Nov08 YTDPhoneCalls: 523 6,877Walk-ins 271 4,936VACATIONPackets 1 36Inquiries 24 720EmailInq 32 163RELOCATIONPackets 3 26Basic 14 362PhoneBooks 2 20ChamberWebsiteActivityUniqueVisits 4,201 100,576

Chamber SnapshotVisitor’s Center Information Requests:

January2009

AtaGlanceJANuARy uNWINDS>> January21,2009 from5:00-6:30pm OfficeSolutions&Services 700SunsetBlvd,#A

>> Chamber Closed January1,2009forNewYearsDay January19thforMartinLuther King,Jr.Day

InThisIssue1 JanuaryLuncheon NewDirectorsTakeOffice BusinessDaysattheCapitol2 NewMembers “Reallynew”Member3 BusinessDaysatCapitol,continued Renewals EconomicOutlookSeminar4 BrownBagSeries GovernmentAffairBriefs5 JanuaryCalendar6 DecemberRibbonCutting VolunteerAppreciation NewDirectors,continued JanuaryLuncheon,continued GovernmentAffairBriefs,continued UNWIND7 EmployeeHandbookSeries8 LeadershipFlathead

continuedonpage6>>

continuedonpage3>>

GetInContactCallBridgettetofindouthowyoucanbenefitfromalltheactivityontheChamberofCommercewebsite406.758.2801.

FinalDaystoRegisterforBusinessDaysattheCapitolYouareinvitedtojoinadelegationofbusinesspeoplefromtheFlatheadValleyinattendingtheChamberofCommerce“BusinessDaysattheCapital”onJanuary5-6.TherewillbeapanelofHouseandSenateleadershippresentingtheirpreviewofthekeylegislativeissuesofthesession.Fullregistrationis$120withratesavailableforindividualevents.

NewDirectorsTakeOfficeJoinusinwelcomingfivenewdirectorstotheKalispellChamberBoard.ReedGunliksonistheownerofRGunliksonCPA’sinKalispell.DaveHarveyisVicePresidentofSportsman&SkiHaus.

NewsFromtheStreetJanuary luncheon to feature local industry reportsTheJanuary20ChamberLuncheonwillfeatureavarietyoffast-pacedreportsonthestatusoflocalindustriesaswemoveinto2009.Planonjoiningusforthisinformativeluncheonmeeting.TheluncheonissponsoredbyBobHerronInsurance.Reportswillinclude:Agribusiness–MarkLalum,CHSConstruction–TerryKramer,Kramer

Enterprises

continuedonpage6>>

KalispellChamberofCommerceMissionStatement

ThecentralmissionoftheKalispellChamberofCommerceisthecultivationanddevelopmentofentrepreneursandcommunities

throughthespiritofenterprise.

2

OfficersBob Schneider, Chairman of the Board, First Interstate BankTerry Kramer, Vice Chairman of the Board, Kramer Enterprises, Inc.Jim Lehner, Secretary/Treasurer, Plum CreekMark Lalum, Immediate Past Chairman, CHS

Directors

Dick Buchanan, Byte SavvySusie Burch, Flathead Valley Community CollegeKris Carlson, A+ Plus HealthcareNancy Davis, Prudential FinancialReed Gunlikson, R Gunlikson CPA’sScott Hagel, Crowley Law FirmDave Harvey, Sportsman’s Ski HausTom Kurdy, The Daily Inter LakeTom Lund, Rocky Mountain BankDave Mitchell, CTA Architects & EngineersDenise Nalty, Nalty Real EstateCheri Nelson, Express Employment ProfessionalsJim Ness, Glacier BankJim Oliverson, Kalispell Regional Medical CenterLoren Sallee, Loren’s Auto RepairKen Sugden, Flathead Electric CooperativeSteve Thompson, Semitool

Ex-officio Directors

Mike Pence, Flathead County Administrator

Professional Staff

Joe Unterreiner, President . . . . . . . 758-2804Bridgette Evans, Director of Member Services . . . . . . . . 758-2801Cary Aubrey, Executive Assistant . . 758-2803Diane Bebee, Receptionist . . . . . . . 758-2800Chris Parson, Small Business Development . . . . . . . . . . . . 758-2802Doug Bolender, Government Contracting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755-4221Jill Seigmund, Leadership Flathead Program Manager . . . . . . . . 758-2810

Consultants

Anderson, Baker & Swanson - Government AffairsEdge Communications - Media & Public RelationsJCCS - Tax & Audit CounselJanet Schwalk - Bookkeeping

NewMembersPleasewelcomethesenewmemberswithyourbusiness.

