Mount Pleasant Business Report by Johnny Longlegs

2016 CHAMBER BANQUET

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2015 DECK THE HALLS

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Mount Pleasant

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: TRMC

NOV/DEC ISSUE 18 2015

2015 DIAMOND DASH

BI-MONTHLY BUSINESS REPORT

Mount Pleasant

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contents:

Partners 4 Chamber Banquet 6 Chamber 101 7

Diamond Dash 8 Partner Spotlight: TRMC 11 Deck the Halls 12 Total Resource Campaign 13 2016 Chamber Vision 14

Christmas on the Square 16 Everything Texas Heartbeat 18 mtpleasanttx.com

Taking

To the next level New Partners

Sept 1, 2015 - Oct 31, 2015

Texas Farm Credit - Jay Kidwell Wildly Haute

Cobern Law Firm Lone Star Nails & Spa

Refine Barber Salon

Greenhill Villas of Mount Pleasant Lavender Mermaid Farm Adkins United Finance Company Inc. Apples for the Teacher Jordan Enterprise Rustic C Boutique H & R Block Business Services Everybody's Furniture Company First Christian Church Momentum Motorsports Currys Pools & Supplies South Jefferson Baptist Church Shumate Flooring Rotary Club Performance Trailers by Parker Braums Cypress Basin Hospice Inc Mill's Flower Shop

Mount Pleasant Optimist Club Chapel Hill Independent School District Sears Dealer Store Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lake Country RV Park Trucare Medical 1st Texas Financial Services, LLP Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Candlewood Suites Port A Jon, Inc. American Cancer Society Don Juan's Mexican Restaurant Hightower Financial Odd Fellows Lodge #66 Accolade Homecare

Renewing Partners Sept 1, 2015 - Oct 31, 2015

Allen Scrap Metal Clinic Pharmacy Good Shepherd Lutheran Church St Andrew United Methodist Church Medical Center Family Pharmacy Jackson Oil Co. Welch Gas, Inc. Diamond C Trailer Mfg North Ridge Church of Christ Elliott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Martin Marietta Laura's Cheesecake RPM Staffing Professionals Rapid Furniture & Appliance Tennison Memorial UMC Ag-Power, Inc. Janet Russell, Century 21 Landmark Assoc.

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Come Join

Delta Waterfowl of Mount Pleasant 2nd Annual Banquet Our reasons are simple: We keep 25% of our proceeds locally for wildlife preservation and promoting the outdoors with the younger generations.

Event will be on Tuesday November 10th, 2015 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. Doors open at 5:30pm. Veterans get in free and can enter into a special gun drawing with valid ID. Great food, friends, prizes, raffles and auctions! Call Jey Yancey 903-380-0842 for ticket or sponsorship information.

Like us on Facebook! Facebook.com/deltawaterfowlofmountpleasant mtpleasanttx.com

2016 Chamber Banquet The Chamber will host its Membership and Awards Banquet on January 21, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. The annual banquet offers a fun-filled evening of food, entertainment, awards and networking.

Rob Hedges of Herschel’s Family Restaurant, Chairman-Elect Trent Abbott of Guaranty Bond Bank, Treasurer Vikki Goetz of American National Bank, Vice Chairs Glen Calvert of Priefert Complex Designs The Chamber will present the recip- and Tony Mize of Brookshire’s. ients of the Citizen of the Year and Richard Witherspoon will serve as Lifetime Achievement awards at the Past President. The guest speaker is Michael McMillan, a renowned speaker, au- banquet. The deadline to nominate thor, and creative consultant. Acsomeone for the awards is Friday, The premier sponsor for the bancording to his website, Fortune 500 December 18th. Applications will be quet is Pilgrim’s. Tickets are $25 for corporations, small entrepreneurial available at the Chamber office and Chamber members and $35 for non businesses, sports and music leg- on the Chamber website starting in -members. To RSVP, contact the ends, non-profit organizations and November. Chamber office at 903-572-8567. institutions have sought McMillan’s creative guidance to deliver effecThe Chamber will also present its 2016 Executive Board: Chairman tive solutions. He is the author of

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several books, including Paper Airplane: A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box and his newest release, Pink Bat: Turning Problems Into Solutions.

