1. real estate

Monthly Newsletter
Vol. 13 | Issue 149
Promote. Engage. Connect.
What’s Inside:
Spring is here!
Director, Nicole Lalum
Spring is truly here and at the
Chamber we are sprucing
up a number of programs for
our members in true spring
cleaning style!
The Ambassadors visited Hafner’s last
month and the smell was simply divine in the
warm greenhouses. Ambassadors get out
often celebrating business in our community,
welcoming new members, attending ribbon
cuttings and visiting with folks about their
business, referring businesses and performing
a vital public relations role for the Chamber
and our Program of Work. Without dedicated
members like them, the Chamber would not be
as dynamic as it is. The Ambassadors are also
involved in the Morning Buzz Networking event
that has been gaining traction over the last
quarter, if you haven’t been yet and want to be
in the know, join us this month at Knute Nelson.
If you’d like to be an Ambassador, email our
Member Services Agent at lynette@parkrapids.
com and she’ll send you an application. Space
on the committee is limited so if you want in, you
better apply soon.
of this program. Realizing that our local retailers
employee our neighbors and friends, donate to
local causes and keep vital dollars circulating
throughout our community is a way to ensure
the quality of place that makes Park Rapids
uniquely ours. So join us for the Cash Mob –
commit to spending $10 and we’ll tell you where
to meet us, but not where we are going – the
2nd Tuesday of the month – (May 14th).
• Chamber Business, Director, Nicole Lalum
The Lunch and Learn series event this month –
May 18th – focuses on customer service. Every
single associate in town should attend this one!
The Chamber is proud to host a presentation
by Schick Corporate Learning, and Ted Schick
will be speaking on the 4 Pillars of Customer
Service. This is a fun, dynamic and interactive
talk on what the customer’s experience should
really be like! Registration is still open – but
register soon as these events are selling out.
You can see a video of Ted at the Chamber’s
event page for the lunch and learn here.
• Ambassador Committee Member Visits:
Hafner’s Greenhouse, Friends of the Park
Rapids Area Library, Rustic Cabin Decor’
I hope that you enjoy our great outdoors in the
upcoming month – with Fishing Opener and our
inaugural Bike Opener event in Park Rapids.
Remember to take mom out for Mom’s Day
Brunch. Or better yet, take all the kids out and
let mom have a few hours to herself.
• Chamber Working For You Web & Visitor Center Stats
We are also reinvigorating a Love Local
campaign – the monthly Cash Mobs are a part Happy Spring!
• Spring Fling Open House - Happy Pac’s
are in!
• Member News:
Caribou Coffee
Black Swan Cooperage
• Meet our NEW Members:
71 Bottles of Beer and Liquor Inc.
Larry and Kathy Grell
Leading Edge Mechanical Inc.
Massage & Energy Therapist - Sarah Hriche
The Office Shop, Inc.
• April Member Renewals
May Inserts:
(Click on descriptions to view posters)
• Arvig Free Lunch & Learn Social
Media 101
• Arvig Special Offer - Try ANY Internet
speed at 1/2 price for 3 months!
Spring Fling Open House
The 2015 Happy Pac coupon books
have arrived and are now available for
pick-up!
happu pac
happ
2015 VISITOR COUPON BOOK
Please join us for an Open House at
the Chamber on Wednesday, May 6th
from 9AM - 3PM. Stop by to visit with
the Chamber staff. Bring your 2015
brochures with you. Stock up for the
2015 season with Discovery Guides,
Lake Country Scenic Byway Maps, 2015
MN DNR regulations, etc.
We can’t wait to see you!
May 16th, 2015
Click on the MN Bike Opener logo for more.
www.parkrapids.com
(218) 732-4111
New Member Spotlight
71 Bottles of Beer and Liquor, Inc.
Please join us in welcoming not only a
new member, but a new business to the
neighborhood. 71 Bottles of Beer and Liquor,
Inc. opens their doors on Friday, May 1st. Just
one and a half miles North of Park Rapids on
Highway 71, owners, Chris and Jeanie Coborn
are excited to offer a “beer cave”, friendly
service with a fun atmosphere. Located on the
right hand side with a huge parking lot for Rv’s
and campers. Beer, Wine & Liquor.
