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Timber Creek Village Tip-It Bar Tire-Rama Torgerson’s TownHouse Inns Town Pump Triangle Communications Uncle Joe’s United Way of Hill County US Bank Valley Furniture Vic’s Place Waddell & Reed Walmart Wells Fargo Bank Western Drug Pharmacy Western Trailer Sales Westside Storage Wildflowers Wilson, Gary A. Wolfer's Diner Yellowstone Insurance Exchange Yummy Foods Yummy Yogurt

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January 2014

Ag Committee: Works to award $2,000 per year in scholarships ■ Continued from page 7 scholarship, work ethic and potential to contribute to agriculture,” said Welch.

“We try to tell the advisors that these scholarships go to kids that need it,” said Wimmer. “Let’s say they’re working, they don’t have to be a straight-A student, but the person that deserves it, you know, they’re working, they’re going to school, they’re trying but some people struggle. …

It’s to the person in need.”

The advisors on the selection committee are MSU-Northern Agriculture Program faculty members who choose from students who are agriculture technology majors and currently enrolled.

“We try to give out two $1,000 per year scholarships,” Wimmer said, adding that “it’s kind of a nice little deal for a college student to pick up a $1,000 dollar scholarship for a year.”

This year, Welch said, the scholarship was divided equally among four recipients rather than two.

The recipients of the Agribusiness Committee scholarships for the 201314 school year were Eric Billmayer of Hogeland, Lacey Davidson of Butte, Wendy White of Hingham, and Hollyn Cardani of Havre, said Welch.

“Most of MSU-Northern’s agriculture

technology graduates are working in production agriculture, agriculture finance, agriculture business, ag related government agencies and other allied agriculture areas,” Welch added. “Many of the past students and scholarship recipients are also active and leaders in agricultural organizations and in their communities.”

Contact Information: For more information about the Agribusiness Committee or any of the activities, contact Welch at MSU-Northern at 265-3700; Wimmer at Stockman Bank at 265-3800; or the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 265-4383.

For more information about the scholarship application, contact Welch or the Business Office at Northern at 265-3700.

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

Thank you Havre for making the 33rd Havre Festival Days a huge success

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Executive Committee President

2nd Vice President

Deborah Callahan is born and raised in Havre. She graduated from Northern Montana College (MSU-Northern). She has been in the banking field for the past 30 years which includes the past 16 years at her current position as senior vice president at Independence Bank. She currently is involved in the community by being the member of the Bear Paw Development RLF loan committee: member of Havre Day Activity Board, member of the Northern Montana Hospital Foundation Board, chairman of the Havre Chamber park committee, Vice President of the Bear Paw Development Board of Directors and was the 1st Vice President the Havre Chamber Board of Directors. Debbie has been an active member of the Havre community and loves to volunteer, whether it is mowing the park on the weekend or chairing a committee, she is very proud to be part of HAVRE. Debbie is married with two children and two step-children.

Debbie does enjoy her extra time with her husband Tim golfing and running and working on her farm in Malta. They are currently training for their sixth marathon at Tempe, AZ., scheduled for mid-January.

Brian took over ownership of Rod’s Drive-In in 2000. Brian’s Blue Pony spirit continued after graduating as he has served with and been for 10 years a very active member with the Havre Wrestling Club. Brian has three children, Casey, Tyler and Bailey.

Debbie Callahan ~ Independence Bank

“I want to continue the awareness of what the Chamber does for us in the community of Havre. My motto in life is “the race may end, but running doesn’t”, and that is how I feel about the Chamber. The projects will continue to be done year in and year out, but we will never stop! We may change how we do things, but the results are the same.

This community of Havre comes first with us!"

Mayor's Choice Float winner is Havre Day Activity Center

1st Vice President

Brian Schaub ~ Rod's Drive-In

"I agreed to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors because I was interested to learn all that the Chamber does and is involved in. I also saw an opportunity to bring some additional and different insight to the board as a restaurant owner and manager.

I am excited to be a part of the Executive Committee as we start the new year.”

Director at Large

Joe Ross - Cavaliers for Men & Women Joe was born and raised in Havre, Montana and is a graduate of Havre High School and MSU-N. He worked in Las Vegas before returning to the Hi-Line to work with his family at Cavaliers. Joe is Vice President of the Havre Day Activity board of directors. He and his wife Riki have five children, Lindsey, Myles, Ayreanna, Morgan and Tori.

"I believe that the Chamber of Commerce, along with the community, can accomplish great things together and make Havre the best place to live and raise a family. We have so much to offer in our community you just need to take a look around and see all of the great activities and outdoor beauty Havre has to offer.”

Shawn Holden ~ Holden's Hot Wheels Best Commercial Float winner is Northern MT Hospital

The Hi-Line and Havre is an amazing place that I am very proud to call home.

I was born and raised in Havre, graduating from Havre High School and enlisting in the Montana Army National Guard. The 12 years I spent in the Guards continues to teach me strong work ethics, dedication and perseverance that I had to learn in my younger years. While growing up, I spent a lot of time with my aunts and uncles working with them on their family farms and ranches, helping my uncle with his tree trimming business and also shoe shining at my father’s barber shop. I have been fortunate and blessed to own and operate our auto accessory/auto glass business with my wife, Christy, and our two sons, Jacob and Kendall. With our recent business investment in our new location, I am even more excited and look forward to being an active member of the business community and helping Havre to move in a positive direction.

Best Non-Commercial Float winner is First Lutheran Church

“Wow! Another year has come and gone. I feel like we have accomplished so much in a short period of time. It has been a very rewarding experience being a part of the Havre Chamber of Commerce. One of my favorite events that I have been fortunate enough to help out with has been the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. This year the weather was fantastic, the turnout was awesome, and Santa came out and danced in front of all the kids and all their faces lit up. It was so great to see the Farmers Market flourish and be so successful for many locals. My Aunt Betty Holden's cinnamon rolls are, of course my favorite. We still have a lot of work to do in order to get the extended hours at our ports of entry for our northern neighbors, but I have faith we will get the job done. I try to make myself available when called upon and needed because I am proud to be a member of the Chamber and a member of such a wonderful community to live in. I'm so glad to see 2013 gone and am looking forward to all the positive things to happen in 2014.”

Past President

Jacob Lorang ~ D.A. Davidson I was raised in Havre and graduated from MSU Bozeman with a degree in finance. After college, I moved back to Havre to take a position with D. A. Davidson & Co. as a financial consultant. I am a member of Rotary and Lions clubs, as well as a member of the Chamber’s Ag Committee and Leadership High School. I also co-chaired the Chamber’s Business Development Committee. I am married to Lindsay Lorang and have one son Andrew. I enjoy fishing and skiing in my spare time.

