Past Weekly Digests and Newsletters

Now available! Here's the latest newsletter in pdf format. Chamber Newsletters will mostly be sent to members via email. Printed newsletters will be made available upon request. Back issues of pdf newsletters will be availble on this page.

Weekly Digest

September 2, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

As the mornings become chillier and the days become shorter, how is your business adapting to the new season? Aside from adding an extra layer of clothing and turing the lights on, have you considered other changes you could make? How can your business capitalize on the change of season? Perhaps there is an opportunity for diversification of services or products or a way to respond to a particular customer class. The following link speaks to small business ideas that fit into the changes of the fall season. I hope that it helps you to think about your own business and how small or large changes could create a new path and a postive future. http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/businessideas/a/fallbizideas.htm.

From the Desk of Ken Davey...                                                                                                    

Les Prall from the Governors Office of Economic Development will be in Moab on September 16 and hopes to meet with interested business owners to go over incentive programs available to businesses here. Programs include Enterprise Zone tax credits, Recycling Market Development Tax Credits, and a fairly new incentive, the Utah Rural Fast Track Program. The Fast Track Program helps existing small companies in rural areas receive incentives for providing high paying jobs.

Non-retail businesses are eligible to receive cash awards for creating full-time, permanent jobs that pay more than 110 percent of the county‚s average annual wage (according to the State, the average wage in Grand County is $25,725.) That means if a job the job pays more than $28,298 per year, the company is eligible to receive $1,000 per job. If the job pays more than $29,584, the company could receive up to $1,250, and if the job pays more than $32,156, the company is eligible to receive $1,500 per job.

For more information or to make an appointment to talk with Les Prall, you can call Ken Davey at the Moab City Economic Development office, 259-5121.

***Sales Tax Report Shows 18% Increase From last Year*** 

Attached is the updated sales tax revenue report for August provided by Moab City Manager, Donna Metzler. The report shows that we are up an overall 18% compared to the 2007 August Report.

Don't Miss the Chamber Luncheon on September 9th!                                                        

On Tuesday, September 9th, at Denny's Restaurant, the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a special presentation followed by our monthly luncheon. At 11am, Ken Hoffsteder from the Buckner Company will be presenting to Chamber members about exciting new health care policies available for Chamber businesses and their employees. The presentation will be followed at 12 noon by our monthly luncheon sponsored by Eastern Utah Community Credit Union. The featured speakers are County Planning Commissioner Chair Marcus LaFrance and City Planning Commissioner Chair Kara Dohrewend. Come learn about the planning process and how you can best contribute to the future development of our community.                                                         

Community Notes                                                                                                                          

The Moab Free Health Clinic will be open: 

Wednesday September 4th from 5:30pm ˆ 7:30pm

Thursday September 4th from 5:00pm ˆ 7:00pm

Please join us tomorrow morning at Red Rock Bakery for our first Power Morning networking opportunity. We will be gathering in the back room at 7:30am for pastries, juice etc. The intent of the meeting is to come together and evaluate how we can start the month off right and create positive changes in the workplace. So dust off that list of things you'd hoped to do some day and let's make it happen! 

Best regards, Sarah Bauman Executive Director             

August 25, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

Exciting news! The Moab Area Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the City of Moab and the CEU Small Business Development Center to offer seminars and classes for our local business community.

Upcoming seminars include:
September 24th: Creating a Positive Work Environment and Retaining Your Employees
October 8th: Financial Resources for Starting or Expanding Your Business
October 22nd: E-Commerce ~ Is it Right for Your Business?
Seminars will take place 6pm at City Hall.
***you have an idea for either a seminar or class please contact the Chamber office.

Government Affairs:

Don't miss the Public Hearings tonight at the City Council Meeting!

SECTION 5: PUBLIC HEARING (Approximately 7:30 PM)

5-1 Public Input on a Conditional Use Permit to Allow an Expansion of an Historic Residence in the C-3 Zone

5-2 Public Input on Proposed Ordinance #2008-20 ˆ An Ordinance of the Governing Body of Moab Annexing Property to the City of Moab ˆ School and Institutional Trust Lands/Lionsback

Ribbon Cutting ~ A Celebration of New Business 

Join us 2:00PM Wednesday, August 27th at the Real Estate Company of Moab for our Ribbon Cutting celebrating Rachel Moody's business venture. Refreshments and snacks provided!

