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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
PLATINUM MEMBERS
2019 Executive
2019 Board
Board of Directors
of Directors
Randy Ostrander President Lake and Lodge Realty, LLC Michelle Barker President Elect Bridge Title Jeff Godfrey, Member At Large Spectrum Health
GOLD MEMBERS
Connie Koepke Mecosta County Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
SILVER MEMBERS
Heather Bowman City of Big Rapids Kasey Pressley Hampton Inn of Big Rapids
Mindy Taylor,
Josh Pyles
Treasurer
Downtown Business Association
LEADING BUSINESSES, LEADING COMMUNITIES For information on becoming a member of the Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce, please contact us.
Mecosta County
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Danette Doyle The Pioneer Group
Stay connected by reading the Chamber’s blog! My Chamber Connect is updated frequently with helpful articles, information about the county, video tutorials and commentary!
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce 127 South State Street, Big Rapids Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 796-7649 • Fax: (231) 796-1625 mecostacounty.com
facebook.com/mcacc
twitter.com/mcacc2017
instagram.com/mecostacountychamber
STAFF
Michelle Rasmussen Ferris State University Jim Sandy Mecosta County Development Corporation
Jennifer Buwalda Program & Events Coordinator
events@mecostacounty.com
Shelby Withers Administrative Assistant
info@mecostacounty.com
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
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7 TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR BUSY ENTREPRENEURS By: Mario Peshev entrepreneur.com Entrepreneurship is a state of mind that entails many personal and professional traits. Being able to launch, execute, grow and scale a business is an intellectual exercise involving a lot of research, networking, planning, business strategy, marketing, sales, and a number of related activity. As a result, entrepreneurs have to jump between tasks, hop on calls, attend events, and be extra careful with each and every decision for their business endeavor. Managing their time properly is an invaluable skill, and extremely rewarding in the long run. Burning out is a critical state of complete mental and physical exhaustion due to stress, working 80-hour work weeks (or more), and seeing little to no progress on your activities. While entrepreneurs are endangered by burning out more often, an interesting study of 200 American workers - full-time and part-time employees, along with self-employed freelancers and business owners - revealed a surprising response by 50% of the self-employed workers indicating zero burnout. Experienced freelancers, entrepreneurs, and successful business owners have mastered a number of time management techniques and strategies that keep their sanity in check and prevent them from causing discrepancies during meetings and the planning process.
Break Down Your Activities Into Simple Problems
around deadlines, the importance of execution, possible ROI and reach. But we often tend to miss the essentials that bring value in the long run or focus on a single process for weeks by leaving everything else in the backlog. Time management strategies like Getting Things Done design a methodology structured around creativity, focus, and efficient planning. David Allen, the founder of GTD, believes that individuals should learn to control and process their required day-to-day tasks first in order to focus on big picture goals. Learning to prioritize both long-term activities that gain momentum later in time, and short-term goals necessary for incremental results, is critical, and requires careful planning by entrepreneurs.
Start With a Simple Task Failing to complete a broad and complex task over the course of the day will demotivate you, and prevent you from seeing progress with your weekly planning. An excellent way to break the ice is starting with a trivial and quick task which would give you a head start. This will put your productivity mode and hustle in motion, and let you focus on more complex assignments later on.
See what you’ve started with, where you are at that point of time, and how is your progress going. If everything seems to be on track, just proceed with a focus on results and discard distractions from your list. Otherwise, realign your schedule and free up more time which is more likely to hit your indicators by the end of the quarter.
Take Regular Breaks for Brainstorming Successful entrepreneurs work mainly “on” the business and less “in” the business. When you are knee-deep in your overlapping tasks, you often lose perspective on the purpose of these. Take regular breaks between activities and
align your progress with your targets. Go out and take a walk, get some fresh air and relax for a moment - this would also bring some creative ideas which you can implement in your work.
Always Improve Your Strategy No matter how efficient your strategy is, there’s always room for improvement. For an entrepreneur, learning never ends - be it with regards to your professional capacity, or regarding business and personal development, time management, and living a better life. Always keep an eye on tasks that take you too long, or require your attention far too often, and try to optimize or simplify them.
Congratulations to our Member of the Month AMVETS!
Create a Long-Term Roadmap One of the repetitive tasks that may drag you from your day-to-day activities is planning. While it’s okay to have individual tasks emerging from your interactions during the business week, creating a long-term plan would let you focus better, and decide whether your new tasks are in line with your goals. Revise your business plan and set some KPIs. Assign some milestones to them, and add them to your calendar - with goals every month or quarter, for a period of 1-3 years. List down your repetitive activities (content production, social media engagements, partners meetings) in each slot, and take it from there. By defining the well known duties that are crucial for your success further down the road, you can determine the expected outcome and measure it once or twice a month. You will also get a clearer picture of your weekly availability and stop overusing your buffers by putting too much on your plate.
Utilizing your consciousness requires more energy and can be avoided by simplifying your problems. Excellence in time management revolves around establishing a process and breaking it down into small, atomic operations that are easy to grasp and don’t require intensive resource consumption. Veritasium explains that in a simple video, explaining how the brain works, why people are lazy, and what does unconscious mind helps us with on a day-to-day: Successful entrepreneurs take a complex task and decompose it into pieces, thus making the remaining process easier to comprehend and follow. The simple operations are simple, and Reality Check executing them doesn’t require dozens of followDealing with several priorities simultaneously up questions preventing you from checking tasks may be overwhelming, and block your train of off your list. thought for weeks, preparing your brain for a Create a Prioritization System burnout. The core of the problem is often related Stephen Covey once said: to a detachment from reality, and a diversion from “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your the business goals. schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” When you struggle with your typical workflow, Priorities vary for businesses and are shaped take a step back and revise your roadmap again.
