may 2010 chamber chronicle

By Michele Hester

[email protected]

From face painting to flowersand fashion jewelry to fast cars,there was something for everyoneat the ninth annual Spring Flingfestival the first weekend in May.

Presented by the DawsonCounty Arts Council, the festivalbrightened the parking lot atDawson County Middle School onMay 1 and 2. More than 40 ven-dors from across the Southeast

The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

May 2010

D A W S O N C O U N T Y

Post Office Box 299“Old Jail” west of the square

Dawsonville, GA 30534(706) 265-6278

Trophy shop opens

in Dawsonville

Outdoor festival celebrates season

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Underwood

There are many chamber events this monthAt the Dawson County

Chamber of Commerce, wewould like to take thisopportunity to update every-one on what your chamberhas going on this month.

Please join chambermembers and other commu-nity members on May 13

for our monthly member-ship meeting and luncheonat the Lakeview Center,2057 Dawson Forest Road.

Our speaker will be SteveGooch, Georgia Departmentof Transportation boardmember. Gooch will speakon the Ga. 400 project.

You do not have to be amember to attend. Just letus know you are comingand we will set a plate outfor you.

We would also like totake this time to congratu-late all of the studentswhom will be graduating

from high school or collegethis month.

However, if you are a par-ent of a high school gradu-ate, it could be a tough timeto know your children areabout to enter the world andpossibly leave the nest; soour prayers are with you. If

you are a parent of a collegegraduate, congratulations!

You are about to get a payraise.

Also, this month wewould like to say a big thankyou to all our veterans.

See EVENTS | 3

Photos by Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Pat and Larry Anderson, above, look at flowers recently during the SpringFling in downtown Dawsonville. Left, Nathan Frazier, 8, celebrates winningtwo goldfish.

See FESTIVAL | 10

TheDawsonvillePool Room wasin the localnews last weekwhen BrianJohnson, frontman for theAC/DC band,and ourAwesome BillElliott joined up forlunch and did a littleracing at The PoolRoom on one ofGordon’s “simulators.”

Larry the Cable Guywas also seen at thePool Room and we hearthat our own GordonPirkle will be in anepisode of “Only inAmerica” with thecelebrity later this year.

Earlier this year, theHistory Channel wasspotted filming DellConner’s extensive col-lections for a seriescalled “AmericanPickers.” Air date forthat episode is stillpending.

How doesDawsonville get noticedand then picked to be ontelevision?

Gordon and theDawsonville Pool Roomlong ago establishedcolorful reputations andI will leave it up toGordon to fill you in onhow his notoriety cameabout.

I can speak as to howDell Conner and his col-lections were chosen forThe History Channel.The State of Georgia isdivided into tourismregions.

Dawson County is

part of theNortheastGeorgia Travelregion, whichencompasses 17counties.

Cheryl Smithis our tourismrepresentativeand liaison tothe State of

Georgia’s Departmentof EconomicDevelopment. A fewmonths ago Cheryl putout an alert that TheHistory Channel waslooking for folks withextensive unorganizedcollections that mightfit the criteria for thetelevision series,“American Pickers.”

I immediatelythought of Dell Conner,contacted him and puthim in touch with theproper scouts workingon the project.

Dell fit the criteriaand the filming wasscheduled. The episodeis ready and we hopean air time will beassigned soon.

Another way commu-nities are identified issimply by reading arti-cles in magazines, Webblogs and other socialmedia. Here in DawsonCounty we are in thetourism business. Forthe last several years,the chamber hasarranged for writers tocome here for what wecall a Media Tour orWriters Tour.

Over the next coupleof months, DawsonCounty will entertainseveral writers who spe-

cialize in travel stories.They will come in smallgroups and experiencethe KangarooConservation Center,Amicalola Falls StatePark, the Len FooteHike Inn and NorthGeorgia PremiumOutlets, just to name afew places.

Of course they willenjoy our restaurantstoo, which is anotherimportant part of thetravel experience. Their

articles will then beginappearing in bothexpected and unexpect-ed places.

In addition to submit-ting their work to thetraditional print media,some of the writers useblogs and social mediato publish their articles.

This makes it easy toreach more people whonever even knew aboutDawson County as atravel destination.

Such articles are easi-

ly forwarded to friendsand family.

Marty Williams, thechamber’s vice presi-dent of tourism said:“Last year a $7,500investment in hostingone of our Writers Toursended up producingmedia value of morethan $300,000.”

That is quite a returnon our investment

So remember to “keep

your hospitality smileon” as you never knowwho you might meetaround town.

I hope to see you at achamber event soon.

Won’t you join us?

2 | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | dawsonnews.com MAY 2010

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dawsonnews.com | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | 3MAY 2010

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 13: Lunch with the Chamber atLakeview Center, noon. SteveGooch, Georgia Department ofTransportation board member, willbe the speaker. He will speak aboutthe improvement project on the GA400 and Hwy. 53 intersection. To payin advance go to www.dawson.organd click on the Chamber ofCommerce tab. Scroll down toEvents & Registration and thenselect Membership Luncheon. Orcall the chamber at (706) 265-6278and pay with a major credit card.

