Kenosha News: OUR VIEW: Connie Ferwerda leaves lasting legacy
In the last 50 years, Connie Ferwerda may have been the most influential person in Kenosha.
She never held an elective office, but she had an enormous talent for marshaling the community’s resources to mend gaps in the social fabric. Her legacy is a long list of organizations that she helped to create, organizations that affect thousands of people every year.
Ferwerda died Friday at the age of 83.
People take for granted now that elderly people can get meals delivered to their homes, but it wasn’t always the case. Connie Ferwerda helped make it happen by working with the Kenosha Junior Woman’s Club to create the Meals on Wheels program.
Most people think hospice care for the terminally ill is a normal part of the community’s medical resources, but it wasn’t always that way. Ferwerda was one of the founders of Kenosha Hospice Alliance.
The list goes on and on. She helped create the Lincoln Neighborhood Center, the Kenosha Voluntary Action Center, Kenosha Youth Development Services and the Kenosha County Homemaker-Health Aide Service, which later became Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc. That organization last week celebrated its 47th anniversary.
Ferwerda’s achievements — and the community’s recognition of them — stretched over a long time. She was named the Woman of the Year in 1974. In 1997, she was given an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In 1999, She was named Person of the Year by the Lincoln Neighborhood Community Center and the county executive declared Dec. 1 Connie Ferwerda Day. In 2003, she was given the Living Legend Award by the Mary Lou Mahone Endowment Fund. Earlier this year, she was named one of the recipients of the Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ferwerda clearly had leadership talent, and she recognized the need to provide training to new community leaders. In 1998, she worked with the Greater Kenosha Foundation as that organization and the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce developed a program called Leadership Kenosha. Later the University of Wisconsin-Extension also became involved. The mission, Ferwerda said, was “to help prepare diverse, knowledgeable, enthusiastic citizens to explore challenges, and through rewarding personal experiences, develop cost-effective solutions in our fast-changing world.”
That program, like so many Ferwerda helped to create, continues to help people today.
Once she told a reporter that her philosophy of reaching out to the community was summed up in a campfire song with the line, “The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.” Read more: Kenosha News
Area Development Partnership, State agency brings jobs, investment to area
Forrest and Lamar counties have been magnets for development, according to Glenn McCullough Jr., executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
"The Mississippi Development Authority has been working with the Area Development Partnership since 2013 in Forrest and Lamar counties to bring more than $205 million in private capital invested and 1,892 new career opportunities to the Pine Belt and beyond," he said.
McCullough was in Hattiesburg recently for a visit to the Area Development Partnership.
"We work hand in hand with the Area Development Partnership," he said. "(President) Chad Newell and the ADP are good at what they do.
"We work with Mississippi Power, South Mississippi Electric Power Association, other utilities. We work closely with our partners at the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mississippi Polymer Institute, Pearl River Community College and Jones County Junior College."
The Mississippi Development Authority is the state's lead economic and community development agency, with about 250 employees.
"Mississippi Development Authority's mission is to work with partners to bring more and better jobs for Mississippians," McCullough said. "We want our economy to grow. We want to strengthen our partnerships." Hattiesburg American
Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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| Rapid City Directory |
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Shop Southern Illinois Program wins national award
A program designed to urge area residents to complete their holiday shopping in Southern Illinois has garnered national recognition.
Shop Southern Illinois, a cooperative effort of 17 area chambers of commerce, placed second in the third annual national Chamber Innovation Award Competition, a program which celebrates and shares inventive ideas from chambers across the nation. Nearly 100 entries were received from Chamber organizations across the nation. Awards were announced at the annual conference of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives held this week in Savannah, Ga.
Shop Southern Illinois featured a website where area residents could learn some of the reasons why it is important for Southern Illinoisans to shop locally and where they could take an online pledge to do most of their own holiday shopping in the region. By making the pledge, participants were entered in weekly drawings to win prizes which were donated by businesses.
