Woodstock Community Business Association

January Networking Breakfast Reminder

Woodstock Community Business Association members, guests & others who would like to experience the WCBA “Breakfast Club” are welcome to join us on MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012 at the ATLANTA BREAD COMPANY on Hwy 92 in the Target Shopping Center at 8:30 am.  Bring plenty of business cards & be ready to give a one-minute “commercial” about yourself/your business. Great forum for Q&A and to get to know your fellow WCBA members better.

No cost, but please consider purchasing a cup of coffee and/or a breakfast item to support the kind folks at Atlanta Bread Co. who allow us to meet at their location.

For more information, contact Beth Hermes of eIRIS Marketing – 678-524-7518.

January Business Spotlight – Bank of North Georgia

Bank of North Georgia, a division of Synovus Bank, is a regional community bank with a dedicated team that meets the financial needs of local residents and businesses by maintaining a strong sense of community and providing the best products and superior service to meet the growing needs of their customers. The team takes pride in their ability to tailor solutions to meet their customers’ needs. Unlike the “big banks”, they make decisions locally.  So whether a customer needs a business loan, mortgage loan, financial planning assistance or questions answered about their personal checking account, this team will provide the prompt, friendly service and attention customers expect. With its headquarters in Alpharetta, Bank of North Georgia has 40 branches in 16 metro Atlanta counties including the Woodstock branch located at 200 Parkway 575. For more information, visit www.bankofnorthgeorgia.com or stop by and visit with our professional banking team including Dana Callan, Branch Manager, Vanessa Kendrick, Business Banker, and Adam Smith, Commercial Banker.

Tags: Business Spotlight

Business Spotlight

Jan McCranie – Mary Kay Sales Director
Mary Kay Cosmetics was founded 48 years ago, and is recognized as one of the world’s most successful companies, with a global independent sales force that exceeds 2 million people, and global wholesale sales of $2.5 billion.
As a sales director with the company for 16 years, Jan McCranie enjoys the opportunities that come from working with a successful business and sharing the products and her knowledge with her customers.
Each season, Jan introduces a new skin care products, as well as beauty and maintenance products for lips and eyes, giving her customers the gift of beauty and pampering, which is her favorite part of the job.
Educating her customers is her favorite part of the job. “You get to try products with samples or with a Mary Kay consultant,” Jan says. “It’s a time for you to pamper yourself with skin care and a customized look.”
Company founder Mary Kay Ash emphasized God first, family second and career third, Jan says. “This was the way she lived her life. She was the Number One business woman of the 20th Century.”
Schedule an appointment with Jan by calling 770-591-9679 or 678-984-4992, or via email at jmccranie@marykay.com. Shop online at www.marykay.com/jmccranie.

Tags: Business Spotlight

Happy Holidays!

We had a fabulous December meeting – thank you to all those who attended!

Please remember the invitation by our member, Cherokee County Chief Magistrate Judge James Drane, Magistrate Judge Gregory

Judge James Drane

Douds and the judges of Cherokee County Magistrate Court, to a HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE at the Cherokee County Justice Center in Canton this Friday, December 16 from 10 am to 5 pm. Email Judge Drane at jdrane@cherokeega.com to RSVP.

Marcine Johnson - Accounting & Tax Advisory Services

With the New Year upon us, Marcine Johnson shared important and timely information about mileage rates, expenses, assets, renovations, etc., and how to prepare our paperwork to take to our accountant or CPA. (Hint: it’s not a bunch of papers shoved into a shoe box!)

Remember that we will NOT meet for a breakfast or after-hours event on December 26, but will resume our monthly luncheon meetings on Monday, January 9 at noon at Tuscany in Woodstock. That is our “Bring a Guest” meeting as well as our “Learn About Our Members” meeting – each member will have two minutes (you’ll be given the hook if you go over!) to tell us about you, your business and who a great lead would be.