“2013 is over. It has been a great year for the chamber and I hope it was for you and your business. As I look around town and see all of the businesses that have invested in our community either through physical expansion, or the addition of more employees, or even taking the risk to open their doors in our community, it reaffirms why I am proud to live and work here. The chamber board this year made a commitment to visit with more of our members to help understand the issues that are on their minds as well as thank them for their support. I think this has deepened the Chambers connection to our members and has opened the lines of communication so that we are truly an organization that represents the business community. Thank you for allowing me to be your president this last year, I could not have done it without the hard work and dedication of Debbie and Shari in the office as well as the other volunteers of the various committees, but most of all the chamber would not be what it is today without the support of our members. Thank you!”

Outgoing Chamber President — Thank You, Jacob …

Lorang

It has been great to work alongside of you this past year. Your commitment to promote the role of the Chamber to members and the community was first and foremost throughout the year and you never steered off that path. Your other focus to have the board make “thank you” calls every month to new and sustaining Chamber members. Thank you for your passion to the lead the Chamber this past year.

Jacob has also been active in Leadership High School and the Chamber’s Ag Committee. While he will not be at the helm in 2014, Jacob remains on the Chamber’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

Debbie Vandeberg, Executive Director

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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THIS CHAMBER HAS A MISSION Board of Directors — 2014

Director

Stacy Mantle - Havre Daily News

"The mission of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is to improve the overall business climate for its members through sponsorship of programs which stimulate economic growth and promote civic development."

Director

Andy Carlson - Havre Public Schools

Director

Cindy Keim - Edward Jones

Director

Steve Neiffer - Bergren Transmission

Director

Carol Lamey - Havre Job Service

Director

James Limbaugh - MSU-Northern

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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When we combine strengths, and unite for a common goal, work toward the common goal, we can celebrate the success of each partnership!

MSU-Northern and The Chamber partner on Festival Days.

Director

Bonnie O'Neill - Northern Montana Health Care

Havre Lions Club and The Chamber partner to bring South Alberta Pipeband to be in Festival Days parade.

Director

Mike Palmer - BNSF

Director

Dominique Preputin - Western Drug Pharmacy

Director

Businesses partner with the Chamber’s Athletic Committee to host the 9-C basketball tournament hospitality rooms - Thank you!

Debi Rhines - Schine Electric/Bear Paw Tech

Director

Chandra Moomey - Holiday Village Mall

The Chamber, local businesses, PPL Montana, BNSF and NorthWestern Energy all came together to help make the Leadership High School program a continued success.

Devon Energy sponsored 2013 Summer Music Sounds on the Square.

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

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Cash mobs boost local businesses Chamber Ambassadors, champions of supporting local Chamber member businesses and rallying around community events.

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Ambassadors staged their first cash mob in June 2013, and have repeated this each month to help support local businesses.

For that first cash mob, a crowd, generated through messages on various social media, gathered and descended on Stromberg’s Sinclair for a blitz shopping spree.

Havre’s cash mobs allow for people to experience new and different Chamber members’ businesses. A Chamber member business is selected at random by the Ambassadors by drawing a business name out of an envelope containing all current Chamber members.

The Chamber’s Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg was excited with the participation for the first mob.

“Not only did the group get to explore Stromberg’s Sinclair, but the activity also created some fun and camaraderie at the same time,” she said.

Stacy Mantle, co-chair of the Chamber Ambassadors and publisher at the Havre Daily News, said people should “be sure to follow the Havre cash mob on Facebook to find out when and where the next mob will happen and help support Havre businesses by participating in a fun activity.”

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

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A 2013 goal of the Chamber’s Business Development Committee and a key objective of the Board’s Strategic Plan was to organize regular business tours to give the Board and the Business Development Committee an expanded vision of current business happenings in Havre.

By Havre Chamber Ambassadors Some people may have heard of flash mobs, where people appear to randomly gather in public and break into song and dance routines. But, now a new craze, “cash mobs,” is spreading across the country.

Cash mobs are a phenomenon developed to support a community’s businesses while at the same time exposing participating shoppers to the business products and services. Instead of breaking into song, members of the cash mob open their wallets to spend money with local businesses.

Cash mobs are a way for people to help make a positive impact on the business in their community and have fun while doing it.

Cash mobs are primarily promoted through Facebook and electronic media to attract a mob at a designated location to “mob” a predetermined business. “Mobbers” gather and descend on the business, spending $5-$20 on their purchases.

The cash mob activity is just another way of celebrating local businesses and what they do for their community. The activity provides the opportunity to introduce people to the products available locally and has the potential to introduce new customers to Havre businesses.

Cash mobs started a few years ago and have become a national trend of supporting local businesses. The trend is perfect for the

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The first visit was made in January to the Border Patrol, then in March a stop was made at Northern MT Hospital to tour the new MRI/CT area. ob the Cash M d en tt a er b m the Cha Sports.

Members of ce at Master that took pla

July was a tour of four downtown businesses: Henny Penny Cupcakes, Angie’s Wildflowers, Barkus Home Center and Enell Sport Bras, another manufacturing company located in Havre and doing great business.

Krist i She ttel for sa le at T (left) and Heat he Ke Adkin her A y in th s and dkins e H other oliday look a for a C C h t cloth Villag a ash M mber A e Mal es ob. mbass l . adors visited The K ey

The next visit was to Al’s Metal Works – a local secret that manufactures and exports equipment outside of the U.S.

The group next toured the BNSF Diesel Shop in September and wrapped up 2013 with a tour of the new Pacific Steel & Recycling facility. in the Holiat The Key er k ic st ob sited bassadors vi The Cash M m A er b m a h all. C day Village M . a Cash Mob The Key for

2014 will bring another great list of business tours.

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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3rd Annual Fresno Ice Derby January 25 & 26, 2014

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

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Chamber Ag Committee awards scholarships to agriculture students attending Montana State University-Northern

Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. starting in mid-June

Over the years, the Ag Committee has awarded approximately $22,000 in scholarships Pam Burke Havre Daily News

While the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness Committee members work to support and enhance local agriculture, the focus of their major annual events is to benefit the future of agriculture.

Each year, the Ag Committee funds $2,000 in scholarships to Montana State University-Northern students who are enrolled in agriculture-related courses of study.

“The Agribusiness Committee has been awarding scholarship money to MSUNorthern’s agriculture students since at least the mid-1990s,” said long-time committee member Tom Welch, who is an agriculture technology instructor at Northern.

Over the years, he added, the Ag Committee has awarded approximately $22,000 in scholarships.

The three main fundraisers for the scholarships are the Fresno Ice Derby, a 50/50 drawing at MSU’s Northern Agricultural Research Center’s annual

Come join us at the Square … a place to have fun!

