April 2019 - Issue #80
Dear Chamber Members & Friends,

Spring feels like it's 'officially' on its way! And with summer just around the corner, we would like to share some information about Bridgefest 2019.

The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce has taken ownership over Bridgefest this year and moving forward, we have been working with past committee members to ensure a grand Bridgefest Celebration.

We want to extend an invitation to all non-profits, charities, and businesses to be involved whether you are interested in being a sponsor of Bridgefest, food/non-food vendor, or having an event during Bridgefest weekend, the opportunities are endless. If you have any questions or would like to find out more information how to be involved please contact the Chamber office at info@keweenaw.org.

We are extremely happy to announce that Bridgefest 2019 is Presented by Keweenaw Chevrolet of Houghton and Keweenaw BUICK GMC of Hancock . Stay tuned for all festivities happening during Bridgefest 2019!

Thank you for your continued support,

Karin Van Dyke
Board President
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
Top Chamber Supporters
Please Welcome Our New Chamber Member
Please support our Chamber Member Businesses!
We would like to welcome our new Chamber Member,   Protea Floral Design ! Protea specializes in creating beautiful, unique arrangements for everyday life, weddings, corporate events, and more!

Visit their Facebook page to learn more.
We are happy to welcome  SmartCreative , located in downtown Houghton, as a new Chamber Member!

SmartCreative is a robust, full-service Creative Agency. They provide businesses with marketing and website services. This includes web development, video production, branding, logo and graphic design, and online marketing services.

Visit their Facebook and website to learn more.
Thank you for renewing your membership
Apple Blossom Mercantile
Associate - Tom Bernard
Bill's B & B Bar
Bonfire Steakhouse Bar & Grill
Chris Riesgraf, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Houghton
Copper Country Veterinary Clinic
Crampton Surveying, Inc.
D & L Janitorial Services, Inc.
Designotype Printers, Inc
Great Lakes Accounting, PC
GS Engineering, Inc
Houghton County Fair Association
Keweenaw Chevrolet
Keweenaw Gem & Gift, Inc.
Keweenaw Petroleum Services
Magnuson Hotel Franklin Square Inn
McDonald's Restaurant
Midwest Loan Services, Inc.
New Beginnings Angel Mission
Nicholas Insurance Agency
Northern Light Cottages
Northern Mutual Insurance
Northwinds Adventures
Portage Dental Health
R. C. Mechanical, Inc.
Ramada Waterfront
Range Bank
Re/Max Douglass Real Estate
Rowe Oil Company, Inc.
Sarazin Dental, P.C.
Steve Zutter, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Hancock
Suomi Restaurant
Swift True Value Hardware
Tanis, Inc.
Tervo Agency
The Bluffs of Arcadia
The Miners State Bank
The Neighbors of Houghton, Ltd.
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We like to share news, updates, and events of our membership on Facebook. If you have a post that you would like us to share please share it with us and we would love to help spread the word!
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Chamber Events
2018-2019 Meeting Schedule

Our first co-branded Keweenaw Alliance Breakfast meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, at the Finnish American Heritage Center.  Please note - in order to accommodate our speaker's schedule, the April breakfast will be on the third Wednesday, not the second Wednesday. This is not a permanent change.  Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast is served by 7:15. The program starts at 7:30.

Our featured presentation: we will be hearing from Marty Fittante, CEO of Invest UP, the UP-wide, privately led economic development organization focused on business attraction and talent retention and attraction. 

Thank you to the Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this breakfast.

Meetings-to-date (sponsors needed):
May 8th, 2019 - KEDA Skilled Trades Scholarship Awards

June 12th, 2019 - Presentation from Marlin Lee, Executive Director, Calumet Theatre

Sponsorship of each meeting is $350.00 and covers the cost of breakfast. We provide verbal acknowledgment at the beginning and end of each meeting as well as a listing on the Chamber and KEDA website, meeting email announcements, agendas, and at the sign-in table. The sponsor also has the opportunity to make any announcements at the beginning of the meeting. If you are interested in sponsoring a breakfast meeting please contact Tara at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce ( info@keweenaw.org ) or Jeff at the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance ( jeff@kedabiz.com ).

The joint KEDA-Chamber board committee is working with staff to plan out the speaker schedule for the balance of the year.
Bridgefest 2019
Bridgefest 2019 planning is currently in full swing and we need YOUR help! Several opportunities are available, whether you're interested in volunteering, sponsoring or being a vendor.

Visit the Bridgefest website for more information; call 906-482-5240; or email bridgefest@up.net
Event Recaps
March 21st: Thank you, Jean Hardy, for leading our Lunch & Learn on "Why is Online Presence so Important for Small Town Business Owners"

Attendees had a chance to learn about:
-Claiming your Google, Yelp, Trip Advisor, and other social handles. 
-Always making sure you have high-quality profile content and always keep up to date information about your business.
-Always ask your customers to leave reviews to build credibility in your local area.

