April 2009

Chamber Events and Updates
April 2009

Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce
Serving the Mackinaw Area since 1955
www.mackinawchamber.com

Mackinaw Crossings Mall,
P.O. Box 856,
Mackinaw City, Michigan, 49701
(231) 436-5574

What's In This Issue

• Chamber Member News
• Chamber of Commerce Annual Breakfast
• Chamber's New Location
• Community Notes
• April & May Calendars

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BREAKFAST APRIL 30TH

The Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce is holding their annual breakfast buffet with a motivational speaker on Thursday, April 30, 9am -11am at Audie's Banquet room. Area businesses, employees and community members will enjoy great food plus an energizing program "Step out of the Box" by guest speaker Chris Scharrer. Attendees will also get the latest updates by the Village, Chamber and MAVB plus hand outs of calendars, attractions and area information.

Our speaker this year, Chris Scharrer is the owner of New Paradigm Solutions- Leadership Development and divides her time between speaking, workshops, strategic planning and more. Her mission is clearly stated "..helping individuals, teams and organizations be the best they can be". "In the coming days with an uncertain economy and tourist season upon us, Mackinaw City area businesses are primed to rise to the challenge and leave a positive footprint on our community and guests" declares Dawn Edwards Chamber Executive Director.

Join us as we step out and up to improved customer service and improved business results. This lively session will help us take a fresh look at opportunities that are before us each day to make a difference to our customers. Our discussion with handouts will include: 1. Stepping into new ways of thinking 2. Stepping away from negativity 3. Stepping out of our comfort zone 4. Stepping Up to challenging situations.

RSVP to Kelly by Friday April 25-Tickets are $10.00 and will be available for pick up at the door. Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce 231 436-5574.

MACKINAW CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS A NEW LOCATION!

The Chamber will be located in the former Teysen's Moccasin Shop space in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall.  This very large space will be perfect for foot traffic and has visibility off of Central Ave.

We thank mall owner, Jim Wehr and manager, Sarah Grant, for finding a creative solution to meet the annual rent commitment.  The Deopt Restaurant in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall will host a "Chamber Benefit Supper and Silent Auction" on Saturday, May 9th.  If you have an item that you would like to donate for the cause, contact Sarah Grant at 436-5030 or Kelly at 436-5574.  More details to follow.

Thank you Mr. Brown and Mike Frey of Arnold Line for our 8 year "temporary location" in the Central Avenue Arnold Line building.  We have appreciated your support of the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Member News

All of our area attractions including Thunderfalls Family Waterpark and Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows are gearing up for the 2009 season. Brochures and operating hours will be available at the Chamber breakfast.

NOTE FROM TERRY PEPPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREAT LAKES LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS ASSOCIATION:

Dear fellow lighthouse stewards and aficionados,

As you will see below, along with support from Senators Snow, Stabenow, Collins and Schumer, Michigan Senator Carl Levin formally announced his intention to introduce the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2009 in the Senate yesterday. This Act serves as a compliment to NHLPA 2000, and proposes the establishment of a pilot program that would "enable state and nonprofit groups to apply for competitive grants to help with restoration and maintenance efforts. This pilot program would authorize the secretary to distribute $20 million a year for three years."

This program would consist of direct grants requiring no matching funds, with the grants able to serve as a match for other grants. As such, there is no need for explanation how the passage of this Act would serve as an immense benefit to the nation's nonprofit lighthouse stewards.

Since Senator Levin's announcement in the Senate yesterday, the Bill has been assigned Senate Bill number s715.

We strongly recommend that you not only contact your appropriate Legislators as soon as possible to voice your support of the passage of Senate bill s715, but also make all of the lighthouse stewards and aficionados in your contact databases aware of this impending Bill and ask that they do likewise.

Pulling together, we can raise awareness of support for the passage of this legislation, and help ensure its successful passage. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you feel may be interested and supportive in this cause.

Kind regards, and good luck,
Terry Pepper
Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2009 Contact: Senator Levin's Office
Phone: 202.224.6221 
 
Senate Floor Statement on Introduction of the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act  
 
Today, with Senators Snowe, Stabenow, Collins and Schumer, I introduce The National Lighthouse Stewardship Act. This legislation creates a three year competitive grant program at the Department of the Interior that will help to pay for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses in Michigan and across the country. The grants will help nonprofit organizations, which serve as caretakers for these historic landmarks, to help them preserve and rehabilitate the historic lighthouses and keep them accessible to the public.

