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Business Scams Targeting School and Youth Support

August 25, 2017 By

8-25-2017

Hutchinson, MN

Scams Targeting School and Youth Support

Recently another promotional scam has targeted Hutchinson, MN businesses.

An individual stating they are working with the “Hutchinson Boosters” for a fall calendar of sports events has contacted businesses in town to collect money. This project like many others are portrayed to be part of or working for an organization. Some will use tactics like “we talked to the Chamber” when in fact they have not, or a business owner referred another business. These tactics, although convincing, or usually not true.

Police Chief Dan Hatten says “There are no limitations on who scammers claim as victims, the young, old, male, female, businesses, and churches.  The sole responsibility to prevent these scams from occurring is on each of us.  We must educate ourselves on the indicators of a scam and be diligent because it is not if you will become a target of a scam but merely when.”

If you are unsure if it is a scam or ever question if you are possibly being scammed contact your local police department before you agree or send any money. Hatten continued, “Once you send money or sign documents there is virtually no recourse.”

Hutchinson Public Schools work exclusively with Crow River Press and the Hutchinson Leader to produce their sports calendars. Hutchinson Activities Director Thayne Johnson said “If any of our local businesses are contacted by any other organization, please know that they are not working on behalf of the school.  Their claim to represent the Hutchinson Booster Club is false, as there is no such organization.”

The Chamber’s goal is to work with all area businesses and organizations to make everyone more aware of the scam business. “It is a business to these people,” said Mary Hodson, Chamber President. She added “in the past five years I’ve lost track of the number of scams we’ve been made aware of. Last year we were able to cut one off at the pass, but many we don’t hear about and then we can’t help. Connecting with the Police or the Chamber before making a commitment can go a long way to protect yourself and others.”

If you have more questions, please contact Police Chief Dan Hatten 320-587-2242 or Mary Hodson 320-587-5252.

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Filed Under: Community

What’s Happening in August 2017?

August 1, 2017 By

Leadership Institute: Application for 2017-2018 is Now Open!

We are happy to announce the Hutchinson Leadership Institute is back for its 29th year! The Hutchinson Leadership Institute is hosted by the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. This comprehensive program is designed to build community leaders. Over the period of nine months, participants will experience 10 days of training and classes. Each participant will be assigned to a group service project, which will assess community needs, determine a project, and facilitate the project working with other community members and/or groups.

Click here for the application and more information.

If you have questions about this program please email Mary or call 320-234-0785.

Farm Fatigue

Farm Fatigue Tractor LogoEach harvest season, our Agri Business committee works hard to deliver buckets of goodies to our farmers in the fields in McLeod County. If your business is interested in supplying goodies or money for this program, please complete and return the 2017 Farm Fatigue Flyer. 

 

 

New & Returning Chamber Members

We want to welcome our new members:

  • Ashley Furniture (Opening Soon!)

Thank you to our July renewing Members!

  • Ag Systems
  • Amazing Grace Boutique
  • Carly’s Shoes
  • Casey’s General Store
  • Century 9 Theater
  • Evergreen Apartments
  • FRF Productions
  • Hutchinson Dental Center
  • Kwik Trip, Inc.
  • New Century Academy
  • Novation Credit Union
  • Papa Murphy’s Take-N-Bake Pizza
  • People Ready

Something from Caroline (Our Summer Intern)

As my busy summer in Hutchinson comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect back on all of the experiences I’ve had and how they’ve helped me grow. This summer, I held the title of Hutchinson Princess, Hutchinson’s Aquatennial Candidate and Hutchinson Chamber Summer Intern. Although these titles each included very different obligations, one thing remained among them all: my love for the community of Hutchinson.

There truly is #muchinhutch and I’m honored to have been involved in the many activities this year to help our community grow. From Dairy Days to Crazy Days, there was always a fun event going on that needed a Princess or a Chamber Intern to help (or both)! These experiences have helped me appreciate all of the work that is contributed from community members that make these events possible.

Being the Chamber Summer Intern has been an experience I will never forget. I have learned so much about our community and it has made me love it even more. Although my reign as princess may be over, and my time at the chamber is soon coming to a close, I will always ‘love where I live’ and call Hutchinson my home.

43rd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival & Taste of Hutchinson

Make sure to put September 15th & 16th on your calendar!

11×17 Poster

 

Table Tents

The deadline to submit events for the 4th quarter (October, November, December) table tents is September 1!  To submit an event, email Mollie or call 234-0789.  Also, if you submit an event to our table tents, make sure to add it to the online community calendar.  The community calendar averages about 100 views a day, so don’t forget to utilize it! Submitting an event to the community calendar may be done through your chamber member portal or the chamber website.

