T HE C HAMBER C ORNERVolume 13, Issue 4 April 2013

Official Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Annual Awards Banquet

MissionThe Eatonton-Putnam

Chamber of Commerce is committed to the promotion, enhancement and unity of the

business community, and is vested in the development of Eatonton-Putnam County as a premiere tourist destination.

Strategic Goals1. Support Business

& Community2. Support Tourism

ValuesGrowth Prosperity Unity

Scholarships are available for entrepreneurs (start-up to two years) to participate in the SBDC StartSMART. Evaluate and refine your

business concept; improve your knowledge of busi-

ness fundamentals; conduct research about your markets

and competition; develop a thorough, yet practical

business plan; and receive on-going consulting from

Small Business Development Center professionals to keep you on track. Sessions begin April 5. For more informa-tion, call (478) 757-3609.

A PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA SBDC NETWORK

If you can dream it, we can help!

Owning your own business is the American dream, but building it to withstand the test of time takes a unique set of tools—and a lot of hard work. StartSmart™ will show you the way.

SBDC StartSmart™ Gets Results:• Evaluate & refine your business concept• Improve your knowledge of business concepts• Research markets and competition• Develop a financial forecast to improve chances

of success• Develop a thorough, practical business plan• On-going consulting from SBDC professionals

keeps you on track

SBDC StartSmart was developed by The Georgia SBDC Network. The program is facilitated by specially trained SBDC Consultants and an award winning textbook by renowned author Rhonda Abrams.

On Your Mark, Start. . . Grow!Designed specifically for new entrepreneurs, SBDC StartSmart provides the resources and support to launch your company and put your dreams within reach.

StartSmart will help you launch a business built for today’s challenging times. In just 8 three hour sessions, learn to evaluate and implement your vision by creating a thorough, well researched business plan.

StartSmart covers these important topics in eight high-energy, interactive sessions:

1. Foundations for a Successful Business2. Marketing Research & Analysis3. Capturing the Market4. Efficient Operations5. Financial Foundations6. Financial Plan7. Bringing it All Together8. Implementing and Presenting the Plan

Macon Program: April 5 – May 10, 2013478-757-3609

www.georgiasbdc.org/startsmart

StartSmart™ Statewide Sponsor

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of CommerceCordially Invites you to the 34th Anniversary Celebration

Monday, May 6, 2013 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center Dining Hall

6:30 p.m. - Cocktails | 7:15 p.m. - Dinner | 7:45 p.m. - Awards Ceremony

Presenting Awards for Business Person, Volunteer, Citizen and Edward Rice Youth in Excellence.

$40 Per Person | Cash BarPayable Upon Ordering; Cash, Check, Visa or MasterCard

Attire: Business Casual

RSVP by April 30 to (706) 485-7701 or becky@eatonton.com.

34th Anniversary Celebration

Sponsored by: Putnam General Hospital Georgia Power Company

Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee Farmers & Merchants Bank

Bug House Pest Control The Peoples Bank

Smith Communications Pinnacle Credit Union

Putnam County Charter School System

Sponsor a Table Centerpiece: A favorite tra-dition at the Annual Awards Banquet is the sponsorships of table centerpieces by our Chamber members. These fun ar-rangements, that represent the uniqueness of each business, will be raffled off through a pick-a-prize raffle. If your business is interested in sponsoring a table centerpiece, please email becky@eatonton.com. Remember to be creative with your centerpiece by making it a reflection on your business. For ex-ample, a bank could create a money tree or a dentist office could use toothbrushes to create a unique arrangement. The only costs are the materials you use to create the centerpiece.

The 2013-2014 nominating committee met on March 19 with the following recommenda-tions for serving a two-year term. Nominations to serve a second term include Dr. Rita Daniel (Eatonton Chiropractic Center). Nominations to serve an initial term include Brett Mauldin (MarbleWorks, Inc.), Brandy Huskins (Huskins Law Firm LLC) and Duncan Cris-coe (Crooked Pines Farm). According to the Chamber’s bylaws, members have the right to submit nominations by petition. To make a nomination by petition, call the Chamber at (706) 485-7701. If there are no nominations by petition, then the Board will accept and close the nominations at the April 18 meeting and the nominees will be elected in May at the Annual Awards Banquet.

Board of Directors Nomination Report

April 2013 / Page 2

Welcome!New Chamber Members

Bo Trawick State Farm(706) 484-9744 | statefarm.com103 Harmony Crossing, Suite 5

Eatonton, Ga. 31024Insurance & Financial Services

North Ridge RoofingJason Easley & John Roper

(770) 657-2013 |northridgeroof.com703 Bascomb Commercial Parkway, Suite 107

Woodstock, Ga. 30189Premium Roofing

Tiffany Baker(770) 316-8393

105 Lower Harmony Road Eatonton, Ga. 31024

RSVP for EventsRSVP: (706) 485-7701 | becky@eatonton.com

Allgood Pest Solutions Business After HoursThursday, April 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Lodge on Lake

Oconee, 930 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton. Leave work on time and attend Business After Hours to meet and reconnect with

members of the business community.

