Chamber Night at the Ballpark

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce has again teamed up with the Rochester Honkers Baseball Club to offer Chamber Night at the Ballpark. You and your family are invited to come and enjoy a night of baseball on Tuesday, June 9th, at Mayo Field with our own Rochester Honkers. Tickets are FREE for Chamber members.

Click here and print off your free ticket voucher today! The voucher is good for one free general admission ticket. You may print one copy of the voucher for each employee.The first 500 through the gates will receive a free Slider poster compliments of Johnson Printing of Rochester. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Chamber Night at the Speedway - this Saturday!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Take the family to the races! The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and and Deer Creek Speedway have teamed up to offer Chamber Night at the Speedway this Saturday, Aug. 23rd.

You and your family are invited to come and enjoy a free night of racing at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for Points Night/Track Championship Night. To print off your free ticket (good for two adult general admission tickets), visit click here! Kids 12 and under are free, so bring the entire family out!

After Opening Olympic Weekend, Americans Ranked 25th (in Education) - a U.S. Chamber blog entry

The following was an interesting blog post taken from the ICW's Workforce and Education Newsletter, a monthly publication of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce (August 2008, Volume 9, Issue 8). We thought it tied in nicely with education and workforce (Workforce 2020), and really makes you think about how many perceive education in today's society.

"The Olympics began on Friday with an opening flourish that few will soon forget. Thousands of individual performers, turning in nothing less than perfection. Unbelievable technical achievements, including the world's largest LED screen. In one of the acts, two-thousand and eight drummers counted down to the official opening of the games. It was summed up rather well by NBC commentator, Matt Lauer, who said it was, "Awe-inspiring and perhaps intimidating."

Well, if you are just now getting intimidated by the talents of the Chinese, you simply are not paying attention, which unfortunately seems to be a large part of the problem.

As of today, we are currently ranked first in the medal count, with China lurking just behind. However, if we were to swap our athletic standing with our academic standing, we would currently be between Azerbaijan and Slovakia, ranked somewhere around 25th in the world according to the most recent international testing benchmarks. (By the way, both of those nations scored higher than the U.S. on the latest mathematics PISA tests.)

Doubtlessly, if we ranked 25th in medals, we would have woken up this morning to fervent debate, endless handwringing, and zealously-heeded calls to action. To wit, when our Olympic basketball team won the bronze in 2004, getting back to the top was the subject of a national debate that was as vast as it was hyperbolic."

Click here for full story.

Originally published 12 August 2008. Reprinted by permission, uschamber.com, August 2008. Copyright© 2008 U.S. Chamber of Commerce - All Rights Reserved.

Annual Golf Outing Photos (The Chamber Games)

Thank you all who made the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Golf Outing presented by Associated Bank and Express Employment Professionals a tremendous success! We had more than 350 golfers enjoy the beautiful weather and take part in the event. Also, a huge thank you to all area businesses who sponsored the event. This couldn't have happened without your kind sponsorship and continuous support of the Chamber. Thanks and see you on the links next year!

And for those of you who are looking for yet another golf tournament this summer, check out the Hospitality 1st! Golf Classic which is coming up quickly - Aug. 27th to be exact!

Chamber Night at the Speedway!

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and and Deer Creek Speedway have teamed up to offer Chamber Night at the Speedway. You and your family are invited to come and enjoy a free night of racing at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for Points Night/Track Championship Night. To print off your free ticket (good for two adult general admission tickets), visit http://www.rochestermnchamber.com/ today! Kids 12 and under are free, so bring the entire family out!

The night is also the point championship night where all of the point champions for the 2008 racing season will be crowned! Racing action will start at 3 p.m. with action on the 1/5 mile Button Buck Speedway in the inside of the larger Deer Creek Speedway. Button Buck Speedway features three classes of Pepsi Slingshot cars, the Pee-Wee, Junior and Regular Division's will crown their champions on this day. Racing action on the High-banked 3/8 mile speedway will begin at 6 p.m. with racing action in all five regular classes, the WISSOTA Late Models, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Street Stocks along with the USRA Modifieds which will also crown their champions on the night.

Minnesota Ice Hawks seeking host families

The Minnesota Ice Hawks are seeking families to join their host family network. If you might be interested or know someone who may be please contact Michael Fatis at 507-358-3095 or by email at mfatis@mnicehawks.com. Host families receive monthly compensation, season tickets and the opportunity to help an elite amateur athlete.

