Wisconsin Chamber Professional Digest
October, 2016
Happy Tuesday, #chamber world! It’s going to be a
great week!
Be sure to sign up for the WCCE conference in La
Crosse September 21-23 – More information here: WCCE Annual Conference
Eau
Claire Area Chamber of Commerce leader Bob McCoy announces retirement
After 23
years of service to the community, a longtime leader is vacating his position.
President & CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Bob McCoy has
just announced his retirement at the Chamber board meeting.
He says, “I was hired to come to Eau Claire to get the Highway 53 bypass completed. That is a huge success. The chamber is one of the top 100 in the country and I'm very proud of that. I will miss all of the people and the fact that I believe I am a resource for the Community and I will miss that."
The soon to be 69-year-old announced plans to retire on Friday, June 2, 2017. McCoy has been previously recognized for his thirty four years leading four Chambers in Rock Rapids, IA, Fairmont and Albert Lea, MN as well as Eau Claire.
It's not yet clear as to why McCoy has chosen to retire at this time, but in 2014, he was named Chamber Executive of the Year by the Mid America Chamber Executives (MACE) organization. MACE is a six state group of Chamber professionals (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin). There are over six hundred Chambers in the six states. Read more: WEAU 13 News
Beloit Chamber of Commerce sets
Community Spirit Day, free community cookout
The Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce will hold a Beloit
Community Spirit Day from 1 - 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4 on East Grand
Avenue.
This is a free community cookout with hanburgers, brats, got dogs, veggie burgers and chips. Culver’s Frozen Custard will becourtesy of Culver’s mascot, Scoopie. There will also be non-alcoholic drinks provided. Suds O’Hanahan’s will serve as the food HQ.
Along with the free food for everyone, there will be face painting and balloon animals for the kids and a casual atmosphere to get to know your neighbors. Beloit Daily News
This is a free community cookout with hanburgers, brats, got dogs, veggie burgers and chips. Culver’s Frozen Custard will becourtesy of Culver’s mascot, Scoopie. There will also be non-alcoholic drinks provided. Suds O’Hanahan’s will serve as the food HQ.
Along with the free food for everyone, there will be face painting and balloon animals for the kids and a casual atmosphere to get to know your neighbors. Beloit Daily News
Phil
Hardwick — What remarkable associations do that others don’t
Why do some organizations thrive and really make a difference when others seem to be just hanging on? One thorough research project revealed that there are several things that make a significant difference in the success of associations. This research, which was conducted by the American Association of Society Executives, was presented in a book entitled 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don’t. If you manage an association, serve in a leadership role in an association or are a member of an association this book is worth reading.
The 7
Measures Project, as it was called, began in 2002 and resulted in publication
of the book in 2006. An updated version was published in 2012. It presents as
checkup on the associations that were mentioned in the first edition. The
research used the matched-pair methodology, which was also used by Jim Collins
and colleagues and resulted in the classic business management book, Good to
Great. Basically, what that means is that the researchers looked at
organizations that were in the same era and faced the same challenges. The
successful companies were then compared to those that were not so successful to
find out why. The researchers looked at 104 associations that had been in
business for a minimum of 20 years.
Listed
below are the seven measures, or factors, that were discovered. along with some
comments by this writer.
1. A
Customer Service Culture – The remarkable associations built their
organizations by serving members and providing value to their members. They
actively sought ways to continuously improve services to their members.
Some
organizations make the mistake of forgetting that they are membership organizations.
For example, the leadership of one chamber of commerce in Mississippi decided
that it wanted to effect change in an issue facing the public. It got involved
in a campaign that resulted in a referendum that was defeated by the community
by a wide margin. The members were never asked if they wanted to participate in
the campaign. It took a while for the chamber to rebuild member trust.
2.
Alignment of Products and Services with Mission – The associations were driven
by mission, not money. Everyone knew the mission of the organization and whom
they served. The mission was central, regardless of the external environment.
Some
organizations that are really good at what they good get lured into doing other
things by funders who are in search of effective organizations. For example, an
organization good at building houses may not be so good at job creation. But
because of their success and opportunity to expand they refocused their
mission, which led to a crisis when the funding dried up.
3.
