Working together

Click on any blue underlined word or phrase to view more information about that topic.

It finally caught up with us….what?? 

and it's
 

A-h-h-h, but there is a way to bring warmer memories to everyone.  Join us at our Strawberry Festival planning meeting next Thursday, February 15th, 7:00 p.m. at Hartford City Hall.  The 2007 festival dates are June 7-10.  We are in need of volunteers to help plan children’s games and activities, adult-children’s music entertainment, arts and crafts vendor planning, fund raising, advertising, main street activities, etc.  The Strawberry Festival is a family affair and we want it to be the very best for all ages.                         

☼ All chamber board members, please make it a priority to attend our organizational meeting this coming Tuesday, February 13th - 12:00 NOON at City Hall.  The board will elect the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and trustee positions.  Per the chamber bylaws, I have fulfilled my 1-year term as president.  I wish to thank all the 2006 board members for the great work that was accomplished.

☼ The Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce has finally received a tax exempt status from the IRS with an effective date back to October 22, 2002.

☼ Due to a tie vote at our Annual Meeting, the board selected by a unanmous vote to present the Best Community Minded award to Emma Sefcik, owner of Competent Secretarial Service.  A recap of these prestigious awards are:

Best Wholesale-Retail Business:  Personal Touch Cakes - Diana Walker
Best Service Business:  S & A Automotive
Best Professional Business (tied):
National City Bank, Liebenthal Dentistry, Competent Secretarial Service - Emma Sefcik
Best Manufacturing or Food Processing Business (tied):
Mann Metal, Burnette Foods, Eliason Corporation. 
Best Community Minded:  Competent Secretarial Service—Emma Sefcik

Best of award recipients are also noted in the Hartford Business Directory at www.hartfordmi.com.  

☼ At our January chamber meeting, Yemi Aikenwale, Hartford City Manager, answered questions about the feasibility study for potential large economic development sites along I-94 in the Hartford and Watervliet area.  The study would include utility needs for the unique 2,100 acre site, development strategies, costs of bringing in utilities, sources of funding, types of businesses that could go there and the impact of such Development.  Yemi reported that work is in progress toward obtaining grant monies to fund the study.  Chamber members listened intently and asked many questions about the process and what it could mean toward future business development and growth to our community.  The chamber offered to assist in any way toward promoting our business area with chamber members participating.  Thank you, Yemi, for the update.   (it pays to attend chamber meetings!)

☼ The 2007 Local Events Calendar AND Community Meetings and Special Announcement Calendar is currently being updated on our website www.hartfordmi.com.  If your business, group, or organization has a community event, please contact us or click here to email the webmaster with details.  Check your meeting dates and times to make sure these are correct and email the webmaster with corrections.  Please note that Chamber member Local Events are listed FREE.  For non-member Local Events, contact the webmaster for listing fee.

    H-E-L-P  is here!                      Van Buren County Tax Coalition                                               Feb 21 and March 21 (Wednesdays)  
                                              3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
                                   by appointment only
                               (269) 621-2477 or (269) 674-8091
                                                     at
                                                                          Hartford City Hall

Who qualifies?
Single
   ● no children with 2006 income less than $12,120.00
   ● 1 child - less than $32,001
   ● 2 or more children - less than $36,348
Married
   ● no children with 2006 income less than $14,120
   ● 1 child - less than $34,001
   ● 2 or more children - less than $38,348

Other locations noted in our Local Events section.

☼ ☼ Agenda for February 13^th, 2007

 Important dates to remember: 

► Tuesday, February 13th, 12:00 NOON — Chamber Board meeting at Hartford City Hall.
► Thursday, February 15th, 7:00 p.m.— Strawberry Festival meeting at Hartford City Hall
► Wednesday, February 28th — Deadline for retaining CoC in Hartford Business Directory on website.  The CoC designation will be removed from all unpaid member listings.
► View other local events and Chamber News always on-line at www.hartfordmi.com.

To help with printing and postage expense, please let us know if you want to receive our monthly newsletter by email.  Click here to send an email with the word subscribe in the subject line and we’ll add you to our growing email list.
 

Shop locally whenever you can . . . it's important for our businesses AND for your community!!

The President's Desk newsletter is sent to all area businesses every month, either in letter form or by email. It is also now being published in the Tri-City Record each month. If you would like your business mentioned in the President’s Desk newsletter, please contact me at (269) 621‑4349 or click here to send me an email.  Be sure to check the Business Directory on our website at www.hartfordmi.com to see if your business is listed.  If it isn’t, simply complete the online submission form for your free listing on the website - for Hartford area businesses, organizations, or Chamber members ONLY.  And, while you are at it, don’t forget to complete the online submission form to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce.  All Chamber members are designated with a CoC in front of their listing.   

 Officers for 2007

(L-R)
Vice President - Natalie Rios (269) 621-1006 - Click here to send me an email
Trustee - Sheila Nye - (269) 621-2405  -  Click here to send me an email
Trustee - Shelia Darling   (269) 621-3594  -  Click here to send me an email
Secretary - RoxAnn Rodney-Isbrecht  (269) 621-2477 -  Click here to send me an email
Trustee - Pat Vawter  (269) 621-3988 -  Click here to send me an email.
President - Ron Sefcik  (269) 621-4349 - Click here to send an email
Treasurer - Tad Moody (269) 621-4526 -  Click here to send an email
Trustee - Kim Sinclair  (269) 621-3651 - Click here to send me an email
Trustee - Ron Hansen (269) 621        Click here to send me an email (not pictured)

Send mail to webmaster
with questions or comments about our web site at www.hartfordmi.com
Copyright © 2000 Hartford Business Association, Hartford MI
Copyright © 2000 Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Hartford MI
Copyright © 2000 City of Hartford, Hartford MI
Copyright © 2000 History of Hartford, Hartford MI


Know a friend who would be interested in our emailed newsletter?
Click here to receive to our monthly Chamber newsletter