The 2012 Fourth of July Parade was a great success, featuring a record number of participants, fantastic crowds, and remarkable weather.

Back after a one-year hiatus, this year's parade once again featured awards for parade participants, including categories for Best Float, Best Walking Unit, and Best in Show. A special thanks to the Downtown Development Authority for rejuvenating the awards program for 2012.

In addition, a Family Fun Night featuring bounce houses, a bungee run, face painting, music, and more was well-received on the lawn of City Hall. A special thanks to Simply Unforgettable Events and Wedding Services for their efforts to host this wonderful addition to our community Fourth of July activities.

"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change" ~ Confucius

The year 2012 has seen many changes for the Chamber.  Some small, some large, with most being subtle, yet still substantial. The past month's activities are indicative of such changes as reflected in the events in our community for which the Chamber is associated.  The Great Race brought to Sault Ste Marie an entirely new event that proved quite entertaining and financially beneficial to some of our local restaurants. The International Bridge Walk included several new elements, with a brand new Bicycle Parade serving as the primary highlight. The Fourth of July once again included the annual parade, but the start time and route were altered and the activities continued afterwards with a Family Fun Night on the lawn of City Hall.  More changes are in store for the remainder of the summer as well, including a new Children's Book Festival and the first Sault, Ships, & Sailabration.

One of the most substantial changes, for which we are now moving forward in earnest, is our new partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan, otherwise known as SBAM.  Our partnership brings to our membership several value-added benefits and services, ranging from Human Resources and Operations assistance to Sales, Marketing, and Finance support.  This partnership should benefit most of our qualifying members (less than 499 employees, no previous SBAM affiliation) and if you are the primary contact for your organization, or the owner of a small business like many in our membership, you should have received a welcome letter from SBAM co-signed by myself and Mr. Rob Fowler, SBAM CEO.  If you have not, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber Office for more information.

One does not need, however, to await the welcome letter to begin taking advantage of SBAM benefits.  To do so, simply visit the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce homepage and click on the icon below, which is placed on the right side of our homepage:

This will take you to the co-branded SBAM/Sault Chamber page where you can click on the link "Need Help Logging In."  Once you have done so, you will be prompted for your e-mail address.  This is the e-mail address of record at the Chamber.  Enter the address to establish your account and you can begin to take full advantage for your benefits from  SBAM.

Change is inevitable.  When purposeful, it can be advantageous and beneficial to many involved.  The changes we have experienced thus far in 2012 have been done with deliberate purpose: to benefit the members of our organization and our community.  I hope that you have enjoyed the enhancements to our community events and have the opportunity to participate in the many activities remaining over the summer.  If you are a small business owner, I hope that you will take advantages of the SBAM benefits available to you so that you can more effectively operate your business or organization.  Most importantly, if you have suggestions or questions about any of these changes, please do not hesitate to contact our office.  We want you to be involved.   

Chamber News

Sault Area Chamber of Commerce hours:  Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm or by appointment.

Ambassador's meet on the 1st Tuesday at noon at the Sault Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about Ambassadors or "Red Coats" by visiting our website. 

 

Welcome New Members! 

   

St. Ignace Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mindy Sands, Executive Director 

6 Spring Street, Suite 100

St. Ignace, MI 49781 

1-800-338-6660

Web: www.stignace.com

E-mail: mindysands@stignace.com

 

Second Childhood & Adults Too! 

Misti Collia, Owner

221 West Portage Ave 

Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783 

906-322-0689

Find them on Facebook! 

 

      

The Great Race Revs Up Sault Ste Marie!  The Great Race, an event like no other, made its appearance in Sault Ste Marie on Saturday, June 23.  The Great Race is a cross-country rally that pits driver/navigator teams against the clock and against each other. This year's event was around the Great Lakes and covered 19 cities, 2 countries and 4 states. Entrants participated in a timed, controlled-speed, endurance competition over scenic public highways and roads. The scores for each team are the result of a team's ability to follow all designated course instructions precisely.  

  

A panoramic shot of Great Race vehicles as they line up in Brady Park.  Click here for more photos on Facebook. Photo Courtesy of Tom Ewing. 

 

A special thanks to all of the volunteers and vendors that made this great event happen, including the Chamber Ambassadors whom served as Race Team Greeters.  Beer tent operated courtesy of the Chamber Young Professionals and the Soo Eagles Hockey Club, with trailer and coolers donated courtesy of Marchetti Distributing Company and Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Newberry.   

