Hello Callie,

 

This is the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, Pierre Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Pierre Economic Development Corporation's July 2022 E-Newsletter.

 

Take a few moments to enjoy an update from the Chamber as we promote prosperity, growth, and our way of life in the lower Oahe region. 

 

-Your Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce Staff

 

Happy July, everyone!

 

We have been busy these last couple of months planning and prepping events and programs for the rest of 2022. Mark your calendars for July 14 and join us for our Summer Business After Hours with the Trappers from 4 ? 6 p.m. Come to Hyde Stadium, grab a hot dog, and chat with some of our local businesses. We will be giving away tickets to the Trappers game following Business After Hours as well. It?s going to be a fun evening!

 

We are also prepping for the 2022-2023 Leadership Pierre class and accepting applications through July 15, 2022. If you, a co-worker, or employee you supervise are interested, this is a great opportunity gain community awareness, make connections, and develop leadership skills.

 

To be eligible for Leadership Pierre, participants must live or work in the Pierre Area. If selected, participants are expected to attend all sessions, kick-off, and graduation. They are also expected to be involved in at least one community involvement opportunity during the program. The class meets monthly for nine months and spend the day learning about different topics that impact the Pierre Area. During the program, participants will hear from area experts, tour places which make our community unique, participate in insightful discussion, and learn how and why decisions are made for our communities.

 

Leadership Pierre really is a great opportunity for individuals to grow and develop in their professional careers and learn more about our wonderful communities in a fun, interactive, and interesting way. I may be bias, but I highly recommend this program and encourage anyone who is interested to apply.

If you or someone you know is interested in Leadership Pierre, please share the link to our website where they can find more information and the application. pierre.org/your-community/leadership-pierre/

 

We have other fun events coming up later in the summer and into fall as well. Be on the lookout for more details about the Fall Golf Tournament, Fall Business After Hours, and Annual Celebration.

 

Enjoy the rest of the summer and Happy Independence Day!

 

Tia

 
3 Lessons Learned From Frogs About Making Procrastination Croak Having recently watched The 10 Commandments, starring Charlton Heston, I was reminded of the Biblical account of the plagues that came upon Egypt, most notably the plague of frogs and how we can sometimes feel overrun by all the things we need to get done. There was no escaping frogs. They were everywhere. Frogs were in their houses, bedrooms, beds, ovens, even in their jars of flour.

 

Sometimes it can feel that same way when our to-do list grows exponentially, as we go from one meeting to another, taking on more action items to complete. Everywhere we turn there is something that needs to be done. No matter where we are, whether at home, in bed trying to sleep, making dinner, or with our friends, we think about all the tasks that need our attention.

 
When Pharaoh had seen enough frogs he summoned Moses to finally put an end to the  problem. When Moses asked Pharaoh when he wanted Moses to take action, Pharaoh replied, ?Do it tomorrow. ?With millions of frogs in the land of Egypt and the opportunity to rid the land of the problem, Pharaoh did what so many of us do when overwhelmed by a growing list of demands, he delegated it to tomorrow. Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, in one act, became Pharaoh, the King of Procrastination.

 

Overcoming procrastination is never easy but there are some steps that can be taken to help move toward a more aggressive approach to completing tasks, satisfying commitments, and fulfilling responsibilities.

 

Summarize the Problem (Tasks)

Creating a to-do list is one of the most important components of completing and fulfilling one?s obligations. Too often people attempt to keep a running list of all their tasks, promises, and commitments in their heads only to forget what was promised to whom and by when.

 

Don?t forget, there?s an app for that. Task management software and apps by the dozen are available to assist in one?s effort to compile and track all your to dos. Ta-da List, Ever note, and Remember the Milk, are just a few of the more popular apps that can be downloaded. If writing out a list of tasks is simpler, then grab a piece of paper and do so. Use a journal to track your daily list, a wire bound notebook or a Franklin Planner, but whatever you do, write it or log it somewhere.