More information!

 

Filed Under: Newsletters

News Release: North American Showcase and Distinguished Minnesota Potter Featured at Annual Festival

July 11, 2017 By

HUTCHINSON, MN — Thirty-five potters from across North America will be on display at the sixth annual Minnesota Pottery Festival in Hutchinson, MN the weekend of July 29th and 30th.

Robert (Bob) Briscoe of Minneapolis, Minnesota is this year’s featured potter. Bob has been a potter for more than forty years and is one of the founding potters behind the renowned St. Croix Pottery Tour, held each May. Bob’s passion for clay comes from his desire to make beautiful pots that also feel wonderful to hold. “I want them to give distinct pleasure in use – to allow a subtle conversation over time. I point my work towards a quiet simplicity. I look to subtlety and nuance as the foundation for my aesthetic. The essence that I am seeking in this work is a stripped, almost brutal, rawness.” An acclaimed potter, Bob has received awards from both the Jerome Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and his work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics Arts Daily, American Craft, 500 Bowls and The Art of Contemporary Pottery.

Also at this year’s Festival are twenty other Minnesota potters and thirteen ceramic artists from other states as far away as North Carolina, Georgia, Maine, and Texas. The festival welcomes thirteen potters for the first time including Tom Homann from Georgia, John Bauman from Indiana, Carolina Niebres from Wisconsin.

There are also four Emerging Artists featured at this year’s festival: Gillan Doty of Portland, Maine and Greg Palombo of Buffalo, New York; both are current Fogelberg Studio Fellows at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. Chris Singewald currently resides in St. Paul, but originally hails from Waverly, Iowa. Reiko Cunningham Uchytil from Grimes, Iowa, she is the daughter of Miky Cunningham, who is also participating in the show.

The Festival provides an excellent day trip for clay-lovers, families, and collectors. Entrance and parking are free. The two days are filled with on-site raku firing, Pottery Olympic competitions and a Kids’ Station where children of all ages can get their hands dirty. Food and beverages available for purchase provided by the Phoenix Drumline and beverages for sale from the Crow River Winery.

The Minnesota Pottery Festival takes place on the grounds of the Clay Coyote Gallery & Pottery, just one hour West of the Twin Cities. The backdrop includes thirty acres of conservation prairie land, two ponds, trails, and beautiful Todd Lake in the distance.

The Minnesota Pottery Festival is a nonprofit organization, it’s mission is to provide a venue for quality clay artists to educate and engage with an increasingly knowledgeable public by raising the appreciation and understanding of pottery to help broaden the depth and breadth of ceramic arts in Minnesota.

Board-member Kerry Brooks of Dock 6 Pottery in Minneapolis says, “The Minnesota Pottery Festival is such a fun event! The setting is beautiful, the pottery is of the highest quality and great variety, and the customers are a delight because they’re knowledgeable and love pottery as much as we do. Not only is it a first-rate festival, but it’s also so much fun for the potters!  We love to hang out after hours and talk shop, play music, eat good food, and have a great time with kindred spirits. The pottery olympics and the kid’s tent make it fun and interesting for all ages and an outing everyone enjoys.”

This activity is made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Minnesota Pottery Festival Board would also like thank our generous supporters: Continental Clay Company, Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Smith-Sharpe Fire Brick Supply, Shimpo Ceramics and all of our generous individual donors and volunteers.

More information and full list of artists available at www.mnpotteryfestival.com.

Filed Under: Community

What’s Happening in July 2017?

July 5, 2017 By

Crazy Days 2017

Coupon Sheet of Savings deadline is FRIDAY JULY 7th! The Coupon Sheet of Savings will help businesses bring customers in and move product out.  In 2017 we will be changing the dates of Crazy Days to July 27-29.

If your business would like to participate in Crazy Days please download the registration form here: 

Questions? Please call our office at 320-587-5252 or visit our website for instructions. 

Hometown Golf Challenge

Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Go Golf! The Golf Challenge theme this year will be MUSIC. We are excited to have some fun at the Hometown Golf Challenge, and we want to let you in on it too!  Hometown Golf Challenge a fun and easy event to highlight your business.  2017 Hometown Golf Challenge will be located at Oakdale Golf Club. 

We have many different sponsorship opportunities available, click on the link to fill out a Sponsor form. 2017 Golf Sponsor Form

Early Bird Golf Registration is due JULY 10th!! 

Golfer Registration Form:

Online Registration also available here:

Leadership Institute: Application for 2017-2018 is Now Open!

