Calendar

July Downtown Association of Merchants July 13 at 5 p.m. at Belinor Antiques

Early Morning Coffee July 14 at 7:30 a.m. at the Snead Community College Arab Building, Main St. Don’t miss this event as cast members from “Once On This Island” perform songs from the summer musical, sponsored by Whole Backstage Theater.

Junior Ambassadors Meeting July 14 at 3 p.m. at the Chamber Office Guest speaker is Lori Miller, Marketing Director with WHNT News 19

TRC Planning Committee Meeting July 16 at 7:30 a.m. at the Chamber Office

August Ambassador Meeting August 3 at noon at the Chamber Office

Early Morning Coffee August 4 at 7:30 a.m. at Busy B’s Paint & Décor, 1954 N. Brindlee Mtn. Pkwy

Chamber Board of Directors Meeting August 11 at 7:30 a.m. at the Chamber Offices

Junior Ambassadors Meeting August 11 at 3 p.m.

Gubernatorial Forum and Lunch August 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Cherokee Ridge. Fee for lunch Gubernatorial candidates will present their platforms and take questions during a luncheon

Arab

Chamber of

Commerce

Newsletter Biz Review Arab Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Business of the Quarter

Learning his trade from

his father and aunt, Patrick

Leak has built Patrick’s

Upholstery into a thriving

business well-known

throughout the Tennessee

Valley for its attention to

detail and design.

The team at Patrick’s

Upholstery takes special

care with each piece of

furniture.

“I still see each piece as

an individual work—it’s

character achieved through

attention to line, proportion

and detail,” said Patrick

Leak, owner.

The shop, located at 155

North Main Street offers

hundreds of fabric option

and custom furniture and

mirrors, as well as

upholstered pieces.

The Chamber is proud to

recognize Patrick’s

Upholstery as the

Business of the Quarter.

Knightfest: A New Look For Community Fair

During this year of Small Town,

Downtown Celebrations, the Chamber

takes an opportunity to put a new spin on

its fall event.

What has traditionally been a week-

long celebration culminating with

Community Fair, will be a weekend of

music, art, history and entertainment.

Trinity Amusements will bring their

carnival rides and games to the Arab City

Park, opening for families Wednesday

through Saturday, September 8-11.

On September 11-12, 2010, the Arab

Chamber of Commerce will host

Knightfest—two days of family fun,

beginning with an art stroll and live music

n the park.

Saturday’s event will run from 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m., and will feature original art,

pottery, hand-made baskets and jewelry

created by artists from the Southeast.

At 3 p.m. The Return, a band featuring

music from the Beatles will perform.

The event itself is free, although there

will be a cost for the carnival rides.

Food will be available for purchase,

provided by local civic and church

organizations.

On Sunday, individuals and families

are invited to meet at the original Arab

High School building, (recent home of

Mink Creek) for a dedication ceremony.

The State of Alabama is providing a

historic marker for the schoolhouse that

dates back to the 1920s. Individuals who

attended school in the building are

encouraged to come and be a part of this

special ceremony.

Then, those present will walk over to

the old cemetery for a stroll back in time.

Attendees will have the opportunity to

learn about the families who made their

home in Arab years ago, and to learn

more about the history of downtown

during a walking tour.

Music and light refreshments will be

provided around 4:30 p.m. at the park,

on the corner of Main Street and Hwy 69.

Sunday’s event is free. The Chamber

invites you to come out and enjoy your

hometown during this special reunion

weekend.

this issue

Ribbon Cuttings P.2

Arab City Schools Foundation P.3

Scholarship Recipients P.3

Upcoming Chamber Events P.4

2nd Quarter 2010

Arab

Chamber of

Commerce

Arab

Chamber of

Commerce

PO Box 626

Arab, AL 35016

1157 North Main Street PO Box 626 Arab, AL 35016 256.388.9376 www.arab-chamber.org

Member News

Dr. Van Hardman Opens Family Eye Care

Clinic on Redstone Arsenal

Schools Foundation Helping Teachers Succeed

Dr. Van Hardman has

recently opened a family

eye care clinic at Redstone

Arsenal. The clinic is located

in the complex adjoining the

PX and Commissary.

The practice accepts

Tricare, Eyemed, New

Southland, Spectera, United

Health and other insurance.

Office hours are Tuesdays

through Saturdays, from 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

Van and his wife Theresa

have two children and live in

Arab. He served as the

optometrist for Glasses For

Less in Arab, prior to opening

the clinic at Redstone.

For appointments, call 256-

882-8663.