You joined the Chamber. Now what? That’s the purpose of Chamber 101, a twice a year orientation for new Chamber partners.

During the hour-long session, typically held at 8 a.m., the Chamber staff, Board members and committee chairs introduce themselves, and the business owners get a chance to talk about what they do.

ed during the Total Resource Campaign each year. These sponsorships are limited and sought after, like the Everything Texas Ranch Run & Wine Festival. If you aren’t a member, you don’t get the chance to be includThe committee chairs share infor- ed in those sponsorship opportunities.” mation about their respective committees and take the opporChamber membership also offers tunity to recruit new volunteers. educational benefits, such as technology, marketing and social “They get a better idea of what media workshops. opportunities there are to get plugged in and get involved in the “We usually offer these at a nomicommunity events the Chamber nal or no charge to the Chamber hosts,” Alexander said. members,” he said. The new Chamber partners also The Chamber partnership is a two get a better sense of what the -way street. Chamber 101 helps Chamber can do for their busibusiness owners and employees ness, such as referrals. get plugged into a committee “We list the business on our web- where they can share their site, and the staff logs thousands knowledge and expertise. It also of calls a year from people asking gives the Chamber better insight for a business referral,” Alexander into its partners’ unique roles in the community. said. “The Chamber only refers businesses that are members, so they have access to that system.” “In that way, we know better how to serve them,” Alexander said. Chamber partners also get exclusive opportunities to get their name out in the community by sponsoring special events.

“Everyone that has joined since

“Those opportunities are present-

“It is designed to let our newest members know what the Chamber has to offer and how they can get the most out of their membership,” said Mark Alexander of Superior Mortgage, Chair of the Chamber’s Business Development Committee. Alexander said the Chamber wanted a way to forge a stronger relationship with its businesses.

“This came out of the idea that we didn’t want the only time members hear from us to be when they sign up,” he said. “This is a time for us to give them more specific details about the Chamber and also for the Chamber to find out more about their businesses.”

the last Chamber 101 will get a few minutes to tell us about their businesses and how they got started. It’s also a good time for the new businesses to network with each other.”

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Riddle-solving sleuths on the hunt for sparkling gems will soon fill the streets of Downtown Mount Pleasant. The 2015 Diamond Dash is Saturday, November 7. The event, which features a grand prize of a pair of diamonds from Hamilton’s Jewelers worth $5,000, has a switched up game plan this year. Instead of teams driving all over Mount Pleasant to zero in on locations based on picture clues, they will solve riddles and then race on foot to the locations where they take a picture of the landmark as proof. “They can’t use any motorized or wheeled transportation. They have to walk,” said Jey Yancey, who serves on the Diamond Dash committee. “They need to be prepared to walk three miles to reach all of the locations.” The Chamber made the change to alleviate safety concerns with teams driving to the locations on the annual scavenger hunt. Yancey said the Chamber raised the maximum number of twoperson teams to 55 this year.

ceive clues. In previous years, the teams used cell phones to receive a clue, and once they figured out the location, they had to take a picture and send it to Diamond Dash headquarters at the Chamber before receiving their next clue. This year, Yancey said 20-25 participating businesses will each provide two riddles for the game, and the Chamber will divide the riddles into two or three sets. The teams will receive a set of riddles at the beginning of the hunt. At each landmark, they will take a photo with their phones or cameras to show proof once they reach the finish line.

Yancey said a lot of people that participate are repeating players. "They know when it is, and they keep doing it every year,” Yancey said. “They love it and wish they could win the top prize, of course.”

“Not every location will be on everybody’s list, but we’re making it This year, there will also be prizes fair so that every team will have to for second and third place from walk the same distance to win,” he Hampton Inn and Elliott Motors. said. The competition is tough with up to 55 teams, and when the first five make it to the final destination on their list, a siren will sound that all the teams will be able to hear.