AMVETS (American Veterans) is the nation’s most inclusive Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, representing the interests of 20 million veterans. AMVETS is open to and fighting for all who honorably served in the United States military, including the Reserve and Guard. With more than 250,000 members nationwide, we are veterans serving veterans. Our mission is to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy and services. AMVETS Charities participates in the Combined Federal Campaign through the Military, Veterans and Patriotic Services Organizations of America federation. Our Combined Federal Campaign number is 10519. As one of America’s leading veterans service organizations for more than 75 years, AMVETS has a proud history of assisting veterans and sponsoring numerous programs that serve our country and its citizens. Membership in AMVETS is open to anyone who honorably served, or currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves. 320 S 4th Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 796-6998
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
CHAMBER NEWS AND INFO
Rise & Shine Mecosta scheduled 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, hosted by The Woods Vacation Rentals
at Antlers Fireside Grill
Rise & Shine Mecosta! Start your day with networking over morning refreshments. All Mecosta county area residents are welcome to attend this free networking event.
The Woods Vacation Rentals 10060 Buchanan Rd, Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 This event will be held in the chamber office at: 127 S State Street Big Rapids, MI 49307 RSVP is encouraged. Call the chamber at (231)796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com. Meet the hosts: thewoodrentals.com.
Business After Hours scheduled 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, hosted by Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness 1250 Perry Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307 Register by phone at: 231.796.7649 Register by email at: Events@mecostacounty.com Meet the hosts: planetfitness.com
at Mecosta County Historical Museum
2019 Schedule The Ambassador Club of the Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors monthly networking events. Business After Hours are on the third Thursday of the month and Rise & Shine Mecosta are on the fourth Thursday of the month. Upcoming Business After Hours and Rise & Shine Mecosta events will be hosted by the following members: Upcoming Rise & Shine Mecosta • September 26: The Woods Vacation Rentals @ the Chamber Office • October 24: Metron
Upcoming Business After Hours • September 19: Planet Fitness • October 17: Tullymore-St. Ives • November 21: CL Pizza Company If you’d like to host a Rise and Shine or Business After Hours event at your workplace, call the Chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@ mecostacounty.com. RSVP by calling the Chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com.
Thank you to our August hosts! Mecosta County Historical Museum hosted a Rise & Shine and Antlers Fireside Grill hosted a Business After Hours. Hosting Rise & Shine Mecosta or Business After Hours events are a great value included in membership. Contact the Chamber at (231) 796-7649 or email events@mecostacounty.com if you are interested in hosting either.
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
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Ribbon Cuttings:
The Big Rapids Autism Center officially celebrated opening its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 6th. Started by Community Mental Health for Central Michigan, the new center provides necessary services to those diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
Upcoming Artworks Schedule
SEPTMEBER 2019
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
Ferris State University Fine Art Gallery
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Persistence of Vision: Ferris Journeys Al Wildey – Photography August 26th – September 28th, 2019 Reception: September 5th, 5-6:30pm with Artist Interview at 5:30pm
It's time for the annual Trash Bash cleanup project! This event is an opportunity to do your part in helping the river. Teams will work together to clean up trash along the river starting and ending at various locations. Registration will begin at 8am and cleanup will start around 9am. Free T-shirts available with pre-registration, limited supply! Locations/teams include: -River Forest Crew (East of Hersey from River Forest Drive to Hersey Road Bridge) -Big Rapids area River Safety/ Big Rapids Jaycees (14 Mile Road to Riverbend Bluffs) Ferris Journeys is an extension of the series Persistence of Vision, a suite of images comprised of digital photographs created as a series of progressive images referencing the façade of motion as in film or video--by a method of merging multiple photographic layers into a solitary image. Notwithstanding the product of a single, static picture, the resulting image implies movement through physical space over extended time as generally accepted photographically. The cumulative effect--implemented via an additive process-is produced by traveling in a circular path around the primary subject in an effort to surpass casual observation by injecting a sense of examination.
-Big Rapids Community (North End Park to High Banks Park) -City of Evart (Riverside Park West) -Consumers Energy (Roger's Dam) -Ice Mountain (50th Ave Evart to Riverside East Park) -Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership (Muskegon Lake) -Village of Mecosta (Bromley Park) DTE and Lowe's will be holding employee only cleanups on two different sections of the Muskegon River.
Subject matter is restricted to man-made objects with the ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST PRE-REGISTER. Register at: aim of connecting the artificial construct of both functional and formal pieces with the configuration of ‘camera vision’ as http://mrwa.org/trash-bash-registration/ typically perceived within the photographic image writ large.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
PARIS AUTO SALES & SERVICE
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Services and Amenities Three home-cooked meals per day Housekeeping and laundry services Nutritional snacks provided throughout the day Life enriching activities • Beauty/barber shop services Registered Nurse on Staff 24 hour personal care assistance All medical needs monitored • Assistance with medication 9100 Buchanan Rd., Mecosta (Canadian Lakes Area)
231-972-6600
231.598.9212
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We also offer facials, salon services, body waxing, and whirlpool! OUR GROWING TEAM NOW INCLUDES: Christie Webster, Cosmetologist Katie Omness, Esthetician Monica Schriner, Massage Therapist Ashley King, Riverside Massage (231) 580-6357 126 Maple Street • Suite C • Big Rapids, MI www.CardinalSpaAndMassage.com
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
Thank You Mecosta County For Voting Meijer Big Rapids People’s Choice for #1 Favorite Grocery Store, Pharmacy, Produce, Cashier and place to purchase meat JOIN
REWARDS TO SAVE MORE!
15400 Waldron Way • Big Rapids
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
ANGEL RIDE • RUN • WALK 2019
1 in 6 children in Mecosta County are unsure where their next meal will come from. You can attack childhood hunger and help feed food-insecure children right here in Mecosta County. Register for the Angel Ride-Run-Walk and start collect pledges for your 5k or bike ride. You can choose to run or walk to 5k or ride 13, 26, 52, 72, or 100 miles all to feed children in our community.
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Participants who raise the most amount of money and the largest number of pledges win a prize the day of the event as well! Registration includes your event t-shirt and lunch. Visit www.angelsofaction.org/ theangelriderunwalk to get registered and download your pledge sheet.
Annual
SHRED EVENT BENEFITING:
When bringing your shred, please consider a donation to benefit Our Brother’s Keeper of Mecosta County.
