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Chamber News

A publication of the Chamber of Commerce of Jefferson – February 2014

Board of Directors:

President Cindy Wade Badger Bank

President Elect Gail Vogel

First Merit Bank

Vice President Robin Novesky

St. Coletta Matt Janz

Individual Member

Dawn Koch Sylvan Crossings

Toby Krause Krause Custom Builders

Sarah Lembrich Brickhaus Café

Todd Goldbeck Xcel Physical Therapy

Barb Kersten B.E. Hive Hair Salon & Spa

Danielle Thompson Brantmeier Law, LLC

Dr. Bill Lust Pain Relief Chiropractic

Robby Wedl Wedl’s Hamb. Stand & Ice Cream

David Zarwell Zarwell Law Office, LLC

Tom Merfeld Premier Bank

Nicole Pupanek Council for the Performing Arts

Ex-Officio Members: Tim Freitag

City Administrator

Wayne Hartwig Steve Cross

Crosstown Floors Craig Gerlach

Superintendent of Schools

Officer Jeffrey Schultz Janet M. Werner Executive Director

Amanda Damp Administrative Assistant

Phone 920-674-4511 or 674-4632

Email coc@jefnet.com www.jeffersonchamberwi.com

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Good evening and welcome to our 2014 Jefferson

Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

First, I would like to recognize and thank Bill Lust for the

wonderful job he has done this year. I do hope that I can

continue the success he has had as Chamber President.

I would also like to thank Janet Werner and Amanda Damp. All the hard work

you do for the community is appreciated.

Wow 2013 sure has come and gone. We have seen a lot of changes within this

last year. We are now at 181 members and continuing to grow stronger. The

new members I would like to welcome are Bethesda Lutheran Communities,

Crawfish Junction, Carpentry by Chris, Derek Hambly, FLEX Consulting,

Immanuel United Methodist Church, Jefferson County Locksmith, Kwik Trip,

One Source Imaging, Port Light Technology, Ry-Mak Services, The Heron’s

Landing and The Wisconsin Dream Center. If I missed anyone I am truly sorry.

What a list. I hope we continue to get many new members.

The Jefferson Chamber had another year of successful fundraising events. We

had great weather, for once, for the Spring and Fall Car Shows. There was our

City-Wide Rummage Sales and Fair bartending that turned out good this year.

One again we had three fun filled days for our Gemuetlchkeit Days celebration.

Autumn Fest had mild temperatures and we had many calls saying how well it

was attended. The 2013 Golf Outing had 11 teams and 11 hole sponsors. Great

times and lots of fun. Fidelity Land Title was a big winner once again.

Congrats. The Christmas Lights Parade was a little cold, but the crowd braved

the weather and made it a fantastic event. Good Morning Jefferson has seen

great success again. And we are sure we will have another full year of

informative topics. Next Good Morning Jefferson will be February 19th at

7:30am in the Puerner Room on the third floor of the Fort Community Credit

Union.

Continued on page 2.

“To serve you, our Members and Community through PACE, we Promote, Advocate, Connect and Educate our Members.”

Cindy Wade Badger Bank

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December 2013

THE CHAMBER OFFICE RECEIVED

Incoming Phone Calls: 135 Year 2013 Phone Calls: 2046

Visitors: 90 Year 2013 Visitors: 1113

Tourism Guides Mailed: 0 Year 2013 Tourism Guides Mailed: 14

Jefferson Profiles Mailed: 1 Year 2013 Jefferson Profiles Mailed: 17

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Continued from page 1

Taking a quick look back at 2013 there has been many changes. We are looking forward to many more in 2014.

I would like to take this time to once again thank everyone for your support and hard work. The success of our

community would not be what it is today without each and every one of you. Keep getting involved with our

upcoming events or even join one of our committees. This will only help you and your business.

And for a personal Thank You to Badger Bank for giving me the opportunity to work in such a great community

which allows me to live in the same community and get the chance to know many of you.

