Caucus Candidate Forum Series with Jeb Bush
Thursday, October 8
8 - 9:30 a.m.
The time of this event has been updated from the previous newsletter. As part of the 2016 Iowa Caucus Consortium, the Partnership has partnered with the Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Iowa Economic Development Authority, The Des Moines Register, Drake University and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to host a series of candidate forums. Join us in welcoming Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for an event in the Caucus Candidate Forum Series. AARP, DMACC, and Microsoft are sponsors of the series. Click here to register.

Do you know someone who has worked especially hard this past year? Do you think they deserve recognition for all that they do? Then nominate them for the Golden Hammer or Teacher, Volunteer, or Employee of the Year awards that will be presented during the 2016 Indianola Chamber Annual Dinner on January 28, 2016.
 
Nominations for Volunteer of the Year, Golden Hammer Award, Educator of the Year, and Employee of the Year are now being accepted at the Chamber. The forms can be accessed by clicking the verbiage above. 

Forms must be turned in no later than noon on October 30, 2015.

Get your nominations in and recognize those in our community who deserve to be honored for their great contributions and accomplishments!
 

The Holiday Tour of Homes and Taste of Warren County tickets are now available for purchase!  Tickets cost $15/person before the event and $20/person on the day of the events.

One ticket gets you into all seven beautifully decorated homes and the Taste of Warren County.  While you are out, don't forget to shop at the Holiday Market for last minute gifts. The event is held on December 11 and 12, 2015. Don't wait.

Buy your tickets at: Indianola Chamber of Commerce, adorn, Casual Rags, Community Bank, Jefferson Plaza Leasing, JRene, Kerry's Flowers, Peoples Bank, St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Todd's Shoes for Women TODAY!

Stop at the Painted Pony on Saturdays for their liquidation sale. The sale is open to the community, so make you get there early.  For questions or more information, please call 515-371-1187.

Stop by the Holiday Market, which will be held December 11-12, 2015, at the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center.  Admission is free.
 
The Holiday Market will be filled with local vendors who can help you shop for that hard-to-buy for person on your list!  You can also purchase a light breakfast or lunch served on Saturday at the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center.
 
The Market will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on December 11th and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 12th.  While you are out viewing all of the homes on the Tour of Homes, be sure to stop by the Holiday Market to find that special holiday gift. Don't miss out on this great event!

 

October 6 - IMU 125th Celebration - Simpson College Kent Center -Hubbell 5:30 p.m.
October 8 - COC Karoaoke Night - St. Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center - 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
October 8- First Annual IYP BBQ-Pickard Park Shelter House- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
October 9- Finalists' Presentations and Grant Event-Simpson College- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
October 15 - PM Mixer- Warren County Habitat for Humanity; Sports Page - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. New
October 15- Memory Care Open House- Vintage Hills Retirement Community-2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
October 28- Bytes & Brews: Social Media Advertising Made Simple-Register Media Community Room- 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
October 29 - Ribbon Cutting & Open House- O'Brien Law; Peoples Company Building, 113 W. Salem Ave.; Open House 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Ribbon Cutting 4 p.m. New
October 31 - Trick or Treat on on the downtown square - 10 a.m. to Noon
November 5 - PM Mixer - Exit Realty; 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.
November 28- Small Business Saturday
December 4- Holiday Extravaganza on the Square
December 11 & 12- Tour of Homes and Taste of Warren County/ Holiday Market
December 17 -PM Mixer at Brickhouse Tavern - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Santa's Comin' to Town... thanks to our great sponsors  - Circle B Cashway and Downing Construction who teamed up to build Santa's Indianola house and placed on the courhouse lawn during the holidays!  Also, sponsoring Santa's trip from the north pole...we'd like to thank Community Bank as the Santa sponsor.

Plan ahead and mark your calendars for the other upcoming Chamber Day's at Papa Murphy's Pizza.    When you are on the go, its nice to give yourself a break and have more time with your family. Enjoy a fresh pizza from Papa Murphy's and support the Chamber's "Think Indianola First" campaign.  Other upcoming dates:

• December 17

Don't miss this opportunity to find a new customer and grow your business!  Contact Kelly Webster or Brenda Easter at 515-961-6269 today to get started!

Schedule your Medicare Part D Comparison NOW....

Make sure to check out all of the events at Summerset Winery throughout the month. There are upcoming wagon rides, a costume party , and wine tastings every week.

Click on the image below to get more details.