The Ice Hawks recruit elite student/athletes, (age 16 to 20) nationally as well as from Minnesota. Players are on the ice daily (practicing or playing) and work part time (or attend school) as they pursue their dream of playing college hockey. Players follow strict team and housing program rules.

Host Families provide:
- A stable home away from home
- Bedroom or private area of the house
- Guidance and friendship that nurtures their development
- Nutritious food prepared by host or player for himself.

Host Families receive:
- Monthly compensation paid directly by the Ice Hawks
- Season tickets for each family member in the household
- A role model or "big brother" for children
- A lasting relationship for you and your family

In addition, the Ice Hawks schedule activities for the players and housing families throughout the season. Housing parents may attend monthly Housing Parent meetings and actively participate in the nationally recognized development program affiliated with USA Hockey.

Chamber Night at the Honkers - THIS THURSDAY! - Print your free ticket here

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Buy Rochester have teamed up to offer Chamber Night at the Honkers presented by Buy Rochester on Thursday, June 12 at Mayo Field! You and your family are invited to come to enjoy a night of Baseball with our own "Honkers". The first 400 people who enter through the gates will receive a complimentary Buy Rochester gift. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the game will begin at 7:05 p.m. To obtain your tickets, click the link below and print out your free tickets! Click HERE for your FREE tickets!

Chamber Chat Show - May 2008

Due to Memorial Day, this month's Chamber Chat show was aired yesterday on KROC AM 1340. John Eckerman and Brian Olson of the Chamber joined Tracy McCray to talk politics and sports - including the session that was recently wrapped up, the Chamber's upcoming Legislative Session Recap Breakfast and Chamber Night at the Honkers.

You can tune into 1340 the fourth Monday of each month at 9:50 a.m. to hear the Chamber Chat show live! You can listen to past Chamber Chat shows by clicking here.

Chamber Night at the Honkers / Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center Night at the Honkers

As seen in this week's E-News Update, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Buy Rochester have teamed up to offer Chamber Night at the Honkers presented by Buy Rochester on Thursday, June 12 at Mayo Field! You and your family are invited to come to enjoy a night of Baseball with our own "Honkers". The first 400 people who enter through the gates will receive a complimentary Buy Rochester gift. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the game will begin at 7:05 p.m. To obtain your tickets, click the link below and print out your free tickets!

Click HERE for your FREE tickets!

Also, on the subject of Honkers baseball, the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center is inviting you to attend Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center Night at the Honkers baseball game on Wednesday, June 11. This evening of baseball will also include activities and announcements honoring our donors and volunteers, and a visit from a Mayo One emergency helicopter.

This year there will also be prize drawings for people who sign up to donate blood and/or platelets. Platelets are one of the components in blood that help blood clot. People who have leukemia, people receiving chemotherapy and babies who have severe infections need platelets.

Tickets are FREE and can be picking up at Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center located at Hilton Building Downtown on 2nd Ave & 2nd Street S.W. from 6 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. For more information about this special evening or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call 507-284-4475.

Arc-A-Palooza Co-Ed Volleyball Championships Fundraiser

ARC Southeastern Minnesota will be hosting their first ever "Arc-A-Palooza CO-ED Volleyball Championships" fundraiser at the Century High School Volleyball Center.

Any skill level is welcome as they will be having three different participation brackets (Competitive, Recreation and Youth (ages 12-18) ). A 4-person team entry fee is $100 (tax deductible) and due by May 26th.

Contact Ryan Gosch at rgosch@arcse-mn.org or 507-287-2032 with a 4 person CO-ED team and come on down and support Arc Southeastern Minnesota and enjoy a great day of volleyball at the same time!

Arc is a non-profit organization that provides support, education and advocacy to persons with developmental disabilities and their families.

Minnesota Wild Hockey against Vancouver will be broadcast live this Sunday on Signal Hill CW Television

Fans in Southeast Minnesota and North Iowa will be able to follow the Minnesota Wild throughout the season on Signal Hill CW. Normally Wild games are seen in the area on FSN North. However the four games listed below that Signal Hill CW will be carrying are on KSTC Channel 45 which is not available on Charter Communications. This is the first time ever that Wild hockey has been able to broadcast outside of the Twin Cities area on over-the-air television.

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007 - Wild vs. Vancouver - 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 - Wild @ Detroit - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 - Wild @ Nashville - 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 22, 2008 - Wild @ Calgary 8 p.m.

