Arvada Adventure | Arvada Colts Home Opener

The Arvada Colts are an elite summer collegiate and amateur baseball team based in Arvada, Colorado. The Colts compete in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League and are a member of the National Baseball Congress. Our Mission is to provide an opportunity for college baseball coaches and players to enhance and excel through a variety of opportunities throughout the summer, and to allow them to showcase their talents so that they may have an opportunity to further their baseball careers. Our coaching staff and players are expected to be standouts both in the community and on the field. We believe that hard work and efforts on and off the field will form our players and coaches into future leaders of the community. Our Home Games will be played on Friday and Sunday nights at Long Lake Ranch Fields, located on W 64th Avenue and Highway 93 in West Arvada.  CLICK HERE to see the entire schedule. All games are FREE! Friday, June 3rd is our Home Opener and we are promoting Pack the Park Night!  Bring the whole family out to the field and watch some great baseball.  Bring a lawn chair – seating is limited!

Where & When Friday, June 3rd 7:30PM Long Lake Ranch Fields 64th Avenue and Highway 93 Cost: FREE! Mayor Bob Frie will throw out the First Pitch! Arrive early so you can get players autographs! CLICK HERE TO VIEW THEIR ENTIRE SCHEDULE  Arvada Chamber of Commerce Arvada Adventure | Arvada Colts Home Opener Our Arvada Adventure Program takes our Chamber Members to different parts of Arvada, exploring new opportunities and building relationships with our membership.  Friday night’s Arvada Adventure is going to be fantastic!  Bring your family, friends and neighbors out to this FREE baseball game.  I went down and watched the team play in their preseason tournament in Parker last weekend.  It was great baseball.  I watched double plays, out of the park home runs, heads up base running and throws to the plate from deep center field.  You are going to love this! Stop by the Arvada Chamber tent at the game quick before the game begins to enter into a drawing for some very cool prizes. Where & When This Friday Night! June 3rd 7:30PM Long Lake Ranch Fields 64th Avenue and Highway 93 Cost: FREE! Get to the field early - 6:30PM to get a good seat! BRING A LAWN CHAIR – SEATING IS LIMITED! We’ll start off the Home Opener with The Arvada Fire Protection District Pipe & Drum Band Followed by the presentation of the Colors Arvada Fire’s Scott Pribble will sing the National Anthem Mayor Bob Frie will throw out the first pitch CLICK HERE to see the Colts Season Schedule

Arvada Chamber of Commerce Pays Tribute to Community Leaders at 60th Annual Man and Woman of the Year Luncheon

The Arvada Chamber of Commerce continues its tradition of honoring business leaders that enrich the City of Arvada through their selfless involvement in the community. The 60th Annual Man and Woman of the Year award luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Arvada Center.

The award winners are nominated for their involvement with service or volunteer organizations, their length of community involvement, the personal sacrifices they make and the people they serve. The Arvada Chamber’s selection committee picks two leaders to win the prestigious Man and Woman of the Year Award.  This year, they also selected a Pioneer Award winner for an enduring commitment to the welfare of the Arvada community over an extended period of time, an Image Award winner for work that extends beyond the Arvada community, and two Outstanding Volunteers of the Year Awards.

 ”The Arvada Chamber has a long history of involvement in the local community landscape, because we believe a thriving, strong community leads to thriving, strong businesses,” said Arvada Chamber president Dot Wright. “This year’s award winners exemplify the power of community: businesses will find more success and resiliency with the strength of many rather than as individuals.”

