Meet Your Board

Melissa Shelden

Melissa S. Shelden is the owner of Westside Salon in Waynesville, Missouri. She has been a stylist for over 14 years .And with the vision to always open her own salon, Westside Salon opened on April 1 2005.

Melissa is married to Mark Shelden, who serves as Head Custodian at Westside Baptist Church in Waynesville. Melissa and Mark have 4 children and 1 son-in-law. Sara and her husband Martin Salgado, Chris, Jessica and Donal. Melissa and Mark live the country life in their home in Devils Elbow. They joke how they have to drive to the "city" each day for work.

Melissa has served on other committees in our community. Leadership Pulaski County-2014 Class President, Chamber Ambassador Club-President 2013- Vice-President 2012, Ambassador of the Year 2011, Waynesville FFA Booster Club President 2012-2013.

Melissa is excited to continue serving as a Chamber Ambassador and being the newest member of the Board of Directors. "With my experience and knowledge I have gained, I am looking forward to bring my leadership skills and compassion for our community to the Chamber's Board of Directors. Thank you for allowing me to serve our Chamber and our Community

Chamber Board Positions Open

The Waynesville - St. Robert Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announces the opportunity for members in good standing to be considered for open board positions for the term of 2015 - 2018. Requests for consideration shall be made by completing the application form and delivering the completed form to the Chamber office by Thursday, April 2nd. The Nominating Committee shall consider all requests made. Contact Cecilia at chamberdirector@wsrchamber.com with any questions.

Click Image for Board Flyer

Taste of Pulaski County & Basket Auction

The Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce would like to extend thanks to all who came out to be a part of the 2015 Taste of Pulaski County and Basket Auction. The Chamber raised over $20,000.

Sponsors for this event included:

Restaurants for this event included:

Special Thanks for this year included:

Other Volunteers:

Door Prizes for this year included:

Silent Auction Items for this year included:

Baskets and Gift Certificates for this year included:

To see Taste pictures click here. To view video click here.

Community Forum

The Chamber will host the annual community on April 14th in the library of the Waynesville High School. The panel discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. Speakers for the evening will include representatives from Fort Leonard Wood, St. Robert, Waynesville, Waynesville R-VI School District, and Pulaski County. The community is invited to attend the forum and will have the opportunity to ask questions. Questions must be submitted in person. This event will be broadcast on Channel 12. Click here for the event page.

Chamber Four Person Scramble

FOUR! The Chamber is excited for the upcoming Four Person Scramble on April 23rd. The tournament will be an 18-hole four person scramble with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. at Piney Valley Golf Course on Fort Leonard Wood. Team check-in will be at 9:00 a.m. A meal will be provided for teams after they complete the tournament. Awards will be given after the tournament is complete as well as door prizes donated by Chamber members.

Registration for teams is now open. There is a $50 entry fee per person. Mulligans will be available for $20 per team and a 5' String is $10 per team. There is a limit of 30 teams so register today! Registration forms and entry fee payment must be received at the Chamber office by April 14th. Click here for form and flyer.

Event sponsorships are available!

Hole sponsorships are available for $100 per hole. A hole sponsor will receive a sign at the hole and there business will be listed on the event web page and in all press releases.

Cart sponsorship are available for $50. Cart sponsors will have a sign on a cart and will be listed on the event web page.

Click here for a copy of the sponsorship form.

Attention Members!

For our Spring Golf Tournament we are looking for golf balls and tees to give out to the teams. If you have any golf balls or tees with your logo (logo not a requirement) and would like to make a donation please contact the Chamber by emailing chamber@wsrchamber.com or calling 573-336-5121. The deadline to donate is April 17th.

Chamber members who donate a door prize will be announced at the event and listed on the event web page.

Tour of Fort Leonard Wood

On April 30th AUSA, Committee of Fifty, Friends of the Fort, Support the Fort and Phelps for the Fort will be offering a tour of Ft. Leonard Wood beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m. We are excited to be able to offer the community this opportunity to tour Fort Leonard Wood and witness the transformations that have impacted our communities in so many positive ways over the years. The tour will be leaving from the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber Office, located in the lower level of the Visitor's Center at 137 St. Robert Blvd., Ste. B in St. Robert, as always please remember to park in the back of the building. Lunch will be provided by AUSA during the tour. Space is very limited so please R.S.V.P. to 573-336-0221 or email info@ausaflw.org no later than April 24th. For flyer click here.

