july 2011 chamber chronicle

By Michele Hester [email protected]

Plans are already in the works for next year’s Mountains on My Mind Festival after the success of the inaugu-ral event June 11.

Sponsored by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, the festival featured more than 30 vendor booths offering information, presentations and demonstrations on nearby destinations

and activities. Organizers said they hoped to capi-

talize on the traffic by holding the event at the chamber’s office off Ga. 400, just north of Hwy. 53.

According to transportation figures, more than 25,000 motorists a day travel Ga. 400, which is known as Hospitality Highway.

“From a regional standpoint, we’re

Most of us don’t get the sum-mer off. While things may slow down a little, our busi-nesses are still operating and we have to work.

I have to say, it is great when you get the chance to take a little break: A vacation,

a “staycation,” an afternoon off … even a short reprieve from our everyday gives us new perspective.

I encourage you to take a lit-tle time for yourself this summer to recharge your batteries, even if it is just one day.

Take that new perspective you gain from your little break and re-energize yourself at work. Your pocketbook will thank you.

Your Dawson County Chamber of Commerce has several opportunities for you

and your business to thrive dur-ing the lazy days of summer.

Our next event is our month-ly membership luncheon and our guest speaker will discuss the progress being made on the fiber optic network coming to North Georgia.

Join us for lunch July 14 at the Lakeview Center and educate yourself on what is coming and how it will affect

The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

Edition Highlights:

July 2011Post Office Box 299292 Hwy. 400, North

Dawsonville, GA 30534(706) 265-6278

Celebrity Waiter

Lanier Tech moves to temporary campus

Sparks in the Park

Dawson County Chamber Business After Hours

Events

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR STEPHANIE MATHIS

Summertime and networking is easy

See EASY | 2

Festival aids tourism efforts

See FESTIVAL | 3

Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Kara and Senia May Zajac pet goats at North Georgia Zoo’s booth June 11 during the inaugural Mountains on My Mind Festival, which promotes regional tourism.

Mathis

Congratulations are in order to the Baysdens, owners of Impulse Manufacturing.

Once again they are in the national spotlight.

As you may know, CBS Evening News was in town recently filming a segment on manufactur-ers that are using high tech equipment to com-pete and expand their businesses. As I write this article, the air date for the segment has not been announced, but is expected to be shown soon.

I remember several years ago when a preci-sion piece of equipment made by Mitsubishi was making its way to Dawsonville. I was not only proud for Impulse Manufacturing, but I was proud that Dawson County was the first com-munity in the United States to house such a

piece of equipment.

If you have been fortunate enough to tour the inner work-ings of Impulse

(they have hosted Business after Hours in the past and other eco-nomic development groups) you know that the facility is home to a number of highly advanced precision pieces of equipment. Did you know that they even have high tech equip-ment that can be operat-ed and controlled from a remote location?

Since choosing Dawson County to relo-cate the business in the late 1990s, Impulse has continued to expand and grow. They truly are a global company as their

accounts come from not only national companies, but they serve the needs of international business-es as well.

When Gov. Sonny Perdue was in office he personally visited and toured the facility. His comments to Ron Baysden focused on the fact that Impulse was built on the hard work and vision of its owners and exemplified what American business should be about —making a business succeed without the expectation of hand-outs and other assistance from government.

While some segments of American manufactur-ing continue to struggle, it is evident that the Baysdens and Impulse Manufacturing are doing it right. They have contin-ued to add quality jobs in a time of high unem-ployment and in a time

when other businesses, including other manufac-turers, are not expanding but are cutting back.

As we celebrate the success of Impulse, I want to also celebrate other businesses who have selected Dawson County as a place to set up shop and thus create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

During 2011, of the 27 new members to our organization, 12 are brand new start-up busi-nesses, representing a total of 27 brand new jobs created by these chamber members.

In a time when we are not sure if this economy is about to take a turn for the good or if the reces-sion is continuing, I would like to celebrate new job creation.

If you have added new employees this year, let us know. Let’s see

how many new jobs we can document for Dawson County in 2011.

Just give the chamber office a call at (706) 265-6278, or send me an e-mail, [email protected]. Let’s celebrate this success.

I hope to see you at a chamber event soon.

If you are not a member of our organization already, won’t you join us?