Saturday, September 21, 2019 9AM –12PM 15505 Waldron Way, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231.796.8621
EVENT DETAILS: • Please bring your shred in non-returnable bags/boxes, they will be recycled. • Staples, paperclips, rubber bands, folders, etc. do NOT need to be removed prior to shredding. PLEASE REMOVE BINDINGS. OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER: The shelter’s greatest need is for VOLUNTEERS and funding to help keep the doors open 365 days a year. Information will be provided during the shred event for volunteer opportunities and to learn how the shelter benefits our community. Needed Items: Towels (bath & dish) – pillows – lightweight blankets – twin sheets (extra-long) Shredding provided by Stericycle, Inc.
Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Lerner Csernai and Fath Financial Group and Cambridge are not affiliated.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SO MUCH TO OFFER • Full Line of Farm Seeds & Fertilizer • Full Range of Pet Foods & Supplies • Chicken Feeds and Accessories • Horse Supplies
WE SALUTE OUR LOCAL 4-H GROUPS!
The Area’s ONLY Drive-Thru Feed Store!
Full Line of Organic Insecticides, Fertilizers & Seeds!
Your source for Wildlife food plot seeds
BULK GARDEN SEEDS
Organic Seeds, Heirloom Seeds, High Quality Flower Bulbs
Visit Big Rapids Farm & Garden at 310 N. Fourth Street with the Area’s Only Drive-Thru Feed Store! Phone: 231-796-6363
POWER RECLINERS & LIFT CHAIRS Discover weightlessness in the MaxiComfort Cloud with Twilight positioning.
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www.carelincmed.com 1250 Perry Ave, Ste D | Big Rapids, MI 49307 | p: 231.796.6623 | Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm @carelincmed
SEPTMEBER 2019
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
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SIMPLIFICATION: THE ENTREPRENEUR'S SECRET TO SUCCESS NEIL PETCH Entrepreneur.com I don’t do complex. This goes for every aspect of my life– I don’t like clutter, I don’t like having fifty irons in the fire at once, I don’t like a to-do list that never gets any smaller, and I especially don’t like running from one meeting to the next without being able to catch my thoughts. In short, I like to keep things simple- and so should you. Why? Well, if you ask me, trying to do too many things at once leads to chaos. Order and planning and a good level of control over the workflow and how it gets executed, on the other hand, breed productive output, growth and success. And who among us can truly multitask anyway? Let me answer that with reference to research by the Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, which found that only 2.5% of us can do so without a dip in performance in either task. That leaves a whopping 97.5% of us who are dropping the ball when we attempt to take on too much. Further research in the Stanford Report highlighted a similar trend, finding that workers who regularly juggle several streams of electronic information at once do not pay attention or switch from one task to another as competently as those who tend to focus on one thing at a time. For the perfect example of somebody who liked to keep things simple, look no further than Steve Jobs. Jobs truly believed that simplicity was the key to his and Apple’s success, and he was once quoted as saying, “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can simplify your working life, remembering the two key benefits of simplification: one, it will make your life more enjoyable and pleasant in general; and two, it is key to your business success, because it allows you to focus on getting things done right, as opposed to just getting them done.
1. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TO-DO LIST We humans love to make lists. Perhaps it’s our way of trying to tame an untamable world. And granted, in the age of mass communication there is simply too much info and too many tasks coming at us at once, and lists are a hugely important means of coping with these demands. They can give us a certain peace of mind and help us feel in control– even if we’re not. From a psychological perspective, lists allow us to process information better –piece by piece– rather than all at once (the latter being how we tend to process information in our heads). Ultimately, our brains crave categorization, and lists are a perfect way to put everything in its right place. One thing our brains don’t like, however, is falling short of completing the tasks on our list. The stress
from not completing an item is in fact for most of us greater than the stress of putting in the long hours. This is why we need to be realistic about the size of our to-do lists, which is something almost 90% of us are failing at. To be exact, according to a study on work performance, 89% of people who make daily to-do lists are regularly not completing all the tasks. The trick to avoid this trap is, quite simply, to be honest about what you can and cannot do in a given time period, rather than approach list development with a misguided sense of ambition. While it takes just a few minutes to put together a to-do list, that list can haunt you for the rest of the day if it is an unrealistic one in terms of workload.
inclusion of Excel here, but for all you Excel diehards, you know exactly why I mentioned it. It can be a great way to stay in control of your workflow. For me, one of the best features of Excel is that it can host and manipulate so much data, allowing you to see the forest and trees all at once– perfect for getting an overview of what’s been done, what’s next to do and what’s coming up on the horizon.
A great way to manage this is to arrive at your list in stages. So the first stage is a brain dump of every task you want to perform; the next is to put these tasks in priority of importance; and the final stage is your actual list, which takes the items from the top of the priority lists and maps them out according to your given time period (whether it’s a day list or a week list etc.). When you have matched up the tasks to the amount of time you have, those items that did not make the list stay off the list.
For many, however, Excel will seem old hat, and that’s where applications like Wunderlist, to use just one example among many, come in. This app is a personal favorite of mine and is perfect for anyone who finds themselves drowning in to do lists, postits and reminders on scraps of paper. Essentially, it is a task management platform that syncs across all devices, giving you timed reminders for tasks due as well as an at-a-glance overview of actions that you need to complete. There is also a simple star system that allows you to quickly prioritize tasks, and you can also automate any recurring actions. But the best part of all: if another member of your team picks up one or more your tasks, with the touch of a button it is off your to do list and on to theirs. Who doesn’t love passing on the buck?
2. ONLY PROMISE WHAT YOU CAN DELIVER
4. DECLUTTER YOUR CALENDAR BY AXING THOSE MEETINGS
Believe it or not, this one is far easier said than done. How often have you found yourself saying something like “Sure, I’ll have that over to you this afternoon,” before the logical part of your brain has had the chance to step in and remind you of the million-and-one tasks you have to complete before you even get to this one? Sometimes promising something now that we don’t have to deal with until later seems like the easiest option, but it backfires just about every time.
Let me be really clear on this one: we are all going to too many meetings. Over in the United States, a staggering 11 million meetings are held every single day, and how many of them are truly necessary? According the National Bureau of Labor Statistics – which estimates that unnecessary and unproductive meetings cost US businesses approximately $37 billion each year– the answer is not very many.
