Six Spectacular Ways to Spend Summer In Sartell

Summer has officially begun and Sartell has plenty to offer! From great parks and activities to friendly businesses, there’s definitely tons of fun to be had in Sartell!

#1: Sartell has a total of 34 parks and 48 miles of trails if you’re looking for outdoor fun. The city’s parks have a variety of amenities including baseball fields, volleyball courts and open space for lots of activities. You can find a full list of Sartell’s parks, trails and amenities at the City of Sartell website.

#2: Bring the kids to cool off in one of Sartell’s two wading pools open to the community. Located at Watab Park and Celebration Park, the pools are staffed for the summer and open from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.


#3: Movies and Music at Pinecone Central Park is a fun break from the ordinary routine. The next musical guest will be Ring of Kerry on July 31st. Mark your calendar and pack your blanket for August 21st if you are a "Despicable Me" for Movies in the Park. A full list of the Summer lineup can also be found on Sartell’s website.

#4: Enjoy a round of golf at one of Sartell’s beautiful golf courses. Blackberry Ridge Golf Course is an 18 hole public course and Pine Ridge Golf Course is a nine hole course and driving range. Both courses also feature a bar and grill and also host events.

Blackberry Ridge Golf Course

#5: There’s nothing like fresh produce from the Sartell Farmer’s Market! The farmer’s market will be out every “Market Monday” from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the city hall parking lot.

#6: After spending a busy day out and about, there is no reason to worry about dinner! There’s plenty of great restaurant options right in town. You can always order a pizza from House of Pizza or stop in to G-Allens or Blue Line for some dinner drinks!

You can find even more community events on our events calendar. With so much to do, this summer is sure to be a blast! Where will we see you in Sartell this season? Share with us below.

Summer Begins in Sartell! - Sartell SummerFest

It’s true! Summer weather is finally here and as the season comes to Minnesota, many of us are looking for a way to enjoy it. This year’s Sartell SummerFest has what you’re looking for! SummerFest offers a whole host of opportunities for fun and sun for all ages June 13- 14th.

The summer celebration kicks off on Friday with kid-friendly Libertyville Carnival provided by Liberty Savings Bank in Pinecone Regional Park. Libertyville is a family fun event featuring inflatables, games, food and music! The event, running from 5- 9 p.m. offers activities for the whole family to enjoy while out in the great evening weather. Music abounds with live music featuring show tunes and patriotic music. Be sure to bring your own lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the show!

Looking for an active way to enjoy the weather? After registering, participants can take part in a six-year tradition - The SummerFest 5K Run. 5K’s can be intimidating for inexperienced runners but never fear! According to Active.com, the 3.1-mile distance is “a fantastic distance for beginning runners to conquer.” But if you’re new to the running scene and want to help prepare your body click here for some “Couch to 5k” tips. Still not sure if running is for you? Sartell SummerFest also offers a 3K walk for a more leisurely approach and a 1K Kid’s Fun Run. All proceeds from the event go towards expanding recreational opportunities in the Sartell area for all ages.

Rest up after Friday’s run because Saturday festivities begin at 10 a.m. with the SummerFest parade! Featuring 70-75 parade units and 8 marching bands, the parade is a great showcase of the area. Whether you’re watching the parade or are entered in the lineup, the event is sure to be filled with excitement!

          

Make sure to bring your dancing shoes because the Free Partners Pub Street Dance returns this year! You can dance the night away from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. at Great River Bowl & Partners Pub parking lot. Live music by Whiskey Tango and DiamondBack begins at 6! Need a break from dancing? Take a break at 10 p.m. to enjoy the fireworks show sponsored by Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill.

No matter what your interests, this Sartell SummerFest has something for you! For more info and a full list of events, go to http://www.sartellsummerfest.com/. Let’s enjoy the start to this summer as a community!

Will you be starting off your summer with us at Sartell SummerFest? What are you most looking forward to? Share with us & we'll see you there! 

The Importance of Personal Networking

The sayings, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, and, “It’s not what you
know, it’s who knows you” are true. It’s a big world, full of opportunity, and the
more people you know, the bigger your chances are of landing that opportunity,
or at least finding one. The best way to grow your network is to do just that:
network.

Building relationships is extremely important in becoming successful. Think
about it. Would you want to do business with someone you don’t like or trust?
Not likely. Take advantage of meeting new people because whether you end up
working with them, or not, you can learn from them in some way.

To put things into perspective, did you know that according to the Pew Research
Center, the average American has approximately 634 contacts? Now, that may
seem like a lot of people; well, it is a lot of people, but those contacts mainly
consist of friends, family, ex-colleagues, and/or ex-classmates. That said - there
is plenty of room to grow and broaden your network.

