Category: Chamber News

Website Give-Away Contest

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Non profit contest

Because November is a time for thanksgiving, not “thanksgetting,” Packerland Websites will give away a free website to one well-deserving nonprofit in the area. In the Give Back to Nonprofits Contest, one lucky nonprofit organization will qualify for a Premium Theme, 7-page website, valued at $2,500. A runner-up and third-prize winner will qualify for 85% savings ($2,125 value) and 70% savings ($1,750 value), respectively, on a Premium Theme website.

Raise awareness for your organization

Nonprofit websites work 24/7 to raise awareness for a cause and offer help to those in need. An attractive, easy-to-navigate website inspires people to make a difference by volunteering, donating to the organization, or getting involved.

Give Back to Nonprofits Contest

The Give Back to Nonprofits Contest is open to nonprofit organizations with or without a current website. Churches, charitable organizations, youth sports associations, community service clubs and professional groups within approximately 35 miles of Green Bay are encouraged to apply.

Nominations open until Nov. 15

For contest rules, prize information, and nomination guidelines, go to PackerlandWebsites.com/contest. Nominations are open until Friday, Nov. 15, with nonprofits responding Nov. 16 to Dec. 16 with qualifying information. The winners will be selected based the attributes of the nonprofit organization, including need and projected improvement or benefit to the organization.

Best-selling author will visit the Oconto Falls Library

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Author Nickolas Butler

Best-selling author Nickolas Butler will visit the Oconto Falls Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. He is the author of “Shotgun Lovesongs,” “Hearts of Men,” and “Little Faith.” All of his books have been bestsellers. He also has written several short stories and articles for magazines.

Nickolas was raised in Eau Claire and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Come and meet Nickolas, ask him about his life as an author, and pick up one of his bestsellers to read in November.

30th Annual Community Halloween Party “Spook-tacular” Success!

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The Oconto Falls High School Music Department was proud to sponsor the 30th annual Community Halloween Party for children in Oconto Falls and the surrounding areas on Monday, October 21.

Oconto Falls High School Music Department Plinko game
Plinko – Game run by Connor Romandine, Colter McCormick, Alex Waschbisch

Over 375 children in grades Pre-school through grade six attended the event, along with over 400 parents, grandparents, and other family members! The Halloween Party was held in the OFHS Wrestling gym. Many creative games were organized, designed and operated by over 120 high school students who represented the OFHS Music Department and members of the OFHS Chamber Singers, Cantabile, Chorale, Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band. Children and adults generously donated hundreds of canned food items for the Kingdom Come Food Pantry as part of their admission. Special thanks to area businesses and individuals who made donations toward this safe and fun event for our area children.

Math-magical Duckies – Game run by Kayley VanDenEng, Abigail Wos, and Madeline Dorn

Participating area businesses, organizations, and individuals joining the OFHS Music Department in donating toward the event were the following: ORGANIZATIONS— American Legion Eick-Sankey Post 302, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 302, OFHS Band, OFHS Choir, and the Oconto Falls Lions Club; INDIVIDUALS— Terry Bitters, Joe and Monica Gostisha, Tom and Karen Lutz, Bob and Laurie Maloney, Don and Judy Osborne, Ron and Carrie Romandine, and Terry and Bev Umentum; BUSINESSES—The Antique Bar, Coachlight Inn, Flower Shoppe II, Howard Eslien Law Office, Jones Funeral Service, Luisier Drilling, Inc., Marquardt Auto Service, Mortell Studio, N.E.W. Credit Union, Oconto Electric Cooperative, Oconto Falls Insurance Center, Senn Hometown Insurance, United True Value, and Witt’s Piggly Wiggly. MEDIA SUPPORT was appreciated from the Oconto County Times Herald, Oconto Reporter, WOCO Radio, Chamber of Commerce, Roger Birr, and Bill Koehne. Amy Thiel, OFHS Choral Director and Victoria Dominguez, OFHS Band Director are very proud of the Choir and Band students and their involvement and dedication to this outstanding community event! The OFHS Music Department continues to sponsor the “Community Halloween Party” with area businesses as their way of saying “thank you” to the community for their tremendous support of music activities throughout the year!