2 | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | dawsonnews.com JULY 2011

Global company, local businessPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LINDA WILLIAMS

James AskewUnited Community Bank

Brooke Anderson (ex-officio)Etowah Water and Sewer Authority

Pat AndersonAnderson Family Medicine

Charlie Auvermann (ex-officio)Development Authority of Dawson County, exec-utive director

Jennifer Baker (2012 chair elect)United Community Bank

Mike Berg (ex-officio)Dawson County Board of Commissioners

Carla BoutinState Farm Insurance

Doris CookEtowah Water and Sewer Authority

James Grogan (ex-officio)Dawsonville City Council

Kathy Fuller K.C. Fuller and Associates

Peter HillHill Design Associates Architects

Warren KingIndividual

Stephanie Mathis (2011 chair)Bank of the Ozarks

Kristie MyersThe Norton Agency

Keith Porter (ex-officio)Dawson County schools

Denny PutlakDenny Insurance Group

Carol TygerAmbassador representative

Mike Underwood (2010 chairman)First Citizens Bank of Georgia

Jay WalkerKroger

Linda Williams (ex-officio)Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

Gloria WyattNorthside Hospital-Forsyth

DAWSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

your business. Later in the month you will want

to come to our first home-based Business After Hours at the new chamber office. It will be from 5-7 p.m. July 26, so plan to come and network.

We’ve all heard of the lazy days of summer, but don’t get lazy with your business.

This is the summer that the econ-omy is beginning to pick up, so

don’t get left behind. It is so easy to use your chamber membership for all it is worth:

• Attend these networking events.

• Post a hot deal on Chambermaster.

• Talk to Pam Hamalainen at the chamber office about various spon-sorship/marketing opportunities (some are as low as $50).

• Recruit a new business mem-ber during our summer membership drive and receive two free tickets to our luncheon and be entered to win a $100 gift card from the North Georgia Premium Outlets.

Most importantly, know the value of and opportunities gained by your chamber membership and use them.

If you don’t know, call (706) 265-6278 and ask. It’s that easy.

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be glad to answer your questions and help you get the most out of your membership.

If you are not a member yet, they will be glad to tell you what you are missing.

Won’t you join us?

Stephanie MathisChairwoman

FROM 1

Easy

Williams

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | 3JULY 2011

July 14: Lunch with the chamber will be held at noon at the Lakeview Center. The program will be presented by Bryson Payne with the North Georgia Network. North Georgia Network is the $34.5 million regional broadband project that is coming through Dawson County. Come and learn about the potential this will have for quality and diverse economic development in the community. Special thanks to the luncheon sponsor, Northside Forsyth Hospital. For more information, call (706) 265-6278.

July 26: Don’t miss Business After Hours. Join the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce as several of its home based and small businesses co-host the event from 5-7 p.m. at the chamber office. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine-Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency-Kristie Myers, United Community News-James Askew. Remember, you must be present to win if your name is drawn. The cash drawing is up to $1,125.

Aug. 11: Lunch with the chamber at noon at the Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Rd. The guest speaker will be Congressman Tom Graves. Special thanks to luncheon sponsor Northside Hospital Forsyth. For more information, call (706) 265-6278.

Aug. 23: First Citizens Bank will host Business After Hours from 5-7 p.m. The bank is at 70 Carlisle Road, just off Hwy. 400. Special thanks to the cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine-Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency-Kristie Myers, United Community Bank-James Askew. Remember, you must be present to win if your name is drawn.

Aug. 25: Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Reverse Raffle will be at the Lakeview Center. The grand prize will be $10,000 cash. A limit of 300 tickets will be sold for $100 each, so odds of winning are excellent. All sold tickets will be drawn and the last ticket drawn will win $10,000. The drawing party is fun, fun, fun. The last few ticketholders are usually bidding to buy each other out. Tickets are available at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and several other locations. For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

By Michele [email protected]

The odds are in your favor at one of the most anticipated events the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce holds each year.

The chamber will give away $10,000 in cash at the annual reverse raffle Aug. 25 at the Lakeview Center.

“We only printed 300 tickets this year. In the past we printed 350, so the odds are even better,” said Pam Hamalainen, member-ship director.

Tickets are drawn one by one from a drum, but unlike most raffles, the last ticket drawn is the winner.

In addition to the cash raffle, ticket holders

are also eligible for door prizes donated by local businesses. Every 25th ticket drawn wins a prize valued at least at $100. The chamber accepts all major credit cards, cash and checks.

Tickets are on sale at the chamber office, from any of the chamber’s board of directors and at Roger Slaton State Farm Insurance.

One ticket admits two guests to the ticket party, which begins at 7 p.m. Heavy appe-tizers are included. A cash bar will be avail-able.

Proceeds from the raffle support many chamber initiatives throughout the year.

For more information or to purchase a raf-fle ticket, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Raffle tickets for sale

located perfectly for those driving north to the mountains,” said Marty Williams, vice president of travel and tourism for the chamber.

“The intent is to capture those travelers. So many people don’t know what all we have up here.”

Williams said the cost of gas has many people choosing day trips or ‘stay’cations rather than traveling long distances, which works out great for the area.

“North Georgia has so much to offer,” he said.

Nearby tourism sites like the Len Foote Hike Inn near Amicalola Falls State Park, a petting zoo from Cleveland and local outfitters offer-ing outdoor excursions were among the booths at the festival.

“I was real happy for the first year. I think we had good represen-tation from different counties,” Williams said.