Awards will be presented to the following community professionals:

• Man of the Year – Tom Jacobsen with Sportline for his efforts the past 32 years supporting high school students, the Arvada Community Food Bank, Ralston House and Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis.  Read more about Tom below…
• Woman of the Year – Ereka O’Hara with REMAX/Alliance for her many contributions to Arvada organizations including spearheading the Children’s Charity fundraising ball and involvement with Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis, Arvada Chamber of Commerce and the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities.  Read more about Ereka below…
• Pioneer Award  -  Ken Fellman with Kissinger and Fellman, P.C. for his past work as Arvada Mayor and City Council member, and his involvement with the Arvada Community Food Bank, PeaceJam, Kiwanis and the Arvada Fire Protection District’s Blue Ribbon Committee.   Read more about Ken below…
• Image Award – Kathy Foos with the Arvada Police Department for founding the non-profit organization Angels Unaware to provide support and encouragement for children and families living with or affected by AIDS/HIV throughout the Metro Denver area.  Read more about Kathy below…
• Volunteers of the Year – Dudley and Jody Weiland for their volunteer work with organizations including the Majestic View Nature Center, creating a traveling wildlife exhibit for schoolchildren, various clean-up projects, and chair positions on the Arvada Festivals Commission.   Read more about Dudley and Jody below…

The luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Arvada Center at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Tickets cost $45 per person. To RSVP or learn about sponsorship opportunities, call the Arvada Chamber at 303-424-0313 or e-mail Denise@ArvadaChamber.org.

Tom Jacobsen

Man of the Year – Tom Jacobsen
Tom Jacobsen has been an important part of Sportline, which has been in the community for over 32 years, quietly going about his work, making Sportline an important part of the community.  Under his direction on the sales floor, Sportline has employed more two hundred high school students over the years providing many of them their first job and teaching them about customer service, the importance of getting to work on time, how to work with other employees and how to have fun at work, habits that they can use for a lifetime.   Not only has Tom trained them, he has also been there as a mentor providing advice on life all while pushing them to excel with their education, sports, and other extra-curricular activities.  Tom has also been open to students seeking advice about entrepreneurship and what it takes to grow a small business.  He frequently gives students tours of Sportline and explains how the business works.  Tom is a very trustworthy man that helps out whenever he is needed.
Tom knows that giving back to the community is important and feels that Sportline is successful because of the Arvada community.  Support from Sportline to various organizations such as Arvada Community Food Bank, Ralston House and Kiwanis with sponsorships, donations, etc.  An example of this is when the Arvada Center was in need of props for a play Tom allowed them to use equipment from Sportline.
Tom can also be found volunteering around the community at numerous different charities.   Tom has been a member of Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis since 1987 and served as the President of club in 2005 and 2006.  He presently serves on the Arvada Economic Development Association Retention Committee. He volunteers his time by attending meetings, identifying important businesses in the community and visiting those businesses to make sure they are happy in Arvada. He does this because of his desire to keep Arvada a strong and viable community. He has an easy going manner and connects with these businesses in a very personable way.
He has been on the Susan Duncan YMCA (previously Northwest YMCA) Board of Advisors for 15 plus years.  He serves on the Ralston House .5K fundraising Committee. He not only supports these causes monetarily, but he gives of his time too. He shows up for early morning meetings with a smile. His care and concern for the community, particularly the youth in our community, is notable.

Ereka O'Hara

Woman of the Year – Ereka O’Hara
Ereka O’hara was born in Germany and immigrated to the US when she was 5.  She grew up in Bismack, ND and moved to Arvada in 1973 where she raised her family. She became a realtor in 1982 and as a working mother she still found time to be involved in the community.  She served on various committees for the board for the Jefferson County Association of Realtors early in her career, and later sat on the board of the Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis, Children’s Charity, and the Arvada Chamber of Commerce.  She is also a member of the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities.  When the entire board of the Children’s Charity resigned, their annual Charity Ball was in jeopardy.  Ereka stepped in with no experience, and hit the challenge head-on.  She gathered a new board, rallied the troops and ran the Charity Ball for three years.  She raised over $100,000 for the Arvada Center Accessibility Program and the Arvada Child Advocacy Center (now Ralston House).
In 2010 she was the Chairman of the board for the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she successfully re-established the Government Affairs Committee, Community Affairs Committee, and Community Development Committee.  She has also chaired the Annual Dinner for the past two years.
Ereka is still involved with the Kiwanis group, and has run their highway cleanup effort for ten years, worked in Santa’s Workshop, and helped with all of their fundraisers.  Ereka is a “go to” person.  She just gets things done.  She has been a mentor and role model to professional women, as well as to her children.

