Welcome everybody to midday magazine for this February a Friday July 19th. No, we got to start that over
Welcome everyone to midday magazine for this Friday July 19th 2024 have your host James behind the mic
And I am joined by our great friend Lacey ailing events and engagement director with our hearted Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Lacey were getting together on a Friday is a little weird. I know
I definitely thrown it off a little bit
excited to be here and it's fun to be able to promote some of the weekend events and some things that are going on in the
Upcoming week so it's kind of fun to be able to do this out of Friday change it up a little bit
We appreciate all the work that you and your chamber members do in this community does together
And we're really getting excited for some upcoming events
We've got the 41st annual lucky's golf outing coming up. That is an exciting one want to dive right into that lazy
Yes, so we will be there on Tuesday
So Monday afternoon the chamber will be closed as well as Tuesday for us to be out at that golf outing
I definitely want to give a shout out to Lake Arrowhead for allowing us to use that course
And then as well as the diamond sponsors Anderson O'Brien cranberry court
Ho Chiang Gaming Nikusa hotel mead key savings bank us bank mid-state technical college and Ergo
So many people come together to make these events happen in particular these golf classics that we have in the different golf events going on
I want to send a big thank you to all the businesses and all the community members coming together for this one
Do you guys are you guys good with volunteers? Do you need extra hands or anything for this one?
I think we are set and ready to go
We're we're kind of getting everything ready today right now for raffle baskets
If someone has a raffle basket and they want to bring it in we are there until four o'clock today
Obviously, it's a great way to get your business out there
Your name out there for kind of a relatively smaller
investment
So we are out there, but we are we're we're going to be excited and I'm already warm
So I'm hoping that we can control the weather a little bit and really excited to be at Lake Arrowhead on Tuesday
From what we're here and looking like 80s, you know, looking like nice weather
So should be a good golfing weather out there that should be a lot of fun and
Gonna see some fun outfits out there if I know one of the few things I know about golf
Gonna see some great outfits and we do want to send a big thank you again to Lake Arrowhead
And so many of the people coming together for this event
One of our favorite events all summer long is lunch by the river
We got a couple of good ones coming up lazy. Absolutely
So I'm we had a wonderful time yesterday
Obviously with it being on a Friday. It's it's weird. I'm like I just was there
But yeah, obviously huge shout out to the community theater. They were wonderful yesterday
As well as the boys and girls come to brought down a lot of kids
And come and see it and that was it was just great
So that was that was successful that went really well. Yes, it went great yesterday
Happy to hear that as you know, I love that theater. It's my second home
And I love our chamber when those worlds combined. It's it's a benefit for all of us as a community
Hopefully we'll see more of that in the future
I know Gretchen was excited about it
And I know that how you were talking about it building up to it
So great to hear that it went well
That's that's very cool
And then we had the gaming trailer for one for wandering games
So kids could go and play Xbox one if they wanted to get out of the sun for a little bit
As well as there was Nintendo switch games
And then we had our Casey twist balloon twister there
As well as the Humane Society brought out cowboy who was looking for a home
So definitely thank you to everyone that made it a huge success yesterday
A lot of people the sun was the sun got me a little bit but it was it was really really great
We've got a couple of all lunch by the rivers are special and unique
We've got a couple of really important ones coming up and one of them right around the corner on the 25th
Yes, so we have
Jackson Taylor he will be our live entertainment there and then that date sponsor is
Marshfield Clinic
Obviously our presenting lunch sponsor is Embridge and then our royal flush sponsor Crockett septic
So definitely huge shout outs to them
As well as the one after that is going to be August 1st and that is kids day
And well, it's really just off the bus but we're gonna we're having a whole bunch of kids thing kids things to do there
So co-sponsors united way of Southwood County and Adams
Counties as well as Erko and then entertainment
Going to be we're going to have the Wisconsin Conkers and then the Park Institute of Taekwondo and fitness
So they're going to do some stuff in front of everybody and we're going to kind of split it in half to where half of the
You know half the time is going to be one entertainment and then half so we'll see how that goes
This is will be the first time that we've done that
Since I've been there so really excited to have
Multiple entertainment as well as families there from both and I think it will be really fun
Just to kind of get these kids out active as well as you know breaking boards
Having fun kind of showing you what you know other things you can do in the community. Yeah. Oh, it's a great idea