19866 US 71
Park Rapids, MN 56470
(218) 237-2739
Individuals, Larry & Kathy Grell
Located in the old Candle Factory building North
of Park Rapids on Highway 71.
Welcome, Leading Edge Mechanical, Inc.!
19974 129th Ave.
Park Rapids, MN 56470
PH: (218) 237-5125 • FAX (218) 237-5124
www.leading edgemech.com
Massage & Energy Therapist, Sarah Hriche
Who is excited to have a new massage
therapist in town? We are! Please welcome
Sarah Hrichena, owner of Massage & Energy
Therapist to our Chamber and to Park Rapids!
“Massage in 30, 60 or 90 minute increments.
Swedish, sports, prenatal, or lymphatic. Also
trained in massage for pets; cats and dogs. I
use essential oils and also offer integrated
energy therapy.”
305 Main Ave South
Park Rapids, MN 56470
(218) 732-9411
Hours: Based on appointment,
walk ins welcome.
The Office Shop, Inc.
Please welcome The Office Shop, Inc. to the
Supporting business in the community, please Chamber! The Office Shop has been in business
welcome Larry & Kathy Grell to the Chamber. for 32 years and has two locations, in Aitken and
Brainerd. Independently owned they have a full
line of new, used and scratch and dent furniture
Leading Edge Mechanical, Inc.
for the office. A canon copier dealer. Full line of
We are pleased to welcome Leading Edge office, break room and janitorial supplies. FREE
Mechanical a HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, delivery.
high pressure piping and vessel repair and
712 Maple Street • Brainerd, MN 56401
installation Company. They’re welding certified
211 Minnesota Avenue • Aitkin, MN 56431
and also do metal fabrication.
(218) 828-9000 • 1-800-450-9000
www.theofficeshopinc.com
Member News
Caribou Coffee
Shout out to the Caribou Coffee staff; Roz,
Black Swan Cooperage
Tammy, Carley, Holly, Jenny, Scott, Angie
It is great when one of our local businesses are and Tatum. Thank you for your hard work
recognized on a National level. Most recently and continued contribution to area non-profit
Heidi Karasch of Black Swan Cooperage organizations!
shares her expertise in “The Life of a Barrel”, an
article written by Steven Siem in “Artisan Spirit” Caribou Coffee donated $700, in tips, made in
magazine Spring 2015 edition.
the month of March 2015 to the Headwaters
Intervention Center in Park Rapids (pictured below).
Craft distilleries are becoming more and more
popular. According to the article, new barrels are
not easy to find. So more distillers are utilizing
used barrels. Heidi explains, “Each time a barrel
is used, its previous contents will have left its
“mark” in the flavor that barrel will have to offer.”
Black Swan Cooperage is recognized as “one of
those helping to deliver new barrels into loving,
waiting distillery storage”. In the article Heidi
shares with readers “Two Rules for Reusing
Barrels”. “#1) Never let the barrel sit empty. And
#2) Stagger so that every other filling is one
with higher ABV.” Going on to describe in detail,
concerns on reusing and alternative options to
make “a newer barrel experience out of a used
barrel”.
Barrels are in high demand with a current craze
in the craft beer industry to barrel-age beers.
From the large breweries to the hobbyist home
brewers. Park Rapids is fortunate to have one
of the finest barrel manufactures in the country.
Congratulations, Heidi and crew!
Your District Legislators
U.S. Senate
Contact
Senator Al Franken (DFL)
309 Hart, Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
D.C. (202) 224-5641
St. Paul (651) 221-1016
www.franken.senate.gov
Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
302 Hart, Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
D.C. (202) 224-3244
Minneapolis (612) 727-5220
senator.klobuchar@senate.gov
MN Senate
Senator Rod Skoe (DFL) District 02
(651) 296-4196
sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn
U.S. House of Representative
Congressman Rick Nolan (DFL) District 8
2447 Rayburn, House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
D.C. (202) 225-6211
nolan.house.gov
MN House of Representatives
Representative Dave Hancock (R) District 02A
St. Paul (651) 296-4265
rep.dave.hancock@house.mn
Representative Steve Green (R) District 02B
St. Paul (651) 296-9918
rep.steve.green@house.mn
For more information go to
www.gis.leg.mn
MEMBER RENEWALs
FEB. 25 - MAR. 24, 2015
AmericInn Lodge & Suites
Best of Itasca
Beyond Juice
Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining & Event Center
David E. Andersen, DDS, PA
Flying W Gardens
Glik’s
Itasca Sports, Inc.
