INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New Era of Communication 1

How to do a chamber poll 2

Announcements & Visitor Report 2

Dragons in the Wallowas 3

Zions Bank Grand Opening 4

Volunteers, Nature Conservancy 4

NEOEDD Business Workshop 5

SBDC Services 6

Inserts:

Event Page:

Juniper Jam

Hells Canyon Mule Days

Joni Harms Poster

Alpenfest

EOVA Guide Advertising (3 pages)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe Wanner, President

Nancy Rudger, Vice President

Susan Gilstrap, Treasurer

Cynthia Warnock, Past President

Kathy Casper, Director

Michael Vali, Director

Ruby Lathrop, Director

Jenni Word, Director

Bridget Brown, Director

Jessie Cunningham, Director

Liz Neveau, Director

Pat Wortman, Director

Marc Stauffer, Director

John Williams, Director

Heather Tyreman, Director

Doris Woempner, Ambassador

CHAMBER STAFF

Vicki Searles, Executive Director

Diane Knox, Admin. Assistant

WALLOWA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

309 South River Street, Ste B

PO Box 427 Enterprise, OR 97828

Phone: (541) 426-4622

September 2016

New Era for Communications at the Chamber Electronic Polls Emailed to Membership

Times are a changing! In the age of Internet we can no longer deny how communication is evolving. For the Chamber it means a change in how we will communicate with our membership in the future. In a study published November 2014 (ancient information in the world of Internet) Social Media and Its Importance in Political Campaigns; these were the findings shared:

The revolution called SOCIAL MEDIA has actually taken the world by storm. Its growth has been

exponential where Radio took 38 years to reach 50 million users, TV took 14 years to achieve the

same target. The internet got there in 4 years, iPods took 3 years for the same whereas Facebook

added 100 million users in less than 9 months. In the past few years, SOCIAL MEDIA has made

rapid growth in terms of user counts globally. Facebook has more than 1.2 billion active users.

Twitter counts more than 200 million users. Google Plus has more than 540 million users.

Does this reflect Wallowa County? Maybe. But the impact is undeniable. Internet is impacting

the sharing of thoughts, opinions, input, and how we communicate about what we want to see happen in our communities. It may appear to be an “overload” for some of us. But, the positive side of Inter-net is how quickly, with ease, we can communicate back and forth and give a voice to our ideas.

Joe Wanner, President of the WC Chamber, explained in the August newsletter why the Chamber is asking for input in polls from membership (1) update the Bylaws to include more repre-sentation of our business community and greater flexibility in communications and (2) to hear if our members support or do not support the Joseph Branch Rails with Trail project. Revising bylaws may not be of interest to most members, but having access to how the chamber functions is a right of membership. Bylaws and the individuals committed to the Board and organization will determine how well the organization performs in it’s mission.

All of this conversation is building up to one simple request to each member — we know you are busy, please take the time to engage in the chamber polls and have your voice heard. Your ideas and values are important to the Chamber. Your opinions may or may not prevail as a result of a poll. Why? Ultimately the poll may reveal that more people have a different position than you hold. Nev-ertheless, it is one of the greatest gifts we have in life to have a voice and to have our opinions heard, just as when you vote in electoral campaigns.

In the future, the Chamber will not overwhelm you by sending multiple polls on various top-ics. The Board will continue to operate as management. Polls will be reserved for serious decisions and challenges facing Wallowa County’s business community, or legal requirements as established in the bylaws or federal and state laws.

Finally, it was the decision of the Chamber to wait until the end of summer to conduct polling. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to participate. Our goal is to hear back from a major-ity of members. It’s now the end of summer and the chamber has sent the polls to membership. Please take 1-3 minutes to respond with your views. Thank you.

Sunset Magazine Featured Wallowa County

with a super article and front cover

Right Click “Open link” click on September 2016 Sunset Magazine

Or visit the Chamber’s homepage: wallowacountychamber.com

New! Why do Visitors

Come to Wallowa County

Wallowa Lake 169

Wallowa Lake Tramway 243

Joseph, Arts & Galleries 172

Hells Canyon & Over Looks 148

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway 128

Wallowa Mountains 103

Wallowa Valley & View Points 39

WC Events 101

Fishing, Hunting, Outdoor Rec. 161

Visit Family & Friends 4

Family reunions, wedding, etc. 2

Other: Oregon’s 7 Wonders 1

Chamber Visitor Report for August

Information Contacts August 2016 July 2016 Year to date August 2015

Walk-ins: Visitors/Business 371 301 1685 No report

Information Packets

82 40 338 No report

Phone Calls, Web & Emails 730 389 1551 No report

Total Contacts 1,183 730 5124 No report

Website Visits 12,289 10,449 62,558 No report

Membership Referrals 3130 2125 13,152 No report

Page 2

Fall CHIP Session starts September 7, 5:30 pm at Wallowa Memorial Hospital.

