Chamber "At Work" News Brief 
 
 ANNUAL CHAIRMAN'S AWARDS BANQUET
NOMINATIONS FORMS 2015 AWARDS

Click Here for the Nomination Forms

Each year the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce celebrates the extraordinary things local community members, businesses, and organizations have done in Dyersburg and Dyer County . We have a new award to celebrate this year to recognize outstanding non-profit organizations in Dyer County!   We received a record breaking number of nominations in each category last year and we hope that this year's response will be even better!

This  year's Annual Chairman's Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016, where we will present the following awards:   

2015 Distinguished Man of the Year -  The nominees will be judged on motivation, civic leadership, business leadership, community involvement, community enrichment, respect by peers, and dedication to area growth and development. 

2015 Distinguished Woman of the Year -   Nominees will be judged on motivation, civic leadership, business leadership, community involvement, community enrichment, respect by peers, and dedication to area growth and development.

2015 Business of the Year -   A nominated business should exhibit excellence in qualities such as financial soundness and profitability, business growth, employee relations; innovations in product or service, customer satisfaction, civic and business leadership, and involvement of owners and employees in the community.

2015 Non-profit Organization of the Year -  A nominated organization should be a 501(c)3 that is established and exhibits exceptional achievements in building the community and enhancing the quality of life in Dyer County.

2015 Emerging Leader Award  - An emerging leader displays the qualities of leadership including vision, dedication, magnanimity, humility, openness, creativity, fairness, and commitment to excellence.

2015 Diplomat of the Year   - The Diplomat of the Year is a volunteer that actively participates in the programs of the Chamber and relates these programs and projects to members of the business community while attending and working at various Chamber functions and events. 

Nomination forms are attached and must be returned to the Chamber office no later than  January 5, 2015.   If you have any questions, please contact Membership Director, Hannah Caylor, at  hcaylor@dyerchamber.com .


Recent News and Events
Holiday After Hours

On Thursday, December 17th the Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Holiday After Hours event. An evening for Chamber members to network with other Chamber members while enjoying great food and drinks, winning door prizes and snapping photos at the photo booth.   At this year's Holiday After Hours there we about 70 door prizes given out that had been donated by businesses and organizations in the community. Along with the door prizes, there were three caterers in attendance this year. Lupo's Catering, French's Catering, and Blackberry Hill Catering all came out and showcased some of their finest horderves. Also, as usual, Richie Williams from Southern Snaps Photography was there taking holiday photos with fun themed props. Last but not least, Santa stopped by on his sleigh to help deliver door prizes and hop in a few photos throughout the evening. Photos from the photo booth are located on the Chamber Facebook page, Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce.

Dyer County Adult Leadership

Dyer County Adult Leadership recently toured several local industries for Industry Day.  The leaders get an up-close and personal look at a sampling of what is produced locally and how our existing industries play such an important role in the economy of Dyer County.  Of the many successful existing industries located in Dyer County, the class had the opportunity to tour SRG Global, Caterpillar, Dot Foods and Omni-Tech.  At each of these facility tours the leaders are shown everything from start to finish.  
Upcoming Chamber Events
    



Wednesday, December 30, 2015
5:00 p.m.
The Bus Stop Dyersburg

Thursday, January 14, 2016
12:00 p.m.
DSCC E. H. Lannom, Jr. Gymnasium

Monthly 12@12 Luncheon
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
12:00 p.m.
The Lannom Center

Saturday, January 30, 2016
Chairman's Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
The Lannom Center


For more information about these Chamber events or any upcoming community events please click the "Learn More" button or visit our website,
www.dyerchamber.com.

Don't forget to add your next event to the Events Calendar!
Member News

JIMMY JOHN'S Open Interviews MONDAY DECEMBER 28th - THURSDAY DECEMBER 31st from 9AM - 4PM

Hungry? The wait is almost over! Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will be opening in Dyersburg very soon. In the mean time we are looking for some job hungry souls to be a part of our "Rockstar" team! If you know any friends or family looking for full time, part time, some time employment, let them know. We are conducting open interviews MONDAY DECEMBER 28th - THURSDAY DECEMBER 31st from 9AM - 4PM. Jimmy John's is located across the street from Lowe's in Olympic Plaza. All applicants have to do is show up.

We are hiring for all positions (Managers/Delivery/Inshop). Please come as you are! We're impressed more by an outgoing attitude than attire. If you just can't make one of these day's please feel free to email your contact info to jjsdyersburg@gmail.com or call Will at 816-699-2843. 



Make the Most of your Health Insurance

2016 is fast-approaching: scheduling necessary appointments, tests and surgeries now can maximize your health plan benefits

During the fall and winter months it's easy to get caught up in holiday planning and forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Every October, individuals should direct their attention to outstanding healthcare needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts.

"In considering their healthcare needs, people should also consider the best strategy for using their available health insurance plan benefits," said Edward McWhirt, M.D., general surgeon with Tennova Surgery-Dyersburg. "Now is the time to take advantage of unused benefits to complete outstanding treatments or recommended tests or procedures."

