P ierre Area Chamber of Commerce
January 2020 Newsletter


Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, Pierre Convention & Visitors Bureau & Pierre Economic Development Corporation E-News


This is the electronic version of the Pierre Area Chamber's January 2020 newsletter. We continue to provide a hard copy of this document in the Capital Journal as well.

Life is good on the river,
The Staff at the
Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce

In This Issue
2020 Chamber Board of Directors
  
Executive Board
Meredith Lee - President,
Lee Real Estate
Thomas Allerdings - Vice President,  ClubHouse Hotel & Suites
Angie Bollweg - Secretary,
Sanford Health
Melissa Puepke - Treasurer
First Dakota National Bank
Jennifer Anderson - Past President,  Anderson, Nill & Associates
 
Board Members
Steve Bass
Edgewood Senior Living
Russ Hofeldt
A-G-E Construction
Chris McConnell
Black Hills FCU
Aaron Fabel
Oahe YMCA
Kristie Maher
SD Discovery Center
Jodie Hickman Anderson
Strategic Association Services
Pam Metzinger
Branding Iron Bistro
Jamie Maher
Maher Dental Clinic
Tanner Kost
Dakota Prairie Bank
Tori Reeves
BankWest

Ex-Officio Members
Ron Wagner, PEDCO President
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding
Ft. Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson
 
2020 PEDCO Board of Directors
  
Ron Wagner - Chair  
First National Bank
Andy Hubbart - Chair-Elect
BankWest
Mark Anderson - Secretary
SD Department of Labor
Kim Easland - Treasurer
American Bank & Trust
Doug Abraham
May, Adam Law Firm
Rick Dockter
Ameriprise Financial
Zach Clark
Clark Insurance
Dawn Morris
Morris Inc.
Kim Olson
Sen. Mike Rounds Office
Prakash Saripalli
My3Tech
Karl Richards
Avera Medical Associates
Damon Wheelhouse
Allied Plumbing & Heating
Gordon Woods
SD Intrastate Pipeline

Liaisons - Annual Appointment
Jamie Huizenga
Pierre City Commission
Meredith Lee
Chamber of Commerce
Kristi Honeywell
Pierre City Administrator
Norm Weaver
Hughes County Commission

Administration
Jim Protexter
Chief Operating Officer
Alicia Fabel
Administrative Asst.
 
 
Pierre Economic Development Corporation 
Investment Invoices Mailed
   
Businesses, organizations and individuals in the Pierre area can expect to see their 2020 PEDCO dues letters and invoices any day now. Membership investors account for about 20 percent of PEDCO's operating budget while creating a broad base of influence on issues that affect Pierre's economy.
 
PEDCO investors are listed publicly several times throughout the year, both in print and online, and are invited to the corporation's annual meeting in November. Dues are paid on an annual basis and membership is required to receive low-interest financing or training/professional development grants.
 
If your business or organization is not currently a PEDCO investor and would like more information, please email jim@pedco.biz or call 224-6610 to set up a visit.
 

 

CEO's Report
Jamie Seiner, Chief Executive Officer
Two years ago, I had Lasik surgery on my eyes. After the surgery, my doctor asked me to sit up and look at the eye chart on the wall in front of me. For the first time since I was 10 years old, I could see in 20/20 vision without any glasses or contacts. It was one of those moments I will never forget. Gaining clarity is life changing. You have an opportunity to gain 20/20 vision for your business and your personal life. It's not just a new year, we are at the dawn of a new decade. It's a great time to get inspired. Plan to do good things. Desire to do big things.

You can add new energy and focus to your business and your life by having a 20/20 vision for what you want your company, career and life to look like by the end of the coming decade. It has been proven that companies and people who set goals achieve a higher level of success than those who don't. If your company or your personal life needs something to inspire you, creating a plan for the 2020's is a once in a lifetime opportunity and today is not too late. It's the perfect time.