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

he goal of the Chamber’s Town Square project was to create a cornerstone for the community to showcase community pride with a variety of activities at the Square. Sounds on the Square is one of those activities that has provided fun summer music for the past 10 years.

The summer 2014 series of Sounds on the Square will start mid-June and run through midAugust. The music series will continue to feature various area bands. The variety of music provides an opportunity for all to come to the Town Square and enjoy a summer evening of music with friends and family.

Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon July 12 - September 20

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he Chamber’s Saturday Market has become an important part of our community over the past several years, providing a safe, healthy, weekly event in our historic downtown during the summer. The market is held Saturdays at the Town

Square.

Farmers markets support family gardens, preserve America’s rural livelihoods, strengthen communities, stimulate local economies and support healthy communities. Farmers markets play a valuable role in promoting healthy local economies in communities. They provide a viable economic opportunity for local residents to market their goods and create an accessible, social atmosphere for the community.

The Chamber’s Saturday Market has become an important part of our community over the past ten years, providing a safe, healthy, weekly event in our historic downtown during the summer. The market is held Saturdays at the Town Square.

• The market is visited by many and showcases what is unique about our community.

• The market place also provides community social benefits.

The festive nature of the market creates an enjoyable atmosphere to visit with friends and make new acquaintances.

• The market features crafts, as well as produce, which encourage customers to support local artisans.

• All area gardeners, bakers and crafters are extended an invitation to participate.

field day and the committee’s annual Ag Appreciation Banquet honoring local agriculture producers and supporters.

The fishing derby is set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-26, at Fresno Reservoir, about 14 miles west of Havre, north off U.S. Highway 2 at The Walleye Tavern, which is about 12 miles out from the city. While the derby will run for two days, people can fish only one of the days if desired.

The cost is $25 per contestant per day, and 80 percent of each day’s total entries are paid out to first through third place for that day’s longest fish in each category: walleye, northern pike, and perch and crappie.

Because the prize money is dependent on the number of entrants, the payout varies, said Chuck Wimmer, member of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Committee which puts on the yearly event, but last year’s derby paid out $400-500 to the winners.

Wimmer said that the ice derby usually attracts 80 to 90 contestants, depending on the year, and last year that included 30 people from out of the area.

The organizers would like to get the

entry number up to 120 to 130, he said, and they hope that the more consistent ice along with the high rate of payout and family-friendly atmosphere will help the competition grow to those numbers.

“It’s just a fun day, and when you’re done everybody goes back to The Walleye Tavern — that’s where they measure the fish. You got a warm place to warm up, they have food there and beverages there for kids and adults,” Wimmer said.

20 percent of the entrance fee proceeds help fund the scholarships, Wimmer said.

Northern Ag Research Center’s field day is an event that opens the center to producers, supporters and the general public for tours of the cattle and the crop production facets of the research. Between tour times, the participants are treated to a barbecue banquet. It is during this meal break that the 50/50 drawing is held, with 50 percent of the tickets sales going to the winner of the drawing and 50 percent going toward the scholarship fund.

“The Ag Appreciation Banquet is a major local event that celebrates area agriculture and allows area agribusinesses

and the Havre community to recognize and thank area producers. Agriculture contributes so much to the region, the state and the U.S. and is so essential to providing food and fiber and even fuel. It is a huge industry with farmers and ranchers at the base and magnifies many times with the machinery, processing, transportation, supplies and other allied segments,” Welch said.

The banquet attracts 400-some attendees annually, said Welch, adding that though the main purpose of the event is to recognize and thank area agriculture producers and supporters, at least some of the profits from ticket sales and money raised auctioning off any extra meat from the banquet goes toward the scholarship fund.

The scholarships themselves are awarded to applicants who are actively enrolled in an ag program at Northern.

“Recipients are usually active members of the Postsecondary Agriculture Students Club and possess good character,

■ See Ag Committee Page 15

A note from the Executive Director

The Chamber continues to be an active participant in the efforts of the Wild Horse Port Committee to secure expanded hours at the Wild Horse Port of Entry.

A question that gets asked quite often from federal delegations discussing decisions about the port is: “What is the impact of Canadian trade on Havre’s main street businesses?”

At our last meeting in November with Customs and Border Protection leadership regarding the continuation of expanded hours at the Wild Horse Port of Entry we were asked to provide them with numbers the Canadian trade has on our local economy. In order to provide a real-time picture of the economic impact of Canadian shoppers in Havre, a short email survey was developed and sent out to the Chamber membership. Thank you to those that completed the survey. If you didn’t complete the survey and would like to share your input, please contact us for a survey as your comments are needed and important.

The responses from the survey are very telling to the important impact the Canadian trade has on our main street businesses.

• Of those responding, 93 percent said Canadian trade is very important to their business.

• The next 55 percent responded that 25 percent of their business comes from Canadian business.

• Of the respondents, 24 percent re-

ported that 25 percent to 50 percent of their business came from Canadian shoppers.

• And 13 percent noted that 50-75 percent of their business was from Canada.

• Close to 50 percent of this Canadian business comes from Alberta.

Some comments from the survey included:

• “The impact is huge. It is where present and future growth will come from for Havre and the Hi-Line.”

• “We have only been open for about a year. We have had a lot of Canadian business and expect it to grow as we become more well known.”

• “Expanding the hours at Wild Horse will help Havre businesses. And I thank you for working on this! It may not directly affect my business, but indirectly it does for sure. It is great for our community.”

Thank you for your continuing support of our effort to improve the Havre area as a great place to live, build a business, raise a family and invest. We will continue to be actively involved in this project in 2014.

Debbie Vandeberg

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January 2014

Ag Committee

Reading to students at Highland Park School during National Ag Week. The committee also contributes ag-related books to the school library.

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

Ambassador Committee

Hosting over 100 kids at a Lunch with Santa.

www.havredailynews.com

Community Tree Lighting

Santa turns on the Christmas tree lights during the 2013 tree lighting ceremony at Town Square.

Holiday characters entertain large holiday crowd.

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January 2014

Leadership High

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

Tourism Committee

www.havredailynews.com

Town Square Committee

Town Square gets updated landscaping Leadership High School students attend lunch in their honor

Tom Brown shares his hats with children at Fort Assinniboine during the annual Living History event.

Students experience job shadowing during their last LHS session in March

Jon and Claire Stoner win 2013 Outstanding Leader Award at Chamber Annual Ag Banquet.

Volunteers reenact gambling and drinking in the Sporting Eagle Saloon for Havre Beneath the Streets' Living History event. The event drew tours of up to 40 people.

