Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Emanuel County Farm Bureau, will present an "Eggs & Issues" breakfast on Saturday morning, February 20th at Emanuel Medical Center.

Representatives Butch Parrish, Greg Morris, Mack Jackson and State Senators Jack Hill and J. B. Powell have been invited to discuss this year's legislative session. A question and answer period will follow.

Tickets will be available starting Monday, Feb.8, at the Chamber and at Emanuel County Farm Bureau. Call 237-6426 or 237-8848 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Swainsboro Festival Foundation, Inc. has announced plans for the 2010 Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber Exposition which will be held this year from Monday, April 19th, through Wednesday, May 5th.

The three 'big' days for the event will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 29th, April 30th, and May 1st, at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Complex in Swainsboro, Ga.

"This year's committee is pleased to announce one of the most exciting line-ups of events ever," according to Athen Walden, Co-Chairman of the Pine Tree Festival.

Leading the way will be FMX Freestyle Motorcycle Exhibition Stunt Show. The high-energy show features the fastest growing action sport of the new millennium and is described as a combination of suspense, thrills and danger. Each show is staffed with professional motorcycle riders who have competed in the world famous ESPN X-Games. In addition to ESPN, riders have demonstrated their skills on the Speed Channel, Fuel TV's 'M-80' series, and MTV.

The motorcycle stunt show & exhibition will be presented to area school kids on Thursday and Friday morning, April 29th and 30th. On Friday afternoon and Saturday, May 1st, the show has been scheduled for several public presentations.

The committee also announced other new venues for this year's event.

Hailing from Lehighton, Pennsylvania, will be the most incredible of all chainsaw carving exhibitions. "Masters of the Chainsaw" is a truly awesome spectacle as top chainsaw sculptors demonstrate their prowess in creating beautiful works of art using nothing but a chainsaw. These carvers have entertained millions at more than 150 events yearly such as the New York State Fair, Iowa State Fair and Utah State Fair. The show, will also be presented Thursday and Friday mornings to area school children and on Friday afternoon and Saturday when the event is opened to the public. The chainsaw art work will be on sale following the event.

'The Parks at Chehaw' will be a part of this year's Pine Tree Festival & EXPO also. From Albany, Georgia, 'The Parks at Chehaw' present an animal encounter that is both entertaining and educational. Shown will be animals native to Georgia and many exotic species. The show will be made available to school kids on Thursday and Friday morning and to the public on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

Back for a second year will be the Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber EXPO Logging Competition. Sponsored by Prentice, local loggers will compete in a number of 'logging competitions' to win prize money. This event will be held on Saturday, May 9th.

The McLeod Moring SCV Camp and Emanuel Rangers UDC Chapter 2318 will again present "Camp McLeod", a living history re-enactment complete with tents, cannon, re-enactors in period uniforms and numerous wartime artifacts. The re- enactment will include a field hospital, complete with patients, nurses, and true stories of local soldiers and their families. The re-enactment will be part of the school program on Thursday and Friday mornings and open to the public on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

In addition to these new venues, Swainsboro Raceway is expected to feature a blockbuster race on Saturday night, May 1st, featuring the 'World of Outlaws' Late Model Series Race. The 150 lap race will feature $10,000 in prize money. Qualifying times and race start will be announced later.

Another new event added to this year's festival will be a 'Forestry Field Day' for landowners and timber growers. The field day will be held Thursday afternoon, April 29th, at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Complex. Some12-to-15 exhibits will be set up for educational demonstrations ranging from 'fire control burning' to 'pond management.' According to Russ Youmans, Co-Chairman of the Southeast Timber EXPO, this new addition to the festival is expected to grow each year.

The 2010 festival will feature many familiar events from recent years such a forestry equipment display, antique car show, beauty pageants, a grand parade hosted by the Shriners, flower show, arts and crafts, barbeque cook-off, battle of the bands, helicopter rides, and more.

The Festival and EXPO will conclude on Wednesday, May 5th, with the State Future Farmers of America Field Day event hosted at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Department. Last year over 350 students from across the state participated in the event.

Expected to participate in this year's festival are UGA's Warnell School of Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, Shriners, and the Swainsboro Fire Department and 'Haz-Mat' Unit.

The Festival has a rich history, having been started by the Swainsboro Kiwanis Club. It began in 1948 as an education project aimed at stopping dangerous, uncontrolled burning of woodlands to improve open-range cattle grazing.

"The festival continues to focus on our pine tree heritage and today it is one of the oldest continuously operated community festivals in Georgia. For 65 years it has been known for its enthusiastic celebration of our forest resources and timber's contribution to the community's economy," added Bill Rogers, Festival Board Chairman

Emanuel County is one of the top five timber producing counties in Georgia and sits at the crossroads of the great southeast pine belt - America's wood basket.

In 2008 Swainsboro/Emanuel County Festival Foundation, Inc. was created when a group of local organizations purchased the festival rights from the Swainsboro Kiwanis Club. Members of the Foundation are the Swainsboro/Emanuel Chamber of Commerce, City of Swainsboro, Emanuel County Commission, East Georgia College, Swainsboro Technical College, and numerous service organizations. For more information please visit '2010 Pine Tree Festival & Timber EXPO' on the Chamber web site at swainsborochambr@bellsouth.net.

On February 25th, as part our business development initiative, the Chamber will join other chambers in the region and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Georgia Southern University, in presenting a course on collections for business owners.

If you are new to collections or need an update on current laws, you'll find this class will make you more effective, less stressed and a whole lot happier.

Topics covered will range from "How to take money directly from the debtor's checking account without paying any fees" to "The seven words you should NEVER say when collecting by phone."