We are happy to announce the Hutchinson Leadership Institute is back for its 29th year! The Hutchinson Leadership Institute is hosted by the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. This comprehensive program is designed to build community leaders. Over the period of nine months, participants will experience 10 days of training and classes. Each participant will be assigned to a group service project, which will assess community needs, determine a project, and facilitate the project working with other community members and/or groups.

Click here for the application and more information.

If you have questions about this program please email Mary or call 320-234-0785.

Dairy Day – Thank You!

THANK YOU to everyone who made Dairy Day a success! We would especially like to thank our sponsors!
Visionary Sponsor:

  • Citizens Bank & Trust Co.

Champion Sponsor:

  • Midcountry Bank

Event Sponsors:

  • 3M Hutchinson Plant
  • E.G. Rud and Sons Professional Land Surveyors
  • Hillyard Hutchison,Mn
  •  Home State Bank
  • Hutchinson Co-op
  • Hutchinson Health
  •  Hutchinson Leader
  • Hutchinson Technology
  •  Impressions
  • The Lamb Shoppe & Wellness Center
  •  NU-Telecom
  • Parkview Dental
  • Piehl Hanson Beckman, P.A.
  • Plumbing and Heating by Craig
  • Runnings Stores
  • Skyview Dairy
  • SouthPoint Financial Credit Union
  • Wells Fargo

And a special thank you to: 

  • Form-A-Feed
  •  Benny’s Meat Market
  • McLeod County Extension
  •  First District Dairy
  •  Hutchinson High School FFA
  •  Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival Royal Family
  • McLeod County Dairy Princess and Ambassadors
  •  Princess Kay of the Milky Way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July Business of the Month

In July we will be highlighting Minnesota Pottery Festival as our Business of the Month!

Click here to learn more about Minnesota Pottery Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member Education Opportunity

“Hitting a Home Run”

July 11, 2017
8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Dassel History Center
901 1st St, Dassel, MN 55325

The workplace wellness consortium team has planned a great gathering.
Everyone is welcome to come and learn about creating a culture of healthy employees in the workplace setting.

  • Free Yogurt Parfait Bar will be available
  • Networking with other professionals
  • Getting Your Game Plan together – Dr. Mike Keifer – How to get administration on board.
  • Area All Star’s: Personal and Organizational success stories
  • Learn How to Keep Score: Learn best practices from other professionals
  • Batting Order: Receive your first Wellness monthly Toolkit

Email Judy at judy@litch.com to reserve your ticket.

New Members

Welcome to our newest Chamber Members!

Renewing Members

Thank you to our renewing Chamber Members!

  • Amazing Grace
  • Canvasworks, Inc.
  • Crow River Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
  • Edina Realty, Inc.
  • Huski Townhomes
  • Outdoor Motion
  • Stamp-n-Storage
  • Vivid Image, Inc.

Something from Mary

Workforce Retention – what are you doing to KEEP employees?

– Volunteer Programs
– Pleasing Work Environment
– Deeper Employee Relationships
– Appreciation Programs
– Flexible Schedules

Read the rest of Mary’s article here: 

More information!

 

 

Filed Under: Newsletters

Something from Mary!

June 28, 2017 By

Workforce Retention- what are you doing to KEEP employees?

  • Volunteer Programs
  • Pleasing Work Environment
  • Deeper Employee Relationships
  • Appreciation Programs
  • Flexible Schedules

We continue to hear about the job market.

We continue to hear about the lack of employees.

We continue to hear about workforce solutions.

As a business owner or manager, you have an ace in the hole. You HAVE employees…. KEEP THEM!

Perhaps you saw the Star Tribune Top Work Places 2017 Edition which came out last weekend. It includes some good articles about companies of all sizes working to retain the employees they already have! The common thread is each business creates benefits and builds flexibility to meet the needs of their employees and business.

From ping pong tables to set-your-own work schedule, employers are finding unique ways to provide tangible and intangible ways to support employees.

We know in Hutchinson some manufacturers have begun hiring part-time production, and businesses such as the chamber have adjusted hours to allow staff flexibility in scheduling their work day. Perhaps you might like to stop in the Chamber for the 2pm Dance Party.

I encourage each business, including those who say “we have to do it this way,” to review what you do, invite input from your employees, and be open to the possibilities.

We’re also interested in hearing from smaller businesses how the chamber can help many small businesses in a cooperative effort.

