Monday, June 25, 2007

Upcoming Chamber Events & Activities

Mark Your Calendar
  • Volunteers Needed For Tembec Job Fair
The Best Western on June 29th 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Please call 635-6717 to help your neighbors.

  • LSU Mobile Training Unit, July 24th & 25th
Be sure to take advantage of this program in St. Francisville! List of classes will provided soon.

  • Golf Tournament & Tour at Angola, July 27th
We need a minimum of 10 teams/$200.00 per team and nine hole sponsors/$100.00 per sponsor. For more information, please contact board member, Clay Pinson with The Highland Bank: 225-634-2074 or email cpinson@thbank.net

Meet & Greet Parish Manager Ambrose Sims

Was a Big Success
Many thanks go out to Laurie and Patrick Walsh for hosting this important event and special thanks to everyone attending.

Many officials throughout the parish and town were on hand with numerous business members to welcome Mr. Sims.

We look forward to working with Mr. Sims for the future of our community.

THINK ST. FRANCISVILLE

Chamber Needs Volunteers

Assistance at Tembec Job Fair
Miles Higgins and I attended and participated in the Rapid Response Task Force regarding Tembec employees, which was put on by the State..

At this meeting, a request was made for volunteers to man the job fair. They need 15 people all day long. I committed to five slots for the entire day. I suspect that this will be easiest filled by half-day commitments, which is what I am looking for. This is membership involvement, and more importantly, it is helping the men and women of this community! It has to be a scary time for some of them.

Please call Sherry Harmon at 225-635-6717 to volunteer.

Tembec Paper Mill Job Fair Invitation

The Louisiana Department of Labor's Rapid Response Team and the Tembec Labor Management Committee would like to invite you to participate in a Job Fair for the employees of Tembec Paper Mill in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Tembec recently announced that the Paper Mill will be closed on July 31, 2007. The mill employs approximately 540 workers, most of which will need full-time employment as soon as the mill closes.

Tembec Job Fair Date: Friday, June 29, 2007 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Best Western - St. Francisville

For more information, contact: Jeannie Tinker, LHRDI/LDOL Rapid Response Team @ 1-866-551-0302 or email jeannie@labacktowork. c om

Business After Hours

Hosted by The Myrtles & Varnedoe's
Both of our hosts have put effort and expense into Business After Hours. Varnedoe's & The Myrltes have graciously changed the starting time to 5:00 p.m. allowing members to enjoy our event before going over the Special Meeting of the Police Jury held at the High School.

Varnedoe's will provide the food, drinks and offer a cash bar. The Myrtles will provide a great guided tour and live music. We will also have some great door prizes!

Be sure to make this special Business After Hours. Cost is $5.00 for members and $10.00 for non- members.

With the conflict of meetings in mind, we ask anyone attending After Hours to RSVP. We apologize for the inconvenience.

See you at Varnedoe's and The Myrtles located at 7747 US Hwy 61. RSVP or for more information, call 635-6717.

Special Meeting of the Police Jury

The West Feliciana Parish Police Jury is holding a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in the West Feliciana High School Auditorium located on Highway 61 in St. Francisville to hear the presentations of the three finalists for the Comprehensive Plan.

The consultant chosen will prepare a plan that will impact the parish for several years. Your input is very important to the process.

Everyone who attends will be given the opportunity to give their preferences for the consultant. These written comments will be used by the Selection Committee and the Center for Planning Excellence to prioritize the consultants for presentation to the Police Jury, who will make the final selection.

Greetings

The heat is back, and summer is upon us. The Chamber has been busy hosting and planning many events.

Please take a moment to reflect on memories past and look forward to the future of our growing community.

We invite anyone interested in our parish to be an active Chamber member. Call 225-635-6717 to join!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Chamber Events & Meetings

Plan to Attend - Mark Your Calendar
  • Monthly Chamber Board Meeting, 6/21-Town Hall- 8:30am
  • Ribbon Cutting Molly Porter, 6/21-3V Tourist Court- Noon
  • "Meet & Greet" Mr. Sims, 6/21-St. Francisville Inn- 5:30pm

Save these dates more details coming soon.

  • LSU MobileTraining, July 24-25th
  • Golf Tournament at Angola, July 27th
  • THINK ST. FRANCISVILLE

    Click on these links to find out more about our town and area members. www.stfrancisville.u s www.pimucos.com www.rbs100.com www.tnc.org



    Chamber Announcement

    Angola Golf Tournament on Friday, July 27th
    11am registration, 12pm shotgun start, 4:30 to 5pm. finish with small awards/ "thank you" ceremony then guided tour of Angola 200.00 per team

    We must have at least 10 playing teams and 9 hole sponsors.