Kiosk boosts summer activities and attraction

Havre hosts the 2013 Montana Dinosaur Trail meeting

1,000 new LED lights brighten the Community Christmas Tree in Town Square

Students contribute in a big way to the Angel Tree The Chamber’s Ag Committee helps with the barbecue at the Field Day at the MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center

Ag Committee Ice Fishing Derby provides $2,000 in scholarships to MSU-Northern

Ambassadors help Pacific Steel and Recycling celebrate their Grand Re-Opening.

Ribbon Cuttings kept Ambassador busy in 2013 …. 20 ribbon cuttings/grand re-openings

Ambassadors clean up our town.

The Havre High School Hi-Liters sing Christmas carols during 2013 tree lighting ceremony at Town Square.

The Christmas Tree at the 2013 tree lighting

Students participate in volunteering during Job Shadowing-North Havre Food Bank: Sarah Manuel, from left, Jacie Meldrum, Tatiana Ralph, Josh Emge and Gunnar Aageson

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January 2014

Ag Committee

Reading to students at Highland Park School during National Ag Week. The committee also contributes ag-related books to the school library.

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

Ambassador Committee

Hosting over 100 kids at a Lunch with Santa.

www.havredailynews.com

Community Tree Lighting

Santa turns on the Christmas tree lights during the 2013 tree lighting ceremony at Town Square.

Holiday characters entertain large holiday crowd.

9

2014

January 2014

Leadership High

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

Tourism Committee

www.havredailynews.com

Town Square Committee

Town Square gets updated landscaping Leadership High School students attend lunch in their honor

Tom Brown shares his hats with children at Fort Assinniboine during the annual Living History event.

Students experience job shadowing during their last LHS session in March

Jon and Claire Stoner win 2013 Outstanding Leader Award at Chamber Annual Ag Banquet.

Volunteers reenact gambling and drinking in the Sporting Eagle Saloon for Havre Beneath the Streets' Living History event. The event drew tours of up to 40 people.

Kiosk boosts summer activities and attraction

Havre hosts the 2013 Montana Dinosaur Trail meeting

1,000 new LED lights brighten the Community Christmas Tree in Town Square

Students contribute in a big way to the Angel Tree The Chamber’s Ag Committee helps with the barbecue at the Field Day at the MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center

Ag Committee Ice Fishing Derby provides $2,000 in scholarships to MSU-Northern

Ambassadors help Pacific Steel and Recycling celebrate their Grand Re-Opening.

Ribbon Cuttings kept Ambassador busy in 2013 …. 20 ribbon cuttings/grand re-openings

Ambassadors clean up our town.

The Havre High School Hi-Liters sing Christmas carols during 2013 tree lighting ceremony at Town Square.

The Christmas Tree at the 2013 tree lighting

Students participate in volunteering during Job Shadowing-North Havre Food Bank: Sarah Manuel, from left, Jacie Meldrum, Tatiana Ralph, Josh Emge and Gunnar Aageson

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

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January 2014

www.havredailynews.com

Chamber Ag Committee awards scholarships to agriculture students attending Montana State University-Northern

Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. starting in mid-June

Over the years, the Ag Committee has awarded approximately $22,000 in scholarships Pam Burke Havre Daily News

While the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness Committee members work to support and enhance local agriculture, the focus of their major annual events is to benefit the future of agriculture.

Each year, the Ag Committee funds $2,000 in scholarships to Montana State University-Northern students who are enrolled in agriculture-related courses of study.

“The Agribusiness Committee has been awarding scholarship money to MSUNorthern’s agriculture students since at least the mid-1990s,” said long-time committee member Tom Welch, who is an agriculture technology instructor at Northern.

Over the years, he added, the Ag Committee has awarded approximately $22,000 in scholarships.

The three main fundraisers for the scholarships are the Fresno Ice Derby, a 50/50 drawing at MSU’s Northern Agricultural Research Center’s annual

Come join us at the Square … a place to have fun!

T

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

he goal of the Chamber’s Town Square project was to create a cornerstone for the community to showcase community pride with a variety of activities at the Square. Sounds on the Square is one of those activities that has provided fun summer music for the past 10 years.

The summer 2014 series of Sounds on the Square will start mid-June and run through midAugust. The music series will continue to feature various area bands. The variety of music provides an opportunity for all to come to the Town Square and enjoy a summer evening of music with friends and family.

Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon July 12 - September 20

T

he Chamber’s Saturday Market has become an important part of our community over the past several years, providing a safe, healthy, weekly event in our historic downtown during the summer. The market is held Saturdays at the Town

Square.

Farmers markets support family gardens, preserve America’s rural livelihoods, strengthen communities, stimulate local economies and support healthy communities. Farmers markets play a valuable role in promoting healthy local economies in communities. They provide a viable economic opportunity for local residents to market their goods and create an accessible, social atmosphere for the community.

The Chamber’s Saturday Market has become an important part of our community over the past ten years, providing a safe, healthy, weekly event in our historic downtown during the summer. The market is held Saturdays at the Town Square.

• The market is visited by many and showcases what is unique about our community.

• The market place also provides community social benefits.

The festive nature of the market creates an enjoyable atmosphere to visit with friends and make new acquaintances.

• The market features crafts, as well as produce, which encourage customers to support local artisans.

• All area gardeners, bakers and crafters are extended an invitation to participate.

field day and the committee’s annual Ag Appreciation Banquet honoring local agriculture producers and supporters.

The fishing derby is set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-26, at Fresno Reservoir, about 14 miles west of Havre, north off U.S. Highway 2 at The Walleye Tavern, which is about 12 miles out from the city. While the derby will run for two days, people can fish only one of the days if desired.

The cost is $25 per contestant per day, and 80 percent of each day’s total entries are paid out to first through third place for that day’s longest fish in each category: walleye, northern pike, and perch and crappie.

Because the prize money is dependent on the number of entrants, the payout varies, said Chuck Wimmer, member of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Committee which puts on the yearly event, but last year’s derby paid out $400-500 to the winners.

Wimmer said that the ice derby usually attracts 80 to 90 contestants, depending on the year, and last year that included 30 people from out of the area.

The organizers would like to get the

entry number up to 120 to 130, he said, and they hope that the more consistent ice along with the high rate of payout and family-friendly atmosphere will help the competition grow to those numbers.

“It’s just a fun day, and when you’re done everybody goes back to The Walleye Tavern — that’s where they measure the fish. You got a warm place to warm up, they have food there and beverages there for kids and adults,” Wimmer said.

20 percent of the entrance fee proceeds help fund the scholarships, Wimmer said.

Northern Ag Research Center’s field day is an event that opens the center to producers, supporters and the general public for tours of the cattle and the crop production facets of the research. Between tour times, the participants are treated to a barbecue banquet. It is during this meal break that the 50/50 drawing is held, with 50 percent of the tickets sales going to the winner of the drawing and 50 percent going toward the scholarship fund.

