DECEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
 CRESTON CHAMBER HIGHLIGHTS
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Special Thanks To

Farley’s and Sathers Candy Company for donating the candy for the visits by Santa to the Christmas Castle at the Restored Depot.

 

Friends of the Library and all of their elves for their help with Santa's visit to the Christmas Castle on December 4th and another early thank you to CARE for their help on December 13th.

 

Kelly’s Flowers, Gifts & Garden Center, Creston Super Wal-Mart and Giza Landscaping for helping to sponsor the Yard of the Month.

 

The City of Creston Public Works Department deserves special thanks for all of their hard work putting up the Christmas decorations.  Our city wouldn't shine as bright without them.  Thanks a million!

 

Creston Automotive, Creston Wal-Mart Tire & Lube, Eby’s Auto, K & K Auto, Kilgore’s, Pokorny BP & Automotive Service and Stalkers Chevrolet Cadillac for sponsoring the fireworks display after the Lighted Christmas Parade on December 4th.

 

 

Food Pantry

Just a reminder that MATURA Action operates an Emergency Food Bank located at 300 East Montgomery.  They are open year around from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  They accept donations at any time.  Please help them during this Holiday Season.

 

 

Creston Christmas Basket

One of Creston's finest holiday traditions, the Christmas Basket Fund Drive, is underway.  This group has helped to make Christmas a little merrier for those less fortunate in Union County. The Christmas Basket Fund needs your continued support and would welcome any and all donations.  Your donations may be left at the Creston News Advertiser.   

There is Still Time to Decorate Your Place of Business

The Retail Promotion Committee would like to ask all Chamber members to decorate their place of business for the holiday season.  This year we will honor the three top decorated businesses.  You do not need to be a retail business to win.  You do not even need to sign up.  The Committee will drive around after December 5th and select winners based on curb appeal.  The three businesses selected will be notified and honored.

 

Thank you in advance for your effort.  Please make this a Chamber-wide effort.  If you have any questions, please contact the Chamber.

 

 

You Are Invited to the Creston Chamber of Commerce & Union County Development Association Holiday Open House

The Creston Chamber of Commerce and Union County Development Association would like to extend an invitation to all of our members, friends and volunteers to our Holiday Open House to be held at the Chamber/UCDA Office on Wednesday, December 10th beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running until 4:00 p.m. 

 

Please stop by during the day.  We would love to see all of you.

Creston Holiday GiveAway 2008

The Creston Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Holiday GiveAway is taking place now through the close of business on December 16th.  The drawing will be held on December 17th at
10:30 a.m. at the Chamber Office.  Prizes being given away are 2 Grand Prizes of $500.00 in Creston Bucks and 5 prizes of $100.00 in Creston Bucks. 

 Complete rules are posted in all participating businesses.

 

The Chamber would like to thank the following businesses for participating in Holiday GiveAway 2008:

Akin Building Center

American Home Design Center

Breadeaux Pizza

Boyd Appliance Center

Coen’s Furniture Store

Cook Video & Appliance

Country Hearts

Creston Farm & Home Supply

Creston TrueValue

Creston News Advertiser

Fareway

First Federal Savings Bank

First National Bank

Fiscus Diamond Jewelry & Gifts

Garden Café

Great Western Bank

Heartland Tire & Auto Center

Hy-Vee Food Store

Iowa State Savings Bank

Java J’s

Kelly’s Flowers & Gifts and Garden Center

Lyrix Wireless/Radio Shack

Phillips Floors

Pizza Ranch

Quilts & Other Notions

RE/MAX Heartland Opportunities

Rod’s Hallmark

Video Escape

Wal-Mart Super Center

Wishing Well

 

Participating Chamber Employers:

Bunn-O-Matic Corporation

Creston Automotive

Creston Super 8

Creston Radio

Draper, Snodgrass, Mikkelsen & Co. P.C.

Fansteel/Wellman Dynamics Corporation

Farley’s and Sathers Candy Company

Giza Landscaping

Greater Regional Medical Center

Innovative Industries

Iowa Workforce Development

Precision Optical

Annual Meeting Highlights

The 69th Creston Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was a fun evening for those attending.  Francis Doyle, President, conducted the business meeting. 

