CHAMBER NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2024 PART 2

This Month's Member Spotlight

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Marketing Coordinator Rides Along on Historic Bus Tour

A group of 40 visitors from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and Chamber Marketing Coordinator, Veranna Schindele, enjoyed a memorable bus tour of Devils Lake on August 13th. Led by longtime community member Mike Connor, the tour provided a glimpse into the city's rich history.

As the tour group made their way through downtown Devils Lake, Mike shared stories about the city's historic buildings and businesses. Visitors were captivated by the architectural details of downtown buildings and learned about the people and industries that shaped the community.

In addition to exploring the downtown area, the tour included several stops at notable landmarks such as Eventide, St. Joseph's School, Central Middle School, the North Dakota School for the Deaf, Devils Lake High School, and Lake Region State College. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the unique ecosystem of the Lemna ponds and saw the newly renovated regional airport.

The tour concluded at the Devils Lake Chamber, where the visitors were given a visitor guide and further information on the region's history from the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Board and Sons of Jacob Cemetery. Thank you Mike for sharing your regional expertise and showcasing the history of Devils Lake!

Keep It Local Coalition yard signs are available for pick up at the Devils Lake Chamber!
Stop by to pick up yours!!

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament a Hole-in-One!

Congratulations to our Top 3 teams!

1st Place - Grand Harbor Meats

2nd Place - Slumberland Furniture

3rd Place - Western State Bank

This year the Devils Lake Chamber put on it's 18th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, August 16th. The tournament was held at Creel Bay Golf Course, where 23 teams were able to come together for a day of friendly competition, networking, and delicious food from Proz End of the Line.

Teams participated in a shotgun format for the tournament. Throughout the round, golfers enjoyed breaks, earned free swag, and played mini-games thanks to our hole sponsors. Staff and volunteers from Western State Bank, First Community Credit Union, Horizon Bank, North Dakota Telephone Company, Total Skin Dermatology & Aesthetics, CHI St. Alexius, and the Devils Lake CVB braved the wind with our teams to make these games and giveaways possible.

Our deepest thanks to all of this year's participants, sponsors, volunteers, and staff who made this year's tournament a memorable one. We're already looking forward to another successful tournament next year!

A Fin-tastic Feast!

The 19th Annual Fish Fry and Corn Feed went swimmingly, Thursday, August 22nd! Our volunteers worked tirelessly and ended up serving nearly 500 people! Thanks to the generous support of our community, we were able to raise $1,700 for the Lake Region Anglers!

Photo Courtesy of IceBerg Art

Marketing and Event Magic: Devils Lake Duo Attends Main Street Summit

Our Event & Communication Coordinator, Ruth McBride, and Marketing Coordinator, Veranna Schindele, attended the North Dakota Main Street Summit in Watford City on August 27th - 29th. As Ruth put it, "the Summit was an incredibly educational experience!"

Governor Doug Burgum opened the conference with his keynote address, which celebrated the positive progress of the 108 Main Street Initiative communities, including Devils Lake. After the Governor's address, Ruth and Veranna attended breakout sessions where they were able to hear from and collaborate with city leaders from across the state.

Notable breakout sessions from the Summit include the creation of meaningful community spaces, cultural asset mapping, and the importance of community storytelling. Hearing other city leaders and presenters speak inspired Veranna, who said "sharing our stories is such a powerful way to connect with our community and to attract visitors. I'm excited to bring the ideas and strategies I learned back to the Lake Region."

Overall, the Summit provided valuable insights into business growth strategies, marketing techniques, and community engagement.

Downtown Devils Lake Comes Alive for Wine Walk

Photos Courtesy of IceBerg Art. See the full gallery here.

The 16th Annual Wine Walk was a beautiful evening, bringing wine enthusiasts and local businesses together for a great time. The 400 participants enjoyed tastings from a variety of wineries, all available at local stores County Bottle Shop and Lakes Liquor, paired with delicious snacks provided by participating businesses.

This year's route started in Bridgestone Park, where participants picked up their Wine Walk passports and began their stroll through downtown. As attendees strolled through downtown Devils Lake, they had the opportunity to explore shops that were open late just for the occasion. The Wine Walk offered a unique opportunity to discover local treasures and support local businesses with their special Wine Walk deals.

The excitement didn't stop there though, as many participants continued their night by stopping by Proz End of the Line to take advantage of their Wine Walk special!

Thank you to those who came out to enjoy the beautiful weather, the businesses that stayed open late, and the staff that made it happen. We look forward to seeing you next year!!