As a benefit for being a chamber member we are offering our 1st ever Facebook and Social media class. It will help businesses find more ways to market and promote their business in a cost effective and culturally relevant manner.
It will be Monday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Dolores Public Library. This class is free to chamber members and $10 to nonchamber members. Teresa Howell of the Pony Expresso Coffee Shop and Bakery will be giving the class. She has taught these classes to other chambers. Call 882-4018 for more or e-mail me at doloreschamber@centurytel.net
The Dolores Chamber also announces our first Business after Hours of 2013. It will be Thursday, Jan. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center. This will be a wonderful opportunity to have some great food and refreshments, to
network and develop working relationships with many businesses and individuals you may not usually have the opportunity to connect with. Everybody is invited. You do not have to be a chamber member to attend. For more info contact the Dolores Chamber at 882-4018.
Another way we are going to exclusively promote Dolores businesses is that once a month I will write another article for the Dolores Star that will highlight individual businesses. This article will tell their unique story and inform the readers of what they have to offer as a business.
Over $60,100 was spent locally during our shop local promotion. We want to thank these participating merchants who helped make this a wonderful success Riverside Convenience Store, Dolores Food Market, The Ginger Jar Shops, Traditional Charm Antique Mall, The Flying Pig, The Fun Center, Dolores Liquor, Ponderosa Restaurant, Dolores General Store, Karla's Kitchen and Bakery, Second Chance Thrift Store, and the Rio Grande Southern Restaurant.
Here are the winners of the shop local and lighting contest events:
$50 in Dolores Dollars went to Carolyn Knauer from Mancos, she entered at the Traditional Charm Antique Mall and Mary Scott- She registered at the Ponderosa
$100 for Val LeRoy- She entered at the Dolores Food Market, and Pat Hare who registered at Terri's Hair and Nails.
The $200 Grand Prize Winner was Bobby Cole and he signed up at the Dolores Food Market.
Lighting Contest business category: 1st place - Cozy Comfort RV Park.
2nd place - Outpost Motel 3rd place - Pony Expresso Coffee Shop and Bakery
Lighting contest residential category: 1st place - 201 S. 8th St. "Santa's Sailboat" 2nd place - 308 Riverside 3rd place - 903 Hillside Ave.
All total, these winners received $580 in Dolores Dollars that they can only spend in the shop local participating merchants listed above.
We need to welcome our newest members: Champion Graphics and Gifts, the Pony Expresso Coffee Shop and Bakery, the Four Corners TV Network and Farmers Insurance.
Many people are struggling in this economy. To help ease some of that burden, there is a free community dinner every Thursday night at 6 p.m. at the Cortez Family Worship Center Foursquare Church 500 N. Washington in Cortez. Everyone is welcome. Invite your family and friends.
Another new idea we are implementing in 2013 is that our chamber board has decided to contact and interview certain business people to potentially join our 2013 chamber board.
Our next Chamber membership meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 23 at noon at Karla's Kitchen. We will have a special guest speaker.