“It wasn’t just all things to do in Dawsonville, but all up and down Hospitality Highway.”

Williams said next year’s event will more than likely be two days.

FROM 1

Festival


Mimi Siebel takes a look at a vendor booth offer-ing hand knitted socks June 11 when the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the inaugural Mountains on My Mind regional tourism festival.

By Frank [email protected]

REData Center, a busi-ness that examines the residential real estate market for individual communities visited last month’s Dawson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Lisa Oden OF REData Center spoke to the group of several dozen, then fielded questions from the audience about Dawson County’s housing market.

The company studies market trends and data analysis, Oden said.

“We are realtors, and we remember the days when you could put a sign in the ground and people would come run-ning because they want-ed to buy your property,” she said.

Oden said the compa-ny started from a grass-roots effort to understand why the market was slow-ing after 2007.

“We needed a way to interpret what was going on and read the market,”

Oden said. “We were making charts and graphs to figure out what we needed to know, and it turned into a product that others happened to find valuable.”

Oden spoke about Dawson County’s market in particular.

“Understanding these numbers is very important to knowing how your market stacks up to what the rest of the country is doing,” she said.

Oden said that Dawson County’s residen-tial housing market dif-fered somewhat from the metro Atlanta markets.

“Your sales have been building. You haven’t fall-en off the cliff like many

others have. You’ve got pretty consistent sales,” she said.

The chamber’s July busi-ness luncheon will be at noon tomorrow at the Lakeview Center on Dawson Forest Road. Bryson Payne with North Georgia Network will present a program to highlight the $34.5 mil-lion regional broadband project that is coming through Dawson County.

Reservations received after the July 11 cutoff date will cost $15 for members. Visitors may attend for $18 per per-son.

For more information or to R.S.V.P., call the cham-ber at (706) 265-6278.


Office: 706-216-4806Fax: [email protected]

P.O Box 1096137 Prominence Court

Suite 240Dawsonville, GA 30534


Nearly a dozen local “celebrities” have a new respect for the food ser-vice industry after they donned aprons last month and raised more than $3,300 for community efforts.

“This was my second year doing this,” said celebrity server Dawsonville Councilman Calvin Byrd. “I should have been way better this year. That’s some hard work.”

In its third year, Family Connection’s Celebrity Waiter Breakfast raises funds that help address challenges children and families face in the local community.

Byrd, who also serves on the Family Connection board, said he was honored to participate in the breakfast and raise funds “for a cause that means so much to so many.”

More than 200 diners attended the breakfast June 17, which also fea-

tured “celebrity” waiters like Commissioners Jimmy Hamby, Julie Hughes Nix and Gary Pichon and State Senator Steve Gooch.

With a buffet-style breakfast of bis-cuits, eggs, bacon and sausage, the celebrity waiters juggled the tasks of taking and delivering drink orders, clearing plates and resetting the tables.

Gooch called the breakfast “the most fun” he’s had at a fundraising event.

“New fundraising ideas generate dollars for their cause and that’s good for the community,” he said. “I had a great time.”

Part of a statewide initiative of com-munity collaborative partnerships, Dawson County Family Connection aids local non-profit programs such as the church alliance, prevent child abuse and youth mentoring, among others.

“They help so many other organiza-tions in this community,” Byrd said.


State Sen. Steve Gooch carefully pours a cup of coffee the morning while volunteering for Dawson County Family Connection’s Celebrity Waiter Breakfast at Longhorn Steakhouse on June 17. Also pictured are Charlie, Elizabeth and Ryan Brooks.

‘Celebrities’ raise $3,300

Real estate discussed at luncheon

Lisa Oden of REData Center was the guest speaker at the chamber’s June luncheon.

Frank Reddy Dawson Community News



A new sports academy celebrated its grand opening June 3, welcoming stu-dents, parents and many from the com-munity to the event.

Representatives from the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce were also there, to welcome one of its new-est members.

Damon Dawson, founder of Atlanta Sports Academy, said the business hopes to “basically, give kids another opportunity. They may have been hurt in their senior year, they may have been under-recruited, they may not have had the GPA to get into the col-lege they wanted to go to…” Dawson said.

Added Dawson: “We allow them an opportunity to come here and better themselves as students, athletes and people…it’s a holistic approach.”

Atlanta Sports Academy is billed as a post-graduate, academic-athletic pro-gram for those who want to earn athlet-

ics scholarships to an accredited four-year college or university.

The campus sits on 100 acres adja-cent to the defunct Gold Creek Golf Club about five miles north of Dawsonville.

One of Dawson County’s own has joined the academy.

Dawson County High School gradu-ate Preston Lewis signed with Atlanta Sports Academy on June 2.

“I want to make it to the next level, and this would be a good opportunity to get me there,” Lewis said.

A defensive lineman, Lewis has played on the Dawson County High School varsity team since his sopho-more year.