Eggs & Issues

The Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber welcomes State Senator Dan Brown and State Representative Steve Lynch to its annual Eggs and Issues Lunch at the Hampton Inn beginning at 11:30 a.m. on May 27th. This event, sponsored by CenturyLink, is one of the highlights of the year as our local State Senator and Representative report on the issues and challenges brought to the State of Missouri during its most recent session and answer questions from the audience.

This is a Chamber members only event. There is no charge and the meal is being provided by CenturyLink and catered by Andy's 417. We still ask that you R.s.v.p. by calling the Chamber office at (573) 336-5121 or e-mailing chamber@wsrchamber.com by 9 a.m. May 22nd to reserve your seat at this 'must attend' event. If you are unable to attend without notifying the Chamber, you will be charged for the meal.

Leadership Pulaski County - Now Accepting Applications!

Leadership Pulaski County is a community based leadership program designed to identify, educate, and develop leaders. The goal of Leadership Pulaski County is to identify community leaders, expand the leadership potential of participants by increasing their knowledge of Pulaski County, as well as connect current and potential leaders by improving communication. Sessions will introduce participants to the different aspects of leadership within Pulaski County as well as develop an awareness of the importance of leadership to the community's growth and development. Participants will be provided the opportunity to network with individuals that represent many different aspects of the community including business, government, military, and volunteer organizations. Leadership Pulaski County is designed to develop, inspire, and motivate the leaders of Pulaski County.

Leadership Pulaski County program participants are selected from applications submitted to the selection committee based on merits through a highly competitive admissions process. Participants are expected to have established careers, demonstrate talent and leadership qualities, and participate in community activities. All participants must also demonstrate a personal commitment to serving the community, show potential for a significant role in the community in the future, and a willingness to commit the time and energy necessary to complete the program. The sponsoring organization or business must also fully support participation in Leadership Pulaski County.

Individuals from all aspects of Pulaski County are eligible to apply. The number of participants for each class is limited. All applications must be postmarked by June 5, 2015 to be considered for the 2015-2016 class.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 Class of Leadership Pulaski County. Click the links below for more information.

Program Flier

Program Application

Non-Profit Organization Scholarship Application

LPC Sponsorship Opportunities

Chamber Business Showcase

On April 1st the Chamber Surprise Patrol visited two Chamber member businesses to recognize them as the Chamber Business Showcase member recognition program recipients for April. The April Business Showcase recipients are Hoppers Pub and Secrest Tee, More & Western Store. The Surprise Patrol visited both businesses and dropped off a special sign that will be displayed throughout the month. Business Showcase recipients are drawn each month. The Surprise Patrol will be out again in May to recognize the next recipients.

For more information about the Shop Local Key Tag Program visit www.keepitlocal.biz.

Chamber Membership E-Plaque

The 2014 -2015 Chamber Membership E- Plaque is now available to members. This plaque may be placed on your business web site or social media page to increase your credibility through the recognition of Chamber membership. E-mail info@wsrchamber.com for the web site code and instructions to add the new Chamber Membership E-plaque to your company web site.

The character word for April is:

Definition: noun; the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.

Quote: Accountability breeds response-ability. Stephen Covey

What does accountability mean to you, your business, and the community?

The Bureau's newest program brochure is a great resource of attractions that are accessible to everyone. Thank you to Moons Over Missouri - Morgana Gray for brainstorming the idea, and Clorice Reyes, Visitor Services Representative with the Tourism Bureau for researching and designing the program. Approximately 20% of American's have a disability which limits access to many areas of travel, with as many as **650 million worldwide . For recommendations for accessible tourism visit the UNWTO website.

The Missouri Division of Tourism (MDT) is already planning its 2016 Official Missouri Travel Guide. Qualified tourism-related businesses in Missouri can now submit information for FREE inclusion in the 2016 Official Missouri Travel Guide. The deadline for submissions is June 5, 2015. Make sure your business is included in this annual publication, which is distributed at nine Official Missouri Welcome Centers, at special events, and by convention and visitors bureaus and chambers of commerce across Missouri. Approximately 300,000 copies of the 2016 edition will be printed. If your business has an existing listing on VisitMO.com or has appeared in past editions of the Travel Guide, just log on to the Industry Portal, Industry.VisitMO.com, enter your username and password, and update both your VisitMO.com and Travel Guide listings. Remember, not all businesses listed on VisitMO.com are eligible appear in the Travel Guide. Please consult MDT's Listing Criteria to determine eligibility.

