Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce
March 2021 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 March 2021 newsletter.

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

In This Issue
2021 Chamber Board of Directors
  
Executive Board
Thomas Allerdings - President,
ClubHouse Hotel & Suites
Aaron Fabel- Vice President, Oahe Family YMCA
Jodie Hickman Anderson - Secretary,
Strategic Association Services
Melissa Puepke - Treasurer
First Dakota National Bank
Meredith Lee - Past President, Lee Real Estate
 
Board Members
Kellie Yackley
Avera St. Mary's
Kiel Wendelschafer
Warlmart
Ty Kinneberg
BankWest
Jessica Mefferd
Mefferd Agency - Farmers Union Insurance
Steve Bass
Edgewood Senior Living
Tori Reeves
BankWest
Chris McConnell
Black Hills Federal Credit Union
Jaymason Bramblee
Oahe Federal Credit Union
Stephen Webb
Gateway Ford, Lincoln & Toyota
Angie Bollweg
Sanford Health

Ex-Officio Members
Andy Hubbart, PEDCO Chairman
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding
Ft. Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson
 
2021 PEDCO Board of Directors
  
Andy Hubbart - Chairman
BankWest
Mark Anderson - Secretary
Self Employed
Kim Easland - Treasurer
American Bank & Trust
Trustee - Doug Abraham
May, Adam, Gerdes, Thompson Law Firm
Trustee - Rick Dockter
Ameriprise Financial
Trustee - Ron Wagner
First National Bank
Trustee - Gordon Woods
SD Intrastate Pipeline
Karl Richards
Avera Medical Associates Clinic
Prakash Saripalli
My3Tech, 1 Stop Travel
Dawn Morris
Morris Inc.
Zach Clark
Clark Insurance
Damon Wheelhouse
Allied Plumbing & Heating

Liaisons - Annual Appointment
Thomas Allerdings
Chamber of Commerce
Jamie Huizenga
Pierre City Commission
Kim Olson
Area Director, Sen. Mike Rounds
Kristi Honeywell
Pierre City Administrator
Norm Weaver
Hughes County Commission

Administration
Jim Protexter
Chief Operating Officer
Alicia Fabel
Administrative Asst.
 
Pierre Economic Development Corporation 2021 Investor List
(From 1/22 to 2/18)
  
Thank you to the following businesses, organizations and individuals who are supporting economic development in Central South Dakota through their PEDCO membership investment.

Platinum Investors - $1000
Avera St. Mary's/Avera Medical Group

Gold Investors - $600
Midwest Development Inc.

Bronze Investors - $150
Anderson Dentistry, Central Dakota Eyecare LLP, Northridge Plaza, Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Reinke Gray Wealth Management, Richie Z's Brickhouse BBQ, S.D. Electric Utility Companies, State 123 Theatre, US Bank, Wheelhouse Plumbing, Willard & Associates Inc., WW Tire Service

 

CEO's Report
Jamie Seiner, Chief Executive Officer
Looking back over the past three years brings a smile to my face. It was my fortune to meet so many of you, work alongside an incredibly talented and passionate team, and lead an important organization in a community I love. Thank you, every one of you, for this great experience.

This change is not easy, but it is very exciting for me and my family. If you know me at a personal level, you probably know I am very passionate about financial planning. My formal education reflects it with a master's in financial planning. My work history reflects it with experience in banking, retirement planning and insurance counseling. I was approached about an opportunity with the South Dakota Retirement System's Supplemental Retirement Plan that I couldn't turn from. While I start my new job on March 1, 2021, I am dedicated to a smooth transition and will continue to be involved in this community as we raise our family in Pierre.

The Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce is a wonderful place to create partnerships, develop relationships and find ways to strengthen the community. Over the past three years, our Chamber has made many mission and member centered improvements, pivoted for worldwide hardship, and remodeled everything from the building to websites. I am so grateful for taking a part in all that change. There are still so many wonderful things to come for the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, you will be happy to be along for the ride. Not a member? You can sign up online, or through Membership Director, Katie Johnson.

I'm proud to have served as CEO of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce. Thank you, again, for my wonderful experience with this fabulous organization.