New Member Highlights

Action Consulting specializes in business and individual services that range from web design/services and print design to creating energy efficiency and sustainability. Action Consulting is also available for trainings, group facilitation, business planning and more. For additional information contact Craig Hibberd at 259-1610 or visit <http://www.rockmoab.com>www.rockmoab.com.

The mission of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans. For more information contact Scott Groene at 259-7049 or visit <http://www.suwa.org>www.suwa.org.

Delta Petroleum Corporation is a Denver, Colorado based independent energy company engaged in the exploration for, and the acquisition, development, and production of natural gas and crude oil. For more information contact Kristi Franklin at (303) 293-9133 or visit <http://www.deltapetro.com>www.deltapetro.com.

Community Notes

The Moab Free Health Clinic located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental building) will be open: Tuesday August 26th 5:30 ˆ 7:30 and Thursday Sugust 28th 5:30 ˆ 7:30. For more information call Danette Johnson at 260-0130.

High Desert Gardens will be hosting a Garden Tour September 6th from 9am-1pm. The tour will include a broad spectrum of xeriscape gardens from newly planted to fifteen years established. Call now -- there is limited space! Call Janis Adkins at 259-4531.

Youth Garden Project's Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is quickly approaching and there is still time to be a Sponsor! For more information see the attached Sponsor Registration form or call Jen Sadoff at 259-2326.

The Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality, Rural Communnity Assistance Corporation and local nonprofit organizations are sponsoring a Source Water Protection Workshop in Moab on Sat. Sept. 13th from 8am-4:30 at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center. The workshop is designed to raise awareness and educate about source water protection and management strategies, as well as water use decisions, policies, laws, and possible threats. for more information contact Terry Shepherd from Red Rock Forests at 259-5640. 

Don't forget our upcoming Power Morning networking opportunity -- 7:30am-8:30am at Red Rock Bakery. This is a great opportunity to network with other business leaders, steal their ideas and create positive change in your workplace. Also, you can fuel up on coffee and delicous treats. 

Best regards,

Sarah Bauman

August 4, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

We are excited to announce that the Chamber board has approved the purchase of Chamber Master, an online software that will dramatically change the way we do business. The software will give members flexibility in creating/editing their listing on our website (including job postings, events and other relevant information you'd like to promote). It will also enable us to streamline membership renewals, increase advertising opportunities and create reports that will reflect the amount of business being generated (online) through your chamber membership. It will take a little time to transfer all of our records into their system but soon we will be up and running!

I am preparing to attend the Utah State Chamber Conference this week in Cedar City where I hope to meet others in the field, learn more about Chamber organizations throughout the state and discover the leading-edge ways that they are serving their members. Stay tuned for a report in our August Newsletter (due out the 15th)!

Fraudulent Map Sales
It has been brought to our attention that some businesses with a map advertisement on our 2008-2009 map are being contacted by a telemarketer who claims to be calling from the city offices asking if they would like to renew their Chamber map ad. This is not a legitimate call -- If you have been contacted and have any specific information about the caller please call the Chamber office and let us know. The Chamber map will be reproduced in January of 2009 and you will be contacted by a Chamber employee and/or map designer at that time.

Member Spotlight
***Moab's Daily Grind*** A Drive-Thru Coffee Shop and so much more. The Daily Grind features specialty hot and cold coffee drinks, smoothies, and baked goods. For more information contact Carrie Alexander at 259-1115 or email: <mailto:Moabsdailygrind@hotmail.com>Moabsdailygrind@hotmail.com

***GHI SIGNS*** Specializing in all types of signs from vehicle lettering to banners; magnetic or electric, GHI SIGNS can meet your signage needs. Contact Gary Hilley at 259-SIGN or email: <mailto:gary@ghisigns.com>gary@ghisigns.com

Sales Tax Report shows an Increase over 2007 Numbers
There is good news from the latest sales tax report (this report actually reflects May sales). According to Moab City Manager Donna Metzler, "Numbers are up compared to last year‚s July reporting period. Overall, the increase for July 2007 to July 2008 is 14.3%. October through July is up 7%. Please see the attached report."