Coffee ConnectionsTuesday, April 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber of-

fice, 305 N. Madison Avenue, Eatonton. Let us fill up your cup with new contacts, information and of course coffee. Sponsored

by Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System, Putnam General Hospital, Farm-ers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee

Inc., Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Smith Communications and The Peoples Bank.

Mosquito Authority Networking@NoonWednesday, May 15 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Lodge

on Lake Oconee, 930 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton. Agenda includes lunch, table talk, sponsor presentation, commercials and

general networking. Tickets are $15 for members, $25 general admission.

Coffee Connections is Early in May!Tuesday, May 21 (due to Memorial Day) from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Spillin’ the Beans, 646 Old Phoenix Rd., Suite B, Eatonton.

The fifth annual, award-winning, Georgia’s Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage will take place April 18 through 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. The Antebellum Trail Pil-grimage is a tour of homes through seven historic communities including Macon, Old Clinton, Milledgeville, Eatonton, Madison, Watkinsville and Athens. It will feature events and tours along the Trail as well as entrance into private, historic homes not open to the general public. Tickets are $25 and provide a pass with unlimited access to the attractions on the Pilgrimage itinerary. Groups of 10 or more receive discounted tickets at $20. Eatonton attractions will include (attractions vary each day): Slade Hall: Circa 1852-1854. It is the only known Greek Re-vival house in the area. According to John Linley in Architecture of Middle Georgia States “Greek Revival architecture seems to have reached a certain classic perfection in this house.” Ezell-Tatum Home: A Queen Anne Victorian originally built in 1886 by Evan Ezell, a prominent merchant, banker and planter. Napier-Reid-Rainey-Stubbs-Eagle Tavern (Bronson House): Originally a Piedmont Plain house built in 1816-1822, the home was remolded in 1846 to Greek Revival. Uncle Remus Museum: The museum features artifacts, murals and storytelling of Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus, the character made famous in the folklore tales of Joel Chandler Harris. For more information and a complete itinerary, visit www.antebellumtrail.org. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office. The Antebellum Trail is a 100 mile trek through seven communities that escaped Sherman’s burning march through Georgia.

Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage

April 2013 / Page 3

Serenity Hospice Care sponsored Networking @ Noon on Wednesday, March 20 at The Plaza Arts Center. Attendees sat at one long dinner style table and played bingo to help learn each other’s businesses and hear Chamber updates. For more information on Serenity Hospice Care, contact Scott Watkins at (478) 454-1884 or serenityhospicecares.com.

Looking for Member-2-Member?

Member-2-Member has changed to give you the most exposure. Instead of being located in the monthly news-letter and weekly email, these updates will be available on either the Chamber’s website or on one of our social

networking sites so that we can promote you to the community. This new method will enable you to submit

events whenever is convenient for you. Send submis-sions to becky@eatonton.com. Plain text that we can

copy and paste are preferred over flyers and PDF’s.

Community Events:www.visiteatonton.com

If your event is open to the community, send us a photo and a short description with the event title, presenter (business or organization planning the event), date,

time, location, short description, cost and contact information.

Business to Business Events:www.eatontonchamber.com

If your events are for businesses, send us a photo and a short description with event title, presenter (business or

organization planning the event), date, time, location, short description, cost and contact information.

News, Updates & Emails:www.facebook.com/epchamber

www.twitter.com/eatontonchamberHave something you would like to get the word out

about on our social media networks? News/updates in-clude employee updates, new services, business expan-sions awards and more. Send us a photo (if desired) and a short description with your organization name, news and contact information. We can also share your social

media status updates.

Do you have an email list that you are trying to grow? Include the Chamber on your email list and we will be happy to share it on our social media networks, as long

as it includes links for easy sharing.

Coffee Connections was held on Tuesday, March 26 at Spillin’ the Beans. Members enjoyed conversations led by Vice Chair Jon Butler. Pictured Chip Johnson, Louie Herron Auto Sales, meets new member Shane Williams, CitruSolution.

Leadership Putnam 2013 is almost complete! The class will hold a graduation ceremony on April 4 where students will also present their class project. Pictured, Matt Powers, Geor-gia Power Company, prepares for the high ropes course with the support of his class-mates.

Coffee Connections and Leadership are sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bug House Pest Control of Lake Oconee Inc., Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Smith Communi-cations, The Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Credit Union, Georgia Power Company, Putnam County Charter School System and Putnam General Hospital.

Event Recaps___________________

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDEatonton, GAPermit No. 6

Chamber Staff:Roddie Anne Blackwell, President

Becky Needham, Membership Manager

Bonnie Simmons, Tourism Manager

Board of Directors:Wes Lewis, Chairman

Georgia Power Company

Jon Butler, Vice Chair

Lowell White, III, TreasurerCalvert & White Custom Homes

Eric ArenaPutnam County Charter School System

Terri CampRock Eagle 4-H Center

Rita DanielEatonton Chiropractic Center

Carrie DietrichCentral Georgia Technical College

Jay GregoryGregory Bridge Company

Joe HudsonFarmers & Merchants Bank

Bryce McCuinJBM Creative

Marty PhillipsTechknow Gurus

Cynthia WallaceReal Estate Agent

The Chamber Corner, April 2013

(706) 485-7701 | fax (706) 485-3277PO Box 4088 | 305 N. Madison Ave.