I am looking forward to serving as President of the Jefferson Chamber this year. It will be great to see the new, fresh

Board of Directors in action with a lot of exciting ideas and what we can bring to you in the upcoming years.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the rest of you evening.

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Jefferson Chamber of Commerce 2013 Annual Dinner

Our Annual Dinner was held on Monday, January 27, 2014 at the Jefferson Area Business

Center. Once again our Annual Dinner committee did a terrific job of organizing and

decorating this event; creating a wonderful night for all who attended. It was a night of

networking, fun, and good food. River’s Edge did the catering again this year and as in years

past did an incredible job providing a delicious meal and amazing desserts. Congratulations

go out to our “Citizen of the Year” recipient Ron Michaelis of Schneider-Michaelis Funeral

Home, and “Business of the Year” to Brickhaus Cafe. Also during the evening we held a

50/50 raffle and silent auction. Thank you to the following list of businesses for your generous

silent auction donations.

10-33 Liquor

B. E. Hive Hair Salon & Spa

Badger Bank

Brantmeier Law & Rock River Gallery & Coffee House

Brickhaus Café

Citgo

City-County Credit Union

Council for the Performing Arts

Cross Town Floors

Edward Jones-Tom Moore Office

Father Coyle

Fort Community Credit Union

Fort Medical Equipment

H & H Fire Protection

Havill Motors

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Jefferson Advertiser

Jefferson Area Business Center & FedEx Office

Jefferson Café

Jefferson Movers & Storage

Jefferson Piggly Wiggly

JM Carpets

Krause Custom Builders

Kwik Trip

Lake Country Heating & Cooling

Little Caesars Pizza

Main Street Station

NAPA of Jefferson

Pain Relief Chiropractic

Pitz Stop Liquor

Premier Bank

Presidential Limousine

River Bend RV Resort

River’s Edge Farm Market

Rock River Power Sports

Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home

St. Coletta of Wisconsin

Super Wash

Sylvan Crossings

The Drug Store

The Works Hair Salon

Town & Country Homes

Town Inn

Twice is Nice

Waldmann’s Shoe Store

Wal-Mart

Wayne & Jean Hartwig

Wed’s Hamburger Stand & Ice Cream Parlor

Wine & Roses

Winter Woods

Wisconsin Plastic Drain Tile

Xcel Physical Therapy

Thank you again to all those that attended the dinner, River’s Edge Farm Market,

Jefferson Area Business Center and the 2014 committee: Cindy Wade-Badger Bank,

Danielle Thompson-Brantmeier Law, Dawn Koch-Sylvan Crossings, Dr. Bill Lust-Pain

Relief Chiropractic, Robby Wedl

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CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

AWARD

This year’s nominee is

recognized for being, dedicated

to the community, thoughtful,

supportive, business owner, a

Jefferson Chamber of

Commerce member and served

the country in the military.

This person has been an active

member of the Jefferson

Chamber of Commerce.

Making suggestions and

helping to make all our

fundraisers more successful.

Working hard to accomplish

whatever the goal may be.

Always cheerful and pleasant

to be around,

This person has been dedicated

to the community, not just with

the business and the Chamber,

but has been involved with

other organizations including

the Jefferson Rotary Club, the

Council for the Performing

Arts. Served on the Planning

Commission and

Redevelopment Authority as

well as the Jefferson

Community Foundation. He

seems too always be there

when you needed. His favorite

statement when volunteering is

Div

e In!

What

When

Where

Don’t be shy about your

Jefferson Chamber of

Commerce

membership!

Good Morning Jefferson ● Network with other chamber members and

members of the business community.

● Find out what is happening at the Chamber, in

the community or promote your upcoming

events.

● Get information on business concerns during

“Ask the Expert”. This month’s presentation by

Humane Society of Jefferson County.

● Brainstorm with your table mates during “Table

Talk”. This month’s topic: Chamber Betterment.

* Are you a member? Why or why not?

* How can we improve the chamber?

* What can we do to get you to want to join?