Pioneer Award Winner – Ken Fellman
Ken Fellman is best known throughout Arvada for the work he did as Mayor (1999-2007) and as a member of City Council (1993-1999); but his deep involvement in the community began prior to his political career and has extended well beyond his service as an elected official.  Ken served on the North Jeffco Foundation Board, the Arvada Planning Commission and on the Board of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce.  He continues to serve the community through his work with organizations such as the Arvada Community Food Bank, PeaceJam, Kiwanis and the Arvada Fire Protection District’s Blue Ribbon Committee.  He served as co-chair of the Arvada Community Food Bank’s capital campaign, which raised more than $400,000 and facilitated the Food Bank’s move to the old Arvada Library site. Ken also served as co-chair of the first two PeaceJam Annual Fundraising Luncheons (2009 and 2010).
Ken was recently appointed to serve on the Arvada Charter Review Committee – a group that assembles every 10 years to ensure that the city charter properly reflects the needs of the residents and lays the groundwork for a healthy future.  He was co-chair of the bi-partisan mill levy and bond campaign for Jefferson County Schools in 2008.  The Jeffco Schools election effort is reflective of one of Ken’s deepest commitments – the well-being of our community’s children. He regularly visits schools, scout and church groups, and youth sports organizations.  Ken serves as president of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the national trade association representing local government that promotes community interests in telecommunications.
In 2007, Ken was appointed to Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s Innovation Council, designed in part to increase deployment and adoption of broadband technology throughout the state. Governor Ritter subsequently appointed him to the Colorado Channel Authority, the quasi-governmental entity that manages the channel that televises Colorado House and Senate proceedings.  Ken has been practicing law since 1981, and he has been a partner of Kissinger & Fellman P.C. since 1989. He is also an adjunct professor, teaching Telecommunications Law and Policy, at the University of Colorado Law School. He has written articles about the communications issues facing local governments, and he has been quoted in numerous national publications on these topics. He and his wife, Jill, have lived in Arvada for 24 years, where they raised their two children, Dan and Sara.

Image Award Winner – Kathy Foos
Katherine A. Foos was raised in Mitchell, Nebraska.  She graduated from Mitchell High School, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska.  Following graduation, she worked for a short time as a patrol officer in Gering, Nebraska.  In 1983, she was hired as a police officer for the Arvada Police Department (APD), working first in patrol and later in special investigations, where she focused on vice crimes.  Kathy was promoted to Sergeant in 1996.  She was instrumental in creating Arvada’s “Trouble Traffic Task Force,” working with neighborhoods to address ongoing traffic issues.  During this time, Kathy coordinated APD’s work with radio station KYGO’s “Christmas Crusade for Children” to help provide holiday gifts for children from Arvada families in need.   In 2003, she was promoted to Commander – only the second female Commander in APD’s history.
In 1989, Kathy suffered a terrible personal loss with the death of her younger sister. Tragically, Kathy’s two year old niece, Clarice, was left without her mother.  The situation was even more challenging due to the fact that Clarice suffered from the HIV/AIDS virus.  Undaunted, Kathy stepped up and cared for Clarice until Clarice’s own passing in 1993 at the age of six.  During the years she cared for Clarice, she learned first-hand that those affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis faced enormous hurdles.   She realized few services were available to help ease the crushing burdens faced by the victims of HIV/AIDS and their families.  To meet this challenge, and to honor Clarice, Kathy helped found an Arvada-based non-profit organization, Angels Unaware, in 1992.  Its mission is to provide support and encouragement for children and families living with or affected by AIDS/HIV.   Kathy and Angels Unaware have for many years partnered with Aspen Mortuary, a prominent Arvada business, to assist these families.
Among the services that Angels Unaware now offers are monthly support group meetings and other activities and outings in the Denver area.  In addition, Angels Unaware sponsors an all-expenses paid summer family camp, known as Camp Ray-Ray, in the Colorado mountains.  At Camp Ray-Ray, families affected by HIV/AIDS relax through horseback riding, hiking, swimming, doing crafts, playing games, and many other activities   In doing so, they receive a much needed and well deserved respite from the daily worries of dealing with HIV/AIDS.
Kathy is an active member of the community.  Since 2004, she has served as a member of the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority Board.  After nearly two decades of service to the non-profit she founded, Kathy continues to work tirelessly for Angels Unaware, currently serving as co-President of the organization. Right now, she is busy planning the 2011 Camp Ray-Ray, to be held in September. Kathy’s hard work and dedication continue to uplift hundreds of families from Jefferson and Adams County as well as throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
Kathy is “mission-driven” in her professional and personal life.  She has been a valuable and respected member of APD for over twenty-five years, and has, for nearly twenty years, brought comfort and joy into the lives of many Arvada residents through her work with Angels Unaware.