“That way, the others will know that the top five have already made it in,” Yancey said. “We have to finish before dark, so we think this format “Teams have to pre-register, and there will be a waiting list. Our goal will speed things up.” is to have five new teams this year,” he said. Streets will not be blocked off during the Diamond Dash, so the teams must abide by pedestrians Another change is how teams re-

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traffic laws. The City will provide digital signs, however, to alert motorists that the game participants are on foot. The Chamber moved the muchanticipated event to early November this year because they didn’t want it to conflict with Halloween, which falls on a Saturday. They also wanted to schedule it on a day that temperatures would be cooler.

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day through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can view the current wait times for the Community Care Center and our Family Care Center online and even save your place in line through our virtual waiting room.

With this new growth, TRMC’s delivery of critical care must expand. Our commitment is the construction of a new Intensive Care Unit that will house 16-20 private, large ICU rooms with visibility of all from the nurses’ station. The advanced patient monitoring system will allow tracking of heart and vascular, trauma and neurology, resAnother development is our 577-SICK or piratory, and acute medical management 577-WELL hotlines where you can reach a patients. The Heart and Vascular Center care connection specialist for assistance at Titus will provide diagnostics, treatment, with the care you need when you need it. and prevention of cardiovascular disease, including the construction of a new Cardiac In addition to these new centers, TRMC is Catheterization Laboratory. looking to expand key service lines. We will accomplish this by growing Orthopedics TRMC is growing to meet the growing with services in sports medicine, geriatrics, needs of patients in our service arJohn Allen, CEO and joint/spine care. We will increase our ea. Through our expert staff, modern faciliWith a mission to provide excellence in Neurology capacity by obtaining Primary ties, state-of-the-art technology and comhealthcare for the communities we serve, Stroke Center designation. Our Mental mitment to quality care, we are making Titus Regional Medical Center (TRMC) will Health programs will look to expand geriat- advancements in improving the health care become your health system of choice, ded- ric behavioral health, along with intensive of those we serve. Achieving our vision will icated to healing and well-being through a outpatient and adult inpatient protake time, money, and leadership, with an culture of excellence and compassion. grams. Finally, our Wound Care footprint investment in people, processes, protocols, will grow with a new home and expansion and infrastructure, and most importantly, By the end of 2018 TRMC will be the pre- in 2016. the mutual support of our community. ferred regional destination for healthcare embodying robust service lines and inpatient services such as heart and vascular, medical management, surgical services, trauma, and radiation oncology. We will also provide a broad array of outpatient services with ease of access to breast health, imaging, oncology, multi-specialty clinics, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and primary/urgent care in multiple locations. TRMC’s Community Care Center is now open. Located just one block southwest of TRMC at 1901 Mulberry, the center provides urgent and primary care seven days a week. The center features extended evening hours for your convenience - Monmtpleasanttx.com

for an even bigger number for the 2015 show” said Kiara Nunez, the Chamber’s director of events. “A lot of vendors come back every year, and there is always a waiting list.” The Civic Center fills with the sounds of jingle bells and carolers and the aroma of the holidays as more than 1,700 shoppers pour over the wares from merchants from Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. It’s a mix of unique gifts, handmade crafts, stocking stuffers, Christmas décor, and delicious treats.

The Christmas shopping season kicks off in Mount Pleasant when the doors open at the Everything Texas Deck the Halls. 2015 marks the 25th year for the craft fair, which packs more than 50 vendors into the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.

You’ll find arts and crafts, including wreaths, pottery, quilts, scroll saw art and potpourri; unique jewelry, boutique clothing, scented candles and delicious treats, including pecans, salsa, brittle and gourmet dips. “You really can find a little bit of everything from gorgeous wreaths to decorate your door to the perfect necklace to wrap up for a friend,” Nunez said. “It sets the mood for Christmas.”

“Last year we had nearly 50 vendors participate, and we are hoping The two-day event is Friday, No-

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vember 13 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, November 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors. The event also features entertainment and the annual Chicken Spaghetti lunch on Saturday, which benefits Cypress Basin Hospice.