 

Prioritize the List

Since thoughts of what to do come at us randomly, it?s good to list the items as they come. Take the time to list all that you need to do and then assign a priority rating to each item. Develop a priority rating schedule that works best for you but you may want to consider3 priority categories to choose from such as:

1)tasks that must be done promptly or immediately

2)tasks  that should be done soon, and

3)tasks that can be delayed without any problem. 

 

Capitalize on the Opportunity to Do It Now

Once your list is summarized and prioritized it?s time to capitalize on the opportunity todo it now. Get to work on completing the items on your list, check them off as you go and move unfinished tasks to the next day. Keeping a prioritized list will minimize your thoughts to procrastinate and help you get more things done, allowing you to sleep better at night.

 

Remember, when there are frogs in your flour, act now!

 

Wow! What a month June was in Pierre, and much of that was thanks to the awesome volunteers who live here.

 

I want to specifically point to the weekend of June 18.  That?s when Pierre served as the host community for the Oahe Power Surge Softball Tournament, the Joe Kirley Legion Baseball Tournament, numerous class reunions, the unveiling ceremony for the Trail of Governors, Run with the Govs, and of course, Oahe Days. Fort Pierre added to that mix by hosting the South Dakota High School Finals Rodeo that weekend, as well. 

 

Aside from adding to our entertainment and activity options in central South Dakota, the groups who pulled these events together also gave our local businesses a nice shot in the arm! From what I?ve been told, there wasn?t a hotel room to be had in Pierre or Fort Pierre that weekend. That also translates to good news for our restaurants, gas stations, and other local businesses. You can bet many of them also saw a bump in business thanks to the increased activity in town.

 

I made it down to Griffin Park to take in a bit of the Oahe Days festivities. Though I saw many faces I recognized, I saw many more that weren?t familiar. As a hometown boy who has lived in Pierre for the better part of six decades, that says something! The work put together by the organizers of all those activities drew in a crowd.

 

To all the organizers who helped pull together those events or the many others that happen in Pierre throughout the year, thank you!  The time and treasure you have invested help enrich the lives of those who live here and help keep our local businesses healthy.

 

I?ll also take this opportunity to make a call for volunteers. Pierre has many volunteer organizations and service groups that do amazing work. If you?re looking for ways to get involved in Pierre, please consider joining a group, a committee, or a board. We all need good people and strong leaders to make Pierre a great place to live, work, visit and raise a family.

It?s a well-known fact -- Fort Pierre loves its 4th of July!  And what?s not to love? It?s the celebration of our nation?s freedom, it?s a great opportunity to get together with friends and family, and there are rodeos, the biggest parade of the year, a fun run, and fireworks!

I?m going to highlight the events here, and hope that it will be in a format that you can clip and save:

 

Fireworks:  Hours of Sale and Discharge

June 29-July 2 and July 5          9 am ? 10:30 pm

July 3 & 4                                       9 am ? midnight

 

4th of July Rodeo

Stanley County Fairgrounds

Sunday, July 3                10 am                 (Slack)

Sunday, July 3                7 pm

Monday, July 4              7 pm

 

4 on the 4th Race

 

Preregistrations:  Visit Facebook page for details (https://www.facebook.com/4onthe4thinFortPierre)

 

Race starts:  8:00 am CDT 

Four-mile walk/run that starts and ends at corner of Deadwood & Main in Fort Pierre

 

Registration is $25.00 per person.  Children 12 and under are free.  

 

4th of July Parade

 

Note:  More horses and riders are needed to carry the 50 state flags in the parade.  Please call Darby Nutter (605-319-6071) or Vern Thorson (605-280-6213).

 

The parade planning committee named City Superintendent Vernon Thorson as this year?s Parade Marshall in recognition of his coordination of the July 4th parade for 24 consecutive years!

 

Parade entries must be pre-registered.  Form is available at City Hall or on City web site. 

 

Line-up                    8:00 to 9:30 a.m. July 4

Parade begins       10:00 CDT July 4

 

Awards for Most Patriotic, Best Horse Drawn, Most Humorous, Best South Dakota Pride, Best Fort Pierre Pride, and Best Antique Vehicle.  

 

No water cannons or large water guns on floats.  No personal vehicles allowed to park in parade staging area.

