119 W. Washington Street
     Post Office Box 133

     Monticello, Georgia 31064

    
     Phone: 706-468-8994

   Email:  jasperchamber@bellsouth.net

           Website: www.jaspercountycoc.com 

                We Facebook!

 FEBRUARY 2018 NEWS

 NETWORKING EVENTS...


Network with us in February!

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH...
Piedmont Academy is our featured "Business of the Month".   Stop by the Visitors' Center and see their window display.
Discover Piedmont
OPEN HOUSE TOUR
February 5 and February 26

706-468-8818
Call today to schedule a tour!   

2018 GEORGIA TRAVEL GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE...
LOOK who's on the cover of the Georgia Travel Guide!   Jason Aldean...the 2017 American Country Music Entertainer of the Year.

Stop by the Visitors' Center for your FREE copy and see Jason's memorabilia exhibit.

Jason is well known in our community - was the featured performer many years at the Annual Deer Festival.   His parents who lived in Monticello over the years recently moved to Nashville.   His sister is a graduate of Piedmont Academy and his Aunt Kay Kindred ("Miss Kay") is owns Miss Kay's Daycare.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR and BUSINESS OF THE YEAR...
Janet Davis was named Citizen of the Year, and the Bank of Monticello, her employer for many years is Business of the Year. They were named at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner meeting Tuesday at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center.

"Miss Janet" as she is known to most everyone is th epitome of a true southern lady, said one of the nominees. 

"She is kind, gentle, soft spoken, friendly, helpful, generous, thoughtful, caring, hard working, and always has a positive attitude with a smile for everyone. I have never heard her say an unkind word about anyone.

"She loves her community and has shown it through the years by supporting the many activities and events here. I have known Miss Janet all my life and worked alongside her at the Bank of Monticello. She is definitely revered by anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing her or serving with her in one of her numerous areas of involvement.    Read more here...

"On March 22, 1892, a citizens meeting was held at the Jasper County Courthouse in Monticello, Georgia to issue stock at $100 per share, to establish Bank of Monticello. The only bank in the county, the Bank of Monticello became a State Depository in 1894. In 1892, J.H. Kelly was elected Vice-President and Director. His great-grandson, Don B. Kelly, is the current Chairman of the Board, and his great-great grandson, Bruce Kelly, currently serves on the Board of Directors. 

"The Bank of Monticello changed its name in 1909 to First National Bank of Monticello and was established with $50,000 capital. Bank of Monticello liquidated and sold its property, building, furniture and fixtures to First National Bank of Monticello for $3,435.50.

"J.H. Kelly, M.S. Benton and Taney 0. Benton were among the directors elected to the First National Bank board. In addition, E. Clyde Kelly, son of J. H. Kelly and Dan Gunn, grandfather of current board member W. Dan Roberts, also served as directors.

"In 1910, the bank purchased the "stone" building at the southeast corner of the square for $5,750. J. N. Walker was elected to the board in 1945. His grandson, Steven Walker Jordan, is the past president of the Bank and his great-grandson, Walker Jordan, is now the president of the Bank of Monticello.    Read More Here...  

ANNUAL MEETING GUEST SPEAKER....
 G uest speaker for the Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting was Beth Eavenson, Region 5 Representative with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
In 2017, Monticello and Jasper County were chosen as a pilot community for a new DCA initiative. The DCA Community Design team came to our community to explore the range of technical expertise that they have to offer. For this pilot program, DCA asked communities to apply and identify an opportunity where DCA's resources could help the community move in its chosen direction.

Mrs. Eavenson gave a presentation on the findings from the community assistance team's visit to Monticello and Jasper County this past summer. During the evening the annual meeting attendees had the opportunity to participate by leaving comments on a "planning for our future card" offering goals, visions, ideas, thoughts and suggestions. 

"We are proud of the partnership we have with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and appreciate Beth for speaking at our annual meeting," said President Pam Maye

TOURISM DAY AT THE CAPITOL...

Pam and Katie attended Tourism Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, January 23rd.  