8 Quick Ways to Get More Upsells and Referrals
You current clients/customers are likely an untapped resource of additional revenue. After all, it is much easier to sell to someone who already likes you than it is to win over a new person.

But there's a lot of competition out there.

There's a saying in the restaurant industry that a diner who described their meal as "satisfactory" will never be back again. In order to get return customers, upsells, and referrals you must do better than just meeting expectations. You must exceed them.

Thankfully, as they say, the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just a little extra. In this article, we'll give you eight quick ideas on how to create those extra opportunities that will translate into greater upsell and referral opportunities. When someone is "wowed" they will buy more and talk about you (exactly what you need for referrals).

1. Offer samples without people requesting them. When someone is looking at something in your business, offer them samples. Don't even ask. One restaurant brings individual samples of gelato to the table at the end of the meal. Even if the diners don't buy any, they leave with a (literal) pleasant taste in their mouth which could yield a return visit or referrals.

2. Send/give swag. If you mail your products or bag them, consider adding something unexpected in the package. Pure Vida sends branded stickers. Some companies stick in a postcard. The surprise needn't be expensive. The point is it's unexpected and that is delightful.

3. Invite engagement. Make sure every purchase is accompanied with a request to engage on social media but don't make it about you. Most people are excited when they make a purchase, and they want to show it off. Invite them to share a picture of themselves using the product or service. Give them a hashtag and perhaps some incentive to share such as a contest entry or a future discount. If you have a well-known brand sometimes simply retweeting them and being on your radar is enough.

4. Send "just because" discounts. Some companies send birthday offers but not everyone feels comfortable giving you their birthdate these days. Instead, send "just because specials" periodically and thank them for being a fantastic customer. If they haven't purchased recently, tell them you miss them and give them reason to return.

5. Drop expiration dates. If you use coupons, don't turn someone away because their coupon is past the expiration date. Make it well known that you will accept coupons whenever the customer is ready to use them.

6. Put everyone to work. It may not scale to have your CEO or owner answer customer support questions all day. However, giving leadership the opportunity to field the occasional question or post a response on social media or to a review can make someone's day and get them talking about you. The customer will be in shock that leadership responded. And it will make them (and everyone who reads the interaction) think that leadership is reading every review or comment.

7.  Follow and respond on social media. Don't simply post what's going on in your world. Learn what's going on in your customer's as well. Set Google alerts for mentions of your business, what you sell, and your area. Listen to conversations going on around you and join them when it makes sense and when you can add value. Also, don't hide behind the brand. When you are posting, use your name even if you're responding from your brand's account. People are more likely to interact with a person than a company name.

8. Join the Pierre Area Chamber's new referral group, Capital Area Networking (CAN)! Business referral groups, also known as Referral Networks or Leads Clubs, are networking organizations with the sole objective of giving and receiving referrals. For business owners who want to get fast results, a business referral group can offer a proven way to expand your customer base. Capital Area Networking meets the second Wednesday of every month. In March, the meeting will be at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 10 at 8:15 AM. 

If you want to cut through the noise and get more upsells and referrals, you want to make people feel special and valued. Think about experiences you've had as a customer. How can you replicate those in your business?

To view more Pierre Area Chamber blog posts, click here.



A special thanks to the League of Women Voters of Pierre for moderating the Q&A.