Data-Driven Strategies – Surveys of members, analysis of the environment in
which they operated and continuous analysis of information resulted in
accumulation of data that was acted upon. The remarkable associations were good
at gathering and sharing information. They knew what members wanted and were
willing to pay for.
4.
Dialogue and Engagement – The staff and volunteers listened to each other and
talked to each other. There were cross-functional teams, and no so-called
silos. There was constant communication. By the way, the typical level of
member non-involvement is 69.9 percent.
5. CEO as
a Broker of Ideas – The CEO facilitated “visionary thinking” throughout the
organization and developed a strong staff and volunteer partnership. The CEO
was not necessarily the idea generator, but was the person who connected ideas
with people and action.
Organizations
should beware of charismatic leaders who have followers. It should be the
organization and its mission that is followed, not the leader.
6.
Organizational Adaptability – When remarkable organizations face a crisis they
learn from it and change accordingly. Nevertheless, they know when not to
change. The key is to know when to change. Sometimes that means abandoning a
project or idea; sometimes it means refocusing.
This is
why regular strategic planning is so important. Planning is about looking
ahead, but it is also learning from the past, e.g. what worked and did not
work.
7. Alliance Building – These
associations were very good at finding and forming alliances and partnerships
that complemented their mission and purpose. They also were good at
communicating clear expectations about the partnerships. They are not driven by
money, nor were they afraid to dissolve the partnership if it was not
effective. Read more: Mississippi Business
MMAC
interest: Jagler: 5 tips for exporting to China
In the view
of Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce,
generating true wealth and value for Wisconsin requires local manufacturers to
export their products out of state.
“The rest
of us," Sheehy says, "are just washing each other’s socks.”
Last week
in this column we explored the best practices for importing
goods to Wisconsin from China.
This week,
we want to look at the latest and greatest ideas for exporting goods from
Wisconsin to China.
Joseph
Jurken, founder and senior partner of The ABC Group LLC, a Milwaukee-based
consulting company, estimates he has visited China on business more than 200
times over the past three decades. He closely monitors the trade agreements the
United States negotiates with other countries and regions.
The United
States had a record $365.7 billion trade deficit with China in 2015, according
to the U.S. Census Bureau.
However,
Jurken says the “Americanization” of China provides opportunities for smart
Wisconsin companies.
In most
cases, Wisconsin companies aren’t able to compete on labor costs in China, but
they can compete on innovation and premium brands, Jurken says.
“We have to
be able to sell our products in China. People like American products,” Jurken
says. “Regarding the trade deficit, the problem is not that we import too much.
It’s that we don’t export enough.”
Over time,
Chinese business executives have become more savvy about dealing with Americans
in negotiations over price and other concessions, Jurken says.
“There are
great opportunities in China, but a large challenge is that as they have become
more Americanized, they understand our way of thinking better, and I think they
have become tougher negotiators. They’ve gotten smarter in their negotiating
skills,” he says.
Jurken has
plenty of anecdotes about companies that have figured out how to prosper by
exporting to China.
“It is
important to not only know your products but also how they fit in the global
economy,” Jurken says. “We had a client that manufactured a specialized
component and sold to a multinational company. They did an outstanding job of
working the engineers in the USA for approval and provided us ‘intel’ to work
with the Chinese buyer. Basically it was both sides of the ocean focusing on
their strengths and working in tandem. It was a huge success for our client.”
He also has
seen companies that have failed in their Chinese ventures.
“It is
important for U.S. companies to stay true to their business model and not be
swayed by Chinese buyers to take control of the relationship,” Jurken says. “It
is extremely important for the U.S. seller to remain in the driver’s seat of
the relationship. It is never wise to allow the Chinese buyer to get behind the
wheel.”
I asked
Jurken to share five insights for Wisconsin companies interested in exporting
to China:
1. Charge a
fair price. “Follow the rule of supply and demand. If there’s demand for your
products there, strongly consider charging a fair price as you would in any
other country. Don’t drop prices because the Chinese economy is lagging. Also,
don’t be afraid to ask for a premium when selling goods to a new Chinese
customer.”
2. Plan
around purchase orders. “Consider using firm purchase orders to get a handle on
production visibility and reduce exposure to China’s economic fluctuations.
It’s an attractive alternative to flexible forecasts, which can leave a company
struggling with excess capacity when orders are down and not enough capacity
when orders are up.”
