MONTHLY NEWSLETTER    ...    September 2016 Edition
119 W. Washington Street
     Post Office Box 133

     Monticello, Georgia 31064


     Phone: 706-468-8994

                                                           www.jaspercountycoc.com

               We Facebook! 

Market on the Square!   Every Saturday - May through September
Market on the Square has been a huge success...! We had over 65 vendors register with us this season. Please join us through September.  There are still plenty of seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh eggs, baked goods, and canned goods available!  
Not to mention plants and handmade crafts.  

Now appearing:  eggplant, yellow squash, patty pan squash, tomatoes, okra, sweet potatoes, fresh eggs, fresh pies, fried pies, and more.

Saturday's in September: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th     8am until Noon 

First Friday Breakfast
Please note:  there will be no First Friday Breakfast in September
The next breakfast is scheduled for  December 2, 2016

Join Us...!  Welcome a new business to our community - September 1st
The Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the opening of the Monticello Personal Care Home. Pam Mayer, President, Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce and David Dyer, Development Authority of Jasper County, met with operations manager Julie West, Ms. Hui Bi, investor, and facility owners Dr. Peter Lee and George West. The Monticello Personal Care Home located at 825 Eatonton Street is now open and accepting residents in their 24 bed facility.  Mrs. West told the group that they recently hired 15 employees and they are all from the local community.   

Join Us...!       Third Thursday Coffee Call ... September 15th
 

Mercer Medical Students Visit Monticello
First year students at Mercer Medical School in Macon visited Jasper County Tuesday, August 16th to learn a little about small town living and especially small-town medical care. The students visited Jasper Memorial Hospital where they met Dr. Nicole Ross and others, and had a brief tour of the community. They had lunch in the Visitors' Center, hosted by the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, and they were welcomed by many local community leaders who introduced themselves to the students and told them a little about the benefits of small-town living and working. Dr. Ross talked to the students about having balance in their lives. She said she previously was a partner in a hospitalist firm and found herself leaving home at 6 a.m., and sometimes not returning until 11 p.m. She said she never saw her three children. Now she has a little more relaxed work schedule, and said she has experienced real love, care and concern at Jasper Memorial. She told the students there were financial perks to serving a rural, underserved community, and talked about her involved relationship with patients.
 
Several speakers spoke of community and the feeling of home. Some spoke of the impact the doctors could have in a rural setting as well as the community's impact on them. Afterwards the students and community members gathered for a photo. Those present included students Sarah Byrd, Monique Singhal, Hannah Batten, Larry Nichols, Julia Chang, Vivian Vu, Sophia Rashid, Arshiya Mujaway, Michael Land, and with them Dr. Larry Nichols and Lisa Killingsworth. Community members included Dr. Ross, Tamala Alexander, Dana and David Leach, Walker Jordan, Christy McMillan, Diane and Skip Davis, Katie Cannon, Pam Mayer, David Dyer, Laura Hammonds, Russell Watts, Commissioners Carl Pennamon and Gene Trammell, Sheriff Donnie Pope, Kelly Raney and Kim McMichael.   
Article from:  The Monticello News

A Message About Parking
Did you know the parking space in front of your store is worth $50.00 a day to you?  It is a proven fact. (In larger cities, the spaces are worth $100.00 per day)   Do you park in front of your own store? If the answer is yes, then you are taking a parking opportunity away from a potential customer thereby losing valuable daily sales. 

If you are not willing to park behind your store, on the inside of the downtown Square, or on a side street and walk to your own store, then why would you expect your customers to?

Parking studies in small communities have shown that your customer wants convenient parking - yes, in front of your store.   They simply prefer not to walk any distance and will drive on by and not shop with you.  So please be considerate of your customers and don't park in front of your storefront or your neighbor's storefront.

Upcoming Community Events

Monday - October 31, 2016
4:30pm - 6pm
November 26, 2016

 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBER - HAPPENINGS

Jasper County Community Food Bank     .....     August 2016 Updates and Happenings
A Call For Volunteers:    Client Services in Warehouse - 1st  two Tuesdays and Thursdays of each month.  Or just Tuesdays  or just Thursdays.  8:45 am - 1:00 pm  No special skills necessary except must be mobile  enough to fill clients' food boxes and stack shelves.    Drivers with vehicle -once a quarter (4 times a year) to tow our trailer for food pick ups.  Routes to Macon, Peachtree City or occasionally elsewhere.   Monthly (or more) Sponsors- Cost is $150.00 for food purchase in McDonough. ($600.00 + value)  
 
The Fisherman's Harvest:   The Chamber continues to be an easy drop-off point for fresh vegetables, eggs & canned  donations, Monday through Saturday.  As the summer peaks, we continue to ask that our local gardeners and farmers remember the food bank with any excess produce.  

Thank You, Thank You and Thank You Again:   Monticello Presbyterian Church  - for putting meat on the tables of many of our clients with a giving program called: "Meating the Needs of the Community."  Thank you MPC, Outreach Committee,  and Betty Jean Jordan , chair, for overseeing this wonderful ministry.   Snap'n Turtle  and Jackie Pate - for donating 10% for a Food Bank Sale Day.   Harvest Baptist - for giving this food bank 2 1/2 pallets of watermelon.  Thank you Gayle Gray for bringing us together.  Lakey Memorial - for sponsoring our wonderful August food pick-up in McDonough.   Church at Monticello Youth - for dedicating a window to collect healthy food donations during Aug. and Sept., and for additional collection points at Monticello Drugs, Chamber of Commerce, and The Monticello News.   American Legion Post 110 - for joining with the JCCFB  for The Back to School rally.  In addition to school supplies  for the students, we handed out Food Bank information to parents.   Dairy Queen of Monticello - for their monthly donation of multiple cases of hamburgers & hot dogs  
 
Food Donation Recommendations for the Coming Months:   Our volunteers recommended the following list:    August:  Canned Tuna and Mayonnaise,   September: Cold Cereal,   October: Potted Meats & Crackers    (such as potted ham, Vienna sausage etc.)   
 
Food Bank is open  Tuesday & Thursday 9:00-1:00
2171 Post Road - Monticello, GA   31064                                                                                                      
Phone:  706-468-6061      Emergency:   770-468-3301                                                                        
 
Ambassador Program
Become a volunteer today!  
The Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce has two main areas of focus: business and tourism.  With such a diverse range of impact, there is a place for everyone to get involved!  
How can you serve your community?
 
GREETER:   Meet and greet visitors / tourists, give  directions & general local information, answer phone calls.  
HOSPITALITY:   Prepare foods for special events.  Example:  breakfast or lunch items, desserts, gift baskets, etc.    
FARMER'S MARKET:   Help on Saturday's during the market.  Assist vendors load & unload items, help with special events.
GOLF TOURNAMENT:   Attend planning meetings, approach potential sponsors & players, set-up & take down on day of tournament.  
DEER FESTIVAL:   Serve on committee (Deer Dash, pageant, parade, entertainment), be a quadrant supervisor, etc.  
OTHER COMMITTEES:   Help with different projects, events, and committees throughout the year.  Example:  Membership Drive, Leadership Jasper, Shop Small Saturday, Town Hall Meetings, Forums, and more.