“The Ag Appreciation Banquet is a major local event that celebrates area agriculture and allows area agribusinesses

and the Havre community to recognize and thank area producers. Agriculture contributes so much to the region, the state and the U.S. and is so essential to providing food and fiber and even fuel. It is a huge industry with farmers and ranchers at the base and magnifies many times with the machinery, processing, transportation, supplies and other allied segments,” Welch said.

The banquet attracts 400-some attendees annually, said Welch, adding that though the main purpose of the event is to recognize and thank area agriculture producers and supporters, at least some of the profits from ticket sales and money raised auctioning off any extra meat from the banquet goes toward the scholarship fund.

The scholarships themselves are awarded to applicants who are actively enrolled in an ag program at Northern.

“Recipients are usually active members of the Postsecondary Agriculture Students Club and possess good character,

■ See Ag Committee Page 15

A note from the Executive Director

The Chamber continues to be an active participant in the efforts of the Wild Horse Port Committee to secure expanded hours at the Wild Horse Port of Entry.

A question that gets asked quite often from federal delegations discussing decisions about the port is: “What is the impact of Canadian trade on Havre’s main street businesses?”

At our last meeting in November with Customs and Border Protection leadership regarding the continuation of expanded hours at the Wild Horse Port of Entry we were asked to provide them with numbers the Canadian trade has on our local economy. In order to provide a real-time picture of the economic impact of Canadian shoppers in Havre, a short email survey was developed and sent out to the Chamber membership. Thank you to those that completed the survey. If you didn’t complete the survey and would like to share your input, please contact us for a survey as your comments are needed and important.

The responses from the survey are very telling to the important impact the Canadian trade has on our main street businesses.

• Of those responding, 93 percent said Canadian trade is very important to their business.

• The next 55 percent responded that 25 percent of their business comes from Canadian business.

• Of the respondents, 24 percent re-

ported that 25 percent to 50 percent of their business came from Canadian shoppers.

• And 13 percent noted that 50-75 percent of their business was from Canada.

• Close to 50 percent of this Canadian business comes from Alberta.

Some comments from the survey included:

• “The impact is huge. It is where present and future growth will come from for Havre and the Hi-Line.”

• “We have only been open for about a year. We have had a lot of Canadian business and expect it to grow as we become more well known.”

• “Expanding the hours at Wild Horse will help Havre businesses. And I thank you for working on this! It may not directly affect my business, but indirectly it does for sure. It is great for our community.”

Thank you for your continuing support of our effort to improve the Havre area as a great place to live, build a business, raise a family and invest. We will continue to be actively involved in this project in 2014.

Debbie Vandeberg

6

2014

January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

3rd Annual Fresno Ice Derby January 25 & 26, 2014

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

www.havredailynews.com

Cash mobs boost local businesses Chamber Ambassadors, champions of supporting local Chamber member businesses and rallying around community events.

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Ambassadors staged their first cash mob in June 2013, and have repeated this each month to help support local businesses.

For that first cash mob, a crowd, generated through messages on various social media, gathered and descended on Stromberg’s Sinclair for a blitz shopping spree.

Havre’s cash mobs allow for people to experience new and different Chamber members’ businesses. A Chamber member business is selected at random by the Ambassadors by drawing a business name out of an envelope containing all current Chamber members.

The Chamber’s Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg was excited with the participation for the first mob.

“Not only did the group get to explore Stromberg’s Sinclair, but the activity also created some fun and camaraderie at the same time,” she said.

Stacy Mantle, co-chair of the Chamber Ambassadors and publisher at the Havre Daily News, said people should “be sure to follow the Havre cash mob on Facebook to find out when and where the next mob will happen and help support Havre businesses by participating in a fun activity.”

Kynd ra Mo ore, of of sod the C a and hambe candy r Amb to buy assido at St rs, pic rombe ks out rg's S $10 inclair .

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

www.havredailynews.com

A 2013 goal of the Chamber’s Business Development Committee and a key objective of the Board’s Strategic Plan was to organize regular business tours to give the Board and the Business Development Committee an expanded vision of current business happenings in Havre.

By Havre Chamber Ambassadors Some people may have heard of flash mobs, where people appear to randomly gather in public and break into song and dance routines. But, now a new craze, “cash mobs,” is spreading across the country.

Cash mobs are a phenomenon developed to support a community’s businesses while at the same time exposing participating shoppers to the business products and services. Instead of breaking into song, members of the cash mob open their wallets to spend money with local businesses.

Cash mobs are a way for people to help make a positive impact on the business in their community and have fun while doing it.

Cash mobs are primarily promoted through Facebook and electronic media to attract a mob at a designated location to “mob” a predetermined business. “Mobbers” gather and descend on the business, spending $5-$20 on their purchases.

The cash mob activity is just another way of celebrating local businesses and what they do for their community. The activity provides the opportunity to introduce people to the products available locally and has the potential to introduce new customers to Havre businesses.

Cash mobs started a few years ago and have become a national trend of supporting local businesses. The trend is perfect for the

5

2014

The first visit was made in January to the Border Patrol, then in March a stop was made at Northern MT Hospital to tour the new MRI/CT area. ob the Cash M d en tt a er b m the Cha Sports.

Members of ce at Master that took pla

July was a tour of four downtown businesses: Henny Penny Cupcakes, Angie’s Wildflowers, Barkus Home Center and Enell Sport Bras, another manufacturing company located in Havre and doing great business.

Krist i She ttel for sa le at T (left) and Heat he Ke Adkin her A y in th s and dkins e H other oliday look a for a C C h t cloth Villag a ash M mber A e Mal es ob. mbass l . adors visited The K ey

The next visit was to Al’s Metal Works – a local secret that manufactures and exports equipment outside of the U.S.

The group next toured the BNSF Diesel Shop in September and wrapped up 2013 with a tour of the new Pacific Steel & Recycling facility. in the Holiat The Key er k ic st ob sited bassadors vi The Cash M m A er b m a h all. C day Village M . a Cash Mob The Key for

2014 will bring another great list of business tours.

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

THIS CHAMBER HAS A MISSION Board of Directors — 2014

Director

Stacy Mantle - Havre Daily News

"The mission of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is to improve the overall business climate for its members through sponsorship of programs which stimulate economic growth and promote civic development."

Director

Andy Carlson - Havre Public Schools

Director

Cindy Keim - Edward Jones

Director

Steve Neiffer - Bergren Transmission

Director

Carol Lamey - Havre Job Service

Director

James Limbaugh - MSU-Northern

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

When we combine strengths, and unite for a common goal, work toward the common goal, we can celebrate the success of each partnership!

MSU-Northern and The Chamber partner on Festival Days.

