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Chamber Chat
We are a community development association comprised of businesses, individuals, and organizations dedicated to promoting Madison County as a great place to visit, or build a business, a career, and a future.
73 Jefferson Street, Winterset, Iowa 50273
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Upcoming Chamber Coffee Locations:
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February 7
- The Cellar, 111 S. 1st Ave., Winterset
February 14
- Angel Wings & CT, 116 N 1st Ave., Winterset
February 21
- Delirium Gallery, 112 W. Court Ave., Winterset
February 28
- Greater Madison County Community Foundation, location TBD
March 6 - U.S. Cellular/Cellular Advantage, 59 E. Jefferson St., Winterset
March 13 - QHC Madison Square and QHC Winterset North, 209 W. Jefferson St., Winterset
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Chamber Board of Directors:
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Sarah Pugh
(Chair) - 2/5 Studios
Brad Tadlock
(Vice Chair) - Dream Dirt Farm Real Estate & Auction
Sarah Reed (Secretary) - 1st Avenue Collective
Jennifer Porter (Treasurer) - Integrity Financial Group
Sheila Stewart
- Country Cutters
Bill Moody
- Pine Creek, Ltd.
Roger Queck
- Pro Team Insurance
Dan Noack
- Fareway Grocery Stores
Julie Feirer
- Winterset Websites
Sarah Cowman
- Homefront Real Estate
Travis Daniels - Summit Technologies
Brian Osmanski -
Hy-Vee
Nicole Kems - Angel Wings & CT
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Madison County Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center Staff
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Heather Riley - Executive Director
Teddi Yaeger - Tourism/Marketing Coordinator
Dawn Evenson - Financial Office Director
Melody Reels - Welcome Center
Nancy Trask - Welcome Center
Heather Hatch - Welcome Center
Stephanie Gerleman - Welcome Center
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Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization serving Central Iowa, united to drive economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region.
Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce and over 6,000 business members, The Partnership grows opportunity, creates jobs and promotes the Greater Des Moines area.
When you joined our Chamber, you automatically became a part of this important work! Learn more
here.
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Explore the Small Business Resources Hub!
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The Greater Des Moines Partnership's Small Business Resources Hub provides a one stop shop for small businesses to find resources relating to legal, accounting, finance, marketing, networking, staffing and hiring and more.
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Online Business Resources
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Does your business need help with planning, branding, training, funding, or anything in between?
IASourceLink is the premier online resource connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses to more than 360 resource providers across Iowa. IASourceLink is brought to you by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in collaboration with the University of Northern Iowa Center for Business Growth and Innovation.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and planning committee, *THANK YOU* to everyone who attended the 2020 Annual Meeting & Awards Night Banquet last week on January 30!
Thank you to the Ambassadors team, the fantastic planning committee, event sponsors, Chamber staff, Great Caterers of Iowa, and our dedicated volunteers for making sure the event was a wonderful night!
Read on for a list of award winners!
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Jodi Lake of Integrity Financial and Kelley Brown of the City of Winterset celebrate our community at the 2020 event! Photo by Teddi Yaeger Photography
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Also, we've set the date for the 2020 Hidden Madison County business field trip to be held in partnership with Madison County Development Group! Join us on Thursday, April 2 for a look into sites and businesses either making the news or updating facilities and resources. Reserve your spot by emailing me at exec.dir@madisoncounty.com or Tom Leners at tom@madisoncountydevelopment.com.
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"Hidden Madison County" participants enjoyed visited Bare Bison during the 2019 event!
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If you have information or announcements that you'd like to be featured in "Chamber Chat", be sure to pass it my way! Send me an email and indicate the week you would like your announcement to be made!
Thank you for your support of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce!
Heather Riley
Executive Director
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This week's Chamber Community Coffee will be held
Friday, February 7th at 8:15 am and will be hosted by The Cellar, located at 111 S. 1st Avenue in Winterset.