The following slate of directors and officers were elected for 2009

President                     Amy Hook

1st Vice President        Ed Ritter

2nd Vice President       TJ Stalker

Treasurer                     Randy Cook

Past President             Francis Doyle

 

Board Members elected to a three-year term

Ben Adamson (State Farm Insurance)

Karen Berry (Bunn-O-Matic Corporation)

Terri Higgins (SWCC)

Cathy Lacina (Southern Iowa Rural Water Association)

Roger Lanning (First Federal Savings Bank)

Casey Purdum (First National Bank)

                                                                                                                             

Board Members with two years remaining

Doug Carlson
Jason Davis
Larry Otten
Jeanette Gildsig
Lisa Morgan

 

Board members with one year remaining              

Shelly Cook 
Dick Finley
Joyce Franklin
Tom Grantham
Steve Wintermute

                                                                                                               

Our retiring board members are

Jenny Bolinger                                                                                                              Julie Reynard
Sheila Brown                                                                                                                 Thad Sickels    

 

Thank you so much for all of your time and hard work, we appreciate your effort.  To those Board Members leaving, You will be missed.

 

In addition to election of Officers and Board Members, the Chamber also recognized the following individuals:

2008 Creston Citizen of the Year

            Flossie Roberts

 

2007 Creston Chamber of Commerce Youth Award

            Kilee Kralik

 

2007 Creston Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Leadership Award

                        Chris Mansour

 

 

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS FOR 2008

Area XIV Agency on Aging

Ben Adamson, State Farm Insurance

Country Hearts

DaVita Dialysis of Creston

Garden & Associates, LTD

Giza Landscaping

Humana MarketPOINT

Just For You Flowers & Gifts

Panther Lanes

Punky’s Putt-Putt

three C design

VP Networks

 

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS FOR 2009

Casa de Oro

Creston True Value & Java J’s

Dr. Brian Kinkade, O.D.

Hahn Roofing

Knotty Pine Restaurant

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa

Rick Pettegrew, #1 Real Estate, John Agency

Signs by CAC

 

 

 Attention Newsletter Advertisers

We would like to thank you for supporting the Creston Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, Chamber Highlights, with your advertising spaces for 2008.  We appreciate your support and will renew your ad for 2009 unless you notify us to the contrary.  The cost for the upcoming year will change to $19.00 per month.  If you need to change your ad copy, please call Petznicks at

782-2023.

 

We appreciate the support.


Creston Chamber Gift Ideas

Please remember the Chamber while doing your Holiday Shopping.  Creston Bucks are a great idea.  You may order them in $5, $10 and $20 increments. As an extra bonus, your Creston Bucks can be personalized if you call us a day in advance.

 

In addition, the Chamber has full color Creston Afghans available for your gift giving.  They are $44.95 plus tax and for an additional amount can be sent for you.  They really are a great way to show pride in our community.

 

The Chamber also has Creston canvas totes available for $6.00 and Creston Cups for $6.50.  They make a great gift.  We also have new this year a 2009 calendar of old gas stations which features our own Phillips Station on the front and then in October.

 

Stop by the Chamber and take a look at the goodies.

December Gold Star Business Honor

Congratulations to

Iowa State Savings Bank, Taylor Branch - 504 West Taylor Street – Creston

 

Each month the Chamber will honor a business or businesses around town that maintain their appearance both inside and out and keep their area clean.  The process to nominate a business for a Gold Star Honor is simple. All you need to do is to call the Chamber.

 

December Hi-Fives For Great Customer Service Goes Out To

Knotty Pine Restaurant, for, “being so pleasant and thoughtful of your patrons.  Thank you.”

 

Jack Keuter, for, “always being there to lend a hand.  It is sure appreciated.”

 

Dave Nixt, Fareway, for, “being so friendly and helpful and making sure the job is done right.”

 

J & M Service and Accessories, for, “making me proud to be from Iowa and willing to take care of people and stepping up to the plate.  Thank you.”

 

Remember all you need to do to have someone honored with a Hi-Five is to call the Chamber to acknowledge individuals and businesses that have given excellent customer service or gone that extra mile for you the customer.  We need to acknowledge this effort and show our appreciation. 