Director

Bonnie O'Neill - Northern Montana Health Care

Havre Lions Club and The Chamber partner to bring South Alberta Pipeband to be in Festival Days parade.

Director

Mike Palmer - BNSF

Director

Dominique Preputin - Western Drug Pharmacy

Director

Businesses partner with the Chamber’s Athletic Committee to host the 9-C basketball tournament hospitality rooms - Thank you!

Debi Rhines - Schine Electric/Bear Paw Tech

Director

Chandra Moomey - Holiday Village Mall

The Chamber, local businesses, PPL Montana, BNSF and NorthWestern Energy all came together to help make the Leadership High School program a continued success.

Devon Energy sponsored 2013 Summer Music Sounds on the Square.

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January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

Thank you Havre for making the 33rd Havre Festival Days a huge success

www.havredailynews.com

Executive Committee President

2nd Vice President

Deborah Callahan is born and raised in Havre. She graduated from Northern Montana College (MSU-Northern). She has been in the banking field for the past 30 years which includes the past 16 years at her current position as senior vice president at Independence Bank. She currently is involved in the community by being the member of the Bear Paw Development RLF loan committee: member of Havre Day Activity Board, member of the Northern Montana Hospital Foundation Board, chairman of the Havre Chamber park committee, Vice President of the Bear Paw Development Board of Directors and was the 1st Vice President the Havre Chamber Board of Directors. Debbie has been an active member of the Havre community and loves to volunteer, whether it is mowing the park on the weekend or chairing a committee, she is very proud to be part of HAVRE. Debbie is married with two children and two step-children.

Debbie does enjoy her extra time with her husband Tim golfing and running and working on her farm in Malta. They are currently training for their sixth marathon at Tempe, AZ., scheduled for mid-January.

Brian took over ownership of Rod’s Drive-In in 2000. Brian’s Blue Pony spirit continued after graduating as he has served with and been for 10 years a very active member with the Havre Wrestling Club. Brian has three children, Casey, Tyler and Bailey.

Debbie Callahan ~ Independence Bank

“I want to continue the awareness of what the Chamber does for us in the community of Havre. My motto in life is “the race may end, but running doesn’t”, and that is how I feel about the Chamber. The projects will continue to be done year in and year out, but we will never stop! We may change how we do things, but the results are the same.

This community of Havre comes first with us!"

Mayor's Choice Float winner is Havre Day Activity Center

1st Vice President

Brian Schaub ~ Rod's Drive-In

"I agreed to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors because I was interested to learn all that the Chamber does and is involved in. I also saw an opportunity to bring some additional and different insight to the board as a restaurant owner and manager.

I am excited to be a part of the Executive Committee as we start the new year.”

Director at Large

Joe Ross - Cavaliers for Men & Women Joe was born and raised in Havre, Montana and is a graduate of Havre High School and MSU-N. He worked in Las Vegas before returning to the Hi-Line to work with his family at Cavaliers. Joe is Vice President of the Havre Day Activity board of directors. He and his wife Riki have five children, Lindsey, Myles, Ayreanna, Morgan and Tori.

"I believe that the Chamber of Commerce, along with the community, can accomplish great things together and make Havre the best place to live and raise a family. We have so much to offer in our community you just need to take a look around and see all of the great activities and outdoor beauty Havre has to offer.”

Shawn Holden ~ Holden's Hot Wheels Best Commercial Float winner is Northern MT Hospital

The Hi-Line and Havre is an amazing place that I am very proud to call home.

I was born and raised in Havre, graduating from Havre High School and enlisting in the Montana Army National Guard. The 12 years I spent in the Guards continues to teach me strong work ethics, dedication and perseverance that I had to learn in my younger years. While growing up, I spent a lot of time with my aunts and uncles working with them on their family farms and ranches, helping my uncle with his tree trimming business and also shoe shining at my father’s barber shop. I have been fortunate and blessed to own and operate our auto accessory/auto glass business with my wife, Christy, and our two sons, Jacob and Kendall. With our recent business investment in our new location, I am even more excited and look forward to being an active member of the business community and helping Havre to move in a positive direction.

Best Non-Commercial Float winner is First Lutheran Church

“Wow! Another year has come and gone. I feel like we have accomplished so much in a short period of time. It has been a very rewarding experience being a part of the Havre Chamber of Commerce. One of my favorite events that I have been fortunate enough to help out with has been the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. This year the weather was fantastic, the turnout was awesome, and Santa came out and danced in front of all the kids and all their faces lit up. It was so great to see the Farmers Market flourish and be so successful for many locals. My Aunt Betty Holden's cinnamon rolls are, of course my favorite. We still have a lot of work to do in order to get the extended hours at our ports of entry for our northern neighbors, but I have faith we will get the job done. I try to make myself available when called upon and needed because I am proud to be a member of the Chamber and a member of such a wonderful community to live in. I'm so glad to see 2013 gone and am looking forward to all the positive things to happen in 2014.”

Past President

Jacob Lorang ~ D.A. Davidson I was raised in Havre and graduated from MSU Bozeman with a degree in finance. After college, I moved back to Havre to take a position with D. A. Davidson & Co. as a financial consultant. I am a member of Rotary and Lions clubs, as well as a member of the Chamber’s Ag Committee and Leadership High School. I also co-chaired the Chamber’s Business Development Committee. I am married to Lindsay Lorang and have one son Andrew. I enjoy fishing and skiing in my spare time.

“2013 is over. It has been a great year for the chamber and I hope it was for you and your business. As I look around town and see all of the businesses that have invested in our community either through physical expansion, or the addition of more employees, or even taking the risk to open their doors in our community, it reaffirms why I am proud to live and work here. The chamber board this year made a commitment to visit with more of our members to help understand the issues that are on their minds as well as thank them for their support. I think this has deepened the Chambers connection to our members and has opened the lines of communication so that we are truly an organization that represents the business community. Thank you for allowing me to be your president this last year, I could not have done it without the hard work and dedication of Debbie and Shari in the office as well as the other volunteers of the various committees, but most of all the chamber would not be what it is today without the support of our members. Thank you!”

Outgoing Chamber President — Thank You, Jacob …

Lorang

It has been great to work alongside of you this past year. Your commitment to promote the role of the Chamber to members and the community was first and foremost throughout the year and you never steered off that path. Your other focus to have the board make “thank you” calls every month to new and sustaining Chamber members. Thank you for your passion to the lead the Chamber this past year.

Jacob has also been active in Leadership High School and the Chamber’s Ag Committee. While he will not be at the helm in 2014, Jacob remains on the Chamber’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

Debbie Vandeberg, Executive Director

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CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

www.havredailynews.com

Incoming Chamber board president looks to 2014 Pam Burke Havre Daily News

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce has rung in the new year with its traditional change of officers, and Debbie Callahan takes over as president of the board for 2014.