Power Mornings & After Hours Soirée
In September we will launch a 6-month pilot program that will include two new networking opportunities for business leaders. The first is our Power Mornings meetings taking place the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30am-8:30am sponsored in partnership with Red Rock Bakery.

These gatherings are intended to be an opportunity to launch a new month with some fresh ideas and new perspectives that will lead to unusual business. It is also a way to diversify and expand our ability to network by going beyond the luncheon into new terrain. Start your morning and your month right by attending the first Power Morning scheduled for 7:30am September 3rd at Red Rock Bakery. 

Along those same lines we will also be hosting a seasonal After Hours Soirée that will take place each season as a way to reflect on how your business is changing/adapting with the new season. The Fall After Hours Soirée will take place mid-October ~ details will follow in next week's Weekly Digest and in the upcoming newsletter.

Window Decals
Our beautiful new Window Decals will arrive tomorrow and we will be mailing them out in the next week ~ the window decals are a great way to spread the word about your Chamber membership and your committment to our community!

Community Notes

~Moab Free Health Clinic located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental building) is open 5:30pm-7:30pm Wed., August 6th For more information call Danette at 260-0130.

~Confluence: A Celebration of Reading and Writing in Moab

Confluence seeks volunteers for its literary festival and writing workshops scheduled for October 14 - 19, 2008. Most volunteers will be needed on Saturday or Sunday, October 18th or 19th. Event organizers are seeking assistance with registration or merchandise tables, poster distribution, set up, clean up, and evaluation of events. Or people can do something more creative and help plan and create outdoor arts experiences that have to do with reading, writing, poetry, etc. Artists, writers, girl scout troops... come one and all! Contact Laurie at 435-220-0068 for more info. or email <mailto:admin@moabconfluence.org>admin@moabconfluence.org.

~ Moab Music Festival

This year's festival is fast approaching -- don't miss your chance to be involved in one of Moab's premier events! The Moab Music Festival will be hosting a  Volunteer Drop-in and Sign Up August 7th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Festival office 58 East 300 South. Tickets for the 2008 Festival are available online at the Moab Music Festival website: www.moabmusicfest.org or at the Festival office located at 58 South 300 East. For more information call 259-7003 or email the Festival External Relations Manager Aubrey Davis at <mailto:aubrey@moabmusicfest.org>aubrey@moabmusicfest.org

In closing, I would like to invite all of our member businesses and organizations to contribute information for inclusion in the Weekly Digest. If you have a special event or announcement that you would like to share with the Chamber membership please email it to me. We are here to support your business!


Best regards,
Sarah Bauman
Executive Director

July 28, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:
This week we enter into the final month of summer and the Chamber is wondering how our member businesses are doing. The word on the street is that certain types of businesses are experiencing a significant increase over last year; this seems to be true for the national parks as well as many of the hotels and campgrounds. Several retail stores, however, have noted that their visitation and revenues are down from last year.

How can we work together to ensure that our local businesses succeed? At the Chamber we are working hard to get the word out about your business and to instill trust and confidence for those seeking information regarding local businesses. It is clear, from inquires into our office, that being a Chamber member translates into consumer confidence and the understanding that Chamber members are in good standing with the community and the business world. As a business association, we encourage community members to support our members. With the price of gasoline, it makes even more sense to spend our money at home, a choice that supports our local business owners and employees (aka: our friends and neighbors) and creates more revenue for our community.  

Support for Movie Making in Utah
(Salt Lake City, UT -- Metro News) -- Governor Jon Huntsman intends to put Utah on the world map for movie making. Speaking recently to the Utah Film Commission, he told the audience that his goal is to make Utah the nation's premiere inland film destination center. He says it's obvious that no one can challenge Los Angeles and New York, but he sees no major competition from any other part of the country. He even proposed, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that we might be known as Saltywood. To reach this goal, he says the state needs an aggressive outreach program to the national film industry, along with significant tax credits to attract production to the state. He points to the parallel with Utah's once small

ski industry which has grown in the last few years to become a billion-dollar international powerhouse. Utah movies put 53-million dollars into the economy last year, and he'd like to see that number go up substantially. Huntsman said that the only area he has any control over is in pushing for tax credits and he promised to do all he could to convince the legislature that movies are a great economic deal for the state. He also is hoping that increased production will inspire someone to build a sound stage, since the state can't compete fully without one.
For more information about the film industry in Moab call Tara Campbell, Film Commission Director at 259-4341.

