March 2014 Volume 21 Issue 3

Chamber Chat

Save The Dates for Two Exciting Events!

January

More event information on

pgs. 4-5 and at

www.avachamber.org.

1st Annual Ava Summer Fest

Scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and

Saturday, May 22, 23, and 24, this new

and exciting event will be held on the

Ava Square and in the upper and lower

City Park areas. Due to many expres-

sions of fond memories of our old Poke

Salat Days, enthusiastic and dedicated

volunteers, along with the Chamber of

Commerce, are working to create a

new and vibrant community event with

a bit of nostalgia. Festivities will in-

clude a royalty contest for three age

groups, talented musicians, a bed race

around the square, a pet show, and

with all kinds of entries: bands, floats,

decorated bicycles, horses, wagons,

tractors, and more! There will also be a

street dance, fiddle contest with cash

prizes, square dancing, a demolition

derby at the fairgrounds, along with

vendors offering delicious food, home-

crafted items and art displays. Many

other activities

are in the plan-

ning stages as

well. There is sure

to be something

of enjoyment for

everyone.

The Summer Fest Committee is still

looking for people to join them in the

planning of this new, exciting event.

Upcoming meetings are 5:30PM on

March 4th and March 18th, at the

MOCH Wellness Center. For more in-

formation, or to be a vendor, contact

the Ava Chamber of Commerce office.

Advertise your event,

sale, promotion etc., in our

weekly full-color e-blast

ad page!

“E-blasts” are also posted

for public view on our

website & Facebook page

each week.

Ava Area Chamber

of Commerce 810 S.W. 13th Ave.

(417)683-4594 director@avachamber.org

www.avachamber.org

4th~Summer Fest

Committee Meeting

11th~Chamber

Luncheon 12:00pm

11th~Chamber Board

Meeting 5:15pm

18th~Summer Fest

Committee Meeting

22nd~Chamber

Membership Banquet

MARCH

A Night in the Tropics!

www.avachamber.org

Page 2 Chamber Chat

~ Additional Chamber Membership Renewals as of February 27th ~

Lewis Bradshaw

Long Dollar Furniture and Appli-

ance

Marie Bristol

National TV Sales and Rentals

Rental Centers of America

Ruby Garden

Three Rivers Hospice

Ava Art Guild

Ava’s Hidden Treasures

Ava United Methodist Church

Buck and Spurs Guest Ranch

Douglas County Fox Trotters

Douglas County Republican

Committee

Drury University

Great Southern Bank

Heart of the Ozarks Health-

care Center

Joe Picking Home Repairs and

Remodeling

Joy Johnson Promotions

Leland Barnes, Inc.

Leisa’s Sweet Creations Bak-

ery

Thank you, to all of our members for their continued membership and in-

volvement with the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce and to the City of

Ava for their continued support. We appreciate your partnership in pur-

suing the common goal of sustaining and improving our community,

through community support, economic development and tourism.

We accomplish much for our community, through the partnership and

active participation of our members.

Don’t Go! We will miss you!

For those few members who have not yet renewed for

2014, this may be your last newsletter! Not only that,

but you will be missing out on the great benefits of

being a Chamber Member. We value your member-

ship with us and don’t want to lose you! Call or email

our office today! We will do what we can to help you

continue your partnership with us.

How Long Have You Been a Member?

It has recently come to our attention that one of our mem-

bers, Thomas and Douglas ,CPA, is celebrating their 10th

year as a member of the Ava Chamber of Commerce! We

would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their

long-standing membership with us, but we would also like

to recognize YOUR business or organization for your dedi-

cation to the Chamber! Please send us an email or give us

a call telling us how long you have been a member. We

would like to feature your business or organization in our

upcoming newsletters.

www.avachamber.org

Page 3

Chamber Chat

Chamber Luncheon Schedule

March 11th ~Yoga Well

April 8th ~Kelly Real Estate

May 13th ~Business Appreciation

Luncheon on the Ava Square

June 10th~ Trinity Lutheran Church

The Chamber will soon be

Assembling “Welcome “Packets” to

be Distributed to New Residents,

Visitors, and those Requesting Ava

Information.

To have your Business Repre-

sented in this Distribution, and

reaching Potential Customers, send

(50) Marketing Items, such as,

Pens, Calendars, Samples, Coupons,

Flyers, Magnets, Cards, and the

like, to the Chamber office by…

Friday, March 14th!

Let your Chamber Membership

work for you!

John Bryan had a vision to bring to Ava, Missouri

and the surrounding communities' quality MoDot

approved Sand and Various Gravel products. The

staff of J&R Sand & Gravel is committed to provid-

ing excellent customer service and building busi-

ness relationships that will last a lifetime. John

and his Plant Manager Tony Sams have a com-

bined 18+ years of experience in this field and

want to help their customers see their visions come

to life.

J&R Sand & Gravel is dedicated to providing qual-

ity products for Agricultural, Commercial and

Residential needs. From Ava, go north on High-

way 5 to 76 east. Then take the beautiful drive 9

miles to our office or call (417) 683-1728 and let us

help you see your visions come to life.

What’s Going on?

The Art Guild opens the 2014

Art Season and will be holding

their first monthly meeting

and free art workshop on Saturday, March 8 ,

from 1-4pm. All are welcome to attend and par-

ticipate. The Ava Art and Fine Craft Festival

will be March 28th and 29th from 10AM-6PM .

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free

and concessions will be available. More informa-

tion at 417-294-0755.

