Lamar County Chamber of Commerce

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1 Kenny Dority Chamber Chairman April 2010 Lamar County Chamber of Commerce Providing our members with useful information in a fun format Message from the Chamber Chairman Wise Words Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. by W. Earl Hall We were hit this past week with some bad news of Sara Lee downsizing and laying off employees. Also, the major health care overhaul legislation became finalized making this past week definitely a week of uncertainty. Uncertainty can be one of the worst things in any economic time and definitely in one s personal life as well. This is so because typically when people are uncertain about their future, they do nothing and are very averse to taking on anymore risk. I say to you this is the exact time to take some risks, step out there, invest locally and keep our economy strong. To stop investing and spending would yield certainty of only one thing: it will certainly be worse if we hold off on projects and investing capital into our companies. To do this would eliminate any chance to have an upswing and progress. A company that I believe that is taking a proactive approach to this down economy is Paris Regional Medical Center. In a time when it s hard to justify spending millions of dollars without a certain return, the hospital is forward thinking. PRMC is trying to bring new services to the area, retain patients that have been going to other communities for care, attract new patients from our trade area, and bring new dollars to Lamar County. I think it s the duty of the Chamber and all local businesses to support our hospital because it is a major factor in the strength of Paris economy and why our community can withstand these hits. Without a strong local health community, Paris will fade away like so many other small towns in rural Texas. Show your support for our hospital by letting chamber staff and directors know how the hospital benefits you and your business. Register yourself or your team today The Big One is waiting for you! For information go to or call the It s time for the 23rd Annual Uncle Jesse s Big Bass Classic to be held on May 1st at Pat Mayse Lake. All profits from this event go to Denver Pyle s Children s Charities, Inc. which is a non- profit foundation. All funds are used to directly benefit the children and youth of Lamar County. Registration is $50 per person and $225 for a 4-man team. Entry fees are recognized as a donation and are tax deductible. This tournament awards prizes through 20th place, with the 1st Place Prize being $5,000.00! There is a Special Catch Prize, Early Bird Drawing and Consolation Prize. Lamar County Chamber of Commerce 8 West Plaza * Paris, TX

2 Lamar County Chamber of Commerce CENSUS 2010 Why the Census is Critical to Economic Development Census 2010 is under way. Forms were mailed to 120 million households about two weeks ago, and April 1 this Thursday is Census Day, the day that, ideally, all forms should be returned. An accurate census count is critical to economic development for multiple reasons. Here are a few points about the importance of full participation to our community s future well being. Most people are aware that results are used to determine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives critical to a community s representation in the federal government. But did you know that accurate data are critical in deciding how more than $400 billion per year is allocated for projects and services such as roads, schools, hospitals and job training centers? That s more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period. Just 100 uncounted people can mean the loss of millions of dollars for a community between 2010 and Particularly important in this economic climate, accurate data are key to attracting new businesses and the development of existing businesses. Businesses and consultants use census data to research markets, plan investments, analyze trends, understand consumer needs, locate pools of skilled workers, plan marketing strategies, and more. Census data are used to identify where to locate shopping centers, offices, factories and more; accurate data directly impact the creation of new jobs! It only takes 10 minutes to fill out the form, and completed forms are confidential. Remind your friends and acquaintances to mail their completed forms as soon as possible. We are challenging you, Paris and Lamar County, to respond at a higher rate than during Census According to the Census Bureau s mail participation map, Paris and Lamar County are at 53% participation as of this writing. Texas mail participation rate is at 44%. Keep up the good work and get those forms returned! If you have not received a form in the mail, you may pick one up at the Paris City Hall Annex. (excerpted from Int l Economic Devp. Council EDNow newsletter) Calendar at a glance APRIL Apr. 1 Keep Paris Beautiful Board 4:00 Apr. 2 Chamber closed for Good Friday Apr. 6 Leadership Board 4:00 Apr. 7 Ambassadors 12:00 Apr. 8 Safe-T Thrift Store Grand Opening 10:00 Apr. 13 Todd Comfort Solutions RC 10:00 Apr Ivan Smith Furniture Apr. 20 Industrial Managers 12:00 Apr. 27 Executive Committee 3:00, Board of Directors 4:00 Economic Indicators for Paris and Lamar County: Total labor force city 12,009 Total employment city 10,830 % unemployed city 9.8 Total labor force county 23,934 Total employment county 21,777 % unemployed county 9.0 Water (# of accounts) 9869 Electric (Lamar Electric Coop) 7661 Total construction value 616, Commercial construction value 473, # commercial permits 7 Residential construction value 142, # residential permits 12 Sales tax receipts** $517, **indicates $.01 sales tax only

