Great news for Swainsboro and Emanuel County!!!

Nordson Corporation's Swainsboro plant has been selected as one of the "Best Plants in America!" The selection was announced by Industry Week Magazine, which annually selects the "top ten" plants in America. The coveted designation also covers Canada and Mexico.

In ceremonies held at the plant on Friday, December 19th, high-ranking company officials were on hand to make the announcement and to congratulate local employees and management for the "tremendous milestone."

"Among the toughest tasks in any improvement initiative is maintaining the gains. First an IW Best Plant finalist in 2007 and now a winner in 2008, Nordson's Swainsboro plant has demonstrated a level of consistent excellence that is difficult to achieve," stated the magazine in its announcement, which was released on-line Wednesday, Dec. 17th.

"Employees here at the plant are to be congratulated for this outstanding achievement," stated Scott Roseneau, local plant manager. "Teamwork and desire to be the best made this possible. It is a tribute to them."

Located on Glenwood Road, the plant is housed in a 56,200 sq. ft. facility with 67 employees. In 2006, the plant was nominated for the prestigious "Georgia Manufacturer of the Year" award. The facility manufactures small piston melters, modules, nozzles and other equipment used to seal and protect product packaging.

Nordson Corporation is one of the world's leading producers of precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants, and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations.

According to the information provided on the company's website, their products are used around the world in the appliance, automotive, bookbinding, construction, container, converting, electronics, food and beverage, furniture, medical, metal finishing, packaging, semiconductor, life sciences, and other diverse industries.

The company is headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, and markets its products through a network of direct operations in 30 countries. Nordson Corporation has over 4,100 employees.

Dear Chamber Members:

Can you believe it's the start of another new year? The older I get, the faster the years seem to pass. Wasn't it just yesterday we put February's annual banquet to rest?

So as not to break with tradition, you'll find this "open letter" to the membership listing some of the noteworthy achievements and activities in 2008.

While we are pleased with our accomplishments, we are more excited about the possibilities that lay ahead in 2009. Chairman Milton Gray and the Chamber's Board of Directors are to be commended. They have provided guidance, leadership and the funds necessary to see the job through.

I would also like to personally thank the Chamber staff for their help and dedication during this past year. Without Donna Brinson and Shanna Taylor, many of our efforts might have fallen short of the mark. We are very fortunate to have a concerned staff that works diligently to promote and enhance our county every day.

As we begin this New Year, we know difficult economic times lay ahead for our county, state and nation. We also realize these downturns are cyclical in nature and given time, our economy will improve. Our pledge is that we will continue to work hard to merit our members' financial commitment to the chamber.

We hope this report meets your approval and again in 2009, we can count on your for your renewed interest and membership.

Sincerely,
Bill Rogers Jr., President

Here is a partial list of the Chamber's 2008 activities:

