Volume 15- Issue 9- September
The Road Map
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Chamber hosts Community Picnic, Ribbon Cutting, & Movies at H-D Rally Point Sturgis, SD - The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has hosted a Post Rally Community Picnic for several years in the City Park.
This year, in conjunction with the Downtown Sturgis Foundation and the City of Sturgis, the event was held in the new Harley-Davidson Rally Point and included a community ribbon cutting. The evening started with a screening of Yogi Bear and ended with a concert by Blues Street. Kids enjoyed a bounce house and face painting. Nearly 1,000 were served a free picnic during the event. Thank you to our generous sponsors for making this great community night possible. Looking ahead, the Chamber is hosting a series of free movies on the community plaza sponsored by the Downtown Sturgis Foundation and the City of Sturgis. Two films remain in the series. Bring your lawn chairs and the family.
Tues, September 1 – 6pm – Cars Tues, September 8 – 6pm – Despicable Me
A downtown Sturgis restaurant will have select food items available for purchase on site at each showing.
Additional events are planned for the location through the remainder of the year and into the spring and summer.
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Membership News
Accepting Nominations for Board of Directors Election
We are now accepting nominations for our Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone else, please call the Chamber office at 347.2556 or email Info@SturgisAreaChamber.com.
The deadline for accepting nominations is Friday, September 25 at 4pm. Official ballots will be mailed to Chamber members in October.
A note of (temporary) farewell from Heidi (& a shameless plea for help) On September 17, my husband and I will make the short trip to Spearfish to welcome a new member to our family. (And the newest Sturgis Chamber volunteer.)
work for Sturgis. They are constant champions and ambassadors for this town and our members whether they are on the clock or not. They have a busy few months ahead. You can help.
When the little one arrives, I’ll be sure to let you all in on the details. Further, if you see me stumbling though the grocery store in the next few months and I don’t notice you - my sincere apologies. Please, remember I Sometime early in October, they have a newborn and a 4-year will begin work on constructing old. I likely won’t remember my our Chamber’s Crypt. It’s a fund- own name. I should be better by raiser not only for the Chamber, the holidays. I plan on working through the but also for the high school’s 16th before leaving things com- drama department. We make a With that, I wish you all the best pletely in the capable hands of donation each year to that oras we enter the final quarter of Kathy and Rainee. ganization for their contributions the year. It’s been a big one for to the event. Sturgis. Not just with the historic My sincere thanks to them for Rally - but with an incredible not immediately resigning when If you’re looking for a creative amount of development and I informed them I was pregnant, outlet and a great cause for your overall strong sales. Take a and the baby would be arriving family or organization - please breath and congratulate each in the height of our “event sea- give us a call. I’m not sure how other on those achievements. son.” I’m privileged to work with helpful I’ll be at setup with an Whether your business has been them and you should feel privi- infant. And frankly, with the lack here for six months or 60 years leged to have them working for of sleep - I may be the most you’re an important part of the your community. I mean that frightening thing in the show. positive progress here today. with all sincerity, and I don’t We’d love to have you volunteer. thank them publicly enough for Let me be more direct: Please, Thank you. the heart they put into their please volunteer. -Heidi Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Membership News, cont.
New Members
Automax of Sturgis
1544 Lazelle Sturgis - 605.347.5800 automaxdeals.com
Sergeant Colten Levi Derr Foundation
Renewing Members
McPherson Propane Post 33 American Legion Baseball Rockingtree Floral & Garden Center Rushmore Media Company SHOPKO Kip & Kristi Wagner (Associate)
Upcoming Events
(for full list see the enclosed insert)
9/1 - Evening at the Movies Cars H-D Rally Point - 6pm 9/1-6 - Mustang Rally
9/7 - Chamber Closed - Labor Day Holiday 9/8 - Evening at the Movies Despicable Me H-D Rally Point - 6pm
Sturgis - 605.209.2308 sergeantderrfoundation.org
Thank you. You make what we do possible.
Area Miss SD Tourism Teens awarded National Honors August 1-2 six attended the National Tourism pageant in Clarskville, TN where they brought home three national titles, one finalist, one first runner-up, and one second runner-up.
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Congratulations girls! They have also been volunteering here at the Visitor Center each Saturday through the summer. Thanks for being ambassadors for Sturgis & the state of SD.