Wednesday, February 19

7:00am-8:30am

Puerner Room 100 N. Main Street

Fort Community Credit Union

Jefferson, WI

I can help “unless we get a call then I may not be

there or I might be late.”

Ron along with his wife Marla devote their valua-

ble time and money, supporting local events and

fundraisers, as well as the Jefferson Senior Center.

Ron not only gives it his all but does it with a

smile.

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Fort HealthCare Slimdown Challenge weigh-in begins

January 27 FORT ATKINSON – It’s been reported that the most popular New Year’s resolutions made are related to losing weight, staying fit or becoming healthier. If you are among the thirty-eight percent who made a weight-related resolution, or if you’ve come to the conclusion that you need to lose weight after the time for resolutions had passed, then Fort HealthCare encourages you to join this year’s version of the successful Slimdown Challenge. The Fort HealthCare 2014 Slimdown Challenge, offered free of charge to all participants, begins on February 10 and continues for twelve weeks until May 4. Teams of four to six persons can join through a participating employer or through a community-based organization such as the Cambridge Activities Program (CAP), Fort Healthy (Fort Atkinson), JUMP (Jefferson), CHIC (Johnson Creek), Rock Lake Activity Center (Lake Mills) and Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3). Confirmed sponsoring corporations to date are Fort HealthCare, Fort Atkinson School District, Fort Community Credit Union, McCain Foods, Nasco, Premier Bank and the Village of Palmyra Fire Department. Persons not employed by sponsoring corporations are encouraged to weigh-in and weigh-out at one of the community-based organizations. In an effort to encourage physical fitness and reduce obesity in the community, Fort HealthCare is providing monetary incentives to the non-profit organizations based on the number of participants that weigh-in and complete the twelve week Challenge. Persons interested in participating should visit www.FortHealthCare.com/Slimdown for more information and to register. Teams of four to six

persons can join. On-site registrations and weigh-ins will begin at community and employer locations on January 27. Players can win prizes for team and individual weight loss accomplishments, and any person has multiple chances to win. The team with the highest weight loss percentage, calculated by averaging each team member’s weight loss percentage, based on official weigh-in and weigh-out will win one $250 Visa gift card per team member. Every team that achieves a 10% weight loss, calculated by averaging each team member’s weight loss percentage, based on official weigh-in and weigh-out, will be entered into a drawing to win one $250 Visa gift card per team member. Four teams will be drawn as winners. Each participant who achieves a 10 percent weight loss, based on official weigh-in and weigh-out, will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Visa gift card. Ten individuals will be drawn as winners. Last, every person who is actively participating in the competition each week, by recording a weight and completing a short quiz about various wellness topics, will be entered into a weekly drawing to win one of three $25 Visa gift cards. Players may participate in an official, proctored weigh-in with one of the following employers or community agencies: Fort HealthCare, Cambridge Activities Program (CAP), Fort Atkinson School District, Fort Community Credit Union, Fort Healthy (Fort Atkinson), JUMP (Jefferson), CHIC (Johnson Creek), McCain Foods, Nasco, Premier Bank, Rock Lake Activity Center (Lake Mills), Village of Palmyra Fire Department or Working for Whitewater's Wellness (W3). The percent weight-loss will be determined using

official start and end weights only. Individuals may participate on only one Slimdown challenge team. Locations for weigh-ins and weigh-out are listed on the Slimdown Challenge website and additional times and locations will be added as they are scheduled. All participants must be weighed in and registered by February 7, 2014. An official weigh-in and weigh-out is required for every team member to be eligible for the grand prizes. Weigh-outs will be scheduled for May 5, 2014 at participating community agencies and employers. Prize winners will be announced by Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Team and individual results will be shared with local media. Additional rules are specified on the Challenge website. A similar Fort HealthCare weight loss challenge held last year had a very favorable result: on average, each player lost about six pounds- the equivalent of losing one point on the body mass index (BMI) scale. The combined total weight loss was 6,403 pounds- nearly three and one-quarter tons. The number of participants who completed the challenge was 1,050.