The Cellar is Winterset's local non-profit coffee shop serving and supporting the Madison County with an incredible coffee house experience. In addition to a delicious menu featuring locally fresh roasted beans, plus frappes, smoothies, homemade sandwiches, salads, and pastries, The Cellar actively promotes community events and talents, community connections, and using their own resources to address community needs.
Click here to view The Cellar's Facebook page and read the positive reviews from many satisfied customers!
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Celebration and Fun at the Chamber's Annual Meeting & Awards Night Banquet
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Jeff Dick, Erin Walsh, and Jerry Parkin were honored for their six years of service to the Chamber Board of Directors. Photo by Teddi Yaeger Photography
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Thank you to everyone who attended the 2020 Annual Meeting & Awards Night Banquet on Thursday, January 30!
Congratulations to our 2019 Award Winners:
- Covered Bridge Festival Volunteer of the Year - Julie Feirer and Dan Noack
- Chamber Volunteer of the Year - Susan McDonald, McDonald Tree Service
- Business Improvement of the Year - Winterset Community School District
- Customer Service of the Year - Judge Lewis House Bed & Breakfast
- Business Person of the Year - Pat Riley, Rainbow International Restoration
- Citizen of the Year - Brenda Hollingsworth
*Thank You* to the event planning committee, volunteers, event sponsors, table sponsors, Chamber Ambassadors, Chamber staff, Great Caterers of Iowa, Pastor Jaysson Gurwell, event MC Alan Feirer, and Jerry Parkin for making it a wonderful evening!
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Meg Schneider brought a welcome and greetings from her staff at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Photo by Teddi Yaeger Photography
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A check was presented to the American Legion Hall Restoration Project with proceeds from the Chamber's annual holiday ornament sale. Photo by Teddi Yaeger Photography
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Click here
for more photos from the evening posted to our Facebook page!
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A Ribbon Cutting for Great Caterers of Iowa
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The Chamber Ambassadors were excited to officially welcome
Great Caterers of Iowa to the Madison County Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting before the Annual Meeting & Awards Night!
The meal at last weeks event was catered by Great Caterers of Iowa, and it was delicious! If your club, business, group, or organization is looking for catering for your special event, check them out!
Here is a link to their catering menu.
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A Ribbon Cutting for Vintage Iron Shed
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The Chamber Ambassadors were also excited to welcome
Vintage Iron Shed to the Madison County Chamber of Commerce with an official ribbon cutting!
Vintage Iron Shed features an impressive display of vintage cast iron cookware available for purchase. Griswold, Wagner, Favorite, Lodge, BSR and many others brands are available.
Store owner Doug Jurgens and Vintage Iron Shed will be hosting the GCICA (Griswold Cast Iron Cookware Association) Heartland & Great Lakes Chapter meeting right here in Madison County on September 18-19. Stay tuned to the Vintage Iron Shed Facebook page to learn more about this conference and how to participate!
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A "Sweet" Time on the Square in Winterset
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The Downtown Winterset Merchants Group invites you and your friends to attend the Winterset Chocolate Walk on Saturday, February 8! From 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, enjoy delicious samples of chocolate treats from participating merchants around the square.
It's the perfect time to shop for your Sweetie while you enjoy bite-sized chocolate samples, sales, & special Valentines Day specials!
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Bingo at St. Joseph Catholic Church to Benefit American Legion Hall Restoration
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Join
St. Joseph Catholic Church for the 10th Annual Winter Trivia on
Saturday, February 8! Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Legion Hall Restoration Project and St. Joseph Catholic Church.
The event will feature ten rounds of ten questions. The doors will open at 6:15 pm. The theme of the night (for attire and your team/table) is "Antiques and Oldies"; but, the questions will be about anything and everything!
Fun games and prizes are planned, and beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Click here for more information, and
click here to download a team registration form.
Register by
February 5 to receive an extra attendance prize ticket!