Really nice again tie-in of all these different local businesses or non-profits coming together to be able to do something like that
That's going to be a blast and do want to remind everybody that August 1st lunch by the river is of course as Lacey said stuff the school bus desk
Had Terry in earlier today from the United Way. We're talking a little about this
They could always use some volunteers some people to help separate these great school supplies that this community comes so forward for to help out with
And they are still collecting supplies as of this interview
And still taking registration up until August 1st
So if you are a family or if you know somebody of a child that could use this
Please get them to sign up at uwac.org
And if you are able to give whether it is a notebook or a backpack or a cash donation
It's one of the greatest investments in the future you can make
I was one of these kids. I was one of those that did not have a school year that I started with all the supplies
We moved around a ton and I can tell you
When we don't at when we don't do something about these things your kid could end up in radio
No, I'm just joking, but it all seriousness it is something is a great investment in our future
And a great thing that the United Way can do so even if you aren't unable to maybe buy supplies or give a cash donation
I do encourage you to maybe volunteer help out with your United Way especially lunch by the river
It's a great combination you're down there get some food take in some things help out your community a little bit
It's a complete win-win something that you guys would lunch by the river have masterful and just done so well of bringing
Attention to things while also people having a great time with some great food
Absolutely, and we are a location for drop-offs for stuff the bus as well
So definitely come in if you want to just drop off a notebook
If you just want you know come in and kind of talk about it and hear a little bit learn a little bit more about the United Way
And the things they have to offer we would love to talk I loved here. I saw this morning at Starbucks too
But we're both we're both on our caffeine like we're on a mission right now
So definitely come in check it out lunch by the river. We're really excited for these next upcoming dates for that
So please come out 11 30 to 1 o'clock
Every Thursday
Gather by the gazebo also coming up next month looking forward to that one
Yeah, so our presenting sponsor visit Rome
It's gonna be our season sponsor showcase. So we had a lot of great sponsors during the season
So I thought it would be a good idea to just recognize them and the time that they've put in coming out every month
As well as the the games the little things that they've been giving out their swag
And then just making sure that Rome has a you know place to go and gather
You know on a Tuesday night. So it's not it's typically a little bit less
You know less of something going on in the area
So definitely come out client Creek is going to be our entertainment. So it's Garth and Becca
So it'll be like a little duo
And that's i'm excited to have a guy anna girl singing. Um, we typically it's been primarily male entertainment
So excited to have a girl and then chatterbox catering love Kathy
Always really always so great at jumping in when I need her
So that is going to meet round town center as well as well of Casey twist for balloon twisting
And then the Adams County humane society
Did bring out two dogs last month and they will bring out
Whatever they want to bring. I told them bring anything you've a porcupine a baby deer a goat bring whatever you want to bring
Um, I'm perfectly okay with it as long as it's looking for a home
And so I'm hopefully they can come and bring I it's so fun when they walk around they had a Dalmatian and
That dog it's like I think you just automatically know the breed for certain breeds
So that one um and it was really really friendly
So definitely excited to have the humane society have more of a presence um at these local events
It's another one of those again combinations that you and and they've been doing this for decades over at lunch by the river
But I really feel like you have really gotten a hold of and really taken the initiative of of combining these things
It is lunch by the river it is gathered by the gazebo
It is rendezvous in the park any of these events you find a way to have fun and joy some bring some local food trucks in or some local vendors in
Well also, hey, the humane society once you guys come on down. We got room for you. Hey local theater
We got some room for you. I just admire that. I really appreciate it
I know I'm not alone and I've heard from community members how much they enjoy these events with those added on add-ons
Yes, and it's been even like it'll be my shameless plug to community
My community leadership group because I was in it with Gretchen
So I got to know her and I got to like learn a little bit more about the community theater
And you know it with their even their stand-up, but they're improv the things that like I've never went to any of that and I'm 35 years old
And I went to my first one
She was like, please come and so then I was like, oh this would be so fun to have you know Shakespeare, but like
A today's version so it was so funny that it was like yesterday when they were doing it that the kids were like
