148 E. Ash Street, Mason, MI 48854

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

masonchamber@masonchamber.org

www.masonchamber.org

ARCHIVE: AUGUST M-I-M UPDATE

Mason’s 33^rd Down Home Days -- This weekend’s Down Home Days has many local events. The revised and complete (as we know about them) rundown of events for Down Home Days is at http://www.masonchamber.org/DownHomeDays2.htm Upcoming need for volunteers is for Down Home Days at the Courthouse MACC Booth on Saturday from 12 noon to 2:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5 PM (includes takedown) and a late afternoon Corvette shift. Remember we need two people at the booth, if possible, and one for the Corvette! LCC students will be helping us do a couple of surveys and "sell" our stock of T-shirts, caps, etc. at DHD at a booth next to ours. Our thanks go to all the committee members who helped us on DHD this year and to members Physiotherapy Associates and Mason Antiques District for giving us the "Days" in Down Home Days by sponsoring events on Friday and Sunday.

MACC Distributes Second 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 two new members since the September "Mason In Motion" Newsletter was published. Ingham County Legal News and Ingham County Facilities have just joined.

Committee Meetings -- The Economic Development Committee will meet on Thursday, September 21^st at 8 AM and the Membership Services Committee will meet on that same Thursday morning right after them at 9:30 AM. The new Corvette Raffle Party Committee will then meet immediately after Membership Services at about 10 AM. The Hometown USA Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, September 26^th at 11 AM in the Chamber office. The December Mixer (Holiday Party) Committee had their first meeting on Thursday, September 14^th. They will meet again on Thursday, September 28^th at Independent Bank on Kipp Road at 7:30 AM. The Holiday Celebration (Tree Lighting, Parade, etc.) Committee meeting is currently scheduled to have their first meeting at 6 PM on Thursday, October 5^th in the Chamber office.

We Need Your Help on Committees -- There are those in your company or organization who should be more involved. We have an immediate need for leadership on the Corvette Raffle Party and the Holiday Celebration (Christmas Tree Lighting, Parade, etc.). Details on our opportunities for volunteers and leaders are at http://www.masonchamber.org/committees.htm. Who else can help us?

Healthy Business Forum -- On Tuesday, September 26, 2006 from 11:30 AM to about 3:30 PM at the Eagle Eye Golf Course the Lansing Regional Chamber will host a special forum on health care. Rates are $35 for Chamber members (just tell them you are a MACC member) and $45 for non-members and include lunch. Learn the secrets to a healthier business and how to encourage your employees to make healthier lifestyle decisions. This event will feature a keynote address from President and CEO of Weyco, Howard Weyers, as well as an introduction to Blue Cross/Blue Shield's new cost-effective health plan, "Healthy Blue Living." The program will also feature an interactive Creative Wellness workshop with Dr. Victor Kumar, complimentary health screenings, and creative workplace solutions from Deb Sprague and Lori Brochu of the American Cancer Society. To register for this event, contact Michelle Fink at mfink@lansingchamber.org or go to http://lansingchamber.org/networking_events/event_list.php?id=37 for more details.

Thursday Night Live 9/28/06 -- The west Courthouse lawn will once again be alive with the sound of music on the last Thursday evening of September. Our last 2006 "Thursday Night Live!" on the Courthouse Square will feature the Mason High School Band and Cheer Squad on September 28 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM with a "harvest social" provided by the Mason First United Methodist Church. No rain date or location for this concert. We need a sponsor ($300) for this concert. The ad hoc TNL committee is looking to expand concerts and corresponding sponsorships in 2007 to eight from the current five.

Corvette Raffle Party on October 21^st -- Please stop by the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce office and pick a pack of Corvette Raffle tickets to sell. Selling a few tickets will go a long way toward making this year’s raffle a success. Proceeds partially fund our Thursday Night Live concerts, Fourth of July parade, Holiday parade and Christmas Tree Lighting, banners, flowerpots, community identity advertising, visitors’ center information, and other "Hometown U.S.A." projects. Our office is open from 9 to 3, Monday through Friday. We have complete information on the raffle in a booklet, a poster, and a button to wear – all to make it easier to sell tickets this year. Don’t forget to buy a ticket yourself and enjoy the big party on Saturday, October 21 at the Fairgrounds with a steak dinner, refreshments, and much more.

2007 Directory Opportunity – Time is running out to be included! In collaboration with the Lansing Regional Chamber, we will be publishing the second-annual regional business directory, a collection of all the chamber members in the Mason, Charlotte, Grand Ledge, Williamston, Eaton Rapids, and Clinton County communities along with the members of the Lansing Regional Chamber. As a member of our Chamber, you will automatically receive:

• An alphabetic listing of your business in a special section dedicated to the Mason Area Chamber.

• A categorical listing of your business in the all-inclusive members category section

• Your own personal edition of the 2007 Directory (A $50 value!)

• The opportunity to purchase additional advertising space in the Directory

Chamber members want to do business with other chamber members and consumers want to do business with companies that invest in their community. In addition to the free listings in all 3000 copies of the Directory you will automatically receive, there are other advertising opportunities available to you. The Directory provides several ways to promote your business or organization, through special Directory listings, Additional Category listings, Detailed Business Descriptions, B/W Category Display Ads, and Full-color, Glossy, Special Placement Ads. Reserve your space today! With options starting at just $20, we are sure that you won’t want to lose out on this unique advertising opportunity. Contact Martha Howley at the Lansing Regional Chamber at (517) 853-6466 or by e-mail at mhowley@lansingchamber.org.

Disney Magic Still Available -- The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, of which we are a member, is bringing the Disney Institute to Lansing. Learn proven Disney success strategies that you can adapt to your organization in "The Disney Keys to Excellence" and "Team Creativity, Disney Style."

These programs will challenge you to look at your business - whether it's small, mid-sized, or large - in an entirely new light. Attend with others from your organization and be prepared for a day full of insight, ideas, and inspiration!

LRCC is extending an invitation to all of our Mason Area Chamber members to register at the Lansing member price. This event will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2006, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Lansing Center. If you are interested in receiving more information on this, feel free to contact the Lansing Regional Chamber directly at 517-853-6451. Make sure to tell them that you are a member of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce.

Looking Ahead to 2007 and the 34^th Down Home Days -- We are proposing a change in structure for 2007’s Spring Fling and DHD shows to separate the arts & crafts booths (Artisan’s Row) from the manufactured/flea market booths (East Market) from the community group booths (Community Corner) into sections with sponsorship available for each section. The Mason Farmer’s Market is an additional section in DHD only.

Office and Other Reminders – Doug Klein, our Executive Director, plans to be out of the office on Thursday, September 28^th and Friday, September 29^th for some hospital tests. The Executive Committee meeting for October will be on Wednesday, October 4^th at 9:30 AM and the Board of Directors meeting for October will be on Friday, October 6^th at 7:30 AM.