GROG'S PUB & GRILL - 
Event Sponsor
& Event Host
FALL MEMBERS MIXER
Thursday, October 12, 5-7pm
Grog's Pub & Grill

WOW! What a summer. Feedback to us has been that this summer has been one of the busiest in recent memory. We certainly hope you found this a lucrative season leaving your business with a positive outlook for the future.We're also hearing that finding and keeping good seasonal employees has been more of a challenge than ever before.

Come on out to Grog's and mingle with your fellow Chamber members and get the low down on the peak season and what's in store for the shoulder seasons. We will have news and announcements and likely some special guests bringing news from their respective organizations.

FREE EVENT!

SLWDB ROUND TABLE CONSULTATION
Thursday, October 12, 3:30-4:30pm
Grog's Pub & Grill

How does workforce development affect you?
 
The Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board (SLWDB) wants to hear about your experiences with your workforce.

They want to know your needs and wants and how they can help. 

Join them  at an hour long consultation at Grog's on October 12 from 3:30-4:40pm where representatives will:
  • share with you who they are
  • what they do
  • learn from you as experts on issues and needs you are currently facing with your workforce
  • see local data on the workforce
  • be entered in a draw for a door prize
SOUTHWEST ONTARIO TOURISM PRESENTS
Unlocked & Inspired: 
Crafting new experiences for travellers
Ruthven Park National Historic Site, Cayuga
October 17-19, 2017
$350 without accommodation / 
$620 with accommodation

Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation (SWOTC), the regional tourism marketing organization for our area, is offering a 3-day training and development opportunity to all tourism operators who seek to provide the added experiential travel today's tourist seeks.

One of Canada's leading experiential tourism operators and facilitators - Celes Davar - will present the key ingredients you need to create new experiences for your guests.

Course includes a workbook and development templates, including a template to accurately price your experience.

Group size will be kept small, so register early to avoid disappointment. Registration includes 3 meals/day, breaks and participation in experiences.


CELEBRATE THE SEASON AWARDS DINNER
Thursday, November 16, 6-9pm
Hessenland Country Inn
Tickets $55

Don't miss the Grand Bend & Area Chamber of Commerce's event of the year!

Celebrate the Season Business Awards Night
is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize business savvy, creativity, customer service and the business contributions to our community along with the opportunity to thank and recognize outstanding volunteers and employees.

Event features a Guest Speaker, Silent Auction, Fun & Networking, Sumptuous Dinner and 
Award Presentations.

Hessenland Country Inn is hosting this year's event and the menu includes:

Soup

Chicken Stuffed with mushrooms, leeks and chorizon
Garlic smashed potatoes
Mixed vegetables

Chocolate Mousse
Coffee / Tea
Ticket cost of $55 per person includes all taxes and gratuities. Pay by cash, cheque, credit card or e-transfer.

AWARD NOMINATIONS WANTED!
Submit Your Nomination By October 31

Anyone in Lambton Shores or the surrounding communities of South Huron, Bluewater or North Middlesex may make a nomination.

Nominees for the two business awards (i.e. business of the year; entrepreneur of the year) can be either a:
  • Grand Bend & Area Chamber of Commerce Member or 
  • business located in Lambton Shores. 
Nominees for the two citizen awards (i.e. David Scatcherd Community Spirit Award; Phyllis Statchuk Customer Service Excellence Award) can be a volunteer or employee in the community.

MEMBERSHIP EARLY BIRD ENDS SEPTEMBER 30
Will you be the one to win your 2018 Membership for FREE?!

Time is running out to renew your membership during the Early Bird Contest period. 

Renew on or before September 30 and you business is entered into the contest to win your 2018 membership for free.

Only 10 days left.
 
PUBLIC TRANSIT STEERING COMMITTEE
Inaugural meeting September 26

Did you know local public transit can be substantially funded by the province's gas tax fund and that fund as $321-million?!

After months of advocacy work by this Chamber a Steering Committee has been formed of volunteers from all market areas and local municipalities and counties to work towards identifying community needs and wants and challenges and issues related to public transportation in this area. This Committee will lay the groundwork in preparation for a local public transportation feasibility study to be conducted in 2019.

Kudos the volunteers:  Bob Dietrich (Bob Dietrich Tax Service, Zurich),  Bob Montgomery (CKNX Blackburn News),  Cindy Maxfield (Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre),  Don Brooks (O'Tools, Forest),  Jim Southcott (Resident, Lambton Shores),  Justin Dias (Municipality of North Middlesex),  Kandis Tiemann (North Lambton Community Health Centre),  Karen Brown,  Karen Rickers (Municipality of Bluewater),  Lori Chouinard (Star Taxi),  Lorraine George (Kettle & Stony Point),  Lorri Kerrigan (County of Lambton),  Shauna Carr (SLWDB),  Susan Mills (Grand Bend & Area Chamber of Commerce),  Tabetha Burley (Streetcity Realty Inc.),  Tine Buechler (Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning;  South Huron Chamber).
GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISED $4,500

L-R: Austin Bressette, Jameson Pearson, Blair Bressette &
Kyle Lewis
The annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament - the Chamber's largest fundraiser - was held at Oakwood Resort on Wednesday, September 13 and  raised $4,500 towards the operating costs of the Welcome Centre. 
 