Most health insurance plans have a deductible requirement-a predetermined amount of healthcare expense that must be covered before the plan begins paying the majority of (if not all) remaining expenses. Dr. McWhirt says it's crucial to know how close you are to meeting your deductible-or if you've already met it "because once you reach that threshold, you have a limited window of opportunity to obtain healthcare services and have the bulk of that expense covered by your plan. Remember: a new year brings a new deductible," he says.

The close of 2015 also affects individuals who have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)-which are pre-tax dollars set aside primarily for health-related expenses. The Internal Revenue Service requires those funds to be spent-or forfeited-by December 31. It's a "use it or lose it" proposition, says Dr. McWhirt.

If you have been putting off scheduling care, such as an annual check-up, allergy testing, or knee-replacement surgery, it would be wise to check your deductible status and your FSA balance to see if there's money to be saved, encourages Dr. McWhirt.

"It's important to schedule services promptly so that there is enough time to have the test or elective procedure done before the end of the year. Getting everything squared-away by early December will help ensure the services you receive are considered part of your 2015 coverage," he says.

Every health plan is different. It is important to know how your plan works so you can get the most from your benefits.

About Tennova Healthcare
One of the state's largest health networks, Tennova Healthcare includes 12 hospitals and more than 80 physician clinics. The combined network has approximately 1,800 licensed beds, 1,700 physicians on the combined active medical staffs, and 6,800 employees, with more than 51,000 admissions and 300,000 emergency department visits each year. Regional Jackson is owned, in part, by physicians. Learn more at www.Tennova.com.





 
 
PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR A CHILDREN'S NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY AT DISCOVERY PARK

Most children ages 12 and under don't get to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve to celebrate with the grownups, so Discovery Park of America has planned a special celebration, just for them! It will all start around 12 hours early, at 11 a.m. in the ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall in Discovery Center on Thursday, December 31st. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to stop by and enjoy hip-hop New Year's music with a designated dance area, art-and-craft booths, a photo-booth and a special food-booth where they can decorate their own cupcake. Special Events Director Lauren Jones said that the party will be from 11:00 a.m. until around 12:15, with a special balloon drop at noon. "There is no additional charge to bring children to the New Year's Eve Party at Noon," according to Jones. It is free with park admission," she added. 
 
The world-wide custom of celebrating New Year's Eve generally involves evening parties, fireworks and festivities for adults. But, many people like to make sure that children get to enjoy the celebration, evidence suggests, as New Year's Eve is one of the busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World, according to Wikipedia. The idea to have a special celebration for children at Discovery Park sparked when the park decided to have a New Year's Eve Gala for adults the evening of December 31st. "Since we are a park dedicated to education, we certainly don't want to leave the children out when the occasion is a bit more fun and festive," Jones said. "We decided to have a New Year's Eve party around noon to thank all of our young students and guests for their support throughout the year." All children who attend the party must be accompanied by an adult. "This time of day is just more appropriate for our younger guests," Jones added.

Later that evening, Discovery Park will celebrate New Year's with a Gala. The band, MAGI, will play to a sold-out crowd from 8:00 until 1:00 p.m. "We had 200 tickets available for our New Year's Eve Gala in Dinosaur Hall," Jones said. These tickets were completely sold-out with advance notification going out to sponsors, partners and members. "Thunderbolt Broadcasting is sponsoring the New Year's Eve gala this year, and they ran a few commercials to complete the ticket sales," Jones said.

New Year's Eve also marks the final evening of the "Let it Glow Light Show," the Christmas light drive-through that has been a huge success for Discovery Park this year. According to CEO Jim Rippy as of December 20th, over 4,800 cars had already driven through the Christmas lights. The cost is $5.00 per car, $10 per 15-passenger van or $1.00 per person for a large bus. The Christmas light show is a fund-raiser for the park, which is not-for-profit. According to Jones, this type of activity appeals to the community, and helps raise money to offset the cost of running the park.

Discovery Park is located at 830 Everett Blvd. in Union City, TN. You can now see the 2016 Calendar of Events, including upcoming educational and entertaining events, by visiting the website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.com. The park is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is a unique blend of history, science, architecture, art and fun.


 
LOCAL STUDENTS RAISE OVER TO 15,500 CANNED GOOD ITEMS

9th Annual Reason for the Season Food Drive benefits Local Organizations  Dyersburg and Dyer County students collected canned goods in November and December for the 9th Annual Reason for the Season Food Drive to benefit local organizations: Salvation Army, New Life Union Mission, Matthew 25:40, and the Reverend George Butter Memorial Food Pantry in Newbern.

This past Friday, Burks Beverage/Pepsi & Burks Broadcasting staff members picked up items that were collected from nine Dyersburg & Dyer County Schools and delivered them to the Salvation Army, Matthew 25:40, New Life Union Mission, and the Reverend George Butter Memorial Food Pantry in Newbern.