Gov. Nathan Deal today was joined by professionals from Georgia's tourism industry for the annual Tourism, Hospitality & Arts Day at the Capitol to recognize the $60.8 billion impact of tourism on Georgia's economy. Industry representatives presented Deal with a check representing the $3.1 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expenditures.    "With a record economic impact of $60.8 billion, Georgia's tourism industry is a powerful economic development tool for local communities and our state as a whole," said Deal. "This impact goes well beyond direct spending by visitors, as the industry provides job opportunities for more than 450,200 Georgians, accounting for approximately 10.6 percent of the state's non-farm workforce. As this industry continues to grow, this success reflects our state's status as a world-class tourism destination and once again affirms that Georgia is on the minds of travelers around the globe."  

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NEWS...
Adam McGinnis receiving $200.00 Facade Grant check  f or renovations to  114 Frobel Street  (corner of Frobel and Greene Street)

Invest in Downtown!

Shop Downtown!

Support Downtown!
Wendall Yoder and Miriam Yoder
receiving $200.00 Facade Grant check for painting the Yoder Door Company located on Forsyth Street.

The Downtown Development Authority
Towonder Dennis, Martha King (photographed)
Wanda Cummings, Judy Hunsucker, Diana Moreno,  Larry Thurman, and Russ Watts

2018 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE...
Membership matters!   It is important to be a part of the team that markets and promotes the businesses, industry, and entire community.

Did you know the Chamber manages the Visitors' Center, Monticello Market on the Square, Monticello Main Street and Downtown Development Authority?

Did you know the Chamber serves as the information resource for the community? 
We also organize and promote job fairs, ribbon cuttings, quarterly breakfast, candidate forums, community events, we represent the community locally and state-wide and more!

The annual membership drive began December 15th and ends March 15th. 
Would you like to know more about the services we provide? 
Contact us today... Join today!

Upcoming COMMUNITY EVENTS...
Hard to believe it's been 10 years . . . so get ready for throwbacks from every year!   SIGN YOUR TEAM UP NOW!
 
  WHAT:      TRIVIA NIGHT 
                   (Free popcorn! Name that Tune! Pizza!)
  WHERE:   Jasper County High School Commons
  WHEN:     Thursday February 1  ... 6-8pm
  WHO:       Teams up to 5 members 
                 (businesses, churches, schools, civic groups, families, friends, etc)
  WHY:       To enjoy a rousing night of fun trivia and community competition 
                  AND to support the JCHS Academic Teams  


THOMAS PERSONS HALL...WINTER PROGRAM
319 College Street - Monticello, GA
Thursday - February 15, 2018 - 7pm-8pm
Larry Smith, local historian and speaker will address the question of  "The Rock Wall", a legendary county mystery that has perplexed
locals for decades. This winter program begins the historical presentations by JCHF to promote the knowledge of Jasper County's interesting past. 
The program is free and will be held in the large meeting room.

2018 CORNERSTONE MEMBERS...(to date)

   

      
    



MEETING DATES...
Monticello City Council Meeting
Monticello Government Complex - Council Room (Visitors' Center)
2nd Tuesday of each month  -  7 o'clock p.m.

Jasper County Commission Meeting
Jasper County Courthouse - Ground Floor/Basement Floor
1st Monday of each month -  6 o'clock p.m.

Development Authority of Jasper County
 www.dajc.com
Monticello Government Complex - Third Floor (enter Visitors' Center)
1st Tuesday of each month -  12:30 p.m.

Monticello Downtown Development Authority
Monticello Government Complex
2nd Monday of each month - 6:30 p.m.

Monticello Jasper County Chamber of Commerce
Monticello Government Complex - Council Room
2nd Thursday of each month -
12:30 p.m.
 
2018 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Staff
Tamala Alexander, Rob Andrews, Mike Benton, Leah Campbell, Robert Cumbie,
Towonder Dennis, Susan Denney, Russell Hicks, Jeff Greeson, 
Tom Joye,  Tracey Nelson, Dr. Mike Newton,  LaThaydra Sands, and Linda Simmons,
Mandi Tanner, Renae Watts

Pam Mayer, President and Katie Cannon, Tourism  & Events Manager

COMMUNITY CALENDAR and EVENT NEWSLETTER...
There are so many activities and events in our community - we are trying to keep our community calendar up to date AND send out a monthly newsletter with these updates.  If you have an event or item of interest that you would like promoted, please email your flyer or information to jasperchamber@bellsouth.net.