April 2009  May 2009   June 2009  July 2009  August 2009  September 2009  October 2009
 

Red Carpet Service Award        

Red Carpet Award Winner for September is Danielle Nichols, The Groomer’s for her outstanding customer service.

Danielle was nominated Pat Robbins.  These were the comments “I had been going to a different dog groomer and The Groomers was a new place that was recommended by a friend.  My dog was always frightened and had to be muzzled when groomed.  Danielle was very loving and gentle and my dog didn’t need to be muzzled.  She did a great job and I highly recommend her for your Red Carpet Award.  Danielle receives a Red Carpet Pin, $25.00 Gift Certificate as well as other advertising.  She will be entered in the Red Carpet Person of the Year award contest to be presented in 2010.

If you know someone out there that has rolled out the red carpet for you, give them some well deserved recognition and nominate them for next month’s award!  Nomination cards can be found at the Chamber office and also at most of the businesses.

If you were the nomination person of a Red Carpet winner please stop by the office we have a gift for you too.  We appreciate you taking the time and effort to make sure someone’s efforts are noticed.

Lunch and Learn speaker Marion Loomis, Wyoming Mining Association

Lunch & Learn    

September winners Green River Lions, Reader Board; Leah Lassise, The Radio Network, Newsletter Profile; Palisades Pride of Lions, Radio; Jackie Jensen, High Plains Physical Therapy, Radio; 50/50 Raffle winner was Joe Martinez, The Radio Network, Joe donated the money back to the Chamber Building Fund.  The Lunch & Learn program is held the third Wednesday of every month at noon at rotating Chamber member restaurants that can accommodate the meetings.  October’s Lunch and Learn will be held the 21st, Noon , WWCC, John Wesley Powell Room.  The speaker will be from Wyoming Inc. with an update from the Water Diversion Proposal.  

Chamber Board of Directors
and Staff

¨         Bob Saunders, Past-President  Wells Fargo   307-352-5538

¨         Michael Nelson, President    High Plains Physical Therapy  307-875-1847 

¨         Cindy Brandjord, Vice President  School District #2  307-872-3290 

¨         Bonnie Bigolin, 1st Vice-President   Print Link Ad-Specialties 307-875-6128 

¨         Robert Berg, Secretary  Artic Circle  307-875-4582 

¨         Jeff Nieters, Treasurer  City of Green River  307-872-6122 

¨         Kathy Gilbert  Green River Star  307-875-3103 

¨         Joanna Nara-Kloepper   BLM  307-352-0321 

¨         Brian Mortimer  Solvay  307-872-6508 

¨         Jeff Wilson    Desert View Eye Care Center  307-875-3399 

¨         Marie Colestock  Green River Realty  307-875-5522 

¨         Terri Cook  307-875300  

• Janet Hartford, Executive Director

• Wendy Kraft, Office Specialist

• Kay Hernandez, Office Assistant

Renewals  

1 Year

Treasures
Jerri McKenzie
823 Uinta Dr.
Green River, WY  82935
treasures@sweetwaterhsa.com

Rocky Moutain Home Care
Paulette Graham, RN
535 Uinta Dr.
Green River ,WY  82935
307-875-7976
307-875-8990fx
Paulette.graham@rmcare.com

University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service Swt. Cnty.
Kimberly Chapman
2500 College Dr. A-700
Rock Springs, WY  82901
307-352-6775  872-6310
307-352-6779fx
council1doak@wwcc.wy.edu
kichapman@uintacounty.com

Sweetwater County Recreation Board
Gayle Abney
731 C. St. #110
Rock Springs, WY  82901
307-352-6623
307-352-6865

Villa Mortgage Solano Agency, Inc
Vic Solano
140 Uinta Dr.
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-5272
307-875-5279fx
vsolano@qwestoffice.net
villamortgageco.com

2 Years

Flaming Gorge Motel
Umesh Patel
316 E. Flaming Gorge Way
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-4190

Hampton Inn & Suites
Tim Cogdill
1055 Wild Horse Canyon Rd.
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-5300
307-875-6800fx
tim.cogdill2@hilton.com

4 Years

Terracon
Buzz Shafer, John Graves
1509 Elk St.
Rock Springs, WY  82901
307-362-1450  307-362-1657
www.terracon.com
btshafer@terracon.com