For a while I've been taking note of simple things successful people do. Let me share what I have discovered and how the Chamber is there for your business.
  1. Be a part of the Pierre and Fort Pierre community identity. Get involved in your favo rite  organizations, even if it is to support one new event. We have many great groups, non-profits and events. You will benefit your business and the community by being a part of that work. We all need help magnifying momentum, let's rise together.
    • How can the Chamber help? The Chamber committees can use you, your ideas and your manpower if you have a passion for any of these things: Agri-Interest, Events, Hospitality, Ambassadors, Government Relations, Sports & Recreation.
  2. Partner and support other businesses. Many times, local companies will deliberately patronize other local businesses to create a thriving local economy. Connecting with people means planting the awareness of your brand in their minds, which is something you can do both online and offline. If you're already involved, utilize those relationships to work together on local initiatives. Consider making connections with other local businesses that sell products or ideas that are complementary to your own cross promote.
    • How can the Chamber help? We are always shouting, "Be Loyal2Local!", from the rooftops and encourage your business to do the same. Our Ambassador Committee recently started a referral group to communicate business needs and form new relationships. This is the place to meet new people and support others who will support you.
  3. Invest in your existing customers. Continue to nurture and build upon the relationships you have established. Make good customer service a priority. Examine your business and make changes to ensure you are providing service that is more superior than your competitors. You may need to invest in training or revamp and make improvements to your operation. The purpose of business is not to make a profit. It's to create and keep a customer. You want them to come the first time, then come again, buy more, and bring their friends. How you do is directly related to how many satisfied customers you have. To increase customer satisfaction, you have to listen to your customers and be involved in their experience. 
    • How can the Chamber help? We are always trying to offer free lunch & learns for our membership and provide seminars and speakers that can help with customer services and management. On May 5th, during National Travel and Tourism month, we will co-host a speaker in partnership with Department of Tourism, Missouri River Tourism, and Fort Pierre Tourism who focus on hospitality and customer service. Keep your eye out for that.
  4. Create your own warning system. Don't expect others to spot trends or to recognize threats and opportunities for your business. We all need to get better at looking, thinking and acting ahead of the curve. Managing the future combines the totals of technology scouting, forward thinking, competitive intelligence, strategic thinking, and scenario planning.
    • How can the Chamber help? Stay in tune with our local lawmakers at our Legislative Welcome, Legislative Coffees and Missouri River Roundtables. Our Government Relations committee partners frequently with the local League of Women Voters group to offer opportunity to stay in touch. Getting involved in any of the Chamber committees give you a chance to hear what other businesses are saying and to sharpen your radar with change sin the community. 
  5. Disrupt yourself. Disrupting yourself means asking tough questions. Determine why someone should buy your product or use your service. What's unique? And most importantly, how are you using your insights to find trends, to add value and differentiate? The biggest challenge over the next ten years will not be "the future," but how you navigate your future, and the steps you take to remain relevant.
    • How can the Chamber help? We will be a host site on May 21st for Leadercast Live, "Positive Disruption." Invest in your business and you by attending this full day workshop broadcasts nation ally known and recognized speakers on this topic. Stay on the Pierre and Fort Pierre radar and use your member benefits: the community calendar, posting hot deals and adding job openings.
  6. Encourage Entrepreneurship. Communities with successful small businesses inspire others to take a leap and develop their own passion. Other line-minded individuals may follow suit, seeing the success of small businesses and with a little encouragement from you.
    • How can the Chamber help? Attend Chamber events, network at our referral group, and mentor up and coming leaders. Our successful Leadership Pierre program is a great thing to be a part of to meet new people who have passion for Pierre and Fort Pierre. Let me know if you are interested in applying to be a part of this group or speaking on a variety of community topics.
Here's the big takeaway: Success is not a given. If you want your business to be more successful this coming decade, you need to make the necessary changes to bring that about. At the Chamber, we have many tools you can use to make your business relevant, successful and visible. I hope you can see that clearly now.

The arrival of the year 2020 is more than just a catchy number for us to play with. It's a call for us to look toward the new year with a sharper focus on the things we need to do to aspire toward excellence. Make the next decade your best decade yet.

Loyal2Local and hopeful for your success,
Jamie Seiner


Pierre Mayor Steve Harding's Report
By 2023, Things are going to look different here in Pierre.  In the meantime, we're going to look orange -bright orange. Construction zones will soon start popping up all over the city. And I'm happy to say, those bright orange cones are signs of a very bright future!