Pierre Mayor Steve Harding's Report
We received quite a few calls at City Hall last week from people wondering about blackouts and how the weather in Texas is causing power outages in South Dakota. You might have a few questions of your own.
In very relatable terms, during the cold snap, it was like someone was plugging way too many appliances into an outlet and to keep appliances running, something had to get unplugged. Blackouts were just a toaster getting unplugged on a much grander scale.
I'll break it down for you.
First, it's important to understand that the City of Pierre does not generate power. We buy power and then distribute it to our customers. Our power comes from the Southwest Power Pool. That's a group of energy producers that pool their power together and then distributed it across more than a dozen states. Those states range from North and South Dakota to Texas and Louisiana.
When the supply of power in any of those states doesn't meet the demand, the Southwest Power Pool takes action. In the case of last week, the Power Pool directed its members to "shed load". That basically means diminish demand by shutting off power somewhere.
As you might know, the City was put on standby for a potential 60-90 minute power out Wednesday. Luckily, on Wednesday, the power supply was meeting the demand across the whole Power Pool territory. A power out in Pierre wasn't needed. Not all communities were so lucky!
Here's how the Power Pool got to the point of needing to shed load.
It's a basic supply and demand problem that was complicated by Mother Nature delivering a one-two punch.
Demand for power increased across the territory, especially in the southern states, because of the unprecedented and persistent cold weather. When it's cold, people turn up their heat. When it's dark, people turn on their lights. Freezing temps make for a lot of cold dark nights and early mornings which drive up demand.
At the same time demand was going up, supply was going down. You see, the wind energy that helps support the power supply literally got iced. Many turbines couldn't move, meaning they couldn't produce energy. When the sun doesn't shine, solar energy is also removed from the equation. Additionally, other energy sources, like natural gas, had infrastructure that froze up. All of those issues compounded to create a big energy supply shortage when demand was at an all-time high.
Here's why what's happening in Texas matters in South Dakota.
The Power Pool supplies power to the entire territory; we all plug into that same energy pool.
With increased demand and diminished supply, there wasn't enough to go around. Rather than having uncontrolled power outages, which are difficult to recover from, the Power Pool decreased demand by removing it in a quick, but controlled manner. They call that a blackout.
Thankfully, Pierre experienced no blackout, and we were a toaster that was allowed to remain plugged in.
What happened is no reflection on our local electrical infrastructure. In fact, the City has modernized all of our substations and most of the transmission lines in the last several years. Our equipment is good shape!

Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson's Report
After a mostly mild winter, the recent cold snap (that term doesn't do justice to a week or more of miserable sub-zero weather) jerked us back to reality. And while few of us native Midwesterners actually enjoy frigid weather, we don't suffer nearly as much as our southern neighbors because we are equipped. Not necessarily prepared, but equipped with appropriate wardrobe, well-insulated homes, 4-wheel drive vehicles, and - my topic of the day - infrastructure designed for extreme weather.
 
More than thirty years ago, the Fort Pierre City Council, Mayor and staff worked on a plan for an electric plant that would give the City the capability to generate electricity for emergencies, not only for our own residents, but for the larger grid of electric users when necessary.
               
Bob Ricketts is retiring after about 40 years on the Council, and is the only individual among council member or staff who participated in making the decision to build the Generation Station, so we asked him at our last Council meeting whether the issue was a controversial one. His memory was that it wasn't controversial, that electrical service wasn't all that reliable at the time and many people had home generators for backup.

The City received funds from MRES (Missouri River Energy Services) to cover the cost and Fort Pierre residents have been paying an electrical surcharge for the past 30 years to build the gen station. In return, we have all benefited from the reliable source of energy. In this last situation, we were asked by MRES to start our gen station to assist with a power shortage. Starting the generators and running them periodically doesn't come without cost. For each 24-hour period, the generators consume about 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel. But the three generators produce enough energy to meet the needs of the entire city of Fort Pierre, and excess power to provide to the grid.
 
Knowing how big a decision that investment would have been 30-plus years ago, I have deep respect for the city leaders who had the foresight to build our Generation Station. As a resident, it gives me great comfort to know that backup system is in place. And for those of you who weren't even aware of Fort Pierre's Generation Station, it is the brick building just west of Highway 14-34, across from Casey's General Store. Most people have never noticed it. Its modest appearance belies its importance to Fort Pierre residents.
 
Gloria Hanson

2021 South Dakota B.I.G. (Business, Industry, Government) Career & Internship Fair
Thursday, March 25th, 2021
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Virtual Event via Simplicity

EMPLOYERS
Employers who have attended the B.I.G. Career and Internship Fair in the past know that recruiting outstanding employees in this way is a wise investment of their time and resources. Register on-line for the upcoming fair.
Registration for the 2020 B.I.G. Career and Internship Fair is now open - https://sdaccc-csm.symplicity.com/ 
 
CANDIDATES
Are you are current student or recent graduate from a college or technical institute in the state of South Dakota or surrounding regions? If so, this career fair is for you! The B.I.G. (Business, Industry, Government) Career and Internship Fair will feature over 150 employers from all around South Dakota and across the country looking to fill entry-level and advanced positions and internships for college and technical school graduates and students. Register for this virtual event to network with employers and land your dream job or internship.

