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Chamber Chimes


November 18, 2009
  Tomorrow starts Watonga Community Theatre’s run of “Smoke on the Mountain – Homecoming” at the Liberty Theatre, the newest production featuring the talented group of performers we have here in the Watonga area.  It is always nice to have something different to do on an evening and I am sure it will prove to be as entertaining as their shows always are.  The shows will be Thursday, Saturday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s matinee will be at 2:30 p.m.  Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for students and seniors.  Call 580-623-9666 for more information.

            I am so excited to announce the Watonga Chamber of Commerce Christmas promotion, “All I Want for Christmas…”Gift Certificate Program.  You will be able to purchase a gift certificate for your gift giving needs that can be used at any participating Watonga business.  There will be restaurants, gift stores, service companies and businesses of all kinds that will be accepting these gift certificates.  This is a great way to buy for people like the mailman, teacher, babysitter, or anyone that you aren’t sure what to get them.  Even if you have a good idea what someone wants, using these gift certificates allows them to pick it us, making sure they get exactly the right size color, etc.  And it means no gift wrapping for you!  The gift certificates can be purchased from Cornerstone Bank, First State Bank or at the Chamber of Commerce office in any amount that you want.  I might suggest, however, that if you want to give a large sum of money, say $100, you might want to get several smaller certificates (4 at $25 each for example) that would make it easier to use at several locations.  A list of participating locations will be available at the time of certificate purchase, as well as online at www.watongachamber.com.  Please consider this fast track way of completing your gift giving – It is easy for you, fun for the gift recipient and helps to support the community that we all call home.  Now that is a win, win, WIN situation!


November 11, 2009

 

 

            Happy Veteran’s Day!  This holiday’s purpose is to honor those citizens who served our nation, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, with love of country for the common good of America and its people.  My gratitude and admiration go out to all our Veterans and their families for their service.  Please help honor our local Veterans by participating in one of the Veteran’s Day activities offered today or simply by thanking one of them.

            Speaking of thankfulness, in looking forward to Thanksgiving I recently asked our membership committee what they are thankful for in Watonga.  The replies were numerous and heartwarming. 

I wish there were room here to list them all but instead I challenge each and every reader of this column to make your own list.  Really think about it.  What do we have or experience here in Watonga that you may not find in other communities, states, etc.?  It is so easy in today’s world to forget all the blessings that we are given and focus on the negative.  Is Watonga perfect?  No, and when you find that perfect community, my guess is that those people won’t think it perfect, either.  We are blessed to have one of the largest volunteer bases I have ever seen.  It is made up of people who are able to see the positive and are willing to work on making things better.  That is one thing I am thankful for and its pretty darn wonderful, if you ask me.

            I know no one wants to think about it yet, but the holiday shopping season is upon us.  Please consider making purchases locally when purchasing gifts.  We are lucky to have as many gift options here in town as we do and every purchase made here will help insure we keep those options.  An interesting “factoid” about shopping local is that studies show that every dollar spent locally is “recycled” in that community 5 times.  To help you do this, Anita Woodruff and I are offering local businesses a place to show off their holiday specials.  Please visit www.watonga.com/christmas or click on the link at www.watongachamber.com.  There you will find all sorts of local gift ideas, some of which you may be surprised by.  Also consider gift certificates for those hard to purchase for -  the mailman, the teacher, the pastor, or even Uncle Ned.  Wal-Mart is not the only one who offers gift cards, you know!