Outstanding Volunteers Award – Dudley & Jody Weiland
Dudley and Jody Weiland have been residents of Arvada since 1963. Both were teachers for many years and have retired within the last 10 years. Dudley taught in Arvada schools for 35 years and is still involved at Peck Elementary school by volunteering to maintain the xeriscape garden that he began for his students and the school many years ago. Jody taught in the Denver Public schools for about 30 years and was a tutor in Arvada for several years after retiring.
Over the years, they have both been involved in many activities in Arvada. Dudley worked with the city of Arvada to help develop their recycling program and improve the environment. They have bought, planted and watered a number of trees in several of the parks in Arvada.
In 2010, their dedication to Arvada continued. They are active volunteers at the Majestic View Nature Center, where they spend considerable time teaching classes and helping to improve the center.  “The Weiland’s have been valuable in the overall development, promotion and ultimate success of Arvada’s Majestic View Nature Center, spreading our environmental education mission,” says Karen Miller, Nature Center Director. Besides developing and teaching programs, their financial support via donations and volunteer hours are crucial to the operation of the Center. They also created an educational traveling exhibit featuring Colorado’s wildlife that has been enjoyed by thousands of students and citizens over the years, circulating this impressive display in elementary schools, recreation centers and libraries.  They also volunteer to clean up a 1.5 mile stretch of Oberon Road and pick up trash in that area several times each week. They also continue to be on the Arvada Festivals Commission. As members of that organization, they have chaired the successful Arvada kite festival each spring. They spend many hours in organizing the festival, which drew several thousand people in 2010. They also help out at the Arvada July 4th celebration. Jody was secretary of the Festivals Commission in 2010.
This past year, Dudley donated an old tractor that he had bought to the city parks and is at the “farm park” in town for children to see what farm life is like. Jody and Dudley also volunteer at St. Anne’s Church, helping out with funerals. Outside of Arvada, Dudley and Jody, are active volunteers with the Denver Zoo.

Don’t Miss the Inaugural Arvada Young Professionals Group Leadership Awards Luncheon on April 7, 2011!

The Arvada Young Professionals (AYP) will host its first annual AYP leadership awards luncheon on April 7, 2011 at the Arvada Center. The organization will honor ten young professionals who have made a difference in Arvada through their business success and community involvement. Rachel Zenzinger, Arvada City Councilmember will give the keynote speech.

The Arvada Chamber of Commerce recently chartered the AYP group to provide young professionals living or working in Arvada the opportunity to expand their personal networks and build lasting connections within the city’s professional and social arenas. The group’s primary purpose is to sponsor, promote, educate and support social activities involving young professionals and members of the Arvada business community to nurture the city’s future leaders.