Health Insurance
Does your business offer health insurance? If so, please contact our office so we can add your data to our research. We are reviewing available policies through Humana and Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and hope to be able to offer a discounted group plan to our members. Most importantly we want it to be a plan that will be cost effective and benefit your employees by covering local providers/services. Below is an interesting link about the self-insured and small businesses seeking insurance coverage. Again, please call the Chamber if you have information that may be helpful to us.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/business/smallbusiness/27sbiz.html

Community Notes
The Moab Free Health Clinic located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental building) is open this week: Tuesday, July 29th from 5:30 P.M. ˆ 7:30 P.M. and Thursday, July 31st from 5:30 P.M. ˆ 7:30P.M.          
Please post the attached flyer at your place of business. Call Danette at 260-0130 for more information

The Moab Valley Multicultural Center is seeking enthusiastic board members to support cultural diversity, communication and understanding in our community. Call Marcia Tendick at 259-5444 to learn how to apply.

Confluence: A Celebration of Reading and Writing in Moab, UT is hosting its first online writing contest. Submit your work through their website, www.moabconfluence.org, and compete for a $250 cash prize and the opportunity to be published in the Mountain Gazette.The 2008 theme for Confluence is the writing of Edward Abbey. In honor of this theme, Confluence hopes to encourage and promote writing in a style that evokes the spirit and emotion that Edward Abbey was famous for - a story, fiction or non-fiction, that creates a desire to get off the couch and get outside - an article that brings the author's place, its smells and the feeling of being there, right to the reader and motivates him or her to do something, to get going. For contest details visit:  http://www.moabconfluence.org/writingcontest.cfm

Finally, this will be my last (online) pitch for our Business Survey. Don't miss out on your opportunity to contribute to this very important effort....visit here -- it will take a mere five minutes to complete!  I may still knock on your door with a plea for you to complete our survey, but I do promise to refrain from email requests.

Best regards,

Sarah Bauman
Executive Director

July 7, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

Thank you Moab businesses, nonprofit organizations and community members for making our July Fourth Celebration a grand success!

The turnout was phenomenal and it was clear from the smiling faces that Moab's Independence Day festivities were a hit. A special thank you goes out to all the volunteers who helped with the event including USU 4-H Extensions Services, Humane Society of Moab Valley, Youth Garden Project, WabiSabi, Grand County Red Devil Football Team, Valley Voices, The Moab Valley Muticultural Center & the MVMC Ballet Folklorico Dancers, Boy Scouts of America, Red Rock Sound, Frankie D's, Dippin' Dots Icecream, Club Red, Moab Adventure Center, Relay for Life, Wicked Brew, Department of Peace, Moab Free Health Clinic, Moab City Recreation, Moab Brewery, Moab City and Green Solutions. And thank you to Kevin Fitzgerald for serving as the Parade Master of Ceremonies and making sure everyone was properly sprayed down with water!

*** Stay tuned for July Fourth photos in our upcoming newsletter!

New Member Spotlight!

- Welcome High Desert Gardens and Dip N' Dots Icecream to the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce.

High Desert Gardens specializes in xeriscaping and has a plethora of beautiful native and low-water plants in stock. Take a trip out to the nursery located at 2771 South Hwy 191 where you'll find that there is something for every garden in town! On August 2nd High Desert Gardens will be hosting a Garden Tour - for more information contact Janis or Rhonda at 259-4531.

Dippin' Dots is a regular visitor to Moab and its specialty ice-cream is wildly popular with the young and old. Once the word gets out that Dippin' Dots is in town the line begins to form! "In 1988, Dippin' Dots Founder and Chairman Curt Jones pioneered the process of cryogenic encapsulation...a scientific way of saying he used super-cold freezing methods to make little beads of ice cream. Not only were the ice cream beads delicious and fun to eat, Jones knew that flash-freezing the ice cream ingredients would lock in flavor and freshness. With those qualities established, Dippin' Dots were ready to take on the world!" For more information about Dippin' Dots contact Jessica Lampshire at 970-250-4088.