This summer, construction will start at the Steamboat Park end of our waterfront. That'll be the home of the City's new water treatment facility. Facility construction is scheduled to be complete in 2022 to align with the opening of the City's new outdoor pool.
That brings us to Griffin Park. This summer will be the last summer for the current outdoor pool. It will close after the 2020 swimming season in preparation for construction of the new outdoor pool scheduled to open in 2022.
If you cruise all the way to the east end of the waterfront near the Oahe Softball Complex, you'll see more improvements in the works. The City is upgrading its wastewater treatment facility. As more efficient processes are built out, the facility footprint will actually shrink. And there's more good news on that front, new systems will be added to improve odor control. That work should be complete in 2021.
In the middle of town, the Boys and Girls Club remains under construction, but should be complete this summer. We expect the South Dakota Dept. of Transportation (SDDOT) to start reconstructing Euclid Ave. sometime in the next two years. That will require definite coordination with the City. When the state opens up that road, we'll use the opportunity to lay new water main under Euclid.
At the airport, you'll see parking lot enhancements and taxiway repairs. Plus we have $2.2 million budgeted for street maintenance and improvements in 2020.
The close of 2020 will bring more construction activity to the Lake Oahe side of Pierre. The SDDOT is scheduled to begin work on the new Missouri River bridge, which means work will also begin on the City's new Missouri River bridge plaza.
For the last two years, City staff have been priming Pierre for big change that will enhance the community for decades to come. I think we're going to look good in orange!

Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson's Report
If you hear the sound of horns blowing in the next few weeks, it may be Fort Pierre and Stanley County "tooting our own horn." Why? Because we've earned it.
The national figures for GDP (Gross Domestic Product) have just been released for 2018. (I had to do a little research on how GDP is calculated - it is the value of money of all goods and services for a certain period in time.) Stanley County (of which Fort Pierre is the only city) had GDP growth of 18 percent over the previous year, placing us 7th of all counties in the state for growth. In Stanley County, production agriculture plays a significant role, so I hope this means our farmers and ranchers experienced a better year despite the wet and cold conditions.
It also stands to reason that the growth the City of Fort Pierre is experiencing has had an impact. We are one of the few small cities in South Dakota that is growing -- in population, in residential building, in new businesses, and in tax base.
In 2019, we welcomed four new businesses to Fort Pierre: Chalk Pre-School; BPro, a software services company; Buckin' Swank Leather, a leather repair and custom design business; and Casey's Truck Plaza. Looking ahead to 2020, there are negotiations underway for the sale of Bad River Pack, and final designs are being developed for a new Holiday Inn Express, scheduled to begin construction in the spring.
Our community's efforts to improve housing opportunities have led us to aggressive action on vacant and dangerous properties. One of the homes on that list, a house that has been unlivable since it was flooded in 2011, was demolished a few weeks ago. Obviously, the hope is to eliminate "eyesore" properties which reduce the value of neighboring properties, and to encourage development of new homes and businesses. (In the 5 ½ years since I was elected mayor, no other concern is communicated to me as frequently as "junk" properties.) All of us want to take pride in our great little city on the river.
Growth is essential to sustain the upgrades necessary in our infrastructure. The City is developing plans to improve our sanitary sewer and lagoon system, as well as determine how to best address increased needs for good drinking water.
Many thanks to all the individuals and businesses who have invested in Fort Pierre, and to those who continue to work every day to improve our way of life here. Happy New Year!



Capital City Economy
September 2019
Current Month
Same Month 2018
Percent Change
2019 YTD
2018 YTD
Percent Change
CITY TAX RECEIPTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre 2%
$716,523
$663,928
7.9%
$5,948,109
$5,860,932
1.5%
Pierre 1% BBB
$48,680
$48,684
0.0%
$405,528
$408,961
-0.8%
Fort Pierre 2%
$105,054
$111,248
-5.6%
$885,157
$859,718
3.0%
Fort Pierre 1% BBB
$9,516
$11,010
-13.6%
$90,593
$91,616
-1.1%
OCCUPANCY TAX
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre BID #1
$24,994
$23,704
5.4%
$180,606
$177,784
1.6%
 
 
AIRPORT BOARDINGS
 
 
 
 
 