AYP Leadership Awards will be presented to the following young professionals:

• Heidi Marks Casler, Owner of Yacht Club Salon
• Amanda DiVito-Parle, Realtor with ReMax Alliance
• Jon Drogheo, Owner of HR Partner Consulting
• Michael Frie, CFP with Personal Benefit Services Wealth Management
• Brett Haigler, Market President at Guaranty Bank
• Karen Marks, Owner of Olde Town Acupuncture
• Whitney Medved, Social Marketing and Networking Director, Medved Autoplex
• Nathan Mudd, Attorney at Helm, Less, Smith & Williams
• Dot Wright, President of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce
• Rachel Zenzinger, Arvada City Councilmember District 1

A Rising Star Award will be given to Matthew Prythero, a Junior at Ralston Valley High School and volunteer with the Arvada Historical Society.

The luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Arvada Center at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Tickets cost $40 per person. To RSVP or learn about sponsorship opportunities, call the Chamber at 303-424-0313 or e-mail Denise@ArvadaChamber.org.

Arvada Chamber and AEDA Open Satellite Office for the Jefferson County Business Resource Center

Arvada Businesses Now Have Easy Access to Jeffco’s Resources within the City of Arvada

Mark Trudell, owner of Bread Winners Catering, using the JCBRC satellite office at the Arvada Chamber

 

The Arvada Chamber of Commerce and the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) have joined forces to open a Jefferson County Business Resource Center (JCBRC) satellite office in Arvada to offer local businesses county-level resources. The office is located inside the Arvada Chamber’s location at 7305 Grandview Avenue.

JCBRC operates from its main office at 1667 Cole Boulevard, Building 19, Suite 400  and provides no- and low-cost resources for small businesses in Jefferson County, which includes the cities of Arvada, Edgewater, Evergreen, Golden, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, as well part of Littleton and Westminster. The JCBRC satellite office at the Arvada Chamber will be staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“Opening the JCBRC satellite office at the Arvada Chamber’s headquarters allows us to directly interact with the growing Arvada business community,” said Denise Stephens, executive director for the Jefferson County Business Resource Center. “Our partnership with the Arvada Chamber and AEDA allows us to offer the combined resources that Arvada businesses need to succeed. “

The JCBRC satellite office offers a variety of services for starting, managing and growing a business in Jefferson County, including:

• Provides information on high-quality business education seminars and training sessions through the Business Education Series Training (BEST) program.

• Offers new business start-up tools, including planning check lists, business-related templates, government regulations and compliance information, and tax and legal aid.

• Offers existing businesses tools to grow, including business development resources, demographic reports, business contact lists, market analysis, marketing support and information on legal, tax, employment insurance and commercial real estate.

• Partners with the Arvada Chamber and AEDA to provide support and resources for Arvada companies, from home-based businesses to the largest employers.

“The Arvada JCBRC satellite office will be a centralized source offering a myriad of resources available for business development and growth. All services and information are free or are offered at a significantly reduced rate for any resident of or business within Jefferson County,” said Arvada Chamber president Dot Wright.  “We’ve always sent chamber members and Arvada businesses to the JCBRC in Lakewood, so now it will be even more convenient for businesses to take advantage of these valuable resources in Arvada.”

Hazel Hartbarger said, “Dot and I value our partnership with the JCBRC. Our organizations are aligned and follow the same mission: to empower businesses to succeed, increase revenues to support public services, and create additional jobs for our citizens. JCBRC provides new and existing Arvada-based business owners a wealth of information about starting and growing a business.”

For more information about the JCBRC satellite office, or to schedule an appointment with a JCBRC representative, call the Arvada Chamber at 303-424-0313. Information is also available at www.jeffcobrc.org.