3 Lamar County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Excellence is not an accomplishment. It is a spirit, a never-ending process. - Lawrence M. Miller TASTY TREAT Citrus Fizz Ingredients 1/3 cup skim milk 1 tsp fresh lime juice 1 1/2 tbsps fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp sugar 2 ice cubes 1 tbsp orange flower water (opt.) 1 cup 7-Up Directions Combine milk, lemon juice, sugar, flower water (if desired), lime juice, vanilla and ice cubes in shaker. Cover; shake until wellblended. Pour mixture into chilled serving glass; add 7-Up. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving. Character Character: Creativity Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective. "The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." --Albert Einstein Becky Semple Tourism Director Spring Greetings Y all! Our scheduled events for the month of March completed with the 4th Annual ASA Archery Southwest Shootout; a fabulous spectator sport, which has been a favorite here in Paris for the past four years! Both pro and amateur archers competed for cash prizes in a national tournament sanctioned in Paris, Texas. The Shootout brought more than 1,200 archers and their families to Paris for a weekend full of archery, dining and shopping all in Paris! We thank all our friends who volunteered helping to make this event such a great success, and we look forward to seeing all our Archer friends again next year. The month of April is filled with many wonderful events to report including Car Cruising on the Downtown Square which will crank up again on Friday, April 2nd. We are also very excited to announce two new groups coming to Paris for special events. The first event is the Dallas V-8 Antique Car Club at the Love Civic Center starting on Friday, April 9th through Sunday, April 11th. Come down to the Civic Center to see all the fabulous and unusual antique cars from around the country. The second new event coming to Paris is the Dallas Tandem Bicycle Rally, which will be at the Love Civic Center, and begins on Thursday, April 22nd through Sunday, April 25th. For more information about these events please call the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce at (903) As spring continues we look ahead at some of the exciting highlights coming in the month of May. The 23rd Annual Uncle Jesse Memorial Big Bass Classic at Pat Mayse Lake is on Saturday, May 1st, and we d love to see a great turnout for this event. There is still plenty of time to sign up, so contact the Chamber of Commerce for more information on this and many other fun events. The Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and Paris Visitors & Convention Council would like to once again extend our thanks to all our friends and good neighbors for your continued interest and support. We look forward to seeing y all around our beautiful city of Paris! Becky Semple Tourism Director

4 Red Coats Around Town Paris Sofas and Such Ribbon Cutting Trinity Christian Academy 5 Southwest Shootout March 26-28, 2010

5 Chamber Membership Renewals Episcopal Day School NAPA Auto Parts Paris Ford Lincoln Mercury Paris Area Arts Alliance Discount Wheel & Tire Calvary United Methodist Church Digital Mammography of NE Texas Paris Church of God Rex Adams Character Council of Red River Valley Jerry Akers, D.D.S. Lonestar Realty Paris Cash Express Paris Florist Paris Milling Grain Company Paris Monuments Toyota of Paris Big Brothers Big Sisters Allied Professionals Paris Junior College ABC Learning Center Oncor Electric Delivery Paris Rodeo & Horse Club Peoples Bank Chisum ISD Thomas D. Charbeneau, D.D.S. Plaza Art Gallery Agriland Farm Credit Services Atmos Energy Sterling House of Paris Boy Scouts of America (NeTseO Trails) Chapman s Floris & Greenhouse Hi Teck Computers House Jewelry Kerby s Fire & Water Restoration Patricia Cochran Prairiland ISD Rockin L Music & Recording Taylor Glass Shop Texas Oncology Wholesale Electric Supply Paris Oaks Assisted Living Daniel Frame Studio Paris Fire Extinguisher Chamber Membership... A Worthwhile Investment! Welcome new members! BASICS--Terry Shannon 2160 Lamar Avenue Paris, Texas (903) Todd Comfort Solutions 102 CR Paris, Texas (903) Caraway Foundation Repair 3800 Askins Lane Paris, Texas (903)