Part of the Admissions Team – Hunter Ryczek, Aidan Spillane, Keith Van Dornick

American Hospital Association Names David Lally “2019 Grassroots Champion”

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David Lally accepts award from Jon Hoelter
David Lally (right) accepts award from Jon Hoelter

David Lally, Director of Business Development & Advocacy for HSHS St. Vincent, St. Mary’s, St. Nicholas and St. Clare hospitals, is a recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2019 Grassroots Champion award.

The Grassroots Champion award is given out each year to one individual in each state who is nominated by the state hospital association partners. The award was created to recognize hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect hospitals’ vital roles in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for hospitals, and who are tireless advocates for their hospitals and patients.

“Whether it’s traveling to Washington, D.C., the state capitol in Madison, or joining us for meetings with legislators in their communities, David is always jumping at the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the HSHS hospitals in Eastern Wisconsin, and Wisconsin health care as a whole,” said Jon Hoelter, Director of State and Federal Relations for the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), which nominated David for the AHA award. “The Wisconsin Hospital Association truly appreciates his passion and dedication to advocacy.”

Most recently, David attended a WHA meeting in Mequon with Congressman Glenn Grothman to discuss federal legislation aimed at tackling surprise medical billing. David and other HSHS leaders discussed the voluntary efforts HSHS hospitals in Eastern Wisconsin are making to meet patients’ desires for more price transparency, including the launch of an online price estimator tool which allows patients to obtain out-of-pocket estimates for planned procedures.

“Advocacy is truly a team effort,” said David. “While I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award, I am also deeply grateful for the team of dedicated health care leaders at HSHS who assist in advocacy efforts daily on behalf of St. Vincent, St. Mary’s, St. Nicholas and St. Clare hospitals.”

HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center are located in Green Bay, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan and HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls. They are part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), based in Springfield, Ill.

Veterans-Monument

Veterans Monument in Oconto Falls.

Packerland Team
Rendered Veterans Monument in Oconto Falls

The Oconto Falls Monument Committee is raising money to build a Veterans Monument in Oconto Falls.

The monument will be built on the hillside overlooking Woodlawn Cemetery, where some of our local veterans are buried.

This location offers visibility in the community and is adjacent to the Oconto Falls walking trail.

Our fundraising goal is $125,000, which includes funding for upkeep for years to come.

With the generous support of more than 170 community donors, we have already raised $90,000.

We need your help to reach the finish line. We have several different sponsorship opportunities available, which we have laid out below. Once you make a selection, we have included an order form for your convenience.

Oconto Falls Veterans Memorial Fund BrochureDownload

Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designations announced

Packerland Team

MADISON – More than 30 communities around the state have been recognized for their work to improve health in their communities.

The Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation is a new initiative offered by the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) group of the UW Population Health Institute (UWPHI), in collaboration with diverse statewide groups. The program, funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program, is designed to celebrate and encourage achievements in health improvement in Wisconsin, and to serve as a guide for communities to expand and enhance their health improvement efforts.

The designation program recognizes communities that focus efforts across the multiple factors that influence health – including health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical
environment – with a focus on equity, multi-sector partnerships and sustainable solutions.

Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designations announced

“Achieving equitable health outcomes takes years to accomplish, and this program is all about celebrating the hard work happening across Wisconsin,” said Sheri Johnson, director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. “Our goal is to acknowledge and support ongoing efforts in local communities to improve health for everyone.”

This year, 31 communities received either a bronze, silver or gold designation. Four communities received a gold designation. The tiers are meant to provide a trajectory and serve as a guide for communities as they work toward comprehensive solutions for better health – the gold level representing the most difficult to achieve. However, receiving a designation, at any level, does not indicate that health or health equity has been achieved in a community; rather, the designation is meant to commend the efforts and the partnerships working to improve health.

The initiative’s definition of community is broad and can include counties, municipalities, neighborhoods and other self-defined, place-based communities in Wisconsin.

“This initiative was developed in response to a request from rural communities across the state and gives communities of all shapes and sizes – rural and urban – an opportunity to be recognized for the great work that they are doing to improve their own health,” said Tim Size, executive director of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, a collaborative of 42 rural hospitals and local health systems, and a member of the UW Population Health Institute’s advisory board.

The Healthy Community Designation lasts for three years, at which point a community may reapply. To learn more about the program and the application process, visit the program website: www.wihealthycommunities.org

The communities were recognized at the 2018 Healthiest State Summit, Sept. 20 and 21, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. This two-day summit was a statewide gathering of leaders to work on shared priorities around health equity and to build skills.

