Chamber President

Bill Burr

All Saints Cemetery

May is over and summer begins.  We have survived all the rain and all are ready to have fun.  My friend Karen Phelps (karenphelps.com) says “Having Fun reduces stress and renews your body and spirit!  Life is too short not to have fun”!  Well your Clarkston Chamber has some fun events coming up.  First the Golf Challenge Cup will be a great day to network and play a round of golf.  Next is Concerts in the Park starting off with Blackthorn, this is topnotch entertainment right in your own backyard and don’t forget there is ice cream too.

At the last Board meeting we approved a plan to upgrade the Chamber office and are excited to see this done.  Gone will be the 70’s type arrangement and arriving will be the 21^st century.  Keep a lookout for this to happen probably next year when some office stations become available at affordable prices. 

On the horizon is the Taste of Clarkston to be held on Sunday, September 25^th.  The work on this has begun and many sponsorships opportunities are available for you to showcase your business.  It takes a great number of volunteers, so mark your calendars now.

My term as your President has four months left and I am pleased that this year has shown growth and a sense of excitement at each event.  Meeting with David Spencer of the OU Incubator he commented on how well our Chamber has grown and I said that I notice that our members see the value in the great offerings of the Chamber.  I also mentioned that there a renewed enthusiasm in our members.

So, join us for the upcoming activities and I will see you there.

Continue to prosper!

Donate an item to the Chamber's Challenge Cup Silent Auction (June 13, 2011 at Fountains) and market your business to an elite segment of the Chamber membership. 

(Donations must be at the Chamber office by Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4 pm) 

Chamber BOB

June 9, 2011

7:45-9:00 a.m.

Smith's Disposal

(this event is a Joint event with Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce)

4941 White Lake Rd.

Clarkston, MI 48346

MEMBERS registration $15/person.

Non-members $25/person

MEMBERS Save $5 when you sign up and pay in advance. (Registration is just $10)  Early Bird discounts apply to registrations received 48 hours prior to the event.

Online Reservations

Chamber Golf Classic

June 13, 2011

8:30 shotgun

Fountains Golf & Banquet

6060 Maybee Rd.

Clarkston, MI 48346

Not a golfer?  Join us for the silent auction, networking strolling dinner and awards presentation following golf.  2:00 pm at Fountains.

$50/person

Online Reservations

Chamber Luncheon

June 23, 2011

11:45-1 pm

Rainforest Cafe

4310 Baldwin Rd.

Auburn Hills, MI 48326

(Great Lakes Crossing Mall)

SPEAKER:Lola Aré

Center Director at Oakland County Business Center - MI-SBTDC

MEMBERS registration $25/person.

Non-members $30/person

MEMBERS Save $5 when you sign up and pay in advance. (Registration is just $20) Early Bird discounts apply to registrations received 48 hours prior to the event.

Online Reservations

Exciting changes and shifts are happening at Jewels Yoga & Fitness - As of June 19th, classes will no longer be held at the home studio at 4612 Mountain View Tr.  Although massages, private sessions, special classes & workshops will still take place.  A new space is evolving in Davisburg off Hall Road, next to the 4H fairgrounds; a unique sanctuary is being created where these special classes will take place and will be held on a "donation only" basis.  The setting will be a year-round gazebo overlooking a pond and endless acres of open, beautiful land. Look for more details in the near future.  The studio at 4612 Mountain View trail will continue holding classes through June 19th and you are strongly encouraged to attend as many classes as you can.  Please know that I am forever grateful to all of you who have shared your practice with me.  Remember, shifts are good and life is full of changes and wonderful blessings.

NEW The June 2011 issue of  the Travel In Michigan Web Magazine is online. Check it out!
www.michiganbackroads.com  and  www.travelinmichigan.com

NEW FAMILY On June 11, 2011 from 10:00am – 2:00pm the Wild Ones, North Oakland Chapter will host free fun filled activities at Depot Park (375 Depot Park, Clarkston) in honor of River Day, an annual Clinton River Watershed event, celebrating and promoting the Clinton River and its tributaries. 

 Events include: Native Plant and Reference Book Sale; Book Signing by: Brenda Dziedzic and  Lois Robbins; Weeding and Planting the existing Depot Park Rain Garden and Children’s Zoo Garden; planting native plants as part of an Eagle Scout Streambank Stabilization Project at the south end of the Park; Invasive and Native Species Identification and Walking Tour; Phragmites Demonstrations; Kids Face Painting and Crafts; Fishing and Kayaking Demonstrations;  Silent Auction of ‘Garden Art’ by local retailers; and Water Quality Demonstrations by MSU-Extension and Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership.  

Come out to Depot Park and join in on the fun! 

Wild Ones, is a national non-profit environmental education, native plant and native landscapes advocacy organization.   

For more information, contact Laura Gruzwalski, at: (248) 454-6856.  FLYER

FAMILY Friends of the Independence Township Library 8^th Annual Parking Lot Sale

Sunday, June 12, 2011, 10am-3pm

Got stuff to sell? We provide the advertising and parking.  You rent a space (or 2) and set up to sell.  Spots are just $10 and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  We can’t guarantee the weather, so come prepared.  Spaces are going fast! Applications are available at the library and on the library’s website.

Independence Township Library

6495 Clarkston Road

248.625.2212

www.indelib.org

GOLF OUTING  Chamber Challenge Cup Golf Tournament. June 13, 2011 7:00 registration check in, 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start.  Fountains Golf, 6060 Maybee Rd., Clarkston., MI.  Online Registration

HEALTH  Smoking Cessation Series - two (two) hour classes offered at Great Lakes Cancer Institute, 5680 Bow Pointe, Clarkston please RSVP to Deanna Hart 248-922-6606.

July 13 and 20th - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

GOLF OUTING Saturday June, 25, 2011

Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club  455 Twin Lakes Dr.  Oakland Twp, MI 48363

7:30 am Registration  8:00 am Shotgun Start 1:00 pm Luncheon Buffet  Proceeds go to the Oakland Christian School Athletic Program

FAMILYThe 6^th ANNUAL CLARKSTON GARDEN WALK

Wednesday, July 13, noon to 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by the Clarkston Farm & Garden Club $15 if purchased prior to July 13  ●  $18 if purchased on July 13

Advance tickets available at the Chamber, Bordines, the Birdfeeder, Clarkston Country Store, KH Home, www.clarkstongardenclub.org or by calling 248-620-2984 before July 13. Tickets available only at the Independence Township Library on the day of the walk

The Garden Walk will begin at the library. Featured this year are six lovely gardens with water features, shade gardens, wide variety of trees, gardening around a swimming pool, and a garden with a rolling hillside area.  The walk features artists and music in the gardens, an Artist’s Market and lots more. Funds from the walk are used for the library gardens, village planters, educational activities for Clarkston students and scholarships.

FAMILY and ENTERTAINMENTThis year at the Festival of Fun and Fireworks we are having a Veterans Celebration.  The senior center is hosting this event.  If you know any veterans or persons in the military have them contact me if they would like to participate.  Attached are the flyer and form for this event.