Feel free to send me a message or stop in and tell me what you are doing to keep your great employees.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Filed Under: Something From Mary

News Release: Utility investigation for 2020 Highway 15/Main Street project in Hutchinson begins

June 27, 2017 By

WILLMAR, Minn. – Utility location and surveying work has started in preparation for the 2020 Highway 15/Main Street project in Hutchinson.  As part of the preliminary design work utility locates and surveying will occur throughout the summer.  Motorists and residents can expect to see bright pink paint along the project areas.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Hutchinson are working cooperatively on the reconstruction of Highway 15/Main Street through downtown Hutchinson. The project includes the full reconstruction of underground utilities as well as full reconstruction of the roadway.  The work will extend from building front to building front in the downtown corridor from 2nd Ave. NW (near the South Fork Crow River Bridge) to 5th Ave. SW.  As part of this project, concrete rehabilitation /repair work is also being planned from 5th Ave. SW to just south of Denver Ave.  Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings will also be upgraded to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) along the project area.  The project is scheduled for the 2020 construction season and will require a detour.

The project is in the early stages of development and MnDOT, along with the City of Hutchinson, will be working with the community to gather feedback over the next several months.

For more information on the project please contact Teal Spellman, Project Manager, at 320-214-6350 or via email at teal.spellman@state.mn.us.

For more information on the project, along with project timelines and contact information, visit www.mndot.gov/d8/projects/hwy15downtownhutchinson.

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

Filed Under: Community

Crazy Days 2017

June 12, 2017 By

 

Who’s ready for CRAZY DAYS!?!  We sure are! On July 27, 28 & 29, visit these businesses to check out their CRAZY deals! Stop by the Chamber to pick up a Coupon Sheet of Savings, or print off your own!

Questions? Please call our office at 320-587-5252

Happy Saving!!

 

Filed Under: Events

What’s Happening in June 2017?

June 1, 2017 By

Dairy Day 

Dairy Day is scheduled for this Friday, June 2nd in Library Square Park. We hope to see you there!

 

This year’s activities include:

  • Cow Milking Contest
  • Meet Princess Kay of the Milky Way
  • Fro-Yo Eating Contest
  • $5.00 meal
  • Children’s Activities
  • And so much more!!

Music in the Park

We are ready to kick off the summer with our annual Hutchinson Music in the Park! Bring your own chair, blanket and/or picnic dinner! Located at Library Square Park every Monday at 6:30 pm.

The Chamber is excited to be partnering with Historic Hutchinson, RiverSong and Compass Occasions in 2017, as we transition ownership of Music in the Park to these organizations.

 

 

Hometown Golf Challenge

Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Go Golf! The Golf Challenge theme this year will be MUSIC. We are excited to have some fun at the Hometown Golf Challenge this year, and we want to let you in on it too!  This is a fun and easy event to highlight your business.  2017 Hometown Golf Challenge will be located at Oakdale Golf Club. 

We have many different sponsorship opportunities available, click on the link to fill out a Sponsor form. 2017 Golf Sponsor Form

Golfer Registration is now available!

Golfer Registration Form:

Online Registration also available here:

Leadership Institute: Application for 2017-2018 is Now Open!

 

We are happy to announce the Hutchinson Leadership Institute is back for its 29th year! The Hutchinson Leadership Institute is hosted by the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. This comprehensive program is designed to build community leaders. Over the period of nine months, participants will experience 10 days of training, and classes. Each participant will be assigned to a group service project, which will assess community needs, determine a project, and facilitate the project working with other community members and/or groups.

Click here for the application and more information.

If you have questions about this program please email Mary or call 320-234-0785.

June Business of the Month

In June we will be highlighting  Quilt Haven on Main as our Business of the Month.

Click here to learn more about Quilt Haven on Main

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Members

Welcome to our newest Chamber Members!

Renewing Members

Thank you to our renewing Chamber Members!

  • Applebee’s
  • Below Zero Frozen Yogurt
  • Bob Ness
  • Businessware Solutions
  • Caspers Chiropractic Center
  • Days Inn & Suites
  • Fun Sports of Hutchinson
  • Hutchinson Family Dentistry
  • Hutchinson Health Auxiliary
  • Hutchinson Huskies Baseball Association
  • Lillians of Hutchinson
  • Midwest Vision Centers
  • Oakdale Golf Club
  • Pizza Ranch Hutchinson
  • Southwest Initiative Foundation
  • Valley Sales of Hutchinson, Inc.

Table Tent Deadline: June 1st, 2017!

Are you planning an event for July, August, or September 2017?  Make sure you get your event added to the Table Tents!  The deadline to add events for the 3rd quarter is June 1st!  The cost is $20/listing for Chamber Members and $30/listing for non-members.  We print 900 table tents, which are then delivered around the community. To submit an event email Casey or call 234-0786.