Arvada Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Local Business Leaders

The Arvada Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual dinner on January 21, 2011 at the Arvada Center. The organization honored Mahnke Auto Body with its Business of the Year Award and Pat Schassburger with the Trump Network with the Ambassador of the Year Award.

More than 200 attendees including Arvada Chamber members, AEDA board members, Arvada government representatives and local business owners attended the dinner, which raised more than $5,000 for the organization through its silent and paddle auctions.

“The Arvada Chamber’s annual dinner is one of my favorite events because it gives us the opportunity to recognize business leaders in Arvada that make a difference,” said Dot Wright, chamber president. “Gary Mahnke and Pat Schassburger are active and well-recognized in the Arvada community and bring amazing leadership to our chamber.”

For thirty-five years, Mahnke Auto Body has been a continual source of employment for many Arvada citizens by providing collision repairs for several thousand vehicles. Local families have trusted Mahnke to repair their trucks, cars and fleet vehicles for five generations.
Throughout his career, Gary Mahnke has improved the standards and accountability of the collision repair industry in Colorado. The nation’s largest insurance companies list Mahnke Auto Body among their preferred vendors because of the vigorous training provided to employees and service excellence given to every customer.

Daryl Christenson, Gary Mahnke and Dot Wright

Mahnke supports the community’s children by making donations to local schools, sponsoring softball teams and participating in Eagle Scout and church projects. Mahnke is involved in Arvada through its participation in the Arvada Festival Parade, Historic Olde Town Arvada events and sponsoring Arvada Chamber golf tournaments. Mahnke has donated to the Ralston House and supported the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth.

“I don’t remember doing all of these things,” Gary Mahnke jokingly said. “There are so many excellent and community-focused businesses in Arvada, so receiving this award is a great honor for me and all my employees, without whom I couldn’t have done this.”

Dot Wright and Pat Schassburger

Ambassador of the Year recipient Pat Schassburger with the Trump Network acts as a liaison between the Arvada Chamber and its membership. She visits new and renewing members to help them better utilize their membership and take advantage of the benefits offered by the Arvada Chamber.  She attends and helps with many Arvada Chamber events, including ribbon cuttings, membership luncheons, breakfasts and business after hours. Of particular note, Schassburger was an active volunteer with the Taste of Arvada and the 1st annual Light the Chamber events. She is well-recognized among the Arvada Chamber’s membership and in the community. Schassburger has been an ambassador since August of 2009.

“When I left the corporate world, I missed the working relationships I left behind. Working as an ambassador has allowed me to fill that void while serving the community I love,” said Pat Schassburger. “Equally important are the friendships I’ve made with the other ambassadors, who are such a great group of people.”

Arvada Chamber of Commerce Reports Strong Growth in 2010 and New Initiatives in 2011

By: Dot Wright

I am happy to report the Arvada Chamber of Commerce reported a strong year of growth. The organization welcomed 140 new members, bringing the total to 629 members representing 29,469 full-time employees. O realize businesses have been hit hard by the past two years’ severe economic decline, but the fact so many turned to our chamber shows their commitment to investing in their companies’ success. We have many exciting ideas in store for 2011 to ensure that we continue to provide outstanding support to our members and empower them to succeed.

The Arvada Chamber realized several notable achievements in 2010:

• Saved participating members more than $120,000 on their workmen’s comp insurance through the Workmen’s Comp Association.
• Collaborated with the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) and the City of Arvada to create an Arvada shopping guide highlighting local retailers.
• Formed three new committees for community development, membership retention and government affairs.
• Launched a social media presence including a blog site, Twitter account and LinkedIn profile.
• Hosted successful events including the Arvada Chamber’s annual dinner, a golf tournament that sold out in eight days and Taste of Arvada, considered the “best year yet” by many attendees.
• Arvada Chamber president Dot Wright was honored with the “Forty Under 40″ award from the Denver Business Journal.