An honorary member to the acade-my was also named June 3.

Atlanta Sports Academy Coach Ron Hill gave 10-year-old Kenny Stewart a jersey and football for his “bravery in the face of adversity.”

The young Dawson County resident has been battling cancer for almost three years.

Community welcomes new sports academy


The staff of Atlanta Sports Academy celebrated their grand opening June 3 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Members of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce welcomed the academy.


Diane Lemley, an individual mem-ber of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, was recently recog-nized for her work to recruit one of the chamber’s newest members.

Kauffman Tire, at 783 Hwy. 400 South, joined the chamber at Lemley’s encouragement.

Lemley approached Doug Ritson, manager at Kauffman Tire, during the chamber’s summer membership drive, which runs through Aug. 31.

For her contribution to increasing membership, Lemley received two complimentary lunches to the cham-ber’s next membership lunch meet-ing, where she and Kauffman Tire will be recognized during the new member introductions.

New individual and non-profit memberships are not included, but current individual and non-profit

members are encouraged to partici-pate in the membership drive.

A photograph of the recruiting member and the new business mem-ber will also be published in the Dawson Chamber Chronicle.

There is no limit to the number of new businesses members can recruit.

Members who successfully recruit new businesses to join the cham-ber will have their names entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to North Georgia Premium Outlets. The drawing will be held at the conclusion of the summer membership drive.

According to the chamber’s membership committee: “No one can sell the benefits of membership in our organization better than you, the primary stakeholder in our organization.”

For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Summer membership drive is in full gear

Morgan Bennett Dawson Community News

Diane Lemley was recently recognized for recruiting one of the cham-ber’s newest members Kauffman Tire. Lemley is pictured with Doug Ritson, manager at Kauffman Tire.


• Congratulations to Margie Weaver. She was recently named 2011 Senior Center Director of the Year.

• Improve your skills . . . take an online class this summer. For more informa-tion, visit www.dawson.org.

• Are you certified Work Ready? For more information, visit www.gaworkready.org.

• Past issues of the Dawson County Chamber Chronicle can be found on the chamber’s Web site, www.dawson.org.

• Remember to shop local.

Please let the chamber know when you have a special event.

By Crystal LedfordDCN regional staff

The CEO of one of America’s top performing banks said he sees great potential in Georgia.

George Gleason, who is also chairman of Bank of the Ozarks, made a visit recently to north Georgia along with the bank’s board of directors.

Bank of the Ozarks, head-quartered in Little Rock, Ark., has 113 offices in seven states including Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, North and South Carolina and Texas.

In April, it was named the top performing bank in the nation with assets of more than $3 billion by the ABA Banking Journal, the flagship monthly magazine of the American Bankers Association.

Bank of the Ozarks obtained

Chestatee State Bank, which had two locations in Dawson County and one in Forsyth County, in December 2010.

Gleason said Chestatee State was one of seven FDIC-seized banking sites obtained by Bank of the Ozarks over the past 15 months. Six of those have locations in Georgia.

In total, the bank has 30 locations with about 300 employees in the state.

“We hope to have two to three times as many offices in Georgia over the next few years,” he said, noting that the state has traditionally been real estate-driven in regards to

banking. “There are challenges, but

the real estate business here is still good.”

And that’s a good fit for Bank of the Ozarks, one of whose main strengths is in real estate lending, Gleason said.

“We may be the largest bank in the country that came through the real estate market crash unscathed,” he said. “Now everyone got a few bumps and scratches, but we were able to make it basical-ly unharmed.”

Gleason said the transition from Chestatee State has gone well and he hopes to add at least one more site in Forsyth County over the next few years.

“We’ve been received very well and have kept the major-ity of those customers,” he

said. “We’re also seeing new business.”

In general, Gleason said the banking industry in Georgia and the nation is currently “a challenging cli-mate.”

“The economy is modestly better but not significantly better,” he said. “I think the industry as a whole is facing a challenging road ahead with the host of new regula-tions coming down from the federal government.”

But he believes Bank of the Ozarks’ track record is proof it will be able to weather any challenge.

“In 32 years, we’ve never had a quarter that we weren’t profitable,” he said, something he attributed to “conservative credit princi-pals” that allow the bank to maintain high levels of capi-

tal to create new acquisitions and loans.

As far as services to cus-tomers, Gleason said Bank of the Ozarks is a full-service institution providing a full line of deposit and lending prod-ucts.

He said it also has a “strong mortgage presence in Arkansas” and a “very, very strong trust and wealth man-agement unit,” both of which will be built in this state over time.

Gleason said he believes the economy in Georgia will stabilize sooner rather than later.

“Georgia has a strong $450 billion-a-year-economy. I think it will surprise every-body how quickly it rebounds,” he said. “Georgia has so many posi-tive things going for it.”

