March, 2020
Forest County Chamber Connection
In The News:

Are you interested in becoming more involved within your Community and the Chamber? Here is a list of Chamber Committee Vacancies:

·      Ambassador
·      Responsible for welcoming your business to the area, recognizing business expansions or improvements, and (most importantly) recruiting new members whenever possible.
·      First Impressions
·      Generates ideas and plans for improvements, as well as implements these plans.
·      Retail Holiday Promotions/Open House
·      Held to kick off and promote the holiday shopping season in Forest County***Develop County-wide shop local campaign***
·      Brush Run & World Championship Off-Road Races
·      Volunteer stations for food & beverage ticket sales
·      Visitor Guide
·      Offer input, develop and produce a high quality official County Visitor guide, which comes out on a yearly basis
·      Shank Open Melinda Otto Memorial
Golf Outing
·      Kentuck Festival & Kentuck Classic Car Show
·      The purpose of this event is to draw retail business to the area.
·      Art in the Square
The purpose of this event is to draw retail business to the area
In This Issue:
Upcoming Meetings, Events & Holidays, A Word From The Executive Director, Free Training, Community Events, 2020 Appointed Board Officers, Chamber Membership, Member-to-Member Services, Chamber Member Business of the Month, Businesses on the Move, Leadership Forest County, Forest County Tourism Promotion Application, Shop Local
Upcoming Meetings, Events & Holidays:
March

1-31 - Laona Area Chamber 3rd Annual Full Tummies/Full Hearts Community Food Drive
7 - Wine and Painting Class; Forest County Humane Society
21-22 - 2020 Winters End Powwow; Crandon High School
24 - Using Social Media and Email to Grow Your Business Workshop; Forest County Chamber Office
26-29 - Wabeno Area Players "PlayOn"
28 - Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre Conference, Nancy Volk Auditorium, Wabeno
28-29 - 33rd Annual Mole Lake Youth Powwow; Crandon High School


April

2 - Forest County Chamber Connections Luncheon; Hotel Crandon, Noon
10 - Salmon Run at the Big Easel Gallery
11 - Crandon Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
19 - Wabeno Area Players presents Wisconsin Singers

*For a complete listing of event(s) and event flyers, please visit the Chamber Event Calendar website at Event Calendar
A Word From The Executive Director
Welcome March!

On Tuesday, February 4, the Forest County Chamber held its annual retreat meeting. The meetings focus was Fusion, combining past practices with a future mindset. A step up from Back-to-the-Basics.

As a part of the Chambers Tourism initiative, I serve on the North Central Wisconsin ITBEC Marketing Committee. ITBEC brings together tourism, business, local government and economic development leaders to coordinate the creation and implementation of shared economic development initiatives. At the end of January and month of February, the Forest County Chamber and County Advertising, in collaboration with NorthCentral WI; ITBEC, represented Forest County and other surrounding counties at the Green Bay RV Show, Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show and Rockford Sports Show.

On February 26th the Chamber took part in the Crandon School Districts Job Fair. Kids from all Forest County School Districts were in attendance (Crandon, Laona, Wabeno, Armstrong Creek).

Recently our website has been undergoing a make-over. We are currently working with Chambermaster, putting our finishing touches, incorporating new membership software. We are thrilled to share with you how you can use your membership with
us to network, view member only events, share your contact information with other
members for networking, access vital resources, use our site to advertise news, all through the membership website hub.

On Friday, 2/21/2020, the Chamber hosted a co-op meeting, inviting area businesses and organizations to share in discussion the creation of a community calendar in hopes of the Forest County Chamber Office becoming a hub resource center, housing your go-to location for County wide event information.
2019 Crandon International Off-Road Raceway Donation
28th Annual Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoors Show
Crandon School District Job Fair
The Chambers focus is making Forest County a destination place, to come and experience all that Forest County has to offer by ensuring we get community information out there so everyone knows about it.

