Chamber Chimes

Happy Earth Day (tomorrow)!  On this day, please consider your impact on the Earth (and our community) and think of ways that you can help make it a cleaner, healthier place for us to live.  There are many groups in town that will be doing their part including the Opportunities Inc. Rehab consumers cleaning the highway north and south of 4-corners, Friends of Roman Nose State Park doing a clean up and recycle on Saturday (9-12 at the pool parking lot) and the Chamber Highway Committee doing some strategic planting on Hwy. 33 for beautification.  For more information on how you can get involved, talk to any of these groups or visit www.keepoklahomabeautiful.com for more ideas.

The Cheese Festival Committee is looking for volunteers and chairpersons to help plan and carry out this event that our community is so well known for.  If you have ideas or are willing to help, we can find you a spot!  Volunteering does not mean that you will be tied down for the entire weekend.  If you have a talent or interest and are willing to help a few hours or are willing to help make arrangements ahead of the Festival, we would appreciate you contacting us.  You can call the Chamber office at 623-5452 or the event Chairperson, Rhonda Olsen, at 623-2599.  It really can be a lot of fun helping to get the Cheese Festival going and, as the saying goes, “The more, the merrier!”

Tomorrow, Thursday the 22^nd, is the U.S. Air Force Jazz Quintet at the Liberty Theatre.  This will be a great show, I am certain, so plan to attend.  We are very lucky to have them return to Watonga as they are a sought after group of talented entertainers.  Pick up your free tickets at Country Home Antiques to reserve your spot.  Donations will be accepted and will go towards the Cheese Festival entertainment.

I was invited by the Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce to attend an informative conference on Engineering Entrepreneurships in Rural Communities this week.  This meeting is intended to provide tools to people in rural communities that can help build a strong entrepreneurial economy.  This information will be paired with resources collected by the Watonga Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and used to help support existing and new businesses in Watonga.  As always, if you or someone you know is in need of assistance with their business, give us a call and we would be happy to share any information and contacts we have that might make your business ventures a better success.

April 7, 2010

"Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is?”  Ah, there they are, right outside my window!  With the wonderful weather we have been having, it is starting to stir up that spring fever to get things in order.  I know this for fact because I have been receiving many calls about when the Town Wide Garage Sale will be.  It is scheduled for June 5th which will be upon us before we know, so go ahead and start your cleaning process to be ready in time.  The Cheese Festival Committee will again hold a sale during the Town Wide and donations are again being sought so if you want to clear space but don’t want to have your own garage sale, we’d be happy to help you out.  Just give the office a call at 623-5452 and we’d be happy to take your extras off your hands.

In amongst all that cleaning, be sure to make time for the abundance of events that are going on in Watonga this month.  Starting this weekend (Fri.- Sun.) is the Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride.  With a regular registration of approximately 150 riders, this fun event is very popular amongst riders from around the state.  Even if you do not ride, you are welcome to join them for great cookout meals in the evening and for visiting.  For more details or to get involved, contact Jeff Fritz at 623-7211 or visit www.romannosehillstrailride.com.  The following Saturday (17^th) is the Fiber Festival at Shooting Star Ranch in Hitchcock.  This is a free, all day event perfect for families or anyone interested in fiber crafts.  Spinning, felting, rabbit showmanship and Kool-Aid dying are just some of the activities, as well as a Campfire Lunch by donation.  For more information contact SweetieWray’s Yarn shop at 623-0637 or Shooting Star at 825-3374.

Still ready for more fun things to do?  How about the U.S. Air Force Jazz Quintet coming to the Liberty Theatre on Thursday, the 22^nd?  This is a quintet from the group that came to Watonga last year and was so fabulous.  It should, again, be a wonderful show and is a fundraiser for the Cheese Festival entertainment.  You can contact Rhonda Olsen (623-2599) or Andy Barrett (214-763-3823) for ticket information.  In the following week, Thursday the 27^th is the Blaine County Agriculture Appreciation Banquet.  Farm and ranch families from around Blaine County will be recognized and inducted into the hall of fame and a brisket meal will be served.  For information contact the OSU Extension office at 623-5195.

Speaking of community events, it has been suggested that we need a community calendar.  I will be setting one up on the Chamber website (www.watongachamber.com) and ask for any and all entries.  If you are involved in planning any civic or community events, please let me know and I will gladly post them on the Community Calendar page.  This is completely reliant upon your help in making sure I know what events are planned when. Once we get this up and going, it will be a good resource to get the word out about your events, as well as to make sure we do not have two “can’t miss” events scheduled on the same day.