“I am pleased to be part of an organization that is at the leading edge of promoting a commerce-friendly city where businesses create jobs and experience success,” said our new Chairman of the Board Daryl Christensen. “According to the Small Business Association, small business creates more than 90 percent of all net jobs, so the involvement of our chamber is critical to the city’s economy.”

The Arvada Chamber plans to announce new initiatives for 2011 that include opening a satellite office for the Jefferson County Business Resource Center (JCBRC) at the Arvada Chamber headquarters. JCBRC offers services such as business planning, concept analysis and education classes, designed to help small businesses develop and grow. Business education classes are listed on the Arvada Chamber’s home page.

Leadership Arvada, a nine-month joint program between the Arvada Chamber and AEDA, is in its second year of nurturing the city’s next generation of business leaders. The program launched in September, with graduation in June. The class will participate in a community service project benefitting senior citizens.

The Arvada Chamber will continue to offer member benefits including: member to member discounts valid for all employees of chamber members, four networking events per month, weekly e-newsletter and conference room and office rentals in the chamber building.

To receive the Arvada Chamber e-newsletter, visit http://conta.cc/fat922.

You’re Invited to the 86th Annual Arvada Chamber Dinner – Spurs & Satin

More than dinner, this elegant event celebrates our members, recognizes our community’s business leaders and promises more fun than any networking event this year!

Friday, January 21, 2011

6:00 pm Registration

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Program

Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada

Tickets: $75/person

Formal Attire

Please RSVP to 303-424-0313 by January 10th

We will recognize 2010 Business of the Year winner Mahnke Auto Body/Fix Auto.

Sponsorships are going fast – contact us today to take full advantage of the exposure you’ll receive!

PRESENTING SPONSOR – SOLD
Thank you Pinnacol Assurance

GIDDY UP SPONSORS – SOLD
Thank you Century Casino
Thank you Fiori de Flavio

COWBOY UP SPONSOR – $1,500

COWBOY UP Sponsors will receive the following:

1 Table at the Annual Dinner
There are 10 seats to each table

- Name listed on slide show as an Annual Dinner Event Sponsor

- Name listed on program as an Annual Dinner Event Sponsor

- Special Mention by Event Emcee

- Business Spotlight in Grand Views e-newsletter

- Logo and Link to Website in Grand Views e-newsletter

PONY UP - $500

PONY UP Sponsors will receive the following:

- 2 FREE Tickets to the Annual Dinner

- Name listed on slide show as an Annual Dinner Table Sponsor

- Name listed on program as an Annual Dinner Table Sponsor

- Logo and Link to Website in Grand Views e-newsletter

Contact Dot Wright for sponsorship opportunities today at 303-424-0313 or e-mail Dot@ArvadaChamber.org.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED

Contact Dot Wright if you have items that you would like to donate to the Silent Auction.  We do ask that the minimum value on the Silent Auction item donated be a $50 value.  For silent auction ideas, give us a call at the Arvada Camber today 303-424-0313 or email Dot@ArvadaChamber.org.  Thank you so much for your continued support of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce.

Recap on Leadership Arvada Class #3 on Nov. 18 – The City’s Inner Workings

By: Michelle Francis

At this class, we got to play the role of elected official in a mock city council session. Assistant city manager Bill Ray and city attorney Chris Daly provided insight into the inner workings of city council and complex characters with political motivations, and the setup for a controversial mock city council meeting. They created the imaginary city of Carlyle and created characters that consisted of Carlyle’s mayor and city council representatives. The meeting starred Leadership participants playing the elected officials and concerned citizens, all the while ad-libbing according to our assigned role. And while I admit I got a bit of an ego boost playing a councilmember and sitting at the podium, I also gained a deep appreciation for the hard work our elected and non-elected city officials put in day-to-day to make Arvada a great place to live and work.

