Communication: The Key To Successful Business AChamber ...

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BA hamber of CCommerce

Communication: The Key To Successful Business

October 2008

Marvel City Fest a Big Success

Great weather, great food, great attendance, and great music, what else could you ask for? The first ever Marvel City Fest was an outstanding success thanks to so many volunteers and staff. It began with our Chairman Jon Staggs (Alabama Power) who spent many hours after work doing the tasks that meant so much such as arranging for a generator, hauling tables and chairs, and picking up trash all day. Committee Chairman Keith Pennington from Medical West enlisting the help of Medical West Marketing genius Haley Montgomery made a great team as they directed, planned and executed this tremendous event. Latasha Cook, Jean Brown and Mary Milan of the Chamber staff spent not only their work hours making the event successful but gave of their Sunday afternoon to support Bessemer's first festival. Sunny Lippert, local attorney, and Chairperson of the Community Building Division at the Chamber showed her outstanding leadership and involved as many Chamber volunteers as possible. Thanks to all of these folks and the many Ambassadors, Board members, and other volunteers that worked tirelessly to bring ussuccess. The Chamber cannot forget the sponsors of the Fest without whose support it would not have been possible. The presenting sponsors were: First Financial Bank, Premiere Chevrolet, Medical West, US Pipe, Alabama Power, WZZK 106.9 The Eagle radio, Western Tribune, Legacy YMCA, and The Western Star. Participating vendors included: 205 Rim Shop, Absolutely `N Stitches, Accounting & Business Consultants, America's First Federal Credit Union, Anytime Fitness, Apple Valley Gourmet, Beauty Control, Buffalo Rock

(Article and pictures continued on page 5)

Ambassadors Connie Fuell, Katherine Taylor and Sarah Smith show Chamber Chairman Jon Staggs they are working hard at Marvel City Fest.

Bessemer Public Library Officially Opens

And finally we have a winner! To say the least the new Bessemer Public library is an up to date, high tech marvel that is the second largest library in Jefferson County. It is a grand addition to downtown Bessemer and the business community can be proud of this facility. Several years ago the Chamber board endorsed the raising of the ad valorem tax to fund education and the library. This funding has finally come to fruition with a magnificent edifice. We would encourage all of our members to take some time to visit and marvel at the new construction, the more than adequate parking and the high tech access the library offers. The ribbon was cut on September 11th, planned to honor the remembrance of the tragic deaths of so many of our fellow Americans in a positive way. And it was a grand day! All of our City Council members were in attendance: Jesse Matthews (President), Jimmy Stephens (Pro Tem), Dorothy Davidson, Sarah Belcher, Albert Soles, Earl Cochran, and Louise Alexander. Mayor

(Article and pictures continued on page 3)

Library Director Oscar Smith, Library board members Dorothy Davidson and LaBrenda Marshall, and Mayor May officially cut the ribbon.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football

games for you." Paul W. "Bear" Bryant

Inside

It's Your Business: "Treat People Well-Five Lessons" Community News: Carver Park Receives Pride Award Chamber News: UAB Sarrell Clinic Open House Chamber News: Pictures from Marvel City Fest Business News: Tompkins Photo Studio Opens Business News: Spotlight: Canaan Baptist Church

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It's Your Business

From the President

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people is a compilation of short incidents that I found from an unknown author. I thought these best fit the point I wanted to make this month and are lessons we all should internalize.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady. During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, darkhaired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain. One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." Sincerely, Mrs Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse ly ing in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Most importantly.... "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."

Golf FORE Progress October 23rd The TIME is Here. Register your Team Today!

President



Community News

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Carver Park Receives Bessemer PRIDE Award

If you give the job to Dorothy Davidson and Amos Rembert you have a winning combination. Walking around Carver Park on Saturday, September 20th, there was found an array of activity to celebrate the park. The Chamber Board saw the hard work that went into the changing of the park especially the contribution in time by The Foundry. Buffalo Rock donated a score board and the manual labor by many volunteers showed as the neighborhood took pride in showing it off. It was a grand way to spend a Saturdayand the Chamber washonored to present a Bessemer PRIDE Award to all those who contributed so much to making Carver Park a pleasant area for the neighborhood children. Go by and see a positive example of what aneighborhood can do.

Bessemer Public Library Officially Opens

(continued from pg 1)

May assisted Library Director Oscar Smith and the library board in cutting the ribbon as State Representative Priscilla Dunn and Judge Mac Parsons looked on. School board members present were: Bessie Pippens, Vera Eades, Hattie Aikerson, Christine Knight, Renna Soles Scott, and Darlene Perkins. The Chamber Ambassadors were working as usual to make this day especially great for all involved.

Chamber President Ronnie Acker, Council member Sarah Belcher, John Vines, Councilman Albert Soles and Councilman

Jimmy Stephens at grand opening of the Bessemer Public Library.

