Chamber interest: Chincoteague wild pony swim celebrates 90th anniversary
For nearly a century, the last week in July on Chincoteague Island has been all about ponies.
This year will be no different.
Over the weekend, the "Saltwater Cowboys," a group of volunteers who help maintain the herd, began rounding up the wild Chincoteague ponies on Assateague. On Wednesday, the group will swim them to Chincoteague, auction off the foals and swim them back.This 90-year-old tradition may have been made famous by Marguerite Henry's 1947 book Misty of Chincoteague, but this annual event has been an island staple since 1925.
Pony Penning originally started as a fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns the herd, so it could purchase fire equipment.
Today it still serves as a fundraiser for the company, but it also helps them comply with a directive from the National Parks Service. The fire company holds a grazing permit from the National Park Service that only allows 150 horses to stay on the island.
Gallery: Pony Penning through the years
An Eastern Shore News file photograph of Chincoteague Pony Penning from 1938. 2015 marks the 90th year of the annual event. Eastern Shore News file,
This year's event seems to be shaping up to be a big one. Pony Penning isn't a ticketed event, so it can be hard to anticipate attendance, but hotels around the island began filling up well in advance of the weekend festivities, according to Evelyn Shotwell, executive director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. USA Today
Beaver Dam Chamber invests in plan for workforce
The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce is not alone in wondering what Wisconsin’s workforce will look like in 20 years.
According to Phil Fritsche, chamber president, Beaver Dam is one of the first chambers in the state to join in an effort to understand Wisconsin’s workforce. The effort is called the Future Wisconsin Project and, as of right now, Beaver Dam is among 70 Wisconsin chambers in the project.
“We have to address immediate and future needs,” he said.
The project will build over the 20 years it is active to help improve Wisconsin’s workforce and identify where it can improve. Fritsche said, one of the main goals is keeping Wisconsin residents in the state and keeping them working for years to come.
The project is built around six metrics. For the time being Beaver Dam is working to beef up its talent development. Part of accomplishing this goal is aggressive campaigns, starting in September, targeting students in Beaver Dam’s middle and high schools.
The chamber is focusing on manufacturing. Read more: WiscNews.com
Barrington chamber hosts networking event
Registration is now open for the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Network to Success Scramble Luncheon September 16 at Pinstripes, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. The Network Scramble offers attendees powerful one-on-one networking over lunch. Each participant is assigned to sit at three different tables for each course where they have the opportunity to pitch their business and answer discussion questions to promote their marketing initiatives. BACC encourages businesses to register early because the event is limited to no more than four professionals per industry and no more than two representatives from each company. Tickets are $35 per chamber member and $50 per guest, which include a three-course lunch. Table and event sponsorships are also available. For more information, visit the BACC website atwww.BarringtonChamber.com or call (847) 381-2525. Source: Daily Herald
Chamber partnership: St. Clair toasts new courtyard with beer, wine fest
Another transformation for the courtyard of the Riverview Plaza in St. Clair:
Friday evening, it becomes a beer garden.
The first St. Clair Beer and Wine Festival will start at 6:30 p.m. and feature more than 100 craft beers and wine from about 40 breweries and wineries from across the country.
Many will be local Michigan brews and wines.
The St. Clair Chamber of Commerce has partnered with an event planning agency called the Social Connection to produce the tasting.
“This is our first year in St. Clair hosting an event,” said Regina Stocco, Social Connection president. “We have hosted similar events in Oakland and Wayne counties and have received great feedback.” Read more: Times-Herald
Sue Dighton to step down as Ridgefield Chamber Executive Director
The Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce has lost a great ray of sunshine as Susan Dighton Ahlstrom, the Executive Director, announced she would resign her post effective July 24th.
"Things just didn't work out," said Ms. Dighton. "But I had a lot of fun during my time with the Chamber and I know God has bigger and better plans for me for the future," she added.
The Chamber's board of directors are now conducting interviews for candidates to fill the big void that Ms. Dighton will leave behind once she leaves her post. Read more: Hamlet Hub
Chamber assistance: La Porte's Sunflower Fair is on the horizon
In the planters of downtown La Porte bright yellow sunflowers have taken up root and added an extra splash of color while also standing as a reminder that with the fading of summer will come the 17th annual Sunflower Fair.
The Sunflower Fair returns to La Porte on Sept. 19 to bid farewell to summer and usher in a welcome to fall with a festival that will take over Michigan Avenue and several blocks of downtown La Porte.
Organized by Phyllis Jones, the fair will stretch from Michigan and Lincoln Way, where the entertainment area will be set up, all the way down to Noble Street where a classic car show will be held.
Jones said the idea for the sunflower fair came about more than 17 years ago when she was working with the senior center which ran its own fall festival.
"It started by my thinking that the city could have a fall festival," Jones said. "Everybody was very agreeable. The city was behind us, so that's how it all started." Read more: Herald-Argus.com
Attention Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce Members
The Board of Directors have recently partnered with SizeUp to provide you with more in-depth information on Market numbers. Watch Your Email for more information.
What is SizeUp?
SizeUp LBI is a local business intelligence tool that shows how small businesses can grow within their area and stay competitive. All information is customized to a specific service area and includes SizeUp LBI advanced demographics.
With your Chamber’s help, businesses will be able to:
1. Benchmark their performance
2. Find best places to advertise
3. Assess competitiveness
4. Analyze local demographics
The Chamber will localize our tool to our community’s specific needs that will also includes a resource section. This is a membership benefit only for Frankfort Area of Chamber of Commerce members.
For a quick View of the SizeUp LBI tool visit: www.sizeup.com/lbi and for FAQ’s about the tool visit https://www.sizeup.com/help/faq
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