• Travel Show / 101's requests
• Online Business Directory
• Chamber Luncheon: Monday, February 12
• Events for 2007
• Business After Hours at Memories by the Lake: Thursday, February 15
   
  Will a representative from your business be attending any of the 2007 Tour/Travel shows? The Chamber must have two weeks notice if you are needing one or more boxes of 101 Things To Do Brochures. To reserve boxes, please call 682-3503.

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  Online Business Directory:

   

  To ensure accurate information getting transferred into the 2007 Business Directory, we encourage you to update your listings.

  Type chamberlogin.com into your address bar (please note: no www.)

  Login Name: Manson Tribune

  Password: 58417

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  Events:
   
  We encourge event coordinators and organizers to review the online event's calendar on www.lakechelan.com
  • Events can by submitted on http://www.cometothelake.com/index.php?page_id=14&site_id=7&user_submit=begin 
  • Updates, corrections, changes, etc. can be emailed  or faxed 509-682-3538

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  Business After Hours - Memories by the lake:

  Thursday, February, 15th 6-7pm:

  Promote your business, make new friends, and learn more about your community. Business After Hours (BAH) gives you an opportunity to network with your fellow businesses in an informal relaxed capacity. Hosting members showcase their business featuring special operations, new changes, and future plans. BAH is hosted the third Thursday of each month from 6 pm - 7 pm.

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  Monica and staff invite you to Memories by the Lake. Come see examples of their creative work and partake in make-n-take activities. Monica will introduce Scrapbooking and what the store has to offer, highlighting their technical capabilities including Epson Scrapbook Central, Metaza Engraving, and their custom Diecut machine. Enjoy food catered by JR's Bar & Grill and Chelan Estate's wines. In order to have enough food and wine, please RSVP at 509-682-3503. Bring your business card to enter for a $75.00 Giveaway from the store and a $25 Chamber certificate.

  Cara K. Whitney
  Communications Analyst

• Manson Post Office - outside by 4 PM - inside by 4:30 PM
• Chelan Post Office - outside by 5 PM - inside by 5 PM
• Chelan City Hall - Drop Box by 8 PM the day of the election

Manson,WA (MVT) - Opinion - Wal-Mart is officially open as of 7AM Monday, January 22, 2007.  A new era is upon us as we feel the presence of a major corporate entity in our area.

I spent yesterday on the road to Stevens Pass for a little skiing only to be met by steady rainfall at the summit, which prompted a quick return to the Chelan Valley.  Out of curiosity more than necessity, I stopped at Wal-Mart to take a look around and buy a few things.

I felt that I could have been in any city once I was inside.  It was Wal-Mart through and through.  There was nothing to distinguish the location of the store from any other.  I picked up a few things and headed out the door for home.

While heading down Woodin Av, a feeling came over me.  The new store had modified the way I felt about the area.  Chelan was a little jewel and Wal-Mart had taken away the isolated feeling - the feeling of "getting away".  It also seemed that Chelan was no longer what it used to be.  Big money made me seem smaller and less in control.  Goliath won the battle while David was searching for rocks.

During any grand opening one is sure to see a good crowd at the new business.  As I drove by Safeway, I noticed nine cars in the parking lot where 30 or more would usually be found.  As time goes by, more of these effects will become apparent.  The floodgates of Corporate America have been opened.  Expect other major corporations to locate their satellites in and around Chelan in the not-too-distant future.

Change is never easy, especially when the Sword of Change cuts both ways.  I will save time and money having Wal-Mart so close, but I have lost the feeling of independence from a world controlled by corporations. - Gregory Kennedy - Editor MVT