Staples Motley Area

Chamber of Commerce
February, 2016 Newsletter
Staples Motley Chamber of Commerce
Annual Dinner February 4, 2016
Did you forget to purchase your ticket for the
Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner? There
is still time to get your tickets. You dont have
to be a member of the chamber to attend this
annual event. Good food, good fellowship,
great speaker, and a chance to socialize with
other business people in the area.

320 US Hwy 10
PO Box 133
Staples, MN 56479
218-894-3974
smchamber@arvig.net

You can get your tickets from any of the

Chamber Board members, the Chamber of
Commerce Office, First International Bank
& Trust, Unity Bank and the Staples World
Office. Call Barb at 218-330-3830 for
more information or to purchase your ticket
today.

Guest Speaker - Merritt Bussiere, Community Economic Educator

Rewriting the Rural Narrative It seems the rural story has already been told - Small towns keep getting smaller.
Churches, schools, clinics, businesses, and now post offices, have closed their doors as the lucky few migrate out to the
big cities. This deficit framework dominates how we discuss and envision our rural communities. However, the story of
rural America since 1970 is rich and diverse, with positive trends occurring under the radar. Learn how these important
positive changes have been occurring across the rural landscape that requires us to rewrite the narrative of rural
community change.

Mark your calendar !!!!

Mark your calendar for upcoming Staples Motley Area events:
Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner - February 4
Brian & Sheralyn Barnes Concert Motley United Methodist Church - February 14
Staples Firemans Dance February 20
Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting-February 16
Motley June Fest 2016 planning meeting February 17
Railroad Days 2016 planning meeting February 18
CARE Supper Alliance Church February 23
Motley June Fest 2016 - June 16- 19, 2016
Railroad Days- August 25-28, 2016

Staples Motley Chamber Board and Staff

Barb Cline, Director
Bruce Brotherton
Jaymee Carlson
Megan Haber,

Steve Gerkin, President

Dan Orth,
Jodi Reeck

Dawn Hagenson, Secretary

Melissa Radermacher,
Sandy Knosalla,

Board members
Next Board meeting: January 19, 2016 at Noon at Giovannis

Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce

February 2016 Newsletter page 2

Membership Renewal Due Now

Thank you to all who have responded to the
membership renewal invoice that was mailed in
December. Your membership is very important
to the chamber of Commerce to keep function
as an organization, plan upcoming events in the
Staples Motley Area. Thank you in advance for
your quick response to sending in your annual
dues.
Staples Motley Chamber of Commerce 2016
Annual Dinner
RSVP today to attend the Annual Dinner to be
held February 4th at Ted & Gens in Aldrich.
The Chamber of Commerce Dinner will have a
4 meat buffet, terrific guest speaker,
entertainment, recognition of membership,
recognition of outgoing Board members and
New Board members, and a great opportunity
to network with other businesses and
organizations. Please plan to attend.
Tickets are available with Board Members,
Chamber office, Staples World and at the Door.
For more information call Barb at 218-3303830.
New Chamber Plaques and Year Stickers
Available Now!
I have a supply of new Chamber of Commerce
plaques for members who have never gotten a
plaque, year stickers to get your plaque up to
date. I will have them at the Annual Dinner, in

the office, and will be more than happy to bring

them to your business. Please contact me to get
your plaque up to date. Call Barb at the
Chamber Office 218-894-3974.
Staples Motley Chamber of Commerce
Dollars
Thank you to all of you who purchased
Chamber of Commerce Dollars to use for gifts,
staff awards, or other uses during the Holiday
Season. We so appreciate encouraging people
to shop locally.
Those of you who have never used the
Chamber Bucks, they are just like money.
They are not gift certificates and they are not
charge cards. If a customer comes into your
business and they purchase items that do not
use up the entire denomination of money $20;
$10 or $5, please give them back change for
their money. You will deposit it into your bank
just like any other dollars. It works just like
cash does.
Thank you for encouraging people to shop
locally by using Chamber Dollars!
43rd Annual Staples Firemans Dance
The Staples Fire Department will be holding
their 43rd annual dance on the February 20th ,
8:30 pm 12:30 pm at the Staples Community
Center. There will be a raffle at the dance and
you need not be present to win. This years
theme is Favorite Sports Team. BYOB.

Lakewood Health System February, 2016 Events

ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP

FEB. 4

PREPARED CHILD BIRTH CLASS

FEB. 6

MARCH FOR BABIES WALK

FEB. 6

MEALS ON HEELS

FEB. 8

RETURNING TO WORK AND BREASTFEEDING

FEB. 8

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CPR

FEB. 10

ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP

FEB. 18

Lakewood Health System

49725 County 83, Staples, MN 56479

We listen.
Contact customer service Contact site administrator

Appointments 218-894-1515

800-525-1033 TTY

218-894-8183 Hearing-impaired only

Live chat is not for specialty or Womens Health scheduling. To

schedule an appointment with either, please call 218-894-1515.

Arvig Receives Commsofts

2015 Community Leader Award
PERHAM, MINN., JAN. 14, 2016Arvig is proud to announce it is the recipient of the 2015 Community Leader
Award from Commsoft. The broadband provider was recognized for its dedication to its communities, and
specifically for its involvement via the Arvig School Partnership Program.
Since 2010, Arvig has donated nearly $500,000 to local schools, made possible by the School Partnership Program.
As a community-based provider, giving back is a huge part of our mission, especially when it involves supporting
rural education, said Staci Malikowski, Chief Financial Officer at Arvig. With the School Partnership Program, we
have a chance to hear from our customers and invest in whats important to them.
Arvigs School Partnership Program is customer-driven, allowing anyone who receives Internet service from Arvig
the opportunity to help raise money for their local school. Customers sign up for the program and Arvig donates $1
of that monthly Internet payment to the school of the customers choice, at no additional cost to the customer. The
only requirement is the school needs to be within the core Arvig service area.
The company presents the schools with checks twice per year. The donation can be used toward whatever the
school needs, whether theyre looking to upgrade a computer lab or buy new books for a classroom.
We hear about teachers using their own income to purchase class supplies because of budget constraints. The goal
of this program is to fill those gaps, said Malikowski. We want our educators to worry less about teaching from an
outdated book and instead, just focus on providing the best learning experience for our kids.
Arvig is a full-service telecommunications provider. In addition to broadband services, Arvig also provides
television and phone services, security, home automation and more. Please visit arvig.com for more details.