Just run away with me. So it was like it was like modernized, but still it still had that like you know like and the
They're so brave. I love that like when I'm up there. I'm nervous. Just telling that you know telling everyone
You know, thank you for coming and I only have to remember like a paragraph
So to remember all of your lines as you know, you're in such a crazy time being you know a teen and I I just give them so much
So much credit, but I was in it with Gretchen and I definitely loved her as well as the humane society
Obviously huge passion of mine
Um, so to have them down there and then Alaska ended up actually being adopted by a community
Leadership participant that was with me. So
Have a him come down there and then having him connect with Alaska a deaf pet that was looking for a home
Like I literally it like gave me goose bumps because I was just like the fact that I
That the fact that I was able to like you know be up like I know both parties
And I really really worked really hard. It's like I felt like a little matchmaker
Absolutely, but yeah, I'm really excited. I love the community leadership
And I just being a part of it. I've made so many connections with people in the community
And I'm able to then share that with everyone else. So it's been great
It's a great plug to make because when we throughout the year when we talk about that or that group and that that program
These are the three part of the one of the bigger highlights we have of the connections you can make that you might not make otherwise
We've got a busy town and busy people that don't always get a chance to run into each other
Be encouraged to look into that and sign your team your class your uh employees up for something like that one
And a great idea with the seasoned sponsor showcase. Yeah, really like that also gives an extra
You know a tip of the hat to these businesses. It's a really smart idea. That's fun
rendezvous in the park. You know how I feel about this one
We love this one and it's coming up as well in august
Yes, so we just had that on Wednesday
So two days ago, and I would love to see that grow
So if you can come out even if it's just to come out for a little bit
Come and talk to come and talk to me learn about things in the community
If you have anything that you'd like to see that's also a great place to come
And definitely come talk to me Ho Chiang Gaming Neku's I guarantee they're going to give away free play
Just a just a little reminder
And then Jacobi custom cues they will both be down there for our date sponsor
Obviously the city of Neku says our seasoned sponsor and we will have
um a lovely live entertainer which sign off some people are like
Question about polka
But they are big in like the polka the folk type music and I'm really excited to have something a little different
We've never had polka there since I've been there
So I'm excited to kind of have that type thing like I grew up my mom always would make me poke it with her
And it's one of like the like even though in the moment I was like mom
This is embarrassing don't make me do this it like when I see pictures of me and her doing it
There wasn't like I didn't have a lot of pictures of us growing up
And that's something like where we're both smiling and we both it's not like oh, we're smiling for a picture like we're genuinely in the moment
So I'm excited to have them there and I'm I'm really excited. Obviously we have
The lions are gonna be giving away complimentary food too. So a free dinner some polka
It you know, it's a great location down by the water
You know go for a walk and just spend some time with family get out before they go back to school
It sounds like a perfect Wisconsin eve right like you hit all the marks right there
Yeah, yeah, our crowd, you know, I'm like who's a lion's club. Yeah, yeah, you're just missing a packer game like that's it
That's all that you're missing
That's great. That's a fun one and thank you for sharing that. That is a really cool memory
I was I was imagining that that sounds really cool
We are speaking with our friend lacy ailing events and engagement director with our heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
And lacy we've got some upcoming workforce program and events that we were going to touch on
And another one of these highlights we have with our chamber absolutely
So I've kind of talked a little bit about community leadership
So that's getting kind of a rebranding so now it will be the ace so advancing community education
And then I did share that it is going to be accredited now through mid-state
So definitely excited to to have those changes still have that community leadership
I mean we've been doing it for for quite a while
But just to have some impactful changes
To where we're staying current and relevant and people can still grow
In this so I'm I'm really really jealous that I didn't get to have it when it was accredited
But um just from talking to some of the people that I'm that I'm hoping you're gonna sign up this year to do this
I think it will be wonderful
I think that obviously I've been able to network with people and helped up find dogs at home
Trisha from Family Center
She's actually my neighbor which I didn't know that
So and I walked by and like cat call her and I'm like whoo pretty lady
What I see here
So it's just nice and she's also came to lunch by the river