Did you know that networking is your #1 referral source?  Are you taking the time to tell people what you do?  Did you know that sharing your business lesson's learned and contacts can benefit someone else and make you a valuable resource to others?  Take advantage of this great networking opportunities and do something great for your business, not to mention meet some really interesting leaders in this community.

Morning mingles are an excellent way to network and showcase your business!  Show your support for fellow business owners and plan to attend the following Morning Mingles and PM Mixers.  The Morning Mingles start at 8:30 a.m. and the PM Mixers start at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.  Ribbon Cuttings vary so be sure to check the time!

PM Mixers
October 15th - Warren County Habitat for Humanity - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. 
November 5 - Exit Realty - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
December 17 - Brickhouse Tavern - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. 

Stop by the Chamber to pick up your discounted movie tickets! As a member, you can enjoy this benefit any time! Each ticket is $6

Posting your ad is easy!  Learn more about utilzing this resource by contacting the Chamber at 515-961-6269.
 

Ski in the Alps! Swim in the Tropics! YOU DECIDE!

Enter to win a travel voucher of $1,500!  Stop by the office today to purchase your raffle tickets today.  Tickets are $10 each.  Purchase your raffle tickets toady for a chance to win this awesome trip! 
 

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015 the YMCA will be partnering with Vintage Hills Retirement Community to promote a walk in support of the Healthy State Initiative. The walk will be held at the Vintage Hills outdoor walking path with the YMCA indoor track as a back up in case of bad weather. The walk will begin at 11:15 a.m. and the goal will be to walk at least 1 kilometer. 

For more information, contact the YMCA or Vintage Hills or go to www.iowahealthieststate.com.
 

The Holiday Extravaganza kicks off the holiday season and features free entertainment for all ages.

Get your form online by clicking the linked headers above. Completed registration forms can be mailed to the Indianola Chamber, 104 N. Howard, or emailed to whatsup@indianolachamber.com.

Feel free to contact us with your questions at whatsup@indianolachamber.com or by calling 515-961-6269.

The City's annual fall drop-off will take place at the Brush Facility on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ONLY. Residents are asked to abide by program guidelines:

• Only large items not hauled through weekly service
• No construction materials or railroad ties
• If you have items that are bulky and difficult to handle, they must be cut up or mismantled into smaller pieces no longer than four feet

Free appliance drop-off will also be held on October 10th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only. H&W Recycling will take appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, furnaces, dishwashers, etc. Fees will be applied to televisions and monitors. 

For questions and concerns, contact City Clerk Diana Bowlin at 961-9410 or email at dbowlin@cityofindianola.com.

 
Hunters work hard to get their kill, and the Scovels work hard to recreate your animal into a piece of natural looking art.  It takes true appreciation for an animal’s natural beauty to capture your one-of-a-kind artwork, and that’s where the Scovels’ experience comes in. Rocky spends a lot of time studying deer noticing their natural movements, facial features and coloration.
 
“We take great pride in our work,” said the Scovels. They take the time to get to know you and understand your wants and concerns.  They love connecting with the hunter and their families to create that perfect mount and enjoy hearing the story that goes with the animal.  Rocky usually shares a few stories of his own.  Their motto is “come as a customer and leave as a friend.”
 
The Scovels started with deer mounts and have added fish and all game heads to their growing repotoire, including European skull mounts. When you get that perfect animal and want to capture its natural beauty for life, contact Tiffany and Rocky.  They can provide you with the expertise needed to create your life-like piece of art and memory that lasts a lifetime. 
 
View the professional work of the Scovels in the Chamber’s Member Spotlight window on the square.  The eye-catching display gives every viewer a spectacular show. Contact the Scovels at 515-961-1341 or email at thescovels@netzero.com. 

Warren County Habitat for Humanity (WCHFH) was first organized 20 years ago and since that time has been building homes, communities and hope in Indianola and throughout Warren County.

Come join current WCHFH Board members and volunteers for a
Chamber P.M. Mixer 
October 15, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at the Sports Page.

Learn more about the work of WCHFH, opportunities for involvement and plans for the future.
 

The 1st annual Indianola Young Professionals BBQ will be held Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at Pickard Park Shelter House. There will be food, yard games, horse shoes and whiffle ball. All IYP members are encouraged to bring their families and bring your own beverage of choice. For questions, contact Seth Lampman at 515-442-9293. This is a great way to have some fun and network, too!