As a member, Debbie represents Independence Bank, where she is senior vice president of lending. She has been with the Chamber, with just a few years away, since 1997. She served as president once before, in 1999, and was an integral part of the committee that spearheaded creation of Havre’s Town Square.

Debbie commended Chamber Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg and Office Manager Shari Robinson for the work they do year-in and year-out and said she looks forward to the opportunity to serve as president again.

“It’s just another great opportunity. It allows me to become a good ambassador for Havre and our community,” she said. “We have a wonderful community, we have great leaders in our volunteers, and I think between

those two, I believe, we have great and then we do Festival Days and opportunities for growth and then we’re involved in Christmas development.” cash and Leadership High School

She wants to continue with and all of those events, and it will what past-president Jacob Lorang continue each year. We kind of grow started in 2013, “to educate our and weed out some and change community, educate our businesses some but, over all, we continue to and educate our consumers — keep grow those areas.” them aware of what the Chamber

She wants the public to be actually does for our community,” aware that all the Chamber does she said. is done with great thought for the

“The makeup of the Chamber community and, when they do really hasn’t changed much over implement change, it’s for a reason, Callahan the years,” she said. “I’m a runner for the betterment of the project so I kind of compare it to that. I and the community. If people have train for 10 or 12 weeks and then you go to race questions or concerns about, or suggestions for, day and then it’s over. That’s kind of what the any of the Chamber activities, she urged that Chamber does. We have different projects year they should contact her or Vandeberg, or any round, and they work hard at getting them of the board members, directly. done, and then they’re done and then you just Debbie said she intends to continue with start on a different project. past-president Jacob Lorang’s goals to educate

“Some of the projects we’ve done, and people about the Chamber. will continue to do, is just here a couple weeks

She also looks forward to continuing ago we had a very successful (Christmas) tree outreach to the 300-plus member businesses, lighting ceremony down at the Town Square she said, and intends to step up the

communication efforts by starting some type of monthly member updates — through email, the Chamber’s Facebook page or added press releases to the media — in addition to the member newsletter already produced quarterly.

Communication is a goal that will never go away, she added.

A question Debbie said she often hears is about what the Chamber does for the community of Havre. While she can, and did, list a number of activities and services the Chamber takes care of — such as not only organizing creation of Town Square, but also paying the bills and maintaining it throughout the summer — Debbie said the answer has already come from the Chamber.

“In our mission statement we kind of say it the best,” she said. “We’re here ‘to promote Havre and its businesses through effective advertising, planned events, community service, networking and education of the public. We’ll continue to play a leading role in attracting new business and residents to our community, which is a benefit to all of us.’”

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Members A Plus Health Care Aageson Agency-Allstate Aaron’s Sales & Leasing Adams Chiropractic ADM/CHS, LLC AmericInn of Havre Anderson Appraising Atrium Mall Association B&B Sheet Metal Baker Amusement Baldwin Insurance Associates Barkus Home Center Bear Paw BBQ Bear Paw Credit Union Bear Paw Development Bear Paw Hunts, Inc. Bear Paw Lumber Bear Paw Meats Bear Paw Paint Bear Paw Technologies Bear Paw Veterinary Clinic Bearly Square Quilting Beaver Creek Designs Beaver Creek Golf Course Ben Franklin Crafts Bergren Transmission Better Business Bureau Big Equipment Company Big R Stores Big Sky Images Bill Baltrusch Construction Bing ‘n Bob’s Blair, Les & Mary Blue Cross Blue Shield BNSF Bob’s Greenhouse Bosch, Kuhr Dugdale Boxcars Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Brandon’s Drapery & Floor Covering Bricker, Darlene Bright Ideas Advertising Budget Rent-A-Car Bullhook Clinic Bullhook Property Management CK Builders CM Management Canton Restaurant Cape Air Carquest Auto Parts Cavaliers for Men & Women Cellular Plus Char’s Family Dining Charter Communications

Circle Inn City of Havre Clack Museum Foundation Clausen & Sons Coca-Cola Consumer Direct Cottonwood Cinema 4 Creative Catering Creative Leisure Credit Bureau of Havre Crystal City Casino Culligan Custom Collision Repair D.A. Davidson Dairy Queen Destination Travel Diesel Doctor, Inc. Dollar Zone Domino’s Down Under Fitness Center Downtown Gardens Duchscher Insurance Duck Inn Eagles Club Eagles Manor Edward Jones El Toro Inn Elite Tan & Styling Salon Emporium EMT Car Wash Enell, Inc. Erickson Insurance Group Evergreen Campground Ezzie’s Wholesale, Inc. 5th Avenue Christian Church 5th Ave Grind Farm Bureau Financial Services Fifteen West Finest Boot Repair First National Pawn Fivehead’s Fleet Wholesale Supply Flynn Realty Frontier Lawn & Landscaping Galusha, Higgins & Galusha Gary & Leo’s IGA Glassworks Golden Spike Lounge Great Northern Fair Great Northern Inn Gregoire Insurance Agency Guadalajara Restaurant Gusto Distributing H. Earl Clack Museum

H&R Block Hamilton Consulting Group Hank Tweeten’s Auto Body Harada Family Dental Care Havre Assembly of God Church Havre Beneath the Streets Havre Daily News Havre Day Activity Center Havre Dental Group Havre Distributors Havre Elks Lodge #1201 Havre Ford Havre/Hill County Preservation Havre Jaycees Havre Job Service Havre Laundry & Dry Cleaning Havre Hi-Line Realty Havre Optometric Clinic Havre Public Schools Havre Ready-Mix Havre Refrigeration Havre Rental & Hi-Line Polaris Heberly & Associates Helmbrecht Studio Henny Penny Cupcakes Herberger’s HiLine Audio & Video HiLine Radio Shack Hi-Line Gold Casino Hi-Line Lanes Hi-Line Motel High Plains Gallery Hill County Commissioners Hill County Conservation District Hill County Electric Hill County Extension Office Hill County Health Department Hill County Printing Hill County Title Holden’s Hot Wheels Holiday Holiday Village Mall Holland & Bonine Holt Plumbing & Heating HRDC Independence Bank Independent Inspection Integrative Medical Solutions JM Donoven Designs Jones Plumbing & Heating Keller Williams Capitol Realty Kentucky Fried Chicken Klimas Financial Services, Inc. Kmart