May 14: Chestatee Regional Hospitalis hosting an Open House from 2 - 4p.m. There will be tours of theMaternity Services Unit. Participantssigned up for the tours will be eligi-ble for some door prizes, one ofwhich is a car seat. There will alsobe a Lumpkin County Chamber ofCommerce ribbon cutting ceremo-ny to highlight their two pediatricrooms on the Med/Surg/Peds floor.Along with the ribbon cutting therewill be a magician to entertain thechildren that are in attendance. Themagic show begins at 3:30 p.m. inthe hospital main lobby, and the rib-bon cutting is at 2:30 p.m. For moreinformation, contact ChristineWilbanks, marketing director,Chestatee Regional Hospital at (706)867-4305, Ext. 305.

May 15: WEE Books of DawsonCounty is having a Barn Dance atthe Kinsey Family Farm, 7170 JotEm Down Road. Suggested dona-tion is $25 per person. Ticketincludes admission, barbeque din-ner, wine and beer and squaredancing instruction. For tickets,donations or information, call JudyCahill at (706) 216-1931 or MargeCarey at (706) 216-4872. All pro-ceeds benefit the WEE BooksProgram to bring an age appropri-ate book to every Dawson Countypre-school child each month.

May 21-22: Relay For Life will beheld from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at theDawson County High School track.The Dawson County Chamber ofCommerce is raffling off a "Ribbonof Hope" quilt for Relay for Life.

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Formore information, call the chamberat (706) 265-6278.

May 22: Join the Veterans Affairs ofDawson County for a "Poor Man’sSupper” fundraiser at the DawsonCounty Senior Center from 4-6 p.m.Tickets are $5 per plate. All pro-ceeds will go to the fund for theVeterans Day celebration and theVeterans Walk of Honor.Tickets areavailable at the Dawson CountyChamber of Commerce and EtowahWater and Sewer Authority. Formore information, call PamHamalainen at (706) 265-6278.Tickets will also be available at thedoor the day of the supper.

May 25: First Citizens Bank ofGeorgia will host the monthlyBusiness After Hours event from 5-7p.m. The bank is at 70 Carlisle Road,off Ga. 400. For more information,call Chryl at (706) 216-5900. Specialthanks to our cash drawing spon-sors AFLAC-Sharon Reagan,Anderson Family Medicine-Dr. LarryAnderson, The Norton Agency-Kristie Myers, United CommunityBank-James Askew, Van KeithInsurance Agency of Dawsonville,LLC- Ann Grizzle and Healthy Eatingon the Run-Barbara Roberts.Remember, you must be present towin.

May 31: Join the Veterans Affairs ofDawson County, Dawson CountyV.V.A. Chapter 970, Dawson CountyChamber of Commerce andAmerican Legion Post 247 at 3 p.m.at Veterans Memorial Park for aMemorial Day Service as we honorthe memory of those who paid theultimate price for our freedom.Wayne Watkins, Georgia Presidentof the Vietnam Veterans of Americawill be the Master of Services.Keynote speaker will be Bill Cain,Colonel, US Army (Retired) DeputyExecutive Director, GMACC. Therewill also be a dedication for theVeterans Walk of Honor at thebeginning of the service.

By Frank [email protected]

Community leaders and officialswith Lanier Technical College gath-ered last month to talk about theschool’s ongoing and future role inDawson County.

Russell Vandiver, interim collegepresident, said community input“could help set the tone for the nextfive years and beyond.”

Vandiver said the school’s five-year strategic plan should “makegood sense and outline exactly whatwe want to do and how we want togo about doing it.”

Officials and board members withthe school then asked communityleaders to voice their opinions onschool initiatives such as job train-ing and economic development.

“We feel like having input locallywill make a difference,” Vandiversaid. “We don’t want to do all the

talking. We want to hear your input.We want to hear your thoughtsabout what direction we need to begoing in throughout all of our cam-puses.”

Along with its Dawson campus,Lanier Tech has locations inForsyth, Oakwood and Jackson, aswell as a Winder-Barrow campus.

According to its Web site, LanierTech strives to “meet the changingeducational and technological work-force development needs of thecommunity by providing adult edu-cation and technical training...”

Vandiver said providing that typeof training “is what we’re all about.We’re trying to help to improveskills, arrange programs, do thingsthat make good sense, so people cango out and get jobs.”

Lanier Tech officials plan to holdfurther meetings around the northGeorgia area as a strategic plan isfinalized.

Lanier Tech hasplans for the future

May 31 is Memorial Day and theVeterans Affairs of Dawson County,Dawson County VVA Chapter 970and the Dawson County Chamberof Commerce will host a MemorialDay Service as we honor the mem-ory of those who paid the ultimateprice for our freedom.

The keynote speaker will be BillCain, colonel, US Army (Retired)Deputy Executive Director,GMACC.

Veterans and their families arespecial people who really under-stand what sacrifice is all about.There are many in our communitywith sons or daughters in our armedforces ... protecting us as we speak.

I am proud to say that I am

among that number. My oldest sonwill soon be leaving for his seconddeployment going to Afghanistan.

If you ever have a chance to bearound these young hero’s who areprotecting us, you would beamazed. They understand the jobthat they have been called on to doand willingly lay it on the line.

If you want to know what sacri-fice looks like, take a look at ourveterans.

Come and join us for theMemorial Day Service on May 31at Veterans Memorial Park at theWalk of Honor, Hwy. 9 North,Dawsonville.

Show them that we truly appreci-ate and support them all!

See you there.

Mike UnderwoodChairman, Dawson County Chamber of Commerce

FROM 1

Events


Office: 706-216-4806Fax: [email protected]

P.O Box 1096137 Prominence Court

Suite 240Dawsonville, GA 30534

By Michele [email protected]

It was hard for manywho attended the DawsonCounty Chamber ofCommerce Business AfterHours at the local animalshelter to leave without apuppy or kitten.