3. Expand
carefully. “China consists of multiple submarkets. Companies will do well to
gain significant traction in their core markets first and then expand to
others. Avoid the tendency to expand quickly in multiple submarkets, which can
strain resources. When expansion is called for, select markets that are
geographically proximate and look for similar demographics in customers."
Read more: Journal Sentinel
Greater Madison Chamber dinner to
feature Trek's John Burke and Lands' End's Federica Marchionni as speakers
The top
executives of Trek Bicycle Corp. and Lands’
End will headline the Greater
Madison Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner in September.
John
Burke, president of Waterloo-based Trek, and Federica Marchionni, CEO of
apparel retailer Lands’ End, will be keynote speakers at the event Sept. 28 at
Monona Terrace.
Chamber
president Zach Brandon said the theme of this year’s dinner will be “Make
Madison” — that the greater Madison area is “the place where you can make a
career, make a life and make a difference,” he said.
Rather
than drawing a speaker from outside Wisconsin, as the chamber did the past two
years — with Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution in 2015 and
best-selling author Steven Johnson in 2014 — Brandon said he wanted Wisconsin
leaders to address the business organization.
“We
wanted people who understand what makes greater Madison the place that it is,”
Brandon said. Read more: Madison.com
MMAC
report: Most area economic indicators improved in July
Most metro Milwaukee economic indicators improved in July,
according to the latest economic report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee
Association of Commerce, but the number of positive indicators dipped slightly
compared to June.
Of the 22 economic indicators with available information for
July, 15 posted year-over-year gains during the month, compared to 16 that
posted gains in June.
“While the aggregate number of positive indicators is down
slightly from recent months, the majority of indicators continue to point
upward,” said Bret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC.
July was the 54th consecutive month, dating back to January of
2012, that a majority of metro Milwaukee economic indicators have posted
year-over-year gains, Mayborne said.
Highlights of the MMAC’s July economic report:
·
The metro area has added 13,700 jobs over a year ago, a 1.6
percent increase.
·
Seven of 10 major industry sectors had year-over-year job
increases in July in the metro area. The construction, mining and natural
resource sector posted the largest gain, up 7 percent.
·
The financial services sector had the largest jobs decline, down
4.9 percent year-over-year.
·
The number of unemployed in the metro area dipped 8.7 percent
from a year ago to 39,800.
·
The area’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in July was
4.7 percent, down 0.6 percentage point from a year ago. By comparison, the
state’s unadjusted unemployment rate in July was 4.1 percent, and the national
rate was 5.1 percent.
Governor
Scott Walker emphasizes importance of tourism
Wisconsin Governor Scott
Walker said Monday that the state’s rapid response to dealing with flood damage
caused by torrential rainstorms last July was in part a recognition of the
crucial role tourism plays in the state’s economy.
“It was critically
important, because for us to have roads that were closed, it’s not just a
transportation issue, it really becomes a barrier to tourism, and we wanted to
make sure that there were no barriers along the way, that people knew that even
if a county road might be closed, that there were alternatives and viable ways
to get around, and we needed access to that information quickly,” he said.
“We not only had the web
site up, but we had Facebook, Twitter, other forms of electronic media going,”
he said, observing that the Department of Tourism had ”blasted” the message
that northern Wisconsin was still “open for business.”
Walker made the remarks
Monday as a part of “Cabinet on the Road” events taking place throughout
northwestern Wisconsin this week. The visits featured the Governor and members
of his cabinet as well as other high-ranking administrators, totaling 36 state
officials, making over 100 stops in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron,
Rusk Sawyer and Washburn counties.
Walker was visiting
Garmisch Inn near Cable where he talked with local business and tourism
officials about recovering from the floods.
“We are going to continue
being here over and over again, working with local officials on everything from
individual assistance, all the way through the trails and other things that are
the next step that will be critically important to businesses this fall,
gearing up for the winter season,” Walker said.
It was a message that was
well received by tourism representatives.
“Truly, it has been
remarkable, the response of this governor and his administration, for what they
done for our economy, our people, the residents of northwestern Wisconsin,”
said James Bolen, executive director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce.
Read more: Ashland Daily Press
Kenosha
Area Chamber event: ‘All about the barbecue’
Let the
games begin.