 

We welcome visitors to join us on this special holiday.  Please be a good neighbor and follow the fireworks discharge hours.  Also, extra dumpsters are being made available in various areas of the city.  Please allow spent fireworks to cool and then dispose of the litter appropriately. 

              

              Happy Independence Day!  

In July, Visit Pierre starts working on the budget and the media calendar for 2023. The Visit Pierre team has always used different medias for marketing the Pierre area, such as utilizing TV advertising and social media for many of our events. South Dakota (SD) Tourism continues to be a great partner to us. Through spring and fall Great Getaway ad campaigns, we get many leads from people across the country interested in the Pierre area. We also partner with SD Tourism in their Group Tour Co-op. 

 

In June, the Trail of Governors unveiled three new statues. Unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda were the following:

·  Andrew E. Lee ? 3rd governor who served from 1897 to 1901 

·  Frank M. Byrne ? 8th governor who served from 1913 to 1917

·  William J. Bulow ? 12th governor who served from 1927 to 1931

 

The 2022 Oahe Days was a huge success this past month. Thousands of people enjoyed the festivities along the Missouri River at Steamboat Park. Thank you to the volunteers and committee members who worked hundreds of hours to make this event possible! Great food, carnival rides and music from fantastic bands made for an enjoyable celebration of summer on the Missouri.

 

Summer is the busiest time of year for tourism to our area. Make sure to keep up with all of events by checking out our calendar of events at pierre.org. Visit Pierre is also on social media. Follow us! at @visitpierresd on Instagram and Facebook. If you would like a digital visitor guide, you can snag one on our website at pierre.org.

 

Have a great summer!

Micah

Where did June go? Hopefully, you were able to get out and attend all of the activities that occurred over the past few weeks; Oahe Days, Buckin? on the River, PowerSurge Softball Tournament, Legion baseball tournament, Trapper games, SD High School Finals Rodeo and high school class reunions. What a crazy, fun time to be in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre area. Our communities have been full of visitors, the hotels are nearly at full capacity, and our local businesses are busier than ever. As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats.

 

I would like to salute the Oahe Days Music and Arts Festival coordinators for a fabulous weekend! Did you know Oahe Days is 100% volunteer planned, organized, and staffed by incredible community members? Year after year, the small committee is tasked with hosting thousands of people in the park, with only the help of a handful of people for the entire weekend. Without those volunteers, the fun-filled event that ?builds community pride through celebration,? would not be possible. If you volunteered this year, thank you for your time! If you didn?t, please consider volunteering next year. The meetings to start planning for 2023 will begin in September?no joke!

 

The 4th of July is always a very special time in Pierre/Ft. Pierre. It is a jam-packed weekend full of family reunions, camping, boating and fun. Don?t miss the 4th of July Parade, Ft. Pierre Rodeo, 4 on the 4th Family Fun Run, Capital City Band performance, or the spectacular fireworks display after the rodeo! You can find specific details on each event on the Chamber?s community calendar. It is truly one of the best times to be in our community. Our local businesses are doing the best they can while short-staffed; please remember to be kind and patient as they deal with the influx of visitors over the holiday weekend and rest of the summer. 

 

All of the events happening in our communities wouldn?t be possible without front-line workers. A huge thank you to those who serve the meals, pump the gas, sell the goods, check the guests into their rooms, and to the police and firefighters who keep us all safe! The fun events and activities that bring visitors to our area do not just serve as entertainment; they incite revenue for our cities and businesses.

 

Last, but not least, don't forget to join us for Business After Hours at Hyde Stadium, see more details below! 

 

School starts next month, so get out and enjoy all the summertime opportunities that are available to us in the lower Oahe region! 