Thank you to   Keweenaw Co-op Natural Foods Market & Deli   for the delicious lunch!
Give us some background on yourself/your business.  
Little Brothers – Friends of the elderly is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that provides friendship and service to elderly people who are alone or isolated.  We are part of an international organization that originated in France after WWII, when the founder of the organization encountered bereaved widows and wanted to do something to ease their loneliness. Today we have expanded to 10 countries, and have 6 locations in the U.S. We are the organization’s only rural chapter.  

How many years have you been in business?  
Our roots in the Copper Country run deep. Little Brothers started in 1982 in Houghton County and have since expanded to serve Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Baraga and Marquette Counties. Our mission is deeply satisfying for all involved, and we have been blessed with low staff turnover and dedicated volunteers who have served with us for decades. 

What is an interesting fact about your business that most people don’t know? We have many!   
a. All of our services are free. 
b. We offer home-cooked holiday meals with fresh flowers and real china to make our elderly friends feel honored and cared for
c. Our medical transportation is so much more than transport—it’s a shoulder to lean on, a friend to help ease the transition from hospital to home. 
d. Our firewood program is one-of-a-kind. No other elder service agency offers this!
e. We have over 1300 volunteers and are one of the largest volunteer-based organizations in the U.P. maybe even in the region!
f. We have 5 “international interns” who live in our 2 houses and make a commitment to work with us for a year. They bring youthful energy and a smile to our elderly friends!!! Two are from France and 3 are from Germany!
g. We have a loan closet of medical assistive devices such as wheelchairs walkers etc.
h. We have seven core programs. I could go on……….

What brought you to the area?   
Little Brothers came to this area when our national office wanted to do a rural expansion. Mike Aten wrote the proposal after researching Houghton County, and areas of the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia. Houghton County was chosen because of the high elderly population, harsh winters, history of the mines closing and families leaving to find work, and few elderly services available. I grew up on a farm, love rural life and am very passionate about Little Brothers. When the opportunity came to work for the organization here, I jumped at it!

What is the most important thing to know about LBFE? 
All our services are based on friendship! 

What are the organization's goals? 
To provide friendship and companionship to elders who feel alone or isolated. To provide opportunities to volunteer. To continue to grow and expand while still retaining profoundly personal connections between our staff, volunteers, and the elderly we befriend.
  
How does your business/organization affect this community?  
We fill a crucial niche that no other organization or government program can provide: friendship. This friendship then results in making sure that our vulnerable, elderly neighbors have the services they need to age in place, living healthier and more joyful lives. We also provide meaningful opportunities to volunteer and to form long-lasting relationships with elders who may have vastly different life experiences from our own. Reaching across generations enriches all of us. In the Copper Country, we take care of our neighbors: Little Brothers embraces that spirit of generosity and together we build community, one friendship at a time. 

Our Vision Statement is powerful: To create a community where elders are not forgotten, an extended family that recognizes the needs of the human spirit: to serve others, to be loved, to enjoy life.  
Is your business/organization interested in being in our member spotlight? Contact us for more details!
Utilize this Chamber Member Only Benefit
Your Opportunity to Learn More
Contact the Chamber for free access to Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning platform with thousands of classes in dozens of disciplines — including marketing, design, productivity, software training and more. Classes are suitable for a range of skill levels and are taught in an approachable way with a focus on practical application.

Additionally, many of the classes are taught by some of the best-known practitioners in their respective field (e.g. renowned designer Aaron Draplin teaches logo design, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk teaches social media strategy, TED Talk sensation, Simon Sinek teaches presentation skills, etc.) or in conjunction with some of the leading companies in a particular discipline (Mailchimp teaches email marketing, Atlassian teaches how to build a high performing team).

Each Skillshare class has an associated project to allow students to practice what they learn, and customized class recommendations based on individual interests and engagement will help give each participant a personalized experience tailored to their specific needs.
Chamber Member Events and Announcements
A Talk on the Townships April 11th at 7 p.m. in the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw Community Room

Steven Karpiak, Supervisor of Osceola Township will make a presentation "A Talk on the Townships." He will answer these questions and any you bring to this event as well: 

What ARE townships? What authority do township officials have? What responsibilities do they bear? How long do they serve? How often do they meet? Are the meetings open to the public? What are common problems that arise in township governance? What is the relationship of the township to the County Government? 

Karpiak is a former MTU instructor in Social Sciences and retired in 2003 as Dollar Bay’s middle and high school teacher of Social Studies after 18 years. He was first elected to serve as Osceola Township Supervisor in 2004, a position he continues to hold. In 2014 he was elected to the Michigan Township Association Board of Governors representing the townships in Keweenaw, Houghton, Ontonagon, and Gogebic Counties. 

