| Issue No. 262 Serving the Entire Business Community June 2006 | ||
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| Service Wins A wise businessperson once said that being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game. As a business leader in our community, we are sure you not only appreciate the truth in this observation, but also are always searching for ways to maintain a winning team of employees. To make this challenge easier for you, the Chamber is proud to sponsor a workshop to inspire and revitalize your work force, while providing valuable tools they will be able to put to use immediately to 'wow!' you customers and clients. Customer Service Excellence is to be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at the Laramore Room of the Plymouth Public Library. From 8:30 until 11:30 AM, participants will gain knowledge about how to get the edge on the competition by treating customers with extraordinary service that will keep them coming back. In this half-day workshop, participants will discover: -The top ten service mistakes customers hate -The top ten service details that make customers rave -Learn the magic words they love as well as those they despise -Seven critical elements to achieving excellence -Handling problems/complaints - how to be a fantastic fixer -Ten keys to effective communication -How to identify, meet and exceed customer expectations Constant Training is the company presenting the seminar; founder Joe Constance will lead the workshop. He has been rated consistently outstanding in over 200 workshops in the last 2 years. He has owned nine different businesses and managed up to 200 employees. He shares with the audience not only his successes, but also his failures - all in a fun, relaxed and interactive manner. Part of the charm of Plymouth is the cultural events available to this community. To be a place of destination, a community needs interest - culture... "places to go, people to see"... and this "interest" - this "culture" vibrates and draws people to it. Plymouth is blessed by the cultural opportunities it has to offer and one of the many cultural blessings this community has issome way helping bring the arts to our area at a reasonable price. Whatever your reason for joining Encore welcomes you. You may become as active as you desire. Encore's future is in our combined strength. Bring a friend. Be a friend. You may join by calling the Encore office 574-935-4987. JUNE 17 HEART AND HANDS LATINO FESTIVAL Mark your calendars for a fun filled family day at this year's Latino Festival. There will be entertainers, food vendors and artisans at Plymouth's Centennial Park at the Young Amphitheater grounds. The Chamber has a booth space available again this year for Chamber members who wish to participate in sharing information about their business. This 'space' is a banquet size table that you will share with those members who sign up, so space is limited. There is no charge to our Chamber members for this participation. Call 936-2323 to take advantage of this opportunity.   Thank You and Comments - 2006 Chamber Annual Dinner The Chamber's Annual Dinner was held May 9th this year at Christo's Banquet Center. During this annual event, we were delighted to have the Plymouth High School Jazz Combo volunteer to play during the social hour. We have received multiple compliments and want to pass these kudos along. We also introduced the MarketPlace of Ideas to this function. Ten banquet tables were set up around the dining room, Chamber member businesses paid a participation fee and displayed their business. We developed market place cards that the dinner guests for this evening had marked as they visited with the market place businesses and then turned in for a drawing at the end of the evening. During the evening, Pete Quella of HQ Chem Dry shared that he was very happy with the MarketPlace. He made several new customers and several future contacts. He indicated that he would share further comments at a later date. To follow up on those Chamber member businesses that participated, we sent letters and asked that they comment on the experience. We have received the following two so far: Kristi Ewing, LaFree Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, wrote, 'I feel that our facility greatly benefited from the MarketPlace of Ideas.' She also indicated that she would like to participate again. Linda Rippy, M.C. Historical Society / Museum, commented that she counted about 70 people who visited her table. She gave away 50 free memberships in hope that they would continue their membership next year and to encourage actual visits to this unique facility. She also had her own give-away with a drawing she conducted and suggested the next time, each MarketPlace participant do something similar and take the initiative to advertise their participation ahead of time and during the event. Thank you, Christo's Banquet Center, Chris, Patti and the entire staff. To our Chamber members and guests, thank you for your attendance and participation in our community and your Chamber! GB Customs 840 E. Jefferson Street, Plymouth; 574-952-6328 GB Customs' Grand Opening will be held on June 17th, 2006 from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. This event will be held at 840 East Jefferson St. Some of the attractions that will be featured at their Grand Opening are a car show, raffles, many deals on items within the shop, and free installs with any purchase of JVC or Pioneer head unit. All are invited to attend. United Way of Marshall County 2701 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth; 574-936-3366; www.marshallcountyuw.org The fifth annual 'Ride for United Way' is scheduled for Saturday, June 24th. The motorcycle ride leaves the LaPaz Fire Station at 10:00 a.m. and riders travel throughout Marshall County on a 62-mile route. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the LaPaz Fire Station with a riders meeting at 9:45 AM. Last year 133 bikes with a total of 220 riders rode through Bremen, Bourbon, Argos, Culver and Plymouth to raise awareness for the United Way of Marshall County. This year, over 250 riders are expected to participate in the ride. 'This is a great way for the United Way to let the general public know that the annual United Way campaign is coming,' said Cindy Rash, organizer of the event. 'We had a great bunch of people last year and expect even more this year.' The ride ends at the Plymouth Moose Lodge where lunch is served and participants are treated to music, dancing, raffle drawings, and door prizes. For more information, contact the United Way office at 574-936-3366 or visit www.marshallcountyuw.org. LaCasa, Inc. 202 N. Cottage Avenue, Goshen; 574-533-4450; www.lacasagoshen.org LaCasa, Inc. is offering two FREE class this summer. Free Home Ownership Class: Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Life Enrichment Center (Council on Aging,) 1305 Harrison St., Plymouth. This class provides everything needed to successfully purchase your dream home. The class covers budgeting, cleaning up your credit, how to make an offer and obtain the best loan product, avoid predatory lending, and protect and maintain your home after purchase. Class participants will receive a free credit report, as well as a certificate that meets lender requirements for certain affordable loan products. Spanish Home Ownership Class: Saturday, July 15, at the Life Enrichment Center (Council on Aging), 1305 Harrison St., Plymouth. The instructor will teach in Spanish everything needed to be a successful home owner. Both of these classes are open to everyone FREE of charge. Pre-registration is preferred. Call LaCasa at 1-866-897-3899 for details. (Note: Correction to May 2006 NewsMonth: LaCasa was misspelled. It is correct this issue.) Ancilla Domini College 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson; 574-936-8898; www.ancilla.edu In a move to encourage students who are working fulltime to pursue their college degrees, Ancilla College will begin Friday and Saturday classes starting September 1st and 2nd this fall semester. 'This is the first time weekend classes have been offered at Ancilla,' stated interim dean of academics Sharon Blubaugh. 'Many fulltime working adults would pursue a college degree if they could take classes outside their work schedules.' Sixteen classes, in the disciplines of art, biological science, communications, computer science, English, history and political science, humanities, mathematics, psychology, religion and philosophy, and sociology will be offered as part of this new schedule of classes. Students can earn credits toward an Associate of Arts, Liberal Studies, or Science Degrees at Ancilla by attending classes offered on Fridays and Saturdays. For information on admission to Ancilla College or for information on the weekend class courses, contact the Admissions Office at 1.866.ANCILLA or e-mail the office at admissions@ancilla.edu. Ancilla College is a two-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. New Members
June 2006
June Inserts
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