Dozens of
professional and inspiring grill masters square off at the sixth annual Grill
Games BBQ Competition & Lakefront Festival on Friday and Saturday (Aug.
26-27) at HarborPark’s Celebration Place, located at 56th Street and First
Avenue.
Admission
is free.
Grill Games
is one of more than 500 worldwide contests sanctioned by the Kansas City
Barbeque Society. About 40 professional and local teams will compete for nearly
$10,000 in prize money. A grand champion will be crowned along with individual
honors presented for top ribs, chicken, beef brisket and pork shoulder.
“This is
all about the barbecue,” Kenosha Chamber of Commerce president Lou Molitor
said. “That’s what separates this event from the others.”
Past
champions Yellow River BBQ of Plymouth, Ind., and The Smoke Hunters of Minooka,
Ill., are entered in this year’s field. Teams fire up their grills from 10 a.m.
to noon Saturday with winners announced at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Read more: Kenosha News
WMC's Bauer is scheduled speaker for
September 15 chamber lunch
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) President Kurt Bauer
is the scheduled speaker for the Sept. 15 Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce noon
luncheon at Buck & Honey’s, located at 804 Liberty Blvd.
Bauer will discuss Wisconsin’s transformation from an
anti-business to a pro-business state and what the state chamber of commerce
plans to do in the next legislative session to continue to improve Wisconsin’s
national and global economic competitiveness.
The cost for the buffet lunch is $13 per chamber member, with
reservations required by Monday, Sept. 12.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the chamber at
(608) 837-4547. Source: HNGnews.com
Beloit Chamber helping hand:
Business mentors needed to assist students
Several
Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS) students have blossomed under the mentoring
of business leaders, and school officials are urging more adult role models to
step forward.
The Lunch
and Learn program pairs professionals with ninth graders to help them
transition to high school and prepare for the future. The program currently has
about 10 adult mentors, but it needs to at least double that number to serve
more students.
“The
mentors have added value to those around them and it’s a ripple effect. It’s
bigger than what we can imagine sometimes,” BMHS Vice Principal John Kaminiski
said.
If people
want to mentor they are welcome to contact Kaminski at 361-3017 or career
advocate Lindsay Healless at 361-3340. There also will be a career connections
breakfast held Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. at the Beloit Public Library where people can
learn more about the program.
Students
said their mentors had a profound effect on them.
“They are
here to help you through your weaknesses and strengths, to motivate you, keep
you on the right track, give you examples and teach you the right things,”
sophomore Lilit Ortega said.
“It’s a new
experience. You can call them up and talk to them and they will make you feel
comfortable,” sophomore Qurri Dumas said.
Each mentor
and mentee have their own unique relationship. Greater Beloit Beloit Chamber
Executive Director Tim Dutter, for example, has been lunching around town with
his mentee Seth Toles. Dutter has escorted Seth on tours of the business park,
Irontek and even brought him along to the Chamber annual dinner. Seth, who
hopes go to college and run a restaurant one day, said he’s benefited from all of
Dutter’s connections. Although the lunches were a bit quiet at first as Seth
learned to trust Dutter, Dutter said he talked about himself, cooking and
anything else to keep the conversation going.
“Seth just
seemed like he had a lot of ambition. We haven’t spent a ton of time talking
about grades, but we talk about the big picture and what he wants to do after
college. With that, his grades just came along,” Dutter said. Read more: Beloit Daily News
Madison
Black Chamber of Commerce hosts city's first Black Restaurant Week
Several
businesses across Madison are serving up diversity for Black Restaurant Week.
"I
feel like it highlights what Madison has," Myra McNair, patron of That BBQ
Joint, said.
"I'm
sure other people don't know what Madison has to offer with all the different
black restaurants," McNair continued.
The week
of highlighting black owned restaurants is a first for Madison, and several
people agreed it's a way to help put these dining establishments on the map.
"[This
week creates] awareness... and a sense of
community,"
McNair said.
Madison's
Black Chamber of Commerce helped organize the event, and Clement Henriques,
co-owner of That BBQ joint, said he's glad a week like this has finally come.
"There's
not a whole lot of highlighting individuals," Henriques said.
"There
could be more of it and this is a positive step in the right direction in my opinion,"
he continued.
