Fun Evening at Twilight Supper Club for Annual Dinner
The Phelps Chamber of Commerce held the annual dinner and meeting on Tuesday, October 13th at Twilight Supper Club. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed live entertainment from Dean and Alyssa Imse of Popular Girl. Twilight put out a tasty spread of hors d’ouevres, including fresh vegetables and dip, chicken wings, and smoked salmon.
Dinner options included grilled shrimp skewers, baked chicken, slow-roasted ribs, and sirloin. Before beginning, Chamber Director Celeste Hendrickson welcomed guests and took a moment to thank the 2015 Board of Directors for all of their hard work and dedication to the Chamber. Directors Jolyn Kyler, Lorin Johson, Rae Ann Volkmann, Renee Snook and Matt Hendrickson each contributed greatly to the success of the year and were a valuable asset to the Chamber and the community.
Following dinner, and during a scrumptious dessert of blondie bites or bread pudding, an update was given by Quita Sheehan regarding Great Headwaters Trails progress on the Conover – Phelps trail. The trail is moving along quickly, and the first segment is complete. GHT and Phelps are excited for the huge asset that the bike trail will be for the area.
Celebrating a Successful Year
After thanking Quita for sharing, Celeste gave a brief recap of the year’s successes. Increased attendance at Maple Syrup Fest allowed the committee to award a second scholarship, one going to a Phelps student and one to a graduate of Iron River high school. 4th of July was also a success, and the dunk tank was a fun new addition to 2015. The first Twin Triathlon was held on North Twin Lake and the Vista Lake Biking Trails, and the 35th Annual Midwest Musky Classic just recently took place in Phelps. Both were a wonderful way to share the amazing natural resources that Phelps has to offer outdoor enthusiasts.
Membership has grown over the past year, and Celeste hopes to see that continue as she enjoys the opportunity to spread the word about the diverse local businesses throughout the Northwoods. The Chamber also enjoyed working with the other organizations and clubs in town to achieve mutual goals, as well as launching the Business After 5 networking series in coordination with the Conover and Land O’Lakes Chambers.
“We have so much to celebrate from the past year, and I can’t wait to come together again in 2016 to look back at another great year for the Chamber and for Phelps”, Celeste said.
A Dedicated Volunteer and Long-term Members Recognized
Eleven businesses were recognized with appreciation for being active members for over 15 years. These included Village Barber, Big Sand Lake Cottages, Boone’s Building Supply, First National Bank, Hazen Inn, North Twin Builders, North & South Twin Lakes Association, Phelps Convenience Store, Phelps School District, Sunrise Lodge, and Wintersland Storage. Celeste presented North Twin Builders with their certificate of appreciation during the meeting.
Board member Renee Snook was also honored for her outstanding volunteer service over the past few years. Renee served as President and Secretary in her last two terms on the board, and played a big part in all Chamber progress. She also has been an integral part of the creation and success of Maple Syrup Fest. She will be stepping down from both positions this year, stating that it’s time to let someone new experience the rewards of these activities.
A New Board is Elected
The annual meeting included the election of the 2015-16 Board of Directors. The new board of directors is as follows:
President: Randy Samuelson
Vice President: Lorin Johnson
Treasurer: Rae Ann Volkmann
Secretary: Quita Sheehan
Director: Patty Kirschmann
Director: Fritz Laeser
Director: Jolyn Kyler
Thank you to these individuals for stepping up and volunteering to help the Chamber reach even higher in 2016!
The next meeting of the Phelps Chamber will be held on Tuesday, November 10th 2015 at the Phelps Accelerator Building at 6:30 pm. For more information on the Phelps Chamber or to become a member, call 715-545-3800 or email Chamber-office@PhelpsWI.us.