Bessemer City Councilperson Dorothy Davidson accepts Bessemer PRIDE Award with several volunteers.

Wings & Wheels Soars Over Bessemer

Fantastic, amazing, and very entertaining was the weekend of September 20-21st at the Bessemer Airport. All kinds of planes performed and were on display for the public as well as some amazing antic automobiles for the public to view. Skydivers dropped in, aerobatic performance made the crowd stand in awe, and there were all the aircraft to look at and touch. The 75th Wings & Wheels Air/Car Show was a major hit for all involved, organizers, participants and the public. If you missed it you missed atreat.

Golf FORE Progress October 23rd The TIME is Here. Register your Team Today!

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Chamber News

UAB Sarrell Dental &

Eye Clinic Open House

We doit for thechildren or soit should beas the Chamber joined Dr. Micah Blount, City Council members DorothyDavidson andSarah Belcher along with MayorEd Mayin officially cutting the ribbon to open the UAB Sarrell Dental and Eye Clinic on September15th. This medical center is geared toattend to thedental and eyecare of local Bessemerchildren. Located next doorto the Dunbar/Abrams Community Center it provides the neededmedical care forthose whocannot afford insurance tocover these vital healthcare options.

Ministers Quarterly Meeting

The Bessemer Area Chamber's Ministers Quarterly Meeting was held on September 9th with Jess Lanier High School Athletic Director and the Mayor of Vance, Keith Mahaffey, speaking to the group. Mayor Mahaffey stressed the importance of the faith based community and especially the local ministers working closely with the students at the high school. This could include their families but also extracurricular activities. He encouraged the ministers to attend the football games and even more to help Reverend Doug Caddell as team Chaplains. He would like a different minister eachweek to pray with the team and to be on the sidelines to help if a player is injured or the family needs counsel. The Chamber has emailed a spread sheet to all ministers with times and places of all games and would encourage the local pastors to volunteer for a specific game contacting Rev.Caddell or the Chamber.

Mayor May, Council members Dorothy Davidson and Sarah Belcher, help Dr. Blount cut the ribbon.



Some of those attending the quarterly Ministers meeting at the Chamber to hear Mayor Keith Mahaffey.

Chamber News

5

MORE Pictures from The Marvel City Fest (con't from pg. 1)

Company, Cha Cha's Shaved Ice, Costco, Domino's Pizza, District Judge Norm Winston, Eagle Vision Eye Care, First Presbyterian Church, Fitness 2000, Full Moon BBQ, G Force Cheer Gym, Gold Canyon Candles, Hospice Services of Alabama, Independent Demonstrators for Uppercase Living, Lane Bryant & Petite Sophisticate Outlets, Lawson State Community College, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Maui Wowi, Medi-Spa West, Mega Health & Life, Rural Metro Ambulance, SAC Beauty Supply, Sam's Club, Second Attic Storage, Sil Pada Designs, Southern Living At Home, Tattoo Zoo, The Pampered Chef, and UAB Sarrell Dental & Eye Care.

Besides the moon walk and other children centered adventures provided by the Legacy YMCA there was a live performance by Starrz Dance Studio, which was outstanding. Following the dancers was a Salsa workout led by the YMCA and a one mile America on the Move walk. The highlight of the day was the performance of South Saturn Delta, a southern rock group, who lit up the crowd and brought rave reviews. Josh Butler and the band brought requests from the attendees to the organizers to have more music next year.

South Saturn Delta

making music at the

Marvel City Fest

Keith Pennington, Chairman of the Marvel City Fest

Committee, a job well done!

Board member Sunny Lippert

poses with Chamber Ambassadors l-r, Lou Hickey, Kathrine Taylor, Connie Fuell

and Staff member Jean Brown.

Starrz Dance Studio

students presented a marvelous

dance performance.

Welcome New Members for September

BENJAMIN, JOHN 301 13th Street Pleasant Grove, AL 35217 Phone: 205.744-0210 *Individual

MORRIS, RITA F. 628 Woodbrook Road Birmingham, AL 35215 Phone: 205.966.2028 *Individual

Scott, Rosa L. 504 Seventh Avenue N. Bessemer, AL 35020 *Individual

LEAST OF THESE Seth Holloway 2004 Granville Road Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: 615.790.6759 relapse777@ *Entertainment

NMI MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC Winston Ausmer, Lionel Grant 921 Second Avenue N. Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone: 205.296.6050 Fax: 205.940.9669 wausmer@ *Mortgage Financing (Residential)

THE CHILD NURTURING &

DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Willie Davis

7525 Oporto Madrid Blvd. S.

Birmingham, AL 35206

Phone: 205.833.2953 *Day Care

Golf FORE Progress

October 23rd

The TIME is Here.

Register your

THOMPKINS STUDIOS Michael Tompkins 1387 Hueytown Road Hueytown, AL 35023 Phone: 205.497.2774 ctompkins@ *Photography

Team Today!

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