02/13/2008
In this issue
It's time to put your business on the map!
Upcoming Events
Ludwig Photography News
Open City Council Seat for Ward 7
Author will read, sign books, may eat quiche
Business Training Grants Re-Opened
US Chamber SmartBrief
Why Wyoming Loves Small Business
Freudenthal: “Do what’s right”
Member-to-Member
Who we are
Director
Peggy Rounds
Marketing
Simon
Harrison
Accounts
Stephanie Amberson
Networking@Noon is held the
second Wednesday of each month, at the Holiday Inn. The
cost is $12.00 ($15.00 with speaker).
Business After Hours is held
the second Thursday of each month, unless otherwise stated.
Cost: $5.00.
For both of these
events, it is ESSENTIAL that members RSVP - the Friday before
for N@N, the Tuesday before for BAH. We appreciate our
Members' cooperation in this matter.
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It's time to put your business on the map!
 I'm
certain you've all used
the Laramie City Street Map
to get around town - perhaps, like me, you keep a copy in
your car - and I'm also certain you've seen it on refrigerator
doors and dorm-room walls all over Laramie!
Around 60,000 copies of the
Laramie City Street Map are
circulated by the Chamber each year to tourists,
businesses, students, and residents, and
also
it is sent out all over the state - and all over
the United States - in relocation packets.
As advertising opportunities go, it's unbeatable!
I'm now compiling the new Laramie City Street Map, and I'd
like to offer you a chance to advertise on it.
I'm sure you'll appreciate how your
business or organization can benefit from this unique
advertising opportunity. After all, there's only one
Laramie City Street Map, and only a limited number of
advertising slots on it! In addition to placing your
advertisement prominently on the map border, we also mark your
business on the map itself - so people know exactly where you
are.
What better way is there to show you're part of Laramie than to
be right there on the Laramie map!
The
map is smaller in size this year than in previous years, and
advertising spaces are filling up fast.
If you'd like to advertise on the new Laramie City Street Map,
please reply by
this Friday, February 15th.
After that date, I might not be able to guarantee you a place on
the map.
Prices for the 2008 Laramie City Street Map advertisement spaces
are as follows:
Size A
(2.75 x 3.75 in.) $600
Size B
(3.5 x 1.25 in.) $400
Size C
(2.75 x 1.75 in.) $300
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Interested? Contact Simon at 307.745.7339,
publicist@laramie.org |
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All this Week |
If you'd like to advertise on our Laramie
City Street Map , please send artwork/copy to
Simon ASAP. (see
article above) |
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Throughout 2008, Networking @ Noon
will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, unless
otherwise announced. Business After Hours usually
will be held on the 2nd Thursday, unless otherwise
announced. Please check with the Chamber for full
details. |
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Friday, February 15
7.30-10.30pm |
Hospice of Laramie's
Night of Jazz
Hilton Garden Inn
Tickets available at the Hospice of
Laramie (1262 N. 22nd St., Unit A)
or on the door.
For further
information, please contact Hospice of Laramie at
307.745.9254
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Sunday, February 17 |
Laramie Plains Museum: Annual
Museum Association meeting
For full details, please contact
the Laramie Plains Museum Association - 307.742.4448
laramiemuseum@bresnan.net |
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Chamber
events calendar |
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Albany County Tourism events
calendar
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Centennial Library Community
Calendar
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University Daily Planning Calendar |
Chamber of Commerce
and Albany County Tourism calendars graciously provided
by
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Member advertisement
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 The
winter 2007-2008 Edition of the Bridal Planner came out
in January of this year and now has been distributed
throughout the states of Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Alaska,
and Idaho.
Ludwig
Photography is proud to have been chosen to produce the
cover image. Studios around the state were considered.
Laramie native and LCCC student Desiree Wilson is the
featured model in the “wonderfully western wedding
image.”