    For more information, please contact board member, Clay W. Pinson with The Highlands Bank: (225)634-2074; B.R. (225) 343-5277 or email cpinson@thbank.net


    Business After Hours

    Hosted by The Myrtles & Varnedoe's
    June's Business After Hours will be a great event! Singer / Songwriter L. Kevin Johnson will play your favorite mellow music memories of traditional folk, country blues and pop tunes from the 60s and 70s.

    Varnedoe's will provide the food, drinks and offer a cash bar. The Mrytles will provide a great guided tour!

    Be sure to make this special Business After Hours. Cost is $5.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members. See you at Varnedoe's and The Myrtles located at 7747 US Hwy 61. For more information, call 635-6717.

    Welcome New and Returning Members!

    2007 Chamber of Commerce
    • Birdman Coffee & Books
    • A & B Auto, LLC - NAPA
    • The Nature Conservancy
    • Louisiana State Penitentiary - Angola
    • Lance Paddock

    Tuesday, June 12, 2007

    Grand Opening Celerabtion

    For Law Office of Molly McGraw-Porter Show your support for another Chamber member. Ribbon Cutting will take place on Thursday, June 21st at noon in the 3V Tourist Court.


    RBS100, Feliciana News Reports

    Of the applicants interviewed by the jury appointed committee, three were presented by the committee to the jury for consideration. Mr. Dan Hebert, Mr. W. Parker Moore and Mr. Ambrose Sims. The individual jury members had met with the recommended three applicants on an individual basis prior to this meeting. The jury voted 6 to 1 in favor of the closed door session; Juror John Cobb cast the dissenting vote, to enter a closed-door session to discuss the 'Professional Competency" of the three candidates. The jury reconvened in open session forty- five minutes later The first ballot taken was to hire Mr. Hebert, the measure failed on a 3 to 4 vote. Jurors Babers, Jones and Stevens voted for the hiring of Mr. Hebert, the remaining four jurors voted against. The motion was then made to hire Mr. Sims, the vote was 5 to 2 in favor and passed. The dissenting votes were cast by Mr. Jones and Mr. Stevens.

    Mr. Babers reiterated that the jury would enter into discussions with Mr. Sims on compensation and if a mutual compensation agreement could be arrived at Mr. Sims would be tendered an official offer. Until agreement is reached Mr. Sims is the selected Parish Manager, contingent on mutual agreement of compensation.

    It should be noted that the above report is the interpretation of the reporter. To see the actual meeting, you should subscribe and watch the video for yourself. Click on www.rbs100.com for more information.

    Business After Hours

    Hosted by The Myrtles & Varnedoe's
    The event begins at 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 28th and continues until 7:30 pm. The Chamber of Commerce is excited to hear all of the plans being made by our hosts.

    The Myrtles will be providing a complimentary tour of the home. Varnedoe's will provide great food and drink, and area businesses have donated some great door prizes.

    Come join the networking and the fun. Cost for members is $5.00 and $10.00 for non-members.

    Note From Hamilton Willis

    Police Jury President Bert Babers announced at the jury meeting, Thursday, that HB 715 was replaced with a Resolution to Research that would have a funding element attached.

    This is a path towards Impact Fees that I can support and we thank Mr. Babers and the Jury for preparing the Parish for this necessary tool of Government

    The Chamber Welcomes Two New Business Members

    Feliciana News & Pimuco's Coffeehouse
    Wow, the grand opening for Feliciana News was an eye opener. They are very talented and are working very hard to cover all local events. You can get DVDs of the monthly digital news magazine by going to www.rbs100.com or by calling 784-1013 or 721-2055.

    Our second ribbon cutting last week was for another new business, Pimuco's Coffeehouse in "The Quarters". This quaint, little shop knows about taste and freshness. They are now serving breakfast with hours from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and 8:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Beat the summer heat with a frozen drink! For more information check out their Web site at www.pimuco.com

    Tuesday, June 5, 2007

    Greetings!