EnCana Oil & Gas Inc.
John Schmidt
Operations Field Leader
2908 Foothill Blvd.
Rock Springs, WY  82901
307-352-6407
307-352-6415fx
John.schmidt@encana.com
www.encana.com

Business Leadership Network
Beth Whitman, Director
P.O. Box 1243
708 B Street
Rock Springs, WY  82901
307-362-3339 ph/fx
RS-BLN@VCN.com
www.yourbln.com

5 Years

Rolling Green Country Club
Regina Clark
PO Box 38
West of Green River Exit 85, I-80
Green River, WY 82935
307-875-6200  307-875-4934

Sweetwater Trophies
Mike Frink
79 W. Flaming Gorge Way
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-3969
307-875-3921fx

8 Years

DJ’s Glass
Dave  Shillcox
3700 HWY 374
Green River  WY  82935
307-875-9132
307-875-9135fx
dave.shillcox@djsglass.com
www.djsglass.com

10 Years

L K Drilling and Boring
Bill Brady/Steve Brady
4311 Rio Verde
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-5482  Fx307-875-3111
driller@sweetwaterhsa.com

Palisades Management Corp
Mark Hoffmann, PE
1902 Drees
Grand Forks, ND  58201
701-722-1337

Sweetwater Democratic Party
Joyce Corcoran
1160 Blair #4
Rock Springs, WY  82902
307-362-5301

11 Years

Green River Co-op Preschool
Debbie Varley
840 Hitching Post
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-9410

12 Years

Red Feather Inc. Sportsbar & Packaged Liquors
Thomas Nomis
211 E. Flaming Gorge Way
PO Box 40
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-6625
307-875-4747fx
motsimon@wyoming.com

UPS Store, The
Bob Burke
1993 Dewar Dr. #1
Rock Springs, WY 82901
307-382-8228, 307-382-8244 fx
store3042@theupsstore.com
www.upsstorelocal.com/3042

Byrd's Car Wash
Ron  Byrd
P.O. Box 642
Green River  WY  82935
307-871-5074c  307-875-6671

13 Years

Inberg-Miller Engineers
Glen M. Bobnick
193 W. Flaming Gorge Way
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-4394   fax307-875-4395

21 Years

Arctic Circle
Robert  Berg
445 E Flaming Gorge Way
Green River  WY  82935
307-875-4582

Coachman Inn
Umesh Patel
470 E. Flaming Gorge Way
Green River, WY  82935
307-875-3681

Promotion Photos for Businesses

Alook at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center , part of 
WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming .

        By Michael Lambert, Wyoming Market Research Center manager

       "I would like to use some photographs that I found on the Internet on my Web site and in brochures, 
but someone told me that would violate copyright law. What should I do?" Alice , Green River

        You should never use a photograph found on the Internet without the express permission of the person 
who owns the copyright. This is normally the photographer, but can be an organization or company.

        Finding the copyright holder can be tough, especially since many photographs on the internet are not 
properly attributed. So how to find that perfect picture to make the point needed in advertising materials? 
The time-honored way is to hire a professional photographer to take the picture. This will give the best results, 
but can be pricey.

        Another method is to take the picture yourself. Generally it means you own the rights to the image, although 
if the picture is of a person, make sure that a model release is signed. A Google search for "model release form" 
gives several examples of forms that can be used.

        If all this seems a bit much, look to one of the stock photography services. There are many, but a personal 
favorite is Fotolia (www.fotolia.com). This site offers millions of images available for unlimited licensing for 
extremely low cost. The site has a great search feature and photographs can be purchased in different levels of 
resolution.

        For use on a Web site, an "XS Standard" file is good and costs about one dollar. For larger images, the 
prices go up, but $4-$5 per picture is standard. Fotolia allows you to place images in a "lightbox" to compare 
images against each other. A free "comp" image can be downloaded that can be used for layouts and review. The 
site also features a selection of illustrations and cartoons that are available for similar fees.

        Other sites are: iStockphoto (www.istockphoto.com); Big Stock Photo (www.bigstockphoto.com); and 
Dreams Time (http://www.dreamstime.com/).

        There are literally dozens of similar sites and millions of photographs available. Photography can now be a 
stress-free part of marketing materials design process for a local small business owner.

        A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments is available at 
http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.typepad.com/blog/.

        The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council 
and the University of Wyoming . To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, e-mail wsbdc@uwyo.edu or write
1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922 , Laramie , WY 82071-3922 .