The
wedding gown was graciously provided by Mountain Valley
Bridal located on 2nd Street in Historic downtown
Laramie.
And
the cowboy hat and designer cowboy boots were provided
by Martindale’s Western Store located on Grand Avenue,
Historic Downtown Laramie across from the Grand News
Stand.
Anne
Brande, 4th generation Wyoming native and 4th generation
owner of Ludwig Photography, created this image by the
Laramie River. |
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For
the month of February, Ludwig Photography, as well as
the Bead Shop and Mountain Valley Bridal, will be
offering brides ABSOLUTELY FREE a copy of “The
EVERYTHING Wedding Etiquette Book”.
This wonderful book will answer all your questions like:
- “How Do I handle
My Budget For The Wedding?”
- “How Do I Choose
My Wedding Party?”
- “What Things
Should I Consider When Choosing My Wedding
Invitations?”
- “What Do I Need
To Know BEFORE The Ceremony Is Planned?”
- “How Do I Plan
The PERFECT Reception?”
- “ What Do I Need
To Know BEFORE Choosing The Reception Music and
Dancing”
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And there’s much more
too! “The EVERYTHING Wedding Etiquette Book” is a
$20.00 value, but the information will be priceless!
Those who wish a copy of the book simply need to pick up
the special offer card at the participating shops and
call the special toll-free wedding hotline (before the
deadline indicated on the card) to receive a copy of the
book .
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Once again it is time for the annual Laramie Bridal
Expo. MARCH 2ND will be our sixth annual bridal
exposition at the University of Wyoming Ball Room.
Please
see this PDF file
for information.
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L u d w i g P h
o t o g r a p h y 2 2 4
I v i n s o n A v e , L a r a m i e
W y o m i n g , 8 2 0 7 0
3 0 7 . 7 4 5 . 7 3 8 8
h t t p : / / w w w . l u d w i g p h o t o . c o m
anne@ludwigphoto.com |
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Open City Council Seat for Ward 7
From City Councilor Charles Taulbee:
This Ward basically is everything east of 22nd
St. and north of Grand with some variations. The Ward map is on
the the City's website
http://www.cityoflaramie.org
under Council information. The council has not
determined how this vacancy will be filled as of yet but the
process will have the following requirements for sure:
1. Must have lived in the Ward for a year
2. Must file an application with a non-refundable fee ($25 I
think) to the City Clerk's office (Sue Morris-Jones)
It could be a great opportunity for someone to step in for a few
months to see if this is their cup of tea. They can then make
the decision of whether they want to commit to the election's
process and a potential 4 year term.
Author will
read, sign books, may eat quiche
Author Michael Ondaatje to Speak at Albany County Public Library
 Michael
Ondaatje, author of “The English Patient,” will be in Laramie to
present a book reading at the Albany County Public Library on
March 4, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Large Meeting
Room. Luncheon will be catered by Sweet Melissa’s Vegetarian
Café. Space is limited and reservations are required.
Please
call 721-2580 ext 5456 or email
albypr@will.state.wy.us
to reserve a place.
This
event is co-sponsored by the UW Department of English, the
Albany County Public Library Foundation, and UW Office of the
President, the College of Arts and Sciences, UW Libraries,
Academic Affairs, and the MFA Visiting Writer Series.
Additional events at the library include two book discussions.
On February 26, at noon, bring a brown bag lunch and discuss
“The English Patient” from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the ACPL
Large Meeting Room. The second book discussion group will also
meet on February 26 at 6:30 p.m. This group will be lead by Kent
Drummond. Copies of “The English Patient” and “Running in the
Family,“ Ondaatje’s memoir, are available at Coe Library.
The University of Wyoming will host a reception and book signing
on March 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the UW Union Ballroom. For more
information on university events, please contact Craig
Arnold at 307-766-2919 or via
carnold@uwyo.edu
For more information on the book groups or to register
for the luncheon, please contact Marjorie Daley, Outreach
Coordinator at 721-2580 ext. 5456 or
albypr@will.state.wy.us
The Albany County Public Library is
located at 310 S. 8th and is open Monday through Thursday from
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m.
to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 721-2580 or visit
the Albany County Library website at http://acpl.lib.wy.us.