Business After Hours

Join the Hutchinson Ambassadors for Business After Hours on WEDNESDAY, June 7th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm!

Click here to register

Something from Mary

What Leadership Is To Me:

Recently Hutchinson Ambassador and Bring It Home Committee Member Brian Renner posted a remarkable story on Facebook. Someone who had signed up for Be The Match at his son Carter’s 2016 Benefit had received a call telling them they were a match to someone who needed a bone marrow transplant in the United States.

Read the rest of Mary’s article here: 

More Information for You!

Filed Under: Newsletters

Something from Mary

May 31, 2017 By

What Leadership Is To Me

 

Recently Hutchinson Ambassador and Bring It Home Committee Member Brian Renner posted a remarkable story on Facebook. Someone who had signed up for Be The Match at his son Carter’s 2016 Benefit had received a call telling them they were a match to someone who needed a bone marrow transplant in the United States.

Maybe you know the story behind the Renner Family’s battle with cancer last year, maybe you don’t…… the middle part of the story is a one of a family battling through juvenile cancer, the ups and downs of test results, waiting, waiting and more waiting, battles of endurance, juggling the needs of Carter’s three siblings, the demands of full time careers, and more waiting. I am going to tell you more of the story….

Dawn Renner (insert SuperMom music here) began the Hutchinson Leadership Institute in the fall of 2015. Shortly after the beginning of class, like a WEEK later, the Renner’s had received the news Carter was going to be battling cancer and needed in-depth treatment and the family would be constantly at his side in Minneapolis. Dawn and her family knew she would need to withdraw from the class. The Leadership class was of course saddened to lose someone from the class who had already built relationships and nicknames with. The class moved on, sending special thoughts and prayers to Dawn periodically.  Half way through the year, the class is divided into Project Groups. Each group reviews community needs, evaluate projects to strengthen the community and provide community service experience in a variety of community topics. ie: education, park & rec, civic, non-profit, etc.

Here’s where our Group Projects took a turn….. one group was anxious to help their past classmate… “What if we connected with Be The Match and did a bone marrow donor drive?” From there, they ran with it.  They did not stop at one, no… they did a blood drive and donor drive at the mall, then coordinated with Carter’s Benefit Committee and set up a donor drive there as well. They went through training to take samples, provide information and walk potential donors through the paper work. I remember many of us also writing notes to the anonymous donor from Germany, thanking them for their selflessness. The group worked with passion to help someone, anyone, if nothing else, honor Dawn and her family’s tireless battle.

Now just a little more than a year later…. That drive, that one idea may have saved the life of another person, and perhaps more in the future.  That group project may have brought another family peace and health.

Sometimes leadership isn’t guiding others to see fruits of your labor today, it can be a faith-filled choice to know you might be doing something with a ripple affect farther into the future.

I of course love the idea of this “Hutchinson Leadership Institute, we build community and save lives.” Even if we aren’t saving lives, we are building community and I can tell you, that class will never forget the lessons learned because of one family’s diagnosis of cancer. We are Community. We are Hutchinson.

Post Notes: Today Carter is home, doing well, finished sixth grade and is enjoying a summer filled with his favorite activities with no limitations.

Dawn Renner Graduated the Hutchinson Leadership Institute on May 17, 2017.

Filed Under: Something From Mary

Hutchinson Leadership Institute 2017-2018

May 24, 2017 By

We are happy to announce the Hutchinson Leadership Institute is back for its 29th year! The Hutchinson Leadership Institute is hosted by the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. This comprehensive program is designed to build community leaders. Over the period of nine months, participants will experience 10 days of training, and classes. Each participant will be assigned to a group service project, which will assess community needs, determine a project, and facilitate the project working with other community members and/or groups.

Here’s what past participants have said after going through the program:

“I have been thru many leadership classes in my life and this class far exceeds any and all I have ever participated in. Thank you for this opportunity to grow and meet these others that are now like family. This was amazing on all levels!!!! Blown Away!!!” 

“This program made me realize my potential for growth, both personally and professionally, outside my current circle of influence.”

“Leadership Institute has given my an opportunity to learn some new things about myself and the community, as well as given me a wake-up call on something things I have just taken for granted.

“I have learned so much about myself, from I can do and who to reach out to if I need business help.”

“The Leadership class means more self confidence in the workplace and my personal life. I enjoyed getting to know my classmates and building relationships.” 

 

If you have questions about this program please email Mary or call 320-234-0785.

Filed Under: Chamber of Commerce
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