Also at the next meeting, please pay your 2012 dues. Note that dues are $90 for a full year of MEMBERSHIP, which includes a listing on our WCBA Website and opportunities to win our GRAND PRIZE at each meeting – the Business Spotlight Article on our Home Page (a $150 value). Incentives to pay your dues in January include a 20% DISCOUNT (that means just $72 for the year!) if paid at or before the January 9 meeting.

(There will be a 10% discount if paid on or before our February 13 meeting. After February 13, dues are the full $90).

Tags: Luncheon, Meeting, Networking, WCBA, Woodstock

December Lunch Meeting

Please bring a friend and join us

Monday, December 12th

at Tuscany Italian Restaurant

for our business meeting.

Networking begins at 12:00;

business meeting runs from 12:30 – 1:30.

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Year End Tax Preparation

Speaker – Marcine Johnson

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The cost to attend is $15 per person.

Lunch is included.

Bring plenty of business cards.

Tags: Luncheon, Meeting, Networking, WCBA, Woodstock

November Luncheon Announcements

Thank you all for participating in our Member Participation Meeting on Monday. Welcome, also, to the guests who were able to join us and learn more about the wonderful businesses that make up the membership of the Woodstock Community Business Association!

Our speakers were: Julie Kingsley of Francis, Kingsley & Associates CPA; Dee Dee Doeckel of Chattahoochee Technical College; Jan McCranie, representing Mary Kay Cosmetics and the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce; Judge James Drane, Chief Judge of the Magistrate Court of Cherokee County; Kelly Clemons of Elephant Errands; and Dana M. Callan of Bank of North Georgia.

A few announcements:

Next Step Ministries is accepting donations of baby wipes, paper towels, paper plates & napkins, cups, tissues and other products that they use every day throughout the year in their programs. Or, if you prefer to volunteer with the organization, they are looking for folks who want to spend a few hours one time or on a regular basis working with their wonderful clients. (Next Step Ministries is our November Business Spotlight – scroll down to read more!) Contact Lori Baker for details: 770-592-1227 or nextstepministries@att.net.

The Volunteer Aging Council is pleased to be hosting its Chili Lunch to benefit VAC of Cherokee County  at Woodstock Estates Assisted Living & Memory Care Community (1000 Professional Way, Woodstock – behind Ingle’s on Hwy 92) this Friday, November 18 from 11:30 – 1 pm.  ”Eat in or take out” – $5 donation includes choice of chili, roll, salad & dessert. Guests are invited to stay for the “Hospice 101″ seminar, presented by Lisa and Donna from AmityCare Hospice Service at 1 pm. For more information, contact Mary Mendez at 678-641-3517.

Chief Magistrate James E. Drane, III and the Judges of the Cherokee County Magistrate Court cordially invite you and your staff to visit with us on Friday, December 16, 2011, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., for our annual holiday Open House.

To ensure that we’ll have enough food for everyone, please RSVP to: Hon. James E. Drane, III jdrane@cherokeega.com or                                                                           Hon. Gregory T. Douds gtdouds@cherokeega.com

The WCBA November Breakfast Networking Meeting will be held on Monday, November 28 at 8:30 a.m. at Atlanta Bread Company on Hwy 92 in Woodstock (Target shopping center). Bring plenty of business cards! (There is no cost to attend, but we ask that you support Atlanta Bread Company as a courtesy).

Tags: Breakfast Leads, Business Spotlight, Luncheon, Networking, WCBA, Woodstock

November Luncheon

*Current and new members are those who have paid their annual dues as of the business meeting. Five business cards will be drawn at random during the meeting to choose the speakers.*