Twin
Lakes Area Chamber announces two August events
The
Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association has announced two upcoming
events in August, the 26th Annual Golf Outing along with the Business in the
Park and Car Show/Village Block Party.
Volunteers,
sponsors needed
The
annual golf outing held Wednesday, August 17 at Twin Lakes Country Club is in
need of volunteers, business sponsors and donations for raffle items.
Volunteers
are needed for areas including, but not limited to, registration and hole
spotters.
Cost
of sponsoring each hole is $100, with $75 for those who have sponsored before,
and $200 for a green and $175 for returning sponsors.
Raffle
items include wine and restaurant gift certificates, goodie bags items, or
those up for silent auction.
Registration
opens at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start set at 11 a.m. For further
information, contact the Chamber office at (262) 877-2220.
Village
Block Party
Business in
the Park and Car Show is set for August 27 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with a Village
Block Party to follow.
The party
features food, vendor and craft booths, children’s activities and the car show.
Read more: My Kenosha County
#FamousChamber
of Commerce Quotation: Networking
Networking
is marketing. Marketing yourself, marketing your uniqueness, marketing what you
stand for. – Christine Comaford-Lynch
Fox Cities
Chamber taking nominations for Event awards
The nomination process is open for the Fox Cities Chamber’s 2016 The EVENT awards program. Each year this prestigious event recognizes individuals who embrace principled leadership, strategic thinking, balanced workplace values and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
The award categories include ATHENA Leadership, Business Hall of Fame, Champion of the Chamber, Entrepreneur of the Year, Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service and the Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor award. The nomination process is open now until Sept. 13 and is available online at bit.ly/the-event-nomination.
“The Event awards program is a special recognition to individuals in our community that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in operating business as well as leadership. Not only do these individuals have a unique blend of vision, energy, perseverance and skill, but they’ve also dedicated themselves as professionals and volunteers to the well-being of the Fox Cities,” shared Shannon Full, Chamber President/CEO.
The theme for this year’s annual Event is The Great Gatsby and will take place Nov. 10 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/2016-the-event or by calling 920-734-7101. Read more: Post-Crescent
The nomination process is open for the Fox Cities Chamber’s 2016 The EVENT awards program. Each year this prestigious event recognizes individuals who embrace principled leadership, strategic thinking, balanced workplace values and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
The award categories include ATHENA Leadership, Business Hall of Fame, Champion of the Chamber, Entrepreneur of the Year, Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service and the Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor award. The nomination process is open now until Sept. 13 and is available online at bit.ly/the-event-nomination.
“The Event awards program is a special recognition to individuals in our community that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in operating business as well as leadership. Not only do these individuals have a unique blend of vision, energy, perseverance and skill, but they’ve also dedicated themselves as professionals and volunteers to the well-being of the Fox Cities,” shared Shannon Full, Chamber President/CEO.
The theme for this year’s annual Event is The Great Gatsby and will take place Nov. 10 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/2016-the-event or by calling 920-734-7101. Read more: Post-Crescent
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber
presentation: Two-day Market Block Party scheduled in Rapids
Celebrate the community next week with two days of food, beverages and live music.
The city of Wisconsin Rapids and the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce present Market Block Party, a two-part celebration event Tuesday and Wednesday across from the clock tower on First Street North, near Market Street in Wisconsin Rapids.
The event kicks off 5 p.m. and continues through 8 p.m. Tuesday with food and beverage vendors and live music by Goats in Trees. Event organizers ask visitors to bring chairs or blankets.
Celebrations continue 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday with lunch and live music by Dade Grode.
The city and the Heart of Wisconsin are hosting the event to celebrate the past, present and future of the Triangle, also called Market Block, located between First Street North, East Jackson Street and Market Street. Residents are asked to share what they would like to see there in the future and send photos and memories of the Triangle to jclark@wirapids.org. Read more: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
Madison
Chamber Business Expo: Polco's pitch wins Pressure Chamber and trip to Silicon
Valley
Polco, a
Madison online platform for citizens to vote and comment on public policy
issues, will take its case to Silicon Valley investors.
Its suitcase,
that is — a golden one.
Polco won
the Pressure
Chamber pitch competition Tuesday night at Monona Terrace. The
prizes: An all-expenses-paid trip to California to meet with representatives of
Silicon Valley venture capital firms, and a consulting package with the Lindsay, Stone & Briggs
advertising agency in Madison.