Did You Know??????  

In the 1400’s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a 
stick no thicker than his thumb.  Hence we have ‘the rule of thumb’. 

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented.  It was ruled ‘Gentlemen Only … 
Ladies Forbidden’ .. and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma 
Flinstone.

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Coca-Cola was originally green.  

It is impossible to lick your elbow.  

The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work;  Alaska  

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this…)  The percentage of
North America that is wilderness: 38%.

Workforce Services Offers Free Labor Law Posters to Businesses

Cheyenne – Wyoming businesses are being offered free posters that inform employees of
Wyoming and federal labor laws. The full-color posters are provided by the Wyoming Department 
of Workforce Services and are available at the agency’s 20 Workforce Centers throughout the state. 
Business owners only need to contact their local Workforce Centers and ask for a poster.

Workforce Services Director Joan Evans said the availability of the posters resulted from the agency 
attempting to provide a needed service for businesses.  “The posters were created in response to 
employer feedback that this information would be helpful for them to have available as a resource, 
and our agency was able to respond and provide them at no cost,” Evans said.

The posters, which normally would cost $35 or more each, include information that typically must be 
provided to workers and posted in the workplace. Each poster includes information on minimum wage 
requirements, workers’ compensation, the Family Medical Leave Act, unemployment insurance, equal 
opportunity employment, fair employment practices, health and safety protection on the job, regulations 
regarding uniformed services employment and re-employment, and other labor law information.

The free labor posters are available at the state’s 20 Workforce Centers, which are located in Afton ,
Casper , Cheyenne , Cody, Douglas , Evanston , Gillette, Jackson , Kemmerer, Lander, Laramie , Newcastle , 
Powell, Rawlins, Riverton, Rock Springs , Sheridan , Torrington , Wheatland and Worland.

To get a poster or for more information, please call the Rock Springs Workforce Center at 875-2300, or 
382-2747.  You are also welcome to stop by the office located in the White Mountain Mall, State of 
Wyoming Office Complex, Mom-Fri 8:00AM to 5:00PM to pick up your poster.

Bike Park

Bike Park

Can't wait to try it out!

Builder Weekend Crew

Hey Everyone,

             This is Leah Lassise from The Radio Network. I’d like to pause for a few moments 
to say “Thank You” to all of our clients.  If it weren’t for you, I truly don’t believe we 
would be as successful as we are.

It is amazing each day to wake up and realize how excited you are to go to work.  
“Work”, we call it, but it’s more like waking up in the morning and getting ready to 
have some fun!  Now everyday is not a picnic, but most days are great!  Think about 
it, your radio representative gets to help you increase your business.  We get to 
help you tell people what you have to offer them, all the while making new friends.  
How cool is that?

Our typical day consists of: going out to see existing clients; seeking new clients; 
producing radio commercials; working on fun, new promotions; working on existing 
promotions; marketing training; and working on community and charity projects.  f
Wow, see how much “work” we do, haha.  Many of us are involved in such things as: 
The United Way of Southwest Wyoming ; Cowboys Against Cancer; school boards; 
baseball; softball; basketball;Parent/Teacher Associations; church groups; school supply 
drives; major catastrophe and assistance drives; soccer, personnel boards; bank boards; 
Joint Power and Water Board; The Hole In The Wall Gang.   

We’re involved in our local Chambers of Commerce, The Salvation Army, some of us are 
referee’s, umpires, high school sports announcers, and of course we are moms, dads, 
daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, care-takers, friends and so much more.  Our days are 
so long! Whew! Doesn’t that sound like a lot of you out there?  It sure does, and this is 
another reason we appreciate you so much.  

I’d like to tell you something else that is amazing about what we do.  We have the most 
supportive management staff that continues to aid us in becoming more successful.  It’s 
been a difficult time around the station these past few months but it’s shown us how 
important we really are to one another, and how important it is to keep the task at hand 
and do it well.  With such amazing people like Al & Faith, and of course Jeff and Steve, 
how can we NOT do great things, so a big thank you to them as well.  

