The mission of the Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce is to
promote economic development and business in the area.
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
CHAMBER CHAT
Bonnie Menigo, President
(Old Oak Inn)
Corey Berube, Vice President
(Frandsen Bank & Trust)
Frank Christopherson
(US Bank)
Todd Cummings
(Individual Member)
Wayne Gilman
(Pine City Schools)
Sara Helseth
(MINPACK, Inc.)
Jeana Mikyska
(Coldwell Banker Results)
TJ Musgrove
(Individual Member)
www.pinecitychamber.com
(320) 322-4040 • [email protected]
www.facebook.com/pinecitychamber
OFFICE HOURS: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
315 Main Street South, Suite 155, Pine City, MN 55063
Director Profiles:
Julie Stevens
Amy McDaniel
(FirstLight Health System)
Erin Skalicky
(Ruby’s Pantry)
Julie Stevens
(Stearns Bank)
Joe Wolf
(Individual Member)
Heather Wynn
(Wynn Law Firm)
Natalie Kolling
(Student Director, PCHS)
Andrew Blake
(Student Director, PCHS)
Open Position
(Student Director, PTC)
MARCH BOARD
New Business
Visits:
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
President’s Report
Menigo shared a few brief updates on business happenings:
Julie Stevens joined the
• The February Chamber Mob outing was held at A&W
Chamber Board of Directors
Restaurant. There were 10 people in attendance.
in 2013 as a representative for
Contact: John Cabak & Tracy Anderson
•
Alto Cheese – a new manufacturing company – has
Stearns Bank. After relocating
opened
in Downtown Pine City.
Located: 203 5th Street SE, Pine City MN
to Pine City in 1983 and
• Ruby’s Pantry offices have relocated to North Branch
graduating with the Class of
Contact: 320-629-2529
where they will office out of their warehouse location.
‘87, Stevens has spent almost
25 years working in the same
Cabak Law is a small, general practice law
• Pine City Health & Fitness has new owners; we will be
building – although it has
welcoming them with a visit in March.
fi
rm
in
Pine
City,
MN
focusing
on
banking
law,
undergone many changes over
bankruptcy,
real
estate,
business
and
estate
• Now, Then & Again – a consignment store – has
the years. Growing up in the
opened in the Pine Plaza building behind A&W.
Metro has provided Stevens
planning.
with an appreciation for the small-town atmosphere
Guest Presentation: Pine City Public Schools
that Pine City offers. “Joining the Chamber board has
“Dragons in the Cloud”
helped me get to know more of the other business
Paul Jackson attended today’s meeting to share a short
owners and managers in the area. I am looking forward
video that the school has created titled “Dragons in the
to being a part of the functions the Chamber puts on
Cloud.” The video shares information about ways that
and be able to bring out some of my unknown talents
the school district is implementing technology into daily
of event planning!”
curriculum for students. As part of their integration “to
This summer Stevens and husband, Jeffrey, will be
the cloud” this year, students in grades 6-8 currently have
celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary. Their
iPad’s in order to have 1:1 access to technology. Teachers
family includes two sons: Jared is 20 years old and
are implementing the use of this technology into their
attending his sophomore year at NSDU in Fargo ND
daily classroom activities. A second initiative this year
for Mechanical Engineering and Jordon is 16 years old
was that all teachers grades 6-12 have implemented Web
as a sophomore at PCHS. As a family they enjoy the
pages for their classroom. Many teachers have changed
outdoors, fishing, boating and archery which included
to an all digital way of communicating with parents:
bowhunting.
e-mail newsletters, Web pages, and even classroom news
(L-R) Tracy Anderson, Wayne Gilman, John Cabak,
videos. The “Dragons in the Cloud” video can be found
Nathan Johnson, Bonnie Menigo and Frank
on the district website at www.isd578.org.
Christopherson.
Executive Director Report
Schueller reported that there are 30 businesses that have
not yet renewed their membership in 2013. Directors
have been asked to make contact with 2-3 businesses
with a reminder visit or phone call. The goal is for all
members to have dues paid by March 15 in order to be
The Pine City Area Chamber of
Contact: Donnie Peterman
included in the Member Directory this year.
ner
Commerce will once again partner
Located: 54223 Ivy Avenue, Rush City MN
with the printing division of
Schueller also reported on the Website Traffic Counts
nt
MINPACK, Inc. to design and print
that were requested last month. With the update to
Contact: 320-358-4869
a new map for the community.
our website in the fall, the link to Google Analytics was
Based on feedback from our
East Central Towing is a full service towing and broken and information was not tracked for November –
members and map users, we
February. Schueller has contacted our website provider
recovery business. We offer medium and light
are creating a map that will be
to get this corrected as soon as possible.
duty towing, winching, lockouts, jump starts,
defined more by Zip code and
Schueller presented the treasurer’s report. Expenses
school district boundaries than
tire changes and fuel delivery 24 hours a day,
incurred by the general fund included the general liabilthe city of Pine City limits.