Again, it’s about being realistic. I am not sure I would go as far as to say “under-promise, overdeliver,” but that is certainly far more preferable than the other way round. Besides, your clients –though it may not seem like it at times– would much rather you take on only what you can comfortably deliver, rather than miss deadlines or produce rushed work that is sub-par. Take on what you (or your team) have the resources for, and if anything cannot be done within the requested time period, you have to be honest about that. If that means losing a project, hey, better to lose this one and still stay in good standing with the client, rather than disappoint and risk getting no more work in the future.
3. HARNESS THE POWER OF TOOLS Just as technology has arguably made our lives more complex, so too can it be used to simplify our workload. There are countless business tools and applications out there that can help to make task and time management a breeze– from traditional programs such as Excel, to more contemporary offerings like Wunderlist. I know there will be a few raised eyebrows at my
Entrepreneurs need to ask themselves if the meeting is even necessary. Could the points be conveyed in a quick call or even an email? Believe me, most of the time the answer to that is a resounding “Yes!” If you are in any doubt, hold off booking that meeting room. Not only will it free up your time to focus on more pressing tasks, but it will also lead to your staff and colleagues thanking you. According to research by American recruitment site Salary.com, “too many meetings” is the number one cause of wasted time in US offices, while a separate study by the Center for Economics and Business Research found that the majority of office workers feel that at least half the time they spend in meetings is a waste of time.
5. SIMPLIFY THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE This is probably the trickiest one on the list. Communication is how things move along in business, and so cutting back on the time spent doing so may not seem like a particularly viable option. Of course, I am not suggesting you simply stop picking up the phone or replying to email, but there are certainly things you can do to streamline the process– and in fact set hard and fast rules and limits here on when you are accessible.
Let’s take email: how many do you receive in an hour? Five? Ten? Maybe 15? Now while it may seem like you spend just a few minutes here and there rattling off replies; in reality, these communications are derailing your day much more than you might think. There have been several studies into how much time these little distractions take up in the average day, most notably by the University of California, Irvine (UCI), who found that we take on average 25 minutes to get back on track following a distraction. A similar study by American research firm Basex estimated that interruptions like these cost the US economy $588 billion a year. But how can we possibly get email under control? Well that’s where tools such as Slack come in. Slack pulls all of your email and social accounts together, allowing you to prioritize messages by importance. That way you’ll only be interrupted as and when it is absolutely necessary. Here’s my summary of the email issue: we are a bit stuck right now. We have these incredible new comms channels on account of technology, and while they offer a ton of benefits, they are also creating an unrealistic workload. There is indeed no quick fix. You have to find your own way of organizing yourself and taming this comms mess as best as you can until tools like Slack get further along and we are governed by better systems. They will come. I have no doubts. But email in particular is just a stopgap (although granted it has been here already way too long in its current form) until we find a better way to do it.
THE ART OF KEEPING IT SIMPLE The bottom line to all of this is that keeping things simple is not just a time saving exercise; rather, it can have a real impact on the success of your business and your overall happiness levels. As I mentioned above, Steve Jobs saw simplicity as a state of mind rather than just a way to get things done. For him, simplicity was about distilling ideas in order to focus solely on the task at hand– no distractions, no complexities. But he also recognized that the world needed and craved simpler solutions, and so he delivered them in the form of a handful of lovely products that we can’t stop using. Another way to look at this is that through no fault of our own humans struggle greatly to keep things simple– we are simply programmed to overengineer and over-complicate. At the same time, we crave simplicity, and for entrepreneurs in particular it plays a role in both business survival and business growth. Again to stress, it allows us to focus on the right areas and to then give the right attention to the tasks required to drive success. Haste makes waste, whereas striving for perfection –which is about putting the time into the right things like Steve Jobs did– is the only way you have a serious shot of building a product or service that everyone has to have.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
PRIORITIZE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES NEIL PETCH Entrepreneur.com
Improving productivity means spending your time on the right things, and that starts with planning. Follow these four tips for success.
ESTABLISH YOUR “A” PRIORITIES FIRST. Ask yourself what would be your main focus if you had nothing else to do tomorrow. No meetings, no calls, no reports – nothing. Start with a blank slate. What would affect your long term results? The answers are your “A” priorities: important activities that move your major work along. They might include hiring a new account manager, developing a major proposal or opening a new branch location. These top-priority items should take up 20 percent to 30 percent of your time.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR “B” RESPONSIBILITIES. “B” activities are the things you are responsible for. They are the activities in your job description that must get done today, the tasks that keep you busy. They might include corresponding with clients, handling claims, supervising staff, inputting data, checking contracts, shipping materials or updating a database. For most people, “B” responsibilities represent another 30 to 40 percent of the time. Attend to them after you've worked on an "A."
PUT “C” REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR PROPER PLACE. “C” activities are requirements – those unplanned or unwritten aspects of your job that have to be done. “A” priorities are planned by you, whereas “C” requirements are often planned for you. They include department meetings, routine requests, expense reports, filing, sorting and reading updates. Our time study research using the proprietary TimeCorder device indicates that administrative tasks take up 20 to 25 percent of the time. Within this, paperwork alone can be five hours per week. Traveling and taking necessary breaks are also “C” requirements. They have to be done, but aren't key factors in the success of your job.
GET RID OF THE “D’S.” Finally there are “D” activities. “D” stands for delete, delay, delegate or drop. They include random web surfing, handling tasks that should be delegated and reading email newsletters. Some “D” tasks are technological time hogs – fixing a photocopier jam, waiting for software to load or accessing the help desk. Beware of them. Miscellaneous time can be as much as 5 percent of the week, based on our TimeCorder studies.
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
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5 STEPS FOR CREATING A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR YOUR STARTUP and customers served) as well as new media indicators (website Entrepreneur.com hits, Instagram/Twitter/Facebook In my work as both a consultant to engagement). If you do not have this entrepreneurs and an entrepreneur information available at present, set myself, I've encountered a recurring up the required systems to measure such data points going forward. problem: We lack a "long-game." GEORGIA TRAVERS
To be fair, we usually have general long-term objectives, accompanied by more nebulous strategies for achieving them. And writing a strategic plan for the upcoming year(s) may seem both tedious and abstract when you are caught up in the day-to-day trials and tribulations of running your business.