Requests for accommodations from persons with disabilities must
be made 24 hours in advance of a meeting. Contact ACPL Outreach
Coordinator Marjorie Daley 307-721-2580 x5456, 307-721-2587 TTY,
albypr@will.state.wy.us
Business
Training Grants Re-Opened
Workforce Development Training Fund
Re-Opens Business Training Grants
CHEYENNE - The Workforce Development Training Fund, a program of
the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, which provides
grant money to Wyoming businesses to train their employees, has
re-opened.
The closure on November 2, 2007 was necessary due to a 42
percent increase in the use of Business Training Grants by the
Wyoming business community that caused the fund to expend its
budget well ahead of schedule. According to Laurie Timm, Program
Manager, between July 1, 2006, and October 15, 2007, the
Workforce Development Training Fund helped pay for skill upgrade
training for 4,012 Wyoming workers in 493 Wyoming businesses.
“The Workforce Development Training Fund is an excellent tool to
help Wyoming businesses shoulder the cost for paying for
job-related training for their employees while reaping the
benefits of a more skilled worker,” she said.
The Department of Workforce Services is excited to be able to
help so many Wyoming businesses train their workforce. The
program is now reopened for full service. At this time the
Department is accepting
applications again.
Businesses that are expanding or relocating to Wyoming may be
able to utilize special funding for workforce training through a
separate grant from the Workforce Development Training Fund
program called Pre-Obligation.
Pre-Obligation requires an expanding or relocating business to
partner with a Wyoming economic development entity to apply for
funding for workforce training.
For more information on the Workforce Development
Training Fund, or on the Wyoming Department of Workforce
Services, please visit
www.wyomingworkforce.org/wdtf
or call (307) 777-8650.
Shelli Stewart
Public Information Officer
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
122 W. 25th Street, Herschler 2-East
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307.777.6911 /p/
307.777.5857 /f/
Some news and tips from Chambers nationwide
Improve
customer service to set your company apart
When other factors are relatively equal, customer service is the
one area in which companies can differentiate themselves. A list
of six management tips for making the most of opportunities
includes evaluating your telephone system; improving e-mail
accessibility; calling your own company to find out the type of
service being offered; and conducting customer-service surveys.
CEO Strategist
(1/29)
Create a
niche to increase sales
Retaining customers and targeting local markets are key to
building a shop's clientele. "A small independent store has to
have a niche, has to be known for something, because you simply
can't compete with the bigger stores in things like pricing and
advertising," according to one expert.
CNNMoney.com/Fortune Small Business
(2/6)
Vegas
Chamber turns networking into art form
Networking continues to evolve as a business practice, with more
emphasis being placed on short, successful interactions.
"There's a lot of value in the old school, developing
friendships and seeing people at multiple events," Las Vegas
Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Cara Roberts said. "But
innovations like 5 Minute Networking maximizes people's time so
you can make multiple business connections within an hour. I
also think it's a lot of fun. With online networking, it's
something we intend to look at in the future."
Las Vegas Business Press
(2/11)
Source:
http://www.uschamber.com/default
Why Wyoming
Loves Small Business
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wyoming loves small business; the Office of
Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is sending
them this valentine with the reasons why.
We are sending this valentine to Wyoming small businesses
because:
- Small businesses make up
96.7 percent of all Wyoming employers.
- Small businesses create
more than 50 percent of America’s private non-farm gross
domestic product (GDP).
- Small patenting firms
produce 13 times more patents per employee than large
patenting firms do.
- The 61,900 small
businesses in Wyoming are located in every community and
neighborhood.
- Small businesses employ
68.8 percent of Wyoming’s non-farm private sector workers.