From staff reports

Local entrepreneur Chris Gaines has been designated an Allstate Premier Service Agent for 2011.

An exclusive Allstate agent, he owns The Gaines Agency in down-town Dawsonville.

According to a news release, the designation is being presented to Gaines for his commitment to putting the customer at the center of his agency’s work.

Less than one third of Allstate’s nearly 12,000 agency owners across the country receive the desig-

nation. The Premier Service

Agency designation is awarded to Allstate agency owners who have consistently dem-onstrated excellence in delivering an accessi-ble, knowledgeable and personal customer

experience, and in achieving out-standing business results.

The Gaines Agency, LLC is located at 29 Main Street in Dawsonville and can be reached at (706) 265-2070.

Bank of the Ozarks CEO sees promise

Gleason

Businessman honored for customer service

Gaines


Trusted experts delivering the latest in cardiac care

Northside is home to a team of talented and experienced professionals specializing in comprehensive cardiovascular services.

From leading diagnostic services to angioplasty and pacemaker implantation, Northside’s experts deliver leading cardiac care right

in your community. Visit us online at www.northside.com.


By Crystal Ledford DCN regional staff

Northside Hospital-Forsyth recently earned recognition for its treatment of stroke patients.

Both the Forsyth site and Northside’s Sandy Springs campus have been awarded full two-year certifications as Advanced Primary Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission.

Katherine Watson, a spokeswoman for Northside, said only about eight hospitals in the greater metro Atlanta area are certified as Advanced Primary Stroke Centers.

“We applied to the Joint Commission for the designation. There is a book of standards you must follow that is entire-ly separate from the normal accredita-tion standards,” she said, noting both locations were first certified in 2009. “[After two years] you have another unannounced on-site survey to renew [the certification].”

Both Northside locations received the recognition after undergoing on-site evaluations and demonstrating compli-

ance with nationally developed stan-dards for stroke care, according to a release from the hospital.

Skip Putnam, CEO of Northside-Forsyth, said in a statement that he and other leaders were pleased that both campuses achieved the distinc-tion.

“[This certification] celebrates the hard work of our staff and recognizes our commitment to excellence and to providing the best possible care to our patients and our community,” he said.

Watson said the certification shows that Northside “has the critical ele-ments to meet [stroke victims’] unique and specialized needs.”

Stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., with almost 5 million stroke sur-vivors alive today.

Besides the stroke certification, both Northside sites also received a full two-year certification for hip and knee replacement services, and Northside-Atlanta received additional certification for high-risk obstetrics.

By Frank Reddy [email protected]

The Dawson County school system has joined the ranks of 13 others in Georgia that have received greater flex-ibility to govern local education.

Among other aspects, that flexibility could allow officials to examine new classroom settings, sizes and times.

They could also broaden curriculum choices and expand opportunities for students at various skill levels.

The Georgia Department of Education recently voted to approve Dawson County Schools’ petition for a five-year charter, a designation that grants great-er autonomy from the state.

“It’s a done deal,” said Superintendent Keith Porter. “[The Department of Education] has offered us

their congratulations.”Porter said the district will begin train-

ing immediately.“We want to make sure we have

everything in place so that we can have our boards functioning at the beginning of next school year,” Porter said. “It will be an ongoing training.”

He added that achieving charter sys-tem status is a milestone.

“It’s just another example of the way that our school system and our commu-nity pull together to do extraordinary things,” he said. “It confirms to me the commitment our stakeholders have in doing things that are innovative and creative within our school system.”

The charter designation lasts for five years, at which time the state commission can review it for renew-al.

Northside earns certification

Charter status is secured By Frank [email protected]

An information session regarding health care reform, which was held last month, was a success, according to Linda Williams, president of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

Williams said those who attended the May 17 event at United Community Bank, “said they learned something.”

Speaking at the event was Ken Bohrer, a 25-year veteran of the health care industry.

Williams said Bohrer “had a lot of good information, and he had excel-lent handouts of the timeline that is set out right now for things to happen, for employers to be aware of … their responsibilities.”

Sponsored by the University of

Georgia and the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, the event was aimed at helping business lead-ers to better understand the complexi-ties of health care reform, key compo-nents and projected trends.

Said Williams: “The main thing we learned is that this health care reform is an ongoing effort, and my sugges-tion was that we take another look at it in another year or two and see where we are at that time.

“And of course,” she added, “It’s all under discussion and still could be changed. It’s a living document that’s growing and in which direction we don’t know.”

Bohrer’s experience in the health care industry includes health plan operations, sales and marketing, pro-vider contracting, traditional benefit plan design and consumer-driven plan application.