 

Clarissia

Ribbon Cutting

Save the Date

• Early Head Start & Head Start programs (5/16/2022 to 12/30/2022)
• Pierre Summer Rec Registration (5/16/2022 to 7/28/2022)
• The Missing Mountain Mystery (6/27/2022 to 7/2/2022)
• 2022 - 2023 Leadership Pierre Application Deadline July 15 (7/1/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/1/2022)
• Golf Tournament for House of Hope (7/1/2022)
• RODEO SDRA/NCRA (7/3/2022 to 7/4/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/3/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/4/2022)
• Feeding South Dakota Needs VOLUNTEERS (7/4/2022)
• Fort Pierre 4th of July Parade  (7/4/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/4/2022)
• Rawlins Library Knitting and Crochet Club (7/5/2022)
• River City Toastmasters (7/6/2022)
• Fort Pierre First Thursday Event Series (7/7/2022)
• Roadhouse Bike Nights (7/7/2022)
• Tales on the River - Presented by Short Grass Arts Council (7/7/2022)
• Movies in the Park "Dumbo" (7/7/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/8/2022)
• Women's Cancer Support (7/8/2022)
• Celebrate World Watercolor Month (7/8/2022)
• Growing Up Together Childbirth Class (7/9/2022)
• Itty Bitty Einsteins (7/9/2022)
• Itty Bitty Einsteins (7/9/2022)
• Starry Saturday (7/9/2022)
• In Concert for America (7/10/2022)
• Miss Nelson is Missing! AUDITIONS (7/10/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/10/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/11/2022)
• Summer Camp: Archeologist (7/11/2022 to 7/14/2022)
• Understanding Me (7/11/2022)
• Stately Stitchers Guild Meeting (7/11/2022)
• Rawlins Library Knitting and Crochet Club (7/12/2022)
• Summer Camp: Ready, Set, Science! (7/12/2022)
• Growing Up Together Pizza Ranch Fundraiser (7/12/2022)
• Fire Hydrant Party (7/12/2022)
• Capital Area Networking Group meeting (7/13/2022)
• Mobile Food Distribution - Volunteers needed (7/13/2022)
• Understanding Me (7/13/2022)
• River City Toastmasters (7/13/2022)
• Common Sense Parenting Class (7/14/2022)
• Roadhouse Bike Nights (7/14/2022)
• fitCare: You Are What You Eat (7/14/2022)
• Tales on the River - Presented by Short Grass Arts Council (7/14/2022)
• Movies in the Park "The Jungle Book" (7/14/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/15/2022)
• HOT SUMMER DAYS Vendor Event (7/16/2022 to 7/17/2022)
• Artist Workshop w/ Michael Albert (7/17/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/17/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/18/2022)
• Summer Camp: Baker (7/18/2022 to 7/21/2022)
• Understanding Me (7/18/2022)
• Rawlins Library Knitting and Crochet Club (7/19/2022)
• Summer Camp: Ready, Set, Science! (7/19/2022)
• Fire Hydrant Party (7/19/2022)
• Understanding Me (7/20/2022)
• River City Toastmasters (7/20/2022)
• Memory Connections (7/21/2022)
• Common Sense Parenting Class (7/21/2022)
• Roadhouse Bike Nights (7/21/2022)
• CPR Classes (7/21/2022)
• Tales on the River - Presented by Short Grass Arts Council (7/21/2022)
• Movies in the Park "Pinocchio" (7/21/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/22/2022)
• DALLAS MOORE (7/22/2022)
• Drama Boot Camp: Play in a Day (7/23/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/24/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/25/2022)
• Rawlins Library Knitting and Crochet Club (7/26/2022)
• Summer Camp: Ready, Set, Science! (7/26/2022)
• Fire Hydrant Party (7/26/2022)
• River City Toastmasters (7/27/2022)
• Common Sense Parenting Class (7/28/2022)
• Roadhouse Bike Nights (7/28/2022)
• Help! What Should I Do Next? (7/28/2022)
• Tales on the River - Presented by Short Grass Arts Council (7/28/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (7/29/2022)
• We Love Kids Party (7/30/2022)
• OAHE BLUES FESTIVAL (7/30/2022)
• Sundays at the Legion 2022 (7/31/2022)
• Oceans of Possibilities! (8/1/2022)
• 2022 - 2023 Leadership Pierre Application Deadline July 15 (8/1/2022)
• Feeding South Dakota Needs VOLUNTEERS (8/1/2022)