Signal Hill CW is available over-the-air on Digital Channel 10.2 and on Charter Channel 7. For more information contact KTTC General Manager Jerry Watson at 507-288-4444 or at jwatson@kttc.com.

Ribbon Cutting: Rochester Fire

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors welcomed the Rochester Fire ABA basketball team to the Chamber on Friday with a Ribbon Cutting at the team's inaugural game at the Mayo Civic Center. The Rochester Fire joined the Chamber in March of this year. We wish the team the best of luck this season.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Open House and Public Forum: Metrodome

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson sure put on a show yesterday at the Metrodome, but a big question still looms over the future of the stadium, which is home to the purple and gold. That question is, "What is next for the Metrodome?" The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) invites you to attend an open house and public forum to learn about the issues surrounding the Metrodome next, and ensure that your voice is heard. Speakers will include MSFC commissioners and staff, as well as representatives of the Minnesota Vikings. Click here for additional information.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007; 7 - 9 p.m.
Hosted by: Ramada Hotel & Conference Center; 1517 16th St. SW

Minnesota Vikings "You Made the Team Tour"

The Minnesota Vikings
"You Made the Team" Tour made the trip to Rochester today for a first-time event hosted by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 75 Chamber members attended the luncheon at the Rochester Golf and Country Club. Highlights included Vikings Running Back Mewelde Moore, Vikings Vice President of Public Affairs Lester Bagley, Vikings play-by-play radio announcer Paul Allen of KFAN Radio (P.A. and Dubay Show), Vikings mascot Viktor, as well as several Vikings Cheerleaders. For those of you unable to make it, we have attached several photos from the day!

Photos:
Top Left - Mewelde Moore and Lester Bagley of the Vikings present a $1,000 donated check to Karen Erlenbusch, president of United Way of Olmsted County.
Bottom Left - Vikings Running Back Mewelde Moore, joined by two Vikings cheerleaders, discusses the group's earlier trip that day to John Adams Middle School
Top Right - The Chamber's own Judy Braatz poses with Viktor, the Vikings new mascot

Graham Arena Four Dedication Ceremony

We recently heard word of the new Graham Arena Four dedication ceremony. The date is set, but more details will be posted as we get them. Mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. The program will take place in the lobby of the new arena. We will keep you updated as we hear more!

Harlem Globetrotters to play in Rochester

Looks like the one and only Harlem Globetrotters are coming back to town to play at Mayo Civic Center's Taylor Arena. If you haven't seen the show, this is a must! Need not to be a basketball fan to enjoy this extremely talented group of entertainers! In addition to their unquestionable athletic ability, they are quite the comedians as well.

The show is April 13, 2008, at 2 p.m. and tickets run from $17 to $70. The tour, titled "Magis As Ever" North American Tour, is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company. Visit http://www.mayociviccenter.com/ for more information!

TASTE OF ROCHESTER GOLF CLASSIC RESULTS

Hey everyone, sorry about this information being a little bit late, but I thought some of you may be interested in the results of the Taste of Rochester Golf Classic at Willow Creek Golf Course. Here are the results:

1st place (55): Chris Wagner, Sara Clausen, Dan Kusnierek, Jay Gunnarson

2nd place (58): Mike Quinn, Shelley Boetcher, Matt Alseson, Ed Hruska

3rd place (59): Brent Coggins, Mike Nassif, Jim Rush, Christie Lerum

4th place (59): Max Anderson, Jason Davis, Dan Nelson, Tim Boldt

Hole #2 - Longest Drive (Men): Minnow

Hole #3 - Closest to Pin: LuAnn Buechler

Hole #6 - Closest to Pin: Sara Clausen

Hole #7 - Longest Drive (Women): Christie Lerum

Hole #17 - Closest to Pin: Sharon Bradley

Hole #18 - Longest Putt: Wags

Thank you all for a great time!

ROCHESTER WATER SHOWS ANNOUNCES COMEDY FUNDRAISER

The Rochester Water Shows will be having a "FUN-draiser" called "Comedy with a Splash" at Goonies Comedy Club this fall - Oct. 24th from 6 - 9 p.m. Rochester Water Shows are a premier alternative entertainment option in our area and this fall, they are rolling out this premier alternative event to raise funds necessary to support their continued success. Tickets are available at Goonies or at http://www.rochesterwaterskishow.com/. For more information contact LuAnn Buechler at 507-951-1468.