It’s hard to believe it’s already October.  It has been a good year thus far.  We are looking 
forward to providing you, our clients, our friends, with yet more exceptional service. We 
have a dynamic product, so if there is anything more we can do for you, please don’t 
hesitate to ask!  We’re just a phone call away.  Thanks to the Green River Chamber for the
opportunity to present this letter, and again, we look forward to “working” for and with you!  
It’s what we do. ☺

Information Distributed by Chamber  

September 2009 Year to Date

Relocation Packets                                          2             27
Vacation Packets                                             7             172
School Kids info                                              0             19
Convention Packets                                         500        918
Wyoming Pins                                                  0             160
City of Green River Pins                                 0             143
High Desert Country Pins                                0             220
Gift Certificates                                               153        3233
     Dollar Amount                          $5312.00  $142134.00
Brochure Racks                                                2028      13868
Bulk Brochures                                                 50           6530
Chamber Kiosk                                                 752        2953
Walk ins                                                            368        5612
Web Site Hits                                                   1828      18726
E-Mails                                                             0             144780
 

School District #2 Enrollment

2008        2,618

2009        2,634

Sales Tax Disbursements–August*

Sweetwater County

               County                  1,712,085
               Green River           854,386
               Rock Springs        1,382,913

Lodging Tax Sweetwater County

               County                    4,126
               Green River            9,189
               Rock Springs          43,826

Labor Force**

SW Co.  Employed      Aug. 2008                           23,589
                                     July 2009                            23,359
                                     Aug. 2009                           23,355
Unemployed                 Aug. 2008                           586
                                     July 2009                            1,603
                                     Aug. 2009                           1,590
State       Employed      Aug. 2008                           287,975
                                     July 2009                            279,066
                                     Aug. 2009                           277,045
Unemployed                 Aug. 2008                           8,693
                                     July 2009                            17,589
                                     Aug. 2009                           17,550   

Housing as of  August

               Homes sold         

                              Green River          11
                              Rock Springs        18

               Residential Listings

                              Green River          119
                              Rock Springs        237

               Average Costs      $200,000

 Residential Sales

                              No. Sales    Total Sales         Monthly Average    Yearly Average

2008                     595              122,255,680.     7,901,546.                 205,472.
2009                     431               95,728,815.       2,687,690.                223,974.

*Wyoming Department of Revenue              

** Wyoming Labor Force Trends

Yellow Bike – Retired  

The Chamber and Southwest Mountain Bike Association have regrettably retired the Yellow 
Bike program. The volunteers spent hundreds of hours re-building and painting over twenty bikes 
this year—at the end of September only a few of these were operational. They were also not in the 
bike racks but in private yards. Most of the bikes had been thrown in the river and otherwise damage 
beyond repair.  

The Chamber and the Bike Club had hoped this “free community bike” program would be successful
but alas it is not meant to be. Should there be a vendor or business that would be available from May 
to the end of September to check the bikes out, with a credit card, then possibly the program could 
be continued. But as of this time “trusting the goodwill of the users” is not an option. 

“It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not trusted”             
Samuel Butler

Ribbon Cuttings

l-r Janet Hartford, Hank Castillon, Ashley Quesada, Bob Saunders, Kat Kolesar-
Picoldi, Joyce Saunders, Reese Peterson, Travis Peterson, Brent Rasmussen, Ray & 
Joel Peterson, Pete Gailey, Joe Harris, Robert Berg, Michael Nelson , Cindy 
Brandjord ,  Craig Wolffing, Merlynn Gailey, Dusten Berg, Taylor Gailey, Ted York ,
  Marci Howard.

Holiday Puzzle Promotion – Another Shop Local Incentive  

The Green River Chamber of Commerce is asking for local artists help with the upcoming Holiday 
Puzzle promotion set to kick off in November. Last year the Membership committee launched the
 Holiday Puzzle promotion during November and December. The puzzle featured artwork graciously 
loaned to us by Angi Bennett. This year the Committee would like to broaden the promotion by 
involving more local artists.

            We are asking local artists to submit an original piece of artwork that would be used in this 
year’s promotion. The artwork will be selected by the Membership Committee and will be featured 
on the 16-piece puzzle and also on the final product, a ceramic ornament. The puzzle pieces are 
distributed to fifteen businesses with the final piece at the Chamber. After participants have all 
16-pieces they are given the ceramic ornament, which also has the image of the artwork on it. As an 
additional incentive to artists, the artist’s artwork that is chosen will receive a $100.00 Chamber Gift 
Certificate. If your artwork is selected the Chamber will use the image; the artist will receive their 
original artwork back after it has been digitally scanned. The artist of course will have their name 
mentioned in all the promotional material.