A full marketing plan supported the program. Local and regional media ran promotions as public service announcements free of charge. The campaign included television and radio commercials featuring Southern Illinois University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Barry Hinson, who urged area residents: “Don’t cross the river and don’t go online. Do your holiday shopping right here, where we all win.”
Southern Illinois Chambers cooperating for the effort included Benton/West City, Carbondale, Carmi, Carterville, Chester, DuQuoin, Hamilton County, Herrin, Jefferson County, Marion, Metropolis, Murphysboro, Nashville, Pinckneyville, Saline County, Union County, and West Frankfort.
“It’s very exciting to have our Shop Southern Illinois program recognized on a national scale,” said Les O’Dell, executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. “The effort is the ultimate in regional cooperation -- 17 chambers and businesses all over the region all working together with one goal: making area residents mindful of the importance of supporting our own communities and region.”
Marion Chamber of Commerce members who contributed items to the Shop Southern Illinois program included:
- Wesley's Custom Graphics (Shop Southern Illinois decals)
- Krispy Kreme (one dozen donuts a month for a year)
- 17th Street Bar & Grill ($125 gift certificate)
- Black Diamond Harley Davidson ($250 gift certificate)
- Pepsi MidAmerica (GRAND PRIZE: a year's supply of Pepsi)
"We are in the early stages of planning the 2016 Shop Southern Illinois campaign and we are looking for more great prizes to give away this year," said Dalus Ben Avi, executive director of the Marion Chamber of Commerce. "We want to continue to remind our area residents to not travel outside of our region or go online to do their holiday shopping."
To donate a prize to the Shop Southern Illinois campaign, please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce office at (618) 997-6311 or email director@marionillinois.com.
Area Chamber leaders plan to continue the two-year-old program in 2016 and are pledging to use the $500 cash prize from the competition as prize money for this year’s Shop Southern Illinois campaign. More information: Marion Chamber
#BestChamber practices: Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber - Refer a New Mamber
Membership Referral Promotion
Refer a NEW MEMBER Aug 15-Sept 16 to receive $50 toward a gift card to Kroger, Whole Foods or Chamber Bucks
Think about where you shop, dine and have fun...are they a Chamber Member? Ask and Refer!
Membership Info Here
Professional Advancement opportunity: from Shelli Williams, Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) - Wayne County, Indiana
President and CEO - Wayne County Chamber
To donate a prize to the Shop Southern Illinois campaign, please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce office at (618) 997-6311 or email director@marionillinois.com.
Area Chamber leaders plan to continue the two-year-old program in 2016 and are pledging to use the $500 cash prize from the competition as prize money for this year’s Shop Southern Illinois campaign. More information: Marion Chamber
#BestChamber practices: Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber - Refer a New Mamber
Membership Referral Promotion
Refer a NEW MEMBER Aug 15-Sept 16 to receive $50 toward a gift card to Kroger, Whole Foods or Chamber Bucks
Think about where you shop, dine and have fun...are they a Chamber Member? Ask and Refer!
Membership Info Here
Editorial: Workforce development keeps Danville in business
Ten years ago, an instructor at Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute observed to his class of young economic development professionals: “If you are not in the business of workforce development now, you will be out of business in economic development in the future.” That instructor was prophetic, particularly viewing the vast changes to the work of economic development that have occurred since that time.
There are many factors that have traditionally affected the location of a new business or the expansion of an existing business. State and local tax structures, regulatory environments, costs of doing business, public infrastructure, available sites or buildings, market access, planned parks or developments and financial incentives are just a few of the basic factors considered by a business in deciding whether to locate or grow in a community.
Today, the availability of a skilled workforce is the number one issue impacting business attraction and recruitment. In fact, in Area Development magazine’s highly-regarded 30th annual survey of corporate executives in 2015, the availability of skilled labor was the top-ranked factor of 92.9 percent of respondents, up from 82.1 percent in 2014, when it was the fifth-ranked item. Over the years of the magazine’s survey, workforce-related issues have crept up on and surpassed traditional concerns such as highway accessibility, quality of life, construction costs and available buildings.