2. WHERE WE HOPE TO BE IN ONE YEAR. Write a second paragraph consolidating your priority objectives. Be as specific as possible. For instance:
Ice Cream Mama has 1) achieved brand recognition/sales popularity among expatriate as well as local But having a practical and lucid customers and 2) presents a vision of your company’s long-term competitive threat to global franchises trajectory is essential to ensuring its such as Tropical and Baskin Robbins. success. Give yourself some time to 3) Staff, branches & services have think and put into writing a simple been expanded. 4) Twitter, Facebook, strategic plan. and Instagram are active platforms; Here's are the basics: website is updated regularly. 5) Three new flavors have been introduced. 1. WHERE WE ARE NOW. Note: In a way, these preliminary Write a brief paragraph describing the current status of your business. steps function as a simplified SWOT For example, here is a blurb I wrote analysis; feel free to write out one of for Ice Cream Mama, a promising those if you prefer the format. The critical next steps remain the same. startup in Muscat, Oman: Ice Cream Mama is a successful Omani SME that has gained brand recognition and popularity among Omanis within a short time. We have opened five profitable branches. We are known for our creative flavors and emphasis on Omani national pride. The atmosphere of our stores and social media brand presence is youthful and energetic. Compile the hard data required to quantitatively support this qualitative assessment. In our case, we focused on general indicators (total income, net profit, number of products, staff,
3. BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS TO EACH PROBLEM. If you are like most of us, your goals may be pretty broad: launch X successful products, expand W services, reach Y customers, compete with Z alternatives. Once you have delineated them, determine three to five specific steps you can take to directly advance each individual goal. Do you need to hire a staffer exclusively responsible for managing and integrating your brand’s social media platforms? Do you need to update packaging or store décor
to more effectively appeal to your target market? What new product or service can you create to outpace a competitor or respond directly to a threat?
calendar for the next 12 months. Fill it with international and local holidays/ observances and dates important to your business or customers. From this skeleton, develop and incorporate To facilitate this process, consider target dates for completing both E. Jerome McCarthy’s four P’s of overall objectives and the specific marketing – Price, Product, Promotion steps necessary to achieve them. and Place – and what modifications 5. PRIORITIZE, DELEGATE, you might make to each in order to creatively pursue every individual EXECUTE. objective. Whether you manage 20 4. MAKE A TIMELINE. employees or two, determine a Whether in Excel, Word or hanging starting point, delegate tasks, and on your wall, prepare a visual start implementing your strategy.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
ut It! o b A l l A d a Re ber r fellow Cham
h you Share it wit to us as Got news? y sending it b y it n u m m uld d your co photos sho & s members an le ic rt A of each attachment. n the 10th an MS Word a th r te la d no month’s be submitte luded in the following e inc s to: info@ month to b es and photo cl ti ar d n se e 96-7649. issue. Pleas m or give us a call (231) 7 icles ty.co straints, art n mecostacoun co e m ti due to ion. Unfortunately, ct to omiss je b u s re a late submitted
SEPTMEBER 2019
Members Bulletin Board
This section is dedicated to Chamber members who are utilizing their marketing opportunities as one of the many values of belonging to the Chamber:
Card Wildlife Education Center Website: www.ferris.edu/card
PRAIRIE PLANTING
RSVP Bakesale
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly and friends will hold a PRAIRIE PLANTING along the Riverwalk between Swede Hill and North End Parks on September 25 & 27. DTE will plant the trees. Please come help us plant the shrubs and flowers! Why? To provide safety, shade, and beauty!
Where: Davis Bridge General Store in Stanwood on 8 Mile Rd When: Saturday, September 7th 8am-noon or until gone Why: Proceeds go to the Retired & Senior Volunteer Programs to hep with the transportation needs of the seniors in Mecosta, Osceola, and Lake Counties.
Big Rapids Community Library
Artworks.
Youth Beginning Dance Ages 5-8 $5 Mondays Sept. 9 - Dec. 2 from 5-6:30 PM Fundamentals of Photography $60-$70 Tuesdays Sept. 10 - Oct. 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM Drop-In Studio $5 Wednesdays Sept. 11 - Dec. 18 from 11AM - 2 PM Youth Beginning Dance Ages 9-12 $5 Thursdays Sept 12 - Dec 5 from 6-7:30 PM Beginning Stained Glass $60-$70 Sept. 14 from 10 AM - 3 PM Coffee & Canvas $15-$25 Sept. 15 from 12-2 PM
bigrapids.lib.mi.us SEPTMEBER IS LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH!
Hand Pottery $140-$160 Mondays Sept. 16–Oct 28 from 6-8 PM
Book Sale
Story Time
Sept. 2nd 10a-4p Hemlock Park
Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30-11:30a
After School Art $5 Tuesdays Sept. 10 - Dec. 17 from 3:45-5:15 PM
Library Closed
Community Playgroup
Creative Night Out: Watercolor $20-$40 Sept. 19 from 6-8:30 PM
Sept. 2nd Friends of the Library Meeting
Tuesdays 9:30-11:30a Knit Night
Breast Feeding Support Group
1st & 3rd Thursdays 6:30-8:30p (9.5.19 & 9.19.19)
Youth Drop-in Studio $5 Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 19, Dec. 13 from 1-3 PM
Sept. 6th 11:30a
Playgroup
Mary's Book Club
2nd & 4th Thursday 10a-12p (9.12.19 & 9.26.19)
For class descriptions, fees, and registration, visit artworksinbigrapids.org/classes or scan QR code
Sept. 20th 12-1p Banned Books Week
Tiny Tots Tinker Lab
Sept. 23rd-28th
Fridays 10:30-11:30a
National Voter Registration Day
Overeaters Anonymous
Sept. 24th
Sundays 9:30-10:30a
vv
Sept. 4th 4p
SEPTMEBER 2019
Angel Ride Run Walk September 14th • 5K starts 9 AM Ride starts 8:30 AM • Benefits child hunger Register at angelsofaction.org
FSU Fine Arts Gallery Persistence of Vision: Ferris Journeys
Al Wildey – Photography August 26th – September 28th, 2019 Reception: September 5th, 5-6:30pm with Artist Interview at 5:30pm
RECYCLE! Of Mecosta County MONDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. FRIDAY 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 424 N. 4th Street Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231) 796-9872
1st Annual Softball Tournament “Swinging to be Our Brothers Keeper”
Objective: On behalf of Our Brothers Keeper, we would like to raise funds for yearly operational costs and most importantly awareness for the struggling members of our community. Dates: September 14th & 15th (if needed) Cost: Costs will be $150 dollars per team, UNLESS you donate Items listed below. Cost for entry will drop to $100 dollars per team after donation. *CRUCIAL ITEMS OF NEED* 1. “NEW” Sheets for Twin XL bed 2. Dial-A-Ride bus vouchers ($20.00) for a pack of vouchers) *All donations welcome, but Items in *CRUCIAL NEED* will drop entry fee cost. Location: Big Rapids, MI 49307 1. Vogel field for all “Upper” Games. 2. Hemlock Park for all “Lower” Games. Will be upper and lower if we can get over 10 teams. Prizes: 1st and 2ND placed team(s) WILL receive a custom-made plaque from Lake and Lodge Realty & Nanos Gifts!!
