Letter from the President:  

As you know I love working with the McAlester Chamber!  It has been almost a year and a half since my first day in Spring of 2009.  Working in the Chamber “world” has been the most rewarding position I have ever undertaken and experienced, both while at the Stigler Chamber and for McAlester.   It’s rare to be able to find your “niche” in a career  - one that provides an avenue of reaching both personal and professional accomplishments, as well as the sense of helping a community reach its potential. 

With that said and understood – I LOVE MY JOB – I am writing you to announce my notice to resign as President.

My husband accepted a great position with SCFM, an engineering firm in Tulsa, nearly a year ago.  In July of this year, Jay’s firm offered him full partnership, but  with this offer also came the request for him to live in Tulsa fulltime so that he can develop relationships in and among the company and within the Tulsa business community.   

I have given my notice to the Board and will continue to work for the Chamber through mid-October.   I have trully enjoyed working with the Chamber, for the members and in the city of McAlester.  

Sincerly,
Karen Stephens

At this time the Chamber Search Committee is accepting resumes for the position of President/CEO through Septemer 15th.  Please contact the Chamber for a complete Job Description. 

Hiring McAlester Chamber of Commerce President/CEO

The desired candidate will have at least five years experience at senior management level, financial management, governance, human resource and/or volunteer management and fundraising experience. Excellent written and oral communication skills; Creativity, self-direction, and enthusiasm; Ability to work flexible hours/eveinings – 40 hours+.  Salary commensurate with experience. Submit cover letter and resume by Wednesday, September 15th by 5 pm By Mail: McAlester Chamber PO Box 759, McAlester, OK  74502; or By Fax: 918-423-1345; By e-mail:info@mcalester.org

"McAlester.org ....It's Worth the Trip" 

The 2011 TOURISM GUIDE will be going to print in the next few days!   Here is the FINAL COVER!!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS PROJECT SUCCESSFUL!!  

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Large BUSINESS

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Announcing the

“TAKE MCALESTER BACK” Campaign

It is no secret that McAlester has been plagued for years with an overwhelming drug and alcohol problem. From street drugs to prescription drugs, people in McAlester have been experiencing the negative effects of substance abuse.

The McAlester Chamber of Commerce, Pride of McAlester and Narconon Arrowhead have initiated a grass roots movement to truly change McAlester for the better. This campaign has two distinct focuses:

 Our first focus is to battle the drug problems facing the community by education, community awareness and resources to help those in need. This will involve many organizations in the community.

 Secondly we are starting the McAlester Multicultural Arts Center, which will be a safe haven for people of all ages to come and experience, learn and participate in every facet of arts and culture.

The drug problems of McAlester are severe. The Chamber and other community partners will be sponsoring many city-wide events to promote anti-drug messages and encourage arts, humanities and creativity. 

The TAKE MCALESTER BACK Campaign’s purpose is to increase the whole community's awareness about what drugs are, how a person becomes addicted and more creative activities that a person can choose other than drugs.

While McAlester is rich with artistic heritage and community fine arts, the city has had difficulty in providing accessibility to resources that facilitate and nurture the creativity of young and old alike. Working with Pride of McAlester the Chamber is creating a multicultural center. The multicultural center will provide a safe environment for people of all ages to come and experience, learn and participate in every facet of arts and culture.

Music lessons, art, photography, computer graphics, pottery, dance, Native American Arts, screen printing, yoga and martial arts are just some of the things that the multicultural center plans to make available to the public. We also plan to have movies, educational lectures and other programs to bring all of

the people living in Southeastern Oklahoma together in a safe place to

learn and explore their creativity.

October 23 is the official Kick Off of the Take McAlester Back Campaign. We urge every business in McAlester to join together and help make this community we live in a safer, happier and better place for us all.

The Chamber will devote our 3^rd Quarter Newsletter, Chamber Matters, to help promote the campaign’s purpose.  Highlights of the Multicultural Center, the events set for downtown and Michael Ginsburg Concert, held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, will be featured in the newsletter.   The quarterly newsletter is published by the News Capital and will be issued in their Sunday, September 26^th paper and will reach their entire circulation.   

One way to get involved and to show your support of the campaign’s Kick Off weekend is to take out an ad in this issue of the newsletter.  “Our Business Will Help Take McAlester Back!”.  We need the business community to stand together in unity to support this effort to address the positive changes that are needed!   The News Capital offers Chamber Members discounted rates for ads placed in our newsletter.  The one time ad rate and rates to advertise in each quarter are listed below!   Both Michael Ginsburg and the News Capital staff will try to contact you to ask for your support of the Campaign!

Working Together For A Better Community,

The McAlester Chamber

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Human Resources Forum

Work Keys - Work Ready Region 

Oct 7^th  - HR FORUM COMMITTEE 

Nov 11^th - WORKSHOP DATE - New Hire Basics and I-9

Dec 9^th  -  PLANNING DATE for 2011    

Chamber Members

REFER A NEW BUSINESS TO BECOME A

MEMBER AND EARN $20

IN CHAMBER BUCKS!! 

UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS 

  AT&T Corp Store

George Nigh Expwy. 

Sept. 14th @ 10:00 A.M.

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Chamber Buck$

Chamber