 
SkyWest
1,808
780
131.8%
9,268
7658
21.0%
 
 
DAILY TRAFFIC
 
 
 
 
 
 
Missouri River Bridge
15,411
15154
1.7%
131,775
132,940
-0.9%
US 14 East of Pierre
3,385
3235
4.6%
26,902
26,523
1.4%
 
 
CITY OF PIERRE BUILDING PERMITS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential:
New Homes
Stick Built - Number
3
0
5
7
   Dollar Amount
$490,000
$0
0.0%
$1,080,000
$1,644,570
-34.3%
Other* - Number
1
1
3
5
   Dollar Amount
$60,000
$25,000
140.0%
$127,900
$161,000
-20.6%
Remodeling
Number
2
2
38
39
   Dollar Amount
$3,200
$1,000
220.0%
$323,112
$322,331
0.2%
Commercial:
New Buildings
Number
2
0
7
5
   Dollar Amount
$158,000
$0
0.0%
$5,896,340
$2,493,112
136.5%
Improvements
Number
1
2
30
16
   Dollar Amount
$78,000
$35,000
122.9%
$2,477,764
$2,571,615
-3.6%
Total Permits**
Number
79
49
517
699
   Dollar Amount
$956,404
$267,770
257.2%
$13,125,111
$10,723,076
22.4%
 
 
HUGHES COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential:
New Homes
Number
1
2
6
9
   Dollar Amount
$499,943
$485,800
2.9%
$2,144,943
$2,410,800
-11.0%
Other* - Number
0
1
4
3
   Dollar Amount
$0
$135,000
0.0%
$202,000
$205,000
-1.5%
Remodeling
Number
6
8
80
38
   Dollar Amount
$230,205
$88,696
159.5%
$1,598,084
$638,179
150.4%
Commercial:
New Buildings
Number
1
0
2
5
   Dollar Amount
$302,316
$0
0.0%
$580,316
$568,000
2.2%
Improvements
Number
0
0
3
0
   Dollar Amount
$0
$0
0.0%
$181,900
$0
0.0%
Total Permits**
Number
8
16
119
83
   Dollar Amount
$1,032,464
$813,071
27.0%
$6,084,677
$5,129,526
18.6%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WORK FORCE              
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre MiSA***
Total Work Force
12,697
12,498
Total Employed
12,408
12,218
Total Unemployed
289
280
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
2.2%
* Includes multi-family, mobile and manufactured homes
** Includes residential, commercial, and all other permits.
*** Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area includes Hughes & Stanley counties
Source: Pierre Economic Development Corporation Research

Riggs Seniors Seek Job Shadow Opportunities
A bout 180 T.F. Riggs High School seniors hope to fan out across the local employment scene in February to learn more about careers they may pursue.
The massive effort to link students to businesses, coordinated by the S.D. Department of Labor & Regulation's Job Service office, is part of Gov. Noem's Week of Work initiative. The first job shadowing program last year was a great success and involved 136 seniors.

Dates for the 2020 job shadows will be Feb. 3-7 and Feb. 10-13. Students are currently being surveyed to determine their areas of interest. Then students are aligned with local businesses willing to host the student.

If your business is interested in hosting a high school senior in February, contact Kelsey Halderman, Employment Specialist, at 773-3372 or Kelsey.Halderman@state.sd.us.
Clark, Saripalli, Lee Join PEDCO Board
Zach Clark and Prakash Reddy Saripalli were elected Nov. 19 to three-year terms on the PEDCO board of directors during its annual meeting. Joining Clark and Saripalli for a consecutive term is Doug Abraham of May Adam Law Firm. Incoming Chamber president Meredith Lee will also join the board as a liaison to the Chamber during 2020.
Zach Clark was born and raised in Pierre. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Business Management.
After college, Zach began his career in the insurance industry in Rapid City. In 2008, Zach moved back to Pierre and purchased Bob Clark Insurance in 2014, which is now known as Clark Insurance. Clark Insurance specializes in selling individual and group health insurance products.
Zach enjoys connecting with people and serves on several civic organizations in his home town. He also enjoys hunting, coaching his children and spending time on the river with his family and friends. He and his wife Liza were married in 2010 and have two daughters, Kenzie, age 6 and Izabelle, age 4.
Prakash Saripalli was born, raised and graduated in Andhra Pradesh, a state located in the southern part of India. He migrated to the United States in early 2000, landed in California, then lived in Michigan before making Pierre his home in 2008. This completed the circuit - landed in the west, lived in the east and settled in the midwest.
Prakash and his wife own and run My3Tech, an IT Solutions and Services business serving clients across the country, as well as 1 Stop Travel Plaza, a truck stop, gas and convenience store located in Pierre. He and his wife, Radhika, have two children, Mythri and Harsha.
Prakash enjoys spending time with family, watching his children compete in various activities, exploring new technology, and watching cricket and tennis. Prakash is very active in the community and is dedicated to further promoting business development and contributing to Pierre youth activit ies.