            The Holiday Puzzle Promotion is a “Shop Local” program for the holidays to encourage folks 
to spend their dollars locally and also generate foot traffic though our businesses. An added incentive
 will be a $100 Gift Certificate drawing for all those that have completed the puzzle.

            The Chamber will also be looking for fifteen Chamber Members to sponsor the Holiday Puzzle 
again this year. Cost to sponsor the puzzle will be $185.00 and sponsors will receive 250 pieces of 
one piece of the puzzle; $900 in radio and printed advertising; mention in the newsletter in November
 and December; poster with information will be at all sponsors locations; website mention with all 
participating sponsors listed and a brochure with the same information that will be distributed in 
brochure racks and at all Chamber functions. Sponsorships will be “first-come-first serve” and limited 
to fifteen sponsors.

Chamber Stimulus Plan—Improving your Business Visibility!

The Chamber Membership Committee is looking for ways to stimulate business, stimulate 
shoppers in the community and stimulate the bottom line, with the “Chamber Stimulus Plan”. 
Here is how the “Chamber’s Stimulus Plan” works. Everyone time a customer comes into a 
participating business and buys something they will receive a “Chamber Stimulus Coupon” to 
another participating Chamber Members business in appreciation for shopping local. The 
customer gets an extra bonus for shopping local. They can then take their coupon to another 
Chamber Member’s business, buy something and get referred to another Chamber Member 
business. This way businesses are “stimulating” more spending in our community and in the 
long run stimulating our local economy. 

Here is a list of participating businesses…stop by and see what kind of incentives you can 
get! We are working on expanding participation too so watch for more businesses in the future.

          Ace Hardware, 400 Uinta Drive
         Back in Time Antiques – 40 N. 3^rd W.
         Castle Rock Web Designs – 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 13
         D-J’s Glass – 3700 Hwy 374, in Jamestown 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 1 150 Uinta Drive
         The Groomers – 520 Wilkes Drive, Suite 6
         Wyoming Embroidery Works – 329 Uinta Drive
         High Plains Physical Therapy-920 Upland Drive

 
Brent Skorcz lines out volunteers at the new skills park.

Chamber Bucks

Availability:  Chamber Bucks are available in any denominations.  

Blank:  The “Pay To” line is purposely left blank and is to be left blank until those recipients of the 
Chamber Bucks wish to spend them at a business.  At that time they fill in the business or store name.

Charge for Certificates:  There is a 50 cent charge for each certificate.  There is a price break for bigger 
quantities ordered.

Deposit Directly:  These Chamber Bucks are actual checks.  Businesses receiving them can treat them as a 
regular check and deposit them directly into their accounts.

Employee:  If you need information about ordering Chamber Bucks for your employees, please call the 
Chamber Office. 

Are you accepting Chamber Bucks:

Interested in purchasing Chamber Bucks?

Anyone can purchase Chamber Bucks; consider them for your employees, family, special occasions, 
thank you’s etc… Call the Chamber today. 

Chamber Networking Opportunity

The Chamber is bringing you a chance to meet and network with other Members and the Business
After Hours, hosted by Green River Realty, October 15^th, 5:30 pm. Marie Colestock will have great
refreshments and a few giveaways, so be sure to bring your business cards. Green River Realty is
located in the Bank of the West building at 10 Shoshone. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and
network with other members.

          Top Networking Tips

1. BRING BUSINESS CARDS!!

2. Discover what you can do for someone else. Networking is about creating relationships, not making
    the sale. You'll find it actually takes the pressure off.

3. The name tag is worn on the right side. This is to provide an easy sight-line to your name when
   shaking hands.

4. Review your "thirty second commercial"—a brief statement that summarizes what you do and the
   benefits you offer clients.

5. Remember to circulate. Try to meet at least four new people at each event.

6. Ask questions. This is a good way to discover what you can do for someone else. Ask a few
   questions to find out a person's passion and before you know it, you've started a conversation.
   Some easy questions:

• What do you do?

• How long have you done it?

• What do you enjoy most about what you do?

• What types of individuals or companies do you typically work with?

If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours contact the Chamber, we will also be offering
Networking at Noon too for those Members that would prefer hosting and attending a middle of the
day event.