Koefod Agency Lelok Travel Lorang Law Lunch Box Magic Carpet Travel Magic Diamond Casino Master Sports Maui Nites Casino Maurices McDonald’s McLean’s Grocery McNair Furniture Meadowlark Property Management Midwest Diesel Injection Milk River Cooperative Montana Lil’s MSU-Northern MSU-Northern Foundation Murphy’s Pub Nalivka’s Pizza Kitchen Nault Plumbing & Heating New Concept Lawn, Inc. New Media Broadcasters Norman’s Ranch Wear North Central Auto Parts (NAPA) North Star Dodge Northern Ag Research Center Northern Home Essentials Northern Montana Health Care Northern Winz Casino Northwest Farm Credit Services Northwest Security Services NorthWestern Energy Northwestern Mutual Life Nu Wave Oil Tools Office Equipment Opportunity Link, Inc. Oval Office Advertising Overcast Restoration PJ’s Pacific Steel Parkview Apartments Patrick Construction Pepsi-Cola Pizza Hut Prairie Farms Golf Course ProBuild Property West Punkin Doodles Emporium R-New Trading Post Rails Inn Raymond James Financial Services Red’s Auto Parts Rock Solid Enterprises

Rod’s Drive-In Rolling Hills Ruff Real Estate St. Jude Thaddeus School Saddle Butte Custom Smoking Scharfe, Kato & Co. Schine Electric Schubert Insurance Agency Schwan’s Home Service Sears Serv-Ur-Self Furniture Sherwin Williams Siesta Motel State Farm Insurance – Anthony Cammon Steve Mariani Insurance Stockman Bank Stromberg’s Sinclair Subway Sundogs Super 8 Motel Sweet Temptations Taco John’s, Inc. Taco Treat The Athlete’s Foot The Key The Press Tilleman Motors Timber Creek Village Tip-It Bar Tire-Rama Torgerson’s TownHouse Inns Town Pump Triangle Communications Uncle Joe’s United Way of Hill County US Bank Valley Furniture Vic’s Place Waddell & Reed Walmart Wells Fargo Bank Western Drug Pharmacy Western Trailer Sales Westside Storage Wildflowers Wilson, Gary A. Wolfer's Diner Yellowstone Insurance Exchange Yummy Foods Yummy Yogurt

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2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

January 2014

Ag Committee: Works to award $2,000 per year in scholarships ■ Continued from page 7 scholarship, work ethic and potential to contribute to agriculture,” said Welch.

“We try to tell the advisors that these scholarships go to kids that need it,” said Wimmer. “Let’s say they’re working, they don’t have to be a straight-A student, but the person that deserves it, you know, they’re working, they’re going to school, they’re trying but some people struggle. …

It’s to the person in need.”

The advisors on the selection committee are MSU-Northern Agriculture Program faculty members who choose from students who are agriculture technology majors and currently enrolled.

“We try to give out two $1,000 per year scholarships,” Wimmer said, adding that “it’s kind of a nice little deal for a college student to pick up a $1,000 dollar scholarship for a year.”

This year, Welch said, the scholarship was divided equally among four recipients rather than two.

The recipients of the Agribusiness Committee scholarships for the 201314 school year were Eric Billmayer of Hogeland, Lacey Davidson of Butte, Wendy White of Hingham, and Hollyn Cardani of Havre, said Welch.

“Most of MSU-Northern’s agriculture

technology graduates are working in production agriculture, agriculture finance, agriculture business, ag related government agencies and other allied agriculture areas,” Welch added. “Many of the past students and scholarship recipients are also active and leaders in agricultural organizations and in their communities.”

Contact Information: For more information about the Agribusiness Committee or any of the activities, contact Welch at MSU-Northern at 265-3700; Wimmer at Stockman Bank at 265-3800; or the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 265-4383.

For more information about the scholarship application, contact Welch or the Business Office at Northern at 265-3700.

www.havredailynews.com

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2014

January 2014

CHAMBER WORKPLAN

www.havredailynews.com

Thank You! from the Board and the staff for your continued investment.

Your investment and support has made it possible to successfully accomplish many goals. The Chamber will continue being a community partner that fosters a sustainable and vibrant economy through business promotion, advocacy, education and service in 2014.

2013 Chamber Activites and Accomplishments … that help encourage Business Growth and a Healthy Community.

In order to have an active and strong community in which to live and work, there must be an organized effort working to better that community. That is what the Havre Chamber is; that organized effort. The organized effort comes from the dedicated volunteer Board and the many committee volunteers.

Partnerships….. Increase Strength • Membership sponsorships for many projects: Festival Days, Super Certificate, 9-C Hospitality Room and so many more • City and Alberta on 24-hour port at Wild Horse project • Montana Chamber to provide Chamber Choices Insurance plan • Havre Public Schools hosting 2013 Legislative “call-in” • Havre Public Schools, Leadership High School and Graduation Matters • Re-cycle Hi-Line community clean-ups and promotion of monthly

recycling events • City to maintain the 1st Street flower planters • Montana Department of Transportation to maintain the 1st Beautification Project Education … Develops an Effective Workforce • Sponsored business seminars and workshops Assistance for Business, Superhost Training and Health Care Forum, Ipad training Committee Projects… Drive the Chamber Ag Committee - The 18th Ag Appreciation Dinner and the Ice Fishing Derby funded $2,000 in MSU-N Scholarships, Northern Agricultural Research Center Field Day barbecue participation, members read to students at Highland Park School during National Ag Week and donate books to their library Athletic Committee - Hosts 9-C basketball tournament and Monday Night Football Book Ambassadors - Held 16 new Member Ribbon Cuttings and two re-Grand Openings Cash Mob project brings awareness to local business, Lunch with Santa and Food Drive and summer community clean-up project Business Development Committee - Six business tours to learn about our main street businesses: Border Patrol, Northern Montana Hospital, BNSF, Al’s Metal Works, Wildflowers, Henny Penny, Enell, Barkus Home Center and Pacific Steel and Recycling Havre Festival Days - Successful community parade and craft show, facilitate weekend, marketing and promo of the 33rd celebration Leadership High School - received PPL Grant, along with BNSF and NorthWestern Energy grants and membership sponsorships Town Square - Sounds on the Square features area bands, with support grants from

Devon Energy and Sleeter Fund Saturday Market - brings community together and another record year for vendor participation Tourism - visitation increased with expanded marketing to Canada and surrounding states through the committee and Tourism Business Improvement District branded marketing campaign, “Take a Look Around,” Living History Day Holiday Tree Lighting and Celebration purchased 1,000 new LED lights for the tree, cleaned and refurbished community pole decorations Programs….Support Members Christmas Cash Promotion – over $162 thousand loaned!

Chamber Gift Certificate Promotion – Over $260 thousand sold!

Check Alert for businesses Communications…. Informs Members Chamber Quarterly Newsletter ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ two new event posters ~ member calls by Board of Directors ~ many email notices to membership to inform on events, meetings, business updates