With real-life puppydog eyes, the animals atthe Dawson CountyHumane Society barkedand meowed as if to say“pick me, pick me.” Morethan a hundred visitorstoured the shelter nearRock Creek Park April27.

Kay Harris, shelterdirector, called the event agreat success.

The chamber wouldlike to thank the humanesociety for holding busi-ness after hours and eachmember who donateddoor prizes for theevening.

The chamber wouldalso like to thank themonthly cash drawingsponsors: AFLAC -Sharon Reagan; AndersonFamily Medicine - LarryAnderson; Norton Agency- Kristie Myers; UnitedCommunity Bank - JamesAskew; Van KeithInsurance - Ann Grizzleand Healthy Eating on theRun - Barbara Roberts.

Remember you must bepresent to win the cashprize.

Brenda Patterson, ofCommunity and SouthernBank, would have left the

event $800 wealthier ifshe had been at the shelterwhen her name was

drawn as the cash prizewinner.

Instead, the cash prize

grows to $950 for theMay event.

The chamber’s nextafter hours event will beheld from 5-7 p.m. May25 at First Citizens Bankof Georgia, at the inter-section of Ga. 400 andCarlisle Road.

For more information,call the chamber at (706)265-6278.

From staff reports

Census-takers across the nation began knocking ondoors May 1 to follow up with households that eitherdidn’t mail back their form or didn’t receive one.

An estimated 48 million addresses nationwide willbe visited through July 10.

Dawson County currently has a 75 percent rate ofreturn on the mailed census forms, but achieving acomplete and accurate census requires going door-to-door to count all the remaining households.

If a 2010 census worker knocks on your door, hereare some ways to verify that person is a legitimatecensus taker:

• The census taker must present an ID badge thatcontains a Department of Commerce watermark andexpiration date. The census taker may also be carry-ing a black canvas bag with a Census Bureau logo.

• The census taker will provide you with supervi-sor contact information and/or the local census officephone number for verification, if asked.

• The census taker will only ask you the questionsthat appear on the 2010 census form.

• The 2010 census taker will not ask for socialsecurity number, bank account number or credit cardnumber and will never solicit for donations or con-tact you by e-mail.

In most cases, census workers will make up to sixattempts at each housing unit address to count possi-ble residents.

This includes leaving notifications of the attemptedvisit at the house or apartment door, in addition totrying to reach the household by phone to conductthe interview or schedule an in-person interview.

For additional information, visit www.2010cen-sus.gov.

Census-takersto follow-upwith residents

Shelter welcomes chamberLocal bank to hold next event

Photos by Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Shelter employees Dezeree Cook, left, and Mayson Hulsey entertain twodogs April 27 when the Dawson County Humane Society hosted businessafter hours and invited chamber members to tour the facility.

Wayne Watkins holds one of the puppies at theshelter.

Angela Harben holdsone of the youngestanimals at the localanimal shelter.



Dawson County HighSchool’s vocationalcareers department teamedup with volunteers fromthe Dawson CountyChamber of Commercelast month for Job ShadowDay.

Participating studentsgot paired with businessleaders who matched eachstudent’s interest.

Chamber of CommercePresident Linda Williamssaid “it gave students aglimpse of a day in the lifeof the working world.”

Several dozen businessesand 45 students took partin the program.

Students observed work-ers at their places of busi-ness.

Sophomore ColleenEchuck followed CathyBrooks during the programApril 16. Brooks is thegovernment and communi-ty affairs representativewith Dawson County.

Echuck was surprised atthe variety of tasks Brookshandled.

“I couldn’t believe allthe different things shedoes,” Echuck said. “I hadno idea she did so muchevent planning.”

Brooks and Echucktoured the county officesand a fire station.

Williams said the jobshadow program has been

successful in the past sev-eral years it’s been put on.

“Chamber members havebeen supportive of it, invit-ing students into their busi-ness for a day,” Williamssaid.

According to Williams,interested students at thehigh school “give teachersan indication of what typeof business they think theywould like to explore.

“Teachers take a list ofparticipating businessesand match them up withthe appropriate students,”Williams said. “It’s a goodlearning experience forstudents.”

Staff Writer Michele Hestercontributed to this report.

For the Dawson Community News

Ashley Leshea Atkinson spent a day working at the library during Job ShadowDay, a collaboration between the high school’s vocational careers departmentand the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

School, chamber join for Job Shadow Day


Students at Crossroads Schooltreated each other to a nice lunchlast month as they took part in anannual two-day work-readinessevent put on by school officials.

Female students from theDawson County alternative schoolcooked and served their male peersa hearty lunch. The next day, it wasthe guys’ turn.

Principal Anthony Guisasolasaid the annual gathering “helpedprepare kids for employment situa-tions.

“What we try to do is help themas much as we can to not feel awk-ward in social situations that mightinvolve work,” Guisasola said.

He added that some studentsstood up and spoke at the businessluncheon.

“We get them to talk about whatthey’re doing school-wise andwork-wise,” he said. “We feel like

it’s a great opportunity for thesestudents all around.”

Surrounded by two dozen class-mates, student Megan Jespersenprepared food in the kitchen.

“We’re making a fancy-nancylunch,” Jespersen said, smiling.

On the menu?Lasagna, salad, biscuits and

chocolate pound cake.The exercise taught students the

parameters of a working environ-ment, Guisasola said.