The Business After Hours is just one of the many events offered to Chamber members only. For
information on Chamber membership contact the Chamber at 875-5711

Main Street ’s Trunk or Treat
October 10, 2009
North 1^st East, in front of Tomahawk

3 – 7 pm

Pumpkin Carving & Painting                              3 pm  

Costume Contest & Judging of Pumpkins           4:30 PM

          Pets Category
          Children’s Categories  

Free Kids Games                                            3 – 7 pm  

Spook Ally – between Tomahawk & GT Machines        3 -7 pm  

BBQ                                                               4 – 7 pm  

Trunk or Treating                                             5:30 pm  

Pumpkin Patch – Miller Farms                          3 – 7 pm

          Will also have fresh Veggies for sale  

Winners for Best Costumes, Pumpkins and Best Decorated “Trunks” will be announced at 6 pm  

For more details contact Maggie at the Main Street office 307-872-0562

            
Bike Park

Here are 15 reasons to consider or reconsider how you spend your money.

1. Local businesses employ local people.
2. Local employees pay local taxes.
3. Local business people usually support other local businesses.
4. Local employees often support other local businesses.
5. Local businesses are often called on for local charities.
6. Local businesses contribute far more to local charities.
7. Local businesses support local athletic teams and other school/youth organization activities.
8. Local businesses provide many of the members of local service clubs, fire and ambulance volunteers.
9. Local service clubs are primarily dedicated to helping others “in need” as well as supporting many
   other good charitable causes.
10. Local businesses provide personal service to its customers.
11. Local businesses usually address problems directly, rather than directing the customer to contact the
    main office located elsewhere.
12. Local businesses are not constantly “merging” and “spinning-off.”
13. Local businesses support the local Chamber of Commerce/Commercial Club.
14. Local Chambers of Commerce provide many services and public activities which benefit the whole
    community.
15. Local businesses are us!

            

Volunteers helped out at the Builder Weekend.

Green River Bike Park —Potential to bring more Tourism Dollars to the Community

            How do you get bike enthusiasts excited? You offer them a piece of ground and tell them
they can have jumps, bridges and elevated trails, that’s how you do it!! That is exactly what the City
of Green River is doing.  Parks and Recreation Director Walt Bratton , Facilities and Project Manager
Allan Wilson and the Green River Chamber of Commerce’s bike club, the Sweetwater Mountain Biking
Association will be working on October 9^th, 10^th and 11^th. The group is looking for volunteers to help
out during those three days and will have free water, Cliff Bars , tools and lunch. There will be “Bike
Park Builder Training & BBQ” each day beginning at 7 a.m. , at the Bike park location, next to Stratton
Myers on Bridger Drive . There will also be guided mountain bike rides at the end of each day from 5 – 7
 p.m. , leaving from the Bike Park . The SWMB members will show you some great trails, right in our
backyard! The design for the park can be seen on line at www.greenriverbikepark.com and features a
 looped trail system with ladder bridges, dirt jumps, a pump track, jump trail, drop zone and more. The
park has features that work for beginners all the way up to advanced riders, all within City Limits! The
park was designed by Hilride, one of the premier bike park designers, from Kensington , California and
they will be on hand during the “Builder Weekend”. Quite a bit of work was done on the skills park in
September and the group hopes to get more volunteers again this time in order to complete much of
the work before the weather turns.

            The bike park is an idea that bike club members, Tom McIntosh and Brent Skorcz had a
opportunity to see during the 2009 International Mountain Biking Association, IMBA, Conference. The
parks have sprung up in urban areas that have very little space to provide bike riders with trails and
challenges. The have been built under freeways, in warehouses and empty lots. The parks, which are
sometime called “pump parks” or “skills parks” provide a trail system in a condensed area, with a trail
system that works for beginners all the way up to those wanting the challenge of jumps, elevated trails,
and a pump track. Allan Wilson , City of Green River Parks and Recreation Facilities and Project Manager
 also had the opportunity to attend the conference and brought the SWMBA club members together with
Parks and Recreation Director Walt Bratton to find a vacant piece of land to put the park in. The City just
happened to have a piece of land next to Stratton Myers, next to the Green Belt that would work perfect.
 They approached City Council at a Strategic Planning session and the park is moving forward.

