The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Development Authorities will co-host the 13th annual Chamber Golf Classic/Industry Appreciation Day on September 20th at the Swainsboro Country Club.

Last year, over 125 golfers, industry representatives, chamber, city and county officials attended the function which draws attention to the important role local industries play in providing jobs and income to this area.

This year's event calls for lunch to begin at 12 noon with a 1 p.m. shotgun start for the golf tournament. The evening activities will begin at 5 p.m. with a social, followed by a "pig-pickin." The Forest-Blade will sponsor both the lunch and dinner.

"We look forward to another great tournament and the chance to express our gratitude to our local industries for the jobs they provide," stated Wade Johnson, chairman of this year's event.

Other committee members include Joey Goodman, Athen Walden, Doug Brown, Heather Jones, Jill Collins, Kenny Griffin, Carl Tankersley, Tim Hendley, Milton Gray and Ken Warnock.

Industry representatives are invited to participate at "no-charge" compliments of the Chamber and Joint Development Authorities. For more information or to register for the event, please call the Chamber at 237- 6426. Tickets are available for dinner only.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce has been selected to receive a tourism grant in the amount of $7,237.00. Notification of the grant award was made through the Tourism Foundation of the Georgia Department of Economic Development

"This is the first time the Chamber has been selected to receive tourism grant money from the Georgia Department of Economic Development. These monies, when matched with local funds from our hotel/motel tax, will be used to assist us in launching a new community website and in the creation, printing and distribution of a "Things to Do in Emanuel County" brochure," stated Chamber President Bill Rogers Jr.

According to the notification, over 115 applications were received by the Department totaling more than $1.8 million in funding request. Funds awarded totaled $1.0 million.

"The new website has already been launched and will help us in promoting local attractions such as George L. Smith State Park, Flat Creek Lodge, local bed & breakfast operations, motels, hunting attractions, festivals, local businesses and other points of interest here in Swainsboro and Emanuel County," added Rogers. "The new brochure is currently being created and is scheduled for printing in September with a print run of over 30,000 copies."

The Chamber's new website can be accessed at www.emanuelchamber.org.

Members of the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, Joint Development Authorities, city and county officials recently toured Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle located near Waynesboro.

Hosted by Kenny Griffin, local Georgia Power manager, the tour was designed to educate the local group on the advantages of nuclear power.

After watching a short film on nuclear energy, the group viewed a close-up of the containment structure housing the nuclear reactor, toured the steam-driven turbine generator facilities, saw the control room in operation and toured the redundant diesel back-up safety systems.

The group learned that the cost of constructing Plant Vogtle including financing was $8.87 billion dollars and took over 14,000 workers to complete. The construction on the project began in 1974 with commercial operations beginning in 1987. Today, America's nuclear energy plants provide approximately 20% on the nation's energy.

The Southern Company, the parent company of Georgia Power, is currently seeking approval to construct two additional units at the Plant Vogtle site. Some 4,000 workers will be required.

Following the tour, the group was served lunch at the facility.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce and four local radio stations are co- sponsoring a "Back-To-School Shop-At-Home" campaign designed to keep local dollars here in Emanuel County.

Over $1500 in air time has been purchased directly by the chamber to promote the importance of shopping at home during this critical shopping time. Radio stations WXRS, WJAT, WELT and WRJS have matched the purchase dollar for dollar to deliver a total advertising campaign valued at over $3000.

"We appreciate the generous contributions made by our local radio stations. This helps us deliver a very important message. Historically speaking, back-to- school is a huge time for our area merchants. We want and need those dollars spent locally rather than out of town. When dollars are spent at home, it not only benefits our local merchants but the sales tax generated from those dollars benefits our local governments as well," stated Bill Rogers Jr., president of the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce.

The campaign began on July 22nd and will extend into the second week of August. The campaign calls for featured spots on all four radio stations, reminding people of the importance of shopping at home. Several remote broadcasts are also being planned.

Chamber members whose businesses are related to back-to-school will be listed in the commercials throughout the campaign.

