| Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce |
Eggs & Issues is set for Feb. 19th
Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Emanuel County Farm Bureau, will present an "Eggs & Issues" breakfast on Saturday morning, February 19th at Emanuel Medical Center. The breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. Representatives Butch Parrish, Greg Morris, Mack Jackson and State Senators Jack Hill and Jesse Stone have been invited to discuss this year's legislative session. A question and answer period will follow. Tickets will be available starting Monday, Feb.7th , at the Chamber and at Emanuel County Farm Bureau. Call 237-6426 or 237-8848 for more information or to purchase tickets. |
Plans are completed for 2011 Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO
Swainsboro/Emanuel County Festival Foundation, Inc. has announced plans for the 2011 Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber Exposition, which will be held this year from Saturday, April 23rd through Wednesday, May 11thth.
The three "big" days for the event will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 5th, 6th, and 7th, at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreational Complex in Swainsboro, Ga.
"This year's committee is very excited to announce our line-up of events," according to Athen Walden, co-chairman of the Pine Tree Festival.
Leading the way will be a Friday night, May 6th, concert featuring The Swingin' Medallions and Sam's Drive-In.
"The Medallions have been a crowd pleaser for years with fantastic beach music that everyone is sure to enjoy," added Donna Brinson, co-chairman of the event. Also featured that night will be local favorite "Sam's Drive-In," who recently released their second CD.
Also leading the way on Friday and Saturday will be the Fearless Flores Circus and Thrill Show. The Fabulous Flores Show has made quite a name for themselves appearing at numerous state fairs such as the Louisiana State Fair, New Jersey State Fair, Heart of Texas Fair, and performed at the world famous "Steel Pier" in Atlantic City, NJ. The group has appeared on national TV, ESPN2 and "Extra." The high-energy show features high wire acts, aerial acts, thrilling space wheel, and the Motorcycle "Globe of Death."
Also appearing at this year's event will be "The Great Bear Show." The show was established in 1977 and is the oldest and longest running wild animal education show in the country. Adult bears and cubs give remarkable performances in this top family entertainment event.
Back by popular demand and 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. Among those events are the New York State Fair, Iowa State Fair and Utah State Fair.
This will be the third year for the Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber EXPO Logging Competition. Local loggers will compete in a number of "logging competitions" to win over $1000 in prize money. This event will be held on Saturday, May 7th, only.
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. Re-enactors will engage in a full-fledged battle. The re-enactment will also 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.
Again this year, the festival will host the 2nd annual "Forestry Field Day" for landowners, timber growers, and wildlife enthusiasts. The field day will be held Thursday afternoon, May 5th, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Complex. Exhibits will be set up for educational demonstrations ranging from "fire control burning" to "pond management." Many of the classes qualify for CLE credit hours. Following Forestry Field Day, at 6 p.m., will be the Georgia Forestry Association $ Southeast Timber EXPO Regional Forestry Meeting available for landowners and timber professionals. A barbecue dinner will follow.
The 2011 festival will feature many familiar events from recent years such as forestry equipment display, antique car show, beauty pageants, races, a grand parade hosted by the Shriners, flower show, arts and crafts, barbeque cook-off, battle of the bands, and more.
The Festival and EXPO will conclude on Wednesday, May 11th with the State FFA Forestry Career Development Day hosted at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Department. Last year over 350 students from across the state participated in the state competition.
Expected to participate in this year's festival are University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Landmark Systems, 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 1946 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, Southeastern Technical College, and numerous service organizations. For more information please visit Pine Tree Festival & Timber EXPO website at www.pinetreefestival.org., or visit the Chamber's Pine Tree Festival site at www.emanuelchamber.org. |
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Special event for Senior Citizens is slated
The Sudie A. Fulford Learning Center and the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce will team up once again to present another session of the "Lunch and Learn Series" for this area's senior citizens. The event will be held at the Center, which is located on the campus of East Georgia College on February 24th at 12 noon..
Following a delicious lunch, "Six Steps to Financial Success" will be presented by Debra Donaldson Scott, Financial Services Professional with Capstone Financial Partners.