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
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Big Rapids Department of Parks & Recreation Summer Programs To register for programs please contact City Hall Recreation Department 226 N. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 (231)592-4038
FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays May 14th—September 24th 12:00 pm—5:00 pm Fridays May 10th—October 25th 8:00 am—2:00 pm City Hall Parking Lot
PICKLEBALL Cost: $3 ($5 once indoors) September 3th —September 29th Tuesdays: 5:00pm-7:00pm Thursdays: 5:00—7:00 pm Ferris State Racquet Center September 30th 2019 -April 30th 2020 Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00—7:00 pm Ferris State Racquet Center (No pickleball November 27th ) Coordinator: Gary Lenon No need to have a paddle, all new players are welcome! All money goes to help pay for court rental, tape, balls and other supplies. Tennis shoes are required for on court play.
ZUMBA GOLD Thursdays September 5th—December 12th 5:30—6:30 pm Cost: $2 per participant Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria No Class (Nov. 28th) Instructor: Janitza Sawyer Zumba Gold is perfect for active older adults, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle, who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity. The design of the class introduces easy-tofollow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination.
TENNIS IN THE PARK September 10th—October 3rd Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm—5:00 pm Cost: $5 per week or $15 For all four weeks Hemlock Park Tennis Courts Instructors: BRCTA Members and Ferris State University Club Tennis This program is for students grades 5th—8th. Learn to play tennis—try out this great sport and get in a good workout! Returning players are welcome and will be grouped by skill level. Tennis racquets will be available if needed. Space is limited to 20 students.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE Sundays Scrimmage: September 8th League Games Begin: September 15th Cost: $300 per team Big Rapids Middle School Gym Games are played on Sundays starting at 1:00pm and ending as late as 9:00pm. 10-week season. Ages 18 and older. Registrations due by August 30th.
TAI CHI September 4th—December 18th Mondays & Wednesdays 12:00 pm—1:00 pm Cost: $2 per participant When weather permits (60° or above) class will meet at Hemlock Park, otherwise class will be held at Artworks. (No class: November 27th) Instructor: Mary Loesch, Certified International Instructor An ancient form of exercise originally developed in China as a martial art. This exercise has benefits to allow participants to improve muscle tone, flexibility, balance and coordination. Newcomers are always welcome!!
LINE DANCE CLASSES September 3rd —December 19th Cost: $2 per participant Instructor: Diane Jones Come join choreographed line dancing while increasing your heart rate for a great cardio workout! You can select the class that best fits your needs.
MORNING LINE DANCE Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00am-9:00am (Step Instruction and easy beginner dances) 9:00 am—10:00 am Improver Dances Learn coordinated steps to a variety of music. A social and aerobic activity. Bring a friend! Artworks, Dance Studio (No class: (Sept 17, 19, 24, 26 or November 28th)
WATER AEROBICS September 9th—December 13th Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 am—9:30 am Cost: $5 per class or $50 for punch card (12 classes) Ferris State Recreation Center Pool (No class November: 29th ) Instructor: Sherry Williams Low impact exercise offered for adults.
Beginning in the shallow area and progressing to the deep water to allow for a full body workout.
SENIOR FIT TIME September 3rd —December 19th Tuesday: 4:00 pm—5:00 pm Thursday: 3:00 pm—4:00 pm Cost: $2 per participant Style Station (1619 Catherine Street) (No class November 28th) Instructor: DeMar Hatchew, Certified in Senior Fitness A senior fitness class geared to get those in need of a low impact routine emphasizing cardio, balance and muscle stretching. The class will get you feeling energized and active! Bring a mat, water bottle and personal weights.
DELAY THE DISEASE FITNESS FOR PARKINSON’S September 5th—December 19th Thursdays 1:00 pm—1:45 pm Cost: $2 per participant Style Station (1619 Catherine Street) (No class November 28th) Instructor: DeMar Hatchew, Continuing Education in Parkinson’s Disease Training Methods A fitness class designed to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. No matter what stage of the disease you are battling—it’s never too late to start exercising! The class will incorporate a variety of chair exercises, stretching, balance work, strength training, and vocal and facial exercises. Caregivers are welcome to join participants.
GROOVE September 9th – December 9th Mondays 5:30pm-6:30pm Cost $2 per participant Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria Instructor: Janitza Sawyer Class description: No dance experience required or fancy choreography to memorize! Do the simple steps your way, at the intensity of your choice, and add your own style! Have fun moving and groovin' to ALL genres of music. GROOVE is a great opportunity to cultivate your innate creativity and self-confidence. Wear comfy clothes to move in & comfy shoes (or go barefoot). Be sure to bring along a water bottle and a towel (or yoga mat) for light stretching at the end. Come for the fun and stress relief! Take a sneak peek of the class at bodygroove.com.
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
mecostacounty.com
How to join the Chamber All types of businesses are welcome to join the Chamber and anyone that feels they would benefit from additional marketing, networking and educational opportunities are encouraged to take advantage of all of the benefits that the Chamber has to offer! Joining the Chamber is easy, all you have to do is fill out the application form and submit with your annual dues. Payment options are available. You can receive the application form by going to our website at www.mecostacounty.com, by stopping in our office at 127 South State Street, Big Rapids or by calling us at 231-7967649 and requesting a packet be mailed to you. Your benefits start immediately once the application is received. It’s just that easy! Let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to serving you!