    Tembec is an important corporate citizen of this Parish. Their news of possibly closing the mill is important beyond the 560 + employees and the many contractors that work there. The possible loss of this plant reminds me that when they came to 'town,' there were some that didn't welcome them with open arms. Twenty years or so, later, when the 'Nuke' plant came to town, there were those of us who objected to their arrival. Approximately 85 cents out of every dollar of ad valorem tax collected each year is attributable to these two industrial citizens. How much of the balance of 15% is attributable to houses and businesses built since 30 years ago, is a guess. But I would think it would be substantial.

    Whatever Tembec decides to do, I hope that as you ride and enjoy the beauty of our Parish or enjoy any of the government services from our schools to the roads you were riding on, that you think about what that bucolic scene might look like if the land had to bear the load that is borne by those mentioned. My guess is that much of that property would not be able to "pay"it's way and we would see many more small tracts of land, rather than the large timbered ones. My guess is that there would be a greater compelling to allow uses that would detract from the scenery you are accustom to. Isn't it odd that our industries help to keep our Parish 'green.'

    We continue to grow and are thankful for the support of the community as we work to make it better! We have so much to be proud of in our Schools, Parks, Water system, Fire District and many other areas. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to burn expensive gasoline to buy many of the essential services! Think hard about how much that gasoline costs, when you go to the grocery store in Zachary or any of a dozen other things that you can do in town with a local merchant. Chances are that you will be richer for having shopped locally, as well as supporting the local merchants that support our community activities.

    There is an "event meeting," Monday at 2 pm. Laurie Walsh's committee is attempting to gather many of those that host events in the Parish, so these can be published and coordinated. This calendar will be available through the Chamber and given to all participating parties. Rodeos, car shows, bird shows, art exhibits, parades and come what may should show up and stake out their weekends! Monday at the Town Hall.

    I am pleased to see progress on the River Front projects, down at old Bayou Sara. The loss of the ferry will be mitigated by what might happen down there. Restaurants, marinas,(can you imagine a yacht club?) parks, museums and who knows what. The Tourist Commission's very own Kitty Martin has picked up the baton and is leading the task force! Watch for more on this important development!

    Thanks! Hamilton Willis

    Welcome New Members!

    2007 Chamber of Commerce
    • Nine Oaks Design, LLC
    • Heirloom Cuisine, LLC
    • West Feliciana Parish Port Commission
    • Business First Bank

    Grand Openings

    Join The Celebration!!!
    RBS 100, Feliciana News located at 11781 Ferdinand on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 11:30 am

    Pimuco's Coffeehouse located at 5877 N. Commerce #3 on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 8:00 am

    Molly Porter, Attorney at Law located in the 3V Tourist Court on Commerce on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at noon

    The Vintage Store At Star Hill, LLC

    Hosts Outdoor Market
    The Vintage Store is having a flea market June 9. Dealers who want a free space to set up should call the store at 635-6466. Customers: Come and plan to find some great bargains! Also, if there are any farmers that would like to set up free on Saturdays, call the store at 635-6466 to make arrangements. We would like to have a Farmers' Market here on Saturdays.

    We are having flea markets for six months out of the year. After June 9, the next ones will be Sept. 8, Oct. 13, and Nov. 10.

    Chamber Spotlights New Member

    Nine Oaks Design, LLC
    We all know how many talented people live in our parish, and we realize something special ignites within the area artist. Local artist Camille Thibodeaux is a prime example.

    She moved from Baton Rouge to St. Francisville when she and her husband, Scott, were married. Camille began painting full-time here in the Felicianas and has exhibited work locally, as well as on Magazine Street in New Orleans. She recently began teaching from her home studio, and due to the tremendous response, will move to a larger studio space in the fall. At that time, Camille plans to add an art class for children to the two adult classes she presently teaches.

    Camille will be exhibiting her original oil paintings along with some of her adult students . . . The art show and reception will be June 7th from 6-8pm at Market Hall on Royal Street.

    Business Report's Spring 2007

    Business Resource & Market Factbook Are Here
    The Factbook has expanded profiles of the nine- parish Capital Region including population, employment and income and education data.

    The Business Resource section supplies information about local agencies and resources for assistance for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

    The Chamber has a copy for you! Stop by Townhall and get your copy today.

    Chamber Website

    All of our 2007 Members will be receiving an e-mail giving directions allowing access to our site. Please follow instructions, and add your company information or make any needed corrections.

    If your membership dues have lapsed , you need to contact Sherry at 635-6717 to renew. We need your support for us to continue to grow.

    THINK ST. FRANCISVILLE