Ten or more years ago, many communities and their economic developers simply pitched their local residents as good, productive workers or showed their unemployment rate as proof of available labor. Twenty years ago in Kentucky, a former governor sold our state’s workforce as being raised on or one generation from the family farm, which instilled in them a strong work ethic, problem-solving ability and a knack for mechanical knowledge. However, this is largely nostalgia today, as agriculture is an increasingly smaller percentage of the economy and as societal shifts has either urbanized or suburbanized the majority of the American population. Read more: Advocate Messenger
Professional Advancement opportunity: from Shelli Williams, Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) - Wayne County, Indiana
President and CEO - Wayne County Chamber
Amy Oler Holthouse has resigned as the President & CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber to accept a position with Earlham College. The Chamber's Board of Directors has opened the search process. For more information on how to apply, visit the Chamber's website.
The deadline to apply is September 1.
Pat Mc Gaughey:The greatest compliment happens when you've been gone for two weeks on vacation...
This is hard news and to some it is even offensive but if you ever get to the point where you don't think the organization can live without you, you have missed a key lesson in your management career.
The greatest compliment I ever received in organization management was when the board of directors took eleven months to replace me. Even better during that time, I received just one call during those eleven months for some helpful direction.
I had a great staff and one of the reasons they were so great is that I let them be great. We had an unspoken agreement; I never did their job unless they were on vacation and they never did my job unless I was on vacation.
Here's where the tough news really comes in; I have been gone from my organization now for 18 years with my consulting business and through some kind of miracle, they are still open and operating at the highest level.
Now unplug and go away. If you come back to chaos, figure it out. If you come back and all is fine, accept the compliment. Contact Pat: www.ChamberMentor.com <pat@chambermentor.com>
Town Square Publications Chamber Directories and Maps - Custom Publishing
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here
The deadline to apply is September 1.
Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce pressing forward on transportation issues
The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce is delighted about the truly great win for Virginia, and for our community, with the Atlantic Gateway FASTLANE grant.
Our region’s transportation needs are extensive; because of this, our residents and our businesses have been mired in constant traffic gridlock for years.
In addition to other improvements, the $165 million federal grant provides critical money for a new southbound Interstate 95 bridge over the Rappahannock River; seven additional miles of express lanes in Arlington County to Washington, D.C.; and 10 additional miles of express lanes from the Garrisonville chokepoint in Stafford County to the Rappahannock River.
We appreciate the efforts of Gov. Terry McAuliffe and our congressional delegation on our behalf. We also appreciate the hard work and attention our region has received from Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne, Transportation Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick and our Commonwealth Transportation Board representative, Hap Connors.
Members of the chamber’s Regional Transportation Action Committee, led by John Fick, owner/CEO of J.F. Fick, met with various officials and elected leaders numerous times over the past several months to urge them to support the grant. We appreciate the partnership and support of The Free Lance–Star, which helped get the word out to the community.
The Fredericksburg region spoke up in great numbers and our voices were heard. We are proud of officials in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, King George and Caroline for coming together in support of an effort that will have a positive impact for our quality of life and the prosperity of our region. Read more: Fredericksburg.com
Pat Mc Gaughey:The greatest compliment happens when you've been gone for two weeks on vacation...
 |
..and your staff took care of everything.
This is hard news and to some it is even offensive but if you ever get to the point where you don't think the organization can live without you, you have missed a key lesson in your management career.
The greatest compliment I ever received in organization management was when the board of directors took eleven months to replace me. Even better during that time, I received just one call during those eleven months for some helpful direction.
I had a great staff and one of the reasons they were so great is that I let them be great. We had an unspoken agreement; I never did their job unless they were on vacation and they never did my job unless I was on vacation.
Here's where the tough news really comes in; I have been gone from my organization now for 18 years with my consulting business and through some kind of miracle, they are still open and operating at the highest level.
Now unplug and go away. If you come back to chaos, figure it out. If you come back and all is fine, accept the compliment. Contact Pat: www.ChamberMentor.com <pat@chambermentor.com>
Town Square Publications Chamber Directories and Maps - Custom Publishing
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here
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