  

With Generous Sponsorship from:

 

The 26th International Bridge Walk Sets Record Attendance, High Turnout for New Bicycle Parade

Walkers depart the Norris Center parking lot for the International Bridge.  See more photos at the Chamber Facebook page or by visiting the International Bridge Photo Gallery. Photo Courtesy of Tom Ewing.  

 

Courtesy of Sault Star, written by Bryan Kelly  

Plenty of well-wishers poured on to the International Bridge to wish the crossing a very happy 50th anniversary as part of the 26th Annual International Bridge Walk on Saturday, June 30.  The event, coordinated by the Sault, MI and Sault, ON Chambers of Commerce featured traditional walkers as well as a new group of participants in the form of bicyclists for a first-ever Bicycle Parade. 

 

Turnout for the 26th annual bridge walk, pegged by organizers at about 5,000, is the largest the general manager of Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority has welcomed since starting his job in 2001.

 

"This is the biggest crowd I've ever seen," said Phil Becker as the event neared its end Saturday morning.

 

"The bridge was half full of walkers. The front of the walk was at the flags (near the border). The back was just going on the bridge."  Read more... 

 

 

 

Business After Five for July Held at Kuhl's Koffee House This month's BA5 was moved up one week and provided some much needed relief from the heat with a friendly gathering of Chamber Members inside the air conditioned confines of Kuhl's Koffee House on Portage Avenue.  Complimentary small beverages, including cool treats such as iced coffees and lattes, were in store for all in attendance as well as wonderful prizes donated by the hosts and the Sault Country Club and Golf Course.

Business After Five or BA5 is a great opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members while supporting a local Chamber business in the process.  BA5 takes place the third Thursday of each month and includes fun, food, and prizes.  The August BA5 will be hosted by The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society with a specific location to be announced soon. Visit our calendar for a list of all the BA5 locations in 2012.

 

The Chamber Ambassadors or "Red Coats" Enjoy a Busy Summer Schedule The Chamber Ambassadors kept up a busy schedule this past month, participating in various community events, including serving as Race Team Greeters at The Great Race, Bicycle Parade Greeters, and participants in Ribbon Cuttings and BA5 Events.  There's still plenty more to come as the Chamber will be co-coordinating three Grand Openings and Ribbon Cuttings in the next two weeks for Hospice of the EUP, Second Childhood & Adults Too!, and State Farm Insurance - Leisa Mansfield Agency.  Check out details on these events by visiting our Ribbon Cutting homepage

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The Chamber Ambassadors take a break from their duties as Race Team Greeters at The Great Race to pose for a picture.  Photo Courtesy of Tom Ewing.    

Chamber Young Professionals Volunteer at Great Race, Plan Future Community Events The Young Professionals, the Chamber's newest group, has also been very active this summer with recent participation as volunteers at The Great Race and planning and organization for future community events.  The Young Professionals, or 

YP, is a group created to engage working professionals between the ages of 21 - 40 and introduce them to the area's business community and help them expand their networking opportunities.

Whether your goal is to develop your professional network, increase your social circle, better connect to civic and philanthropic activities in the community or just have fun, they have several goals in store for Young Professionals in the Sault area.

 

The YP seeks to address the three main priorities young professionals have identified as most important to them when choosing a place to live and work:

• Social and recreational opportunities
• Personal and professional development
• Connection and engagement with the community

Know of someone that fits the description of a YP that might be interested in learning more?  Please refer them to Al Case, Executive Director, for more information.

 

The Young Professionals celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the International Bridge by hosting a Roof Top BBQ to view the Bridge Lighting Ceremony and Fireworks on June 28th.  Music, tents, and the wonderful cake pictured above were all provided courtesy of Simply Unforgettable Wedding & Events. 

     

2012 Calendar of Events - Interested in being on our events calendar?  Contact our office at 906-632-3301 or e-mail office@saultstemarie.org 

LSSU to host Bud Cooper Memorial Golf Classic at Wild Bluff this Friday, July 20 The event will feature a four-person scramble, shotgun start at 1:00pm with a fee of $125 per golfer which includes shared golf cart, and special events (50/50 and forward tees). There will be three divisions by handicap, with the top three teams in each division winning prizes. We will have door prizes, special events, and refreshments on the course, as well as a post event dinner.  Download Registration Form (pdf). Learn more...