With the huge success of the 2015 Total Resource Campaign, the new TRC Chair and team captains have their work cut out for them. The 2016 campaign kicks off January 25, 2016 and runs through March 3 with the incoming Chairman-Elect Trent Abbott of Guaranty Bank & Trust at the helm. Abbott will meet with TRC consultant Joyce Powell Johnson of YGM and Chamber CEO Katie Stedman before announcing a theme and setting goals for the new campaign in the coming weeks.

to share the benefits of joining the Chamber. The TRC concept, crafted by Johnson, benefits both the Chamber and its partners. It helps the Chamber plan and budget for strategic events, educational workshops and tourism marketing efforts while allowing businesses to map out their marketing budgets for the entire year. “Without the funds generated by the Total Resource Campaign, the Chamber would not be able to meet the goals of our strategic plan. We’re here to be an advocate for businesses, to be their voice through the governmental affairs committee, to promote them through the shop local campaigns. None of that happens without the success of the TRC,” Stedman said. “Businesses support the Chamber so the Chamber can continue to support business. The TRC is the beginning of that life cycle every year.”

Current Chairman-Elect Rob Hedges led the 2015 campaign that proved the most successful TRC to date. The campaign soared past its $145,000 sponsorship goal to raise $168,000 and bring in 43 new Chamber partners. Chamber Chairman Richard Witherspoon told the crowd at the TRC Wrap party, “This is a breakthrough, record-breaking year.” The first TRC in 2012 raised $25,000 in sponsorships by comparison. When Hedges set the lofty goal of $145,000 for 2015, the team memDuring the campaign, the TRC bers were stunned, and even more teams meet with current Chamber shocked when they blew past the members to present exclusive goal by more than $20,000. Anticisponsorship opportunities and pating the new goals from Abbott meet with non-member businesses for the 2016 TRC, Stedman said

the Chamber has to keep setting the bar high. “We have to keep setting our sights high because we believe in the Chamber, we believe in Mount Pleasant, and we believe in our business community,” she said. “We want to keep raising that bar and generating support and excitement so we can continue to improve and grow.” Of course, without the army of volunteers that make up the TRC Committee, the success of the campaign would not be possible. “They volunteer for this because they believe in what the Chamber is doing, and they believe in their fellow businesses,” she said. “The volunteers can have so much more impact than even the Chamber staff. They go out there and show the business owners that ‘This is worth my time. It’s worth me getting out here and hitting the pavement to bring in more partners and more resources.’”

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2016 Chamber Vision In a year of transition, incoming Chamber Chairman Rob Hedges says his vision for the coming year aligns with the Chamber’s vision statement in its strategic plan.

sponsibilities which, as one example, helped the 2nd annual Everything Texas Uncorked event go off without a hitch.”