 

Please call Ellen at 782-7021 to share your Hi-Five.

 

 

 

Thoughts from the Director

November and December are always busy times at the Chamber as we have prepared for the Annual Meeting, holiday promotions, Lighted Christmas Parade and other activities that the Chamber is involved with during this time.  In this respect, we are certainly no different from many of you.  Sometimes with our hectic schedules we forget what is really important, however.  To Peggy and I and the Chamber Board of Directors it is, you our Chamber Members.  We certainly consider it a privilege to work with you and for you.  We understand that our Creston Chamber is only as strong as its members and we feel that our Chamber is very strong and getting stronger.  We do appreciate your support and look forward to continued progress and success in the New Year and the years to come.

 

We hope that you have a GREAT Holiday Season.

 

Ellen and Peggy

 

 

 

 December 2009

2        Creston City Council Meeting, 6 p.m., City Council Chambers

4           Monthly Chamber Radio Grapevine Visit, 9 a.m.

Comfort and Joy Quilt Show, 10 a.m. until after the parade, American Home Design

      Quilt Block Walk in Uptown Creston  

Festival of Trees, Maple Street Memories

Living Windows & Caroling on Maple and Adams Street, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

            Santa Arrives at the Christmas Castle at the Depot, 4:00 to 6 p.m., Restored

            Depot, pictures available for a fee, Friends of the Library

            Model Railroaders working at the Depot, 4:30 p.m. to close

            Rotary Soup Supper, 4 to 7 p.m., Congregate Meal Site

            Cider and Donut Holes Served in the Depot before and after the Parade

            Lighted Christmas Parade, 7 p.m., Uptown Creston

            Fireworks Show, Uptown Creston, following the Parade

            Iowa State Savings Bank Holiday Open House, following the Parade

5          Comfort and Joy Quilt Show, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., American Home Design Center

            Quilt Block Walk in Uptown Creston  

Festival of Trees,  Maple Street Memories

Video Escape Ribbon Cutting, 101 W. Taylor/Hwy 34 W, Ste A, 10 a.m.

6          Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., depot

Comfort and Joy Quilt Show, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., American Home Design Center

            Festival of Trees,  Maple Street Memories

            Quilt Block Walk in Uptown Creston  

            YMCA Wine & Cheese Tasting, Three Mile Lake Lodge

7          Festival of Trees, Maple Street Memories

            Rural Iowa Crisis Center Home Tours, 2 to 5 p.m.

10        Creston Chamber of Commerce & UCDA Holiday Open House, 10 a.m.

              to 4 p.m., Chamber/UCDA Offices

12        Creston Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Office

            Crest Area Theatre Presents Madrigal Dinner, 6:00 p.m., Supertel Inn

13        Santa at Christmas Castle, 9:00 a.m. to Noon, Restored Depot

Creston Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) Craft and Bake Sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 

            Congregate Meal Site

            Crest Area Theatre Presents Madrigal Dinner, 6:00 p.m., Supertel Inn

14        Southwestern Community College Concert Choir presents Carols in Concert,

7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center.

15        Middle School Concert, 7 p.m.  

16        Creston City Council Meeting, 6 p.m., City Council Chambers  

17        Creston Holiday GiveAway 2008 Drawing, 10:30 a.m., Chamber Office

18        CHS Winter Concert, 7:00 p.m., High School Auditorium

19        Image Enhancement Committee Meeting, 7 a.m., Windrow Restaurant

25        Merry Christmas

31        New Years Eve

 

January 2009

1          Happy New Year

6          Creston City Council Meeting, 6 pm, City Council Chambers

9          Creston Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, 7:00 a.m., Chamber Office

15        Women in Business Meeting, 8 a.m., RE/MAX

16        Image Enhancement Committee Meeting, 7 a.m., Windrow Restaurant

20        Creston City Council Meeting, 6 pm, City Council Chambers

24        Legislative Coffee, 8:00 a.m., Congregate Mealsite

      McKinley Park  9-Pin Bowling Tournament

 

 

Buy your Creston Button at the Chamber today for only $1.50