- Home-based businesses
account for 52 percent of all small businesses.
- Small businesses are 97
percent of America’s exporters and produce 28.6 percent of
all export value.
- Wyoming saw an estimated
2,570 new small employers start up in the last year
measured.
- There are approximately
2,400 minority-owned businesses and 12,900 women-owned
businesses in Wyoming, and almost all of them are small
businesses.
- The latest figures show
that small businesses create 60 to 80 percent of America’s
net new jobs.
The Office
of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is
an independent voice for small business within the federal
government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for
Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small
business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies,
federal courts, and state policy makers.
For
more information, visit
www.sba.gov/advo or call (202) 205-6533.
Jim Henderson
Regional Advocate, Region VIII - Office of Advocacy
U.S. Small Business Administration
721 19th Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80201
(303) 844-0503 Phone
(303) 844-0506 Fax
james.henderson@sba.gov
http://www.sba.gov/advo
Freudenthal:
“Do what’s right”
CHEYENNE – Gov. Dave Freudenthal kicked off the Wyoming
Legislature’s Budget Session today, urging lawmakers to practice
“discipline” in their spending and to “do what is right” for
Wyoming and its people.
 “We’ve done a lot
over the last few years, what we need to do is stick to our task
and keep building on what we’ve done” and resist the temptation
to build “newer mouse traps,” the governor said in his annual
“State of the State” speech.
“The greatest discipline we need in Wyoming, when we have the
abundance that we have, is the discipline to focus on doing
what’s right,” he said. “What’s at stake here is whether or not
we’re going to do what is right, not what our friends want us to
do, but what’s right.”
Freudenthal noted that Wyoming’s gross state product has more
than doubled in the last 10 years and state revenues are double
what they were as recently as 2003. His nearly $3.6 billion
proposed budget is “generous and abundant,” he said, and he
commended the Legislature’s Joint Appropriation Committee for
its actions, saying the committee’s recommendation “follows the
contours of the state … and our people … and the available
revenues.”
He warned, however, that most agencies and interests didn’t get
all they wanted and will be seeking more from the Legislature
during the 20-day budget session, and he urged legislators to
“resist those temptations.”
“We are at a point where the abundance we enjoy requires
discipline,” he emphasized. “We need to have the
discipline to recognize that even with this abundance, we cannot
and should not fund every request that comes before us.”
In his closing, Freudenthal lamented the current state of
politics in the country. “What I’m arguing for is a
different way of doing business, because I think … people are
beginning to wonder about not the decisions we make but the way
that we make them,” he said.
Source: Wyoming Business Report, February 12, 2008
at
http://wyomingbusinessreport.com/enews.asp?date=2/11/2008#story1
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Take Back
The Night: advance announcement
April 8th at 5:00 pm in
Prexy’s Pasture.
“Take Back” what women have
lost due to the threat of sexual assault. This rally and march
raises awareness about the world of constant vigilance that
women live in – having our keys out as we walk to our car, and
not walking alone at night. The Women’s Action Network and other
campus groups coordinate the event, which is held in April.
Hope Wilson
Outreach Coordinator
Albany County SAFE Project
(307) 742-7273 V/TTY
Hotline: (800) 230-3556
French Creek
Catering: What's For Dinner Wednesday
French Creek Catering is now
offering take home meals on Wednesday evenings. Just call by
9:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning to reserve your dinner, then
simply stop by between 5:00pm-5:30pm and pick up your dinner.
Call 742-6660 to reserve your take home dinner for this
Wednesday evening!
February 20th
Take home Dinner February 20th
Stuffed Pork Chops/ or Stuffed Portabella
Brandied Sweet Potatoes
Spinach Supreme
Dinner Rolls
Carrot Cake
$12.75 Per person
To reserve dinner for Wednesday Call by 9am!
All Dinners are ready for pick up by 5pm!
