Chamber takes show on road

By Jane Greiner
Sun contributor
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce has been stepping out in new directions. This year’s participation in the Leelanau Business Expo is just one example of how the chamber is looking for new ways to make itself useful and fun.
At the Expo kickoff breakfast the chamber gave a lively, three-punch presentation, MC’d by Donna Burgan (Wildflowers). Members went on stage and Do-Wopped a chorus line behind local musician Ron Hernandez (Stand Up Productions). The Do-Wop line included Burgan, Joanne Rettke (Webs And More), Sue Woodward (The Solution Place), Bonnie Nescot (Chamber President), Kit Knowles (Wildflowers) and Bryan Borchardt (Chase). With enthusiastic audience participation they danced and sang:

“Yeah, we’re the type of town
Visitors love to hang around,
Glen Lake is so well known,
They come from all around.”
As all that was going on there was a slide show on a huge screen behind the dancers showing the many Glen Lake businesses.
Also at the Expo were Ashley Walter (Empire Business Association), Dusty Shultz (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore), Mimi Wheeler (Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate) with her luscious chocolate samples, SoGood Coffee which served free coffee, Huntington Bank, and Art’s Tavern (whose chicken-jalapeno soup was to die for).
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians sponsored the event by donating the use of the hall and helping behind the scenes. Tribe drummers performed a moving drum song outside to open the event at the Strongheart Center in Peshawbestown.
The presentation at the business Expo was just one example of changes in our local Chamber. Under the leadership of President Bonnie Nescot, the Chamber has taken its show on the road in other ways as well.
Changes began when ideas were sought to lure more people to chamber meetings. Nescot said the suggestion was made to “take it out of the basement…offer them a drink.” Bonnie’s husband Tim Barr (Art’s Tavern) offered to host a meeting at Art’s. That was a big success, perhaps helped by free drinks that Tim supplied. The Western Avenue Grill then stepped up and offered to host a meeting. Cherry Republic later hosted an event and the June meeting will be held at The Foothills café.
This approach of “getting down to business” while also keeping it light fits Bonnie’s way of working. “We try to make it fun,” Bonnie says, “Fun and open.”
Tourist Information Center at Dune Wear
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce has enacted several other important changes. This year the Chamber updated its visitor guide that includes a new map by Joy Blair (Bright Idea Girls). The quality of the beautiful new four-color brochure represents the area well to the visiting public.
The free visitor guide is available during business hours at the relocated chamber office in David Marshall’s Dune Wear store in the Village Sampler Plaza. A large window banner and rolled-out street sign attract visitors near the intersection of M-22 and M-109 in Glen Arbor. A telephone and listings of area accommodations are available, along with brochures from area attractions. “When I went in there I was just awestruck,” Nescot said. “It was beautiful.” Visitors have already used the new office, Marshall reports.
www.VisitGlenArbor.com
Even the Chamber website has been updated. VisitGlenArbor.com has been re-designed and nurtured by Joanne Rettke (Webs and More). She has created a website with lots of local information including an interactive listing of currently available accommodations. Visitors planning to come to Glen Arbor or Empire can check the current status of openings in the vacancies calendar and can peruse the webpage for each individual business. The website also has a fishing report provided by local charter fishermen.
Marge Ives has done basic grass roots work organizing the Chamber membership list. She has gone out and talked to area business owners on a one-on-one basis and recruited new members. Her efforts have contributed to the significant rise in membership this year. “Almost all the businesses in the area now belong to the Chamber,” she said.
Yet another departure has been the addition of a new kind of Chamber membership for non-business owners. This was created to accommodate anyone who wants to join the chamber to serve the community or simply to make new friends and enjoy socializing with the group. “We want everyone involved,” Nescot said. “It’s much better with all the people working together. The work is burdensome; we’re just trying to make it fun.”
With an openness to new ideas, a belief that you can have fun and make things happen, and a genuine desire to serve the residents, businesses, and visitors to our area, the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce is on the move and making a difference in our community.
Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce
At Dune Wear in the Village Sampler Plaza, M-22
Summer hours (Father’s Day to mid-August)
9-9 Monday – Saturday, Sunday 10-7.
(231) 334-3238
Website: www.visitglenarbor.com