GLACIER CAmp & CONfERENCE CENTERTammiRardon~Contact17482O’NeilRoadLakeside,MT59922Email:tammi@glaciercamp.orgWebsite:www.glaciercamp.orgPhone:406-844-2114Fax:406-844-0551

WeareayeararoundChristianConferenceCenter.Ourfacilityincludesthreeconferencerooms,largedininghallwithfullycateredmeals,thirteenbedroomsinourSpruceLodgethatcansleep52-73people.Wecanhandleupto200guestsforawedding,reunion,oranytypeofevent.Ifyoucandreamit,wecanhostit.

NExTRNDJerePerchy~Owner390MissyLaneWhitefish,MT59937Email:jperchy@nextrnd.comWebsite:www.nextrnd.comPhone:(406)-270-4505Faxed:(406)-862-7547

NextRndisaproductrealizationcompanythatprovidesmechanicalandelectro-mechanicaldesignandtestingservices.OurqualitymanagementsystemiscertifiedtoISO9001and13485(13485ismedicaldevicespecific).NextRnDisregisteredwiththeFoodandDrugAdministrationasaSpecificationDeveloper.

SIzzLERGeorgeKennedy~Owner1250Hwy2WestKalispell,MT59901Phone:(406)-257-9555

Steak,SaladandSeafoodFamilyRestaurant

CongratulationstoWade(KCFW)andDoriMuehlhof(FlatheadConvention&VisitorBureau)onthenewarrivaloftheirbeautifulbabygirl!BornFriday,December19,2008at8:15am,weighinginat9lbs7ozand20½incheslong!BabyChloeandDoriarebothdoinggreat.

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BusinessDaysattheCapitol >>fromcover

Renewals10 Plus Years BrendanHouse BresnanCommunicationsCarquestAutoPartsCityServiceValconConradMansionDADavidson&CoEisingerMotorsFirstInterstateBankDowntownKalispell -FirstInterstateBankEvergreen -FirstInterstateBank-HuttonRanch -FirstInterstateBankEureka -FirstInterstateBankPolson -FirstInterstateBankWhitefishFlatheadBeverageCoFlatheadCountyFlatheadFarmMutualIns.Co.FlatheadValleyCommunityCollegeGeorgeBestAttorneyatLawGlacierBank-DowntownKalispell -BuffaloHillKalispell -GlacierBank-ColumbiaFalls -GlacierBank-Eureka -GlacierBank-ReserveDrive,Kalispell -GlacierBank-Whitefish -GlacierBankBigfork -GlacierBankEvergreen -GlacierBankLibby -GlacierBankPolson

MontanaLoggingAssociationNWMontanaHumanResourcesPrestigeAssistedLivingRockyMountainTransportationIncWalmartWellsFargoBankKalispellNorthWellsFargoBankKalispellDowntown

5 to 9 YearsBuildingByJonMerlinInformationServicesNaturalChoiceProductsPineyCreekInteriorsSummitPreparatorySchool

1 to 4 YearsFlatheadHealth&FitnessFlatheadYouthHomeHolidayInnExpressMontana’sBestVacationHomesMontanaLand&Home,IncBrianCTankoEsqWesternOutdoor