They will
be a big boost for Polco, said Nick Mastronardi, founder and CEO. “We live and
die with getting the word out to citizens,” Mastronardi said. “This (means) the
world to us to continue to grow.”
Polco was
one of five young companies that put on their best faces before about 250
people, including four out-of-state investors who served as judges.
Mastronardi
said he wants to see more citizen participation on important issues so public
policy decisions are not left up to “those four squeaky wheels” who show up at
government meetings.
“We
empower citizens; we help government get the data they need to enact public
policy,” he told the crowd. Read more: Wisconsin State Journal
Pressure
Chamber is part of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce’s neXXpo business
expo that was held in conjunction with Forward Festival.
Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives Annual Conference &
Retreat
September 21 @ 12:30
pm - September 23 @ 12:00 pm
Keynote Speaker
Frank J. Kenny
Frank is a longtime
successful entrepreneur, former chamber member, board member, board of
directors chair, and Chamber President/CEO. He now trains and speaks full-time,
helping chambers and members with social media, content marketing, digital
marketing, and strategic planning.
As a former chamber
professional, his chamber team was one of the first in the U.S. to embrace
content and digital marketing. Within 18 months of launching their innovative
campaigns, the membership of that 45-year-old chamber had doubled. He is now a
leading educational and motivational speaker and trainer, both online and in
person.
While with his chamber,
Frank was appointed to the executive committee of his state’s chamber of
commerce (AWB) and the board of his state’s chamber professionals association
(WCCE). He is a graduate of the Western Association of Chamber Executives
(W.A.C.E.) Academy program and serves on the faculty of the Institute for
Organization Management (IOM). He has a degree in finance and an MBA. He is the
author of three books on social media and digital marketing.
Location
Radisson Hotel La Crosse200 South 2nd Street
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
608.784.6680
Conveniently located
adjacent to the La Crosse Center and within walking distance of Riverside Park,
the Radisson Hotel La Crosse welcomes you with an indoor heated pool, on-site
dining and scenic views of the Mississippi River. More information: Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce
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
Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily News – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily”
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Last Month’s Stories
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#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: Honoring Volunteers
“What volunteers bring is the human touch, the
individual, caring approach that no government program, however well-meaning
and well-executed, can deliver.” – Edward James Olmos
Town
Square Publications: Village of Mount Pleasant Community Guide
Mount Pleasant is a growing and vibrant community with much to
offer its residents, businesses, and guests. The Village prides itself in
one of its greatest assets – our location. Comprising of 34 square miles
in Eastern Racine County, Mount Pleasant is one of the fastest growing
communities in the State of Wisconsin. Stretching from Lake Michigan to
Interstate 94, our location provides easy access to metropolitan Milwaukee and
Chicago.
Recently, our village teamed with Town Square for the production
of our 2016 Community Guide. They exceeded our expectations in customer service
and professionalism, and the final product was exceptional. We had editorial
control over the copy and were able to choose all the photos used in the
publication. For Mount Pleasant, the result was a win-win situation. We have a
beautiful Community Guide to showcase our village, and the cost for the village
was a no-brainer.
We are happy to have chosen Town Square to put together a
turn-key gloss magazine that conveys the pride we have in our community.
We appreciate our partnership and intend to use their services
in the future.
Logan Martin
Community Development Director
Mount Pleasant, WI
Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce
Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps Town Square Publications
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Commitment)
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever
has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Brynn Swanson resigns as coordinator of the Baileys Harbor
Community Association (BHCA); will continue as part-time marketing coordinator Door County Pulse
Fish Creek Civic Association (FCCA) provides fundraising
opportunities to local nonprofit organizations Green Bay Press-Gazette
Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests
“Where can I
donate a wild turkey I shot today?”
Greater Madison Chamber launches HealthTech Capitol website to
promote Madison area Journal-Sentinel Online
#FamousChamber Quotation of the
Day: Key to Success
“Determination is the key
ingredient for every entrepreneur.” - Jason Calacanis
"The Best of Peru" Eau Claire Area Chamber Trip WEAU 13
If you would like
delivery of a 2016 chamber directory, community profile or map in April, 2017,
please contact me at your earliest convenience, or Click
here
John
John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
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