Member Benefit Spotlight: Online Calendar
What is it? Members can list their events on our community calendar through our website.
What should you do? Call, email, or stop in to the chamber to tell us about your events, we would be happy to list them for you. Or feel free to list them yourself through our website! To check out the calendar go to mecostacounty. com > Events > Calendar of Events.
SEPTMEBER 2019
Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
SEPTMEBER 2019
19
BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES FOR ENTREPRENEUR LESLIE TRUEX Whether you’re trying to come up with a great home business idea, or you’re looking for new ideas to boost your income in your existing business, brainstorming is an excellent way to generate ideas. In business, brainstorming is often done in groups, but even as a solo entrepreneur, you can use brainstorming techniques to generate ideas. Not only can brainstorming help you generate ideas that might not have otherwise been considered, but it can also help you better understand where your business is struggling, and where you need to focus your time. Here are 7 brainstorming techniques that you can do on your own that can help you expand your mind to new ideas and strategies for your home business. You can use one, several, or all of these techniques to generate ideas. Plus, you’ll find rules for maximizing brainstorming success, as well as helpful tools.
Start With a Question An easy way to generate new ideas is by answering a question. If you’re looking for a home business to start, a question might be to ask what business will help you meet your goals. For example, if you want to travel the world, your question might be, “What home business is flexible and portable enough for me to travel the world?” If you’re struggling to generate enough clients or customers, a question might be, "What is the one thing my customers or clients want the most?” Or, “Where do my customers go to find help with what I offer?”
Use a Mind Map The mind map has been used by many great thinkers including Leonardo DaVinci and popularized in the twentieth century by Tony Buzan. It’s ideal for people who respond to visual tools. There are mind map programs for computers and apps for digital devices, but all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil. You can use color pencils, as initially suggested by Tony Buzan when he introduced his mind map concepts. Here are the steps to mind mapping: 1. Start with a word, question, or image in the center of the page. 2. Draw a line from the center outward, and add a related word, question or concept. You can have as many of these next level ideas as you want. 3. From those second level concepts, draw a line or lines and add words related to the subtopic.
4. Continue to draw lines with related keywords for as long as ideas come to you.
client, can help you generate ideas to make the experience better for them.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to come up with marketing ideas. You can have as your center topic “Marketing.” Next, you can have spokes out that include “Building Community,” “Media/PR,” and “Advertising.” From your “Building Community” spoke, you can have “Facebook Group,” and a link from that might be “Weekly Facebook Live.” From your “Media/PR” spoke, you can have “HARO Report” and “Create Monthly PR Plan.”
Ask Who, What, Why, When, Where, How
Word Map Similar to a mind map, a world map is a visual way to brainstorm things like your business name or tagline. Start by writing down all the words related to your business or brand goals. For example, if you want to start an organic gardening business, you might write “organic” and “gardening.” For each word, write down related words that come to mind. In our example, you might write “safe,” “clean,” and “vegetables.”
Use a SWOT Analysis If you’ve done your business plan, chances are you’ve done a SWOT analysis. The SWOT isn’t just helpful in your business plan. It can also be a great brainstorming technique. Make a foursquare grid by drawing a line vertically down the middle of a piece of paper, then a line across the middle horizontally. In the upper left box put “Strengths,” and the upper right box “Weaknesses.” In the lower left box write, “Opportunities,” and in the lower right box, “Threats.” In each box, write down corresponding words, ideas, and concepts that come to you. For example, let’s say you’re trying to decide if you want to start a blog. Under “Strengths” you can list all the positive aspects of blogging as a business idea, as well as your personal strengths, such as “It’s low cost to start,” “I’m an expert on the topic,” etc. You want to do the same for “Weaknesses,” such as, “I’m not tech savvy,” “It can take time to generate a good income from a blog,” etc. Under “Opportunities,” you might put, “There are many ways to generate income from a blog,” and under “Threats” you might write, “Lots of competition.”
Spend Time In Your Customer/Client’s Shoes It’s a mistake to analyze and make decisions solely from a business owners’ perspective. The best ideas will be those that resonate and attract clients and customers, and the best way to do that gets into their shoes. Surveying your clients can customers can help with this, but also, working through your marketing, sales, buying, and customer service systems as a customer or
In brainstorming, you’re looking for answers to questions, but sometimes you’re not sure what questions to ask. Going back to the basics of who, what, why, when, where, and how can help you generate ideas to improve your business. You can simply list these questions, but if you’re a visual person, you can sketch them similar to a mind map, called a starburst. When starbursting, you start with your main idea in the middle, and then draw lines out with your basic questions of who, what, why, when, where, and how at the end of each point. Using each of these basic questions, generate more questions related to your main idea. For example, let’s say you want to make money in affiliate marketing. You’d put “Affiliate Marketing” in the middle. The “How” spoke can have questions such as “How will affiliate products be promoted?” In the “Who” spoke, you might ask, “Who is the ideal person to buy my affiliate products?” Don’t stop at one question for each spoke.
Write as many questions that come to mind. Once you have the right questions, you can generate answers that should lead to ideas, and help you focus your business to-dos. If Money and Time Were No Object Have you ever played the game where you answer the question, “What would you do if you won the lottery?” In this scenario, your mind opens to all your hopes and dreams, free from the constraints of your current life. The same is true when brainstorming. Too often, your brain will eliminate ideas because don’t think you have the resources. So, to keep your mind open to all potential ideas, brainstorm what you’d do if money and time were no object? If you could build any business, or tackle any idea, what would it be?
2. Colored pens/pencils: Using color is aesthetically pleasing, which can be helpful if you’re creative. It can also help you sort out and organize your ideas. 3. Mind map apps: There are a host of free and low-cost mind map apps online that you can use on your computer or another device. 1. Whiteboard or large piece of paper: This is often used in group brainstorming sessions, but can be effective even if you’re by yourself. Large writing surfaces can help you avoid the constraints of writing in a smaller space. 2. Sticky notes: The advantage of sticky notes is the ability to move them around on a larger surface. 3. Recorder: While you should write down your brainstorm ideas, sometimes it can be helpful to record them first. Vocalizing ideas can often generate ideas easier than in your head. Of course, if you belong to a mastermind group or have a coach, talking about your issue can not only help you clarify and get ideas but also receive feedback.
