June 2020 Newsletter

Chamber News

June 2020

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT

I hope that this finds you, your family and your teams well. We are halfway through the year already and I am sure that things are not what you expected at all. I have been amazed at how our community has pulled together in such a trying time in history during COVID-19 and come out of this even more united. I know that this has been a difficult time for all small businesses and restaurants across the nation. Through community support, I have heard and seen how the “Shop & Support Local” movement has been lifting small businesses across the county and country in ways that they have not seen before.

Our businesses and organizations are always our main priority and even more so during this pandemic. We have kept our members informed throughout this time by supplying them with pertinent information. Whether it is financial or procedural information, it is imperative that our members know of the constant changes and stages. The Chamber continues to stay up-to-date on and keep our members informed to help out with their daily operations and future.

Another way the Chamber has kept our members informed is through free webinar opportunities. The Chamber has provided marketing, website design and countless State sponsored information sessions over the last few months. Through these sessions, we hope this has provided relevant information to our members and community.

The Chamber has also helped promote its members by sponsoring a “Support Local” campaign through local media outlets where all of our members have been recognized. It is our goal to continually advertise for and support our businesses and organizations to further member success. Deborah and I have also teamed up to share as many posts about specials, promotions and announcements on our R.C.C.C. Facebook page where we have over 1,200 followers.

Everything that has been offered to our members, are added benefits to your current membership. We are excited about the programs that we have lined up over the next year and we want to hear your voice when it comes to needs and ideas.

Unfortunately, we have decided to cancel or postpone several of our events this year, but we plan on coming back bigger and better in 2021!

As you might have already noticed, we have a new logo to be the face of the chamber. We have worked to produce a logo that we feel is fresh and represents the chamber of today and into the future! BELONG. ENGAGE. LEAD. ADVANCE.

As we go forth, the Chamber will continue to assist and promote its members in anyway needed. The Chamber’s goal is to work toward improving the quality of life for all through the support and commitment of its members, volunteers and committees. It takes all of us working together! We want to be your resource for growth and resources. How can we do that? By working together with our membership and producing creative ways to represent your business effectively and affordably.

Thank you again for supporting the chamber. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at 812-621-1670 or [email protected] .

Alesha Neal

DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT

 My name is Sharon Miller and I am serving my 4 ^th term as a director for the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce. Since joining the Ripley County Chamber in 2013, I have served as the secretary and I currently serve as the treasurer. I have served on numerous committees and have been the co-chairperson for some of our events as well. Over the last 7 years, I have had the pleasure of working with countless, wonderful people in our community through the many events hosted by the Ripley County Chamber.

I am employed with The Napoleon State Bank as the Vice President/Senior Lender. I have worked at The Napoleon State Bank since 2000. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Organization Leadership and Supervision. The Napoleon State Bank has been a locally owned and operated bank since 1903 and is a very community-oriented company and an active Chamber member.

I am a Ripley County native, graduating from South Ripley High School in 1994. My family has always been active in the community and I learned at a young age that community involvement is important! I have a daughter who is a 2020 graduate of South Ripley and is looking forward to her Freshman year at IUPUI. I enjoying traveling with family and friends, as well as a new hobby of piecing quilts.

I encourage each of you to check out all of the things the Ripley County Chamber has to offer! Our Board of Directors are here to assist our members in any way we can.

Sharon Miller

As Indiana continues to get Back on Track, Stage 4 and Stage 5 are below.

Stage 4 projection dates are now until July 3rd.

Projection of Stage 5 dates are July 4th and beyond.

For more information, please visit Indiana Back on Track.

2020 Chamber Business of the Year

The 23rd Annual Business Recognition Luncheon that was scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th at the Upper Room Café in Osgood has been rescheduled. This year, we will be celebrating our Business of the Year during the Annual Dinner that will be taking place on November 5th at the St. Florian in Osgood, Indiana.

We are excited to announce that Craig Distributing Co., Inc. is the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce 2020 Business of the Year. Craig Distributing was chosen for the award due to its goodwill to the local community, and all the support given to the Chamber over the years.

The business, which was founded in 1945, owns the distributing rights to the Anheuser-Busch brands in Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley, Franklin and Union counties.

Congratulations to Craig Distributing for being our 2020 Business of the Year!

SAVE THE DATE!

The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce’s 20th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on August 21st at Kelly’s Hidden Acres Golf Course in Milan, Indiana. Event starts at 9:00 a.m. More details and information to come.

Upcoming Chamber Events

* Chamber Fireworks – Cancelled

* Golf Tournament – August 21

* Annual Dinner – November 5

* Mini Golf Tournament – Tentatively Scheduled for Fall

* Seminars and Training – We will continue to share and add seminars and trainings throughout the year.

*If event dates are changed or added, the Chamber will send out notification in advance.

June Member of the Month –

SEI Communications

SEI is a member-owned cooperative and has been providing telecommunications services to its members/customers since 1953. It serves parts of Dearborn, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties.

In 1995, SIRTC partnered with two area high schools and the College Cooperative of Southeastern Indiana to receive a grant from the national Science Foundation to provide and determine the demand for internet access in the rural part of southeastern Indiana. After completion of the project, SIRTC formed a subsidiary company, SEI Data, Inc. to continue providing this invaluable service to homes and businesses in the area. In 1997, SEI Data invested in facilities to expand local Internet service in eleven counties. With changes in federal telecommunications laws, SEI Data established a Competitive Local Exchange Company (CLEC), to further expand local telephone service.

In 2006, SIRTC completed a three-year project laying fiber-optic cable connecting all switching centers and offices.