Minnesota Energy Resources
North Memorial Ambulance Service
Park Theatre
Samuelson Laney Plumbing, Heating &
Cooling
Left to right; Roz, Jenny, Kari May of
Headwaters Intervention Center and Tammy
“Ships in a harbor are safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Author Unkown
Meeting Schedule
April 2015
Member Visits
Hafner’s Greenhouse
PRLA
Vibrant
and
Visible
Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council 1st Monday, 12PM (Noon), Coldwell Banker
Lake Country Scenic Byway - (1st Fri.)
1st Friday, 8:30AM, Grace Lutheran Church
Osage - Heartland Trail Community Meeting - Quarterly
following the LCSB Meeting.
Heartland Trail to Itasca Extension Task Force 2nd Monday, 10AM, Hubbard County Public Works
Conference Room
Park Rapids Downtown Business Association 1st Wednesday, 8AM, Bella Caffe
Park Rapids City Council 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 6PM, Lower Level of Library
Hubbard County Commissioners 1st & 3rd Tuesday, 9AM, Court House 3rd Floor
Board Room #324
Ambassadors stop by Hafner’s Greenhouse to take in a breath of Spring. Hafner’s is open
for the season and offering an exclusive 10% discount to Chamber Members! (Click on the
thumbnail for more details.) (Ambassadors pictured here with owner, Darin Hafner.)
Friends of the Park Rapids Area Library
PRLA Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 8:00AM, Chamber
Chamber Committees:
Legends & Logging Days 3rd Thursday, 7:30AM, Chamber
Ambassador Committee - (Brown Bag)
4th Thursday, 12PM (Noon), Chamber
Events Committee - (2nd Wed)
2nd Wednesay, 8AM, Chamber
Making Connections
Working for You...
FEB. 25 - MAR. 24, 2015
Representatives of the Friends of the Park Rapids Area Library pictured here, are welcomed
to the Chamber by our Park Rapids Lakes Area Ambassadors!
Web Stats
Pageviews - 23,997
Unique Visitors - 18,682
Mobile Visits - 3,874
Unique Notable Pageviews:
Webcams - 1,071
ATV - 857
Where to Stay - 517
Lodging - 465
Visitors - 410
Rustic Cabin Decor
Visitor Center Stats
Guests assisted Discovery Guides mailed -
From the Phones and Referrals
• Used Cars
• Employment opportunities
• Housing
• Mail visitor information
• Dining choices
• RV water
Ambassadors welcome Rustic Cabin Decor’s owner Greg Holder (pictured here on the right)
to the neighborhood! Greg & Kim Holder (not pictured) recently opened their store on Main
Avenue, Downtown Park Rapids, and invite everyone to stop by to check things out.
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein
2015 Board of Directors
Visit Park Rapids...
Creating powerful partnerships to unite and grow member businesses and the region.