“It’s a real-life situation, wherethey have to learn how to serve,how to work in a kitchen collec-tively,” he said.

It goes along with the school’sgeneral work-ready theme, headded.

“It’s helping them, so that whenthey do get out in a work situation,they’re not uncomfortable,” hesaid.

For more information aboutCrossroads School, visitwww.dawsoncountyschools.org.

Students create abusiness luncheon

Frank Reddy Dawson Community News

Crossroads students chop lemons in preparation for the school’sbusiness luncheon. From left, Cassey Everett, Julie Foster andMegan Jespersen.


• Congratulations to Mike Berg for being named 3rd vicepresident of ACCG.• Congratulations to Wanda Goodson for being appointedby Gov. Sonny Perdue to serve on the Georgia StateBoard of Accountancy.• Congratulations to Doug and Pam Mayer of SubstantialLion Studio, who were featured in the Georgia EMCMagazine this month.• Shop chamber members first.• Shopping local keeps sales tax dollars working for you.• Are you certified Work Ready?

Please let the chamber know when you have a special event.


Dawson County’s influenceat the state level escalated lastmonth when CommissionerMike Berg was elected thirdvice president of theAssociation County Commis-sioners of Georgia.

The designation means theDawson County Board ofCommissioners chair will serveas the group’s president in2013, the same year ACCG cel-ebrates its 100th birthday.

Berg calls the April 27 instal-lation “an honor and a privi-lege” and a plus for DawsonCounty.

“For Daw-son, it allowsus more cloutin lobbying,more face timewith legislators,the governor,the committeesand those folksthat make deci-

sions that affect the county,” hesaid.

Formed in 1914 with 19charter county members, todayACCG serves as the consensusbuilding, training and legisla-tive organization for all 159county governments in thestate.

Berg has been involved with

the association for many years,dating back to his service as acommissioner in GwinnettCounty.

“But I’ve been very involvedthe six years I’ve servedDawson County,” he said.

Berg’s worked with the asso-ciation to change annexationlaw and also served on thegroup’s water committee, inaddition to the association’sboard of managers and execu-tive committee.

“ACCG does a great jobtraining commissioners fortheir role in county governmentand it’s an honor to be selectedto serve 159 counties and over800 commissioners,” he said.

Berg elected president in ’13

Berg


Dawson County residents with ataste for foreign cuisine can ven-ture over to Nix Bridge Road forsome Italian desserts.

Eatery owners Robert Robertiand wife, Sylvia, opened AmedeosItalian Cookie Co., on Nix BridgeRoad last month after many yearsof making cookies at their home.

Robert Roberti said they werepopular among friends.

“We would give them out asgifts every year, and people wereso impressed with our cookies theykept asking us: ‘Hey, why don’tyou open a business?’” he said.

Specialties at the shop includetiramisu, cannolis and other Italianpastries.

Roberti said the shop will soonoffer gelato, or Italian ice cream asa summer treat.

“We’re counting on that NixBridge boat traffic to come in andtry some of that,” he said, addingthat the shop will offer five flavorsof gelato.

Amedeos sells wholesale andretail, offering a line of snackcookies that will be packaged andsold in stores all over northGeorgia.

“We’re looking to try and getinto grocery stores and gourmetfood stores,” he said.

Roberti said he and his wife’sfavorite thing about operating theshop is “the reaction of our cus-tomers when they come in ... howour cookies put a big smile on theirface.”

Added Roberti: “It’s superunique, especially to the area ofDawsonville. You can’t get stufflike this anywhere else.”

For more information, visitwww.amedeositaliancookies.com.

Taste of Italy comes to Dawson County


Chamber of Commerce members and employees of Amedeos Italian Cookie Co. on NixBridge Road gathered April 14 for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The cookie eatery offerstiramisu, cannolis and other Italian pastries. For more information, visit www.amedeosi-taliancookies.com.

‘You can’t get stuff likethis anywhere else.’

Robert Roberti Owner of Amedeos Italian Cookie Co.


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Chamber Chronicle is the monthly newsletter of the Dawson CountyChamber of Commerce.

The editorial content includes Chamber News and goals of interest to thebusiness and residential community.

The Chamber will keep the community informed about ribbon cuttings, business expansions, chamber functionsand events, community events and the benefits ofChamber membership through ChamberChronicle.

The Chronicle is mailed to all subscribers of theDawson Community News, plus all Chambermembers. Additional copies are available at theChamber office.

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Chamber members.

Delivery...Dawson Community News

Subscribers, All Dawson CountyChamber Members

Size...10” X 9.5”

Frequency...Monthly2nd Wednesday of Every Month

Deadline: MondayOne Week Prior to Publication Call Jennifer Lyness at 770-887-3126 for rates

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Dawson Community NewsA Community Newspaper Serving Community Needs


The Dawson CountyChamber of Commercejoined with Tri-StarTrophy business ownersByron and MicheleArceneaux May 5 tocommemorate thestore’s opening in down-town Dawsonville.

According to ByronArceneaux, the businessspecializes in trophies,awards, plaques and

engraving.“We carry many

unique types of trophiesthat you won’t typicallysee at trophy shops,” hesaid, adding the businessalso creates logos andimages on shirts, towels,mouse pads and gifts.

According to the Web

site, the company’s goalis “to bring customers agreat selection of highquality products, fastservice and greatprices.”