Candidate pre-registration is now open - https://sdaccc-csm.symplicity.com/ 
Candidates may still register for the fair online the day of the event. This event is free and available to the public.
 
DIRECT BIG JOB FAIR QUESTIONS TO:
Mandy Hanson
BIG Job Fair  Employer Relations Chair

Mandy.J.Hanson@usd.edu
605-658-6529
 
In this week's episode of Capitol Week with David Owen, David shares some survey results from the Business Caucus conducted during Business Day at the Legislature and touches on legislation regarding pandemic liability, medical marijuana implementation delays and permission for banks to engage in business with industrial hemp and marijuana licenses.

Capital City Economy
November 2020
Current Month
Same Month 2019
Percent Change
2020 YTD
2019 YTD
Percent Change
CITY TAX RECEIPTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre 2%
$727,257
$680,769
6.8%
$7,546,956
$7,303,177
3.3%
Pierre 1% BBB
$43,824
$49,033
-10.6%
$467,878
$501,025
-6.6%
Fort Pierre 2%
$115,407
$102,416
12.7%
$1,191,253
$1,106,175
7.7%
Fort Pierre 1% BBB
$9,621
$10,190
-5.6%
$107,040
$111,631
-4.1%
OCCUPANCY TAX
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre BID #1
$14,830
$20,116
-26.3%
$167,164
$228,208
-26.7%
AIRPORT BOARDINGS
 
 
 
 
 
 
SkyWest
1,040
1,661
-37.4%
7,425
13,010
-42.9%
DAILY TRAFFIC
 
 
 
 
 
 
Missouri River Bridge
13,290
13,674
-2.8%
143,320
160,041
-10.4%
US 14 East of Pierre
2,823
2,896
-2.5%
29,494
33,003
-10.6%
CITY OF PIERRE BUILDING PERMITS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential:
New Homes
Stick Built - Number
2
0
21
5
    Dollar Amount
$392,856
$0
0.0%
$4,600,982
$1,080,000
326.0%
Other* - Number
1
2
10
6
   Dollar Amount
$0
$120,000
0.0%
$276,001
$269,900
2.3%
Remodeling
Number
9
0
75
38
    Dollar Amount
$264,425
$0
0.0%
$1,325,480
$323,112
310.2%
Commercial:
New Buildings
Number
1
0
10
9
    Dollar Amount
$90,000
$0
0.0%
$7,195,654
$6,814,237
5.6%
Improvements
Number
0
2
22
35
    Dollar Amount
$0
$91,782
0.0%
$1,045,920
$3,022,546
-65.4%
Total Permits**
Number
48
22
610
603
    Dollar Amount
$878,509
$389,984
125.3%
$19,021,879
$15,141,481
25.6%
HUGHES COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential:
New Homes
Number
0
1
7
8
    Dollar Amount
$0
$389,000
0.0%
$1,898,059
$2,768,593
-31.4%
Other* - Number
0
0
2
4
    Dollar Amount
$0
$0
0.0%
$144,000
$202,000
-28.7%
Remodeling
Number
0
1
25
84
    Dollar Amount
$0
$20,000
0.0%
$467,312
$1,652,866
-71.7%
Commercial:
New Buildings
Number
0
1
0
6
    Dollar Amount
$0
$30,000
0.0%
$0
$801,316
0.0%
Improvements
Number
0
0
1
3
    Dollar Amount
$0
$0
0.0%
$175,000
$181,900
-3.8%
Total Permits**
Number
2
5
72
133
    Dollar Amount
$107,966
$514,000
-79.0%
$3,977,054
$7,129,734
-44.2%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WORK FORCE              
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pierre MiSA***
Total Work Force
12,552
12,680
Total Employed
12,255
12,348
Total Unemployed
297
332
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
2.6%
* 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


CVB Report
Tia Kafka, Convention & Visitors Bureau Director
Pierre Area Visitor Guide 2021
This month, the Pierre Convention & Visitors Bureau launched the new 2021 Pierre Visitor Guide. This year's guide had a complete design overhaul. The new design is fun and eye catching, and we can't wait to share it with everyone! The guide is distributed to lodging, sport shows, convenience stores and the airport. It also goes out to convention attendees, interstate rest stops and other cities throughout South Dakota.