Taking top place were the - Fairway Ninjas Team - comprised of golfers Blair Bressette, Austin Bressette, Jameson Pierson and Kyle Lewis who collectively in this best ball format scored 58 (par 70 course).  


Thank you to all our sponsors: Baillie's Picture Framing, Bayshore Broadcasting /104.9 the Beach, Blue water Motel, Canadian Linen, Coleson Freight, Colonial Hotel / Gables, Ellison Travel & Tours,  Eric Campbell Ford, Godbolt Ciufo Financial, Grand Bend Motorplex, Grog's Pub & Grill, Hay Communications, Hay Mutual Insurance, Honkmobile, HSK Motors, Huron Motor Products / HMP, Hyundai of Goderich, Investors Group, Lakeshore Advance, MacDermid & Assoc./Cooperators  Insurance, MacPherson's Restaurant, McGee Motors, McKay & Riddell Real Estate Brokers, MicroAge Basics, Mike & Terri's No Frills, Oakwood Resort, Pest-Away, Pine Dale Motor Inn, RE/MAX Bluewater Realty, Rice Corporation, Rock Glen Family Resort , Rotary Club of Grand Bend, Sea Jewels, Sobeys, Southwest Marine Services, The Swag Guy, Track 21 Graphix.

Thank you to all our prize table donors:  Back'n Time Catering, Bad Apple Brewing Company, Baillie's Picture Framing, Bayview Golf Course, Bee 'n' Bee B&B, Bikiniland, Bittersweet, Blue Water Motel, Bluewater Cottage Rental, Bonnie Doone Manor-on-the-Beach, Canadian Tire (Forest), Donnelly Murphy Lawyers PC, Drayton Entertainment, F.I.N.E. A Restaurant, Forever Furniture, Gift of Art, Godbolt Ciufo Financial, Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend Parasail, Grand Bend Pharmasave, Green Bucks Dollar Discount Store, Green Haven Trailer Park, Growling Gator, Hayter's Turkey Farms, HMS Insurance, Home Hardware Grand Bend, Honkmobile, Indian Hills Golf Club, Jon Gaiser Insurance, Kazwear Swimwear, Lakeshore Advance, Lambton College Employment Services, Lambton Heritage Museum, MacDermid & Associates / Cooperators Insurance, McGee Motors, Micro Age Basics, Mike & Terri's No Frills, Mitchell & Pearce, Monte McNaughton, MPP, Oakwood Resort, Quality Tree Service, RBC Dominion / Nancy Starek Wealth Management, Re/Max Bluewater Realty, Rock Glen Family Resort, RPM Promotions, Schoolhouse Restaurant, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Southwest Marine Services, Straightline Collision, StreetCity Realty Inc / Tabetha Burley, The Garden Gate Gifts & Florals, The Pinewood Motel, Turkheim Printing, Turnbull Plumbing & Electrical, Vantage One Writing/Susan Regier, Westland Greenhouses.

A very special thank you to our volunteers for their time and commitment: Pat Billington, Doreen McHarg, Colin Mills, Joan Morris, CeCe Russell and Lori Walk.
CAN YOU HELP?
Need a Lateral 5-Drawer Filing Cabinet

Lateral 5-Drawer Filing Cabinet
We are looking to replace four vertical filing cabinets of various sizes (2-draw, 3-draw and two 4-draw) with a single lateral, 5-drawer filing cabinet. The one shown here costs $919.

It's dimensions are  42"W x 18.63"D x 67.63"H. 

If you've got one you don't need anymore, please consider donating to us.

We're Beggars, But We're Choosy
It may seem we're being picky and you might think anything will do - however we already have the "anything solution" and it's not working. We need a solution to a space challenge, not just more of the same.

Please email [email protected] to let us know if you would be able to donate some cash towards the purchase of cabinet OR you have one to donate.
NEWS FROM MEMBERS

From Ron Plaeshette of PRM Promotions: Be sure to attend the upcoming Promo Product Showcase!  Three locations - three dates.  September 19, 20 and 21.
  • See thousands of products, from apparel to electronics!
  • LOTS of new product ideas!
  • Speak with industry professionals for ideas and case studies!
If you attend, just bring a business card and tell them you were invited by RPM Promotions! 

F rom Susan Regier of Vantage One Writing:  Susan is one of the organizers of The Influence Event being held at Oakwood Resort September 27, 7:30am to 12:30pm. Tickets are $125. www.theinfluenceevent.com

When you master your influence, you shape your destiny - personally and professionally. Understand how to strategically connect, engage, and influence your market...and build a loyal customer base that is eager to pay a premium for you.  On this day, you'll learn how to use storytelling in your marketing and why it works so well to create a high-impact presence, increase conversions, maximize referrals, build brand equity, and strengthen your influence to drive sales long term.