From Moab City's  Economic Development Department:

***July 10th How To Raise Money in Rural Utah ˆ Moab Edition
Join the Wayne Brown Institute at Zions Bank on June 10th from 9-10:30. This seminar tackles the tough issues of raising money in rural Utah, and features venture professionals in an anything goes Q&A session. This seminar will introduce you to, and educate you on:
The importance of business plans in raising money, assessing one's entrepreneurial readiness, basic business structure, raising money legally, what sources of capital are right for you, understanding the 5 F's, Angels and Venture Capitalists, and what makes a deal attractive to an investor.
To register visit the following link:
<http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=eac581df-00b3-4fd9-b819-53f501e24270>http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=eac581df-00b3-4fd9-b819-53f501e24270

***June Sales Tax Report
"Please find attached the new sales tax spreadsheet that now includes the June report. You will see that June numbers are down from last year. Please note that, as with the May report that showed TRT at 68% higher this year than last year, that there may be differences in reporting in a given two month period, so that we should not draw any conclusions from any given month. While the June report shows an overall decrease of about 15% from last year, we are still up 6% from last year, October through June." - Donna Metzler

Do You Have an Innovative Idea that involves Outdoor Recreation? If so, You Could Win $20,000!

"Concept to Company" is the country's first outdoor recreation-specific innovation contest. It is hosted by the city of Ogden which is fast becoming the center for the outdoor sports and recreation industry.

The contest is open to all Utah-based inventors or small businesses with a product or service idea fit for outdoor recreation (other rules apply- see website for details). The winning entry will receive a $20,000 award, comprised of cash and the equivalent value in consulting or prototyping services to help bring the idea to fruition. Two runner-up winners will also receive $10,000 awards each, comprised of cash and services. A panel of industry leaders & executives will judge the entries & final presentations.

Innovations must focus on climbing, hiking, biking, camping, snow-sports, paddle-sports, water-sports, or other non-motorized, non-fishing, non-hunting outdoor recreation sports.

Submission Deadline:  August 30th - midnight [Click here to enter]

Community Notes

****The Moab Free Health Clinic will be open:
Wednesday July 9th from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday July 12th from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Clinic is located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental building). For information contact Danette Johnson at 260-0130 or call the Clinic directly at 259-7425.

***Youth Garden Project will host a Weed & Feed on Wednesday, July 9th at 6pm. Come out and enjoy the garden, help keep the plants healthy and eat a delicious locally grown meal! For more information call 259-2326.


Don't forget the Chamber Luncheon is scheduled for 12 noon this Tuesday at the Aarchway Inn. The featured speaker is Mark Walker from Energy Solutions. Mr. Walker will present about the activities of Energy Solutions as well as the nuclear power industry. Don't miss this informative presentation! 

If you would like something added to our Weekly Digest or you are interested in advertising in the upcoming Chamber Newsletter please contact me at 259-7814.

Best regards,
Sarah Bauman
Executive Director
Moab Area Chamber of Commerce

June 30, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

This week's digest is devoted to spreading the word about our wonderful July Fourth Celebration, which is only a few days a way! Below is the stage schedule for performances. In addition, there will be fun activities for the whole family, including balloon darts, ring toss, face painting, mule rides, a petting zoo, watermelon eating/spitting & pie baking contests. And some delicious summertime BBQ, ice-cream, cotton candy, snow cones and more. Moab - It's the Place to be on the Fourth!

To Sign Up For the Parade - call Kevin Fitzgerald at 260-8131

For More Event Information or to Sign Up as a Honored Chamber Volunteer - call Sarah or Kammy at 259-7814

We're seeing more and more events joining in on the national effort to live more sustainably.

The following is a concept adopted by a Chamber of Commerce in Oregon.

On a purely voluntary basis, we encourage parade entries to consider taking our ecochallenge for the Fourth. How much of your entry can you build out of recycled/recyclable/reusable/renewable material? If you do, then boast about it this with a poster saying what your entry is made of and powered by, and what you will be doing with the material afterwards. Beyond that, food vendors are encouraged (voluntarily) to use biodegradable dinnerware and utensils at food booths; and if you do, let the community know by posting a sign that you are doing so.

Thank you to Green Solutions for volunteering to take care of our recycling needs. Please let us know if you have more ideas about how we can make our July Fourth event an earth-friendly one!