Event informs about health care reform

Stephanie Griffin Dawson Community News

WALMART DONATES TO VETERANS GROUPThe Dawsonville Walmart recently donated a 42 inch flat screen TV to the Dawson County Veterans Affairs Committee. The committee raffled the TV to raise funds for veteran initiatives. Pam Hamalainen, president of the group, left, and Walmart Assistant Manager Carrie Brooks drew the winner July 2 at the county’s Sparks in the Park event. Also pictured is Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Linda Williams. The winner of the TV was Don Sailor of Gainesville.


Walk-in: 548 Telephone: 2,231 Newcomer packages: 22

Special thanks to the following members that renewed memberships last month:

MEMBER RENEWALS

NEW MEMBERS

MONTHLY TOTALS

Thank YouChamber Building Fund

Sponsors

PropertyInvestmentAssociates

Jacky Jones FordNorth Georgia Sales Center Inc.Paradise Valley Resort

Huck’s Apple BarnDawn Pruett(706) 429-00653862 Dawson Forest Rd.Dawsonville, GA [email protected]: Agri-tourism

Fajita GrillArthur Marcias(706) 265-1331384 Hwy. 53 EastDawsonville, GA 30534Category: Restaurants

Kauffman Tire Inc.Douglas Ritson(706) 531-1311786 Hwy. 400 SouthDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Tires, Wheels

and Accessories

Blocker Insurance AgencyDonna Blocker, (706) 265-75176625 Hwy. 53 East, Suite 400Dawsonville, GA [email protected]: Insurance Agency


EWSA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICEEtowah Water and Sewer Authority invited customers to its Hwy. 53 loca-tion June 23 in celebration of the utility’s 25th anniversary. General Manager Brooke Anderson, left, and founding board member Ben Overstreet read through a book, which highlights the water and sewer pro-vider’s growth to mark the occasion.


Ambassador of the Month is Diane Lemley

AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT


Students who returned for summer quarter July 6 at the Dawson campus of Lanier Technical College are attending class at a new, temporary location.

With the exception of automotive technology classes, which are held in the evening at Dawson County High School’s automotive lab, all Lanier Tech Dawson campus courses are being taught at 516 Allen Street in Dawsonville.

Lanier Tech will utilize the former Crossroads Alternative School building until the college’s new campus is construct-ed on property neighboring Dawson County Middle School.

The college will also continue to offer the state’s Work Ready assessments at the temporary location.

Based on a skills assessment and certification for job seek-ers and a job profiling system for businesses, Georgia’s Work Ready Initiative helps meet the needs of business by effectively generating the right talent for the right jobs.

“We’re so fortunate to have the space to lease from the school board, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to lease the space during our construction,” said Tim McDonald, dean at the local campus.

McDonald anticipates holding classes at the temporary location for about a year.

He said the temporary move will not affect Lanier Tech’s adult education classes that are held at the Dawson County Adult Learning Center on Hwy. 9 North . The move also will not affect dual enrollment students from the local high school.

“We built our summer schedule based on being at our new, temporary location,” McDonald said.

About 150 students attend the Dawson campus, which offers studies in business administration, certified nursing assis-tant, residential plumbing, electrical construction, automotive technology and welding.

Along with the local campus, which opened in October 2005, Lanier Tech has locations in Forsyth, Oakwood, North Fulton and Jackson County, as well as a Winder-Barrow facil-ity.

McDonald said a ceremony to break ground on the new permanent facility in Dawsonville could come as early as August.

For more information, call (706) 216-5461.

From staff reports

The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program recently recognized its June Ambassador of the Month.

Diane Lemley, who joined the volunteer organi-zation about 18 months ago, received a gift cer-tificate for her numerous contributions to the chamber during the month of June.

An elite group of volunteer chamber members who act as liaisons between the business com-munity and the organization, ambassadors attend ribbon cuttings, grand opening celebra-tions and volunteer at chamber functions to pro-mote the chamber.

Lemley was also responsible for recruiting Kauffman Tire, which joined the chamber last month at her encouragement.

“I enjoy working with the community,” Lemley

said.She and her husband Larry Lemley moved to

Dawson County in 2002 after owning a lake home in the area since the early 1970s.

The couple has two married sons and three “grand doggies.”

For more information on the ambassador pro-gram, call (706) 265-6278.


The Dawson County Chamber Ambassadors recently presented Diane Lemley, third from left, with a gift card for being selected Ambassador of the Month for June. Also pictured, from left, Pam Hamalainen, Angela Harben and Carol Tyger.

‘I enjoy working with the community.’Diane LemleyAmbassador of the month

Lanier Tech moves into leased space



A local woman’s passion for bota-ny has bloomed into an obsession with one of nature’s most diverse flow-ering plants.

In short, Dawsonville’s Suzanne Franklin says daylilies “fascinate” her.

Her fascination started with a few plants in her backyard nearly 20 years ago. Since then, it’s spread across the family’s Mill Creek Drive property leaving little else in its wake.

“I’ve got other plants too…hun-dreds and hundreds of different plants” she said. “I just enjoy flowers so much.”