The Arab City Schools

Foundation provides grants

each year to teachers, help-

ing fill gaps in funding

resulting from state budget

cuts.

The foundation is

managed by the Chamber

and has granted over

$100,000 in the past 15

years.

Teachers in all four Arab

City Schools have the

opportunity to submit grant

requests for specific

projects. The grant

What’s Happening At The Chamber

Looking for ways to get your business name in front of potential customers?

The Chamber will launch its first ever Total Resource Campaign in September —businesses

get ready! There will be a multitude of ways for you to sponsor or host events, place your ad

in Chamber publications or on the Chamber’s website, and even place your information in

front of families relocating to Arab before your competition!

Chamber launches new publication

In partnership with Alliance Publishing, the Arab Chamber will launch a new magazine

featuring our community. This full-color publication will highlight the benefits for living in

Arab, including neighborhoods and schools, recreational activities, medical care and our

unique stores. The Chamber’s member directory will be included in the publication. Great

opportunity for businesses to advertise! Around 4,000 copies will be printed. The magazine is

due out in October.

Ribbon Cuttings

Edward Jones New Office Location: Hwy 69 & North Main

On The Way Express, Wavaho, located on Hwy 231

Yancey’s Eclectic Décor Main Street, Downtown Arab

Three Doodle Bugs, located on Hwy 231

Scholarship Recipients Each year the Chamber of Commerce gives a scholarship to a graduating junior ambassador. This year the Chamber provided two young women with scholarships. Courtney LeSueur, daughter of Jim and Susan LeSueur, has served as a junior ambassador for three years and as president of the Jr. A’s for 2009-10. She plans to attend the University of North Alabama in the fall and major in commercial music. Sierra Kennedy, daughter of Jim and Lisa Kennedy, has served as a junior ambassador for four years and as secretary for 2009-10. She plans to attend the University of North Alabama in the fall and major in journalism. Her dream job is to write for a major daily newspaper.

Arab Ambassadors

The Arab Ambassadors is a group of

chamber members who attend and

volunteer at community events and

build relationships with new and

existing chamber members.

Thank you to our 2010-2011 Arab

Ambassadors:

President:

Janette Murphree, City of Arab

Vice President:

Brenda King, King’s Candle Co.

Secretary:

Lisa Whitlock, Media Works

Treasurer:

Dianna Walmsley, Regions Bank

Members:

Teresa Campbell, Century 21

Jan Cox, Arab City Schools

Melba Hall, retired

Beverly Simpson, PPD Consulting

Susan Varano, Citizens Bank

A special welcome to the newest

member of the Arab Ambassadors:

Crystal Lenahan, with Redstone

Federal Credit Union.

For more information about the

Ambassador program and other

Chamber initiatives, contact the

Chamber office at 256-586-3138 or

email info@arab-chamber.org.

applications are reviewed

by the foundation’s Board of

Directors. Teachers are

notified of the grant awards

in October.

Each year the foundation

strives to grant $10,000 to

Arab teachers. To reach

this year’s goal, the founda-

tion will need to raise

$5,000 by September.

Businesses can support

the foundation through a

financial gift. All donations

are tax deductible.

Individuals can give to the

foundation monthly through

their Otelco phone bills.

Enclosed is a pledge form

for businesses interested in

making a donation to

support Arab City Schools.

Pledge forms can be

mailed to the Chamber, c/o

Arab City Schools Founda-

tion, P.O. Box 626, Arab AL

35016.

For more information

about donating through

Otelco, call 256-536-3138.

Chamber and Better Business Bureau Offer

Free Small Business Seminar In Arab

On Monday, September

20, 2010, Arab businesses

are invited to learn more

about advertising on a

shoestring budget and using

social media as a marketing

strategy.

The free seminar is

sponsored by the Better

Business Bureau and the

Arab Chamber of

Commerce. The seminar will

be held at the Chamber from

10 a.m. to noon. To register,

contact the Chamber at 256-

586-3138.

Area Chambers Host Government

Contracting Forum and Matchmaking Event

Join Arab Chamber of

Commerce and other

chambers across Marshall

County as they host a

Government Contracting

Forum and HUBZone

Matchmaker.

This event, scheduled for

Wednesday, September 1,

2010 at Gunter’s Landing,

will address the “how to’s”

of doing business with the

government and then will

offer attendees a matchmak-

ing session in the afternoon.

Cost to attend is $95 per

person and includes

breakfast, lunch and course

materials.

To register, contact the

Chamber at 256-586-3138.