For more information,call (678) 707-6007 orvisit www.tristartrophy-.com.

and artists set up boothsoffering nature-inspiredworks.

Proceeds from the fes-tival benefit severalyouth and adult pro-grams held at the BowenCenter for the Arts.Funds also help the

council maintain a artgallery at the center.

Organizers said theywere pleased with theturnout at the festival,although the threat ofrain Saturday seemed tokeep visitors away atfirst.

“The plant vendorsreally did good,” saidCarol Tyger, presidentof the arts council. “Acouple of the plant ven-

dors had to replenishtheir stock up to fourtimes.”

Other weekend eventsincluded a car show,bike ride and fun run.


Dr.Timothy A.Annis66 South 400 Center Lane,Suite 105Dawsonville,GA 30534 (706) 216-4875

Timothy A.Annis,D.C.

April totals Walk-in visitors: 359Telephone referrals: 2,203

FROM 1

Festival

Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Hans Meier, a wooden puzzle artist and vendor at Spring Fling on May2, gave about 100 wooden puzzles he cut with his jigsaw to kids at thefestival at Dawson County Middle School.

Trophy shop opensin Dawson County


Business owner Byron Arceneaux talks about some of the trophies sold atTri-Star Trophy on May 5.


Thank YouChamber Building Fund

Sponsors

PropertyInvestmentAssociates

MEMBER RENEWALS

NEW MEMBERS

Around Back At Rocky's PlaceAtlanta Gear WorksBROGDON, CPABryant Contracting Inc.Chattahoochee Insurance AgencyDarlow, Marcia and DougDavid Wallace and Associates, PCDawson County Woman’s ClubDiscovery Point No. 50

Duncan Pipeline Inc.Glazing Rubber Products Inc.Kelo Company Inc.Kristie Myers, The Norton AgencyMountain WirelessPerfect Gatherings CateringPet Watch Inc.SunTrust Bank

MRX ProfessionalServicesMerrill Rackley(706) 974-8978P.O. Box 11627Big Canoe, GA [email protected]: LegalAid/Courier

AmeriVap Systems Inc.Wendy Richardson(404) 350-023931 Successful WayDawsonville, GA [email protected]: IndustrialSteam Cleaning

Tri-Star TrophyCompanyByron Arceneaux(678) 707-6007527 Cicero TrailDawsonville, GA [email protected]: Trophy's and Awards

From staff reports

A product is now available that allowsmember businesses to save more moneyon their health insurance. Blue Crossand Blue Shield of Georgia is nowoffering a product called BlueEssentials.

Blue Essentials is designed for busi-nesses that either have never offeredtheir employees group health insuranceor no longer can afford their premiums.

Blue Essentials plans offerdeductibles of $1,000 or higher andreductions in certain benefits.

However, employees would stillreceive $20 office visit copays and 80percent coinsurance reimbursement forin-network covered items.

Furthermore, employees will have thepeace of mind that they have coveragethrough Georgia’s largest and most rec-ognized health insurance company,Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.

Best of all, insurance plans are avail-able at reduced premium rates to eligi-ble business members of the DawsonCounty Chamber of Commerce.

Through the group “buying power”of MemberCare Alliance of DawsonCounty, the chamber is part of astatewide network of over 130 cham-bers of commerce offering theseinsurance products to chamber mem-ber businesses.

The MemberCare Alliance ofDawson County program includes avariety of discounted insurance prod-ucts, including: group term, voluntaryand dependent life insurance, groupdental insurance, group long term andshort term disability, accidental deathand dismemberment, group vision andlong term care insurance. All theseproducts are, of course, availablethrough participating chamber-memberinsurance agents.

For more information on any of theseinsurance offerings, call the chamber at(706) 265-6278, one of the participat-ing chamber-member insurance agents,or Purchasing Alliance Solutions Inc,(the company that developed theMemberCare Alliance of DawsonCounty program) at (770) 579-1214 or(800) 782-8254, Ext. 3012.

Chamber offers insurance


AMBASSADORS CORNER

What are Chamber Ambassadors?The ambassadors group is comprised of

local professionals, active and retired, that arecharged with the responsibilities of bringingcommunity attention to the Dawson CountyChamber of Commerce and the members itserves. You will see the ambassadors at theregistration tables for both the MonthlyChamber Luncheon and Business AfterHours. They attend ribbon cuttings, the annualgala, golf tournament, business expo, reverseraffle and many other chamber events.

The ambassadors are very active in the“Shop Local” Campaign with emphasis onpassing out window decals to all chambermembers.

They are available to assist the chamberstaff and are represented on the board ofdirectors of the chamber.

Recently, the group has begun to tour a

local business every month, which gives thema chance to go behind the scenes and discoverwhat makes the business a special part ofDawson County’s overall business communi-ty.

The Ambassador’s Mission Statement mir-rors the Dawson County Chamber ofCommerce Mission statement: TheAmbassador Group, under the direction of theMembership Development Committee, isresponsible for bringing community attentionto the Dawson County Chamber ofCommerce and the members it serves, bytheir county involvement, knowledge aboutthe chamber services, member retention andparticipation in programs and activities of thechamber.

The ambassadors’ next meeting is at 8 a.m.Wednesday June 2 at the Comfort Inn onBeartooth Parkway, Dawsonville.