If you are interested in having the Pierre Visitor Guide available at your business, or as handouts for your meeting, convention or conference, visit pierre.org or by calling 605.224.7361.

Every year the Pierre CVB takes part in the South Dakota Tourisms' Great Get-Aways program, which generates thousands of sales leads for visitor-related businesses in our area. A visitor guide is sent to each individual who expresses interest in visiting Pierre. Every year, we send out thousands of guides to interested travelers.

We are excited to have some sporting events in the area this month with the Boys JV State hockey tournament, March 5 - 7, 2021, held at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre and the State Amateur Billiards 8-Ball Tournament, March 24 - 28, 2021, in Pierre at the Ramkota. Show your hospitality to everyone you meet; small interactions can be the pivotal influence of a positive or negative experience for visitors in our lovely community.


Want to show your support for the Ag Industry? Contact Alicia for more information!
Membership Report
Katie Johnson, Membership Director
We love our members, and February is the month we like to shout it from the rolling bluffs! The Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce will 
Just a friendly reminder of all the tips and tricks to help fully take advantage of the membership benefits available to you. If you have any questions, I am always happy to help!
 

1. Log into the Member Information Center

The number one way for us to keep you informed and share your business is by keeping your directory listing up to date. Add a description and pictures to stand out in the crowd, submit your events and hot deals to attract customers, post your job opening, register & pay for events, enter your staff as representatives, network with other Chamber members, and choose from a plethora of sponsorship opportunities. Visit www.pierre.org and login today. Contact the Chamber for assistance.
 

2. Take Advantage of your Investor Benefits

Review the benefits that are included with your level of investment. If you are supplying web banner ads, please submit ads sized 480x60 pixels and 298x60 pixels. Communicate ideal months for your business and supply any additional information for your investment package.
 

3. Request a Ribbon Cutting

For a new location or Grand Opening, a ribbon cutting is a great way to gain exposure and host other members in your location. We invite the media and our Chamber Ambassadors to the ceremony. Ribbon and scissors are provided, and a photo is featured in our monthly Chamber Newsletter, on our website and on Facebook.
 

4. Sign Up for Weekly What's Happening Emails.

Make sure that we have added you to our email database (or go to our website to subscribe to What's Happening). This is the best way to stay up to date with all the Chamber news. Manage your subscriptions from the Member Information Center.
 

5. Follow us on Social Media

Like us on Facebook @PierreAreaChamber and Follow us @PierreSD on Twitter.
 

6. Show Your Member Pride

Proudly display your Chamber plaque sticker (delivered in February) prominently in your place of business. If you didn't get yours, please let me know! Customers are 49% more likely to think favorably of a business they know is a Chamber member, and 80% more likely to patronize the establishment in the future! Help the Chamber help you.


New Members

Real Property Management
Jack Peery
1800 S. Alpine Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
(605) 274-7373
 
Real Property Management, a Neighborly® company, is the largest property management franchise in North America, with more than 30 years of industry expertise providing full-service residential property management for thousands of investors and rental homeowners from more than 350 independently owned and operated locations worldwide.


Revive LLC
Shelia Gould
108 Dakota Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 630-2359
 
Intensify each yoga pose with strength training as you move to upbeat tracks, aiding in building lean muscle and skyrocketing your metabolism. This class specifically targets muscles to help your yoga practice grow, challenging you every step of the way!