Eatonton, Ga. 31024Becky@eatonton.com

www.eatontonchamber.comwww.facebook.com/epchamber

www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber

2013 Chamber Champions!

child. Reservations are required. For more information: (706) 342-7557 | info@steffenthomas.org | www.steff-enthomas.org.

Jan. 22: Eatonton Elks Lodge #2549 Country Cookin’ at the Elks Lodge, 7 p.m. Menu includes country fried pork chops and trimmings. Adults $10 and Children 12 and un-der $6. Non Members are welcome. The Lodge is smoke free. For more information, call (706) 485-8606.

Feb. 9-18: The Plaza Arts Center Second Annual Fine Art Show will open to the public. For more information: (706) 923-1655 | www.theplazaartscenter.com.

Feb. 9: Steffen Thomas Museum of Art presents a Family Workshop: Pop Heart Valentines, 10 a.m. to noon. Marjean Meadow pulls out all the stops in this pop-up class for Valentine’s day! Make a super Valentine for someone special or create a dimensional centerpiece for your table to celebrate love’s holiday! All ages will enjoy working with decorative scissors, paper, fringe, hole-punches and a vari-ety of mixed media to create this work of HEART! Fee - $10/adult, $8/child. Reservations are required. For more information: (706) 342-7557 | info@steffenthomas.org | www.steffenthomas.org.

Feb. 15: The Plaza Arts Center presents Wine Lover’s Opera,7:30 p.m. Opera South, Kazanetti and Classic Wines join forces to bring you an incredible night of Amore! Cel-ebrate the Valentine Holiday at The Plaza with a taste of mu-sic and wine from Tuscany... a lovers paradise! Wine tasting included in ticket price. For more information: (706) 923-1655 | www.theplazaartscenter.com.

Now through March 30: The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art presents “Steffen Thomas: Prints and Printmaking,” an exhibit of Steffen Thomas hand pulled prints, printmak-ing plates and tools. These works have been assembled from private collections as well as from the Steffen Thomas Archives and are outstanding examples of Intaglio, Lithog-raphy, Block Prints, Mono Prints, Collography, and Rub-bing. For more information: (706) 342-7557 | info@stef-fenthomas.org | www.steffenthomas.org.

Member News & Events

R&R Insurance Group, LLC has relocated! Visit the new location at 1060 Salem Walk Drive, Suite 1, Greens-boro, GA 30642.

Putnam General Hospital was listed as a Top Critical Access Hospital in rural communities in the December 2012 issue of Georgia Trend in the article “Finding the Right Hospital.”

Jan. 3-13: The Plaza Arts Center Second Annual Fine Art Show call for artists! Get your brushes, paints, pencils and canvas ready! Applications and photos of work will be accepted Jan. 3-13. The artist’s reception will be on Feb. 8 and the show will open to the public on Feb. 9, running until Feb. 18. Ribbons awarded to those plac-ing in their categories and a cash prize will be awarded to the piece chosen as “Best in Show!” For more information: (706) 923-1655 | www.theplazaartscenter.com.

Jan. 8: Eatonton Elks Lodge #2549 Country Cookin’ at the Elks Lodge, 7 p.m. Menu includes country fried steak and trimmings. Adults $10 and Children 12 and under $6. Non Members are welcome. The Lodge is smoke free. For more information: (706) 485-8606.

Jan. 11: Lake Oconee Living Red Carpet Awards Gala at The Plaza Arts Center, 6 p.m. The community is invited to join the magazine as it reveals the winners of the 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards in true “Oscars” style. Winners will hit the red carpet beginning at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony will begin following a cocktail hour. Free food and drink will be provided by winners of the “Best of Food & Dining” and a silent auction will benefit winners of “Best Non-Profit Organization.” The event is free and open to the public. Black tie attire is optional. For more information: www.LakeOconeeLivingMag.com.

Jan. 12: Steffen Thomas Museum of Art presents a Family Workshop: Post-Impressionist Pillow Prints Satur-day, 10 a.m. to noon. Artist Nan Demsky teaches you how to make amazing fabric soft-sculptures using line, form, color, texture and shape. Working with muslin, string, paint and a prepared template, so creative and fun, you’ll be hooked! You can’t make just one! Fee - $10/adult, $8/

January 2013 Insert

Please remember to submit your Member to Member News & Events formatted in a 50 words or less paragraph to becky@eatonton.com by the 20th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter.

Advertise in this newsletter: Reach over 600 contacts with a newsletter insert for only $50. Submission

deadline is the 20th of each month. Supply 250 copies and an electronic file.

Member Events & News

Please remember to submit your Member to Member Events & News formatted in a 50 words or less paragraph to becky@eatonton.com by the 20th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter. November 2012 Insert

...Member Events continued from front.