Thosealreadyregisteredinclude:BobSchneider FirstInterstateBank ChrisParson KalispellChamberofCommerce CorySwanson Anderson,BakerandSwanson DebbieKramer ThreeRiversBank JeromeAnderson Anderson,BakerandSwanson JimLehner PlumCreekTimberCompany JimNess GlacierBank JimOliverson KalispellRegionalMedicalCenter JoeUnterreiner KalispellChamberofCommerce SteveClawson WellsFargoBank SusieBurch FlatheadValleyCommunityCollegeTerryKramer KramerEnterprisesTomRay PlumCreekTimberCompany KrisCarlson APlusHealthCare/APlusStaffing

Toregister,contactLeahWeaveratleah@montanachamber.comor406-442-2405.ToreserveyourroomattheBestWesternGreatNorthernHotel,call800-829-4047andaskforthe“ChamberBusinessDays”.Roomratesare$94foradoubleand$104forakingroomplustaxes.

34thAnnualEconomicOutlookSeminarmONTANA’S TRANSpORTATION fuTuREOpportunities Around the Next Curve

Movingandchangingataspeedypace,therapidly-growingworldeconomywillbringincreasingbusinessopportunitiestoMontanansoverthenextfewyears.

TransportingMontana’svaluableproductssuchascattle,wheat,andcopperwillcontinuetobeimportanttokeepourstatecompetitiveinaglobaleconomy.Traditionalaswellasalternativeenergydevelopmentcontinuesinanefforttosolvethenation’senergycrisis.Thismeansourstateneedstobepoisedtotransportwindpower,coal,andotherenergyresources.Whilewedon’tknowwhatisaroundthenextcurve,thefuturesurelyholdsopportunities.Montananeedstostartthinkingaboutacomplete,integratedtransportationsystemthatwillallowustoremaincompetitiveintheever-changingeconomy.

Atthe34thAnnualEconomicOutlookSeminar,SteveAlbert,directoroftheWesternTransportationInstituteatMontanaStateUniversity,willdiscusstheconnectionbetweenthetransportationsystemandtheeconomy.Hewillalsoaddressthebenefitsandchallengesofasafeandefficientsystemandotherimportantissues.

TheprogramispresentedbytheUniversityofMontana’sBureauofBusinessandEconomicResearchandtheKalispellChamberofCommerce.Thecostis$80andincludestheseminar,aproceedingsbook,andaone-yearsubscriptiontoMontanaBusinessQuarterly.Continuingeducationcreditfromavarietyofprofessionalorganizationsisavailablefora$20fee.

Theseminarrunsfrom8amto1pmandwillbeheldattheHiltonGardenInnHotelonTuesday,February10.Registeronlineatwww.bber.umt.eduorcall406-243-5113formoreinformation.

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BrownBagSeries:BlueprintforBusiness

Business Writing: Polish your skills for written communication in the business world

Thisworkshopisforeveryemployerandemployeewhohaseverstruggledtowriteaneffectivebusinesscorrespondence.Eachpieceofthewritingpuzzlewillbedefined;the“WHAT”,the“WHO”andthe“WHY”;thenyou’lllearnhowtoputthemalltogetherinbusinesswritingformat.Subject matter–thebusinessathandAudience–focusonthetarget

audiencepurpose–gettothepoint&beclearformat–besureformatisappropriate

forthespecificsettingStyle–writingforworkmeansbeing

clear,concise&straightforwardCindywillshowyouhowtopolishyourwrittencommunicationskillstobeabletostateandsupportyourmainidea,organizeandconnectyourideas,identifyyourreceiverandselectthecorrectformattodeliveraconvincingmessage.Youwillalsoreceivethe5-step“BeforeYouSendItOut”Checklist.Don’tmissthisopportunitytomaximizetheimpactofyourbusinesswritingskills.