The campaign is part of the chamber's on-going small business program.

"Everytime You Come Back, You'll Discover Something Different" is the theme of a new region map and guide created for Georgia's Classic South Region. Swainsboro and Emanuel County are prominently listed in the new brochure, which is free and now available at the Chamber.

Stretching from Oglethorpe County to southern Emanuel County, the map and guide list over 60 locations throughout the region. It provides visitors with a myriad of information along some of Georgia's most scenic by-ways. Emanuel Arts Center, George L. Smith State Park, Swainsboro Raceway and Flat Creek Lodge are listed among the points of interest. The Pine Tree Festival and Ogeechee Redbreast Festival are listed among the calendar of events.

Over 75,000 copies of the brochure are expected to be printed and distributed among the state's visitors centers.

The brochure is part of the Chamber's marketing strategy to increase awareness of local attractions.

Steve and Caroline Harless, owners of Flat Creek Lodge, have announced they will continue their special offer to Chamber members. The normal $2500 dinning membership fee at Flat Creel Lodge has been reduced to $1000 for any member of the Chamber. This special offer includes current members and any new members. Please call the Chamber for more information.

Not only does the Chamber offer discounts on workers compensation insurance, group health, group life and accidental death and dismemberment, group long term and short term disability but now you can save up to 12% on business and personal auto- owners insurance.

Auto-Owners Insurance Company--A++ (Superior) rated by A.M. Best Company--is offering special discounts on personal and commercial lines of insurance. The discounts range from 5% to 12% for chamber members. For more information contact the Chamber at 478-237-6426.

"Overwhelmingly, the response to the Chamber's new website has been very positive," stated Bill Rogers Jr., president of the Chamber. "The analytical results have shown that people viewing the new site have spent a great deal of time reading and browsing the information."

The chamber staff has been in the process of contacting members to verify current business information, telephone numbers, web sites and other pertinent material.

In addition to chamber information, the new website features general information on Emanuel County, a short history of the area, municipal information on Swainsboro, Twin City, Garfield, Adrian, Oak Park, Summertown, Nunez and Stillmore. Other areas highlighted are the airport, hospital, education, recreational sites, churches, hunting and fishing information, along with a number of points of interest.

"We hope the new web site will be a tremendous tool at our disposal to assist in attracting visitors, businesses, and industry to our community."

The website can be accessed at emanuelchamber.org.

Allen C. Rice, president, Savannah Luggage Works has been elected vice chairman of the state Board of Adult and Technical Education. The board oversees the state's 33 technical colleges. Savannah Luggage has plants in Swainsboro and Vidalia. Congratulation to Allen!

The Emanuel Arts Council will present the works of Kay W. Hanson at the Kalmanson Gallery from August 11th through August 31st.

She is a former resident of Swainsboro. Her husband, Dave, served as pastor at Swainsboro First United Methodist Church.

The presentation will be a part of Second Saturday Art Stroll planned for August 11, 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

This month's Second Saturday Art Stroll, planned for August 11, will feature new and exciting Art exhibitions as well as live music at the Downtown Pavilion. The newest exhibition at Gallery RFD will feature artwork about travel by over 20 artists from all over the United States.

In addition, the Emanuel Arts Council will feature work by Kay Hanson at the Kalmanson Gallery.

Take a stroll down Green Street and visit other exhibitions at 114 West Main, Folds Photography, Brantley's Billiards, and Jack's Java Cove. Great deals will be available at Rainbow Antique Mall also.

The Stroll takes place from 5-8 pm with an artists talk at RFD at 7 pm. At 8 pm, live music will be presented by Erin Williams of Lyons and Mississippi John Doude of Milledgeville. This music event is sponsored by the Downtown Commission for Arts and Commerce (DCAC). The DCAC is made up of The Chamber of Commerce, Nordson, Gallery RFD, Mill Creek, The Emanuel Arts Council, Radio Jones, The Forest Blade, the GREDC at EGC and Daniels Chevrolet.