Meredith Lee, broker/owner of Lee Real Estate in Pierre, also joins the PEDCO board for 2020 as a liaison to the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, where she will serve as president.

PEDCO Elects 2020 Officers
PEDCO Chairman Ron Wagner, a senior commercial loan officer at First National Bank, will have a slightly different leadership court during his second year at the helm. At its Dec. 17 meeting, the PEDCO board elected Rick Dockter, an investment consultant with Ameriprise Financial, to replace Trace Beck as a trustee. The rest of the 2020 officers elected include Andy Hubbart, BankWest, chair-elect; Kim Easland, American Bank & Trust, treasurer; Mark Anderson, Job Service, secretary; and Doug Abraham, May Adam Law Firm, and Gordon Woods, SD Intrastate Pipeline Co., trustees. As the leadership team of the board, the officers also comprise the executive committee, which has the authority to meet and conduct the corporation's business in the interim between full board meetings. They are responsible for reviewing loan requests and personnel issues.
Retail Briefs
Retailers gear up for the busiest shopping day of the year
About 148 million US consumers are expected to shop on Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, making it the biggest shopping day of the year, according to a survey from NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Retailers are gearing up, including Target and Walmart, which are stressing customer service, Best Buy, which is offering Christmas delivery of online orders until 5 p.m. Christmas Eve, and Kohl's and Macy's, which will extend their hours leading up to Christmas. MediaPost Communications (12/18)

What are the preferred supermarkets by state?
Walmart stands as the largest supermarket chain in the US by sales, with Kroger following at second thanks to its many banners including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and Ralphs. Publix is the favored grocer in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, while Hy-Vee inspired the most loyal followers in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, according to a ranking from 24/7 Tempo. USA Today (12/16)

Walmart winning with buy online, pick up in store option
Walmart is leveraging the popularity of buy online, pick up in store, providing the convenience of online ordering while eliminating the wait time and cost associated with shipping. The retailer also offers free pickup at any FedEx Office location, mobile check-in to have orders ready when a customer arrives and, at many locations, grocery pickup and loading. The Motley Fool (12/7)

NRF: Holiday shoppers set new Thanksgiving weekend record
Nearly 190 million US consumers shopped in stores and online over the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, a new record, according to an NRF report. Total traffic was up 14% over the same period last year, and shoppers spent an average of 16% more than they did during the holiday weekend in 2018. "Americans continue to start their holiday shopping earlier in the year, and Thanksgiving is still a critical weekend for millions," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. The Washington Post (12/3)

Retailers gear up for higher holiday returns
Almost 20% of consumers said they'll exchange more than half of their presents this year, and 77% of consumers plan to return some of their gifts, an Oracle survey has found. The trend has many retailers adjusting their policies to make returns more convenient. CNBC (12/3)
CVB Report
Tia Kafka , Convention & Visitors Bureau Director
The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has a busy January planned. Our office helps to coordinate the sport shows supported by the Pierre Business Improvement District. Annually, the CVB attends four sport shows. The first two shows in Kansas City, Missouri and Lincoln, Nebraska both take place this month. Attendance at these events helps bring fisherman and hunters to our area to take advantage of the many resources Pierre has to offer.
This month the CVB will also be attending the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace held in Omaha, Nebraska. The ABA conference is the premier business event for the group travel industry. The Marketplace event provides the opportunity to meet face-to-face with bus tour operators from all over the country to talk to them about Pierre and what we have to offer visitors. In addition to the marketplace, the conference offers professional education seminars and numerous networking opportunities.
Last but not least is the South Dakota Tourism Conference held at the end of January. This conference is a great opportunity to visit with other tourism industry associates about activities in the coming year that will potentially draw visitors to and/or through our community. Pierre will once again be vying for the Cacklin' Community Award. We were awarded the title in 2018 for our Rooster Rush promotional efforts, and we hope to reclaim the title again this year.
2020 is off to a great start. Happy New Year!