Thismonth’sfacilitator:Cindy Carpenter,SPHR,OwnerofCindyCarpenterBusinessServices,Inc.isacertifiedSeniorProfessionalinHumanResources(SPHR)withover25yearsoftrainingexperience.CindyisanadjunctfacultymemberforWorkforceTrainingatFlatheadValleyCommunityCollegeandaformerinstructorfortheAmericanInstituteofBanking(AIB).Herworkhasincludedtrainingonperformanceappraisals,diversity,teambuildingandleadership,aswellasDISCanalysis,focusgroupfacilitation,assistancewithcreatingbusinessplans,coaching,andteachinga

customizedEmployeeHandbookcourse.CindyservedasSeniorVicePresidentofHumanResourcesforabankinginstitutionwith200employeesin11officesfromLibbytoButteforeightyearsinadditiontoco-owningafamilyauctionbusiness.AUniversityofMontanagraduateinBusinessEducation,Cindybringsahealthycombinationoftraining,education,businessownershipandactualworkforcedevelopmentexperiencetoyourcompany.MonthlyBlueprintforBusinessSuccessbrownbagsessionsfeaturebusinessprofessionalsfacilitatinginformativediscussions.Attendtoreceiverelevantinformationandopportunitiestoaskquestionsoftheprofessionalsandnetworkwithpeers.Whoshouldattend?Employersinterestedingrowingandevolvingmoreeffectiveorganizations.Why?Exchangingideas,insightsandreal-worldsolutionsdirectlyimpactsyourbottomline.

Makingbetterdecisionsquicklyrequiresmoreandbetterinformation.Utilizingallavailableresourcestooperateandgrowissmartbusiness.Engagingandenergizingyouremployeeshelpsmakeyourbusinesssuccessful.Date: Wednesday,January14,2009Time: Noon–1:00pmLocation: TheSummit 205Sunnyview,KalispellCost: Nocost!RSVP: TerriHaueter@758-6279or thaueter@mt.gov

GovernmentAffairsBriefsLegislative Session friday Briefings Begin January 9EveryFridayatnoonduringthelegislativesessionbeginningonFriday,Jan.9,theChamberGovernmentAffairsCommitteewillholdaonehourbriefingandplanningsessionontheChamber’slegislativeagenda.ThesesessionsincludeabriefinganddiscussionwithourrepresentativeinHelena,thefirmofAnderson,BakerandSwanson.Thesessionalsomayincludelegislatorsandotherguestspeakersviateleconference.Themembershipisinvitedtoattend.

Impact fees Back on City Council AgendaTransportationImpactFeesarebackontheCityCouncilandAdvisoryCommitteeagenda.TheAdvisoryCommitteewilltakethisupatthemeetingonJanuary6,andtheCityCouncilwillhaveitontheirJanuary12workshopagenda.Youareencouragedtoattendthesetwomeetings.Thesefeeswillimpactthedealstructure,financing,timing,cost,andmarketabilityofcurrentandfuturerealestateprojects.Forexample,ifcommercialstructuresbuiltin2007hadbeensubjecttoTransportationImpactFees,thefeesfortheseselectedprojectswouldhavebeen:

TownPumpTavernandCasino, 4,115sf-$122,450HuttonRanchFoodCourt, 6,600sf-$244,286FlatheadBank, 6,429sf–$86,836SportsmanandSkiHaus, 58,874sf-$221,190McDonald’sRestaurant, 3,253sf-$83,429

Whileimpactfeeshavetheirplaceasatoolforbuildingmunicipalinfrastructure,theChamberopposesthisplanduetoseverallegalandtechnicalflawsintheproposedfeescheduleandplan.Forfurtherinformationandquestions,contactJoeUnterreinerat758-2804.

Tolearnmoreabouthowtransportationimpactmayaffectyourbusinessgoto:FinalReport:http://www.kalispell.com/downloads/Transportationfinal.pdfSupplementalInfohttp://www.kalispell.com/downloads/impactrecommendation.pdfPublicCommentshttp://www.kalispell.com/downloads/impactcomments.pdf

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AllMeetingsareatTheChamberunlessotherwisestated.