Board, has positioned the Chamber as a powerful advocate for businesses in Mount Pleasant,” she said. “The work being done to promote the community and the He looks forward to his year as unique offerings of this city will con“That statement says that we will Chairman working alongside Stedtinue to be strengthened and enbe “Everything Texas,” he said. “I man, whom he says has bold ideas hanced as we move into this next think it’s simple. It’s to the point. If and a wealth of knowledge to conyear.” Mount Pleasant is truly ‘Everything tinue the Chamber's forward moTexas’, the Chamber and its mem- mentum. Hedges said increasing diversity bership will see growth potential among its partners and Board of “I have seen Katie interact with the within the community and throughDirectors is a top priority for the current Chamber Board members out the Mount Pleasant area.” Chamber in 2016. Hedges is in a tran“We need to look at “We’ve had leadership with a vision for many sition year profesour community and sionally, recently understand where it years, and that has built a strong platform for starting a new cais, where it’s going reer with Herschel’s success,” Hedges said. “That foundation serves to be in 20 years, Family Restaurant. and who those fuas a springBoard for growth and future sucHe previously ture leaders are worked for Republic going to be,” he cess.” Services as operasaid. “We have to tions manager for look at that over the 11 years. He also transitions from and Chamber Board of Directors. next year.” Chairman-Elect to Chairman of the She has only been here a short One of the Chamber’s biggest sucBoard in a year in which the Cham- time, and she is taking it all in right cesses has been the Total Reber's new CEO Katie Stedman is now, but I can tell she has a vision source Campaign, which in the just getting started. of where we want to go and what three years since it began has crewill be good for our Chamber memHedges expects the transition periated significant growth in sponsorbers,” he said. “Her ability to faciliod to be seamless thanks to a ships and new members. tate discussions within Board meetstrong foundation in the Chamber “Over the past three years, we ings will guide our Chamber vileadership, volunteers, and staff. have seen the TRC grow substansion.” “We’ve had leadership with a vision tially and expand our members Stedman said the Chamber is for many years, and that has built a ability to partner with the Champoised to accomplish amazing strong platform for success,” Hedgber. In the upcoming campaign, I things in 2016. es said. “That foundation serves as believe it is time to step back and a springBoard for growth and future “The work the Chamber has done take a look at what we’ve been success. The staff has helped us over the past three years under the able to accomplish over the past through this transitional period by leadership of Richard Witherspoon, three years and show the value understanding their roles and reour outgoing Chairman of the we’ve added to our members

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through their partnership,” he said. “I don’t think we need to add a lot. It’s already successful, and I think we need to make sure we stabilize that success. We want sustainability for that program and our members.”

things that the Chamber does for the community and its members,” he said.

“Republic partnered with the Chamber on many events, and I got to know Faustine Curry and the Board members and got to see the great

Both he and his wife have strong ties to Northeast Texas that drew them back home after a six-year absence. She grew up

in the Mount Vernon area, while he is a native of Mount Pleasant, graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in 1995. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving his country for six years.

He was approached in 2013 to serve on the Board of Directors, and then in 2014 the Board asked him to serve as the 2015 Chairman “My last three years in the military I Hedges is also excited about grow- -Elect and chair the 2015 Total Re- spent at Little Rock AFB in Jacking the new Membership Advance- source Campaign. He has continsonville, Arkansas, and we met ment Committee (MAC), which some great people there. I knew was established this year, and I was departing the Air Force, he said there are plans to exand we sat down to talk about pand the Shop Local Initiative. whether we would stay in Little Rock upon my discharge. We “They have some great ideas. chose to come back home. This The committee will release spewas the best decision we could cific details on ways to promote have made for our family. This shopping locally and give that community has blessed us ” he added value to our members,” said. he said. He worked for Elliot Motors for a Another committee that he sees short time before getting an offer expansion from is the Governto work for Republic Services in mental Affairs Committee. 2004. “The Governmental Affairs ComIn his new management role mittee has done a great job of with Hershel’s, working with his keeping the Chamber Board Chamber mentor Richard Withand its members aware of iserspoon, he says he is excited sues that affect our region and about the opportunity and members. Our goal is to expand “looking forward to seeing where this committee and continue to that leads.” stay on top of local and state political issues and take a Hedges and Stedman agree on stance as a Chamber on issues the vision for the Chamber and ued to serve on the golf committee, that affect our members,” he said. Mount Pleasant. “We want to put Mount Pleasant on and since its inception, he has been involved with the Everything “The Chamber is committed to putthe map in the eyes of our repreting Mount Pleasant on the map as Texas Uncorked Ranch Run and sentatives.” a thriving, dynamic town that truly Wine Festival. Hedges has been involved with the offers the best of Everything TexHedges and his wife, Beth, live in Chamber for six years, first volunas,” Stedman said. Mount Vernon. They have two chilteering for the Golf Tournament dren, a 17-year-old son, Zach, and Committee through his role with a 7-year-old daughter, Elly. Republic Services.

