March 2011
Visitor Info volunteers thanked for service By Karen Anderson
Luncheon Speakers Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings are held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St., at noon each Monday, federal holidays excluded. Everyone is welcome!
March 7 – Cmdr. Gary Martin
Indian Island commander will give a presentation on Naval Magazine Indian Island. The strategic mission of the naval magazine is to provide ordnance logistics support to the Pacific Fleet and the joint services in times of peace and war.
March 14 – Jake Beattie
Beattie is the new executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center and he will update the chamber on Maritime Center programs.
March 21 – Mike Glenn
Glenn is the new executive director of Jefferson Healthcare. He will talk about what he has learned since coming to the job and what the community can expect in the future from its local health-care provider.
March 28 – Madrona MindBody, Olympic Hostel
Aletia Alvarez and Allison Dey, co-owners of Madrona MindBody Institute, and Christopher Overman from the Olympic Hostel will talk about their roles in the Fort Worden community.
We all know that the Port Townsend Visitor Information Center wouldn’t function without the 60 volunteers who help throughout the year. So each winter, we give them a big thank-you in the form of food, drink and praise. This year we met at the lovely Clam Cannery for a buffet of good food and friendly banter among friends. The party is completely paid for by the donations the volunteers have received during the year for their first hand and detailed knowledge of our fair town, while donations of food, drink and time are offered through Chamber members. It all comes together in the end to make a beautiful
evening where we can really focus on the incredible accomplishments of our volunteers. The amount of work our volunteers have done for the Chamber is immense. According to the most recent data on independentsector.org, they saved the Chamber of Commerce over $91,000! Don’t they deserve a raise? Dave Harrah and Ron Brantner both worked more than 300 hours in 2010! The consistency with which our volunteers give their time is also incredible. VIC volunteers step up to the plate each week to fill the 50 shifts that keep us open seven days a week all year round. The VIC gained 12 volunteers in 2010, four of which were returning volunteers! If you haven’t met Ian, Sandra,
Executive director The year 2011 is, without doubt, the most exciting time in Chamber history, with a huge transition in direction and a revised focus aimed solely at better serving the varied business needs of Jefferson County. Returning to the place I have always called home brings with it an opportunity to enact the Chamber’s new strategic plan, something that the talented business leaders in the county have been preparing for over a year and a half.
Visitor Information Center volunteers gather at the Clam Cannery for their appreciation dinner. The volunteers have logged thousands of hours assisting people who pass through Port Townsend.
Ken, Marilyn, Michael, Joe, Nancy, Jerry or Terri yet, come in and say, “Hello!” I look forward to another promising year with you all! Thank you to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Clam Cannery Waterfront Hotel, the Wine Seller,
Bringing together the regional chambers into a single, dedicated unit presents both significant opportunities and challenges that we will tackle together. Rural Jefferson Teresa Verraes County’s needs are very different from those of a downtown Port Townsend retail outlet. However, a strong economic policy enacted by the people – and for the business interests of the people – will see a strengthening of our wider economy and benefit everyone. Along with this shift in focus comes
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Sirens Pub, Galatea Café, T’s Restaurant, 1-2-3 Thai, Banana Leaf Thai Bistro, Valley Tavern, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Creative Laser Design, SOS Printing, Badd Habit, Silverwater Café and Harborside Inn for their generous donations!
immediate economic growth. The Chamber will seek external funding to create new jobs in the county, all of which will be aimed at identifying and maximizing opportunities for local businesses, thus creating more employment in 2011. Most important is feedback and involvement from the business community of the county. I urge you to attend Chamber meetings, become a member and get involved. If you have attended in the past and since opted out, please return so we may illustrate to you how we are changing and how we will stand up for your business in the coming decade and beyond.