Membership Report
Katie Johnson, Membership Director
In 2019, the Chamber reevaluated our membership dues structure to include more value for our members. After much research, the Chamber and its focus group decided on pursuing a tiered structure that many Chambers across the country are starting to lean towards. This new structure enables us to keep better tabs on the year as a whole. Instead of receiving letters requesting sponsorship throughout the year, we have streamlined the process to do this mailing once. Businesses and individuals are able to choose exactly what they want to sponsor over the course of the year, and are able to decide more strategically what best aligns with their business or organization.

If you would like to discuss these new changes, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 605-224-7361 or shoot me an email at kjohnson@pierre.org! Happy New Year - 2020 is off to a great start already!

 

Member Highlights




Please contact Mallory if your business or organization is celebrating something 
at  mgordon@pierre.org or 605-224-7361.
South Dakota Missouri River Tourism
Karen Kern,  Executive Director
As we go into a new year it's time to take stock of where your business is at and where would you like to be in the future. So many people never take that precious time to evaluate and plan. Now is the time to sit quietly and think. . .
  1. Look and reflect on the past year.
  2. Reflect on your numbers - are they where you want them to be?
  3. Work through your brand plan - is your brand working for you?
  4. Break down your financial goals - not a fun thing, but so important.
  5. Collaborate and partner with other businesses, communities or organizations.
  6. Take the time to look at all the good things that you have experienced - there are so many, but we tend to look at the things that things went wrong and dwell on that. Don't!
These are just a few suggestions for you. A new year is a chance to step up your game, plan ahead, and have some fun with what you're doing.

South Dakota Missouri River Tourism wishes each of you a wonderful holiday season! And, the best New Year you can possibly have. Stop out to the Oahe Visitor Center in 2020 and visit.

Happy New Year to all!
Karen & Jenn
Leadership Pierre


The objective of Leadership Pierre's session 4 on December 5th was to gain an awareness of opportunities to serve the communities of Pierre/Fort Pierre, to understand that we all have a personal and professional responsibility to "give back," and the personal and professional development that can occur when you get involved. Those in the class who were able volunteered at Feeding South Dakota on the 2019 Day of Giving to pack boxes for central South Dakota recipients. Thank you to our Leadership Pierre Champions, Avera and BankWest

2020 Governor's Prayer Breakfast
The Sixteenth annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast will be held on Friday, January 24th, 2020 at 6:20am at the Pierre Ramkota. Everyone is invited to attend. Tickets are twenty dollars and are available at www.sdgpb.org or by stopping by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce no later than January 17th.

The breakfast is loosely modeled after the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. It is an opportunity for government leaders and citizens to gather together publicly and to acknowledge the Judeo/Christian heritage of the United States of America.
The speaker for this year's breakfast will be Chi-Dooh "Skip" Li from Seattle, WA. Mr. Li is the Founder and Partner at the Seattle law firm Ellis, Li & McKinstry, PLLC, and Founder of Agros International, an organization that has received recognition from the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank for combating the root causes of poverty. He and his team also encourage and develop Jesus-centered leaders through his organization, Centered. Centered focuses on Jesus as the source and model of life and leaders. Through his story, as told in his book Buy This Land, he illuminates how truth is the universal currency of relationships.
Come and let Skip's message encourage you. It will be a Friday morning breakfast you will never forget!
The prayer breakfast is organized by a group of volunteers from Pierre, Fort Pierre, and Watertown. The breakfast is supported by ticket sales and private contributions.