See you on the Fourth!

June 23, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

Thank you to everyone who has completed our online survey -- we are one step closer to obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of the business community which in turn will lead to better services for our members. The Chamber's Open House provided a perfect opportunity for us to capture and quarantine business leaders in our "Survey Office." James Garner from Frontier Communications received the award for "Fastest Survey Taker" with an under 5 minute time and Sam Sturman from USU is being sent back to Survey School for his 8 minute time. Alas, a good time was had by all.

If you haven't completed the survey, do not fear-- there is still time! Click on the survey link before July 14th and your input will be included.

Chamber Activities
Other activities on our horizon are, of course, our annual July 4th Celebration. We are still looking for some patriotic volunteers to help out at the game booths and to serve as a judge for our pie-baking contest. Who can beat that kind of volunteer work? Call 259-7814 and sign up today. Interested in being in the Community Parade? Call Kevin Fitgerald at 259-8810. Kevin has assumed the position of parade organizer extraordinaire and is seeking innovative parade entries from our chamber membership.

In addition to researching Health Insurance options for our members (we are currently discussing partnering with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce which would potentially provide access to their membership benefits), the Chamber office is also researching Web-based Membership Management Software that will lead to direct benefits for your business. The software will include member management and promotion options through the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce website. Members will have the ability to access and update their own profile as well as obtain reports that indicate how their Chamber membership has benefited their business. This will be a revolutionary step for our Chamber office -- stay tuned for more information.

Community Notes & Events
The Moab Free Health Clinic, located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental Building) is open this week:
Tuesday June 24th from 1:00 p.m. ˆ 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday June 25th from 1:00 p.m. ˆ 3:00 p.m.

This Tuesday at the City Council Meeting there will be a presentation by Rocky Mountain Power about the FinAnswer Program, offering energy engineering expertise and cash incentives to businesses that upgrade electrical/lighting and HVAC systems to include energy efficient technologies.

Promotional Opportunities
Coming Soon...the Chamber's Quarterly Newsletter with sponsorship/promotional opportunities for your business. If you are interested in advertising in our first issue (due out in July) please call Sarah at 259-7814.

Membership Renewal
All members whose membership is due this month were sent a June Renewal Notice. If your business needs to renew its Chamber Membership, but you did not receive a notice please contact our office.

In closing, I welcome your feedback as to how you would like to receive Chamber information. My hope is that the weekly digests serve as an informative summary of Chamber activities; however, I do understand that the in-box can sometimes overflow with emails. All the weekly digests are posted online at our website (just in case you missed one!).

Best regards,
Sarah Bauman
Executive Director
Moab Area Chamber of Commerce

June 10, 2008

Dear Chamber Member:

Here we are in the second week of June -- school is out and that summer feeling is settling in! Below is important membership information as well as some promising data provided by the City's Economic Development Department. So please, read on....

Thoughts of June
Many of you may be thinking that this is themonth to renew your membership with the Chamber of Commerce. Exciting changes are happening in our office -- one of which is that all Chamber memberships will be on an annual cycle regardless of when you joined. This means that if you have traditionally paid your membership dues in June, you will continue to do so and we willbe sending out reminder notices to all of you this week. If, however, youjoined the Chamber of Commerce at some point throughout the year then your membership dues will need to be paid at the time of your one-year anniversary to keep your membership current. Don't worry-- we will send out reminders to all members when they hit their one year anniversary.

Calculating your Membership Rate
Also, given the number of seasonal and part-time employees in Moab, the board voted in May to calculate membership fees based on the number of fulltime employees, or fulltime equivalency, that you have in the month of April. Therefore, if you have numerous part-time employees, their hours should be combined to calculate the full-time equivalency. When you renew your membership with the Chamber, please take this into account as you calculate the total cost of your membership (below is a summary of rates; however, we will send out a rate sheet along with your reminder).

