Waconia Chamber of Commerce
Est. March 1962
Mission: To promote a positive business environment and to enhance the quality of life in the Waconia community.
Vision: To be a thriving community where people love where they work, live, and play.
Hear a short history segment from Paul Melchert, one of the chamber’s founders.
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We appreciate your support!
Thank you to all our members who renewed their membership for 2023.
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Legacy Health Insurance
BreAnne Violet
(952) 220-0796
Insurance
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Waconia Family Chiropractic
Dr. Emily Bottoms
(952) 442-3220
Chiropractic Care & Wellness
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Title Mark
Marcia Bening
(952) 442-7777
Real estate
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A Message from the President |
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Skip the New Year's resolutions; focus on goals
by Christine Fenner
President, Waconia Chamber of Commerce
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Did you know that 39-41% of people make a New Year’s Resolution? Surprisingly, only 8-9% of people actually achieve their resolutions. Following those stats, I’ve also been guilty of making personal New Year’s resolutions that don’t work out as planned. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something; whereas a goal is an objective that you are trying to achieve. It’s time to skip the resolutions and set goals for 2023.
In preparation for a reset in the calendar, the Chamber Board of Directors and chamber team has established 4 key Waconia Chamber initiatives and goals for 2023. Continue reading...
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Heading into 2023
by Doug Loon
President & CEO, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
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This fall, the Minnesota Chamber co-hosted eight stops on a Statewide Policy Tour with local chambers in those communities. At each of these stops, businesses gathered to hear an update on the elections and the economy and get a glimpse of what to expect in the 2023 legislative session. These conversations with business leaders always reinforce the importance of our statewide chamber network for me. All of us working together give the business community a collective voice at the capitol and beyond as we work to represent our members and protect the interests of hardworking job creators all over our state.
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Minnesota Chamber of Commerce 2023 Session Priorities:
Working together to create economic opportunity
- Great discussion with business leaders and elected officials from all around the state.
- Advocating to legislators to let them know how bills impact our local businesses.
The event was held at the St. Paul RiverCentre on January 4.
Save the Date: Chamber Day at Capitol – April 13. Email Christine if interested in attending.
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MN Chamber President Doug Loon with Governor Tim Walz. |
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Representation from Chamber directors and elected officials. |
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KSTP's Tom Hauser interviewing Minnesota legislators. |
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Waconia American Legion Post #150 |
Primary contact: Joe Gifford
4 E Main St, Waconia
(952) 442-5340
The Waconia American Legion is officially open in a new location on Main Street. Customer traffic has increased at the new location, which features a rentable room with a 64-person capacity. The Waconia American Legion Post #150 started in 1920 and is one of the oldest posts in existence. The American Legion itself began in 1919.
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In 2022, over 1,200 tourism packets were sent via mail and email to addresses across the country and Canada (from paid leads from Explore MN Tourism and AAA Living Magazine). Additionally, DestinationWaconia.org had 96,000 page views in 2022. |
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New Year’s Goal
Update your member profile on DestinationWaconia.org.
- Contact info of member representatives
- Logo
- Photos/website/videos
- Categories represented
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NEW! #DestinationWaconia Postcards have arrived:
- Arts & Entertainment
- Parks & Outdoors
- Museums & History
- Sports & Recreation
- Shop | Dine | Stay
- Waconia Events
If you’d like to promote the Waconia community in your office lobby or shop, please feel free to stop by the chamber office to pick up post cards and/or make a request to have them dropped off or mailed. Postcard design: Creature Works
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2023 Calendar
Save the Dates
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Monday, July 17
Island View Golf Club
Friday, September 15
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Saturday, September 16
Upcoming Luncheons
Click here for a schedule of upcoming Chamber Luncheons
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Member News and Happenings |
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Come Craft with Us at Elite Nutrition
Saturday, January 14 | 2-4:00PM
Elite Nutrition
36 W Main St, Waconia
We are getting together to do a craft. We will provide 3 mini mason jars, paint and some twine. We will also have the cricket here to print some words or a picture. Come with an idea of what you would like to make. $25 Price includes a shake. Register in advance online.
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Chamber After Hours
Thursday, January 19 | 4-6:00PM
Melchert Hubert Sjodin
121 Main Street West, Ste 200, Waconia
Make new connections during this casual networking event. No fee to attend and no registration needed. Hosted by Melchert Hubert Sjodin.