Simply Elegant
Join us for an evening of old fashioned romance on February
14th! Our Valentine dinner menu will feature:
*Amuse Busch
*Mixed Greens w/ Lemon Shallot Dressing
*Seafood Crepes
*Intermezzo
*Roasted Duck w/ Mushroom Sauce
*Chocolate Fondue
$26.95pp
Call ahead for reservations as seating is limited!
307.742.6660
French Creek Catering
1660 Nth 4th Street, Suite R
Laramie, Wyoming 82072
Turtle Rock
Italian Night
The
Italian Night menu for tonight
(Wednesday, February 13) will be:
Garlic & herb tilapia served
over toasted Italian bread, tomatoes, fresh basil and capers
Not too spicy cream sauce with
chicken, sausage and mushrooms tossed with fettuccine
Spaghetti with meatballs
Seatings are at 5:30 or 7:30
p.m. If you would like to make reservations, please call
745-3741
ALSO - we have our delicious
Valentine's Day sugar cookies - you can't stop at just one!
Thursday, February 14 - join us for a special Valentines Dinner,
this is a more formal evening, reservations are required
Also, we will soon begin a delivery service for lunches! Watch
for details!
Hope to see you soon!
Angela & Andy Faxon & Turtle Rock Staff
Valentine's Day
at the Elk Mountain Hotel
We are offering a
romantic and intimate dinner for couples in love!
Crab soufflé and lobster ravioli
starters, followed by a choice of Beef Wellington, Chicken Kiev,
Lamb Medallions, and Pan fried Halibut. Strawberry shortcake,
coffee, and truffles to finish.
Priced from $29 to $39. Menu
extends to Saturday for those that cannot make it on Thursday
evening.
click here for a history of the Elk Mountain Hotel
Jazz, skiing &
poker at the Trading Post
Feb 23, Saturday. 19th
Annual Murf the Surf's Cross Country Ski Poker Run. This
community fund raiser is tons of fun! Shuttles to and from
Barber Lake Trail (a great ski), cash prizes for the 6 best
poker hands, T-shirts, Murf's famous BBQ, Danno and Friends play
4pm. Registration is from 10am to 1pm at the Trading Post in
Centennial. $12. Proceeds after expenses go to community needs.
Info
For full details call 742-7731
Public
Library closures
The Albany County Public Library will be
closed on Monday, Feb. 18 in observance of Presidents' Day. The
library will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 19
(10 a.m. – 8 p.m.).
The book drop, located on the south side of the building, is
available at all times to return books (no tapes or CD’s
please). Visit us anytime on the web at
http://acpl.lib.wy.us/
Marjorie Daley
Outreach Coordinator
Albany County Public Library
mdaley@will.state.wy.us
307-721-2580 ext 5456
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To include
announcements in the Member-to-Member section, please email
details to Simon at
publicist@laramie.org. I will endeavor to put your
announcement into our next e-news. |
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If you are interested in
becoming a Chamber Member, or
learning more about what your Chamber can do for you and the
community, please contact us today
Funded by your
Membership Investments, the Chamber works for a healthy economic
climate of good jobs, capital creation, and honest, efficient
government. A Chamber’s strength lies in the number and
diversity of its membership. Because the Chamber collectively
embodies the vast experience of the many businesses and
professionals in its membership, it has the knowledge and
insight to identify issues of importance to the business
community, and the combined means to devise and implement
strategies to address them. Chamber members are the most
responsible, innovative, and conscientious business and
professional people in Albany County. The Chamber accomplishes
collectively what no one business or professional can accomplish
alone.
There is power
in the partnership with the members of the Laramie Area Chamber
of Commerce. If you were to put a dollar figure on the
publicity, referrals, business leads, political contacts,
marketing services, economic development projects, research
information, etc., it certainly makes your membership decision
worth the investment.
Laramie
Area Chamber of Commerce
307.745.7339
chamberofcommerce@laramie.org
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