West Carroll Chamber of Commerce

“Making sense of business online”

The nature of online business is changing rapidly with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger and many more social networking and blogging sites. Therefore, establishing an online presence for business is increasingly easier and less expensive. Rural businesses can benefit significantly from selling online to a global customer base. So, what’s the first step to grow your rural business? Take this class!

Participants will learn important global online business trends and the necessary steps to establish a successful online business. Whether you are an established business or thinking of starting one, this class will provide several ideas that will help you successfully establish an online business. Join us to learn how to grow your rural business beyond the borders of northeast Louisiana. This introductory course is part of the LSU AgCenter’s broadband education initiative, Connect My Louisiana.

 This is a lunch-n-learn workshop so please bring your lunch.

Dr. James Barnes at (318) 428-3571 or jbarnes@agcenter.lsu.edu.

 Connect My Louisiana (http://www.lsuagcenter.com/connectmyla)

An Introduction to Online Business

11:45 to 1 p.m.

February 24th

Oak Grove First Church of God

West Carroll Chamber of Commerce

“Building a Brighter Future Today!!!”

P.O. Box 1336

Oak Grove, La. 71263

January 31, 2012

Dear Chamber Members,

It’s that time of the year again for us to renew our memberships for 2012.  Membership fees are the same as last year $25 for individuals and $50 for our business partners.  Business Partners will have their contact information listed at the chamber’s website, westcarrollchamber.com.

2012 looks as if it is once again going to be a busy year for the chamber.

It all begins February 11 at 7 p.m. when we present our Annual Valentines Weekend Concert.  This year’s featured artist will be “The Brett Family” from Branson, Mo.  This award winning group was voted Branson’s 2011 Morning Show of the Year, along with Best Young Performers.  We have made a significant investment to bring entertainment of this quality to our community, and we ask you to PLEASE support this event by PURCHASING TICKETS so we can continue to provide this service to you.  Advanced tickets are available now at Small Town Designs for just $15.00 or can be purchased the night of the show for $20.  As of press time tickets sales were going slow so please go out and purchase tickets for yourself and encourage all your friends to do the same soon.

The other spring event planned is the Second Annual North Louisiana Sweet Potato Festival.  The festival committee has already had two meetings and this year’s looks to be bigger and better than last year.  We thank everyone on the committee for volunteering to help make this another successful festival for our parish.

We will be having our February membership meeting Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Lingo Center.  This meeting will be potluck with the chamber providing the meet (Turkey and Ham.)

This will probably be my last letter to you as Executive Director of the Chamber as I have decided to step away from this post once a replacement has been found to concentrate more on theatre operations and special events. I am not leaving the chamber just moivng to another position  (Director of Special Events.)  I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for helping make the last 1.5 years so successful for the chamber.

Once again I ask you to PLEASE purchase tickets to the BRETT FAMILY, and also return the attached membership application (If you are reading this online please print the membership applications on downloads page) along with your 2012 dues to the address listed at your soonest convenience.

Looking forward to a successful 2012.

Sincerely,

Adam T. Holland

Executive Director

WEST MONROE, La. — Former West Carroll Parish native Gordon Smith has announced the release of his latest invention, The Bow Shooters Station, which will be available soon at greatdayinc.com.

“Picking up the bow again after a number of years was kind of exciting. I’ve never had much time for hunting and the time I did have I spend getting ready, organized and usually not enough time for practice,” Smith said. “I invented The Bow Shooters Station so everything would be in its place, right in front of me and nothing laying on the ground to step on which allows more practice time in the back yard or on the shooting range.”

Smith’s invention now called Great Day’s BowShooters Station transforms awkward, frustrating archery target practice into a systematic, organized and pleasant experience.  The BowShooter’s Station holds the bow and arrows at your fingertips—no more laying your bow on the ground or pulling arrows from a quiver!

The BowShooter’s Station is constructed of aircraft aluminum, weighs only 4 lbs—making it easy to move from one target or location to another.  It comes complete with a slotted bow holder that can be set up for either right or left-handed shooters. It also includes two-arrow “caddies” that will easily hold 12 arrows each.  The BowShooter’s Station also has a convenient drink-holder for can or bottle drinks.

Smith moved to Oak Grove, La. in 1969 and attended Oak Grove High School until midterm of junior year and transferring to Sam Crow Academy and graduating 1975.  Smith is the son of Opal Boone with three sisters Shelia, Candy and Donna Smith all of which attended OGHS.

Smith worked after school for the late James Dumas at the carwash and also got his start in Heating and Air Conditioning services from late Jimmy Miles Holland.

Chances are he has installed the services or been to most house in a certain radius of Oak Grove to perform maintenance repairs before moving to Texas with Shell Oil Co. in 1980 as their explosive blaster. A resident of West Monroe now since 1994, Gordon worked as a journeyman electrician for Graphics Packaging before entering into the field of pipeline and tank inspection and safety. Gordon still works at many jobs which does not leave much time for one of his favorite past times, hunting.

The Bow Hunter’s Station made its first public debut at the Archery Trade Association’s Annual Convention where it was one of the most popular attractions prior and during the annual trade show. Demonstrations of the product will be available soon on youtube.com.

OAK GROVE, La. — The Digital Fiske Theatre in Oak Grove, La. has announced and expanded Holiday Season line-up to included two faith-based films along with a classic to its already packed Holiday Blockbuster season.

Christmas with a Capital C has been added to the schedule on December 13 for a one-night engagement beginning at 7 p.m.  In this Pure Flix Entertainment film Christmas has always been an exceptional time of love and tradition in the small town of Trapper Falls, Alaska. Hometown of Mayor Dan Reed (Ted McGinley) looks forward to each year with enthusiasm to all the events, friends and family that fill this special season. When Dan’s old high school rival Mitch Bright (Daniel Baldwin) returns home after 20 years, Dan is immediately suspicious. Mitch is a highly successful big city lawyer who has never wanted anything to do with Trapper Falls. The rivalry re-ignites when Mitch takes offense to seeing the town’s flagrant violation of the constitution’s Establishment clause. Mitch wants the Nativity scene removed from the front of City hall and more importantly the word Christmas switched to Happy Holidays on all signs. Fifty years of tradition are now challenged not by an outsider but a former member of the community. As the conflict escalates it goes beyond one person’s opinion but magnifies into an entire town problem when Mitch enters into the mayoral race to have Dan replaced.

The Fiske brings back a classic, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen on December 20 at 7 p.m.  As a Christmas gift to the Ark-La-Miss the Fiske is offering this film free of charge to the citizens of the Ark-La-Miss.

And after popular demand Courageous returns for a one-time engagement January 1 at 6:30.

General is just $6.50 and children six and under are admitted for $3.75.

The Fiske Theatre is owned by the West Carroll Chamber of Commerce and operated by Holland Entertainment LLC of Oak Grove, La.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkK30YFv9u0