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Christmas It’s becoming a Mount Pleasant Christmas tradition.

a.m. to 10 p.m. with everything from handcrafted items, non-profit fundraisers, unique gifts, clothing Christmas on the Square has and independent businesses. grown each year since it began in There is no fee to set up a booth. 2008. The three-day event, Decem- The only restriction is they cannot ber 4-6 on the Downtown Square, sell items that directly compete with has something for everyone - an the downtown businesses. ice skating rink, a lighted Christmas parade, live music, and a chili cook “They can have the same type of -off, shopping, Santa photos, a 5K product, but not the same product run, a canine Christmas style show line,” Hatfield said. “We have more and a chance to send Christmas care packages to military troops. One of the highlights of the festival is the Texas-style ice skating rink. It’s artificial ice, but folks here don’t mind. It adds a magical touch to the early December weekend in Mount Pleasant where temperatures average in the upper 50s. The skating rink is open Friday, December 4 from 4-10 p.m., Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, December 7 from 1- 6 p.m. The cost to skate is $5 for 30 minutes and includes skates. “This will be the third year we’ve had the skating rink. It’s been really good,” said Jacob Hatfield, Director of Community Services and Main Street Director for the City of Mount Pleasant. Vendors of all kinds will line Second Street on Saturday from 10

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them an opportunity to shop locally.”

The event also offers an opportunity for non-profit organizations to host fundraisers. The O.B. Goolsby Chili Cook-Off is a benefit for Titus County Cares.

"This year’s OB Goolsby Chili Cook -off will be the 6th annual event. Each year the event raises a substantial amount of money to benefit Titus County Cares, as well as, memorializes a man who gave much to our community," said Titus County Cares Marketing Director Mary Katherine Milam. The group’s goal is to have 25 teams competing for bragging rights for the best chili in town. The cooks than 20 booths signed up so far, start serving up the steaming cups and we’ll probably have more. of chili at 4 p.m. Tasters pay $5 per That's the largest lineup of vendors cup and roam the grounds in we've had yet.” search of their favorite. The team that raises the most in tips gets the The downtown shops will have ex- win. tended shopping hours each day. M.O.M. (Ministering our Military) “Christmas on the Square is dewill again set up its Holidays 4 Hesigned to showcase our downtown roes Packing Station on Saturday. area, and it encourages people to The organization holds a Red Tub shop,” Hatfield said. “It’s three Drive in the fall to collect items for days, so it keeps people in town care packages they will send to instead of Christmas shopping military troops who are deployed at somewhere else. It gives people Christmastime. something fun to do and gives

"It is so important that we show our troops that we support them," said M.O.M. Co-founder Kellye Cooper. "These men and women are away from their families, and they are so grateful to receive the care packages from us. These boxes offer a

The Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber of Commerce has invited Santa to come join the festivities Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sources tell us that he will be available for pictures with the little ones all three days at designated times.

unique vehicles and the fire truck carrying Santa Claus. The theme this year is “All I Want for Christmas.” The festivities continue after the parade on Saturday with an outdoor movie on 1st Street hosted by the Mount Pleasant Library. The vendor booths stay open until 10 p.m., and the downtown stores will keep their doors open late. On Sunday, folks come back downtown again for another spin on the skating rink, photos with Santa and to shop the downtown stores, which will be open with special Sunday hours. Christmas on the Square is one of those special events that makes an indelible mark on the lives of Mount Pleasant residents. “The Main Street program is about preserving the history of Mount Pleasant, and Christmas on the

little bit of comfort from home and an encouraging word that we love and appreciate the sacrifices they are making to serve their country." The group invites the public to help pack the boxes. They have set a goal to fill with 400 boxes this year. Packers will get to include a Christmas card in the boxes with a personal note for the military members.The group also asks for monetary donations to cover the $16 cost of shipping each package. Taste of East Texas is a fundraiser to build and furnish the New Life Project Medical Clinic in the mountains of Honduras. The medical mission is led by Mount Pleasant pediatrician Dr. Joel Chapman. The event is at Jo’s Downtown on Friday, December 4 from 6-10 p.m. The evening features a variety of delicious menu items from local eateries. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door for adults and $10 for children. A VIP table for eight is $200 with only 10 tables available.

