Salida Chamber of Commerce Newsletter - July 2010

Sunday Brunch at the Elks Lodge.
Every Sunday, 9a.m.-11a.m.; Adults $7.50, Children under 12 $4.00, downstairs in the Lodge. Featuring Sunday specials along with their regular menu where you design your own plate. Select from eggs, omelets, pancakes, biscuits and gravy and breakfast burritos. The choices are endless! It's good! On the corner of E and 2nd in Historic Downtown Salida. Everyone Welcome!

Note from the Director

Did you survive FIBArk and Artwalk? If so, you are ready to tackle July 4th and The 14th Annual Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous on the 10th. The hits just keep on happening!

Don’t miss all the fun and festivities on the 4th. Hats off to all the folks with the Salida Business Alliance who work so hard to make the 4th the greatest little home town celebration around. SBA coordinates several local service clubs and business folks to produce a day of fun for all ages. Family fun games, music, music, music, “The Parade”, bigger and better fireworks. It all makes for a truly small town, 4th of July to cherish. Check out our website for all the details.

The following week brings us the 14th edition of one of the most entertaining afternoons anywhere. Once again the Chamber and the Colorado Brewer’s Guild will host the Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous. Join 3,000 friends of the brewing arts to sample the wares of 45 of Colorado’s finest breweries. Saturday, July 10th from 1pm -5pm at our own Riverside Park is the place to be for beer. Still only $25, make plans to taste the best beers from Colorado.

If you think July fun stops here, think again. Looking at our calendar of events reminds us of Salida Aspen Concerts, the 30th Antique Alley Show & Sale, Calliope 2010 and even our own Chaffee County Fair. Be sure to see the complete lineup of activities for July on our calendar.

Don’t’ forget to utilize our Weekly Announcements for your special happening. Simply get your info to us by Monday and we will make sure your event is included in this special weekly email to our membership. Send your info to announcements@salidachamber.org .

Lastly, don’t forget about our group health insurance program through the Chamber. We can now offer our small business membership competitive and comprehensive group health insurance. Please call or email the Chamber for complete contact information so your business can take advantage of this outstanding benefit.

Time to get back to work. Savor the July summer and see you next month.

Best regards,

John Engelbrecht
Executive Director

June 2010 Business of the Month - Salida Mountain Sports

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce Vaqueros gathered Friday at Salida Mountain Sports, 110 N. F St., to announce the store as June Business of the Month.

Salida Mountain Sports is owned by Nate and Diana Porter of Salida.

John Engelbrecht, chamber executive director, said, “Nate and Diana have worked hard to create a business that serves the needs of the locals and our guests. “Their commitment and generosity to Salida is evident in the level of sharing they do to help charitable organizations and deserving efforts though out our community. Hats off and best wishes to Salida Mountain Sports.”

The outdoor goods and gear store opened in 2007 and has been a chamber member ever since. Nate Porter said as the business enters its fourth summer he was honored receive the award. Salida Mountain Sports is an underwriter for KHEN radio, a FIBArk sponsor and the Porters donate door prizes and goods for several fund-raisers.

They initiated the Race the Divide ski mountaineering race held at Monarch Mountain.

New Chamber Member - TLC Home Watch

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Carrie Carey owner and operator of TLC Home Watch to its membership.

TLC Home Watch provides peace of mind for home owners of Chaffee County. They tailor service to meet individual needs of their clients including a 15-point comprehensive property check list.

TLC Home Watch is the only service in Chaffee County to offer a special price for monthly home watch and cleaning. Learn more at www.tlchomewatch.net or by calling 395-3847 to speak with Carrie.

Salida Chamber Health Benefit Option

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce personnel recently developed a health benefit option for chamber members and their employees, open to businesses in Chaffee, Saguache or Fremont counties.

Benefit features include five different plan designs to mix and match, separate dependent coverage option, varying deductible levels, lenient participation and contribution level requirements and access to a broad network of providers in the county and the Front Range.

The chamber health plan is available to any size chamber member employer located within the included counties.

More information is available at (800) 475-8466.

Down By The River Bar Opens

The Salida Café’s (300 West Sackett Avenue) newest addition provides the ideal spot for river and fireworks watching. This lovely spot is already becoming a local favorite. Enjoy great beers, soft drinks and our signature umbrella drinks beneath the the trees, or under the stars.

You can access Down By River via the River walkway or The Salida Café’s main entrance.

Hours of operation: 3 to 8ish—Thurs-Sunday

You won’t find a more congenial spot to meet friends or make new ones.

4TH OF JULY SPECIALS

GARNA - Map Reading and GPS workshop

USGS Map Reading / GPS Workshop
Friday, July 9, 2010

GARNA (the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association) is pleased to sponsor a USGS (US Geological Survey) Map Reading and GPS (Global Positioning System) workshop. This course is ideal for anyone involved in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, biking, four-wheeling, backcountry skiing, etc. It will be led by Steve Reiter, an expert in map and GPS use from the USGS Earth Science Information Center in Lakewood. The workshop will be held on Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Masonic Lodge at 3rd and G Streets in Salida and will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m., with an hour break for lunch.