9/10 - Black Hills Federal Credit Union Ground Breaking Corner of Junction & Lazelle 12:00 Noon 9/11-12 - Indian Motorcycle Sturgis & Scott Peterson Motors Grand Openings 9/12-13 - Gran Fondo & Criterium
9/15 - Automax of Sturgis 1544 Lazelle Grand Opening BBQ 5-8pm Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm
9/17 - Ribbon Cutting & Mixer Sturgis Regional Hospice Garden Walk Sturgis Regional Hospital 5:00-7:00pm 9/18-20 Sturgis Supermoto
9/25-26 Sturgis Oktoberfest 9/26 Ag Banquet
10/8 - Rushmore Office Supply Mixer
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SEDC Update
Pat Kurtenbach, The Sturgis President SEDC Brown High School’s new machinist training program will open in SEDC’s new industrial incubator building in September. The first class of 15 students will begin their day at 7:30 am in the Sturgis Industrial Park underthe instruction of Cyle Miller. This Career Technical Education (CTE) course will provide students dual credits through Western Dakota Tech.
Upon graduation, this could allow them to fast track into the job market, or greatly reduce the cost and training time if they choose to further their technical education. The building and program were made possible by match grants from USDA Rural Development and the SD Future Fund, as well as, an educational partnership with the Meade School District, Sturgis Industrial Park manufacturers, and SEDC.
The incubator building has three individually metered units available for lease to start-up companies.
These units will be completed to suit each tenant. For more info, contact Pat at 347-4906 or pat@sturgisdevelopment.com.
BHFCU expanding to Sturgis
Please join their groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, September 10, noon – 1:00 pm at the construction site at the corner of Lazelle and Junction.
Demolition of the existing building is currently underway, with a 28-week construc- Credit Union is excited to tion timeline expected. serve the Sturgis community with our new location. We The 4,500 sq. ft. building will have a sizeable member base employ eight when it opens. local to Sturgis and believe Sturgis is a robust and growing Jerry Schmidt, BHFCU Senior community. The City of Sturgis Vice President of Operations, is putting a great deal of effort states, “Black Hills Federal and investment into the
growth of the community. It is evident with the new plaza and the Business Improvement District that the community leaders want to serve the citizens better, and we want to be a part of that growth as well.”
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Community News
Lamphere Sculpture “Ray Davis Tribute Monument” unveiled
Sturgis local and South Dakota State Artist Laureate, Dale Lamphere” created a beautiful new sculpture titled the “Ray Davis Tribute Monument.” The piece stands outside the newly opened Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center next to the open cut in Lead. It was unveiled in a ceremony held on Wednesday, August 26.
In 1965, Dr. Ray Davis, a chemist from Brookhaven National Laboratory, built his solar neutrino experiment on the 4850 Level of the Homestake Mine. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002 for his research on neutrinos which continues today at the Sanford Lab.
Photos courtesy of Sanford Lab Facebook page.
Another of Lamphere’s pieces was recently unveiled at Harley Davidson Rally Point in Sturgis. That sculpture, The Gift commemorates the life and work of the late Tom Monahan.
September events & Street Closures
Via City of Sturgis - The City is hosting several events in the month of September which will require street closures. Sept 11-12 Gran Fondo & Outlaw Criterium Sept 18-20 Supermoto Sept 25-26 Oktoberfest
at 6:30pm. The change in meeting date is due to the Monday, Labor Day holiday. The Street Closure for the Mustang Rally, held over Labor Day weekend, has already been approved by City Council.
Details are available on the City Council will consider these of Sturgis’ website or by calling street closure requests for the the Rally and Events Departdowntown on Tuesday, Sept 8th ment at 605-720-0800.
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Community News, cont.
SD Women’s Business Conference Returns to Deadwood guest on TV and radio shows and featured in numerous publications. In addition to delivering effective leadership strategies to advance professional women, DiGeronimo has shared her insight with many corporations and women’s organizations for many corporate events including Amazon, Symantec, Cisco, and Nestle.
dedicated to helping women succeed in their small business ownership as well as their careers by providing cutting-edge professional development.”