When the sun sets on Saturday evening, the lights come on as the annual Mount Pleasant Rotary Lighted Christmas Parade winds through the Square. The annual parade delights festival goers who line the streets all around the Square and North Jefferson Avenue to catch a glimpse of the elaborate floats, marching bands,

Square creates community pride. It creates memories for a generation of kids growing up here,” Hatfield said. “They make those memories, and as they become adults, they want to bring their kids to the area and make new memories.”

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At the heart of volunteerism is a desire to give back. That’s what has motivated David Hooper to serve the Chamber for the past 15 years.

where he served as a Board member for eight years and led the membership committee. He also served eight years on the Mount Pleasant Main Street Board.

Sulphur Springs office. Prior to working for Echo Publishing, he worked in production for a small printing company and a large yearbook publishing company in San Angelo. He taught printing at Texas State Technical College in Hooper has been with Echo Publishing Harlingen and sold printing supplies and equipment in Houston.

“I’ve always felt that if the community gives to me, I need to give back,” said Hooper, whose term as Vice Chairman of the Chamber Executive Board ends at the end of 2015. He served as chair of the Marketing Committee for 13 years, launch- “I’ve always felt that if the community gives ing the first Chamber Busito me, I need to give back. Nothing happens ness Directory. He is the without the volunteers,” he said. “If you don’t chair of the Johnny Longlegs Committee and served volunteer, you’re missing out on a whole lot. I a term on the Board of Dican’t speak highly enough about it.” rectors in 2004. He’s been involved with Deck the Halls, Fright-tober and the Moonlight Jubilee over the years. Hooper has been a member of the Mount Pleasant Rotary Club since moving to the area and opening Echo Publishing’s Mount Pleasant office in 2000

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since 1980. He is the operations manager at the Mount Pleasant location as well as sales manager and operations manager over sheet printing for the

His expertise in his field has served the Chamber well; however, his best memories have nothing to do with marketing materials and printing presses.

“I had the most fun with Faustine Curry [former CEO of the Chamber of Commerce] during Fright-tober one year. We were out in the woods behind the Civic Center scaring folks as they came by on the hayride,” he said. “That was one of the highlights that will always stick with me.” He’s also been the friendly face greet-

ing shoppers as they come in the door at Deck the Halls every year. “I’ve always enjoyed holding the ladies’ hands when I’m stamping them,” he says with a hearty laugh. “I’m more than happy to volunteer for that.” While it is his desire to give back to the community, he says he has gotten a lot out of volunteering. “I’ve enjoyed it because of the people I get to meet and the activities and networking I get to be a part of,” he said. “I enjoy the camaraderie, especially when we have the annual banquet.”

have been married for 48 years and said. “If you don’t volunteer, you’re have one son and two grandchildren. missing out on a whole lot. I can’t “I’ve enjoyed my time at the Chamber. speak highly enough about it.” I’m at the stage now that I’m starting to wind down, which is fine,” he said. “It’s time for the younger folks to pick up the reins and start running things.” Hooper has worked with the four previous CEOs prior to Katie Stedman. He says he’s especially enjoyed working with them. "I've enjoyed seeing what each one has brought to the table to keep the Chamber moving forward and improving," he said. "And, I have high hopes for Katie."

Hooper and his wife, Sheila, live in Mount Vernon at Lake Cypress One thing is certain; volunteers are the Springs where he serves on the Board lifeblood of the Chamber. “Nothing of his homeowners association. They happens without the volunteers,” he mtpleasanttx.com

MOUNT PLEASANT BUSINESS REPORT An official publication of the Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Council 1604 North Jefferson | Mount Pleasant Texas 75455 903.572.8567 | mtpleasanttx.com Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber Publisher Katie Stedman Editor in Chief Mandy Stringer Creative Director Mandy Stringer Graphic Design, Layout Lynda Stringer Contributing Writer Echo Publishing Co. Printing

Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber of Commerce 1604 North Jefferson Avenue Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 www.mtpleasanttx.com info@mtpleasanttx.com (p) 903.572.8567 (f) 903.572.0613

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