And as well as chastin from you know paper city savings
He's came down to visit and then we've got to talk and he's like oh introduce me to the sponsor
And it's so nice when you have somebody sometimes just can be a little bit intimidating to go up to someone by yourself
So I think just having like oh, I know you will you come with me
So just can't have like a partner
But I've seen a lot of faces that we're a part of stuff from my community leadership now coming to this events because
They know about them and even though you live here for a long time
There's things that happen or there's businesses that have came or there's different events that we're doing and
We definitely need to be you know marketing them and marketing ourselves and marketing this bit like in this area
And we want it to be
Wisconsin Rapids
You know a community where family, you know, you're living here and when people are staying here. So
Definitely check out Ace registration is open. They are looking for some sponsors from different categories
But I think there's no better way to show that you care about this community than doing something than sponsoring something like this because
You're showing that you believe in this community that you believe in leaders being from this community
It's not you're having to pull you know these fortune 500
You know exacts you can you can find someone here
And then just give them the tools and then kind of just set them free. Yeah, yeah
It's nicely set
It's one of those opportunities that we have in this community that we highlight and we appreciate so very much
Because yes, we talked about the the chances of running into making connections and some of that
But they're we couldn't have enough leaders
You know and and any good leader out there will tell you that they could always improve that they could always be better at their job
And here is an a golden opportunity to not only be able to do that but as I said
Make connections with people that you might not otherwise make and certainly find out more about your community
It can only make our community that much stronger our businesses that much better which makes our economy better
And it just is a beautiful domino effect that this great program has had for many many years
Cannot encourage you to know enough to sign your employees up for this or maybe even you yourself be a part of this
Lacey if and and I real quick. I'm sorry. I want to shout out mid-state again
I know we talked about this last time
But man, I'm with you that is pretty cool that mid-state is doing that and this can be a credited thing
If you're a young person if you're a college student if you're looking at going into college or anything
Another great reason to do something like this would have been anyway
But then with that add on to it. Absolutely. Boy, that is a nice addition. I don't know many college students that are turned down credits
Uh, especially for something if I could be honest a fun way of earning those credits in a very cool unique way of doing it
That's a big shout out to MSTC for that
Lacey if people do want to know more about this if they do want to preregister sign up
Who can we call who can we contact? Yep, that's going to be Laura Laura bonner Ridgeway our workforce and economic development director
And that is workforce at Wisconsin Rapids chamber dot com or by phone at 715 4231830
And obviously we're building better leaders for stronger communities
And you can't lead people beyond where you are which I will say at every single one because that is firmly what I believe and
I mean the course is going to have a little bit more of a focus on those power dynamics as well as different leadership styles
Communication styles and how to have that win-win relationship with your employees with your staff with your bosses
And just you know just making it stronger for our entire you know
Wood County. Yeah, well said
We're got a couple minutes left Lacey as we're wrapping up one of the mentioned coffee with the chamber
One of our favorite events that's coming right up next month or the end the next month it looks like I know
It's crazy. I just saw Matt yesterday
He was he's been walking around lunch by the river um and Kyle obviously they've been they've been a they've been a
A huge bad advocate of lunch by the river and coming out there and having their own booths about our updom
You know upcoming economic development as well as the master plan
Um, and then just some changes that you want to see but um
I think this one's huge with coffee with the chamber um, obviously August 28th from 830 to 930 um
Kieribu coffee is our lunch or caught lunch sponsor. They should sponsor lunch too
Coffee sponsor for the day
Um, and we've been really wonderful at sponsoring a lot of different things um, so definitely
Check them out and then obviously free for members 10 dollars for non-members, but perfect place to
You know, obviously appropriately ask those questions about the mill about selling stuff
I know we've been there was something in the paper um this week about selling some of those
Larger tools and things in the paper mill those like those questions
That's where it should go here. It should be a coffee with the chamber
Obviously the director of community development Kyle currents. He's gonna have a lot of answers updates
Obviously, what are we doing with these buildings that are now owned by the city?