This legislation compliments a bill that was enacted in October 2000, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, which I joined Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) in offering. With the Coast Guard getting out of the light house business, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act helped facilitate the process of transferring historic lighthouses from the government to non-profit historical organizations who would take over the responsibility for their care. It established an expedited process through the Government Services Agency to help ease lighthouse transfers by helping to cut through the bureaucratic red tape. As a result of the law, 46 lighthouses to date --- nine in Michigan --- have been transferred to custodians who will preserve them and keep them accessible to the public.

Many of these lighthouse structures are in need of significant repair and rehabilitation, which is now the responsibility of their nonprofit custodians. Unfortunately, after obtaining custody of the lighthouses, many of the nonprofit organizations have struggled to raise the funds to adequately restore and maintain the lighthouses. To address this problem our legislation establishes a pilot program that would enable state and nonprofit groups to apply for competitive grants to help with restoration and maintenance efforts. This pilot program would authorize the secretary to distribute $20 million a year for three years.

Funding for Lighthouse restoration is important to Michigan and to the nation's historic preservation efforts. There are approximately 740 lighthouses in 31 costal states. Michigan alone has over 120 lighthouses, more than any other state. They draw thousands of visitors to Michigan and other states each year and create jobs throughout our states. Michigan's and the nation's lighthouses are national treasures that beautify our shorelines. These historic lighthouses are part of our nation's rich maritime heritage. The grants are needed to help nonprofit organizations, which serve as caretakers for the historic landmarks, to maintain the beauty of the lighthouses and keep them accessible to the public.

My office worked closely with lighthouse preservation groups in drafting this legislation. The Michigan Lighthouse Fund in my home state was invaluable in providing information on the needs of our nation's lighthouses. This week in Washington, the American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee is meeting to coincide with the introduction of this Act. These funds are desperately needed by these groups who work tirelessly to preserve our Nation's maritime heritage.

This funding would help ensure our lighthouses remain cultural beacons for generations to come. America's lighthouses are national treasures that we cannot let deteriorate to the point beyond repair. I hope my colleagues will support the swift enactment of the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the following letters from lighthouse organizations in support of this legislation.

ODAWA CASINO RESORT ANNOUNCES AIELLO AS NEW DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Odawa Casino Resort, owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians has named Mark Aiello, a seasoned gaming executive with over thirty years of gaming experience, to the position of Director of Player Development.

Aiello has held many executive positions in the gaming/hospitality sector, including Vice President & General Manager for the Isle of Capri Casino in the Bahamas, the Regional Director of Marketing for Harrah's Entertainment and Vice President of Player Development for the Paradise Island Resort & Casino, Nassau, Bahamas.

Aiello stated, "I am very excited to become a part of the success story at the Odawa Casino Resort. This is clearly one of the most beautiful casino properties in the United States and I'm very proud to be joining the team. Just looking around Petoskey, I know that this is where I'm really looking forward to bringing my family to live." Mark is set to begin his duties beginning Monday March 30, 2009.

Community Notes

Sarah Grant has announced the opening of her new beauty salon called "Ellie & Me". It's located in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall and offers cuts, manicures, pedicures, tanning and more. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00am-7:00pm. 231-436-7771.

The Lions Club hosted guest speaker Keith Cheli - district planner for the Department of Natural Resources at their Wednesday, March 25 dinner &meeting. Keith announced the new name, Straits State Marina, for the project on the State Dock due to be completed mid July. "This is a project implementing green initiatives - from the Natural Water drainage area to the mini wind turbines," says Keith from the Cheboygan Field Office. The program was very informative.

Looking for work or employees? Contact the Michigan Works Service Center at (231) 627-4303 or Northwest Michigan Works! (231) 347-5150 www.michworks.org

The Antique Tractor Crossing was approved for September 18, 2009 at 10 am. A DVD of the antique tractors crossing the Mackinac Bridge is available for purchase by calling 877-781-7522 or you can send a check for $30 to High Yield Productions, P.O. Box 193, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Visit their website at www.tractorvideos.com

April Calendar

All month - Entertainment at the Ozone in the Odawa Casino Resort. Visit www.odawacasino.com for the complete schedule.

