May NewsBreak
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
This year Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters celebrates its 200th Anniversary with various events including an opening joint event with the Historic Indian Agency House. The event, Bicentennial Anniversary Year of WSDAR's Jewel on the Hill, is scheduled for Saturday, May 19.
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June Business Luncheon
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is offering another way to network with your fellow Chamber members and make those important connections that can help you in your business or career. Bring your business cards, brochures, or anything you wish to share with other members.

For security purposes, you MUST be on our guest list to attend our June luncheon. RSVP to Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.

Luncheon Information
We will be going onsite to Columbia Energy Center. Alliant Energy is inviting us to the Columbia Energy Center to learn about recent projects completed, upcoming plans and their community involvement. This will be an onsite tour with lunch provided at their facility. 

To gain access to the facility you must register in advance with the Chamber office by June 1. Limited seating available.

Date: Tuesday, June 5
Where: Columbia Energy Center (Main Meeting Room) W8375 Murray Rd
Time: Lunch at 11:30AM with presentation and tour to follow 
Dress: No open toed shoes, no loose clothing. Safety items will be provided during the tour.
Register in advance: You must register in advance by June 1 to attend. 
With a fine display of artwork in the background, Rosie Endres tends to one of many wine walk participants at Portage Center for the Arts, one of the 15 stops on this year's wine walk. Despite the rain, walkers cheerfully took to the streets with their maps and glasses in hand as they made their way around downtown Portage sampling red and wine wines.
Portage Wine Walk 2018
Downtown Portage was filled with walkers on a quest for wine during the 6th annual Portage Wine Walk on Friday, April 27. A great time was had by the participants who enjoyed the company of friends and wine---while seeing what businesses had to offer.

Thank you to the walkers, businesses and volunteers who helped to make this year's walk another success!!
The Best Western hosted a week-long conference for 75 food inspectors from all over the Midwest. The group, the American Federation of Government Employees, was treated to a welcome and brief overview of our town by Portage Chamber Executive Director Marianne Hanson.
Chamber Golf Outing 2018
The 36th Annual Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing will be held on Wednesday, June 13 at the Portage Country Club.
This is a fun opportunity to network with many fellow Chamber members on the fairways and greens.

The outing is the largest fundraiser for the Portage Chamber.
Pre-game activities begin at 9:30am with call to carts for the shotgun start at 11am. At 5:30pm, a buffet style dinner at The NorthShore Restaurant will be served. Register your foursome now. Golf is $100 per person and includes buffet. Call 608-742-6242 for more details.
Concert in the Park & Festival Foods Fireworks
Mark your calendar and be there when the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra plays at Portage's Pauquette Park for the 26th consecutive year on Saturday, June 30. Stick around for the great Festival Foods Fireworks display following the concert at 9:30pm.

Sponsor this event! Purchase premium seating with a table for eight and take in the concert between the willows. For sponsorship info, call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
Thank you to Festival Foods, Portage Tourism and the Business Improvement District for your major contributions toward this event!
Business Profile - American Legion State Headquarters                      
The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is an organization comprised of veterans committed to serving veterans, their families, and their communities.

The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin was chartered on August 1, 1920. There are currently over 500 American Legion Posts located throughout the state, comprised of over 50,000 members. The Posts are grouped by individual Counties, the Counties by Districts (12 Districts) and the Districts under the Department (State). Each of the levels, including the Department, has committees devoted to Americanism, communication, community service, youth activities, volunteerism, legislative and religious matters, veterans rehabilitation, and more.

The American Legion members contribute significantly to their individual communities. Members give many thousands of pints of blood each year and donate generously by way of scholarships, community projects, emergency aid and youth activities. Many of the individual Posts have a clubhouse, which is used by the community as well as for the Posts' functions.

Department Headquarters is located in Portage; our Service Office is in Milwaukee; and Camp American Legion is in Lake Tomahawk. For more information, contact the American Legion State Headquarters, 2930 American Legion Drive, at 608-745-1090.
Kwik Trip receives national award
Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip Incorporated recently received a national award from the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) for its strong commitment to employing job seekers with disabilities.
 
On Tuesday, April 10, CSAVR presented Kwik Trip executives with the Business Partner of the Year Award during the council's Spring Conference in Bethesda, Maryland. The honor highlights Kwik Trip's Retail Helper program, which began in Wisconsin in 2013 and placed over 200 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) consumers in employment. Of the DVR consumers placed, nearly 75 percent successfully gained permanent employment status with Kwik Trip.
 
Retail Helper duties differ from store to store, but basic job functions include maintaining positive store image and sanitation standards, monitoring cleanliness and maintenance needs, ensuring a high level of customer service, and assisting with essential functions such as stocking, unloading, filling coolers and more.
 