7 days a week to Rush City, Pine City, North
ity coverage, wine tasting expenses, payroll expenses
For 2013 we will produce the
Branch and the surrounding area.
as well as other general expenses. These general fund
“Greater Pine City Area” map
expenses total $2,498.00. Additionally, $232.35 was
with a printing of 3000 copies
spent from the Miss Pine City account, and $900 was
of the map for distribution
spent from the MPC Scholarship account. A motion was
within the East Central MN
made by Cummings to approve the Treasurer’s Report,
Area. Our target date for
second by Skalicky. Motion carried.
distribution is May 1 and all
Committee Reports
ad sales will be due by March
15. Advertising space in the
Wynn reported on the Wine Tasting event that was held
maps is limited in this publication.
on
on March 1. A total of 64 tickets were collected the
Please contact Becky today to secure your ad spot:
evening of the event. Total income from the event was
320.322.4040 or [email protected].
$1040.00 and the Voyageur Bottle Shop has offered a
coupon discount to those that attended to purchase
Current members of the Pine City Area Chamber of
wines that were tasted at the event. The Chamber
Commerce will be given first opportunity to participate
wishes to provide thank yous to the following busiin any of the map publications created by the Chamber
nesses for their contributions to the event: Cabin Coffees,
of Commerce.
(L-R) Wayne Gilman, Nathan Johnson, Frank
Chris’ Foods, Tastefully Simply consultant Erin Bombard,
Christopherson, Bonnie Menigo, Holly Wilson, Becky
Voyageur Bottle Shop, and Pizza Pub. Additional thank
Schueller and Donnie Peterman
you’s to the four home-based businesses that had tables
at the event: Heidi Briski-Gainor, Thirty-One Gifts; Marcia
Howard, Premier Jewelry; Angie Kemen, Usborne Books;
and Kim Freetly with Scentsy Wickless Candles.
The Chamber wishes to extend our thanks to the
Business & Community Development
Contact: Andrew Keene
following businesses for your partnership in making
Christopherson shared the highlights of activities in
the Winter Wine tasting a successful fundraiser for the
Located:
135
5th
Street
SE,
Pine
City
MN
Pine City as presented at Planning Commission and EDA
Chamber. The funds raised at this event support our
meetings.
regular events and planned giving for 2013 including
Contact: 320-629-4959
the Citizen of the Year event and Holiday Madness. We
• The Planning Commission met on February 26 and the
Jimmy’s Pizza is now open in Downtown
thank you for your contributions:
majority of the meeting was discussion regarding the
school parking lots at the high school.
Pine City at 135 5th Street SE. Open Sunday Cabin Coffees
Thursday from 4-10pm and Friday/Saturday
• The EDA met on February 27 and approved billboard
Chris’ Food Center
signs to be purchased to promote the available land
from 4-11pm the restaurant is now offering
for sale in the Industrial Park.
carryout,
delivery
&
dine-in
services.
Tastefully Simple, Erin Bombard
• The group heard from Dave Hill regarding the Pine City
Premier Design Jewelry, Marcia Howard
Mill property and had a discussion regarding the best
options for the city to consider regarding clean-up of
Thirty-One Gifts, Heidi Briski-Gainor
the property for future re-development projects.
UsBorne Books & More, Angie Kemen
Student Reports
Scentsy Wickless Candles, Kim Freetly
Natalie Kolling shared an update on the activities of the
Pine City Ambassadors. As the winter months are often
Pizza Pub
low on activities for the ambassadors, the senior girls
set-up opportunities to volunteer in Kindergarten & First
Voyageur Bottle Shop
Grade classrooms and read during February “I Love to
Read” month activities.
Andrew Blake shared an update on the activities at the
Pine City Schools. Blake shared information on state par(L-R) Frank Christopherson, Wayne Gilman, Andrew
ticipation for Pine City’s wrestlers and gymnasts. He also
Keene, Bonnie Menigo & Nathan Johnson.
shared details about the “Chain Reaction for Kindness”
that has been implemented at the high school.
w. Chamber Member Updates
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We welcome new members to join the Pine City Area
Frank Christopherson with US Bank shared informatych
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Chamber of Commerce throughout the year, and want
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US Bank. The bank is offering a “Meet
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- next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
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Cabak Law, LLC
Advertisers
Wanted
With Thanks...
East Central Towing
Jimmy’s Pizza
Welcome New
Members in 2013
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Never miss out again. pinec