As the leading healthcare provider in the region, Fort HealthCare has determined that wide-reaching health and wellness campaigns such as the Slimdown Challenge can positively affect individual and community-wide health outcomes and behaviors. The call to action and campaign brand is: Let’s Do This! The theme is a literal call to action, intended to be positive, motivating and appealing to all audiences, from individuals, to employers to community coalitions. Accomplishing the campaign’s long-term goals will help Fort HealthCare achieve its Vision: to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. For more information and to find resources that will help individuals become as healthy as can be, visit FortHealthCare.com/LetsDoThis.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD This is the ninth year we are presenting the business of the year award to one of our chamber members

whose business has been in business for more than three years, grown during its existence, and

contributed to the community in some way. Curiosity always builds when we see some remodeling/

renovations taking place. We see the transformation from old to new as a real asset to downtown

revitalization.

Participating in specials events and chamber functions is a great way to show presence in the

community and this holds true for this business. The need was seen for a warm hometown café with

great food and a relaxing atmosphere with a beautiful landscaped patio for summer dining.

We are happy to present the Business of the Year Award for 2013 to Brickhaus Café. Sarah Lembrich

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2013 Report

In 2013 sixteen businesses were welcomed to Jefferson. Fourteen businesses were presented membership

plaques. We ended the year with 181 members.

The Chamber website www.jeffersonchamberwi.com is your link to everything going on each month. Email is

our fastest means of communication. Be sure we have yours.

Our Relocate.org video link is on the website and our new community profile/map will be published in a few

months.

The Chamber promotes economic development with links to City www.jeffersonwis.com and County

www.co.jefferson.wi.us government, and Jefferson Economic Development Consortium www.jcedc.net.

The Chamber promotes tourism www.enjoyjeffersoncounty.com, community awareness and business

opportunities. We are the visitor information center, promoting Jefferson through the Chamber website and

Jefferson County Tourism Guide and their website. This guide is our invite to Jefferson and what we have to

offer. The more businesses that advertise the more we show the outside world what we have to offer and a reason

to come to Jefferson.

Our gift certificate program started several years ago as benefit to Chamber members and 2013 saw a huge

increase over the previous year. Over $10,000 in gift certificates were purchased and that money goes back to

our chamber members. Shopping local and using the services of our businesses is what keeps them open. Our

Santa House proved a hit again as over 280 children were seen this year. We continue to promote Jefferson

through our events held each year. We hope you can find time to join us at our bi-monthly Good Morning

Jefferson meetings. February 19, 2014 is the date for our first one in 2014. If you would like to sponsor one of

these meetings please give us a call.

These are informative meetings held in the Puerner Room to keep you all informed on what is happening on the

chamber and city level and our Ask the Expert segment deals with different topics.

Is Jefferson a wonderful place to be? Yes, we think so. Proud of where we are, of what we’ve accomplished and

what we will continue to do to promote our members, businesses and our city. River’s Edge Farm Market &

Citgo opened in spring. Kwik Trip opened on the south end of town. Foremost Buildings moved into their new

building in North Industrial Park, DJC CPA moved into their new building. Ground breaking for two memory

care facilities Jefferson Memory Care and Sunset Ridge took place in fall. The solar plant is up and running.

With all the development this year we have a lot to be proud of. Jefferson is moving in the right direction.

Communication and working together is the key to great success. When this takes place we all prosper and grow

and our dedication and love for Jefferson is see by all.

Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who come forward year after year to help make all of our events run

smoothly. We hope you will join us at one of them this coming year which also provides for some good

networking opportunities for you.

Thank you for supporting the chamber throughout the years.