More information about DVR is available online.
Walmart donates to local organizations
As part of the kick-off to their new grocery pickup service, Walmart presented $1000 checks to the Portage Public Library, Columbia County Humane Society, Poynette Police Department and the Portage Food Pantry.
On-site document shredding opportunity
Kathy Houzner & Julie Groves, Financial Advisors with Waddell & Reed invite you for free on-site document shredding and breakfast treats on Saturday, May 19 from 9am to 11am at the office of Waddell & Reed, 311 E. Wisconsin St.

John Miller, Senior Attorney with Miller & Miller, will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a trust at 10am. Please RSVP to Erin Wermeling by Friday, May 11 at 608-742-4688 or ewermeling@wradvisors.com.

Waddell & Reed creates personalized financial plans based on your specific needs and utilizing competitive investment products—the core of their concept. Because of this distinctive approach, Waddell & Reed has helped millions of Americans develop financial plans to help them work toward their dreams, such as sending their children to college, providing for retirement or simply accumulating assets.
Text PACC to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Chamber events
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Shop for Mom! event
Come to downtown Portage and Shop for Mom! Enter to win prize packages including Overnight Staycation, beauty services & products and local merchandise.  

Stop by a participating business on Saturday, May 5 to pick up your punch card. Then visit the number of stores necessary to enter to win the giveaway packages you want. For more information and a list of participating businesses, click here.
Harmony for the Homeless Music Concert
Mark your calendars for a night on the town while helping your community. The Harmony for the Homeless Music Concert will be held on Saturday, May 12 at 7pm. There will be food, fun, silent auction and musical entertainment coming from local favorites including: Mike Powers with The Flannels, Bella Note, Arm and Hammer Ragtime Duo, Chris and Mike Hurd. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new roof for the shelter.

River Haven Homeless Shelter's mission is to provide safe, temporary shelter to homeless individuals and families while providing guidance and connecting them to community resources to promote their independence. Please join us for this special fundraising concert in support of our mission.

Tickets are $20 with cash or checks payable to River Haven Homeless Shelter, and available at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lions Club Brat Fry
The Portage Lions Club is having a Brat Fry on Friday, May 25 at Festival Foods from 10am to 3pm. The brat fry serves as a scholarship fundraiser for area high school students to help with their college education. Grab a brat or two and invest in a student's future!

Gale Singers show
Gale Singers Community Choir is proud to present their annual May Concert at the Portage Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 6 at 4pm.

Tickets are $6 at the door. For more information, call 608-742-5655.
Looking for a Hot Deal? See our list?
Check out our Hot Deals webpage for deals our Chamber members are
offering. Have a Hot Deal of your own you want others to know about? Post
your deals on our webpage and join the Hot Deal brigade! There is no charge
for posting a Hot Deal, so post away!

If you have questions, call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 to get started. Click here to see the specials that are currently running!
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Teeing Off for Type I Diabetes
Get in on the Teeing Off for Type I Diabetes Golf Outing, on Saturday, July 21. The golf begins with a shotgun start at 8am at Portage Country Club.

There will be a silent auction, raffles, hole prizes, putting contest, cash skins, scratch and handicap prizes, too.

The price is just $75 per golfer/$60 for members and includes a 4-person scramble and lunch. Sign up your team with Kate at 608-477-8974.
Positively Portage! announces first grant recipient
The Board of Directors of Positively Portage! is pleased to announce the award of the first ever matching funds grant in the amount of $1,500. The initial grants are made possible through previously designated marketing funds to raise awareness about the new Charitable Foundation.

The Portage Family Skateboard Park is the opening grant recipient, chosen from six outstanding applicants. The PFSP organization now has three months—May through July—to fundraise for their expansion project. Their donations will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to a maximum of $1,500, by Positively Portage!

Chairperson Rich Jacobson commented, “The Portage Family Skateboard Park exemplifies the kind of project Positively Portage! seeks to support. It has wide ranging community support, is used by many Portage residents and will continue to be a public park improvement in Portage for years to come.”

Positively Portage! is the new Portage Area Community Charitable Trust. Board members include Rich Jacobson, Mike Hurd, Pat Halasz, Shane Schmidt, Ed Steck, Amanda Weyh-Meissner and George Beasley.
 
In addition to awarding the initial matching-fund grants, Positively Portage! seeks to enhance our Portage area community well into the future. Ultimately, the core fund will make grants available for worthwhile projects into perpetuity. Please consider giving a tax-advantaged gift to the Positively Portage! core fund. Visit PositivelyPortage.org on the web, call Positively Portage! at 608-745-9316 or speak with any board member.
Kentucky Derby Party at Saddle Ridge
Come kick off the season and enjoy some fun games, hat contest, mint juleps, horse races and more during the Kentucky Derby Party at Saddle Ridge Golf Course on Saturday, May 5.

There will be lots of fun, prizes and great food to start the golf season. For more information, call 608-742-2181.
Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
Ribbon Cuttings
A ribbon cutting was held at Guaranteed Rate, 2800 New Pinery Road, STE 200, to welcome this new business to Portage.

