The Poteau Chamber of Commerce

Presents

The 4^th Annual Cavanal Killer

News Release

April 4, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Poteau Chamber of Commerce

Phone:   918-647-9178

Email:    adminpoteauchamber@windstream.net

 If you are an avid walker or just want to accept a challenge, consider joining others in the 4^th Annual Cavanal Killer 5 mile Walk/Run.  This year, not only are walkers participating, but due to a large number of requests, runners will also be participating. The walk/run will be Saturday, May 14^th.  Registration will begin at 8:30 AM at Poteau Elementary School and conclude at the pavilion on top of Cavanal Hill.  Those running in the Killer will leave the school at 9:15; walkers will leave at 9:30.

 The Cavanal Killer 5 mile walk is an opportunity for our Chamber to promote physical and emotional wellness. The 5 mile climb is a good physical work-out, and the natural beauty provides an atmosphere of peace for the soul. 

 While the Cavanal Killer is not a race, organizers recognize many people like to set personal goals, so awards are given to those finishing with the best three times in the walk and the three best times in the run.  This year an award will be added and given out for Team Competition with the “Most Members Finished” in the walk.

 Water and health check points will be located each mile along the way, but participants may want to bring their own water, too. Porta-potties are located along the route also.   A light lunch will be served at the top, once all participants have finished, but only those who pre-register will be guaranteed a lunch. Transportation will be provided back down the hill. For the participant’s safety, it is asked that you do not drive personal vehicles to the top of the hill before the walk/run or call for transportation to the bottom of the hill. Everyone who registers before May 4^th will receive a Cavanal Killer T-Shirt and a Cavanal Hill backpack.  The cost of registration is $20 before May 7^th, and $25 thereafter.

 There will also be a pre-event spaghetti dinner on Friday, May 13^th at the Lowrey Hotel downtown Poteau from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  Paid participants for the walk will receive one ticket to the dinner. Additional tickets can be purchased for $6.00 each. Participants may pick up their registration packets, t-shirts and backpacks during the dinner.

 Registration forms are available online at www.poteauchamber.com or you can pick one up at the Poteau Chamber of Commerce office at 201 S. Broadway, or call 918- 647-9178.

 Entry Forms & Sponsor Information is available below

2011 Flyer

Website: www.poteauchamber.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cavanalkiller

Blog: www.poteauchamber.wordpress.com

Eight Grade Students from around the County will be attending.

It will be from 9:00am to 11:30 am. (Set up begins at 7:45)

Handouts are welcome, but the school has requested that no gum, candy, rubber bands, balloons or noisemakers be given.

If you could make a post-card sized or bookmark sized handout with brief information about the training required, market availability, and salary expectations for someone in your field, it would be helpful. 

If you would like to participate please call the Chamber of Commerce no later that May 1st so that we can reserve your spot.

918.647.9178

www.poteauchamber.com

www.facebook.com/poteauchamber

Got Employees Making Less Than $15 an Hour?
The “The Retention Convention” Shows Employers How to Find, Keep and Motivate Hourly Employees!

Kristine Sexter, Award-Winning Speaker, Author and Recruiter Brings
“ A  Retention Convention: Top 25 Strategies for Retaining Hourly and Entry-Level Workers”  to Poteau, Oklahoma on Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Poteau, OK, March 17, 2010:  “Employees who make less than $15 an hour are the most powerful workers an employer has! They are in a position to not only ‘job-hop,’ but ‘industry-hop,’” says Kristine Sexter, President of WorkWise Productions, a consulting firm specializing in teaching employers the strategies for finding, training and keeping hourly employees.

“The bottom line is that a powerful relationship exists between an organization’s fiscal health and their ability to recruit, develop and retain top talent of hourly workers. The manufacturing, retail, healthcare, restaurant, hotel and call center industries, amongst others,  are all seeking the same employee- one who will show up every day, remain consistently pleasant, and show initiative, “ shares Sexter. “My firm provides highly-customized, real-world, strategic approaches for proactively planning for the recruitment, training, retention and recognition of these very vital workers.”

Ms. Sexter will be in Poteau, OK on Tuesday, April 5, from 8:30am-12:30pm at the Kiamichi Technology Center presenting “A Retention Convention: Top 25 Strategies for Retaining Hourly and Entry-Level Workers.” The workshop is sponsored by Kiamichi Technology Centers and The Poteau Chamber of Commerce. All attendees will receive a free, autographed copy of Kristine Sexter’s book, “Rolling Out the Recognition: Employee Retention Strategies.”Cost is just $39 per person and includes lunch.

Retention Convention Flyer Final

News Release
March 30, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Poteau Chamber of Commerce
Phone:   918-647-9178
Email:    adminpoteauchamber@windstream.net

Warmer weather is here and it’s time for you to gather your family, friends, co-workers, club members, church members, just get as many as you can to help participate in the 2011 7^th Annual City Wide Trash Off!  If it’s possible to make a party out of picking up trash, the Chamber of Commerce will figure out how to do it.  Evidence of that is seen in the growth of the event since 2005.  That first year four people participated.  Last year almost 500 people participated and we collected over 400 bags of trash.   We are hoping to increase those numbers again this year. Food, camaraderie among team-mates, and a little friendly competition for awards, make the work day fun.

The nice weather is already calling people outside.  And the changing landscape, the greener grass and flowers popping up everywhere, makes the need to pick up trash more apparent.   The Chamber of Commerce has already been getting calls about the Annual Trash-Off, and the Beautification Committee is excited about the community’s interest. 

This year’s event is April 16^th.  Check-in will begin at 9:00am in the parking lot in front of Strike-A-Lot Lanes.  Donuts and juice will be available at check-in. Community State Bank will be grilling and serving hot-dogs for lunch, beginning about 11:30am.  Each participant will receive a ticket for a free hot-dog, chips, and a drink.  Awards will be given after the teams have returned and bags have been tallied.

There are several ways you can help.  Organize a team from your business, club, sports team, church, family, or friends.  Or just participate as an individual.  If you can’t get out-doors to help, pray for good weather and safety for all the participants.  While the need to pick up trash is the most pressing, helping with check-in, serving lunch, tallying bags, and providing financial support is needed, too. 

 To register or volunteer to help, call the Chamber of Commerce office (918-647-9178).  Volunteers can request to pick up designated areas, but please check with chamber office to make sure those areas are not already assigned or requested. To register, you can download your entry forms below and return it to the Poteau Chamber.

Website: www.poteauchamber.com
Blog: www.poteauchamber.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/poteauchamber

Entry 

Rankings are based on performance of hundreds of towns in various socio-economic and outdoors, related categories. Socio-economic subcategories, which make up 40 percent of the overall score, include population percent growth since 2000, median household income, median home value, cost of living, unemployment rate, population density, mean  commute time and amenities. Outdoors related subcategories, which combine to account for 60 percent of the overall score include the gun-friendliness of each town’s state, huntable and fishable species nearby, proximaty to public land and waters, and the potential for taking a trophy-caliber animal or fish nearby.

Other towns listed in the state of Oklahoma are:
Bartlesville (71), Elk City (184) and Enid (189).