Leadership Arvada’s Mock City Council Meeting

In the afternoon, we received a tour of City Hall headquarters and heard from the city’s finance office about what goes into managing the budget for a city the size of Arvada. It goes well beyond number-crunching! We saw how stable Arvada’s city budget has remained despite the downturn in the economy, through conservative spending and smart fiscal planning. It amazed me how much even minor-looking infrastructure projects cost, so just remember the next time you’re lamenting a four-way stop at which you wish were a traffic light that the money could come at the cost of other equally important projects!

The session shed light on what it takes to be a strong government leader, and highlighted the importance of citizen involvement. It’s easy to become involved. Attend city council meetings or join a city committee, and let your voice be heard!

Recap on Leadership Arvada Class #2 on Oct. 21 – Government and Business, Community Development and Arvada’s History

The Leadership Arvada team hamming it up!

By: Michelle Francis

The day started off with a presentation from city manager Craig Kocian about the city’s operational structure, based on a council-manager form of government. The impression Craig left us is that Arvada’s government workings don’t resemble a typical bureaucracy, but is instead an environment in which the city departments work in a collaborative fashion, putting the needs of citizens and business leaders first.

We heard from several key non-profit organizations operating in Arvada. The meeting was held at the Arvada Community Food Bank and included presentations from the food bank, Peace Jam, Foothills Animal Shelter and Ralston House. I appreciated that each non-profit discussed their mission and how each of us can help. A big takeaway was that one should never assume they know how to help a non-profit, but instead should ask where the greatest needs are. For example, the food bank always accepts food donations, but monetary donations go farther because the food bank can buy in bulk from food distributors.

The day included team-building activities on a ropes course where our group experienced team-building activities. There is perhaps no better way to observe a group’s dynamics than through physical activities that require everyone’s participation to succeed! Plus, everyone got to dress casual for the day.

One of our team-building exercises was to lower a tent pole to the ground - not as easy as it looks!

We also had the pleasure of learning about Arvada’s very colorful history. The Town of Arvada was established on December 1, 1870 by Louis Reno and Benjamin Wadsworth. Wadsworth’s wife Mary named the town after her brother-in-law Hiram Arvada Haskin. The Arvada Cemetery was established in 1863 and the water tower was dedicated in October 1910. St. Anne’s was dedicated in June 1922. The steeple made it the tallest building in Arvada at the time. In 1925, 10,000 unmasked Ku Klux Klan women marched on the Shrine of St. Anne’s and burned a cross on the steps. In retaliation, the Catholic Church marched with more than 10,000 men and boys, putting an end to the church burnings. The stories of local pride epitomize the strong spirit of Arvada’s citizens that continues today.

The session showed me that it’s never too late to get involved in the community by doing things like attending city council meetings, talking to government officials and volunteering time with local non-profits. These contributions benefit everyone in the community, and make Arvada the friendly, inclusive community that it is today.

Leadership Arvada Launches Its Second Annual Session on September 16th

By: Michelle Francis

This year's Leadership Arvada participants

Leadership Arvada is a program co-founded by Dot Wright with the Arvada Chamber and Hazel Hartbarger with the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA). The goal of Leadership Arvada is to educate participants about all the community has to offer, and encourage involvement. The class consists of  a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including business and community  leaders in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Last year’s class of leaders learned about many programs and initiatives and participated in a class project to create a new commons area at Arvada High School.

Participant Dan Cupit said, “The leadership program exceeds my wildest expectations. I have already learned more about the city in the last six months than I could have hoped for in a lifetime.”

Course topics include: Leadership, Government and Business, Community Development, Arts and Culture, Non-Profit Organizations/Service Clubs, Jefferson County Library, Parks/Trails/Recreation, Festivals Commission, Sister Cities, Public Safety, Public Works, Education and Sustainability.

I was honored to be selected for the 2010-2011 class, and look forward to carrying forward the legacy left by last year’s participants! I’ll write blog posts following each session to document our class’ progress and show future participants what they have to look forward to.