The Missouri Stories Scriptwriting Fellowship is a national competition for screenplays and television pilot scripts with story lines set in Missouri. Those with an interest in learning more about the competition and mentoring event visit; http://mofilm.org/MoStories/. Pulaski County would make a great backdrop for all kinds of stories highlighting our rich history and natural beauty. Don't forget we have several beautiful resorts, historic buildings, scenic rivers and Route 66!

Making it a great day!

Beth Wiles, CDME
Executive Director
Pulaski County Tourism Bureau
137 St. Robert Blvd. Suite A
St. Robert, MO 65584
(877) 858-8687 Toll-free
(573) 336-6355 Ext. 104
(573) 336-2985 Fax
bethw@pulaskicountyusa.com
VisitPulaskiCounty.org

One of the economic development boards I serve on is the Meramec Regional Development Corporation.

The Meramec Regional Development Corporation is a 501 C3 volunteer loan board that partners with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and area banks to provide additional financing resources to assist small business in creating jobs. The MRDC board consists of a mixture of local individuals in the finance industry, non-profit sector, business owners, and government officials.

There are 3 representatives from Pulaski County who serve on the board. The other members are Carol Carson and Gerry Lewis. There are representatives from the 8 county area composing the Meramec Regional Planning Corporation. MRDC has staff members who work with potential borrowers and their banks and present their projects to the MRDC board for review and loan approval or recommendation.

The loan programs available are SBA 504 loan, Revolving loan fund, Micro Enterprise program, and Intermediary relending program. The Staff also provides loan packaging services for USDA Business and Industry Loans, and SBA 7(a) loans. These programs help new business and existing business reach their financial objectives.

In summary the benefits of MRDC programs are as follows.
* Assists with job creation and retention
* Shares risk between the local partner bank and other entities
* Reduces owner injection
* Provides long-term fixed rates
* Provides gap financing.

The MRDC has funds available in the revolving fund, micro enterprise fund, and IRP. For more information contact MRDC staff Maria Bancroft at 573-265-2993 or me at 573-336-2123.

Wayne Morgan
Executive Director
137 St. Robert Blvd. Suite B
St. Robert, MO 65584
573-336-2123
573-434-2304 cell
director@pulaskicountymo.com
www.pulaskicountymo.com

Eclectic Originals

March 12, 2015

Metro Business College

March 24, 2015

Kaolowi, Bryan
Bryan Kaolowi

The Ishaya Foundation
P.O. Box 534
St. James, MO 65559
573-699-4049
jyoti@ishayas.net
www.theishayafoundation.org

Scentsy Family (Scentsy/Velata) - Loretta Mask
Lorettea Mask
20415 Sweetwater Rd.
Waynesville, MO 65583
404-747-4118
waxhustlers@outlook.com
lorettamask.scentsy.us
lorettamask.velata.us

The April Newcomer Spotlight Business is:

Fort Leonard Wood Command Orientation
54 bags were handed out in March.

Newcomer Materials are due to the Chamber Office by the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Newcomer Spotlight Businesses are selected randomly. You must be taking advantage of this benefit to be considered. If you are not currently participating in this FREE program, you should be!

Side Bar Banner Ad                                                                               
$200 (for six months)
$350 (for twelve months)

Flier; PDF format
$50 (a month) 

View More Advertising Opportunities

www.waynesville-strobertchamber.com/adrates.php

Chamber Board of Directors:

PRESIDENT - Phil Tackett

VICE PRESIDENT - Mike Freeman

TREASURER - Marsha Mercer

Brad Budolfson, Carrie Williamson, Dr. Chris Berger, Tracy McCord, Carey Heitman, Melissa Shelden, and Shawn Cordry

Chamber Staff:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Cecilia Murray

OFFICE MANAGER - Leanna Weathers

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Lisa Thomas

AMERICORPS VISTA - Kate Thomas