Volume 15- Issue 10- October
The Road Map
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
75th Rally has record attendance
Via the City of Sturgis: The official estimate for attendees in 2015 was 739,000. This number is based on previous comparisons for tons of garbage hauled within the City, Department of Transportation vehicles counts, Mount Rushmore traffic counts, SD Sales tax collections, Sanitation fees collected and Main Street photo counts. The DOT traffic counts which were released in August were for the official seven day Rally week and were not inclusive of the entire Rally period. Attendees began arriving for the event several days in advance prompting the early closure of Main Street on July 29. The SD Department of Revenue reported a record $413,763 in sales taxes collected within the city limits by temporary vendors. This number is nearly double the collections in 2014. Most Sturgis businesses
agree that 2015 was a record year for sales.
In reality, an exact number of attendees for a wide spread event such as the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ can never be calculated. However, considering the entire length of the event and
the reported sales that took place during the Rally period, the 75th Annual Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ was the largest Rally to date.
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Community News
Sturgis Chamber recognized with Great Service Star Award nize businesses that develop and complete hospitality training programs for their staff, recognize and reward employees for offering great service, and find unique ways to show customer Pierre, SD - The Sturgis Area appreciation. Those that meet Chamber of Commerce & Visithe criteria are awarded a star tors Bureau was among those symbol from the Department of recently recognized with the Tourism for use in marketing Great Service Star Award. their business and visually showing visitors their commitment to The South Dakota Department of “Great Service.” Tourism has recognizes businesses and organizations in commu- “South Dakota holds a strong nities across South Dakota for reputation of continually providtheir outstanding customer ser- ing the best customer service to vice. visitors to our state, which isn’t always an easy goal to reach in The Great Service Star Program this day and age when customers is designed to identify and recogare demanding more,” said Jim
Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. “The Great Service Star program encourages the continued development of skills and techniques that make South Dakota stand apart from other states.”
Hagen said the recipients of the award have continued to provide top notch service to guests and are committed to the success of the visitor industry in South Dakota.
The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council and the South Dakota State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary Jim Hagen.
Ribbon Cuttings
Black Hills Federal Credit Union
Corner of Junction & Lazelle Sturgis, SD 57785 Ribbon Cutting (9/10)
Indian Motorcycle Sturgis 2130 Main Street Sturgis, SD 57785 Ribbon Cutting (9/11)
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Membership News, cont.
Automax of Sturgis 1544 Lazelle Street Sturgis, SD 57785 Ribbon Cutting (9/15)
Photo above and below courtesy of Tim Potts.
Hospice Garden Walk
940 Harmon Street Sturgis, SD 57785 Ribbon Cutting (9/17)
Thank you.
Renewing Member You make what we do possible. Scott Peterson Motors
Sturgis FAM Tour
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Upcoming Events
(for full list see the enclosed insert) 10/6—Meeting for anyone interested in helping with the Chamber’s Crypt 5:00pm @ the Chamber
10/23-31 - Chamber’s Crypt Easyriders (volunteers needed) 11/6 - Wine & Stein Holiday Inn Express
SPECIAL NOTICE: Your official Chamber Board Member Ballot will be mailed to you this month. Your vote counts!
Thanks for a great 2015 Oktoberfest.
In September, the Chamber hosted nearly 30 international journalists in Sturgis showing off our businesses and sights.
2040 Junction Avenue - Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone - 605.347.2556 Web - SturgisAreaChamber.com
Return Service Requested
U.S. POSTAGE PRESORTED STANDARD RATE PERMIT NO. 10 STURGIS, SD 57785
Staff Executive Director, Heidi Kruse Events & Membership Coordinator, Kathy Christenson Membership Services Manager, Rainee Lisko
Board of Directors President, Jerrid Goebel, Sturgis Chiropractic Past Pres, Ken Meirose, Black Hills Power Vice Pres, Brice Rock, Pioneer Bank & Trust Treasurer, Heidi Richter, Richters Tire & Exhaust Kelly Keffeler, Farm Credit Services of America Jeremy Vliem, First Western Insurance Chad Legner, Wells Fargo Bank J.D. Williams, First Interstate Bank Mark Schulte, Sturgis Regional Hospital
Ex-Officio Board Members Don Kirkegaard: Meade School 46-1 Representative Bob Bertolotto: Meade Co Commissioner Pat Kurtenbach: SEDC Daniel Ainslie, City of Sturgis Rick Bush: City of Sturgis Tacy Snyder: Ag Representative David Hersrud: City Council Liaison
Thank you to our 2015 Platinum & Premium Sponsors. Your support is essential to our work in the Sturgis Community.
Congratulations Daniel Ainslie & Family! We hope you enjoy your 2015 Indian Chief. Thank you to everyone who supported the Sturgis Area Chamber by purchasing a raffle ticket.