6 Chamber Executive Board Kenny Dority, Chairman Dr. Pam Anglin, Chairman Elect Pike Burkhart, Sr., Past Chair Jon Landers, VP Finance Mike Novak, VP Business and Community Development Chamber Staff Mindy Moree, Chamber President Becky Semple, Tourism Director Eileen Tiffany, Tourism Assistant Shannon Barrentine, Community Development Specialist Rachel Schory, Economic Development Specialist Judy Daniel, Secretary/Receptionist 8 West Plaza Paris, Texas Civic Club Schedule Breakfast Optimist Club Saturday 8 a.m., Sirloin Stockade Kiwanis Club of Paris Tuesday 12 Noon, PJC Ballroom Paris Founders Lions Club Thursday 12 Noon, PJC Ballroom Greater Paris Rotary Monday 12 Noon, PJC Ballroom Rotary Club of Paris Friday 12 Noon, PJC Ballroom Kiwanianne Club Every 2nd Monday, First Baptist

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8 Right Here in Right Here in Your Back Pasture! Hannah s Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Riding Center Hannah s Horseshoes of Hope (HHH) is a therapeutic riding center based in Dodd City, Fannin County, Texas. Pretty well right in your back pasture! Hannah s serves children and adults with cognitive, physical or emotional needs, including at-risk children and returning veterans. We have a variety of programs both on site and off to serve our students. The center covers the Red River/Texoma Region of North Texas which includes Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar and Hunt counties plus the counties in South-Eastern Oklahoma. Our programs fill a niche that no one else in the area serves. Hannah s is a NARHA, (North American Riding for the Handicapped), member and instructors are certified through NARHA. Hannah s was founded in 2002 and is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation. Call us today to find out more! Hannah s Horseshoes of Hope - PO Box 574, Bonham, TX 75418

9 Telephone: Annual Golf Benefit Time: Friday, April 16, Person Scramble - 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Registration noon. Lunch available in the Grill. Shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. Entry Fee: $70 per person/$260 foursome. Includes green fees, carts, mulligans and prizes. Beverages available. Contact: Mel Fox at Webb Hill: Lisbeth at Hannah s: Hannah s Horseshoes of Hope (HHH) is an equine-assisted therapeutic riding center based in Dodd City, Fannin County, Texas. The center serves the Red River/Texoma Region of North Texas and South-Eastern Oklahoma. Founded in 2002, Hannah s is a 501(c) 3 non-profit program. The proceeds from the tournament will help make Hannah s unique program available to even more children in the Texoma region. Hole Sponsorships Available Just $250! Call Lisbeth: Hannah s Horseshoes of Hope - PO Box 574, Bonham, TX 75418

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12 BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS PRESENTS THE B A S K E T B A L L T O U R N A M E N T Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Place: Love Civic Center Pavilion Maximum of 4 members per team (4th player will be alternate) $50.00 team entry fee Must be 18 years or older to participate *Register on or before April 19, 2010* All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters! Please contact Emily Neeley at ext. 503 or eneeley@bbbstx.org to register * PRIZES! * DJ BARRY DIAMOND with K95.5 Continuous Country! The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission is to enrich, empower and encourage children to reach their highest potential through safe, positive one-to-one mentoring relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters 2803 Clarksville Street Paris, Texas 75460

13 It s Time to Bowl for Kids Sake! DATE: Saturday, May 15, 2010 SESSION TIME(S): 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: Paris Lanes ADDRESS: 2331 North Main Street, Paris How do I get started? 1. Form a team of six people. Designate a team captain and pick a fun name! 2. Obtain a Team Captain Packet from Big Brothers Big Sisters. These contain important information, documents and guidelines for each bowler. 3. The team captain first sets up the team online at then the remaining team members can register and join that team. 4. Everyone begins to raise $75 per bowler. 5. Once you arrive at the bowling facility, it s time to have fun! You ll receive two free games of bowling (shoe/ball rental included), a 2010 Bowl for Kids Sake t-shirt, food, drinks, chances at door prizes, deejay and music, and a souvenir team photo! Sign up today to help change the way kids grow up in Texas! For more information contact: Emily Neeley at ext. 503 or eneeley@bbbstx.org Visit our BFKS website Clarksville Street Paris, Texas BIGS ext. 503