Missouri Ozarks Community Health is host-

ing a Community Education and

Wellness Fair on Saturday,

March 8th from 11AM-4PM.

Certified Application Counselors from the Health

Insurance Marketplace will be available for ques-

tions, Meet Wellness Center class instructors and

see class demonstrations, and take advantage of

FREE Blood Pressure, BMI, and CO2 screenings.

Free bounce house and face painting for the kids

and refreshments will be served.

Flying R Ranch is sponsoring the St. Patrick’s

Day Pot O’ Gold Ride and Gaited Clinic March

14-16, with Gaited Clinic with trainer Mike

Meizler, Clinic starts at 9:00am on Saturday,

breaks for lunch and continues with a trail ride in

the afternoon with the trainer to implement all

you learned that morning. Fee: $75.00, call to re-

serve your spot in this great clinic. Go to:

www.flying-r-ranch.com and click on the Events

tab to learn more.

Douglas County Republican Committee will

host the annual Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner, Fri-

day, April 25. The guest speaker is Missouri

House Representative, Paul Curtman. For more

information go to douglascountygop.org.

Kiwanis of Ava March Events

1st- Volleyball Tournament at

M O C H W e l l n e s s C e n t e r

f r o m 1 1 A M - 5 P M

3rd- Terrific Kids at Ava Elem. 2:30

8th- Outreach at MOCH Health Fair 11-4

Kiwanis Meetings held each Thursday at Noon at

Krazy Daze Restaurant. Call 683-1918 for info.

The MOCH Wellness Center has some fun and

healthy classes. Cher-Nastics~ Mondays 3:45PM;

Martial Arts~ Thursdays at 6PM; Silver Sneak-

ers Fitness~ Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10AM and

Fridays at 11AM; YogaWell~ Tuesdays & Thurs-

days at 11:30AM & 5:30 PM and Thursday at

9AM; Zumba~ Monday, Wednesday, & Friday

9AM; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday at

6PM, Wednesday 5:15PM and Saturdays at

9:30AM; Weight Watchers~ Thursdays at 5PM.

For more information call the Wellness Center at

417-683-5739 ext 7.

The Douglas County Extension Office is offer-

ing a presentation on Missouri’s Complex Fence

Law on March 11th, from 6:30 to 9:00PM. at the

Douglas Co. Extension Office, on the first floor of

the Douglas County Courthouse. An Advanced

Hay School will be offered on March 21, from

9:30AM-2:00PM at the Douglas County Livestock

Auction in Squires. Contact: Angie Fletcher,

County Program Dir., at 417-683-4409, for more

information.

Ava R-1 Schools: Superintendent of Schools, Dr.

Brian R. Wilson, and his team, will be available

for information in regards to the upcoming April

Ballot Question regarding Ava Public Schools

Safety Initiative: Monday, March. 10, 6 p.m. at the

Squires Community Center; Thursday, March. 13,

at Parent/Teacher Conferences/Open House at Ava

Schools 1-8 p.m. Contact the school at 417-683-

4717 for more information.

Thru the Grapevine celebrates International

Women's Day on March 8th,

with the Theme: INSPIRING

C H A N G E . I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Women's Day celebrates the

social, political and economic achievements of

women. Send flowers or a plant on March 8th and

receive a 25% discount. Also we are accepting

written stories about the woman in your life who

has been an inspiration. Stories are subject to

publishing. One lady will be chosen and honored.

Email them to vstanton68@yahoo.com (in subject

line place Women's Day 2014) or mail to P.O. Box

1426 Ava, MO 65608.

www.avachamber.org

Page 4 Chamber Chat

Chamber Member Promotions and Events

www.avachamber.org

Page 5 Chamber Chat

471-683-4971

HOST: Yoga-Well

WHEN: March 11th at 12:00

LOCATION: MOCH Wellness Center

~February’s Chamber Luncheon~

Vacation in Your Own Backyard

Flying R Ranch in eastern Douglas County, down Hwy 14, is

a family vacation and horse heaven in the Ozarks. The Fly-

ing R Ranch offers gourmet meals for breakfast, lunch and

dinner in the lodge restaurant, 59 RV sites with water and

electric hookups, primitive camping sites, log cabins that

sleep up to 16 people, and comfortable cozy bunkhouse rooms

in the lodge.

The beautiful North Fork River runs through the ranch, and

there are miles and miles of trails with varied terrains for

riding, hiking and biking that connect to the Mark Twain Na-

tional forest.

Don’t forget to stop in at the Hitchin’ Post General store for

hand dipped ice cream, fountain soda floats, snacks, gifts,

clothing and horse necessities.

Go to: www.flying-r-ranch.com and click on the Events tab to

learn more.

Sanders Rock Products

J & R Sand And Gravel

417-683-1728

More Chamber Member News

810 SW 13th Avenue

P.O. Box 1103

Ava, MO 65608

Square Dancing Benefit

March 15th at 7PM

Marriott Music on the Ava Square

Musical guests:

David Scrivner and Alvie Dooms

No admission fee—Donation only

Proceeds will be

used to build the

prize fund for the

Ava Summer Fest

Fiddle Contest.

Content Marketing: Grow your

Business Online

Professional Workshop Tuesday, March 18 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Members $20; Non-members $35

Both business owners (with or without a

website) and people who want to learn how

to market online will benefit from this work-

shop.

Deadline to register for this workshop is

Friday, March 18.

Call 417.256.9724 to register.