FREE Training at the Chamber Office
COMMUNITY EVENTS
2020 Appointed Board Officers
Please welcome our newly appointed Forest County Chamber Board Members

Amy Bocek ; owner of creative screen printing/Northern T's & Gifts. Amy will serve and add value and input to the Retail Committee

Cheryl Aschenbrenner; Johnnie's Resort. Cheryl will serve on the BPI Board on behalf of Northern Lake Service Inc. Cheryl will also provide value and input on Tourism on behalf of Johnnie's Resort.
FOREST COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP
FCCC Membership

5 Star Marketing, A&M Property Management, Advanced Disposal, Antigo Area Shopper, Appraisal Shoppe, Argonne Lumber & Supply Inc., Associated Bank-Crandon, Best Wash of Crandon, Best Western Crandon Inn & Suites, Big Easel, Cellcom, Century 21 Northwoods Team, Chad Swanson Agency LLC, Charlie's Lake Metonga Resort, LLC, Childers Appraisals, Conway True Value Hardware, Covantage Credit Union, Crandon International Off-road Raceway , Crandon Pharmacy, Crandon Water Shows, Dean Distributing, Double K, Inc Hometown Trolley, Duck's Bar, Dvorak's Docks, FC ATV Association, FCEDP, Final Touch Construction, Flannery Trucking Company, Forest Abstract Company, Forest County Advertising, Forest County UW Extension, Forest Granite Works, Forest TV & Appliance, Four Seasons Motel, Glen Park Condos Association, Gowey Abstract Title Co, Group Therapy, H&R Block, Health In Motion, Hiles Pine Lake Campground, Hotel Crandon, Integrity Realtors, Iron County Community Broadcasting, Jameson's Whiskey Darlin', Kim Swisher Communications LLC., Lakeview Loft, Land & Lake Lawn Care, Laona State Bank-Crandon, Liquor Lode & Wine House LLC., Little Pine Motel, Lotters of Crandon, Main Street Ed's, Main Street Inn, Maplewood Villa, Marco, Mecilkalski Stovewood Museum, Millian Forestry Care, Mole Lake Casino Lodge Conference Center, MSA Professional Services Inc., Naunkca LLC., Newcap Inc., Nicolet Area Technical College, Nicolet Country Club, Northern Lake Service Inc., Northern Lake Service, Northern Power Sports, Northern Tees & Gifts, Northwoods Association of Realtors, Northwoods Insurance Agency, Northwoods Mobile Welding & Custom Metal Works LLC., Northwoods United Way, NRG Media LLC Northwoods, On Deck Platter, Pack Em Inn, Palubicki's Eats & Treats, Parson's Auto & Truck Sales, Piacenza's on Wabikon, Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel, Potawatomi Traveling Times, Riepenhoffs Butternut Lake Cabins, Rustic Allure, Rusty's Wabeno Bowl, School District of Crandon, School District of Wabeno Area, Dean Schramka, Smith Sport & Hobby, Sommer Olk Schroeder & Payant LLP., Taproot Insights, Teddy G Autobody, The Center for Human Restoration, The Crystal Bell Inn & Spa B&B LLC., The Forest Republican, Town of Laona, Town of Lincoln, Town of Wabeno, Trailside Hideway LLC., UB's Northwoods Emporium, Village Inn Laundromat, Wabeno, Area Players, Clem & Sandra Walentowski, Walentowski Builders Inc., Waste Management, Wayne Line CPA SC., Weber-Hill Funeral Home, WI Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Wally & Mary Wied, Wisconsin Public Service Corp., Wolf River Pharmacy, WXPR Public Radio, Yaeger Oil Co. Inc/Laona Machine Supply 

Your membership has value, and, as a member you are valued!
For information on becoming a member, please contact the Chamber office at (715) 478-3450.
THANKS for Renewing Your Membership This Month