Sunday

Watch for this event in February

Feb10:EconomicOutlookSeminar2009Feb17:Luncheon

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

January2009

Martin Luther King Jr. DayChamber Office Closed

JSEC Board Meeting

3:30pm – 5:00pm

Kalispell Downtown Association

12:00pm - 1:30pm

Executive Board Meeting

7:30am – 8:30am

Luncheon11:45pm–1:00pm

Flathead Community Foundation

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Leadership Flathead Meeting3:00pm- 5:00pm

Agribusiness Committee

Meeting 7:00am – 8:00am

Ambassador Meeting

4:00pm – 5:00pm

BEAR Meeting4:00pm – 5:00pm

5

ChamberCalendarChamberCalendar

Flathead Regional Business Center

Meeting8:30pm – 9:30pm

New Year’s DayChamber Office Closed

Natural Resources

Com. Meeting 7:00am – 8:00am

Trans. Committee Meeting

4:00pm – 5:00pm

UNWINDOffice Solutions &

Services5:00pm – 6:30pm

Board Meeting7:00am – 8:30am

Education & Communications

Committee Meeting

8:00am – 9:00am

BuSINESS DAyS AT THE CApITOL

6

DecemberRibbonCuttings

AmericanPrinting

ASpecialThankYoutoOurWonderfulVolunteers

THANK yOutoallofourvolunteerswhomakenewslettersomuchfun!RSVPdoesagreatjobgettingusretiredseniorsthatstillwanttogiveback.Gettingthenewsletteroutisabreezewiththeirhelp,sothankyou!

JimNessisVicePresidentofOperationsforGlacierBank.LorenSalleeistheownerofLoren’sAutoRepair.ScottHagelisanattorneywiththeCrowleyLawFirm.PleasejoinusinwelcomingthesefiveindividualstotheBoard.

NewDirectors>>fromcover

Finance–BobSchneider,FirstInterstateHealthcare–JimOliverson,Kalispell

RegionalMedicalCenterRealEstate–JimKelley,appraiserTech–SteveThompson,SemitoolTimber–JimLehner,PlumCreekTourismandHospitality–LisaBrown, RedLion

Theluncheonisscheduledfor11:45to1:15pmonTuesday,January20attheRedLionKalispellCenterHotel.Luncheonticketsare$15eachforChambermembers;$20fornon-members;$110forareservetableofeight.Toavoiddelaysatcheck-in,pre-payandregisterforyourticketsbycalling758-2800orregisteron-lineatwww.kalispellchamber.combyFriday,January16.

Don’tmissourJanuaryChamberLuncheonwithBobHerronInsuranceandInvestments.ThisTrustedChoiceindependentinsuranceagentislocallyownedandoperatedbyBobHerron.Bobstartedhisbusinessin1976andin2009hewillstarthis33rdyearinbusiness.Smallbychoice,thisagencyhasitall...greatproducts,greatcompaniesandgreatservice.Discoverwhatthisexperiencedagencycandoforyou.

JanuaryLuncheon >>fromcover

UNWINDOnDecember3theKalispellChamberbuildingwasoverflowingwiththeholidayspiritandattendeestoourannual‘ThankYoutoourMembership’ChristmasPartyandFlatheadRegionalBusinessCenterOpenHouse.WehaveVistaLindatothankforthetastyandaromaticmunchiesthatwereavailablethroughoutthebuilding.Itmayhavebeencoldoutsidebutitwaswarmandfestiveinside.EveryonewenthomewithapocketcalendarasaThankYougift.OurSplitthePotwinnerfortheeveningwasTomMurphyofCareerConnections.

LorenSallee

DaveHarvey JimNess

ReedGunlikson

ScottHagel

7

Employee Handbook Series Building Relationships with Your Employees

AN EFFECTIVE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK…      …saves your business from legal proceedings and safety hazards.  …establishes clear communication, expectations and guidelines.      …benefits all employees of your business or organization.

DATES:   Every Tuesday for 10 weeks          January 20 thru March 24, 2009 

OR    Every Thursday for 10 weeks          January 22 thru March 26, 2009 

  TIME:           8:30 am - 10:30am 

  LOCATION:    Flathead Valley Community College         Arts & Technology Bldg, Room 236          The First Interstate Workforce Training Lab 

  COST:    $250 for up to 2 individuals     from the same organization   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:    Cindy Carpenter:  871.2574     ccarpenter@centurytel.net or     www.employflathead.com  

  REGISTER:    FVCC Continuing Education Center      406.756.3832  or  ceinfo@fvcc.edu 

THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK SERIES:

Is an educational process to support your completion of an employee handbook.Guides you step-by-step to create a handbook that is customized to your business or organization. Includes employment law attorney, Dan Johns, to discuss & emphasize the importance of a legal review of your handbook. Utilizes  proprietary software. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?If you are in a position to determine or enforce employment-related policies and procedures or would be           

responsible for drafting employment related policies and procedures, this is for you! 