They are excited to offer Guaranteed Rate service and low rates for all your refinance, home purchase and new construction needs. Whether you have perfect credit or you are at 580, they have loan programs for you.

For more information, call 608-604-5068.
A ribbon cutting was held at The Mercantile, 117 W. Cook Street, to welcome new owner Tracy Cooper.

The Mercantile features high quality products from local artisans for everyone from infants to adults! Find great gifts and treats for all!

For more information, call 608-745-5768.
A ribbon cutting was held at Wal-Mart, 2950 New Pinery Road, to celebrate their new grocery pickup service.

Simply order groceries at walmart.com/grocery, reserve a pickup time, then stay in the car while they load your groceries.

For more information, call 608-742-1432.
A ribbon cutting was held at Portage Theatres, 322 W. Wisconsin Street, to celebrate their recent remodel.

All of their theaters are now furnished with cozy recliners and they serve delicious pizza and appetizers, too!

For show times, call 608-742-6900.  
May Chamber Meetings & Events
8 Young Professionals Meeting
22 Golf Committee Meeting
Join a Service Club
Rotary - Meets Mondays at Noon at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Lions Club - Meets the 2 nd and 4 th Wednesdays at 5:30pm at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Kiwanis - Meets on Wednesdays at Noon at Pizza Ranch, 2905 New Pinery Rd.
Optimists - Meets on Tuesdays at 7am at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Elks - Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7pm; 4th Tuesday only during July and August
Women's Civic League - Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
May Community Events
2 Healthy Cooking Classes at Seventh-Day Adventist Church
4 Opening Reception for Wisconsin Regional Art program at Portage Center for the Arts
5 Kentucky Derby Party at Saddle Ridge
5 Shop for Mom in Downtown
5 City of Portage Spring Clean-Up
5 Police Department Bike Rodeo
5 Jack's Tap Celebrates Cinco De Mayo and Kentucky Derby
5-6 Habitat for Humanity's Shanty Town
6 Chicken BBQ at Portage United Methodist Church
6 Bingo at VFW
6 Gale Singers Choir Performance at Portage Center for the Arts
8 Poetry in Portage at Suzy's Steak & Seafood House
8 Commit to Quit Smoking Class at Divine Savior Healthcare
9 Columbia Sauk SHRM Meeting
9 Agrace New Volunteer Orientation
9 Healthy Cooking Classes at Seventh-Day Adventist Church
9 Free Workshop at New Life to Train for Your First Triathlon  
10 'Smart' Cookie Sale
10 Painting Roses Class at the Mercantile
10-11 Geranium Sale at Divine Savior Healthcare
11 Spirit of the Agency House Evening Tour
11 Civil War Living History Reenactment at Agency House
12 Quarter Auction at VFW
12 Schools for Haiti 5th Annual Fundraising Gala
12 Harmony for the Homeless Music Concert at Portage Center for the Arts
14 Active Shooter Preparedness at Columbia County Administration Building
15-31 Historic Indian Agency House Quilt Exhibit
16 Healthy Cooking Classes at Seventh-Day Adventist Church
17 Safe Driver Course at ADRC of Columbia County
17 Mosaic Garden Stone Class at the Mercantile
18 Bingo at Our House Senior Living
18 Bingo at Rock N Wool Winery
18-20 St. Mary's Best Fest
19 Shredding event at Waddell & Reed
19 Historic Indian Agency House Opening Event
19 Historic Indian Agency House Tree Planting Ceremony
19 Bean Bag Tourney at VFW Post 1707
19 Opening of Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters: Bicentennial Anniversary Year of WSDAR's "Jewel on the Hill"
19 Spicy Tie Band at Johnny B's at Saddle Ridge
19 Wisconsin Singers at Portage High School
20 Bingo at VFW
20 Once Upon an Apron exhibit at Museum at the Portage
21 Senior Trip Day to Lacrosse with Portage Parks and Recreation
21 Portage Sharing Supper at Wayne Bartels Middle School
22 Portage Area Community Fund Meeting at Portage Enterprise Center
23 Coffee with Our House Senior Living
24 Contemporary Gospel/Pop at Portage Center for the Arts
24 Agrace New Volunteer Orientation
24 Hand Built Pottery Class at The Mercantile
25 Lions Club Brat Fry at Festival Foods
28 Memorial Day Ceremony & Parade
28 Memorial Day Ceremony at Old Fort Winnebago Cemetery
30 Endeavor Sharing Supper

Weekly Recurring Events
Beer Bucket Bingo at Jack's Tap every Monday at 6:30pm
Portage United Methodist Church Bible Study at Heritage House, Tuesdays at 10am
Portage United Methodist Church Worship Service at Heritage House, Tuesdays at 11am
Farmers Market at Commerce Plaza every Thursday from Noon to 5pm
Portage Elks serving burgers during Farmers Market every Thursday

Portage Area Chamber of Commerce | 608-742-6242 | pacc@portagewi.com | www.portagewi.com