Rustic River Boutique and Décor
Tanya Mammenga
840 N. Garfield, Suite 105
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 222-9191
ShopRusticRiver.com

 
Our little shop is exploding with style! Boutique clothing at its best with 20 plus years of retail experience at your fingertips! We have hand crafted home décor and jewelry, dish towels, Pinch Me Therapy Dough and the best prices on KanCan jeans!
Member Highlights





If your business or team member has something to celebrate, email Mallory!
South Dakota Missouri River Tourism Report
Karen Kern, Executive Director
South Dakota Department of Tourism held their annual Tourism Conference the end of January. It was a hybrid event with in-person and virtual. Here are some take-aways I wrote down as I attended virtually. In no special order, just items that spoke to me.
  1. After 9/11 we became the Theater of Safe. We are now in the Theater of Clean.
  2. Travel is one of the first things people want to get back in their lives.
  3. Social Media has so many platforms. The two largest in usage are Facebook and Instagram.
  4. 79% of travelers don't trust what they read on websites.
  5. People working remotely can travel and work from anywhere.
  6. If you aren't paying for some marketing you may be left out.
  7. Older travelers are much more resilient. With the vaccines coming on board they will start traveling.
  8. When people make travel plans - some parts of the trip have NOT been decided. Grab Them!
  9. First half of 2021 could be tough - second half will improve. Prepare now!
  10. What will travelers be looking for in 2021? Relaxation - safe fun - away from crowds - in nature.
  11. Niche marketing could be important.
  12. People look at social media and print marketing - and websites and then say, "Let's Go There!
  13. Plan for the recovery so you're ready. Without plans nothing happens.
  14. Create memories - more than ever that's what travelers will be looking for.
  15. Enduring legacy of the pandemic will be "Gratitude." Things we took for granted will now be special.
Please Excuse Our Mess - We're Making Progress!
For the next few months, please excuse our mess at the Chamber as we renovate our front desk area. We are excited to have a more functional and updated space to serve our members out of.

Progress is being made!

 


Community Events

Save the Dates!




Oahe Days 2021 is TENTATIVELY set for June 17-19! However, the committee will not be able to move forward with Oahe Days Music & Arts Festival without community members joining in to help plan and execute the fun-filled weekend. Oahe Days will be holding a meeting via Zoom at noon on March 3, 17 and 31st to continue planning. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the Chamber at 605-224-7361 to be sent the Zoom link.



March Calendar of Events

March 1: Highway Construction Career Awareness & Job Fair. Monday, March 1, 2021, 1 pm - 4 pmPierre Chamber of Commerce, 800 W Dakota Ave. For more information: 605-355-6960SDRoads2Jobs@projectsolutionsinc.com

March 1, 4: Zoom Basic Spanish - Adults. Mondays and Thursdays from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, January 25 - March 5. Zoom Classes. For more information: 773-2160, info@capitalcitycampus.org, http://capitalcitycampus.org.

March 1: Pierre Players Radium Girls Auditions. Monday, March 1, 2021, 7 p.m. CST. Grand Opera House, 109 S Pierre St, Pierre. For more information: Director Joshua Penrod , 605.220.0308, joshua.dutt@state.sd.us, info@pierreplayers.com, https://pierreplayers.com.

March 2, 4: Zoom Basic Spanish for Kids. Tuesdays & Thursdays, January 26 - March 5. Zoom Classes. For more information: 773-2160, info@capitalcitycampus.org, http://capitalcitycampus.org.

March 1-31: Volunteers needed at food bank. First Tuesday of every month, 5:30-7:30pm. Feeding South Dakota, 20562 Grace Avenue. For more information: andrew@feedingsouthdakota.org, http://feedingsouthdakota.org/.

March 3, 10, 17, 24: River City Toastmasters. Wednesdays. Meeting Via Teams. For more information: Brian Underdahl, 605-220-1003.

March 4: Shop Where I Live Vendor Set Up Webinar.  Online monthly webinar demonstrating how to set up your shop on PierreArea.ShopWhereILive.com. For more information: https://www.shopwhereilive.com/webinars/.

March 4, 11, 18, 25: Understanding Me. 3-4-2021, 6PM-8PM. Online with The Right Turn. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. FREE.

March 5-11: Pierre Players Virtual Production "The First Step". Viewable Friday, March 5, at 5 p.m. - Thursday, March 11, midnight. Virtual. For more information: info@pierreplayers.com, http://www.pierreplayers.com. Free will offering.

