Volume 02-13 Issue 3

Blazing Into The Future While Embracing The Past

Pastor Lupe Diaz - President
Mahlon McKenzie - Vice President
David Bryan - Secretary
Marilyn Gorley - Treasurer
Greg Hall - Director
Rich Cortez - Director

October through December 2012

High Desert Realty---Willcox
Benson Unified Schools
Pato Blanco Lakes
John Hurbon Skyline
San Pedro Resort Community
Mc2 Homes Inc
Mescal Auto Service
Pioneer Title
Quarter Horse RV Park
AZ Legends RV Resort
Trendz Academy
SKP PARK
Benson Auto Body Inc
San Pedro Arts & Historic Society
Battaglia & Roberts
Rosemont Copper
Benson Hospital
ACE Hardware
G&F Pizza
Stamback
Benson Feed Store
Republicans
Lions Club
Frontier Fitness
Port-a Pot
American Legion
Kartchner Caverns (State Parks Dept)

The forum was held on Thursday, February 28th at 7 PM at the Lion's Club. 

Benson's Business Cycle is tied directly to our winter visitors, who are usually gone by mid-April.
Planning for the slow time is prudent. This will help some businesses to survive. 

Five Cochise County Chambers Meet in Bisbee
Five of the eight members of the Southeast Arizona Rural Chambers of Commerce met to share ideas and thoughts on what we can do together to enhance awareness of our business members throughout the county. The Benson, Bisbee, Bowie, Sierra Vista and Willcox chamber directors are looking at a "Cochise Trails" event that could include a driving loop through all cities. The purpose is to provide a look at what each community has to offer. More detials will be provided as they come available. The Benson Chamber will host the next County Chamber meeting in May. 

Chamber at State Legislature 
Your Benson Chamber was represented at the State Legislature on March 6th when several chambers and the state legislature meet to discuss ways of bringing business to the Southeastern sector of the our state. There are several corporations that are looking at relocating from California. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce is actively pitching our reasonable property prices and great locations. 

Mixer at Triangle T Ranch
The mixer successfully brought new people through the Triangle T door. We  watched the sun set from their porch while we enjoyed some of their refreshments and then went inside to give out door prizes. Triangle T gave a summary of what it was like to be on "Hotel Impossible" and the next steps they will take to inform people about the ranch. Special Thanks go to Arnold's Flowers, Frontier Fitness, Trenz Academy, AzG&T and the Ranch for door prizes. 

Wine and Food Tasting Events
The Chamber is exploring two events for 2014: a wine tasting and a "Taste of Benson." These would be held separately in February or early March and open to the public. Our purpose is to draw local people and some of the 17,000 cars that pass through Benson every day.

The golf course patio is being considered for the location of the wine tasting since it is large enough for the event, has a fine view, and lots of parking. There are currently 14 wineries in Cochise County and more to come as California wine growers discover that the climate here is very similar to that state's. An exploratory mailing has been sent and several suggestions have been made, including the provision of hors d'oeuvres and live music.

While a wine tasting needs little electric power, a Taste of Benson would require power for food warmers, something the golf course cannot provide on their patio. The Chamber is investigating other sites for this event.

The initial work on these projects is being done by a volunteer who is leaving at the end of March and may not return, so we are seeking someone to follow up on the ground work and help put together events that will benefit the entire business community. Please contact Lupe Diaz at the Chamber if you are interested in helping out.

New Chamber Brochure
The Chamber has designed its new brochure and will be producing it within a few weeks. Any business that wants to provide a one- or two-sentence endorsement should contact the office. The endorsement should promote the business climate in Benson and the Chamber itself, rather than the individual business. However, it is free advertising since the owner's name and the name of the business will be given.

Solar Forum 
The Benson Chamber is co-sponsoring a Solar Forum with the Southern Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) scheduled for Saturday, April 6th at the City of Benson Council chambers. An email invitation will be sent out closer to the date. 

Lupe Diaz, President

Despite a cold and slippery morning, 13 people attended the Chamber Breakfast at the Benson City Grill. The view of the lake was beautiful as the ducks were flying in and the greens were covered with two inches of snow. In the background a couple of coyotes circled around, hoping for breakfast. Because of the weather we started a few minutes late to allow everyone to arrive. 

Once breakfast was served the Chamber President Lupe Diaz highlighted Chamber news. The forum was announced and then we introduced our first speaker, Mr. Glenn Nichols, the Benson City Manager. He gave us a summary of where we are in the process of bidding for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) project contract under which we would provide a testing ground for the vehicle.

read more...