August 15, 2006

MASON IN MOTION UPDATE

Mid-Month Supplement to the Monthly “Mason in Motion” Newsletter

Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

148 E. Ash Street, Mason, MI  48854

Phone 517-676-1046   -   Fax 517-676-8504

 masonchamber@masonchamber.org

www.masonchamber.org


MACC Launches E-mail Bulletin – This “Mason in Motion Update” bulletin is being sent to those who have e-mail addresses registered with the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce as Chamber members, associates of Chamber members, and Chamber stakeholders.  To be removed from this list, do NOT reply to this e-mail.  Instead, please send a new e-mail with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line to masonchamber@masonchamber.org


Welcome New Members -- Extend welcome to the following new Chamber members!  We have three new members since the August “Mason In Motion” Newsletter was published.  D’Haene Insurance Agency, Columbia Lakes Development, and GLHBA Foundation. 


Committee Meetings -- This week we'll have our very first Down Home Days Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 15th at 9:30 AM in the Chamber office.  The Economic Development Committee will meet on Thursday, August 17th at 8 AM and the Membership Services Committee will meet on that same Thursday right after them at 9:30 AM. The new Corvette Raffle Party Committee will then meet immediately after Membership Services.  The Hometown USA Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, August  22nd at 11 AM in the Chamber office.


Ribbon Cuttings & Open Houses -- New member Anne D'Haene had her ribbon cutting last Wednesday.  Thanks to the many who turned out!  While there, we found our that the new Baja Grille will be opening in early September in to the old Cayenne Grille spot.  Owner Ryan Carter was at Anne’s ribbon cutting near the end and picked up membership materials on Friday from our office.

-- Our Mason Area Chamber Ambassadors will have a joint ribbon cutting with the Lansing Regional Chamber Ambassadors at the Mason State Financial Center at 2200 Coolidge Road at Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing at 2 PM.  They'll have an open house from 2 to 5 PM.  Our own Tom Schroeder and Erin Boertman are working there now.

-- Mason Bowling Center, at 801 N. Cedar Street in Mason will hold an Open House for the Mason area business community on Thursday, August 24, 2007 from 4 to 6 PM.  Mason’s newest hot spot is right inside the Bowling Center: City Limits Sports Grill.   Don’t miss the MACC Ambassadors Ribbon Cutting at 4 PM sharp for the new City Limits!  Join us for great food, drinks, and bowling!


Sign Up for Committees -- Check the insert in your last newsletter for our committee signup sheet.  Make copies and distribute to those in your company or organization who should be more involved.  We have an immediate need for leadership on Down Home Days, Corvette Raffle Party, and the Holiday Celebration.  Details are at http://www.masonchamber.org/committees.htm on our opportunities for volunteers and leaders.  Who else can help us?


Mason Festival of Balloons -- This coming weekend’s Mason Festival of Balloons has information linked to our website.  Just scroll down to the end of the homepage at www.masonchamber.org and click on the balloon.


Mason Aviation Day – EAA Chapter 55’s Mason Aviation Day at the airport has invited us to have a visitor’s booth and the Corvette at their Sunday event August 20.  They’ll have a pancake breakfast and steak dinner.  See details at www.eaa55.org.  For our booth there, we have shifts still open: two at 9:30 AM to 12 noon and one at 2:30 to 5 PM.  Thanks to Tom Schroeder, Erin Boertman, and Jon Grocki who signed up already. 


Downtown Mason Merchants -- A meeting of downtown merchants arranged by the DDA was last Friday at Mike’s Firehouse Grill.  “Ideas to increase downtown shopping traffic” was the topic.  Many good ideas were shared.  The group decided to get behind the “Mason, Michigan – Hometown USA” slogan and is encouraging everyone to include it in their advertising.  The Chamber will provide assistance in that effort.  The group plans to meet again in a couple of weeks. 


Thursday Night Live 8/31/06 -- The west Courthouse lawn will once again be alive with the sound of music on the last Thursday evening of August.  The Sweet Adelines - West Michigan Chorus will entertain from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to downtown Mason for a wonderful free concert, courtesy of our sponsors.  The Mason First United Methodist Church will be holding an ice cream social then as well.  In case of rain, both parts of the event will be moved to that church, just east of Courthouse square. 

-- Letters about Thursday Night Live! concert sponsorship ($300 each) for August and September went to a few members early last week.  Please help us find sponsorship for our August and September concerts.  We’re tentatively planning eight concerts in 2007 (up from five the past two years), but will need sponsorships for each next year to make that happen.


Good Morning Mason 8/31/06 -- Don’t miss Good Morning, Mason! on Thursday, August 31st at the Community Building at the Ingham County Fairgrounds, 700 E. Ash Street, from 7:30-8:15 AM.  Admission is $3 and includes a continental breakfast catered by Darrell’s Market. Good Morning, Mason! is generously sponsored by Dart Bank and co-sponsored this month by the GLHBA Foundation.


The Wanger Home Project -- New member GLHBA Foundation asked us to send a pitch letter to joint members of the Chamber and GLHBA for assistance with their Wanger house project.  We did so late last week.  A radio station remote and groundbreaking with Rich Michaels will be at 7 AM on Wednesday the 16th at 3281 Lyon Road just southwest of Mason.  You are invited to attend. 


Office and Other Reminders -- Bonnie Root, our administrative assistant, will be on vacation August 28 through September 4.  The MACC office will be closed Labor Day 9/4/06.  The Executive Committee meeting for September will be on Wednesday the 6th at 9:30 AM and the Board of Directors meeting for September will be on Friday, September 8th at 7:30 AM.


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