          The new park is another innovative idea that the City has taken into its program of work. This project
partners very well with the Whitewater Park and brings another layer of amenities to not just its residents, but is
also a great lure to tourists. It is also a great way to keep those younger bike riders engaged and involved in the
community. It can also lead to tourism and recreation dollars coming to the town, according to the Outdoor Industry
Foundation, 2006 report, the Mountain States bicycling recreation economy:  

• Contributes $6.2 billion annually to the regional economy

• Supports more than 60,000 jobs across the region

• Generates more than $1 billion in annual state and federal tax revenues

• Produces nearly $4.1 billion annually in retail sales and services

• $429 million in bicycling gear sales and services

• $3.7 billion in bicycling trip-related expenditures

The Mountain States are home to more than 4 million bicyclists – 27% of the adult population.

Green River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Nominees  

The Green River Chamber of Commerce has several openings that the Membership will be voting on.
The Board openings are for three year terms, but we do have other one-year and two-year terms open
due to a variety of reasons. The Membership will receive their ballots as a separate mailing and have until
October 16^th to mail, fax or drop the ballots at the Chamber office.  

Board of Directors Nominees- 3-Year Terms

Bryan Mortimer, General Mine Superintendent, Solvay - Bryan was born and raised in Pueblo , CO . He graduated
from Colorado School of Mines in 1991 with a B.S. in Mining Engineering. He moved to Green River in January 1992
and worked for General Chemical. In 1996 Bryan started working for Solvay Chemicals. He is now the General Mine
Superintendent at Solvay.

He has been a resident of Green River since 1992 aside from a 2.5 year period when I lived in Brussels , Belgium on
an assignment with the parent company. Bryan is married to his wife, Lisa, for 14 years and they have 3 children;
Nathan, Grace and Scott.

Bryan enjoys spending time with family traveling and experiencing the outdoors.
In the past he has been associated with Big Brothers/Big Sister program as well as the local SME (Society of Mining
Engineers) organization. Bryan has been on the Chamber Board the past two years, filling a vacant position. He has
been involved with Santa’s Arrival, the River Festival , Distinguished and Outstanding Citizen Committee and is a 2009
Sweetwater County Leadership graduate.

__________ YES          _________ NO
 

Robert Berg, Manager, Arctic Circle – After graduating from Green River High School , Robert began his career at
Arctic Circle , working there for 13 years, 10 of those years as the Manager.  He is dedicated to providing excellent
customer service to his patrons.  His small business managerial skills as well as his love of the outdoors have been a
 great asset to the Chamber Board and would love to continue with serving the community. He is currently the Board
Secretary and provides great insight.

__________ YES          _________ NO
 

Joanna Nara -Kloepper , Mining Engineer, BLM -Joanna was born in Rolla , MO and spent the bulk of her childhood
as a psuedo-gypsy as her family followed her father's career through 15+ moves. In 1991 she graduated from the
University of Utah with a B.S. in Mining Engineering.  She accepted her first job with FMC where she worked for 9
years as a Mine Engineer and Foreman.  For the following 5 years she pursued her interests in domestic service to her
family.  Since 2005 she has worked as a Mining Engineer for the BLM .

Joanna has resided in Green River , WY since 1991.  Her greatest joy in life is spending time with her family, which
includes her husband, John, their 2 children, Allison and Travis, as well as their cats.  They enjoy many of the
recreational activities offered by the area:  biking the Green Belt, camping, geocaching and enjoying the out-of-doors.

Her associations have included involvement with the local SME (Society of Mining, Mettallurgy and Exploration) and
the Green River Co-op Preschool. Joanna has been filling a vacant position on the Chamber Board for the past year. 
She has participated in Green River 's Clean-up Day.

__________ YES          _________ NO

Board of Directors Nominee – 2-Year Term

Patricia Gregory is the Manager of Oak Tree Inn & Penny’s Diner. Born in Wiesbaden , Germany , her family
moved to Green River where her father, who had retired from the military, took a job at Texas Gulf . Trish graduated
from Green River High School . She wanted to follow in her family’s tradition and follow her brother in the military, but was
 unable to join the military for medical reasons; she went to work for Little America . She then went to work at the Super 8
to be closer to home, where she learned about the hospitality industry from the Patel’s. When the Patel’s retired she went
back to Little America , where she learned more about the business. She again wanted to be closer to home with a toddler
at home and had an opportunity to work at the Oak Tree Inn, moving up to the Manager position. She wants to become
more involved in the community and worked on the River Festival Committee this year with the Kids Games.

__________ YES          _________ NO

Reality is the other person’s idea of how things should be.

                                    John M. Shanahan