Sarah and Mike Rosenberger started T.R.M. Disposal L.L.C. four years ago when they realized the Indianola community no longer had a family-owned trash service provider, which provides an alternative to the larger trash haulers in the area.   Mike worked for McCoy Sanitation and really enjoyed the work so when McCoy Sanitation closed, it was an easy transition for him.  The couple realized that they just needed a truck and someone to run it.  Since Mike had the knowledge to operate the truck and Sarah the background in accounting and office management, they worked together to create a thriving business.

Both Mike and Sarah have a strong sense of community and believe having a local, family owned option is important to Indianola and Warren County.  T.R.M. Disposal has purple and gold and pink garbage receptacles in support of two things important to them:  the Indianola community and breast cancer awareness.

Enjoy fall games and activities on the courthouse lawn, trick-or-treat at participating businesses around the Square, and get a professional picture taken in your costumes courtesy of Susanna Paeper. Meet Baxter, the miniature horse from Ridgetop Horse Ranch, ride the hayrack around the Square, pet some animals brought by Warren County Conservation and meet new friends from the Iowa League of Heroes! 

A dog costume contest and pooch parade will be held beginning at 10 a.m. with judging at 10:15 a.m. 

This event is hosted by Indianola Parks and Recreation and sponsored by the Record Herald and Indianola Tribune. Have a ghoulishly, fabulous time!

Finalist’ Presentations
& Grant Event

Enjoy a special wine and clay class with Bob Kling. Experience the process of Raku, firing your own ceramic art work.The class will meet on Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 4-6 p.m. and again on Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 1-4 p.m. The cost of the class is $25/person. Make your reservation today by calling Annelise Winery at 515-229-1299. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to make your own piece of art!  

Join the Vintage Hills Retirement Community for their Memory Care Open House on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 2-4 p.m. The seasons are changing and Vintage Hills is inviting everyone to stop by and celebrate with them! There will be refreshments served to welcome autumn in their new memory care neighborhood. Learn about all the ways they are able to help people throughout the year. Call 1-888-551-5884 for more informations about memory care and the open house.

As you know, when you joined the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, you automatically became a member of Greater Des Moines Partnership.  We collaborate with the Partnership on business and policy matters to affect change that benefits businesses directly and strengthens our economy as a whole. 

Between both organizations, there are dozens of programs and hundreds of events that you can leverage to connect and grow your business.  The Partnership has created a guide for Affiliate Chamber Members which outlines its scope of work and serves as a reference for you on how to access the many tools the Partnership provides, including:

•Promotion via the online mobile directory viewed more than 2,700 times a month
•A regional business calendar packed with professional development opportunities and networking events
• “Look Local First” promotion and education on the benefits of buying local
•Entrepreneurial initiatives that nurture startups; and much more. 

These regional benefits complement those of the Partnership’s Affiliate Chambers, elevating the voice of small businesses and creating local connections to other Chamber members and the community at large.  This model is a “two for one” value that benefits and strengthens the regionalism inherent to Central Iowa.
 
You can find the Affiliate Chamber Member Guide posted online [insert link to https://www.desmoinesmetro.com/documents/filelibrary/pdfs/about/2014_AffiliateGuide_3DD5688B604E2.pdf ] or request a copy from your Chamber.  

Register Media will host Bytes & Brews: Social Media Advertising Made Simple, a free social media marketing seminar, on October 28 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. Local businesses are invited to join a lineup of expert speakers in the Register Media Community Room, located on the first floor of Capital Square, to explore the emerging world of social media advertising.

Attendees will enjoy industry-leading insights over free drinks and appetizers from 3:30-5:00 p.m., with networking and one-on-one consultation from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The seminar will be broken into three sessions, each designed to provide practical tips and tools to incorporate social media advertising into an organization’s success. Sessions include:

· How to Segment & Target Your Audience
· Tips to Localize Your Social Media Ads
· Best Practices for Social Media Campaigns

Attendees will have the chance to get their social media marketing questions answered by Register Media digital experts during a Social Media Round Table.

Registration is free, but seats are limited. RSVP required at www.registermedia.com/bytes-and-brews. Contact aleavenwor@registermedia with questions and inquiries

Needing some ideas of fun things to do in Iowa throughout the year? Then check out the link in this article to discover Iowa! The National Balloon Classic and our community made the list at number 29 and is highlighted as one of the top 50 things to do in our state during the year! Click the link below to take you to the lifestyle and travel page of BLT.

https://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/TheBLT/DiscoverIowa50ThingsYouNeedtoExperienceintheHawkeyeState669.html