Showcasing chamber of commerce Ambassadors

Jane Alvarez, Sun Trust BankEd Combs, Re Max 400 NorthInez Couch, Amicalola FallsBob Couch, individualMarcia Darlow, Southern Select Bill Goode, Victory CustomHomesAngela Harben, Kathy Fuller CPAKara Hewatt, United CommunityBankDiane Lemley, individualLori Lewis (Co-Chair), StelorHandyman ServicesSusan McBerry, Community andSouthern BankBernice Meehan, Best BankGeorge Parson, Rapid Refill

Mandy Power, BB&T BankDenny Putlak, Denny InsuranceGroupDerek Ruffner, East EdgeClimbing GymTommy Tallant, UnitedCommunity BankJay Thomason, H&R BlockCarol Tyger (Co-Chair), individualKim Turner, Community andSouthern BankAlycia Volk, individualAnnette Walden, Painted LadyEnterprisesMay Ann Witcher, Georgia FarmGirls

Meet the Ambassadors:


ARTS CENTER TOURDiane Lemley, left, and Carol Tyger look at paintings at the Bowen Centerfor Arts last month when the Dawson County Chamber of CommerceAmbassadors toured the center in an effort to thank staff and volunteersfor the service to the community. If you would like the group to tour yourbusiness or organization, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.

Are you Work Ready?By Michele [email protected]

The Dawson CountyChamber of Commerceencourages its membersand the community toprove they are “WorkReady.”

Work Ready is based ona skills assessment, certifi-cation for job seekers anda job profiling system forbusinesses. The goal is togenerate a workforce thatmeets the needs of localbusinesses.

Linda Williams, presi-dent of the chamber andthe local Work Readyleader, was the first personin Dawsonville to take thethree-part assessment,which tests real worldskills.

A group of leaders in thecounty began working

over a year ago to achievethe state’s Work Readydesignation, which wascreated to ensure thatGeorgia’s workers havethe best skills, easy accessto training and world-classjob opportunities.

Since the initiativebegan, 254 individualshave taken the assessmentin Dawson County.

Williams said to reachthe county’s goal, individ-uals in each populationbracket must be repre-sented.

“We’ve only had 11people in the private sectortake the assessment andthe goal is 98,” she said.

The majority of thosecertified have been at thehigh school, whichencourages students totake the assessment inpreparation for graduation

and entering the work-force.

Williams said 100 per-cent of the 2009 seniorclass took the Work Readytest, which “played a bigpart toward us getting thecommunity certified workready.”

Dawson County re-ceived a grant through theGovernor’s Office ofWorkplace Developmentto help the county achieveits work ready status.

The funds help coverthe $25 gift cards fromKroger or Wal-MartDawson County residentsreceive for successfullyearning a Work ReadyCertificate.

Call the chamber at(706) 265-6278 for moreinformation or to make anappointment to take theassessment.



Proposed improvements to theintersection of Ga. 400 andHwy. 53 will not displace anycurrent businesses, according totransportation officials.

Georgia Department ofTransportation representativeswere at Kilough ElementarySchool on April 15 to give thepublic a look at preliminarydrawings of the proposedimprovements to the county’sbusiest intersection.

The plan that would convertthe crossing to a two-leggedcontinuous flow intersection.Construction, at an estimated $7million, could begin within thenext 18 months.

Steve Gooch, who representsthe 9th District of the stateDepartment of Transportationboard, said most of the funds forthe project would come fromWashington, with the state pay-ing the remaining 20 percent.

“We may only have to comeup with $2 [million] or $3 mil-lion, so that would work great,”he said.

The at-grade intersectionwould be a first for Georgia andis designed to move left-turningvehicles out of the main flow oftraffic by utilizing a series ofaccess roads and longer left-turnlanes.

The changes also includesidewalks on both sides of Ga.400 on Hwy. 53.

Project manager RobertMurphy said the majority ofcomments he received about theproject were positive.

“They want to know when itwill be finished,” he said.

Murphy also said some com-ments involved other problemat-ic intersections, such asLumpkin Campground andKilough Church roads.

“We agreed we would take alook at that, and if it’s warrant-ed, we would go ahead and try

to improve those intersections,”he said.

Jim Young, manager at theIngles in Dawsonville, attendedthe public meeting and talked todesign consultants about theneed for a traffic signal at theHwy. 53 entrance to the shop-ping center.

“It’s hard enough to turn leftout of the center now, and theentrance to Kroger is the sameway. There needs to be lights atboth places,” said Young, whoadded he thought the other pro-posed improvements wouldwork to clear congestion.

DOT has considered severaloptions for the intersection,including an estimated $40 mil-lion flyover that would have ele-vated Ga. 400 traffic over Hwy.53.

James Askew, president of

United Community Bank, whichsits in the Ingles shopping cen-ter, said he is pleased with thepreliminary plan.

“This at-grade intersection is100 percent better than any ofthe other options they brought tous over the years,” Askew said.

Murphy said right of wayacquisition is expected to beginwith fiscal year 2011, providedfunding remains in place for theproject he said DOT is aggres-sively pursuing.

Gooch will discuss the projectas guest speaker tomorrow atthe chamber’s monthly lunch-eon. The luncheon begins atnoon and is held at theLakeview Center on DawsonForest Road.

For more information aboutthe luncheon, call the chamberat (706) 265-6278.

Ga. 400/53 to get traffic relief


Jim Young (far right), manager at Ingles in Dawsonville,explains the need for a traffic signal at the Hwy. 53 entranceto the shopping center with state department of transporta-tion design consultants.


Voters have an opportunityto meet local, regional andstate candidates seekingpublic office July 9 when theDawson County Chamber ofCommerce sponsors a candi-date forum at DawsonCounty Middle School.