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Special Events at Covered Bridges Winery
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February 8 - Music at the Winery
featuring Jason Walsmith
Music will be from 7:00-10:00 pm with food available for purchase from Easton's Food Truck from 6:30-8:30 pm. There will be a $5 cover charge.
February 9 - Handmade Earring Class with 1st Avenue Collective
From 2:00-4:00 pm, learn to hammer, texture, and use a disc cutter to create 1 pair of copper/sterling silver earrings. Cost is $40 and includes a complimentary beverage of your choice. Click here to purchase tickets.
February 16 - Sunday Wine Down
featuring Jesse Gutierres
Music will be from 2:00-4:00 pm. No cover charge, but if you enjoy the music feel free to tip the musicians. Cheese and crackers, pub mix, and chocolate plates will be available for purchase.
February 16 - Yoga, Wine, & Chocolate
At 5:30 pm, join Covered Bridges Winery for a yoga class led by Melissa Walker followed by a complimentary glass of wine and chocolate. The cost is $30 per person. Purchase tickets here.
February 22 - Winter Dinner & Music with Tony Valdez & Don Jaques
Tickets include delicious appetizers, dinner, dessert, complimentary glass of wine or beer, plus fantastic live music! Choose from Chicken Spedini or Beef Tri-Tip expertly prepared by Great Caterers of Iowa. Purchase tickets in advance here.
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Susan B. Anthony Birthday Celebration at The Winterset Library
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The Winterset Public Library invites you to join them for a special birthday celebration for Susan B. Anthony on Saturday, February 15!
Beginning at 10:00 am, commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution's 19th Amendment, known as the "Susan B. Anthony" Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920, as well as Anthony's 200th birthday.
Local historian Linda Smith will share an informative presentation about Anthony's life and the speech she gave at the Madison County Courthouse in 1875! Cookies and cake will also be served.
This free event is a partnership between Dream Big Dreams 2020 and the Winterset Public Library.
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News from The Winterset Stage
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First, the Winterset Lions Club and
The Winterset Stage are excited to announce a 'passing of the torch'
on a long-standing Winterset tradition, the annual Lions Show, which will now be known as the "Pride of Winterset Variety Show".
This year's show will be held for one night only on Friday April 17th in Henry C. Miller Auditorium at Winterset High School. Organizers are currently seeking acts in the categories of 1) comedy skits or sketches, 2) a "Musical Theater Chorus", and 3) a "regular" chorus.
Please complete a short survey at this link by February 10 to let organizers know how you want to be involved. If you have any questions about this opportunity or have an act of your own that you'd to have considered for the show, send email to info@TheWintersetStage.org or call 515-462-5156.
Also, open auditions for the Winterset Stage's production of "Oklahoma!" will be April 5-6 with callbacks on April 7, if needed. Performances will be June 18-21. Look for more information in the months to come!
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| Capital For Your Small Business |
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is hosting a seminar on Tuesday, February 18 to assist business owners going through the loan process.
The seminar, "Capital for Your Small Business", is limited to 20 guests and will be held at the Greater Des Moines Partnership office at 700 Locust St. in Des Moines.
The purpose of the Capital for Your Small Business Seminar is to inform and educate both potential and current business owners on capital options for their businesses. This event will walk owners through the spectrum of capital options, bank financing types and expectations, alternate loans and grants and buying on contract. The seminar will also host several speakers and the lessons they learned from personal experience.
To register for the seminar and view the agenda, click here.
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| Top 5 For Small Business Simulcast |
Many small business owners spend so much time and energy serving their current customers and trying to reach new ones that they have little energy left to focus on building their business structure to support the growth they work hard to achieve. The result is often inefficiency, frustration and a general feeling of chaos. In this session, learn why focusing on your business as an organization is so critical to your success and steps you can take right now to start eliminating the chaos, maximizing your profitability and building sustainability for the future.
Josh Dunwoody of Tactical Advantage Business Solutions will conduct the presentation on
Wednesday, February 26 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. The event will be held at the Greater Des Moines Partnership office, or you can watch a live simulcast
here.
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