By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
A fabulously fun and productive Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce mixer was held at the Elevated Nest on Highway 173 in Lake Arrowhead on Friday evening, March 21. It was co-sponsored by Keller-Williams Real Estate of Lake Arrowhead Village.
Attended by about 150 guests, the event was musical with two bands, two bars and delicious hot food constantly coming out of the kitchen. People mingled, talking and getting to know each other and sharing about their businesses and excitedly telling them about upcoming events at their stores. There was dancing at the end of the evening to Dave Bennett’s three-piece band, who identified themselves as “Old Enough to Know Better.”
The downstairs bar – manned by Joseph and Ines Stewart – reflected the St. Patrick’s Day theme of the evening.
Upon entry, everyone was given name tags with theirs and their business name, with raffle tickets inside, enabling them to win door prizes. It set folks up to know a little bit about each person as they greeted one another. During these mixers, when community business members get together and talk, they discover ways to make all of their businesses grow, which is good for everyone.
The Elevated Nest had several rooms for talking and getting together. In the front parking area, they had a bar, tables and chairs for socializing, with music provided by Cheech “Juke Box” Willie, who sounded a lot like Willie Nelson, along with the check-in area manned by the Soroptimists.
Inside and upstairs are the fabulous items the Elevated Nest gift store sells, then downstairs was the kitchen and the design studio. Going through the open sliding door out to the patio and garden area is where the dance floor was located and all the food was served.
After some time for everyone to meet and greet, Lori Butler, the interim executive director of the chamber, gave a short talk about the chamber and Jilleen, the membership chair, gave an introduction of each of the new chamber members. Then each business had an opportunity to say a few words about their business and their location as they received their membership plaques.
Dave Bennett’s band “Old Enough to Know Better” had folks up dancing.
It was announced that L. Dubbs Engraving will be opening a store front at Kuffel Corner in Skyforest on April 5. Mountain Top Dogs and Training in Crestline joined, as did Higher Ground Heating and Air in Running Springs, Ground Werks Plumbing and the Moonshine Lighting Company in Running Springs, which makes custom lights for residential and commercial installations.
As the heartbeat of the Lake Arrowhead business community, the chamber gives businesses numerous publicity opportunities and networking abilities they would not otherwise have. Being in the chamber allows a business to engage with others in similar or complementary businesses to boost sales, attract customers and increase business volume.
Some of the ways the Lake Arrowhead chamber helps their members is through digital marketing, advocacy, social media opportunities, networking and building the community, plus signature events such as the Brewfest and annual Home Tour.
The chamber will be celebrating its 100th anniversary at their next meeting on April 22 for a dinner meeting. Contact the chamber office at lakearrowheadchamber.org to RSVP and for additional details on this and other upcoming events.
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