Why Join the Moab Area of Commerce?
This question may, perhaps, float into your head, especially as you approach your membership renewal time. Membership Services are our number one goal for 2008. I have had the opportunity to meet with many of you, hear your vision, and learn how we can assist you in the future of your business or organization. Although there are many more businesses and organizations to visit, and more knowledge to be gleaned, I am beginning to ascertain how important our business sector is to the overall health and wellbeing of our community. And I am grateful for the diversity and fortitude of our local businesses, and your willingness to give back to our community. I have also been researching other Chambers of Commerce and the true impact of joining aChamber for local businesses. Check out the following study which supports thebelief that becoming a Chamber member really does provide tangible benefits for members, especially when the membership is active and businesses makesure that their customersand community members know that they are a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Your Chamber can help you increase revenues and reach your business goals (Click here for white paper "The Real Value of Joining the Chamber"). Also, visit "Become A Member" for a list of Member Benefits waiting for you!

The Path to Success

In order for us to meet your needs we must understand your business and part of this understanding will come from the information gathered through the Business Climate Survey posted on our website. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey -- it will give us a deeper understanding of what is important to you so that we can truly serve as an asset for every business and organization in our community. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure economic success and sustainability for your business and improved quality of life for our community

So far we are hearing that you would like more representation from the Chamber in the community and beyond, more tangible member benefits for small businesses like affordable group healthcare and retirement plans. We are also hearing that your ability to succeed financially and retain employees is dependent on an increase in year-round activity. And there is a need for advocacy regarding issues that directly impact your business and the livelihood of your employees. Your feedback is crucial to our success so please keep it coming.

This Just in from the Moab City Economic Development Department. Because of the uncertainty associated with tourism, gas prices and the economy,we have been closely tracking Moab 's sales tax numbers as they come into the state. The attached spreadsheet shows the October through May reports for our various sales taxes. The spreadsheet shows the increase or decrease from the same reporting period for last year. Note that each month's report reflects the activity for two months prior (e.g. May shows March's activity). As you can see, our overall numbers are still considerably higher than last year. The reports are posted on about the 25th of each month, so we won't see April's numbers until about June 25. As a side note, Salt Lake County 's transient room tax revenue was down last month, while Moab 's was considerablyup"

Remember these Dates!

June 19th from 2pm-5pm - Chamber of Commerce Open House.  Join us for food, refreshments and a peek into the internal workings of the Chamber office. Also, don't forget to bring your marketing materials and a photo for our membership photo board -- prime viewing space outside our office at City Hall! July 4th Celebrationfrom 5pm-9pm at Swanny Park A community celebration like no other - Don't miss this year's Fourth of July Event featuring live music, games galore, and some down home seed spitting. To volunteer call today!

That's all for now -- I hope to see all of you Today at the monthly Chamber luncheon at the Broken Oar, sponsored by Angel Rock Real Estate. Today's featured speaker is State Representative Brad King who will be presenting legislative information pertinent to our business community, as well as current issues in our state government that effect business in our state. This is an opportunity to join the Chamber and make your voice heard at the state level!

Best regards,
Sarah Bauman
Executive Director
Moab Area Chamber of Commerce

June 3, 2008

Dear Chamber Members:

The Fourth of July is only one month away! We are still looking for volunteers to help with the following:

• Apple Pie Judging Contest -- If you have discerning taste buds, please help us put Moab's homemade pies to the test! Call 259-7814 today to become a judge.
• Game Booth Operators -- Help out and have a blast at the same time! Choose your fancy from the Ring Toss, Dunk Tank, Balloon Darts, Face Painting and Fishing Pond
• Watermelon Eating & Spitting Contest -- Looking for volunteers to serve watermelon and judge the spitting contest.
• Food Vendors -- These vending spots are going fast! If you have a tasty treat to sell or want to serve up some July 4th BBQ, Call Now!
• Parade Entries -- Calling all walkers and bikers; car riders and truck drivers. If you are a Moabite who has a flare for independence call Jim Thuesen at 259-4984
• Event Clean-up -- Every party has a grand finale...come join in on the clean-up fun!

How Green is Your Business?
Coming Soon: The Moab Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a Green Practices Contest in August. To find out more about how you can sharpen your green edge visit one of the following links.

• http://www.greenbiz.com
• http://www.business.gov/guides/environment/index.html
• http://www.startupnation.com/articles/3763/1/greening-small-business.asp
• http://www.greenerassets.com

*****Welcome to our New Chamber Members*****

• Daves Corner Market
• Real Estate Company of Moab

Remember -- June is Membership Renewal Month so we'll be sending out renewal reminders soon! If you have a question about your membership or need additional information, please call or stop by the office at City Hall.