With 10 candidates on theballot for Dawson CountyClerk of Superior Courts anda contested race for thecounty’s District 3 commis-sion seat, organizer CharlieAuvermann said there is nobetter gallery to meet andcompare the candidates.

“This is going to be agreat opportunity for localcitizens to meet the peoplerunning for office, get totalk to them in person andlisten to them answer ques-tions in front of the othercandidates,” Auvermannsaid.

Doors will open at 5:30p.m. for candidates to meetpersonally with voters andpass out literature on theircampaigns.

The formal question andanswer session follows at 6p.m., beginning with thecandidates having a fewminutes to introduce them-selves to the public.

Questions will then beasked by a moderator.

Candidates for eachrespective office will beasked the same questionsand have an opportunity torespond.

Auvermann said candidateanswers will not be open fordebate.

“Due to time limits andthe number of candidates,we’re not going to let thefolks argue with each other,”

he said.Auvermann said the

chamber’s government andcommunity affairs council isstill working to iron out theevent to make sure it runs assmoothly as possible, whileproviding the most informa-tion to the voters.

The chamber holds simi-lar forums prior to majorelections and worked hardthis year to make sure thedate selected was securedearly.

“There is a great deal ofinterest in the elections thisyear,” said Linda Williams,president of the chamber.“We wanted to make surewe got our date early andare working to insure that allcandidates know to markJuly 9 on their calendars.”

Williams said invitationsare being sent to the guber-natorial candidates, all can-didates running in regionallyimportant races and all can-didates for local offices.

Given the large number ofoffices and candidates thathave to be factored into thisyear’s election, Auvermannexpects the evening to be“full of lively interaction.”

“This is your best opportu-nity to understand their posi-tions on critical issues,” hesaid.

The forum falls just over aweek before the July 20 gen-eral primary.

“The general primary isreally our most critical eventfor most candidates,”Auvermann said.

The last day for voter regis-tration is June 21.

The general election is Nov2.

For more information aboutthe scheduled forum, call thechamber at (706) 265-6278.

Chamber to holdcandidate forum



Young cadets could soon bemarching down the halls ofDawson County High School.

Officials with DawsonCounty schools took a big steplast month in bringing a JuniorReserve Officers’ TrainingCorps program to the high school.

Earlier this month, the schoolboard voted unanimously to hire asenior U.S. Army instructor to headJROTC at the high school, a localplan that’s nearly a decade in themaking.

Lt. Col. Johnnie “Chip” Sweattewill come on board this summer togather materials and set up a highschool classroom in preparation foryoung cadets.

Sweatte, who is a former recruitingoperations officer with North GeorgiaCollege & State University, said thereare some important lessons to belearned in JROTC.

“It’s primarily focused on respon-sibility, time management and com-munity service,” said Sweatte April16. He said the program should notbe confused with ROTC, which“familiarizes a young man or womanwith the military, allowing them tocontract with the military at somepoint.”

He said Dawson County HighSchool’s JROTC “will be taught bymilitary staff...but we don’t recruitfor the Army. Students get a familiar-ization with the chain of command,and they’re responsible for roll call,and they wear a uniform.”

Students in the program will berequired to wear uniforms one dayeach week. After-school programsfor cadets include color guard, rifleteam and a Raider Team, which com-petes athletically with other schoolsin the state.

Sweatte said these types of activi-ties “set young people up for successas they go out into the future.”

Superintendent KeithPorter agreed.

“In participating schoolsystems, this program hasincreased graduation andattendance rates anddecreased disciplinaryinfractions among studentcadets,” Porter said.

Hiring Sweatte, Portersaid, “allows us to move forward.”

Sweatte signed a 12-month con-tract with the school system, fundedprimarily by the U.S. Army. DawsonCounty Schools will contribute$26,000 annually, while the Armypays $52,600.

Porter said it’s money well-spent.“We’re excited about the opportu-

nities it will provide our kids,” Portersaid. “This is something that can ben-efit any student at the high school.”

The process of obtaining a JROTCunit at the high school has takennearly eight years. Porter said localschool officials have applied annu-ally for the designation.

Army officials rate applicationsbased on facilities available, com-mitment of the school system andgeographic location.

Neighboring Forsyth andLumpkin counties have JROTC pro-grams for high school students.

The need for JROTC in DawsonCounty is strong, according toPorter.

“There have been a substantialnumber of students who haveshown an interest,” he said.

Sweatte said he’s excited for thestudents that plan to get involved.

“It’s going to be fantastic forthem,” he said. “We’d like to moti-vate these guys and gals to be thebest citizens possible. That’s reallywhat it boils down to.”

Sweatte is a longtime DawsonCounty resident. He graduated fromNorth Georgia College & StateUniversity in 1980 and was onactive duty in the Army for 22years.

Cadet program taking shape

Sweatte


Dawson County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Gary Pichon cuts a rib-bon to celebrate the reopening and dedication of War Hill Park April 22.


New sand, upgrades tothe campsites and a com-plete overhaul on thehandicap accessible pierwere unveiled last monthas county officials rededi-cated War Hill Park to thecit izens of DawsonCounty.

The park, which sits onLake Lanier at the end ofWar Hil l Park Road,reopened for the seasonApril 1 after a year and ahalf-long remodel.

“The campground hasbeen full every weekendsince the park opened thisyear,” said Director ofDawson County Parks andRecreation Lisa Henson,at the dedication ceremo-ny. “And day use hasprobably quadrupled.”