Franklin owns Jungle Paradise, off Hwy. 9 South. The combination park and flower garden surrounds the fam-

ily’s home and beyond. Franklin also takes people on tours in her “jungle cart.”

“People can come here anytime they want to. It’s free of charge, but don’t bring a shovel,” she said, laughing.

Many of the flowers, however, are for sale on Franklin’s property. They also include daffodils, azaleas, wild-flowers, camillias, perennials, tropical and a variety of rare flowers.

The daylilies are in full bloom right now.

“Right now is the best time to come out and see us,” she said. “It’s peak season.”

Jungle Paradise is located at 929 Mill Creek Drive, Dawsonville.

For more information, call (706) 265-2130 or (678) 410-6830.

Daylilies inspire woman


Suzanne Franklin owns Jungle Paradise, off of Hwy. 9 South. She over-sees the daylily gardens that surround her property.

From staff reports

Impulse Manufacturing will be fea-tured in an upcoming segment on the CBS Evening News that focuses on jobs in manufacturing.

The news syndicate was “looking for a manufacturing company in the south that was high tech in its processes and equipment,” according to an e-mail distributed by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

The high-tech metal fabricator uses lasers and robots for cutting and weld-ing metal, according to company presi-dent Ron Baysden.

The company makes parts for Blue Bird buses, Yamaha golf carts and Carrier Corp.

“They wanted to know a lot on how it affected unemployment in America and what needed to be done to re-grow manufacturing in this country. Evidently we were highly recommend-ed as being leading edge and a good spot to showcase that kind of

story,” said Jan Baysden in an e-mail.Impulse Manufacturing was also the

backdrop in December 2009 when Vice President Joe Biden visited Dawsonville and announced more than $183 million in broadband proj-ects in 17 states.

One of those grants will help fund the construction of more than 135 miles of fiber optic lines to bring high-speed Internet access to rural areas of North Georgia.

Manufacturer to be on national news

From staff reports

Georgia is a prime location for film making and Dawson County was recently designated as a “Camera Ready County.”

This means Dawson County is notified of location requests by film companies who want to shoot movies in the area.

The state film division is currently working with a project called “Careful What You Wish For” and it is set on a lake.

They want to shoot footage in the late fall or winter and want it to look

green. Another criteria is that they need two

homes sitting next to each other with pines or other evergreens around.

Not subdivisions, but two homes sit-ting on their own by the lake, but next door neighbors.

If you own property that fits the crite-ria, or know of someone who does, and would be interested in having your property considered for the project, call Marty Williams, the county’s “Camera Ready” liaison at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce at (706) 265-6278.

Film crew seeks lake homes to shoot footage

‘Evidently we were highly recommended as being leading edge and a good spot to showcase that kind of story.’

Jan BaysdenSpokeswoman for Impulse Manufacturing



A bread and breakfast just south of Dahlonega opened its doors to Dawson County Chamber of Commerce members June 28 for the group’s monthly Business After Hours affair.

Nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains is Lily Creek Lodge, a 12 room cottage on Auraria Road, just a few miles north of Dawsonville.

With European antique furnishings and art, Lily Creek Lodge offers mod-ern comforts and amenities on acreage that is a wildlife sanctuary and the home of many flora and fauna found only in the mountain ecology.

The lodge is open year round. For more information, call (706) 864-6848.

The chamber’s next Business After Hours event will be held from 5-7 p.m. July 26 at the chamber’s new location

on Ga. 400. Several local small businesses and

home-based businesses are co-hosting the event.

Membership director Pam Hamalainen said a couple co-hosting opportunities are still available for the event, which will also features the chamber’s monthly cash drawing at the end of the night.

Representatives from the Kangaroo Conservation Center were not present at the June event to hear their name called, so the cash drawing will be $1,125 at the July event.

The chamber would like to thank its cash drawing sponsors: Anderson Family Medicine — Dr. Larry Anderson, The Norton Agency — Kristie Myers and United Community Bank — James Askew.

Remember you must be present to win if your name is drawn.

For more information, call (706) 265-6278.


Lily Creek Lodge, a bed and breakfast just a few miles north in Dahlonega, played host to the chamber’s Business After Hours event in June. The next after hours affair will be from 5-7 p.m. July 26 at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce office on Ga. 400.

Cash drawing up to $1,125


A new state law took effect July 1 that will keep children in car safety seats until their eighth birthday.

Signed into law in May, the new requirement is designed to reduce the risk of children suffering injury and death in automobile accidents in Georgia.

“This is to keep smaller kids that the state felt are still too small to be just riding in a seatbelt that is designed for adults safe,” said Capt. Tony Wooten with the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office.

Local groups dedicated to child safety are currently mobilizing to get the word out to parents about the new requirement and offering boost-er seats to families needing them.