1 Winter Program Series Presented at the Mackinaw Area Public Library - Gardening 101: Facts & Questions presented by Pat Esther-Schmidt. 7 pm. 231-436-5451

2 Cheboygan & Presque Isle County Spring Job Fair at the Fraternal Order of Eagles # 1282, 626 N. Main  St., Cheboygan.  1:30 to 5:30 pm.  Contact Travis Leveille at 231-627-4303 or Randy Neumann at 989-733-8548 for more information.

6  Mackinaw Woman's Club monthly meeting will be a "tea" at 1 pm at the Deer Head Inn B & B.  Current members would love to have you as a guest.  Contact Ruth Morse 436-5396.

7   Emmet County Job Fair at the Emmet County Fairgrounds Community Building.  For more information  contact: Angie Ross, Business Liaison, Northwest Michigan Works, 231-439-5213 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.nwmichworks.org/

11 Depot/Mackinaw Outfitters Job Fair - 12 noon to 5 pm at the Depot Restaurant in the Mackinaw  Crossings Mall.  http://www.mackinawcrossings.com/ or 231-436-5030.

15  MDOT Adopt a Highway 10-minute training video; 9 am at the Church of the Straits.

16  6th Annual Airport After Hours at the Pellston Regional Airport, 5:30-7:30.  Open to the public and features hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.  Admission is $5.00 per person.  Sponsors include Boyne, Cheboygan Area Tourist Bureau, Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, Citizens National Bank and Rehmann.

21  "Doing Business with Michigan" Training Seminar.  1:00 to 4:30 pm at the University Center at Gaylord.  Free but registration is required.  For more information and to reserve your seat, contact Tammy Moore at the PTAC of Northeast Michigan Consortium, (989) 733-8545 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

21  Adopt a Highway Cleanup (rain date April 23) - meet in front of the Arnold Line Transit Company building on Central Avenue (white building across from the Dairy Queen) at 7:00 am (sharp!).  Some who cannot do the walking/bending will help with transporting to and from the clean-up location on I-75.  Come dressed for the weather, wearing sturdy shoes and bring gloves.  Stylish vests, trash bags and pick-up sticks (optional) will be provided for all participants, as well as transportation to and from the clean-up location.  When we are finished, expect to feel invigorated!

30   Chamber Annual Breakfast & Speaker at Audie's Banquet Room. 9 - 11 am.  $10 pp. 231-436-5574

MAY CALENDAR

All month - Entertainment at the Ozone in the Odawa Casino Resort.  Visit the website for the complete schedule.

1-2 Jim Wehr's Mackinaw Outfitters 1st Annual Fishing Expo http://www.mackinawcrossings.com/ or 231-436-5030

4 Colonial Michilimackinac and Mill Creek Opens for the season www.mackinacparks.com/ or  231-436-4100

5 Fort Mackinac Opens for the Season http://www.mackinacparks.com/ or 231-436-4100 

9 Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce Benefit Dinner at the Depot Restaurant in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall.  231-436-5574 for more information.

11 Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Opens for the Season http://www.mackinacparks.com/  or 231-436-4100 

16 4th  Annual City Wide Yard Sale http://www.mackinawchamber.com/ or 231-436-5574

16 Zoo-De-Mackinac Bike Bash - Boyne Highlands to Mackinac Island -  http://www.zoo-de-mack.com/

23 6th Annual Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Race http://www.mackinawcity.com/ or 231-436-5664

23 Memorial Day Parade 1 PM http://www.mackinawchamber.com/ or 231-436-5574

23-25 Colonial Michilimackinac Pageant http://www.fmpcfestival.org/

24-25 Live Statues in the Mackinaw Crossings Mall www.mackinawcrossings.com or 231-436-5030

24 1st Annual Fine Arts Show http://www.mackinawcity.com/ or 231-436-5664

30 McGulpin Point Lighthouse Relighting Ceremony 11am - 2 pm  231-348-1704

2009 STRAITS AREA COMMUNITY CALENDARS ARE AVAILABLE IN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE.

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Dawn Edwards, Executive Director  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kelly Vieau, Administrative Assistant  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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