The county has a lease

agreement with the U.S.Army Corps of Engineersto care and upkeep thepark, and in 2008,received a county-match-ing $80,000 land andwater conservation grantto make the improve-ments.

“We are grateful for theopportunity for the next25 years to manage thispark and hopefully contin-ue to see it grow and pros-per through some otherprojects and expand it intoeven more than i t istoday,” she said.

County commissionersare now looking into anaddit ional grant thatwould be used to resur-face al l roadways andparking areas in the park.

Warren King, chairmanof the county’s park boardof directors, compared theimprovements to a magnet

and said other Corps ofEngineer parks in thecounty are also viablecandidates for revitaliza-tion in the future.

“We hope that eventual-ly these jewels that are inour county that sit on thislake are going to be takencare of by the county forthe cit izens of DawsonCounty . . . for the kidsnow and future genera-tions,” he said.

Lake park gets makeoverWar Hill dedicated to residents ‘The campground

has been fullevery weekendsince the parkopened this year.’

Lisa HensonDirector ofparks and recreation



It was a star-studdedmonth for the city ofDawsonville.

It began earlier thismonth when Larry theCable Guy showed up atthe Dawsonville PoolRoom after a long day inthe woods filming footagefor a television show.

Dawsonville’s GordonPirkle acted as a tour guidefor the camera crew andthe Blue Comedy Tourstar, taking them to amakeshift model of amoonshine still in thewoods and later to thewell-known eatery.

Pirkle will co-star in thetelevision show they werefilming, “Only inAmerica,” a HistoryChannel documentaryseries. Pirkle said theepisode will have a “wholelot of Dawsonville histo-ry...all the good stuff.” It’sset to air in early fall.

Larry the Cable Guy isthe host of “Only inAmerica.” According tothe History Channel’s Website, the show covers “thedifferent lifestyles, jobsand hobbies that celebratethe American experience.”

Marty Williams, vicepresident of tourism for theDawson County Chamberof Commerce said it willbe a “boost for the econo-my...once the footage getsout there it will definitelyhave a positive economic

impact here.”Larry the Cable Guy,

real name Daniel Whitney,said coming to town was agood experience.

“I love Dawsonville,” hesaid, while signing auto-graphs inside the PoolRoom. “I feel right athome here. These peopleare good. It’s a goodplace.”

Added Larry, “I would-n’t mind coming backsometime for a longervisit.”

He wasn’t the onlycelebrity recently enam-ored with the town’scharm.

AC/DC front man BrianJohnson showed up atThunder Road USA laterin the month. Johnson, abig fan of NASCAR, is apart-time race car driver as

well. He’d just finished arace at Road Atlantabefore he came to town.

“We heard about thismuseum here,” saidJohnson on Monday. “I justhad to come see it.” A tele-vision crew came withJohnson and got footage ofhim interviewing Pirkleabout local history.

Johnson called the rac-ing museum “the Vaticanin the valley. It’s likealmost religious for me,being here and seeing allthis. It’s just glorious.Incredible what you guyshave here in your back-yard.”

AC/DC is widelyknown for 1980s rock sin-gles like “Back in Black”and “You Shook Me AllNight Long.”

Pirkle said it all started

when he got a phone callfrom England last week.Johnson’s manager toldPirkle about Johnson’sracing enthusiasm and hisdesire to visit the museumwhile in north Georgia.

Last month, Pirkle got aphone call from anemployee of the History

Channel, explaining thedetails of Larry the CableGuy’s visit and when he’dbe in town. Then, theyasked if Pirkle wouldn’tmind spending a littletime in front of the cam-era.

“Of course, Dawson-ville’s known for racing,

so they wanted to show itshistory from moonshinedays to present,” Pirklesaid.

He said he enjoyedworking with Larry theCable Guy. “He was great.Real nice guy,” Pirklesaid.

He added that at onepoint during a film shootoff Hwy. 136, a school buswas stopped on the high-way letting kids out.

“Larry the Cable Guygoes and gets on theschool bus and startedtalking to the kids, jokingwith them. Boy, I bet theywere thrilled about that,”Pirkle said.

Pirkle spent nearly 15hours following the filmcrew Thursday. “By theend of it, I was whooped.I’m still whooped. Thatwas a long day, but I’llnever forget it. It wassomething else.”

Local historyattracts fame

Photos by Frank Reddy Dawson Community News

Dawsonville Pool Room employee Terri Parker, above, poses for a picturewith Larry the Cable Guy during his visit to the area last month. He wasfilming footage for a show that airs on The History Channel. MichaelGarrett took the picture of the two.

Gordon Pirkle and AC/DC front man BrianJohnson pose for a picture outside ThunderRoad USA. The two were getting footage lastmonth for a television show.

Larry the Cable Guy autographs Angela Jenkins’T-shirt during his Dawsonville Pool Room visitlast month.


THANK YOU DAWSON COUNTY!Scenes from our 12th Annual Customer Appreciation

The Winner of Margie’s Quilt!

Brenda Powell

Hwy. 53 & 400, Dawsonville...with locations in downtown Dawsonville,

Foothills Center in Marble Hill and Keith Bridge Commons in Cumming

706-216-2265www.chestateestatebank.com

MAIN OFFICE DRIVE-THRU OPEN 7-7 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SATRUDAYS FROM 8-12 NOON

may 2010 chamber chronicle

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