Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/14964
4A – Daily News – Wednesday, August 18, 2010 Commerce business The Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce is a busi- ness resource and support center that has been in service to its members and the greater community for many years. Often times, as an active and very involved director, I ask local busi- nesses why they do not belong. The most used and most trite reasons for not joining a chamber are "I don’t see how the chamber helps me" and "I just can’t afford to join right now." The truth of the matter is the chamber works for all business- es, members or not. People who don’t join expect things to hap- pen but they’re not willing to help. The late Gene Penne was one of the busiest men in town, yet he served on every committee as well as serving as our president. Years ago, member Gene Ten- ney, from Cottonwood Creek Gravel, was being forced out of business by an arbitrary and capricious ruling by Fish and Game. The Local Governmental Ser- vices Committee got the business community involved and we put his business expansion as an Advisory Measure on a county- wide ballot; it passed by a 3-1 vote and the Board of Supervi- sors then voted to allow his busi- ness a Use Permit to expand. The Sunset Hills Subdivision was in danger of not being & approved. Again, the Govern- mental Services Committee appealed to the people and the business community; they responded favor- ably and it was approved, a local judge ruled against the pro- ject and on appeal, the project was upheld. During the appeal, the community involvement was used by the judges as a favorable factor. These two projects tripled the properties’ tax values adding to Tehama County land values. We have had dozens of requests from our members for assistance with local government rules, regulations and attitudes of employees. The chamber worked with Red Bluff concerning Development Impact Fees. Although we didn’t get what we recommended, we at least reduced the amount of the fees. We are working with a mem- ber who believes the County Road Department is overstepping its bounds on a small subdivision split and Tehama County’s Development Impact Fees. Join- ing the chamber is every business owner or manager’s responsibili- ty. Find out what you can do to help make the chamber stronger, better and more resourceful. Get involved in a committee: Special Events, Visitor and Con- vention, Membership, Finance or Local Governmental Services. enterprise Why belong to the chamber? If all a member ever did was to lobby for business improvements just once, that would help contin- ue the power of influence for the business community. I’ve been a member for 32 years, seen lots of chamber pres- idents come and go. Marvin Smoot was president when I joined in 1977; Gary Napier in 1980 raised the most hell; Tom Souza in 1983 created lots of new committees; John Koeberer in 1985 enlarged the scope of our chamber; Gayle Kemp in 1989, our first woman president, added a much-needed female touch to our chamber; Dan Cargile in 1993 refocused the chamber; Cindy Brown in 1996 and 1997, our second woman president, secured the chamber’s position in our com- munity; Brad Helser in 2002 showed the chamber a Corvette could be in our future; Lynn DeFreece, Cindy Brown, Rich Mehling in 2007, 2008 and 2009 helped revitalize our mission and then handed the reins over to our sitting President Kris Beherens. So, join, pitch in, speak out, advocate for business and busi- ness improvement; business own- ers can and should learn how to improve the ways of how they do business by taking advantage of the chamber and Job Training Centers’ business seminars. We can succeed, you can suc- ceed but it takes your help and work. Bill Moule is chairman of the chamber’s Local Governmental Services Committee. Jack, dog trainers and happy project join chamber • New Members – The Corning Chamber of Com- merce welcomes these new members: Jack in the Box, 3098 Hwy 99W in Corning, Phone 824-5090. Brainy Dog, (dog training), 3525-B Rawson Road, Corning, CA 96021. Phone (530) 566- 1966, and I Am Happy Pro- ject, P.O. Box 1271, Corn- ing. Phone (415) 377-6590. • Corning in the Evening – Last Thursday, about 45 guests attended the monthly get together at Hometown Café, and as expected they had a wonderful spread of delicious food and desserts. The chocolate fountain was a big hit and owners, Lynn Rebbing and Bonnie Web- ster went all out to make sure no one went hungry. Two lucky guests had their business cards drawn and received gift certificates to Hometown Café. Thank you Lynn and Bonnie for a wonderful evening. Next Thursday, August 26, at 6 p.m., will be the Olive Festival Mixer spon- sored by Bell Carter Olive Company in their break room. Next month’s Corn- ing in the evening will be hosted at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 by Trinity Healthcare Associates at 145 Solano St. • Olive Festival - The Olive Festival T-shirts are in. If you didn’t pre-order you may purchase them at the chamber for $15. They come in two colors this year, olive and black. Olive Festival Parade entries, vendor forms and bed race entries should be in by this Friday, August 20, although we may give you time if you can’t get them in by Friday. If you need any entry forms come by the chamber and pick them up. The parade entry fee is $10 and the theme this year is "Where No Olive Has Gone Before." We have beds to borrow if you do not have your own bed for the races. Olive Cook-off recipe forms can also be obtained at the chamber office. They must be in by Aug. 23 for a chance for your recipe to be included for judging. The grand prize is $200 and will be judged at 1 p.m. on Aug. 28 in Woodson City Park. There is no entry fee. Dutch Oven Cook-off will also be judged at 1 p.m. To enter the Dutch Oven Cook-Off you may call Don Mason at 527-1027 or send an e-mail to dmason50@att.net. Cash awards will be for the fol- lowing: First place for Main Dish, Bread and Dessert $50 and a Plaque. This should be a fun Dutch Oven Cook-off and sharpen your culinary skills. Begin- ning Dutch Oven cooks are invited. Also 4-H, Boy Scouts and junior groups are invited to cook, but an adult must accompany this division. • Jubilee – The Tehama County Museum will be holding its 29th Annual Jubilee from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the museum grounds, 275 "C" Street in Tehama. There will be live music, great food, crafts, a new museum exhibit, antique appraisals and a variety of activities. To volunteer, obtain addi- tional information or to dis- cuss your raffle item dona- tion, call Linda Middle- brough at 200-4071 or email her at tcmuse@tehama.net. This column is prepared and submitted by ——— the Corning Chamber of Commerce. Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your photos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspirational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.co m or drop off at 545 Dia- mond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption.