Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
Minnesota's Hometown
Are you ready to go Crazy for Crazy Days?! We sure are! In 2017 we will be changing the dates of Crazy Days to July 27-29. Also new to 2017 will be our Coupon Sheet of Savings! More information to come!
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
Dairy Day is scheduled for this Friday, June 2nd in Library Square Park. We hope to see you there!
This year’s activities include:
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.
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!
Online Registration also available here:
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.
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
Welcome to our newest Chamber Members!
Thank you to our renewing Chamber Members!
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.
Join the Hutchinson Ambassadors for Business After Hours on WEDNESDAY, June 7th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm!
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:
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.
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.”
Click here for the application and more information.
If you have questions about this program please email Mary or call 320-234-0785.
Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Go Golf! 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. We typically host 100 golfers each year, and they look forward to not only golfing, but interacting with other local business people. We have many different sponsorship opportunities available, 2017 Golf Sponsor Form
Join us for 2017 Music in the Park Concert Series! Please bring your own chairs, and blankets to use while you enjoy the FREE Concert. Mark your calendars now!
Justin Baune Justin McGuire
Aaron Berry Juli Neubarth
Andrew Broll Ben Norgaard
Audrey Hollatz Dawn Renner
Mahogany James Staci Schmidt
Tad Johnson Sara Waibel
Tyler Krischel Christina Weckwerth
Ashley Kuhnau Jarrod Witte
Participants, Sponsors, Alumni and Guests are invited to join us on May 17, 2017 to celebrate the graduation and community service project of the 2016-2017 Hutchinson Leadership Institute Class. Students in the Hutchinson Leadership Institute have the rare opportunity to turn knowledge into action by creating community projects as part of the program.
If you would like to attend the Graduation & Banquet, or would like more information about registering for the 2017-2018 class, please contact the Chamber office at 320-587-5252 or email Mary.
Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Go Golf! Our 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.
Here’s a little preview of what the Golf Challenge will look like!
We have many different sponsorship opportunities available, click on the link to fill out a Sponsor form. 2017 Golf Sponsor Form
**Golfer registration forms will be available June 1**
Save the Date! Dairy Day is scheduled for Friday, June 2nd in Library Square Park!
This year’s activities include:
If you are interested in sponsoring this community event please email Mary, or call our office at 320-587-5252.
ve the Date!Are you ready to go Crazy for Crazy Days?! We sure are! In 2017 we will be changing the dates of Crazy Days to July 27-29. Marketing for the event will soon start for outside of Hutchinson. The Chamber works hard to advertise this event to share that there will be great deals in Hutchinson.
More information to come!
In May we will be highlighting Stearnswood, Inc. as our Business of the Month.
Click here to learn more about Stearnswood, Inc.
Welcome to our newest Chamber Members!
Thank you to our renewing Chamber Members!
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.
Join the Hutchinson Ambassadors for Business After Hours on Thursday, May 11 from 4-6pm at Stearnswood, Inc.
National Small Business Week April 30- May 6
So I know I beat the drum frequently, but here’s just another opportunity to THANK and RECOGNIZE our small businesses in the Hutchinson Area.
Read the rest of Mary’s article here:
So I know I beat the drum frequently, but here’s just another opportunity to THANK and RECOGNIZE our small businesses in the Hutchinson Area.
(Sources: Carbonite, Start Small, Tentacle)
Small Businesses are run by tenacious, spirited, hard-working, strong- hearted individuals. These people know and love their products and services. They believe in the work they do, the community they live in and want to make our community a better place.
Let’s look at some unique side-effects of shopping online or out-of- town versus locally.
The costs of gas when you travel outside of Hutchinson, and the effects of fuel in our environment.
Road wear and tear- seriously you complain about the roads, let’s think about the wear on our vehicles.
The loss of stores who must compete against online purchases.
We complain about being too busy, well driving somewhere else to buy something we have in town is wasting time, precious time.
I know we don’t have EVERYTHING in Hutchinson, BUT we have a great deal of stores and people here to help us find what we need. Local businesses support youth activities, events, pay taxes – which cover costs of crucial city services, and they actually want to see your smiling face. 🙂
No matter where you shop in Hutchinson, money stays local. I spoke with Scott Hilgeman, Walmart Store Manager for a Bring It Home video, he shared with me Walmart donated over $200,000 back into our community last year. So whether you shop at locally owned and operated, or bigger chain stores… it makes a difference!
Please consider our hard working LOCAL businesses the next time you are looking for the perfect “something.”
Thank you Small Business Owners for your dedication to our Community! We appreciate you!