Take control of your health with the Complete Health Improvement Program. Learn how simple dietary changes can mean big re-sults in managing, preventing and even reversing chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. Cost is $99 per participant and session runs eight weeks. Space is limited. To register call Kari Carper at Wallowa Memorial Hospital, 541.426.3111.

Wallowa Resources, a Wallowa County-based non-profit organization, seeks a qualified individual to fill the position of Wallowa Canyon-lands Partnership (WCP) Coordinator. This full-time position with benefits is based in Enterprise and is responsible for administration and oversight of all weed management activities for the WCP.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Wallowa Resources,

Instructions on how to take a Chamber poll

Polls go out the week of August 29th and since this is our first electronic poll the time to respond will extend to September 30. You will receive the polls in separate emails. When you get the email it will look like a weekly update. The link for the poll is inside the email. Click on the link and it will go directly to the poll on the Survey Monkey website. The link is safe to open.

The time estimated to participate is 1 to 3 minutes. Go ahead and take the survey—it’s easy. After you have completed the survey click “done”. It really is this easy and we will be able to hear your voice as a member of the Wallowa County Chamber.

The fear of change is always in the loss of involvement or participation. The Chamber needs to include everyone. If Internet is not for you and electronic polling is beyond your comfort, that is ok. We can work around your needs. The most important idea of our poll is to hear from all of our members. Please call the office 541 426-4622.

Early Chamber Announcements

1. The Chamber will soon prepare for Board elections to occur October 1 through 31st. The ultimate outcome in our elections is to get votes from our membership. Please contact the office If you have an interest in serving on the Board. There will be new opportunities made available.

2. Planning for the 2016 Citizen Awards Banquet will begin in September. It is time to think about who you would like to nominate for WC Leaders in: Business, Employee of the Year, Arts, Events and Nonprofits, Education, Timber/Agriculture, Unsung Hero.

* Data totals have been adjusted due to errors.

First Annual Seventh Wonder Cup

Dragon Boat Race

Page 3

Congratulations! Now everyone wants to be a Dragon in the Wallowas!

The Chamber congratulates Mike Lockhart and his Dragons for a job well done. You looked like you had a blast competing and playing. We think

your enthusiasm will spread like a wildfire. Can’t wait for next year!

Page 4

Welcome the Zions Bank to Enterprise, Oregon

Thank you the friendly

Grand Opening!

Zion Bank 106 SW First Street

Enterprise OR 97828 541 426-7883

Grand Opening of the Zions Bank

August 24, 2016

For Immediate Release

The Nature Conservancy in Oregon

Volunteers Needed at Zumwalt Prairie Preserve Saturday & Sunday, September 10th and 11th

The Nature Conservancy invites anyone interested in assisting conservation efforts on Zumwalt Prairie Pre-

serve, located on the breaks of the Imnaha River in Northeast Oregon, to attend a volunteer work party Saturday

and Sunday, September 10th and 11th. Zumwalt Prairie Preserve is a key part of the largest remaining native

bunchgrass prairie in North America, harboring 12,000 acres of abundant prairie habitat, 15,000 acres of can-

yonlands and 12 miles of creeks with spawning habitat for endangered Snake River steelhead and inland redband

trout. Zumwalt is also home to one of the largest concentrations of nesting raptors in North America. During this

work party, volunteers will improve and remove fence for wildlife, preparing a prescribed fire unit, improving

and cleaning facilities, and removing invasive species. We’ll work a full day Saturday and a half day Sunday.

Participants need to bring appropriate clothing for any weather event and lunch and water for Saturday’s

work. For those who wish to stay the night, Saturday night dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided. You

will need to bring a tent and sleeping bag.

Registration is required at nature.org/oregonworkparties. Contact (503) 802-8100 or orvolunteers@tnc.org.

Contact Molly Dougherty, (503) 802-8100 x 138, orvolunteers@tnc.org

Page 5

Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce PO Box 427 Enterprise, OR 97828

Area Directors

Enterprise

Jenni Word, Enterprise City Council

Joseph/Wallowa Lake

Michael Vali, Valis Restaurant

Wallowa/Lostine

Kathy Casper, Wheatland Insurance

Health Care

Bridget Brown WV Wellness Center

Education

John Williams, WC Extension Office

Farm/Ranchg

Jessie Cunningham

Rural/Outlying

Liz Neveau, Double Arrow Veterinary

Natural Resources

Pat Wortman, Wortman Ranch

Public Relations

Ruby Lathrop, Umpqua Bank

Small Business

Marc Stauffer, SBDC Business Advisor

Tourism

Heather Tyreman Bronze Antler B&B