Chamber Quarterly Newsletter • January/February/March 2025 | |
Board of Directors Update | |
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The White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau is governed by board members who are made up of business leaders that help guide our Chamber and make decisions that will help better our business community. Our Board members are selected through a nomination and voting process and once selected, can serve up to two three-year terms.
Our Board of Directors will see a few changes in 2025. David Dusenberry with Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt has completed two six-year terms, the maximum time a member can stay on consecutively. Susan Philips with Howmet Aerospace has completed one three-year term. We are thankful to both David and Susan for their time on our Board of Directors and all that they have done for our organization. We look forward to welcoming and announcing two new board members later in January.
Our Board of Director officers will continue to see Brent Raeth of CatchMark Technologies as our Board Chair, Erin Peyer with the Arts Council of White Lake--Nuveen Center as our Vice Chair, and will have Clarissa Moon with Shelby State Bank as our new Treasurer.
Thank you to our 2024 Board of Directors for helping make this past year a great one! We look forward to all that's ahead in 2025.
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Previous 2024 Board of Directors | |
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Top left to right: Pete McCarthy (White Lake Fire Authority), Jeff Jelinek (Jelinek Tree Service LLC), Clarissa Moon (Shelby State Bank), WLACVB Executive Director Amy VanLoon (staff), Erin Peyer (Arts Council of White Lake - Nuveen Center), Scott Lewis (Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo), WLACVB Director of Events & Membership Stephanie Ware (staff), Todd Kraai (Rivers ACE - Whitehall) Bottom left to right: Vice Chair David Dusenberry (Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt Whitehall), Chair Brent Raeth (CatchMark Technologies), Trish Schroeder (Old Channel Inn), Treasurer Susan Philips (Howmet Aerospace)
Not pictured: Doug Boardwell (Boardwell Mechanical Services Inc.) and Past Chair Rich Houtteman (Consumers Energy)
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Note from the New Director | |
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Just like that, we close the books on another great year and start anew. For me personally, that means wrapping up almost three years of working alongside Amy VanLoon, who was our organization's Executive Director for 20 years, and stepping into that role myself for the first time as she begins her retirement.
I feel incredibly thankful to take on this role. The White Lake Area is my home, and being able to live and work here is a gift. Getting to promote how magical of a place our area is to live, work, and play, is easy to do when I believe so much in our community and the businesses that help make it so great. I feel with everything in me that our White Lake Area and surrounding areas is a place worth investing in, caring for, living, visiting, and believing in.
As we begin 2025, I am looking forward to continue working alongside our area businesses and community. We see and hear time and time again, and of course know from experience, that the people who make up our community are one of the biggest reasons people want to be here--whether it's to live or visit. I am excited to get to know more of you this year and beyond. We also have an incredible Board of Directors that helps our organization succeed. I know that they'll be a huge support and encouragement for me and our entire area this year, as they always have been in years past.
To 2025...Here's to businesses having an incredible year, new businesses opening up, new visitors discovering what it means to Live White Lake, new residents making their way to our coastal community...I am excited for all the new and good things in store in 2025 and I can't wait to see and be a part of it.
Stephanie Ware
Executive Director
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Winter in the White Lake Area | |
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Winter in the White Lake Area is beautiful, calm, and scenic as ever. We're surrounded by our own winter wonderland (maybe not at this moment, but it will arrive). In peak season, our area is a winter enthusiasts' dream, but still full of options for people who prefer to stay indoors.
There will be groomed trails open for snowmobilers. The Muskegon Luge offers luge, skiing, and more. Double JJ has excellent tubing hills when the snow sticks, not to mention the largest indoor waterslide in West Michigan. Ice skating can be fun for all ages, whether you're a pro or just starting out. Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing are also popular winter activity, and we have the trails and places to do it. Our area provides great locations for ice fishing--Duck Lake, White Lake, White River, and Lake Michigan herself, just to name a few. And, who says you can't enjoy a walk or hike on the trail during the cold months? We have some of the greatest trails and parks.
Looking to stay indoors? Several of our restaurants, pubs, and breweries have live music nearly every night of the week. Our Arts Council of White Lake--Nuveen Center offers classes for all ages throughout the year. Why not learn a new art skill during the winter months? The Playhouse at White Lake is the best place to catch an event, and they offer classes. Picking up a good book is a favorite winter pastime for many, and the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague Branch of the Muskegon Area District Library, and White Lake Community Library are happy to help with that. Or how about a cooking class through the Art of Cookery--Cooking School? Of course Shopping goes with any season, and we have the best shops around.