Rules for Brainstorming The purpose of brainstorming is to generate a ton of ideas that you can later go through to decide which are best for your goals. Unfortunately, the brain has a natural tendency to filter, judge, and assess ideas. Chances are, you’ll not write down some ideas because you think they’re dumb or undoable. But you can’t do that. Here are the rules you need to follow to have productive brainstorming sessions:
When it comes to brainstorming, a piece of paper and pen or pencil is all you need. With that said, because it’s a creative endeavor, you need the tools that will help you generate the best ideas in a way that you can assess and use them later. Here are a few tools you can use:
1. No judgment: Write down all ideas no matter how crazy or impossible it might seem. Will being on a national morning television show skyrocket your credibility? Write it down if it comes to you. Ideas that are too pie-in-the-sky should be included because they can often lead to other ideas that are not too out there. Plus, it never hurts to reach for the stars. For example, it might seem impossible to be on a national morning TV show, but that idea could lead to reaching to local morning shows or national radio shows.
1. Idea Notebook: Keeping your ideas all in one place is a great way to refer back to old brainstorming sessions. Further, when you’re done brainstorming, you can continue to keep a notebook with you to jot new ideas as they come to you.
1. No evaluation: Brainstorming is simply a mind dump of ideas. Whatever the idea, write it down. Brainstorming is not the time to decide if it’s a good idea or how it could be carried out. Evaluating ideas comes later.
Tools for Brainstorming
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Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce News • Visit us at mecostacounty.com
Sept 1
SEPTMEBER 2019
9a-11a AMVETS Auxiliary Monthly Breakfast
SEPTEMBER 2019
MECOSTA COUNTY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sept 2 10a-4p Labor Day Arts and Crafts Show at Hemlock Park
10a-4p Book Sale at Hemlock Park
Sept 4 4p Friends of the Library meeting 4p-7p Bulldog Bonanza Sept 5 5p-6:30p Persistence of Vision Reception at FSU Fine Arts Gallery Sept 6 11:30a Breast Feeding Support Group Sept 7 8a-12p RSVP Bake Sale
9a-11:30a 1st Annual WISE 5K Fun Run/Walk
Sept 8 8a-11:30a Mecosta VFW Pancake Breakfast Sept 11 11:30a-1p Lunch and Learn: Financial Peace of Mind Sept 14 OBK Softball Tournament
8:30a Angel Ride, Run, Walk at
Northend Riverside Park
10a Lucky Duck Race
8a Muskegon River Trash Bash
10a-3p Beginning Stained Glass at Artworks Sept 15 12p-2p Coffee & Canvas at Artworks Sept 19 5:30p Business After Hours at Planet Fitness
6p-8:30p Creative Night Out at Artworks
Sept 20 12p-1p Mary’s Book Club at BRCL
1p-3p Youth Drop-in Studio at Artworks
Sept 21 9a-12p Annual Shred Event at Lerner Csernai & Fath Financial Sept 24 National Voter Registration Day at BRCL
4p-8p Car Seat Safety Check at Reed City Fire Department
Sept 25 Prairie Planting on the River Walk Sept 26
7:30a Rise and Shine at Chamber office hosted by The Woods Vacation Rentals
Sept 27 Prairie Planting on the River Walk
BIG RAPIDS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER PROGRAMS
PICKLEBALL – TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS 5-7PM ZUMBA GOLD - THURSDAYS SEPTEMBER 5TH—DECEMBER 12TH 5:30-6:30 PM TENNIS IN THE PARK - SEPTEMBER 10TH—OCTOBER 3RD TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS 3:30—5:00 PM TAI CHI - SEPTEMBER 4TH—DECEMBER 18TH MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 12—1:00 PM
GFWC MONTHLY MEETINGS
2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY AT THE BIG RAPIDS PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. CALL 231-349-7743 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
BIG RAPIDS COMMUNITY LIBRARY SEPTEMBER IS LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP MONTH! STORY TIME - MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 10:30A-11:30A COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP - TUESDAYS 9:30A-11:30A KNIT NIGHT - 1ST & 3RD THURSDAY 6:30P-8:30P (9.5.19 & 9.19.19) PLAYGROUP - 2ND & 4TH THURSDAY 10A-12P (9.12.19 & 9.26.19) TINY TOTS TINKER LAB - FRIDAYS 10:30A-11:30A OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS - SUNDAYS 9:30A-10:30A
ARTWORKS
YOUTH BEGINNING DANCE: AGES 5-8 $5 MONDAYS SEP 9–DEC 2 5PM-6:30PM FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $60-$70 TUESDAYS SEP 10–OCT 15 5:30PM-7:30PM DROP-IN STUDIO: $5 WEDNESDAYS SEP 11–DEC 18 11AM-2PM YOUTH BEGINNING DANCE: AGES 9-12 $5 THURSDAYS SEP 12–DEC 5 6PM-7:30PM HAND POTTERY: $140-$160 MONDAYS SEP 16–OCT 28 6PM-8PM AFTER SCHOOL ART: $5 TUESDAYS SEP 10-DEC 17 3:45PM-5:15PM
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, CHAPTER 18 A SERVICE OFFICER IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST VETERANS IN RECEIVING BENEFITS. THURSDAYS 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT THE DAV IN BIG RAPIDS. ALL VETERANS WELCOME
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY FINE ART GALLERY PERSISTENCE OF VISION: FERRIS JOURNEYS AUGUST 26TH – SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2019 RECEPTION: SEPTEMBER 5TH, 5-6:30PM
FARMERS' MARKET
EVERY FRIDAY FROM MAY 10TH- OCTOBER 25TH 8:00AM- 2:00PM EVERY TUESDAY FROM MAY 14TH - SEPTEMBER 24TH 12:00PM - 5:00PM
BIG RAPIDS LIONS CLUB MEETS EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS OF THE MONTH, 6:30 P.M. AT #52 SPORTS BAR AND KITCHEN. BIG RAPIDS ROTARY CLUB MEETS EVERY TUESDAY AT NOON AT FALCON HEAD