The 3rd Annual Festival of Hope for MDA at the Starlite Theatre is a one performance special benefit event on Sunday October 11 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The events include Hors D’oeuvres, raffle, live auction and entertainment provided by The Baldknobbers, Clay Cooper, Country Tonite, Barbara Fairchild, The Lennon Sisters, The Liverpool Legends, Deana Martin, Bill Medley, The Platters, Ambrus Presley, The Rankin Brothers, Collin Raye, Spirit of the Dance and Kirby Van Burch.

The Hors D’oeuvres will be provided by: American Grill, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Avanzare, Bleu Olive, The Candlestick Inn, Diamond Ridge Market, Famous Dave’s, Flame, Stone Hill Winery, Touch, & Treehouse.

Decision makers from Branson’s tourism industry will want to attend The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers’ (The Branson Show League) 3rd Annual Business Trade Show on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at the Chateau on the Lake Resort and Conference Center in Branson, Missouri. The annual “Spotlight On Vendors” Trade Show features services, products, and goods that are vital to the theater industry, as well as to the entire tourism focused community.

This business trade show is a great opportunity to review a wide range of products.  Exhibitors, from small to large companies, are participating. Branson.com and Branson Tourism Center are signature sponsors of The Branson Show League Vendor Fair. Over 50 booths provide an eclectic mix of services and products.

Participating vendors currently include: •Branson Tourism Center, Branson.com, Mountain Valley Water, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, CenturyTel, DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic, •TravelHost, Ticketmaster, Selby Publishing Company, Phil Erb Concessions, KOAM-TV Joplin, Creative Printing & Design, Springfield Grocer, Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM and Financial Associates), Branson Vacation Magazine, KHOZ Radio, Springfield Blueprint & Nimlok Exhibits, The Vacation Channel, A&J Printing, The UPS Store – Branson, •Springfield NewsLeader, PepsiAmericas, Branson TV & On Media, NUVOX, Showtime Catering, Direct To You, DAZZLEWEAR, Dale Nelson Trading Co., Native Signs, VIP Book/Graphix Café, Branson Tri-Lakes News, Sunny Day Guide, National Audio Company, ProAudio.com, D.L. Media, DeLong Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Hillyard-Branson, Branson ETC, DaZZee Intergrations, Bott Radio Network, Blue Water Designs, Table Rock Lake Area Chamber, •Harrison Daily Times, Digital Medium, The Branson Show League, Jack’s Shoe Repair, Insight Solutions, Bright Commercial Lighting, Ozark Mountain Newspapers, Digital LunchBox, and Service Master Restoration & Construction.

The quality and variety of Branson’s live music shows and family entertainment productions bring tens of thousands of new and repeat visitors to Branson each year, pumping big money into the local economy.  As member theatres celebrate their more than 50 years of success,  those businesses working with the show industry know first hand the partnerships necessary for the local economy to thrive and the buying power the show industry represents.

Buyers from tourism related business are invited to attend this one day event.  Please pre-register by sending an e-mail with your name, company you represent, and your position to [email protected].

1st Annual Guns & Hoses Fishing Tournament
Saturday, August 29
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

A benefit trout fishing tournament on Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri, sponsored by Lilleys’ Landing Resort and Marina, 367 River Lane, Branson, MO, to raise money for the Branson Fire and Police auxiliary funds which help and support the Branson community.

If you need any assistance in registering for the tournament, please contact Kory Klein (417) 294-3319 or click here for addtional information

The Bleu Olive Mediterranean Grille & Bar is celebrating its one year anniversary with a Fine Wine and Food Tasting Social on August 18 at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $25.00 per person. Reservations may be made by phone at 417-332-2538 or via email [email protected].

The Bleu Olive is located in historic downtown Branson at 204 North Commercial Street.

Call for Paintings
White River Painting Exhibit
Ralph Foster Museum
College of the Ozarks

Entry Deadline November 11, 2009
The White River Painting Exhibit and Sale will take place in Edwards Art Gallery Nov. 12th – Dec. 17th, 2009. The museum proudly hosts this annual exhibit to honor our unique Ozarks heritage and to express the museum’s continued mission of providing rich learning experiences about Ozarks culture through the arts.

We are very pleased to have Mr. Aaron W. Jones, Public Tour Program Coordinator the Crystal Bridges Museum of American at Bentonville, Arkansas, as this year’s juror.

We invite artists throughout the Ozarks region to submit paintings that reflect their personal views of what is important to them about the Ozarks. Themes of paintings might reflect an artist’s impressions about the environment, the beauty of the region, history, family, fishing, agriculture, tourism, community, education, architecture, transportation, or entertainment.

A limit of three paintings created over the past two years may be submitted at the Ralph Foster Museum from November 2nd thru Nov. 11th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays. The entry fee is $5.00 for one painting, $7.50 for two paintings, and $10.00 for three paintings. Artists may call 417-690-2603, or e-mail [email protected] for guidelines and entry forms.

It’s a good idea to do business with your neighbors in challenging economic conditions, and that’s the theme of the Branson Area Business Expo 2009 on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center.