And while winter is just getting started, home and yard projects are ongoing, and some need to be scheduled ahead of time for the warmer months. Check out our local services that are here to help with everything from home renovations, landscaping, repairs, taxes, buying/selling a home, pet supplies, insurance, and so much more.
With all there is to offer in the White Lake Area, we hope you embrace and enjoy this winter season (with and without snow).
Image by Connor Rake Productions.
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Update our Community Calendar with 2025 Events | |
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If your business, club, or organization is holding meetings, classes, or events that you want added to our community calendar, be sure to get them added through our website. We use this calendar when we create our weekly Here's What's Happening in the White Lake Area emails that go out to the community.
If you need help logging in or adding your event, email us here for a login and calendar instructions.
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Looking Back:
Quarter Four Highlights
October-December, 2024
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On Saturday, October 12, we held our 28th annual Pumpkinfest in downtown Montague. The weather could not have been more perfect, and the community--both locals and visitors--really came out to celebrate with thousands in attendance. With Artisan Market, farmers market, arts & crafts, food vendors, pet costume contest, bake sale, pumpkin painting, pumpkin launching, pumpkin weigh in, the famous roll down Dowling Hill, and MORE, it was an event for all to enjoy!
We want to thank our Pumpkinfest sponsors:
GOLD: Rant Insurance Group
SILVER: Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt, Durga Insurance Group, Hope Bible Chapel, and Scheid Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
BRONZE: Aludyne, MasterTag, Shelby State Bank, White Lake Beacon
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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On Monday, October 21, we held our Chamber Annual Dinner at Double JJ Resort. This is always such a great night for us to celebrate our area businesses and accomplishments, as well as an opportunity to give an update on what our organization has done the past year.
One of our favorite parts of the year is being able to announce award recipients, where we honor the Legacy Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, El Award, Lady Laker, and Honorary Awards. Click here for the write-up on our award winners.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
Premier: Double JJ Resort
Gold: Aludyne, CatchMark Technologies, HarborLight Credit Union,and WinBerg Construction.
Silver (Award Sponsors): Fetch Brewing Company, White Lake Storage, Scheid Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Don Rypma Chevrolet GMC, Pitkin Gift Shoppe, Shelby State Bank, and White Lake Beacon . Bronze: Lighthouse Title and Wilde Jessie Consulting.
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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We held our annual Holiday Walk on November 22 & 23, where we got to kick off the holidays in the White Lake Area with holiday open houses through several local businesses, the community tree lightings, carriage rides, trolley rides, and more! It was a great couple of days, and we love seeing the community out supporting local with not only their favorite places, but places they have never been to before.
Thank you to our event sponsors who made this possible!
Gold: Aludyne and Scheid Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Silver: Elite Air Heating & Cooling, Rant Insurance Group, and White Lake Beacon
Bronze: HarborLight Credit Union
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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On Sunday, December 1, we held Amy VanLoon's retirement party at The Playhouse At White Lake. This date fell exactly on her 20 year anniversary with the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau, and made for the perfect date to celebrate her career. With over 300 people in attendance, live music by The Substitutes, a group cheers, and food from Hanson Hill and Old Channel Inn, Amy felt the love from local businesses, community members, and friends and family from near and far.
Thank you to Complete Restoration & Cleaning Services, Elite Air Heating & Cooling, and WinBerg Construction for sponsoring this event!
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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Our 71st annual White Lake Area Christmas Parade took place on Saturday, December 7. With over 50 festive entries it was a great start to December! The parade was led by the honorable American Legion and VFW, along with our Grand Marshal, Kara Smith of The Gnarly Heifer. Santa was the grand finale, riding in style on the County Dairy, Inc. wagon.
Did you the miss the parade? Or want to relive it? Click here for the livestream from CatchMark Technologies.
Thank you to our parade sponsor, Shepherd & Shepherd, our Santa sponsor, Lighthouse Title, and our livestream sponsor, WinBerg Construction!
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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On Saturday, December 14, we held our second annual Holiday Cookie Crawl. With 100 participants and 22 businesses (cookie stops), we could not have had more fun! Participants had stops to make to collect their cookies, and it provided an awesome chance for last-minute shopping and a way to see businesses they have never seen before.
We loved hearing the positive feedback from all involved, and seeing photos of how much fun people were having. We look forward to bringing this event back for year three in 2025.
Click here to view our full Facebook album.
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Welcome Our Newest Members:
October-December, 2024
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We'd like to give a special thank you and welcome to these new members who joined the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau during quarter four! The mission of our Chamber is to serve and advance the business interests of members and to strengthen the economic climate of our area. We are always thankful and appreciative when businesses trust us and allow us to partner together to fulfill that mission! | |
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Business Expo
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 8:00am-12:30pm
Whitehall High School
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