Howdy, Dublin! Life has been cray-zee here at the Chamber, where I’m serving as Interim Executive Director. We have some exciting upcoming activities here in town, all of which will help local businesses succeed.
First of all, congratulations to the new hire at the Dublin Economic Development Corporation (EDC). When Karen Wright resigned (effective this coming Fall) to run an organization dedicated to promoting our four Dublin museums (www. dublintxmuseums.org), many of us held our breaths, knowing NO-ONE will ever replace Miss Karen. Well, our wishes were granted … in the form of “Lucky McBeard,” our local airport manager and fan of all things Dublin. Congratulations Brad Stanford, and congratulations Karen on your new position as well!
The Dublin Chamber Board of Directors met on July 8 and welcomed new Chamber Board members Blanca Martineau (CCMC) and Ashley Hall (AccelHealth) to the fold. Join us in thanking these local Dublin ladies for their volunteer time on behalf of Dublin businesses.
We canceled the Tri-Angler Derby bass tournament, originally scheduled for July 17, due to lake conditions. We may hold a bass tournament in October or November. Let me know if you would like to see this happen.
Look for more Chamberrelated content on social media, as we continue the “(Re)Discover Dublin” segments and begin some live video feeds as well. Want to get involved in Dublin? I’ll be your camera-man and put you in front of the lens as we show folks what our fair town has to offer. If not, I warn you, you’ll be stuck with me.
The Dublin Market Days was well attended this past Saturday, and we nabbed some video of some attendees. You’ll see v i d e o online in the days to come. Take note, because you can come back out and see the merchants and buy their wares next Dublin Market Days, Aug. 21.
We are working with the local museums to promote their activities and build relationships between them and our audience members. Specifically, Dublin will host a convoy of car clubs on Saturday morning, Sept. 11. They’ll visit area museums, participate in the Frontline Heroes Museum Sept. 11th Remembrance Ceremony, and perhaps do a little shopping.
We hope they’ll set up their cars downtown that morning, so if you are a car enthusiast, come check them out. The visitors will be in and out by 11:30 a.m., so downtown stores and breakfast restaurant staff, be ready to capitalize on their presence. They’ll head to De Leon for lunch, and on to Gorman for the Peanut Festival that evening. We have invited them to spend Friday night at a local motel, so if you see them enjoying a local meal, make sure and give them a Dublin-style welcome!
Join the Chamber Now to Get Added Value this Year
If you are not already a Chamber member, we urge you to join. We provide tremendous value to our members, and we are committed to helping them be as successful as possible.
One example of that value is our upcoming Hispanic Heritage Festival, to be held Sept. 17, 18 and 19. The Friday-night ranch rodeo at the park will be the perfect kick-off to this event.
Saturday, Sept. 18, will see Dublin inundated with visitors to the downtown area. The “Mercado” (market) will be set up in Hogan’s Alley. Thank you to Linda Buekeboom and Dreamcatcher Dairy, as well as Jose Sifuentes with Bargain Furniture, for getting the Alley cleaned up and ready for visitors. We’ll be asking some local artists to paint murals on some of the weathered boards covering a few windows. Want to help? Just let me know; we’ll be glad to display your artwork!
Chamber Membership Pays for Itself
Now, here’s where our Chamber members get an added advantage. Most exhibitors will pay $50 (no electricity) or $100 (with electricity) for their booth space downtown, either in Hogan’s Alley “Mercado” or on Elm Street (which will be closed for the event.)
Dublin Chamber members that are not located downtown will receive a FREE booth area to promote their business or sell their product. So, a Chamber membership at $150 gets you the free booth space, along with a ribbon cutting event, $50 credit at the Dublin Citizen for advertising, coverage in the Dublin Citizen, time on the downtown digital sign, and social media promotion as well. When folks call in to the Chamber Welcome Center asking for recommendations, which happens often, your name is the one that is suggested first. Call me at the Chamber or email me at chamberdirector@ dublintxchamber.com if you would like to become a member in time to benefit from a free booth at this event.
If you are already a Chamber member and would like to reserve booth space downtown Sept. 18/19, let me know and I’ll make sure we have a place for you!
If you do have a business that borders Hogan’s Alley, please plan to park elsewhere on Sept. 18/19. Also, a bit of sprucing up behind your businesses would be greatly appreciated. (You guys already do this … thank you all!)
Volunteers have been meeting weekly to plan the Festival, Fridays at noon at City Hall. If you cannot make these meetings but would like to be involved, please let me know.
Specifically, we are searching for:
■ someone to help us manage the Sunday Christian Fellowship event. (For the Sunday event, we hope to invite area churches to hold 30-45 minute sessions, then switch out to the next church or chorale group. Let me know if your church would like to be in front of these hundreds of visitors! Both Spanish and English speaking congregations are welcome.)
■ someone to manage the home-made salsa making contest
■ someone to invite and oversee Mexican food cooking demonstrations
Fiesta 1510 has joined the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan marketing program, AccelHealth, Things Celtic and the Dublin Economic Development Corp. (EDC) as the initial sponsors for this event. If you would like to serve as a sponsor for the Hispanic Heritage event, please contact the Chamber.
Heading out of town to meet with family or friends? Take some Dublin Bottling Works (DBW) cola with you, or perhaps some Lucky Vines Vineyard wine or Veldhuizen cheese! We have some DBW sodas for sale here at the Chamber … so if you don’t find it at Brookshires, Blackjacks or Bradberry’s, drop by.
My purpose is to renew focus on the business community of Dublin. How can we help local businesses reach their goals? I’m at 110 S. Patrick and 254/300-6263, and look forward to hearing your insight. The Chamber Welcome Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.