2015 Participating schools included: Dyersburg Middle, Dyersburg Primary, Dyersburg Intermediate, Fifth Consolidated, Three Oaks Middle, Finley Elementary, Newbern Grammar, Northview Middle, & Trimble Elementary.

The Top School will receive an Ice Cream Social from The Java Café/Green Frog Coffee Company. The Top School for the 9th Annual Reason for the Season Food Drive is FINLEY ELEMENTARY. Their 319 students collected almost 3,000 canned goods. Dyersburg Middle School students brought in almost 4,000 canned good items. The Top School is selected using the numbers of enrolled students and the total number of items collected for fairness purposed between all of nine participating schools.

The Top Class from each school will receive a Lupo's Pizza and Burks Beverage Pepsi Party before school gets out for Christmas break. The 2015 Top Classes are as follows:
* Abbey Rigg's Kindergarten class at Dyersburg Primary,
* Joy Vick's 4th Grade class at Dyersburg Intermediate,
* Mary Sue French's 1st Grade class at Fifth Consolidated,
* Andrea Gibson's class at Three Oaks Middle,
* Megan Hummer's Kindergarten class at Finley Elementary,
* Kelli Kail 6th Grade class at Northview Middle,
* Kathy McLean's 5th Grade class at Trimble Elementary,
* Dyersburg Middle Schools' Team 8A Teachers: MariKate Estes, Marco Jones, Rose Lummus, and Jennifer Wylie

A huge thank you to all those who helped make the 9th Annual Reason for the Season Food Drive a success, once again! This project takes much effort on many peoples' part----The participating schools, teachers, parents, and students work so hard to give back to others during this holiday season. Their efforts and commitment to the 9th Annual Reason for the Season Food Drive are greatly appreciated!

9th Annual Reason for the Season Project Coordinator, Natalie Burks Patterson, said: "Our local organizations have come to depend heavily upon this annual endeavor: many of our own local citizens & their families will not go without food now or in the coming months because of the items that were collected with this project. I couldn't be more proud of what our kids are capable of doing with this give-back effort."



 
Tennova Healthcare-Dyersburg Regional receives a national award for our commitment to providing our community with quality, safe care.

On November 17, The Joint Commission, the leading accrediting agency for healthcare organizations, announced that Tennova Healthcare-Dyersburg Regional has been named to the 2014 list of Top Performers on Key Quality Measures®. We are one of 1,043 - or approximately one-third - of eligible hospitals in the nation to receive the designation. Specifically, we were recognized for achievement in heart attack, pneumonia, surgical care and immunization.

This is fifth year our hospital has been recognized as a Top Performer. Previously, we were recognized in 2013 for heart attack, pneumonia, surgical care and immunization. We are especially proud to be awarded again by the Joint Commission for our performance.

This recognizes the work by our physicians, employees and other caregivers to use evidence-based processes designed to improve patient outcomes. Our commitment to quality was also recognized with chest pain accreditation through the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.

Our hospital is growing in service to the community through the Tennova branding of our facilities. With more than 600 physicians and employees, we are one of the area's larger employers. In addition to paying almost $1.5 million in state and local taxes that support civic resources, we annually provide almost $42.8 million in uncompensated medically necessary emergency care for those who are unable to pay.




 
 
Local Workforce Development Area 12/TN Career Centers are accepting applications for the 2016 Incumbent Worker Training Grant cycle.  

To be eligible for awards up to $25,000, Tennessee businesses should meet these qualifications:
» Tennessee for-profit and (not-for-profit health care related only) businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of one year
» Employ at least 5 full-time employees
» Current on all tax obligations
» Financially viable

The purpose of the Incumbent Worker Training program is to support training that results in either skill attainment for employees or process improvement that contributes to the competitiveness and productivity of the business. 

For details on the grant and an application packet please visit:
Applications must be submitted to the Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board
313 West Cedar Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024 no later than 4:00 PM on February 1. 
Funds are limited and will be awarded competitively.  


 

 

 

 

 


 
Announcements

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!!

WessCare
7679 Hwy 51 North
Halls, TN
(731) 836-1111
Website:  www.wesscare.com
Facebook: WessCare

Bus Stop Dyersburg
304 W Courty Street
Dyersburg, TN
(731) 334-5205
Facebook: Bus Stop Dyersburg

Paychex
3150 Lenox Park Blvd, Suite 105
Memphis, TN
Dyersburg Rep. - Robin Kiser
(662) 812-8985
Website: www.paychex.com
Facebook: Paychex

 

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Staffmark
Ashley, Ashley & Arnold Attorneys
Don Medlin Company
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation
Bus Stop
Eric Maupin
Peter Hinkel
Eison Insurance Agency
H & R Block
Dyersburg Tax Service
First Southern Real Estate
McClure Associates
Modern Woodmen of America
P.A.D.D.
Sports Orthopedics & Spine
TN Small Business Development Center