Shop
Play
Eat
STAY
* Joe Scharber, President
Sleeping Fawn Resort & Campground
Uzi Monka
Wild Loon Outfitters
* Butch DeLaHunt, Vice President
DeLaHunt Broadcasting
Candy Parks
Park Rapids Enterprise
* Kent Fritze, Secretary Treasurer
Northwoods Tax Professionals
Jackie Senenfelder
C’mon Inn Hotel & Suites
Ed Becker
In-We-Go Resort
Pete Young
Y-Steak House
Hendri Ernst
Smokey Hills Outdoor Store
Cynthia Jones
RiverBend Home Expressions
Julie Larson
Lamb Weston - RDO Frozen
Molly Luther
The Good Life Cafe
* Denotes Members of the Executive Committee
Chamber Staff
Nicole Lalum
Executive Director, nicole@parkrapids.com
Emma Moore
Project Coordinator, emma@parkrapids.com
Tara Norton
Bookkeeper, tara@parkrapids.com
Lynette McFarren
Member & Guest Services Agent,
2015 Programs
Membership
(Chair position open)
Ambassadors, Grow MN!, Member & Networking
Events
Tourism Marketing
(Joe Scharber)
Discovery Guide, Happy Pac, Tourism Media
Campaigns
Events
(Butch DeLaHunt)
4th of July Parade, Legends & Logging Days, Community Tree Lighting and more
Chamber Task Force
(Hendri Ernst)
Maximizing Membership Value
lynette@parkrapids.com
Calendar of Events, MAY 2015
A complete calendar of events can be found at http://business.parkrapids.com/events/calendar/2015-05-01
May 1-3
Classic Chorale Spring Concert
Concerts Friday May 1 at 7:30 and Sunday at
PM will be held at St Johns Lutheran Church on
Highway 34 West. Refreshments will be served
after the concerts. Free will offering.
May 2
Volunteers sought for Project Green Touch!
Help us spruce up the park for visitor season!
Itasca-Mantrap
Cooperative
is
seeking
volunteers for the annual project GreenTouch,
Saturday, May 2 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Itasca
State Park. Volunteers are needed for pruning,
transplanting trees and shrubs, removing bud
caps, raking and various other projects. All
volunteers will receive a free lunch and no park
pass is required that day.
beginning April 25, 2015 with a guided hike
near the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
and finishing on September 23, 2015 in the
Chippewa National Forest. The guided hikes
are sponsored by the Itasca Moraine and
Laurentian Lakes Chapters of the North Country
Trail Association.
For more information, contact Karen Stenberg
218-847-1929
May 2
41st Annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet Jokela Auctions Park Rapids
Saturday, May 2: 6pm. 41st Annual Ducks
Unlimited Banquet/Auction. Park Rapids
American Legion Club. Selling Guns, Wildlife
Prints, DU & Sports items & more. Jokela
Auctions, Park Rapids, MN. 218-538-6508
Participation is open to the public and volunteers www.MidwestAuctions.com/Jokela
are asked to RSVP by calling Itasca-Mantrap at
May 3
218-732-3377 or toll-free at 1-888-713-3377.
Native American/Western Primitives - Jokela
May 2
Auctions Park Rapids
Hiker’s Challenge 165 - Laurentian Lakes Sunday, May 3: 11am. Native American/
Chapter of North Country Trail Association Western Primitives. Park Rapids American
Boundary Road to Tamarack Lake Access - Legion. Selling Native American items, Antique
5.3 miles. Meet at Pine Lake Trailhead in the Guns, Western/Cowboy Collectibles, Artwork,
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge at 9 A.M.
Jewelry, Silver Dollars, more. Jokela Auctions,
Take up the challenge! Join the fun! Hike 165 Park Rapids, MN. 218-538-6508 www.
miles in 2015 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, MidwestAuctions.com/Jokela
BUSINESS
AFTER HOURS
Customer Service
Tuesday, May 18
11AM - 2PM
$25 Admission
Register Today (Walk-ins allowed)
Northwoods Bank
31200 1st Street E • Park Rapids
Enter Drawing to Win $25 ChamberBucks!
*Apr 2015 $10 Winners Barb Lien & Jolene Kallroos -
Business After Hours is the premier networking event for
business professionals, giving you the opportunity to discuss and
share ideas while learning about other local businesses. It is a
PRLA
relationship-building experience held in a setting that benefits you
and your company through added contacts and resources.
Vibrant
and
Visible
Morning Buzz - Knute Nelson
7:45 AM on Tuesday, May 26
$5 Admission ($2 Member Discount)
@ Knute Nelson - Guests Welcome!
Enter Drawing to win $10 in Chamber Bucks!
*Apr 2015 Winner Gina Haggard -
www.parkrapids.com | 1-800-247-0054 | PO Box 249 • 1204 Park Avenue S • Park Rapids, MN 56470 | (218) 732-4111