Come prepared to learn more about our local government system.  
Join us in celebrating 25 years of supporting our community!

On Saturday, April 13th we will hold the Keweenaw Community Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Miscowaubik Club in Calumet from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Tickets for this event are $75 with a portion of the ticket price eligible as a tax deductible charitable contribution. The event will be catered with a cocktail hour 5:00 to 6:00 PM and live music throughout the dinner service.

Established in 1994, we have had many annual events over the years, but our 25th Anniversary Celebration will prove to be an extra special evening. Many community members from across the Keweenaw will be coming together to celebrate; enjoy good food and company; present awards exemplary volunteers in the community; and help raise funds for the foundation to continue helping our donors do the most good with their support for Houghton and Keweenaw counties.

There are a very limited number of tickets still available. Please RSVP by calling the KCF office at (906) 482-9673 or emailing mail@k-c-f.org. All proceeds raised during this event will go towards promoting the foundation’s mission to inspire giving that invests in our community’s quality of life.

If your business would like to sponsor this event, there are several Celebration Sponsorship Levels available, shown below. Give us a call if you are interested in being a sponsoring partner.

$5,000 GOLD (Includes 8 tickets) 
$2,500 SILVER (Includes 6 tickets) 
$1,000 BRONZE (Includes 4 tickets) 
$500 COPPER (Includes 2 tickets)
Protea Floral Design is having a Pop-Up Shop at 101 Quincy Coworking in Hancock on Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 12 PM - 4 PM.

Learn more here .
Is your business or organization having an upcoming event? Send us your flyer and we will include it in our newsletter - Email: info@keweenaw.org . Also - be sure to post your events on our community calendar!
Are you familiar with Keweenaw Cash?
The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer Keweenaw Cash: a gift certificate program that can be used at more than 300 Chamber member businesses. Since its launch, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce has issued over $341,000 worth of Keweenaw Cash. That money goes right back into local businesses!

Keweenaw Cash can be purchased in any denomination, allowing the recipient more flexibility and enabling them to use the certificates at numerous businesses.

In addition to making great gifts, businesses can purchase Keweenaw Cash as bonuses, prizes, at fundraising events, as employee incentives or awards, retirement gifts, to mark a milestone, or as part of a welcome package for new hires.

Certificates come with an envelope and a list of all the participating businesses.
Please note we require at least a 24 hour notice when placing orders. We are not responsible for any lost or stolen certificates.

If you are a business and would be interested in being able to redeem Keweenaw Cash, please look into a   becoming a member   with the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce.

For additional information about Keweenaw Cash, to purchase certificates, or how you can accept Keweenaw Cash, call  906-482-5240  or email  info@keweenaw.org
We need your Business Cards/Brochures
Board of Directors
Karin Van Dyke, President
Vice President for Advancement
Finlandia University

Mary Myers, Vice President
Account Executive
WLUC TV6

Angela Luskin, Secretary
Health and Fitness Manager
UP Health System-Portage

James Desrochers - Treasurer
Associate Director, Industry Relations
Michigan Technological University

Morgan Impola
Regional Engineer
UPPCO

Brad Barnett
Owner
Apple Blossom Mercantile
Carrie Richards
Partner Engagement Program Manager
Michigan Technological University

Jan Cole
Managing Partner
Edochi, LLC

Todd Gast
Marketing Manager
Keweenaw Co-op

Will Schuett
Web & Media Specialist
Michigan Technological University

Brian Donnelly
VP Director of Retail Banking
Superior National Bank

Mary Sears, KEDA Representative
Supervisor
Franklin Township
Your Lansing Contacts
Do you have questions, comments, or concerns? Contact your legislators! 
 
Governor 
 
U.S. Senators
 
U.S. Representative
 
State Senate District: 38
 
House of Representative District: 110 
Our roots run deep in the Keweenaw
Upper Peninsula Power Company was created in 1947 through a merger of three utilities. One of them, the Houghton County Electric Light Company, earlier acquired the interests of Peninsula Electric Light and Power, which began operating in the Keweenaw in 1884 – just five years after Edison invented the light bulb.
From the Edison bulb to high-tech electronics of today, you might say UPPCO has been providing “ U.P. Power ” for more than 130 years. 
Customer Service
( 800-562-7680 )
24-Hour Electric Emergencies/Outages
1-800-562-7809
Outage Updates
@UPPCOstorm
News @uppcopower
Safe & Reliable Service
Renewable Hydroelectric Generation
With Public Recreational Opportunities
Proud Community Supporter



Learn more at
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
902 College Ave, Houghton, MI 49931