$ It's Survey Time! $
The Business Climate Survey is almost ready to be put to the test! We will be posting the survey online this week to make it easy for you to fill out. Just visit <>www.moabchamber.com and look for the Survey Link on the front page. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete yet the information we collect will be a tremendous asset to our office as we work harder to serve your needs. I will send out an email when the survey has been posted - survey results will also be made available on our website.

Community Notes
Do you have employees without health insurance? The Free Health Clinic offers walk-in care for all community members free of charge. The Clinic is located at 380 North 500 West (in the Red Rock Dental Building). The hours/times change weekly and are available by calling the Clinic phone at 259-7425. The Clinic is open this week:

Tuesday June 3rd - 2pm-4pm
Thursday June 5th - 1pm-3pm

For more information about the Moab Free Health Clinic, or to volunteer, call Danette at 260-0130.

"A Picture is Worth..."
Calling all Photographers!
Do you have a photo that best depicts your Business or Organization? We're looking for pictures that reveal the true you (your business that is). Send us your photo and we'll put it up on our Member Bulletin Board. Many people who stop by the Chamber office are seeking a visual image of your business so here's our chance to capture your business and spread the word. We'll also be selecting photos to include in our June Newsletter -- this may be your chance to make your photo dreams come true. You can come and see our new member board at the Chamber Open House on June 19th (2pm-5pm).

The new Chamber Map is due in this week. We hope to have them in our office by Friday and in your office too! Give us a call if you'd like some delivered to you.

Best wishes to you all,
Sarah Bauman
Moab Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Letter from our Director

May 14, 2008

Dear Chamber Members:

It is with great pleasure that I write to you from the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce office at City Hall. I have been on the job a little over a week and can personally attest that this office is hopping! Kammy is doing an excellent job responding to the phone inquires as well as the people who come through our office. It has become apparent, however, that the more we know about your business the better we will be at meeting your needs and providing member services. At yesterday's luncheon hosted by Frankie D's, I spoke briefly about the opportunities that this position will afford me to serve the business community in a hands-on way.  My goal is to learn as much as I can about your business so that the chamber can serve as an advocate and a voice not only in our office, but in our community, our state and our nation.

I have begun the process of getting to know our current members as well as future members. Each meeting has deepened my understanding of and appreciation for our local businesses and how they add to the vitality and diversity of our community -- it is truly amazing. I would like to hear what you envision for your chamber of commerce and how we can best serve your individual business needs. I believe that the Chamber and its members can help each other be successful in business and in life. In my research of chambers throughout the United States I have seen examples of partnerships and collaborations that truly empower businesses to increase their visibility and profitability as well as provide collective buying power for benefits such as health and retirement plans.

In the short time that I have been here we have been actively involved in:

*Meeting with members and updating membership information
*Learning about how our diverse business community impacts our economy and quality of life
*Working with the City's economic development office to revise and distribute a business survey 
*Finalizing the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide and Map
*Reviewing and updating the Chamber website (Do you have an idea about how our website can better serve you? If so, let us know!)
*Researching chambers across the nation for member services and resources
*Planning for a fantastic 4th of July Celebration! (Actively seeking volunteers and vendors -- there will be food,entertainment, games and the dunk tank where the Mayor will await your best shot!)

I will communicate regularly with members through an e-newsletter and email correspondence but please do not hesitate to contact me at the Chamber office at 259-7814 or via email at sarahmoabchamber@yahoo.com. I plan on visiting with each of you in the coming months and collecting survey data over the summer, but your feedback and suggestions are appreciated anytime. The Chamber office will be open 9am-3pm for the remainder of this month and will expand to 9am-5pm as of Monday, June 2nd. Also, if you are interested in being a part of our fabulous 4th of July event please contact our office. This event promises to be a grand opportunity to connect with the community, celebrate independence day with friends and spread the word about your business!

Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to serve as the ambassador for the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce.   I am looking forward to working with all of you to understand and promote your business so that together we can create a strong economy and healthy community and make our home a place where people can work, live and prosper.

Best regards,

Sarah Bauman
Moab Area Chamber of Commerce Director

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