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Free Self-Defense Seminar
Monday, January 23
7:00PM
Snap Fitness Waconia
Snap Waconia is teaming up with Dojo Karate to host a Women's Self-Defense Seminar in the club as a community service event. It will be at Snap Waconia, Monday Jan 23 at 7:00pm. The class will be 30 min in length with time for questions at the end. FREE! Open to members and non-members. Call 952.442.3815 to reserve a spot!
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Schram Vineyards BBQ & Bonfire
Saturday, January 21
5-7:00PM
Schram Vineyards
Warm up this winter with a specially prepared dinner and wine pairing at the vineyards! On the menu for this fun date night opportunity is a savory Smoked Pork Belly, flanked by rib-sticking Cheddar Polenta, and paired with a grounding 6 ounce pour of our Bonfire wine to round out the smokey, cozy meal. This culinary delight will be expertly prepared from scratch by our very own Schram head of catering, Chef Bryan. Get tickets online now!
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2nd Annual Frozen Fairway Open
February 4, 2023
Island View Golf Club
Join the Waconia DandyLions for our 2nd Annual Frozen Fairway Open! We are excited to partner with Island View Golf Club and Vandy’s Grille to bring you this fundraising event at the new location with more fun, music, and the best part…indoor space to stay warm. Put together a team and get register now!
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DRYDOCK Consulting Leadership Academy
Starts February 17, 2023
We are launching our next DRYDOCK Leadership Academy on February 17. A 7-week online workshop to “Unleash the Elite Leader Within You”. Seven Essential Leadership Principles holistically integrated with the 7Fs from our global satisfaction survey in my book. Check out this 2-minute video clip. Contact Tim Schmidt with questions.
We recommend Tim's book, What Really Works: Blending the 7 Fs, available to purchase at the Waconia Chamber office for $20. Visit us to pick up your copy.
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Extreme Events MN Skijoring
February 25, 2023
Canterbury Park, Shakopee
The blending of two worlds- skiing and horses. Horses and skiers race against the clock while skiing around gates, grabbing rings at break neck speed and going over a set of jumps. Tickets are on sale now!
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WHA Outdoor Rink Now Open
The Waconia Hockey Association Outdoor Rink (located east of Safari Island parking lot) is now open for skating. New this year there are two rinks available - a small leisure ice area and hockey rink with boards. WHA will have scheduled practices on the hockey rink coming up in January and February. These dates/times will be noted on the Waconia Hockey website. The leisure ice rink will be kept open for skating. The warming house will have open hours and will be posted on the WHA website once they are set. Thank you to the volunteer crew for their work on getting it prepared!
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Congratulations on Expansion! |
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The Stash Upstairs
in Pink's Hardware
Lester Prairie, MN
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Yetzer Home Store
Forest Lake, MN
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Friday Facts Submissions
Have an exciting announcement, an event, or deal to submit to Friday Facts? Email 50-75 words and any attachments to Chelsey by noon on Wednesday the week you'd like it to run. Your submission will appear in the Friday Facts for two weeks. As part of your 2023 membership investment, you have the opportunity to submit announcements to the Friday Facts up to 10 times a year (20 appearances).
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Chamber Luncheon & Calendar |
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Annual Meeting Chamber Luncheon
Thursday, January 26
11:30AM-1:00PM
Freshwater Church
138 W 1st St, Waconia
National anthem by Waconia Music Studios
State of the Waconia Chamber
Installation of the 2023 Board of Directors
City of Waconia updates
Awards and other recognitions
Bring a potential member. Email Christine to register your complimentary guest.
Deadline to register: Monday, January 23
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Chamber Calendar - January 2023 |
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JANUARY 5 Coffee Connection, 7:30AM-9:00AM @Waconia Ice Arena
JANUARY 11 Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30AM-1:00PM @Waconia City Hall
JANUARY 19 Ambassadors, 8:45AM @Waconia City Hall
JANUARY 19 Chamber After Hours, 4-6:00PM @Melchert Hubert Sjodin
JANUARY 25 Retail Marketing Meeting, 8-9:30AM @Mocha Monkey Downtown
JANUARY 26 Annual Meeting, 11:30AM-1:00PM @Freshwater Church
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Friday Facts is a publication of the Waconia Chamber of Commerce
952-442-5812
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