The morning focus will be on Map Reading and Compass use. Participants will learn how to read a topographic map, how to take a compass bearing and adjust for magnetic declination, how to triangulate position on a map using compass bearings, and several other useful skills.

In the afternoon, the class will cover how to use a GPS with a topographic map. In the classroom, we'll discuss waypoints, datums, plot coordinates on a map, and show how to set up your GPS. Then we'll head outside and put your new GPS navigational skills to work.

Note: This class will NOT address loading digital maps into a GPS receiver or using a GPS for automobile navigation or as an exercise companion. The focus will be on using a GPS with a published map for outdoor activities.

The cost of the class is $45 for GARNA members or $55 for non-association members.

Compasses and GPSs will be available for those who do not have them. If you do bring your own GPS be sure you are familiar with your device’s basic operation.

The class is limited to 30, so early enrollment is encouraged. Please visit www.garna.org/seminars.htm to register or call GARNA at 539-5106 for more information.

Salida Fourth of July Fun

Salida Colorado Fourth of July Celebration

New Chamber Member - Larry Blevins Marketing

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Larry Blevins of Fortune High Tech Marketing to membership.

Blevins is an independent representative of the company. He works with employers and individuals, offering instruction about how to increase monthly income by $500 to $10,000.

To do that, he shows individuals how to start a full or part-time business while working from home or office.

Blevins has participated in the business since 1988. More information and appointments are available at 207-8792 or 944 E. U.S. 50, No. 307.

New Chamber Member - Salida Shoeman

Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce members recently welcomed Karin and Vince Marchase of Salida Shoeman to membership.

Salida Shoeman carries shoes and foot care products.

After operating in the same location since 1999, Karin and Vince recently opted to move locations and are operating from 134 F St., in the building with Su Casa and Wild Iris Photography. Nike, New Balance, Skechers, Born, Clarks, Hi-Tec, Teva, Rockport, Chippewa, Columbia, Pierre Dumas and Red Circle footwear are offered. Special orders may be made and take 10-14 days to process. The Marhcases are happy to be downtown where they can be accessed by foot traffic on F Street.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. “It was just a matter of finding the right location and right fit for an upscale shoe store,” Karin said.

More information is available at the store, 134 F Street, or by calling 539-1514.

Native American Research and Preservation, Inc

In October Native American Research and Preservation, Inc. will be spending 5 days with the Navajo at Canyon de Chelly. The trip was organized by the Colorado Rock Art Association (www.coloradorockart.org). This beautiful and very spiritual canyon is a national park and is located not far from the Four Corners region in north eastern Arizona, just outside the town of Chinle, AZ. It is a breathtaking archaeological area with many rock art panels and cliff dwellings built by prehistoric people between A.D. 350 and 1300. In 1864 the U.S. military forced the removal of the Navajo (Dine) from the canyon. More than 8,000 Navajo walked 300 miles and were absent for four years from their homes. Many died on the 'Long Walk.' The U.S. military destroyed all their homes, livestock, crops and orchards.

We will be collecting good used (or new!) clothing, blankets, and non-perishable canned goods from now until we leave to take to the families. Many, if not most, of people living on reservations, live in conditions worse than Third World countries. These people are right here, in our own backyards. Electricity and water can be miles from their homes. Example: One Navajo woman applied for government housing. It was approved - 15 years later. When the small house arrived, it met government regulations of being fully wired and plumbed. However, the nearest water and electricity was 7 miles away. As many as 30 family members live in a small 2 bedroom house. In the winter many families are stranded by blizzards.

I met a man a few years ago who visited Canyon de Chelly. He asked an elder what he could do to help, to make up for all the injustices. The elder said "bring back the trees." Meaning the orchards that had been destroyed by the military. This gentleman made a project for his Boy Scout troop out of the request and bought many fruit trees, took the scout troop to the canyon and planted them. What a wonderful gift from the heart.

Another organization working to help Native Americans is located in Colorado Springs. www.onenationwt.org. On their website they have some very eye-opening statistics of what life is like for these people.

If you can help in any way, these people would be very grateful. Please call Becky Donlan at 719-539-2913 for more information or to have me pick up donations. Thank you. Mitakuye Oyasin (we are all related).

Jugalicious

Jug liquors

Thank you to our renewing members!

‘The Rock Doc’ at Prospectors Village
ADK Twig CO, LLC
Anderson Motor Company
Architectural Services
Arkansas Valley Physical Therapy
Bill & Mary Ellen Murphy
Burger King
Circle R Motel
Consumer Insurance Group, Inc.
Credit Bureau of the Rockies
Creek Side Hot Springs
Edward Jones & CO
Triple J Ranch
Wag-N-Tails
Edward O. Kinzie
Grimo’s Italian Restaurant

Hardrock Paving & Redi Mix
Harriet Alexander Field
Monarch Spur RV Park
Mountain Engineering & Testing, Inc.
New Age Imports
River Runners LTD
Salida Aspen Concerts Inc.
Salida Coffee CO., LLC
Salida Physical Therapy
Schultz & Associates
Scott’s Printing
State Farm Insurance
Tenderfoot Tavern Inc.
That’s a Wrap
The Bunkhouse
The Simple Lodge & Hostel
Tischer Telecommunications