President's Update

H-E-R-E’-S SUMMER!
Are you ready? I am, and while I love the season, it goes all too quickly. We’re hard at work, and have been for some time, on Sterlingfest, the $10,000 Raffle Gala, the Christmas Party, and even NEXT YEAR’S Tri-Community Luncheon, with Mayors Noonan and Notte already confirmed to attend and speak! All this in addition to the many activities you read about here on a regular basis.

Regarding the $10,000 Raffle Gala, our committee has been hard at work, tickets are already printed and we’ve begun selling them … our goal is to have a sell-out this year, so make sure you’re not left out. Also, to be eligible for the $500 Early Bird drawing, tickets need to be paid by Sept. 15. One of our new features this year is an opportunity to purchase one full $10,000 Raffle Ticket, two dinners and cocktails, for only $250. We’ve “kicked up” the menu, the fun and we believe you’ll love the evening.

Speaking of “Chamber Chat,” we hope you’ll like our new format. When we launched the weekly email communication for chamber members and friends almost two years ago, we had the goal of reaching each of you with timely news about your chamber and your fellow members. While that hasn’t changed, our look and presentation have been evolving, and we’re pretty excited to bring you the New-look Chat. We will be bringing you more news, information and opportunities for you to be tuned in on a regular basis to the many features, benefits and programs the chamber has to offer. We’ve added new graphics, new weekly features and new opportunities to advertise on this widely-read site.

As I’m sure you know, our monthly magazine, “Regional Connection,” is available on line 24/7 with a link right on our home page at www.shrcci.com under the “News & Resources” button at the far right of our navigation bar. “Connection” provides more news, features and photos, and is more in-depth than our “Chat” email communicator. It’s also a great spot for you to advertise your business, service or profession and you know it will be seen by both your fellow chamber members as well as our readers who come from near and far. Debbie Majchrzak at Sterling Printing and Graphics designs and produces this beautiful magazine for us, and she’d be happy to have your participation in this beautiful, cost-effective publication that will surely bring you rewards for your advertising dollars. Reach her at sterling@spgraphics.net or (586) 979-2244.

I also wanted to share some of my recent experiences at the Mackinac Policy Conference with you. I was honored to attend, and when I read that they were promoting it as something like, “1,400 Movers, Shakers and Top Executives,” I thought in my mind that it was 1,399 of them, along with ME. The access to those top level folks, and ability to network with many of them, is one of the best features of the conference as I see it. The speeches and panel discussions are good, some are great, and I learned from them, but I especially liked being able to connect with many of the attendees in an informal, low-key and conversational manner. I would especially note that when Newt Gingrich took the stage on the first day as the keynoter, one could hear a pin drop in the Grand Hotel Theater.

I saw some old friends, made some new ones, and attended a number of on- and off-site hospitality-type events, many in the company of my Macomb County colleagues who were in attendance. The Macomb County “contingent” included our own Director Barb Rossmann, Rep. Lesia Liss and Mark, her Warren City Council husband, Sen. Alan Sanborn, County Chairman Paul Gieleghem and wife Sara, County Commissioners Jim Carabelli and Dave Flynn, Rep. Peter Lund, John Ezzo of New Image Building Services, Grace Shore of the Macomb County Chamber, and County Executive Candidate Mark Hackel.

We learned, we networked, and raised the flag for Macomb County, and our Chamber as well.

“After 5” at the Red Ox Tavern in Utica
More than 170 Chamber members and friends attended a great “After 5” event at Chamber member Red Ox Tavern last Tuesday evening. They had a wonderful time networking, with lots of leads and business cards exchanged, and they also enjoyed the great food and beverages served up by co-owner Steve Daniels, evening manager Cindy Slota and the great Wait Staff at the Red Ox. We also thank our Chamber Ambassadors and Linda Colton, our staff liaison for our Ambassador Corps, for their hard work and dedication in helping to make these events the great successes they are.

Another great “After 5” is scheduled for Wednesday, August 25, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Chili’s Bar & Grille, 29117 Mound Rd., just north of 12 Mile, Warren. Free to ABCC & SHRCCI members and $10 for non-members, and you can RSVP at www.shrcci.com, or for more information, please contact Linda Colton at (586) 731-5400 ext. 20, lcolton@shrcci.com or events@shrcci.com.

 Wayne Oehmke
586-731-5400, ext. 22
woehmke@shrcci.com