Every June the Agri-Business Committee celebrates Dairy Day in downtown Hutchinson. Dairy Day festivities include:
More details to come!
Click here for Dairy Day Volunteer Opportunities:
Are you familiar with the Bring It Home Expo? This event is a great way to showcase what your business does in our community. All participating businesses/organizations must be located within a 10 mile radius of Hutchinson. The Bring It Home Committee hosts this event to showcase what is in Hutchinson, and remind our community members that there is no need to leave Hutchinson to purchases the goods and services that you may need.
This one day Expo is popular in our community, and with all age ranges. There are activities for children and a food court set up for people to sit, relax, and enjoy some local food options.
Click here to learn more and to find registration information.
Let’s Go Crazy, Let’s Go Golf! 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. We typically host 100 golfers each year, and they look forward to not only golfing, but interacting with other local business people. We have many different sponsorship opportunities available, 2017 Golf Sponsor Form
**Golfer registration forms will be available June 1**
Save the Date: Dairy Day is scheduled for Friday, June 2 in Library Square Park! If you are interested in sponsoring this community event please email Mary, or call our office at 587-5252.
September 15 & 16, 2017 Taste of Hutchinson is right around the corner! This event is hosted by the Hutchinson Ambassadors and is located alongside the Hutchinson Arts & Crafts Festival. The food vendors offer a variety of tasty items & beverages. Click on the Vendor Application below for more detail on Taste of Hutchinson Food Vendor.
2017 Taste of Hutchinson Vendor Application.
In April we will be highlighting Tidy Tightwads as our Business of the Month.
Click here to learn more about Tidy Tightwads
Welcome to our newest Chamber Members!
Thank you to our renewing Chamber Members!
Branded Solutions
Country Kitchen
Genesis Salon & Ensospa
Hutchinson Mall
Tastefully Simple- Carol Bahr
Walgreens
Wendorf Insurance
Join the Hutchinson Ambassadors for Business After Hours on Thursday, April 14 from 4-6pm at New Discoveries Montessori Academy!
Right now, in Minnesota, we have 40,000 fewer people in the workforce than we did one year ago. Yes, in just Minnesota….. way less people in the workforce. Now we know that is because of the baby boomers retiring, and the trailing generations have less people to fill this gap.
Read the rest of Mary’s article here:
Want to increase foot traffic in your store? Want to advertise for FREE? Over 331 people view our Hot Deals page just in the last month. This a great feature on our website for Chamber members to utilize!
How To Post Hot Deals, Events, and Job Postings
Attend Leadercast to learn how purpose motivates teams to build stronger organizations, and inspires individuals to lead with intention. Hear from world-class speakers and connect with leaders like you who are actively striving to raise their standard of leadership. Learn more about Leadercast here:
40,000 Fewer People for Hire in MN
Creativity: the use of the imagination or original ideas
Synonyms: inventiveness, imagination, innovation, originality, individuality
Right now we need creativity, and all the other synonyms to manage the workforce shortage we are experiencing and are going to continue to experience.
Right now, in Minnesota, we have 40,000 fewer people in the workforce than we did one year ago. Yes, in just Minnesota….. way less people in the workforce. Now we know that is because of the baby boomers retiring, and the trailing generations have less people to fill this gap.
RIGHT NOW we all need to be thinking about HOW we do our work, not just WHO will do what we need now. Job openings are going to sky rocket, and seriously, there will be no one to step into MANY of these jobs.
So, how will YOU change HOW you work, hire, think?
I find this 40,000 number staggering. Here are some thoughts from my abys:
Work Load: What tasks do we currently take on, that don’t fit our work/mission?
Wait?! Do you know your mission?
Cross Training: If one person is out of the office/plant/etc for a day or a week, or more, who can step in and fill their role(s)?
Flexibility: What flexibility do you offer? Not just WHEN someone works, but WHERE and HOW? This is not about millennials, or Gen Z, this is about EVERYONE.
HAVE TO: Whenever you say “but we HAVE TO, do this, or that”….. Do you? No, really, do you have to do it the way you have, or this specific way, or in this order?
Lean Management & Six Sigma: this is an entirely separate conversation, HOWEVER, here is my synopsis: a process in which EVERYONE helps to provide steps for more productivity and quality of work, and reduce waste in the work place. Not garbage waste. Waste of time, inventory, motion, transportation, over- and under-production, and skills. There are some very good resources online about making your office or workplace leaner and more efficient.
These are just my top-of-mind thoughts this month, your team needs to be thinking about what you do on a daily, monthly and annual basis and how might this look different. Be willing to listen and consider the ideas and suggestions of others.
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