Drawing on a talented group of telecommunications and Internet professionals, SEI offers integrated communications solutions including local phone service, long distance, fiber to the home internet, and advanced data services. Competitive rates and an unparalleled commitment to customer satisfaction define SEI as Southeastern Indiana’s

telecommunications provider of choice. Contributing to that excellent level of customer service is the fact that 58% of the company’s employees have worked there for over 15 years, with 9% of its workforce having been there for more than 30 years!

Today, SEI Communications continues to blaze a trail of its own by providing fiber-optic Internet and telephone to residents and businesses in rural southeast Indiana. While fiber-optic technology is more widely available in urban areas across the country, SEI is bringing this state-of-the-art technology to rural southeastern Indiana. This project puts the communities SEI serves light years ahead of most communities of similar size. Fiber technology has the potential to attract investment, improve the quality of life, and is future-proof. Fiber-optic Internet is far superior over any other kind. SEI’s network will be able to handle any electronic development in the future.

SEI Communications is also an authorized installer of Viasat Internet. Viasat Internet is a high-speed internet service offering speeds up to 50 Mbps and is a download-delivered via satellite. For many rural households, satellite Internet is the only high-speed internet option. (Viasat 50 Mbps is not available in all areas.)

The SEI Communications main office is located at 14005 US 50, Dillsboro, IN 47018. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Give SEI Communications a call at 1-888-200-8077 or email them at [email protected] and see what they can do for you!

Congratulations to for being our Member of the Month!

New Member –

Korrinn Wood Christian Death Doula Service

Korrinn Wood Christian Death Doula Service is a new Chamber Member for the month of June!

As explained by Korrinn, a death doula is a non-medical, non-hospice service and is confidential and completely private. Korrinn is professionally trained to care for a terminally ill person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, such as bedside vigils, during the death process. Korrinn can also assist with legacy planning, obituaries, funeral arrangements/preparations and living celebrations.

Call her today at (812) 571-1730 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a private, free consultation.

Welcome, Korrinn!

New Member – Too Cute Cakes Bakery

Please help us welcome our newest member, Too Cute Cakes Bakery located at 112 W South Street in Versailles!

Dawn Jordan opened her bakery on May 4, 2020 and has been busy taking orders since! With Dawn’s passion for baking, she turned her dream into reality when she opened up her business to provide her delicious goodies to her customers. Dawn, her mom and daughter, bake and provide home cooked items for their customers Tuesday-Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They have a large variety of doughnuts, breakfast items, cookies, fudge, miniature cakes and pies, cake pops, cupcakes, pudding desserts, dog treats and so much more! You can call ahead at (513) 260-4799 to place your order or stop on in to pick out what you want! They will be glad to help you!

Dawn is a very talented cake decorator and can virtually make any cake or cupcake that you can dream up! Check out her cakes on Too Cute Cakes FB page. Call today to order a cake or cupcakes for your next celebration!

Be watching for an announcement for a Ribbon Cutting for Too Cute Cakes! We hope all of you can come out!

Welcome Too Cute Cakes Bakery to the Chamber!

New Member – Memories of Yesteryear

Please help us welcome one of our new members to the Ripley County Chamber, Memories of Yesteryear!

Memories of Yesteryear antique store is owned and operated by Brenda Ahrens since November 1, 2019. They are located at 26 N US Hwy 421 in Versailles. The antique store features 25+ dealer spaces for rent and for customers to browse through and shop. Their extensive inventory includes new and old items, antiques, primitives, country items and so much more. If you are looking for something specific, just ask because they probably have it!

Go visit today and roam around to see what they have that you need! Memories of Yesteryear is open Wednesday – Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in renting booth space, call them at (812) 212-3869. Make sure you follow them on FB at https://www.facebook.com/groups/432746600769348/ .

Be on the lookout for announcements on their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting!

Welcome to the Chamber!

New Member – Pac-Rats

Pac-Rats is a new Ripley County Chamber of Commerce member in June. Please help us welcome them!

Roger Stratton and Michal Bensheimer started Pac-Rats in May 2020. Located at 4470 W US Hwy 50 in Holton, Indiana, they have a wide variety of new and used goods. Stock is changed monthly and there is also a discount island. There are two buildings where you can look around and find hard to find items that you will not want to miss out on!

The front building has all sorts of items from baby clothes to jewelry. There are so many items that you will need to check it out! The back building has furniture and household items so take a look, have a seat and see what you need to take home with you!

Hours vary so check out their Facebook at Pac-Rats or call (812) 621-1059 to get their hours of operation.

Welcome Pac-Rats to the Chamber!

New Member – Codcake Creative

Please help us welcome our new member to the Chamber, Cristianne Fritsch with Codcake Creative!

Cristianne is a designer and illustrator and is the owner of Codcake Creative. Originally from Brazil, she graduated from the University of North Florida and currently resides in Indiana, where she works remotely with clients and brands around the world. She has 10 years of experience working directly with small startups and established large organizations.

Cristianne either works embedded within a team as a freelance designer, helping establish and scale a brand, or as a one-person studio, developing design projects for clients.

She is always interested to hear of new opportunities and collaborations, whether it be creating a website for your business or creating a new logo. Please reach out to her today by emailing her at [email protected] or visit her website at Codcake Creative . She is looking forward to hearing from you!

Thank you Cristianne for the great job you did last year on developing the Chamber’s website and with our new, updated logo! Welcome Cristianne and Codcake Creative to the Ripley County Chamber!

Job Listings

If any member would like to place a free job posting through the Chamber, please send your ad to [email protected].

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