Chamber Chatter
By Brandie Reese

The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce along with the Lincoln County Development Authority and the Georgia Department of Economic Development have utilized the month of August to conduct a series of interviews with local businesses as a component of the Entrepreneur Friendly Program. I have found this process to be valuable as it allows the chamber to access the needs of our business community.

Thus far, there is a resounding need to implement a 'Buy Local' program. It is my belief that if you want to see change, you need TO BE that change.

The chamber encourages our membership to take the lead in the 'Buy Local' program by promoting members to other members through member e-mail announcements.

Members are allowed up to two (2) announcements per membership year (July 1 - June 30) not to include member announcements endorsed by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce as part of the marketing for the Holidays In Olde Lincoln Towne Festival.

Announcements are to be e-mailed to the chamber at lincolncham@nuz. net no later than two (2) weeks prior

Donations welcomed

The Lincoln County Food Pantry welcomes contributions. Your donations are tax deductible. You may mail your contributions to: The Lincoln County Food Pantry, P.O. Box 473, Lincolnton, GA 30817. Thank you for your support.

Looking for old photos

Salem Baptist Church is looking for old photographs of the church and/ or church activities. The members will be celebrating the 180th anniversary of the church on Oct. 21 with a Homecoming service and meal.

Anyone with photographs pertaining to the church are asked to please call June Cox at 706-359-4584.

Labor Day fair

Taliaferro County's 21st Annual Arts & Crafts Labor Day Fair will be held Mon., Sept. 3 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., admission is free. The fair will be held in town, located two miles off I-20 at exit 148. to event.

Announcements/messages will be accompanied with the general disclaimer: "As a member of the chamber, (business name) has asked that we forward the following information. Should you have questions regarding this message, please contact (person's name) at (their phone number)."

Announcements must be sent as a word or adobe document with the following information included within the announcement/message:

.. Business/Organization Name

.. Contact Name & Number

Announcement/Messages prohibited are:

.. political in nature, which promote a particular individual candidate, political organization or party, or ballot question.

.. Vulgar, obscene, slanderous or other

The results of the Entrepreneur Friendly program will provide a snapshot of the current business climate in Lincoln County and equip us with the direction we need to create valuable programming which will meet the needs of our business community. The results and program of work will be shared with the community upon completion of the program. Thank you to the many businesses who have allowed Sherry McKellar, Lincoln County Development Authority; Adela Kelly, Georgia Department of Economic Development; and myself the opportunity to conduct interviews.

Pageant applications

Applications for the Miss Lincoln County High School Pageant are in the high school office. The registration fee is $40 and is due by August 31. The pageant will be held Thurs., Sept. 13 in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. This pageant is sponsored by FBLA.

Donations needed

A fund for Taffy Ivey has been established at Farmers State Bank to aid with medical expenses due to an illness she's been dealing with the past two years.

Donations may be made at the bank, the night deposit, or by mailing to: Taffy Ivey Fund, P.O. Box 99, Lincolnton, GA 30817.

Golf tourney

John de la Howe School will hold an Open Golf Tournament Sat., Aug. 25 at Monticello Golf Course in Mc- Cormick, S.C. Cost is $70 per player. Registration is at 12 p.m. with shotgun start at 1 p.m. Pre-registration required no later than Aug. 17.

Mail your check to John de la Howe School Golf Tournament, 192 Gettys Road, McCormick, S.C. 29835.

Revival services

Mt. Zion Baptist Church will have revival services Sept. 3 - 6 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Guest speaker will be Rev. Michael Gresham, pastor of Reeves Chapel Baptist Church in Washington.

Everyone is invited to come out and have a soul saving revival. Rev. Robert L. Crawford is pastor.

Ladies Bible study

First Assembly of God will host a ladies Bible study entitled "The Patriarchs" by Beth Moore beginning Mon., Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Workbooks are $16 each. Please call the church office at 706-359-7237 by September 4 if you would like to attend. We would love to have you!