Personal networking isn’t just about how many Facebook friends, Twitter
followers, LinkedIn connections, or acquaintances you have, it’s about how many
actually know who you are and what you do, and vise versa.

The best way to build your personal network is to nurture your contacts and the
people in your network. Here are some of the ways you can do this:

1. Stay in touch 

2. Be interested in what they do

3. Be reliable

4. Share resources

5. Attend social and networking events

6. Share your connections with other people

Before you know it, by growing your network, those 634 personal contacts you
have could double, or maybe even triple, and if you’re really good, the numbers
will just keep going up from there.

14 Ways to Get Involved in Your Community

One of the most rewarding things a person can do is give back and get involved in their community. There are many different reasons for wanting to be more active in your community, including meeting new people, learning new things, or to simply help others.

Although we may be a bit biased, Sartell is the perfect example of a close-knit community with a lot of opportunity for all of its residents. If you’ve always thought about getting involved, but never knew where to begin, we’re here to help! Here are just a few ways you can get involved in your
community, whether it be in Sartell, or somewhere else:

1.Contact local hospitals and ask if there is any volunteer work they need done.

2. Get involved with a parish, as there are always opportunities to give back and volunteer.

3. Look into after-school programs that are seeking chaperones, assistants, or teachers.

4. Visit your local animal shelter and offer your time.

5. Get involved in youth organizations and become a mentor.

6. If there is a homebound elderly couple in your neighborhood, offer a helping hand with household chores, or regular friendly visits.

7. Babysitting and nannying are always in demand.

8. Join or create a group with shared interests.

9. Attend community meetings and contribute your ideas and/or opinions to be part of the community planning process.

10. Start or join a cleanup crew.

11. Get familiar with a local Salvation Army, shelter, and/or food bank in the area and donate food and clothing.

12. Organize or involve yourself in fundraisers.

13. Volunteer to support disaster efforts in your community.

14. Join Habitat for Humanity.

There is no limit on ways to give back, but we hope we offered some good ideas and appreciate whatever you choose to do!

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”

Visit www.sartellchamber.com for community news and events.

What is a Chamber of Commerce?

A community’s chamber of commerce is so important, yet many don’t understand exactly what they do; in fact, the term “chamber of commerce” is one of the oldest and most well-recognized brands in the world, but there is significant misunderstanding of its meaning, so we are going to answer it for you.

A chamber of commerce is a local association to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place, which, in our case, is the community of Sartell, Minnesota. A chamber of commerce is made up of businesses seeking to further their collective interests, while advancing their community. In addition to promoting local businesses, a chamber of commerce also sponsors local business and networking events.

There are many different reasons why people decide to join their community’s chamber of commerce, including the following:

• Wanting to support their community
• Wanting to influence issues important to them and their business
• Wanting to take advantage of Chamber resources, including discounts
• It would benefit their business and act as a publicity boost
• It’s a great networking opportunity
• And so much more!

The Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1994 and began with a membership of 30. Throughout the years of volunteers promoting Sartell and its area businesses, and strong leadership, the Sartell Chamber has grown to a membership of over 170. 

Our members say that their membership with our chamber has proven to be invaluable for their businesses. By joining the Sartell Chamber of Commerce, you and your business will be able to take advantage of the following membership benefits:

• Link and listing on the Sartell Chamber website
• Networking at monthly meetings and social events
• Promotional community events
• Annual Chamber Gold Outing 
• Free lunch at monthly Membership Meeting
• New Release and Hot Deals Advertising
• Free radio advertising package equates to 20 30-second commercials
• Membership window decal to display your support
• Membership dues are tax deductible

Well, did we answer your questions? We hope so. What are you waiting for? Join your local chamber today!

For more details, visit our website at www.sartellchamber.com.

The Importance of Giving Back

Whether you’re a small business, or a large corporation, giving back is one of the best things you can do to distinguish yourselves from competitors, and gain loyal customers and happier employees.

According to a study by Cone Communications and Echo Research, 82 percent of U.S. consumers consider corporate social responsibility when deciding which products or services to buy and where to shop.

Another study by Ernst & Young and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund found that 62% of small business owners say that giving back to their community has made their company more successful in the long run.

So, how can you give back? Simple.

Volunteer.

Don’t think of it as working for free, think of it as gaining experience, meeting new people, and giving back to your community.

Donate to charity.

Whether you have more than you need financially with plenty to go around, or nothing, just give what you can. Some may give 10 percent of every paycheck, but others can donate clothing, books, supplies, toys, and more.

Host a fundraiser.

Spaghetti dinners, golf tournaments, car washes, silent auctions, live auctions, and many others are all great ways to give to a cause in a fun and exciting way that everyone can enjoy.

There are so many other ways your business can give back to the community. Bottom line is if you want to grow your business, build relationships, and have a prosperous future, then philanthropy will be your best friend.