  • A&M Services Property Management LLC

  • Maplewood Villa

  • Millan Forestry Care

  • Wabeno Area Players

  • Hiles Pine Lake Campground

  • Potawatomi Traveling Times

  • Rusty's Wabeno Bowl

  • Clem & Sandra Walentowski


CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Laona Machine Supply (LMS)
A family owned company serving the Forestry and Outdoor Power Equipment Industries since 1965. LMS carrys a full line of New & Used Outdoor Power Equipment, Generators, Boots, Pressure Washers, Safety Apparel and have grown to be one of the leading providers of online parts and accessories. Let them help you find the latest and greatest on the market!
Family Owned Business for Over 50 years
Yaeger Oil Co. has two fuel delivery trucks on the road delivering fuel oil and gasoline.
Laona Machine, a division of Yaeger Oil Co., is a logging & trucking supply house and easily found near the service station on US HWY 8 & 32 in Laona, WI. They have a 1700 sq. ft. retail store and a 4800 sq. ft building with a welding shop and inventory warehouse. With the addition of an added second location four years ago, they are now also located in neighboring Crandon, serving the area since.
Yaeger Oil Co. and Laona Machine Supply take pride in their relationship with our customers, excellent customer service and the most competitive prices on all our items.
Laona WI Location
Crandon, WI Location
MEMBER TO MEMBER SERVICES
PBS Wisconsin Auction
Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) has reached out to the Forest County Chamber Office in regards to their Annual PBS Wisconsin Auction. As a Chamber of Commerce, our local businesses have a unique ability to showcase our Community through a package donation highlighting your local business and activities. Last year, their first online-exclusive Auction generated more than 18,000 bids over the course of 14 days. Items on the site were viewed more than 77,000 times , and the average bidder placed 28 bids.
We are reaching out to our member businesses for those who would like to participate in this years event by donating. Last year the Laona Chamber of Commerce and their membership businesses participated and the Forest County Chamber will partner with them to make a donation on behalf of Forest County, the area we serve. Last year member businesses who donated auction items received advertising space on the WPT auction page, which gained national exposure for tourism and vacation activities.
Please contact the Chamber at (715) 478-3450
A d BUSINESSES ON THE MOVE
Flowers from the Heart has expanded their business to the Historic Downtown Antigo Area

Flowers from the Heart on 5th
The Center For Human Restoration, formerly known as Connor Human Restoration, has moved their business to the newly built TIFF district; home of Final Touch Construction
LEADERSHIP FOREST COUNTY
Leadership Forest County
Leadership Forest County is a nine-month program that will cultivate and prepare emerging leaders in Forest County. Leadership Forest County creates an awareness of services and organizations within the County, and reinforces an individual’s call to civic responsibility and citizen involvement.
Overview
Leadership Forest County meets monthly for day-long sessions, from 8:30am to 4:30pm, beginning with a kick-off and introduction and ending with a graduation ceremony. Each monthly session will focus on a specific area within the County including business, industry, medical education, government, and community service. Program activities will include touring Forest County businesses, meeting with community leadership, and completing a community project.
The program fee is $345 per participant from a Chamber Member business. Non-Chamber Members fees are $375 per participant, and will cover all expenses including the retreat, lunches for each monthly session, and program materials.
Leadership Forest County is open to all Forest County residents and/or employees of Forest County businesses. Two 50% scholarships are available, and will be awarded based upon need and candidate qualifications.
The 2020-2021 Leadership Forest County program is limited to 20 participants. To graduate, a minimum of 90% attendance is required. Absenteeism will result in being dropped from the program. Program tuition is non-refundable. 
More details coming soon!
UPDATE: The 2020 Program Overview consist of the following outline:
Day 1: Kick-Off
Day 2: Law Enforcement & Government Day
Day 3: Tribal Communities & Project Day
Day 4: Education Day
Day 5: Mid-Year Retreat Day
Day 6: Medical Day
Day 7: Business, Art & Culture Day
Day 8: Media & Community Service Day
Day 9: Community Project & Graduation Day
FOREST COUNTY TOURISM PROMOTION APPLICATION
The Forest County Tourism Commission (FCTC) has established a program to encourage and promote the expansion of tourism in Forest County, which is funded by room tax revenue. FCTC will consider funding requests which clearly show benefits to Forest County in the following categories: economic development, tourism, destination development, and special community events or projects which enhance the quality of life. All room tax funding recipients must comply with all Federal, State and Local regulations regarding nondiscrimination and operate within the affirmative action policy. Advertising funds be spent on ‘attracting and creating overnight stays’, i.e. ‘heads in beds’. Overnight stays generally infers that advertising be done outside of Forest County reaching visitors traveling in excess of 60-75 miles, and the immediate area.  
TOURISM PROMOTION APPLICATIONS;
Applicants must be complete or will not be considered for funding. Objectives and benefits to the community must be defined in measurable and specific terms. FCTC has adopted a yearly one-time application submission process period, open for submission January 1, and closes June 1. All applications must be forwarded by the June 1 st deadline either electronically to Director@visitforestcounty.com or to the Forest County Tourism Commission, 116 S. Lake Avenue, Crandon, WI. 54520. The Commission reserves the right to modify or deny requests.
SHOP CHAMBER