Chamber Events

Annual Celebration
The Chamber's Annual Celebration was held at Drifters on Thursday, December 12 th. The event included an awards ceremony to recognize various businesses and individuals who have made an impact on the Pierre area, the Chamber, and our community. Congratulations to: Tyler Stoeser, the 2019 Farmer/Rancher of the Year; Deseree Corrales with the Community Orchard, recipient of the Pierre Pride Award; Dawn Hill and Leah Svendsen with Christmas at the Capitol for the Hospitality Award; Stephanie Odden, 2019 Ambassador of the Year; Dairy Queen, the Chamber's Business of the Year award winner; and Petersen Motors, 2019 Prairie Family Business of the Year. Entertainment sponsored by BankWest was SongBlast, a dueling guitars duo; the show was well received and kept the audience laughing and singing along the rest of the evening.

Congratulations!
Congratulations to our first annual holiday light competition winners! Stop into the Chamber to pick up your $100 Pierre Pride winnings!

Save the Dates!
sd

sdf

fg

fgdfs
d
sdfg

January Calendar of Events

January 1: Stanley American Legion Post 20 Monthly Meeting. First Wednesday of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Moose Lodge. Email Royce Loesch for more information: royceloesch@gmail.com.

January 2, 23: Breast Cancer Survivors. First and third Thursdays of every month from 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Countryside Hospice Support & Memory Center, 415 S. Crow Street, Pierre. Call (605)945-0827 for more information.

January 4: Missouri River Roundtable. Saturday, January 4 from 11 AM - noon. Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, 800 W Dakota Avenue, Pierre. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1055600281458389/.

January 5, 12, 19, 26: Open Skate at PAYSA Rink (behind Walmart). Sundays from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Contact Sara at (407)590-7484 for more information. $3 to skate, $2 to rent skates.

January 6: Canvasback Art Club. Monday, January 6 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Rawlins Library, 1000 E Church St. Pierre. For more information, contact Bev Letellier at (605)224-7993 or email ranchvet66@yahoo.com .
January 6: Auditions for "Vanities" by Pierre Players. Monday, January 6 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Grand Opera House, 109 S. Pierre Street, Pierre. For more information, contact Director Leah Hilsabeck-Lowrey at (605) 280-9957 or email hilsabecklowrey@gmail.com.

January 7, 14, 21, 28: Touching Hearts Fundraising Raffle Drawing with The Right Turn. Drawings every Tuesday at 9:00 AM. Call (605)773-4755 for more information. Raffle tickets can be purchased at The Right Turn, Don's Sinclair, Branding Iron Bistro, The Fieldhouse, and Dakotamart. $20 for 5 tickets or $5 each.
January 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 30: Reading Buddies . Mondays from 12:45 - 1:15 PM at Buchanan Elementary; Tuesdays, from 1:45 - 2:15 PM at Kennedy Elementary; Thursdays, 10:00 - 10:30 AM at Pierre Indian Learning Center; the first Monday of each month from 2:30 - 3:00 PM at Blunt Elementary; Thursdays from 12:45 - 1:15 PM at Stanley County Elementary. Contact Teri Royer at (605)224-3337 for more information. Volunteers needed.
January 7: Volunteers Needed at Food Bank. Tuesday, January 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Feeding South Dakota, 20562 Grace Avenue. Contact Feeding SD at (605)494-3663 for more information.
January 7, 14, 21, 28: Common Sense Parenting. Tuesdays through February 11 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Oahe Child Development Center, 2307 E Capitol Avenue, Pierre. For more information, contact Dawn Tassler at (605) 224-3189 or email gut1@dakota2k.net.

January 8, 15, 22, 29: River City Toastmasters. Wednesdays from 12:10 - 12:50 PM. Lutheran Memorial Church, basement conference room. Contact Brian Underdahl at (605)220-1003 for more information. Free.

January 10: Women's Cancer Support. Second Friday of each month from noon - 1:00 PM at Avera St. Mary's Helmsley Center Cafeteria Conference Room. For more information contact Gloria at (605)224-3100 or email gloria.rowen@avera.org.

January 11: Childbirth Class. Saturday, January 11 from 9:00 AM - noon. Avera St. May's Hospital Room 106, South Building, Pierre. Pre-registration required. Fee: $40. Scholarships Available. For more information contact Dawn Tassler at (605) 224-3189 or email gut1@dakota2k.net.

January 11: Family Fun Saturdays: Something Fishy from 10:00 - 11:30 AM at the Cultural Heritage Center. Event is free as well as admission to the museum gallery during event hours.