What are we are we take you know are we tearing them down? Are they are we trying to solicit other businesses to come in?
Obviously I was part of community leadership where we talked about this stuff for a whole day
But if you weren't a part of that you're you may not know some of the updates some of the businesses that are coming in
Obviously what's going on by home depot
There's a lot of things that are happening in our area where some people like they're they're not doing anything
There's nothing happening here. There's no growth
There is it's just you may not know about it or it just may not be you know being shared where you're getting your information from
So definitely check that out you can register online
It's obviously virtual as well. So please come down
Obviously, we have a back entrance that you can get through because our front right now is closed
So take kind of by the aspirus
I think that would be the probably the best way because there's also construction by the rafters
Is where we would connect before right? So definitely check that out
But obviously speakers Matt Zacker and Kyle Kerns
I think it'll definitely be informational for anyone that lives in this area and wants to know
What's happening? Yeah, and we appreciate how available Kyle and Matt have been throughout this process
And really as they will be going forward they they are community members
They want to hear from you treat them with respect act like adults and get bring your questions to coffee with the chamber August 28th
830 to 930 over at Caribou I love Caribou by the way great place
I wanted to mention as we wrap up in our last minutes here lacy a chamber update and certainly July's member of the month
Yes, so obviously we have chamber cash
Available one for 10 three for 20 that is assumption catholic schools
And 1850 dollars total if you total up each date from the 8th to the 27th
And so that it's going to be obviously a quite a bit of money if you win
But even if you do when you go back in and you can win again
So huge shut out to assumption and our you know a hot chunk us bank still core those are each
250 dollar gift certificates and it's one for 10 and three for 20 you can purchase them at the chamber
At our events
There's also a mail-in option so you can go on and download that and then just send it in if you're not able to
To come in but definitely
Find me above everyone else because I'm the one telling you this
So you heard it from lacy and definitely find me. I'm usually lunch by the river
Selling them down there walking around selling them or gather rendezvous
Obviously, we'll have them on our golf outing, but that is
Closed to you know to the public
But any event that we have coming up reach out find us and get in on the calendar
In a business we talk a lot about here on wfh are they sponsor our birthday and anniversary clever friends at l cafe or july's member of the month
Yes, I've already went there. I think twice this month
I love it. I love the facebook put there was like a facebook post of like his face
But in like a tons of different people
Yeah, that's great. I saw that over. Um, but I love how he I just love how genuine he is
And just how you can ask him anything when I went there he was in the back cooking
He was also helping the waitresses as well as wiping down tables
And I think that there is something to be said about someone who not only are they you know, they're leading
But they're also they're not I the humility that he has and the way that he will jump in
I just admire any kind of boss that will do it with you that will alongside not just you know tell you what to do
But do it with you. I have huge respect for him and I love it all support those that support us by local
Support local everybody all these different events that we've been talking about with lacy attend as many of them as you can
And find out more at was constant rapids chamber dot com reach out to lacy and her staff at was constant rapids chamber dot com
Be sure to follow them on social media as well
Not a great well not only a great way to keep up to date on things
But you can share these that posts on your social media
And you just never know who might see them that wouldn't otherwise lacy. Thank you for the time. You have a great weekend
Thank you, too
Well, a more midday magazine for you next week
We do in a sense shout out to Pam healthy the amazing scheduling she does week in a week out
We appreciate you Pam you guys have a good one. We'll talk to you sooner than later right here at WFH are locally grown radio