1) Sent out 12 monthly newsletters to the membership
2) Reviewed monthly chamber budget
3) Held weekly meetings with the chamber staff to coordinated activities. Held monthly meetings with board members.
4) Held a number of small business classes: Customer Service Training Seminar, Postal Service Seminar and OSHA luncheon
5) Membership banquet was held in February at East Georgia College. The event drew over 200 people. Charles Schwabe was selected as "Person of the Year." Faircloth Welding & Fabrication and Stewart's Jewelers were chosen as large and small "Businesses of the Year."
6) Staff attended 2008 GACCE Staff Clinic Workshop in Valdosta
7) Continued to work closely with the Festival Foundation Committee on the Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO. The event was held in May. Over 8,000 people were in attendance for the three- day event.
8) "Crossroads of the Great South" billboard goes up on U.S. 1 South near I-16.
9) Georgia Department of Transportation announces Chamber will receive $90,360 dollars in Transportation Enhancement grant for construction of signage on bypass.
10) Chamber unveils new four-color county map.
11) Hosted four "Industry Appreciation Luncheons" for employees of local industries during year.
12) Published Chamber Directory and Manufacturing Directory for membership.
13) Attended meetings of the Joint Development Authority. 14) Continued to enhance the Chamber's website updating material regularly on weekly basis.
15) Sought funding of Downtown Square sound system. System is installed in July.
16) Named the STAR students & teachers for county.
17) Attended Classic South Regional Tourism meetings during year. Made purchases of advertising space in Georgia Travel Guide and other tourism- related publications to enhance efforts.
18) Sought funding for "Leadership Emanuel" classes. Classes held September through November. Twenty-four people are graduated.
19) Opposed plans by U.S. Air Force to increase Military Operations Area which would directly impact Swainsboro/Emanuel County Airport. Notebook of letters in opposition, airport capital expenditures, photographs of improvements compiled and presented to Air Force.
20) Worked with Altamaha EMC on new aerial map for economic development.
21) Attended and graduated from the Georgia Academy for Economic Development
22) Co-sponsored music happenings for Second Saturday Art Stroll
23) Submitted monthly articles on happening in Emanuel County for inclusion in the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives' monthly newsletter
24) Hosted a "Thank You Event" for Congressman John Barrow following announcement of several congressional funding initiatives for city and county.
25) Hosted a community ceremony for the USS Georgia with veterans.
26) Created a "Media Profile Sheet' for Emanuel County listing story ideas, points-of-interest, and annual community events.
27) Hosted 30 foreign trade representatives at Flat Creek Lodge as part of Georgia Department of Economic Development's VIP Tour.
28) Worked with Swainsboro Technical College to have Emanuel County designated as a "Certified Work Ready" Community. Designation achieved in October.
29) Initiated a "Chamber Business of the Week" on web page
30) Hosted 20 magazine and tourism writers at Flat Creek Lodge along with Department of Economic Development
31) Hosted four business-after hours events during year
32) Attended I-16 Corridor Alliance meetings with JDA President Andy Riley
33) Initiated a "Back-to-School Shop at Home" and "Christmas Shop at Home" campaign on WXRS, WJAT, WELT, and WRJS.
34) Built "Emanuel Made-Emanuel Grown" pages on website
35) XM radio capabilities installed to upgrade sound system in Downtown Square
36) Held annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic; 114 golfers & 10 local industries participated.
37) Hosted Classic South Tourism Board of Directors at Flat Creek Lodge
38) Attended Downtown Development Authority meetings
39) Sent letters to state board members of Department of Adult Education voicing concerns over proposed merger of Swainsboro Technical College and Southeastern Technical College. Traveled to Atlanta to meet with Commissioner Ron Jackson and staff. Hosted several meetings with local officials on proposed merger.
40) Submitted grant application for electronic display board for downtown kiosk
41) Hosted a Georgia State Chamber of Commerce "Legislative Listening Session"
42) Attended Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executive Leadership Conference in Savannah
43) Assisted Emanuel County Farm Bureau with annual Farm/City Breakfast
44) Assisted Downtown Development Authority with Christmas parade and "Carols on the Square."
45) Attended GACCE Annual Conference for Chamber Executives
46) Met with city and county officials on clean community initiatives, code enforcement and litter control.
47)Attended monthly Family Connection meetings
48) Submitted grant applications for 2009 FFA State Forestry Field Day to be held in conjunction with Pine Tree Festival & Southeast EXPO.
49) Solicited sponsorships for 2009 Pine Tree Festival & EXPO
50) Participated in 16 ribbon cuttings and grand openings throughout the year
51) From July 1 thru December 10th :
Answered 2,120 telephone calls
Referred over 600 calls to local businesses
Mailed 42 "Welcome to Emanuel County" packages
Hosted 110 visitors to Chamber
Distributed 122 Emanuel County brochures

As part of the Vision Series, The Glenn Miller Orchestra will be on stage at East Georgia College on Friday, January 23rd. A gala is being planned before the show to benefit the East Georgia College Foundation. More details later, but mark your calendars now!

Swainsboro's newest bakery and sandwich shop will open for business on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Located at 408-B, North Main Street, Swainsboro, "Taste of Heaven" will offer a complete line of soups, sandwiches and baked goods including fresh doughnuts made daily.

The local manager of the store is Christine Whitaker. Take-out orders are available by calling 478-289-8080.

We welcome our newest chamber member!

With the economy still in the doldrums, the Georgia Economic Outlook Series should be more interesting than ever. The annual event is planned for January 15, 2009, from 11:45 -1:30 p.m. at East Georgia College in the Richard L. Brown Room.

The series, directed by the Terry College of Business, annually draws thousands from across the state with Atlanta, Columbus, Jekyll Island, Macon, Savannah, Augusta, Thomasville, Albany and Athens serving as other host sites.

The state, national and international forecasts will be presented by Robert T, Sumichrast, Dean of the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

The cost of the tickets, which includes lunch, is $25.00 per person, or $160 for a reserved table of eight. For more information or to order tickets, call the Georgia Rural Economic Development Center at East Georgia College at 478-289-2121.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce would like to extend our congratulations to Butch Parrish on the recent highway dedication in his honor. The Swainsboro bypass from State Route 297 to State Route 4/U.S.1 will now be known as the Larry J. "Butch" Parrish Parkway.

This is a well-deserved honor, and we thank Butch for his long-standing support of the Chamber.

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce held its annual "Christmas Parade and Carols on the Square" on Thursday, December 4th, in downtown Swainsboro.

Over 70 entries in the parade made in the largest in years. The parade featured dancers, bands, floats, caroling groups, beauty queens and a special horse- drawn carriage bringing Santa to town. It was estimated that some 2,000 to 2,500 people were in attendance for the event.

At 6 p.m. on the Square, members of the Swainsboro Elementary School Chorus, local church groups and singers formed a "community chorus," singing Christmas favorites under the direction of Betsy Johnson, with John Neighbors on the organ. The Houston Sisters, a local favorite, also performed.

Local vendors offered special Christmas goodies for sale during the event.

Sponsoring organizations include the Swainsboro Downtown Development Authority, Swainsboro- Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, Emanuel County Arts Council, Gallery RFD and the Pilot Club.