More than 40 member businesses will showcase their services from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Ozarks Technical Community College’s Center for Workforce Development will offer a workshop on effective business practices. The Expo is presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s free and open to the public, said Director of Member Services Ladona Johnson.

“Trade In The Tri-Lakes” is the theme, said Jonas Arjes, chairman of the Branson Chamber’s Small Business Development Advisory Council. One of many benefits of  business-to-business commerce is added tax revenue for local public services, he said.
“If you need something for your business, almost everything can now be done locally,” Arjes said. “We’ve always been a community that rallies in hard times, and the more we can do together only makes the community stronger.”

Tabitha Hendricks of PC Net in Springfield said they enjoyed last year’s Expo.“We consider the Springfield/Branson area to be very neighborly,” Hendricks said. “Keeping those local dollars local has been our focus.”

Branson Airport—a full-service commercial airport which opened in May—also is back. Last year, “everyone stopped by,” said Marketing Manager Deidre McCormick. “It gave us the opportunity to get the word out about the current status of the airport, and get people excited about the low-cost service,” McCormick said. This year, “it’s still about community awareness and to give people who haven’t taken advantage of the service yet to see what’s available.”

The OTC workshop will focus on “lean” practices in physical and human resources, said Business Development Manager Linda Doepker. “Saving your human resource time improves your customer experience,” Doepker said.

This year’s partners and sponsors include the Springfield Business Journal, OTC, Cyberstreet, Best Buy, Skaggs Regional Medical Center, Harrison Daily Times, Digital Lunchbox, Rock ‘N Roll is Here to Stay, NuVox, Limited Editions for Her, William Woods University, Creative Printing, PC Net, Fidelity Logic and Family Pharmacy.

For more information, call Ladona Johnson at 334-4084, ex. 314, or visit www.bransonchamber.com.

The deadline to sign up for a booth at the Branson Area Business Expo 2009 is Friday, July 31. The Expo will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Chateau on the Lake Resort & Convention Center. The Expo provides members of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce the opportunity to showcase their goods and services. Springfield Business Journal is a partner in the event.

From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., sponsor The Center for Workforce Development at Ozarks Technical Community College will present a free workshop on “Lean” principles that can be adapted by the service industry to reduce waste.
There also will be a members-only Business After Hours from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Call Ladonna Johnson at 334-4084, ex. 314, or go online to www.bransonchamber.com. (BLACC CC)

Hollister After Hours – Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Networking and Social Event

Hosted by:

Dino’s 24 Karrot Cake Co.
12 Downing Street
Hollister, MO
417-239-2822

Cost is $5 per person

RSVP to:

P: 417.334.3050
F: 417.334.5501

[email protected]

Speakers will present on topics related to development in our county and the ARRA Federal Stimulus Package.

Please register online at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/381872190

Thursday, July 30, 2009 from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Location:

College of the Ozarks – Keeter Center
Opportunity Ave
Henry R. Herold Private Room
Hollister, MO 65672

Agenda:

2:00 – 2:10 – Welcome – Becky Roberts – Member IDA Board
Introduction of Taney County Commissioners and IDA Board:
2:10 – 2:20 – Comments – Ken Kline – Chairman IDA Board
Recognition of Roundtable Sponsors and overview of board
2:20 – 2:30 – Update – Joan Chowning
Taney County OED  – Community Liaison
2:30 – 2:50 – Stimulus Funds- Ron Houseman
Taney County OED – Stimulus Coordinator
2:50 – 3:00 Break & Refreshments
Featured Speakers
3:00 – 3:30 – Walter L.Cowart, U.S. Small Business Administration
” American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
from an historical perspective.”
3:30 – 4:00 – Nancy Outlaw, Internal Revenue Service
Stakeholder Liaison, Chesterfield, Mo.
” Your Business, the ARRA and the IRS”
Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation
Work Opportunity Tax Credits

4:00- 4:15 Closing Remarks and Wrap up of Event

Vendors, crafters and farmers alike are invited to participate in the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks’ first-ever “Junk in the Trunk Fare” on Saturday, August 8, 2009.  This farmer’s market-style, indoor garage sale consists of booth space for rent inside the Lake Taneycomo Elks Unit gymnasium and admission to the event is free to the public.

Amy Blackwell, Forsyth Program Director says, “We are anticipating everything from handmade jewelry and crafts, to Avon and Pampered Chef representatives, and other homemade or garage sale goodies.  It should be lots of fun and will raise money for our after-school programs for kids from the Forsyth and Taneyville areas.” Booth space is available for only $20 and a limited number of booths with access to electricity are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In addition to signing up for vendor booths, individuals and groups are asked to search their closets and attics for gently used items that can be donated to the Boys & Girls Club.  Becky Roberts, the Forsyth Club’s Advisory Council Chairperson, adds, “The Club will be having their own indoor garage sale the day of the event and we would love to have lots of great items for customers to choose from.”  Such donated items can be dropped off at the Forsyth Club or People’s Bank between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, until August 7.  For more information, or to sign up for a vendor booth please call Natalie at  (417) 335-2089 x 230.