For more on the summit please visit: https://www.wpha.org/mpage/HealthiestState

More about the Designation program

The Wisconsin Healthy Communities Designation program is an initiative of the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) group’s Making Wisconsin the Healthiest State project at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The Making Wisconsin the Healthiest State project, funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, seeks to help us understand and improve health across Wisconsin.

Ten Tips to Stay Safe during Fireworks Season

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In the month around the July 4th holiday, approximately 280 people in the U.S. go to emergency rooms every day with fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Though fireworks can be exciting, festive and fun – they can also be very dangerous. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital recommends the following tips and reminders to ensure a safe experience:

  1. Children should never play with fireworks. Firecrackers, rockets and sparklers can be extremely dangerous if not used properly. If you give sparklers to kids, make sure to keep them outside and away from faces, clothing and hair. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
  2. Buy legally and store safely. Observe local laws and make sure fireworks are legal in your area. Store in a cool, dry place and keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.
  3. Don’t DIY. Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
  4. Be prepared. Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and hose nearby.
  5. Keep a distance. Steer clear of others and never throw or point fireworks at someone. Light fireworks then move back quickly.
  6. Take precautions. Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket. Never light fireworks in a glass or metal container.
  7. Know your surroundings. Point fireworks away from homes. Keep away from brushes, leaves and other flammable substances.
  8. Quality, not quantity. Light one firework at a time and never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
  9. Make sure the fire is out and dispose of properly. Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event as they may still be hot. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
  10. Better yet, leave fireworks to the experts. This is the recommended course of action by the National Safety Council.

If an adult or child is injured by fireworks, immediately call your doctor or go to the hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don’t touch or rub it, as this may cause more damage. If it’s a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn and then call your doctor immediately.

firework season

Chamber Donates Toward Dog Park

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dog park Oconto Falls
(L to R: Emily Gonnering, Gail Yatso, and excited visitor Luna Star)

The Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce recently donated $3,000 to the fundraising efforts of a dog park in Oconto Falls. Donations continue to come in after the project received approval from the Oconto Falls City Council. To date, the campaign has raised approximately $20,000.

Emily Gonnering, an Oconto Falls High School senior and Girl Scout is working toward her Gold Award by spearheading the creation of a dog park – from budgeting to fundraising to design concepts.

The Chamber supports the project because of its focus on being a healthy community. Oconto Falls was recently awarded the Bronze Level from the Wisconsin Health Communities – the only city receiving an award north of Appleton. “It’s with great pride to say that our community has been awarded such an honor. Oconto Falls offers so many wonderful opportunities and programs to make our lives healthier. With the addition of the Oconto Falls Dog Park, our furry family members can stay healthier, too. Playtime is a perfect way to spend time with our pups and get the exercise we both need. Great achievement, Emily!” stated Chamber President Gail Yatso.

Oconto Falls High School Senior Tea held May 1

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Oconto Falls High School Senior Tea Cast

Row 1: Caitlin Johnson, Samantha Shallow, Joslyn Tolzman, Adeline Pumplun, Charis Wirtley, Andrea Waschbisch, Addison Hatch, and Janna Jeske
Row 2: Emma Huberty, Breanna Sadowski, Amber Proctor, Katelyn Albrecht, Grace Williams, and Lydia Murphy-Hendricks
Row 3: Isabella Behnke, Mackenzie Staidl, Emily Gonnering, Paige Stapleton, Kaelyn Allen, and Laken Wall

The 68th annual Oconto Falls High School Senior Tea took place on Wednesday, May 1 at Grace Lutheran Church.

The event has been sponsored by the Oconto Falls Women’s Club since 1951 and was originally held at the Cook Memorial Library and area homes. In 1961, Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls became its new location and has been the host site since that time!

The Senior Tea traditionally occurs on the first Wednesday in May and invites OFHS senior girls and their mothers or female guests to spend the evening sharing their accomplishments and dreams for the future. At this year’s event, snacks, desserts, and punch were served in the lower level of Grace Lutheran Church by the Oconto Falls Women’s Club members who coordinated the event, including President Romelle Delzer, Verna Peterson, Jeannie Waschbisch, Sally Holtz, Rachel Collar, Jeannie Peebles, and Laurie Fries.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Oconto Falls High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Singers, and several vocal soloists performing a variety of classical and musical theatre selections.