Janet M. Werner, Executive Director

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Abendroth Water Conditioning ACT 4HIM Aumann’s Service Badger Bank Bethesda Lutheran Communities Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rock, Walworth & Jefferson Counties Brantmeier Law Brickhaus Cafe Brown Cab Service Carpentry by Chris Comfort Suits of Johnson Creek County-City Credit Union Country Nurse’s Crawfish Corners Crawfish Junction Daily Jefferson County Union DDR Insurance DJC CPA’s & Advisors Duntley Water Endl-Gruennert VFW Post 3589 Family Promise of Jefferson County Fidelity Land Title First Merit FISH FLEX Consulting Foremost Buildings Fort Community Credit Union Fort Health Care Fort Health Care-Jefferson go.Jefferson.com Goodwill Industries of South Central WI Gordon Flesch Company Green Links Lawnscaping Ground Affects Landscaping Hans Bros Ready Mix Hilltop Motel Hi-Way Harry’s Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suits-Fort Atkinson Immanuel United Methodist Church J & L Tire Jan Niebler Interior Design JDP HVAC Jefferson Advertiser Jefferson Area Business Center Jefferson Blue Devils Baseball Team Jefferson City Administrator Jefferson County Fair Park Jefferson County Headstart Jefferson County Literacy Council Jefferson County Masonic Lodge #9 Jefferson Glass Jefferson Lions Jefferson Public Library Jefferson Rotary Club Jefferson Travel Jefferson Veterinary Clinic

Jelli’s Market John’s Fire Protection Kearns Motor Car Co. Ken Olsen Kiwanis Club of Jefferson Krause Custom Builders Kwik Trip of Jefferson Lake Country Heating & Cooling Lawton & Cates Lemke Fence of Jefferson Madison College-Fort Atkinson Main Street Station Maple Grove Homes Miller Law Office MK Cellular NAPA Auto Parts of Jefferson Netwurx Once & Again Consignments One Source Imaging Oregon Mental Health Services Pain Relief Chiropractic Parkway Center People Against Domestic & Sexual Abuse Pepsi-Cola Bottling Pine Cone Restaurant Pitz Stop Premier Bank Port Light Technology R & S Insurance Rainbow Hospice Care River Bend RV Resort River’s Edge Meat Market Robin’s Nest II Styling Salon Rock & Bowl Hall of Lane Rock Bottom Ron’s Korner Ry-Mak Services Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home School District of Jefferson SK Windows & Doors Smiles by Turley Sport & Spine Clinic of Jefferson St. Coletta of Wisconsin St. John the Baptist Catholic St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation St. Vincent de Paul State Farm Insurance-Eric Felth Stauffer-Klug Insurance Agency Subway-Jefferson Sylvan Crossings The Drug Store Town & Country Homes Vetro Winery Waldmann’s Shoe Store Wal-Mart Wedls’ Hamburger Stand & Ice Cream

Parlor WFAW-WSJY-WKCH Xcel Physical Therapy Zarwell Law Office Ziggies

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING

YOUR CHAMBER

Thank You to all of you that have

renewed your 2014 membership.

For those of you that have not

done so please get them in as soon

as possible.

2014 “Our Chamber Members are GREAT!”

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Jefferson Chamber of Commerce 623 W. Racine Street Jefferson, WI 53549 www.jeffersonchamberwi.com

Feb 1 Jefferson Optimist Trivia - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 1 Pigeon Show - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 2 Flea Market - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 3 CPA Bingo Night - Rox’s Banquet Hall Feb 4 Antique Auction - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 7-9 Gun Show - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 10 CPA Bingo Night - Rox’s Banquet Hall Feb 15 Valentine’s Day Raffle - Jefferson Rotary - Jefferson Area Business Center Feb 15 “Family Game Night” Workshop - Humane Society of Jefferson County - Tractor Supply, Watertown Feb 16 WI Swap Meet - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 17 CPA Bingo Night - Rox’s Banquet Hall Feb 19 Good Morning Jefferson - Jefferson Chamber of Commerce - Puerner Room Feb 22 Taste of Literacy - Jefferson County Literacy Council - Soulful Toad, Fort Atkinson Feb 22 The Choir Boys - Council for the Performing Arts - Jefferson High School Auditorium Feb 22 Pet Swap - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 23 Flea Market - Jefferson County Fair Park Feb 24 CPA Bingo Night - Rox’s Banquet Hall

February 2014 Calendar of Events