Flathead Job Service Employers’ Council 

Flathead Trainers & Educators

ConsortiumFlatheadJob Service 

Limited Space Available Pre-registration Necessary

PRESENTER - CINDY CARPENTERCindy Carpenter, Owner of Cindy Carpenter Business Services, Inc., is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) with over 25 years of training experience. Cindy is an adjunct faculty member for Workforce Training at Flathead Valley Community College and a former instructor for the American Institute of Banking (AIB). Her work has included training on performance appraisals, diversity, team building and leadership, as well as DISC analysis, focus group facilitation, assistance with creating business plans and coaching. Cindy served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for a banking institution

with 200 employees in 11 offices from Libby to Butte for eight years in addition to co-owning a family auction business.

A University of Montana graduate in Business Education, Cindy brings a healthy combination of training, education, business ownership and actual workforce development experience to your company.

PROGRAM SUPPORTERSSPONSORS

15DepotParkKalispell,MT59901

PRSRTDU.S.Postage

PAIDKalispell,MTPermit#13

Tom Weller, Vickie Eggum, and other Class of 2009 members discuss various

leadership strategies.

Planning,Growth,andTaxationwerethehot-buttontopicsofDecember’sLeadershipFlatheadsession.TheClassof2009weretreatedtothealways-interesting“mailbox”presentationbyKalispellPlanningDepartmentDirector

TomJentz,whoalongwithFlatheadCountyAssistantPlanningDirectorB.J.Grieve,outlinedthechallengesandopportunitiesofplanningforthefutureofavalleyincontinualflux.Jentzalsoprovidedtheclasswithahelpfulprimeronhowpropertytaxesareassessedandwhatpublicservicestheysupport.Laterintheday,KalispellMayorPamKennedy,StateRep.JonSonju,andCounty

CommissionerJoeBrennemangavetheirdifferingideasonhowtheFlatheadValleycanclosethegapbetweentheassociatedcostsofgrowthandthetaxrevenuegeneratedbygrowth.ThedayendedwithpresentationsbyHabitatforHumanity’sExecutiveDirectorPattiGregerson,WhitefishHousingAuthority’sExecutiveDirectorSueAnnGrogan,andNorthwestMontanaHumanResources’MichelleMinnehanontheongoingdilemmaofprovidingaffordablehousingforalloftheFlathead’sresidents.

Attheendoftheday,theclasswasaskedtoidentifythingseveryonecandotobenefitourvalley.Here’swhattheyhadtosay:·Getinformedandgetinvolvedin

planningefforts.Formoreinformationaboutservingonanadvisoryboardorcommission,contacttheKalispellCityClerkat758-7756.

·Berespectfulandlistenwithanopenmindtoothers’ideasandconcerns.

·Gettoknowyourneighbors.·HelpHabitatforHumanity,Northwest

MontanaHumanResourceCouncil,andtheWhitefishHousingAuthorityacquirelow-costlots,asthesky-rocketingcostoflandinthevalleyisthebiggestobstacletoprovidingaffordablehousing.

·Wheninneedofbuildingsuppliesandfixtures,considershoppingattheHabitatforHumanityresalestoreinKalispell.Orconsiderdonatinggently-usedbuildingsuppliesandfixturestotheresalestore.Call752-2905formoreinformation.

Thankyoutotheday’ssponsors:APEC,AppliedWaterConsulting,CTAArchitectsandEngineers,FunBeverage,MorrisonMaierle,Inc.,and48NorthEngineering.

Leadership Flathead classmates Jane Foley and Laurie O’Leary are

kindred spirits.

Kelly Robinson, Dan James, and Kate Logsdon work together to

solve a problem.