Register online at www.BHSU.edu/SDCEO or by phone at (605) 642-6435. Early registration ends Thursday, Oct. 8 and is $125. Late registration is Via SDCEO: The South Dakota The conference will also highlight $145. The Lodge at Deadwood is Center for Enterprise Opportuni- a presentation by Linda Rabe, offering conference attendees ty (SD CEO) at Black Hills State President and CEO, Rapid City special discount rates. University will host the sixth an- Chamber of Commerce, and an nual Women’s Business Confer- entrepreneurial panel moderat- The SD CEO is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support ence Friday, Oct. 23. The confer- ed by Dr. Priscilla Romkema, given by the U.S. SBA through such funding ence will be held at The Lodge at dean, BHSU College of Business does not constitute an expressed or imDeadwood from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Natural Sciences. Panelists plied endorsement of any of the compoare Michelle Kane, owner, Black nents or participants’ opinions, products or services. SD CEO operates under CooperaThe featured speaker this year Hills PR and Jackie Nettleton, tive Agreement SBAHQ-14-W-0018. Reawill be JJ DiGeronimo, president owner, Mountain Movers Consonable accommodations for persons with of Purposeful Woman and Tech struction, Inc. disabilities will be made if requested at Savvy Women, organizations that least two weeks in advance. All SBA proconnect, empower, and cele“Hosting this opportunity to grams and services are provided to the brate women. DiGeronimo is an bring incredibly dynamic women public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Accommodation will be provided to clients award-winning author, featured together is our signature event with Limited English Proficiency when columnist for Smart Business each year,” says Helen Merrirequested in advance. Magazine, has been a regular man, director, SD CEO, “We are
BH Corp awarded 2015 SecDef Employer Support Freedom Award Employer Earns Nation’s Highest Honor for Supporting Guard & Reserve Employees WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve awarded Black Hills Corporation of Rapid City with the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a
ceremony at the Pentagon, Aug. 21.
or given to employers for exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve employees.
Black Hills Corp. was one of 15 employers from across the naDeputy Defense Secretary Robtion that received the prestigious ert Work lauded the recipients award, the nation’s highest hon- for their support, saying their
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Page 7 sacrifices helped make the military contributions by members of the National Guard and Reserve possible.
“Anytime I am doing something their tuition assistance up to with the Guard, my supervisors $5,250 per year and the comare always supportive,” he said. puter loan program. “They sent care packages and · Maintaining regular communiwere always checking up on my cation with deployed Soldiers “These extraordinary contribuwife, who was pregnant with our through emails, cards and care tions that [Guardsmen and Refifth child, while I was gone.” packages. servists] have provided could not The Black Hills Corporation · Recognizing military employees have been made without the ex- earned the award for a number for their service and providing traordinary support from the of reasons, including: support to other military instalgroup of civilians and citizens, lations, veterans and military business leaders and employers, Providing outstanding support to support organizations. who have really allowed them to its military employees and their not be worried “Basically, my famiabout coming back ly knows that Black to a job,” said Hills Corporation is Work. on stand-by if anything goes wrong,” Black Hills Corp. said Virtue. was nominated for the award by Corey “They are our secVirtue, an employond family. They ee and Soldier in make it easy to do the South Dakota what I love on the Army National civilian side, by not Guard’s 235th Militaking away from tary Police Compamy military career.” ny. Emery thanked all Black Hills employ“Black Hills Corporation is honfamilies during military leave. ees for their dedication. ored to receive a 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support · Making a yearlong commit“This award reflects not only on Freedom Award,” said David Emment to a service member’s our company's culture, but also ery, the chairman, president and family to provide meals or gift on our employees' commitment chief executive officer of Black cards to local restaurants every to service, whether to our counHills Corp. “The members of the Monday during his deploytry as a member of the military, National Guard and Reserve sacment. The company also or to the energy customers and rifice much while serving and helped the service member’s communities we serve," said Emdefending our country. As an em- family with yard work, childery. ployer, accommodating their mil- care and snow removal. itary service is simply the right · Providing computers to the The 2015 Freedom Award recipithing to do.” National Guard unit to set up ents were selected from 2,960 an Internet café to enhance nominations received from Virtue, who deployed to Afghanicommunication with service Guardsmen and Reservists for stan for nearly a year in 2013, members’ families. going far beyond what the federsaid the company’s concern was · Allowing deployed service al law requires to support their always evident. members to continue to use military employees.
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
Details Inside Last Chance
Thank you to our 2015 Platinum & Premium Sponsors. Your support is essential to our work in the Sturgis Community.