Martens began the week by presenting $25 awards to Linda Sizemore and Lenora Skelton, both employees of the Sallisaw Travel Center on Interstate 40, for submitting the theme for the chamber's spring festival. The event will be the Diamond Daze Fly-In Festival and will be held at Sallisaw Municipal Airport May 5 and 6, and will feature a sanctioned "Barbecue Thang in the Spring" competition. The chamber hopes to have the cookoff sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.
"Our next step will be to hold an art contest for the Sallisaw High School art classes for a drawing that would be compatible with the theme," Martens said. "The winner of the contest will receive a check for $125, second place will receive $75 and third place will receive $50."
The winning drawing will be used on T-shirts, posters, fliers and other forms of festival advertising, Martens said.
Other plans for the coming months include:
*Chamber Checks in November
*Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Ceremony at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw
*Nov. 17 - Christmas Lighting Ceremony at the library
*Nov. 20 - Merchants Christmas Open House
*Dec. 3 - Christmas Parade and Santa's Workshop
Martens said Chamber Checks is a program designed to keep dollars and sales tax in the community.
In Sallisaw's Chamber Checks program, she explained, individuals or business owners can purchase checks as a gift or bonus for friends and employees.
"These checks are to be used for merchandise or services only," Martens said. "They cannot be redeemed as cash by the recipient.
"The program has several advantages," Martens said. "First, it keeps a portion of sales tax revenue here at home, rather than have it going to another city. Second, it helps our local merchants with their individual sales. And third, it gives chamber members one more way to see their annual membership investment at work for them."
Martens said she will be visiting with chamber members to explain the program in more detail.
Martens said chamber members have until Nov. 11 to notify the chamber if they plan to participate in Chamber Checks.
The chamber now conducts the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Stanley Tubbs Library. The ceremony is held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 to commemorate the end of World War I and honor all veterans. This year's special speaker will be Dr. Jud Henshaw who serves as a major in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
Martens said the Christmas Lighting will be held on the evening of Nov. 17 at the library.
"The Eastside, middle school and high school choruses will entertain with Christmas music and Santa Claus will of course be there," Martens said.
Martens said the chamber will be serving hot chocolate and cookies to kick off the holiday season.
In addition, Bikers Making A Difference (BMAD) will work with the Toys For Tots program to make sure less fortunate children receive Christmas presents, Martens said. BMAD is expected to have toy drop-off boxes at the lighting.
The annual and popular Merchants Christmas Open House will be held Nov. 20. Sponsored by the chamber and Your TIMES, the open house is held on a Sunday when merchants decorate, provide refreshments and offer their finest gifts to Christmas shoppers. They also provide numerous gifts, which are given away to shoppers.
Martens said this year's Christmas parade will offer prize money to participants, and will be followed by the popular Santa's Workshop at the chamber offices.
"Last year we gave out 350 tickets, and every one was used," Martens said, adding the chamber expects even more to attend this year. Santa's Workshop provides a chance for children and their parents to participate in games, crafts and other activities, all with a Christmas theme.
At the beginning of the new year, Martens said, "We will be gearing up for the new spring festival.
"It's going to be a very busy year," she concluded.