The cost for seminar is $5.00 and includes the lunch and presentation. Pre-registration is required. Call 478-289-2464 to make reservations. Enrollment is limited to 30. |
Business seminar is held
On January 12th, the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Assistance Corporation hosted a one-hour seminar to assist local businesses with SBA loan options.
The session, "How SBA Loans Can Help Your Business," was presented by Wendy Jeffers, Senior Lending Officer, SBA Programs, and Debra Simmons, Community Development Loan Officer.
Fourteen businesses took advantage of the seminar to learn more about the SBA and loan options available to small businesses.
If your business needs SBA, the Chamber has brochures and literature available to explain the programs. The material is free to chamber members and non-chamber members. |
Emanuel Medical Center Foundation is hosting a special night of auction, food and fun on Thursday night, February, 10th.
The auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Jerry & Paula Cadle's Barn located at 957 West Main Street (U. S. 80 West). Look for the signs.
All proceeds from the "Have-a-Heart for Your Hospital" event will benefit Emanuel Medical Center. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information call Carol Canady at 478-237-8620. |
Does your business need to save money?
The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, a 40-year old 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and parent company of the Drugs Don't Work Program assists businesses and organizations in achieving state certification as a drug free workplace and qualifying for the state-mandated discount on worker's compensation insurance.
Your Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce offers the Drugs Don't Work program to businesses in this area. The savings on worker's compensation can be significant at 7.5%.
The steps to qualify are simple: (1) Your company must have Substance Abuse Policy; (2) Your company must conduct drug testing; (3) Each company must provide two hours of employee training each year; (4) You must provide two hours of supervisor training each year; (5) Your company must have either have an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)or a referral list of treatment and counseling centers in your area.|
Many companies in Georgia have benefitted from this money saving program. For more information call the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 478-237-6426 or contact Chuck Wade, DDW, 404-223-2277.
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Banquet is sold out!
For the fifth year in a row, the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet is a sell-out. The event is slated for Thursday night, Feb. 3rd, at the Richard L. Brown Room at East Georgia College.
A social will be held prior to the event at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Person of the Year and STAR Students and Teachers will be announced. |
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February 2011
Chamber
New Members |
Way Contractors Inc.
Wesley Way
61 Wiregrass Road
Midville, GA 30441
478-763-2761
waywesley@yahoo.com |
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February 2011
Chamber Member Renewals |
AirStar Flight Support
Blanchard Equipment Company, Inc.
Cadle, Jerry N. P.C.
Central Fence Company
Clark, Chuck
Davis, Desse
Denmark & Brown, PC
Durden. LaNelle
Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors, Inc.
First Franklin Financial
Flat Creek Lodge
Forest-Blade Publishing Company
George's Flower Shop
Gunn, Dr. Willie D.
Handi-House Manufacturing
Herrington, Nick
Jabo Metal Fabrication, Inc.
Kilpatrick & Sconyers
Logan's Taxi Service
M & M Major Storage
Medical Center Pharmacy, Inc.
Merrill & Stone, LLC
Page, Burley Jr. & Connie
Pineland Telephone Cooperative
Queensborough National Bank & Trust
RadioJones, LLC
Rountree, Pete
Sasser, R.H. Jr., DDS.
Spivey State Bank
Swainsboro Financial Services
Swainsboro Housing Authority
Swainsboro Rotary Club
Swainsboro Supply
Ultra Clean
Wal-Mart Discount Cities
Yeomans & Associates Agency, Inc.
Yeomans Wood & Timber
Youngblood, J.A. Inc. |
Thursday, February 3rd, 6:30pm - Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, Richard L. Brown Room
Tuesday, February 8th, 9:30am - Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Meeting, Chamber building
Wednesday, February 9th, 4:30pm - Pine Tree Festival Meeting, Chamber building
Thursday, February 10th, 12:00 noon - Chamber of Commerce Regular Board Meeting, Chamber building
Thursday, February 10th, 6:30pm - Hospital Foundation Auction, Cadle Barn
Tuesday, February 15th, 5:00pm - Swainsboro/Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities Meeting, Chamber building
Saturday, February 19th, 8:00am - Eggs & Issues, Emanuel Medical Center
Monday, February 21st - Chamber closed in observance of Presidents' Day
Thursday, February 24th, 12:00 noon - Lunch & Learn Series, Sudie Fulford Learning Center |
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