Tags: Luncheon, Networking, Woodstock

November Business Spotlight-Next Step Ministries

When parents work or need someone to watch their child for a few hours, they look for quality daycare or an individual sitter they can trust to provide an enriched environment for their child and peace of mind for themselves. When that child has special needs, they often are too old for traditional daycare and too young for adult daycare settings.
Next Step Ministries provides a practical support system for children and young adults with special needs and their families, with Christian Therapeutic Day Care, Drop-In Services, Saturday Respite Care and Camp Programs in a safe environment, conveniently located in Woodstock. The majority of their clients are severely/profoundly developmentally challenged, including those with autism.
Next Step Ministries’ programs evolve with clients as needs are identified or change, and their main Therapeutic Day Care Program provides a stimulating environment supporting skills learned in school or at home, and for those who have aged out of school. The programs are offered over the summer and during school breaks, giving families peace of mind in the care of their loved ones.
Once a month, Happy Tails (pet therapy) brings pets to interact with Next Step’s clients, and the organization has collaborated with the Cherokee Navigator Team for a Parent’s Night Out called “PJs and Popcorn” for elementary school-age children and their siblings on the second Friday of each month.
A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Next Step Ministries also provides volunteer opportunities for high school students interested in researching a career opportunity or fulfilling community service hours for their clubs or other organizations. They also appreciate volunteer time from adults who are seeking to work with the special needs population.

In order to meet the individual needs of each family they serve, Next Step Ministries also offers parent seminars on guardianship, special needs planning and trusts.

Next Step Ministries staff includes Executive Director Lori Baker, who is a Physical Therapist; Administrative Assistant/Trainer Martha Randt; Teacher Jim Pefferly; Jean Cain, R.N.; Trainer Carolann Spivey and Trainer Jennifer Pefferly. Their Board of Directors includes June Brown, David Farrow, Sandy Raines and April Amburn. And they “employ” the efforts of lots of volunteers!
Located at 3353 Trickum Road, Suite 100 in Woodstock (at the corner of Trickum & Hwy 92), Next Step Ministries services clients from the Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton communities.

For more information or to schedule a tour or visit, contact Lori Baker at 770-592-1227 or email nextstepministries@att.net, or “Like” them on Facebook.  For programs and special event dates, visit their website at www.nextstepministries.net.

“…let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” – 1 John 3:18.

October Evening Mixer

We hope you will join us for our October WCBA EVENING MIXER

hosted by THE GODDARD SCHOOL

Monday, October 24, 2011 5:30-7:30 pm

3115 Parkbrooke Circle (behind Chick-fil-A)

Begin your week by meeting and networking with our new members and guests.

Door Prizes Donated by WCBA Members.    Members and Guests are welcome at this free event.

RSVP by e-mail appreciated, but not required. WCBusinessAssoc@aol.com

Tags: Event, Networking, WCBA, Woodstock

October Meeting Highlights

Thanks to Councilwoman Tracy Collins and Candidate Liz Baxter for attending the October Meet the Candidates Luncheon, and for discussing their ideas, plans and opinions about the city of Woodstock.

We had more than 25 members and guests in attendance, and would like to mention several upcoming events:

Friday, October 14 from 11 am – 1 pm, you are invited to have brunch at The Terrace at Woodstock, 756 Neese Road (across from Woodstock 1st Baptist). Your $5 donation supports the Volunteer Aging Council. Please RSVP to Janice at 770-924-2072.

The VAC also looks forward to meeting and talking to potential volunteers at the Boomers & Beyond Lifestyle Expo, being held on Saturday, October 15 at the Cherokee Parks & Recreation Center- South Annex from 10 am to 6 pm. Visit Boomers & Beyond Lifestyle Expo for more information and to pre-register for a special door prize.

As part of the FBCW Loveloud event, Next Step Ministries is offering a free day of Respite for Special Needs kids/young adults on Saturday Oct 22, 10 – 4.  RSVP to nextstepministries@att.net or 770-592-1227, and go on our website www.nextstepministries.net to download the information and form to complete for the day.  We will have the Etowah High School Football Team helping us that day!

WCBA President Dr. Norman Colby shared a story about business success and mindset. Please download The Hot Dog Man here: hot dog story

Tags: Event, Networking, Politicians, WCBA, Woodstock