Katie Strayhorn, chairperson of the Child Fatality Review Panel in Dawson County, said the group, in conjunction with Georgia State Patrol, will be at the Dawson County Health Department from 9 to 11 a.m., July 28 offering child seat safe-ty checks.

At the event, certified child passen-ger safety specialists will check car seats and booster seats for proper installation.

Wooten said Dawson County SafeKids will provide booster seats to

families who cannot afford them. “Booster seats are not that expen-

sive, but if anyone needs one, we’re going to try to provide those,” he said.

Fines begin at $50 for violating the new law, though local law offi-cers said enforcement comes second to making sure motorists have knowl-edge of the new law and know why it was enacted.

“At this time, it’s about making sure people understand the new law and that it’s there to keep kids safe,” Wooten said.

The current law will replace previ-ous requirements that said children must remain in a car seat or booster seat until they are six years old.

New booster seat law now in effect

The car or booster seat must• Be in the rear seat• Be appropriate for the child’s weight and height• Meet all federal standards• Be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instruc-

tions

The following exemptions apply• Children under age 8 whose height is at least 4 feet 9 inches.• A written statement from a physician that a physical or medical

condition prevents placing or restraining the child as required by law.

Morgan Bennett Dawson Community News

Lanier Swafford, chief of Dawson County Emergency Services, secures his son, Bailey, into his car seat.



Early estimates say Dawson Day Sparks in the Park brought more than 6,000 people to Rock Creek Park July 2 for the county’s annual Independence Day celebration.

“That’s good news for Dawson County,” said Marty Williams, vice president of tourism at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

“I talked to several people who were not from Dawson County and that means dollars are being spent on gas and on food to help the county.”

Presented by the Dawson County commission and the Dawson Community News, officials said the third annual event “was even bigger and better than last year.”

“Events like Sparks in the Park truly capture community spirit,” said Cathy Brooks, county spokeswoman. “It’s a great time for families and friends to come together.”

In addition to the fireworks display, park visitors were able to take part in various activities, including dance con-tests and inflatables, as well as a dunk tank and rock-climbing wall.

There was also a wide variety of fes-tival food, ranging from snow cones to barbecue.

Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner said the free event would not be possible “without the generous sup-port of all of our sponsors that donate both their money and time.”

“I believe everyone who attended had a great time. I would like to per-sonally thank (the sponsors) for another great year,” he said.

Fireworks spark record crowd

Photos by Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Rising NASCAR star and Dawsonville native Chase Elliott watches a ball hit the target to sink him in the dunk tank at Sparks in the Park.

Caroline Levy, 8, of Cumming, turns a back flip on the bungee ride.


As Tracey Compton celebrates her 20th year with the Dawson County School System, she’s taking on a new role.

The Dawson County Board of Education recently voted unanimously to promote the Kilough Elementary assistant principal to the position of principal in the wake of administrator Lois Zangara’s decision to retire.

Compton said working with Zangara at the helm has taught her many lessons, lessons she’ll use as a reference point as an elementary school principal.

“[Zangara] has taught me not to be reactive,” Compton said. “She’s very calm in the worst storm.”

That’s one of the key attributes a leader should possess, Compton added.

“A leader sets the tone … if they react negatively when there’s a prob-lem, what kind of example does that set for the rest of the employees?”

A detail-oriented person at heart, Compton said her predecessor has helped her to see “the big picture.

“She has helped me to broaden my perspective,” Compton said.

Through her many years as a teacher and an administrator, Compton has learned many lessons.

“It’s all about genuine relation-ships,” she said. “Knowing the stu-dents, knowing the parents. I don’t believe you can really serve a child unless you have a relationship with them.”

Continued Compton: “It’s like a family. You know the children by name, you know most of the parents by name. You visit them in the hospi-tal, you visit them at home.”

A Forsyth County native, Compton and husband, Jeff, have one son, Casey, 16, who attends Dawson

County High School.In her 20-year career with the

Dawson County School System, Compton worked as a teacher at Dawson County Middle School for 11 years, a fifth grade teacher at Kilough for one year and as assistant principal for eight years.

Superintendent Keith Porter places much faith in Compton’s abilities.

“Through the years, she has been one of the most decorated teachers we’ve ever had in the Dawson County School System,” Porter said.

During the 2010-11 school year, she was selected as the state assistant prin-cipal of the year. She also was award-ed the Philip Wright Award for her work with special education at Kilough.

During her time at Dawson County Middle School, she garnered awards for Georgia Math Teacher of the Year and Georgia Science Teacher of the year.

She holds a specialist degree in edu-cational leadership.

“It’s more than a job,” Compton said. “It’s a way of life.”

Compton takes over at Kilough

File photo

Tracey Compton was recently pro-moted to principal at Kilough Elementary School.


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july 2011 chamber chronicle

Documents

mind festival

little break

high tech equipment

regional tourism

precision piece of equipment

years mountains

new perspective

north georgia zoos booth