January 11: Northridge Plaza Winter Sale & Vendor Event from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Winter clearance sales as well as United Way's "Say Yes To The Dance" from 10am-2pm for all high school students in Hughes and Stanley Counties.

January 11: YMCA Pizza Pool Party for 1st - 5th Graders. Saturday, January 11 from 6:30 - 9:00 PM at Oahe Family YMCA. For more information, contact Lisa Maunu at (605)224-1683 or email lisa@oaheymca.org. $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

January 11: Homemade Soup Supper. Saturday, January 11 from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. Pierre Senior Center, 401 W Pleasant Drive, Pierre. $5 per person, 5 and under are free. For more information, contact Jeannie Davis at (605) 224- 7730 or email pirascc@yahoo.com.

January 13: Stately Stitchers Guild Meeting. Second Tuesday of each month from 6:45 - 8:45 PM. Lutheran Memorial Church (basement), 320 E Prospect Avenue, Pierre. For more information contact Myrna Buckles at (605)222-6847.

January 13: Chamber's Hospitality Committee Meeting. Second Monday of every month from 4:00 - 5:00 PM. Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 800 West Dakota Ave, Pierre. Contact the Chamber at (605)224-7361 for more information.

January 14: Legislative Welcome 2020. Tuesday, January 14 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Pierre. $40 per person, $300 per table of 8. Re-registration required. For more information, contact the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce at (605) 224-7361 or email jseiner@pierre.org. Sign up to sponsor a legislator at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F44A5AC2AA4FC1-back.

January 14: Central SD Survivors of Suicide Support Group. Fourteenth of every month from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Email Julie Moore for more information: mailto:julie.moore@avera.org. Free.

January 16: Fundraiser for Dale Eide, who is battling cancer, from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Pizza Ranch.

January 16: Dementia Caregivers Support Group. Third Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 PM. Countryside Hospice Support & Memory Center, 415 S. Crow Street, Pierre. Call (605)945-0827 for more information.

January 17: Men's Cancer Support. Third Friday of every month from noon - 1:00 PM at Avera St. Mary's Helmsley Center Cafeteria Conference Room. For more information contact Gloria at (605)224-3100 or email gloria.rowen@avera.org.

January 20: Bariatric and Weight Loss Support Group. Third Monday of every month from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Sanford Clinic, 521 E Sioux Ave, Pierre. Contact Angie Bollweg at (605)945-5560 for more information. Free.

January 24: Governor's Prayer Breakfast. Friday, January 24 from 6:20 - 7:45 AM. Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Pierre. $20 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at www.sdgpd.org or at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, 800 W Dakota Avenue, Pierre. No ticket sales at the door.

January 25: When it's Cold Outside, Let's go Shopping! Saturday, January 25 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. American Legion Cabin, 520 S Pierre Street, Pierre. For more information contact Pierre Unit 8 President, Patsy Madsen at (605) 280-6479.

January 26: Life Walk. Sunday, January 26 from 12:30 - 1:30 PM. Walk begins and ends in the SD Capitol parking lot. For more information, contact Doug Schueller at (605) 224-0252 or email dougandjoan@pie.midco.net. Free.

January 26: Hour of Reflection on Roe v. Wade. Sunday, January 26 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Capitol Building Rotunda. For more information, contact Dale Bartscher at (605) 220-8673 or email Dale.SDRTL@gmail.com. Free.

January 26: LIFE Speaker, Dr. Pat Castle. Sunday, January 26 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Fort Pierre. For more information, contact Sherri Stoeser at(605) 223-2175 or email sherri.stjohns@midconetwork.com. Free.

January 27: Theology on Tap with Dr. Pat Castle. Monday, January 27 from 7:00 - 8:15 PM. Drifters Bar and Grille, Fort Pierre. For more information contact Dr. Kathy Anderson at (605) 280-5251 or email ctanderson1950@gmail.com. Free.

January 29: Understanding Me for Parents and Caregivers of Infants and Toddlers. Online with The Right Turn from &:00 - 9:00 PM. For more information, call (605) 773-4755 or email kbly@midconetwork.com Free.
For future months, go to www.pierre.org