The half day seminar will be held at the new Holiday Inn in Statesboro. The cost for the course is normally $129, however Chamber members will receive a discounted rate of $99. The course is open to all. For more information contact the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, 237-6426. Seating is limited, so call early.

A $3,750 grant has been awarded to the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce by the University of Georgia's Fanning Institute. The grant will enable the Chamber to once again offer the Institute's renowned leadership program. This marks the third grant awarded to the local chamber by Fanning Institute.

The program entitled "Leadership Emanuel," will consist of ten topics offered over a 10 week period. Fanning Institute instructors, along with local leaders, will facilitate the courses and program.

"The goal of the program is to create a new level of leadership in Emanuel County," stated Bill Rogers, Jr., president of the Chamber. "The program goals are focused on economic development with session topics on understanding community leadership; knowing your community, community leader's role in economic development and local governance."

The class will be limited to 20-22 applicants for maximum discussion and input.

Dates for the new class have not been determined, but those wishing to participate are urged to contact the Chamber at 237-6426

The Swainsboro/Emanuel Chamber of Commerce, along with city, county and Joint Development Authority representatives, hosted Georgia's Regional Tourism Representatives here in Emanuel County last week.

The tourism group, representing the 9 different tourism regions of the state and members of the Georgia Department of Economic Development/Tourism Division, gathered on Monday, Jan. 11, to conduct a three-day tourism strategic planning session for the State of Georgia. The 17- member group stayed at Flat Creek Lodge Monday through Wednesday.

Coordinating local activities, the Chamber was able to provide lunch at the Coleman House and dinner at Geo. L. Smith State Park on Monday night. The group was given a tour of the park and shown a power point presentation on notable developments in Emanuel County.

"We were very pleased to be able to share time with our state's tourism leaders. We were able to show them Flat Creek Lodge, George L. Smith State Park and the Ohoopee Sand Dunes Area, which are all important to our tourism efforts here in Emanuel County," stated Bill Rogers Jr., Chamber president.

Representatives attending the retreat were Jeannie Buttrum, Classic South; Janet Cochran, Historic High County; Cheryl Smith, NE Georgia; Brittney Gray, Atlanta Metro; Maggie Potter, Presidential Pathway; Carey Ferrara, Colonial Coast; Jeff Stubbs, Plantation Trace; Lori Hennesy, Magnolia Midlands; and Mandy McCollough, Historic Heartland.

Attending from the Georgia Department of Economic Development/ Tourism Division were Fay Tripp, Regional Rep. Director; Fred Huff, Director of Georgia Tourism Foundation; Carla Plouin, Marketing Dept.; Greg Torre, Director of Marketing; Stefanie Paupeck, Media and PR; and Vicki Sanders, Website Manager.

"We definitely would like to thank our Classic South Representative, Jeannie Buttrum, for assisting us with the retreat. Anytime we can have an event like this in Swainsboro and Emanuel County, we gain from the exposure," stated Rogers

Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce President Bill Rogers Jr. joined other chamber officials and tourism representatives at the State Capitol on Tuesday, January 26, as part of "Tourism Day" activities. The special day is held each year during the legislative session to emphasize the importance of tourism to the State.

In 2009, over $850 million in state tax revenues were generated by tourism efforts. According to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, over 241,000 Georgians are employed in tourism related fields.

The state's "2010 Travel Guide" was also unveiled during the day's special ceremonies. The new publication, which details hotels, parks, tourism sites and other tourism information, will be available at the local Chamber in mid-February. Over 750,000 copies are to be printed and distributed. As part of the Classic South Tourism Region, the publication lists Emanuel's lodging, bed & breakfast operations, cabins, and camping sites. The publication also highlights Geo. L. Smith State Park, Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO, Flat Creek Lodge, Ogeechee Red Breast Festival and Ohoopee Sand Dunes.

State Representative Butch Parrish and Senator Jack Hill were also in attendance.

The Chamber is asking for your help. When you see someone littering, call 237-7025, Extension 1155. Help keep Swainsboro beautiful!!!

The start of a brand-new year is a great time to consider your employee benefit plans and ask if yours provide the best value for you and your employees. Most benefit offerings meet the needs of some, but could be disappointing to others.

With Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia's (BCBSGa) Employee Elect plans, every employee can have what they want and do so without costing the employer any more than they are currently paying!

Employee Elect is a package of 30 different health benefit plans including HMO, POS, PPO and High- Deductible Health Plan options. The employer decides how much they are willing to spend per employee, notifies the employees of their decision, then lets every employee go 'shopping' for the plan that best meets their needs. Some employees may choose a plan that costs them nothing and allows premium dollars to be left over for other benefits, such as dental or short term disability insurance. Other employees may choose a more expensive plan with richer benefits that requires them to pay a portion of the premiums, but is the right fit for their family. Regardless, every eligible employee can have what they want or need! The employer's cost is fixed; the employee pays the difference, if any.

The best news is all BCBSGa small business plans are available at reduced premium rates to eligible business members of the Chamber of Commerce! Through the group "buying power" of the MemberCare Alliance of Emanuel CountySM, we are part of a statewide network of over 130 Chambers of Commerce offering discounted insurance products to Chamber member businesses. The MemberCare Alliance of Emanuel County program includes a variety of discounted insurance products, such as: group term, voluntary and dependent life insurance, group dental insurance, group long term and short term disability, accidental death and dismemberment and long term care insurance.

For more information on these insurance offerings, please call the Chamber, one of your participating Chamber member insurance agents, or Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc., (the company that developed MemberCare Alliance of Emanuel County program) at 770-579-1214 or 1-800-782-8254 ext. 3515.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.