March 6: Family Fun Take-to-Make Saturday: Lion/Lamb Plate. Saturday March 6 , 10-11:30 a.m.. Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive Pierre SD 57501. For more information: Ronette Rumpca, Curator of Interpretation, 605-773-6011, ronette.rumpca@state.sd.us, http://www.history.sd.gov. Free event.

March 8: Pizza and a Play. March 8, 2021, 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Pizza Ranch, Fort Pierre. For more information: info@pierreplayers.com, http://www.pierreplayers.com.

March 8: Stately Stitchers Guild Meeting. 2nd Monday of each month. Social time 6:45, meeting starts at 7pm. Lutheran Memorial Church Basement, 320 E Prospect Avenue, Pierre. For more information: Pat Wheeldreyer, 605-224-4773.

March 10: Feeding South Dakota - Mobile Food Pantry Distribution. 2nd Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. River City Transit, Pierre. For more information: (605) 494-3663.

March 10: Shop Where I Live Platform Tips & Tricks Webinar. Online monthly webinar on Tips & Tricks for utilizing the PierreArea.ShopWhereILive.com platform. For more information: https://www.shopwhereilive.com/webinars/.

March 11: Early Childhood Education: Refueling with Rest. 3/11/2021, 6PM-7PM. Online with The Right Turn. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. $5 per person.

March 12: Ribbon Cutting & Open House at Rustic River Boutique & Decor. Friday, March 12 at 4:00 PM. 840 N. Garfield, Suite 105. For more information: Chamber, 224-7361, kjohnson@pierre.org.

March 13: The King of the Sahara, presented by Central SD Figure Skating Club. Saturday, March 13 at 7 p.m.. Fort Pierre Expo Center. For more information: Central SD Skating Club, https://www.pierrefsc.com/. Free will offering.

March 15, 29: DWU Learn & Earn Information Session for Students and Parents. Feb. 25, Open house 5 - 7 p.m., Presentations at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.. Capital University Center. For more information: Jan Larson, jan.larson@dwu.edu, http://www.dwu.edu/learnandearn. Free and open to the public.

March 16: Stroke Support Group. Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 12:00 pm.. Conference Room, 415 South Crow Street in Pierre or via ZOOM. For more information: Countryside Support and Memory Center, Cindy M or Maxine, (605) 945-0827, countryside@midconetwork.com.

March 16: Shop Where I Live Monthly Marketing Webinar. Online monthly webinar on Marketing through PierreArea.ShopWhereILive.com. For more information: https://www.shopwhereilive.com/webinars/.

March 17: Lunch Time: Implementing Policy. 3/17/2021, 12:45PM-1:45PM. Online with The Right Turn. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. $5 per person.

March 17: St Patrick's Day Parade Double Celebration & Lions Club Irish Stew Feed. Wednesday, March 17. Parade lineup at Georgia Morse Middle School at 4:30 pm, parade starts at 5:15 pm. Pierre. For more information on parade route & Irish Stew Feed: Event Page. Contact: Mark, 295-0969 or Kevin, 223-2970.

March 18: CPR Training. 3/18/2021, 6PM-8PM. At The Right Turn Office. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. $30 for state registered childcare providers and $60 for all others.

March 22: Early Childhood Education: Caring for Mixed Age Groups. 3/22/2021, 6PM-7PM. At The Right Turn Office. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. $5 per person.

March 25: English Language Learners Family Financial Literacy with The Right Turn. March 25, 5:30 - 6:30 PM. The Right Turn - 115 E. Sioux Ave. For more information: 605-773-4755, kbly@midconetwork.com. No cost - Registration is required.

March 26: Shop Where I Live E-Commerce Best Practices Webinar. Webinar on Shop Where I Live's monthly webinar on best practices. Online: www.shopwhereilive.com/webinars/

March 27: Childbirth Class. March 27th from 9 am-NOON. Virtual -Zoom. For more information: Dawn Tassler, 605-280-1968, gut1@dakota2k.net, http://www.growinguptogether.org.
For future months, go to www.pierre.org