WICKENBURG CHAMBER NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2024

By Sierra Blunt

the 75th Annual Gold Rush Days are officially over. We're so thankful for our "village" as we prepared for this past weekend and we're so very thankful for our committee, community partners, and volunteers for their support during this time.

The Chamber office will be closed this Friday, February 16 for Gold Rush Days rest and recovery. The Visitor Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dive into the February newsletter featuring the latest news and updates.

Host a Business After Hours Mixer in 2024!

We're looking for member businesses to host Business After Hours mixers in 2024! Showcase your business, build relationships with fellow members, and promote your products and services. Contact Chamber staff for more details and available months. This is your chance to be the host with the most.

75th Annual Gold Rush Days

FEBRUARY 9-11, 2024

The 75th Annual Gold Rush Days has officially come and gone. We can’t thank our community enough for your support over the past weekend.

We would like to thank our presenting sponsors Crescent Crown Distributing, Wickenburg Ranch: A Trilogy Resort Community, the Wellik Foundation, and the Town of Wickenburg.

Additionally, we would like to thank: Arizona Real Country 96.3 KSWG, Arizona Public Service, Stotz Equipment - Buckeye, U-Haul Wickenburg, CENTURY 21 Arizona West, Jones Auto Center, NRS, Rovey Farming, Cox Communications, Western Laundry, UMB Bank, Yavapai Bottle Gas, Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, Wissota Chophouse, Wickenburg Mobil, Arby’s, Dairy Queen, Circle K #1286, Big O Tires, The Wickenburg Sun, Life Line Ambulance, UMB Bank, Yavapai Bottle Gas, and Freeport McMoRan. Thank you to Honeycutt Rodeo for joining us as our rodeo contractor once again. This event would not be possible without the support of hundreds of volunteers who donate their time to every piece of this event. From those in the Visitor Center to those who helped organize the classic car show, parade, gold panning, mucking and drilling, vendors, and more: your support does not go unnoticed, and we deeply appreciate your time and dedication to this event.

Last but certainly not least, we want to highlight the Friends of Gold Rush Days. The Friends of Gold Rush Days are businesses and individuals who have contributed financial assistance or materials and labor to the Chamber for this celebration. Thank you to our partners: Joe Garcia Familia, Johnson’s Lumber, Wickenburg Art Club, Wickenburg Rotary Club, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Southern Yavapai Search & Rescue, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Arizona Department of Transportation, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Cliff & Nancy Pollay, NRS, Randy’s Automotive, Sunshine Plaza, Wickenburg Veterinary Clinic, Wickenburg Unified School District, Wickenburg Christian Academy, Double J Court Self Storage, Outlaw Portable Toilet Services, National Bank of Arizona, Duane Middleton, Daisy, Daniel, and Madi from Wickenburg High School, Jayden and Oakley from Vulture Peak Middle School, Freedom Express, Happy Trails Adventure Company, Luxury Gold Mine, APS, Tractor Supply, Stewart Hardware, Zena Lift, KP Drilling, and the Town of Wickenburg.

Mark your calendars for the 76^th Annual Gold Rush Days: February 14-16, 2025.

Gold Rush Days 2024 Committee

News for You

Local Individuals and Organizations Honored at Annual Awards Dinner on January 13

On Saturday, January 13, we celebrated the start of the Chamber's 93rd year at the 93rd Annual Chamber Awards Dinner held at Rancho de los Caballeros.

Award winners:

Ambassador of the Year: Carol Wallace

Outstanding Community Service Award: Freedom Express

Community Angel Award: Theresa Dunn

Tip of the Stethoscope: Lea Way

Tip of the Stetson: Mike Heath

New Business of the Year: Buttermilk & Honey Bakeshop

Best Established Business: Premiere Tax & Accounting Services

Non-profit Organization of the Year: FSL

Educator of the Year: Brian DeShazo, Wickenburg Christian Academy

Trailblazer of the Year: Judy Rice

Woman of the Year: Susan Aspa

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the generous sponsors who made this celebration possible, namely Serape Bleu, Wickenburg Ranch, Rustic Ranch Senior Living, and Bushel and a Peck Floral and Gift Boutique. We also extend heartfelt thanks to each of our silent auction donors: Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 96.3 Real Country, Crescent Crown Distributing, Stewart Hardware, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, U-Haul, Lake Pleasant Cruises, Snap Fitness, Jones Ford Wickenburg, Happy Trails Adventure Company, NRS, Balanced Life, Sweet Somethings & What Knots, Julie Brooks, Geri Fair, Rancho de los Caballeros, El Ranchero Mexican Restaurant, Hassayampa Barbecue, C & C’s Baking Studio, Rancho Bar 7, Onery Hog Barbecue, Double J Court Self Storage, Saguaro Theater, and Kay El Bar Ranch.

New Chamber Board of Directors Introduced at Annual Dinner

In addition to our award winners, the 2024 Chamber Board of Directors was introduced on January 13.

President: Kathy Clark, Happy Trails Adventure Company

Past President: Karla Mortimer, Rustic Ranch Senior Living

President-Elect: Yvonne White, NRS

Secretary: Missy Magrady, Freedom Roofing & Restoration

Treasurer: Michael Adams, Adams Electric

Directors:

Anna Thibault, CENTURY 21 Arizona West
Mary Kempton, Professional associate
Josh Garrison, APS
Brett Mills, Rustic Ranch Senior Living

Directory Advertising Begins Soon

Members! Directory advertising sales begin very soon. We will be working with Town Square Publications to produce the annual Chamber membership directory. The directory is distributed in the Visitor Center, at travel shows, and mailed to visitors inquiring about Wickenburg.

Schedule an appointment with Tom O'Sullivan for a conversation about ad sales by calling Tom's cell (859) 963-1430 or emailing tosullivan@tspubs.com.

Heads Up! Verify Your Business Information.

This is your friendly reminder to check that your business information is up-to-date in the member database and Membership Directory. Log in to the database to verify your information.

Go to wickenburgchamber.com and click the "Member Login" button at the top of the page.
Log in with your username and password. If you don’t know your login information, contact Sierra at graphics@wickenburgchamber.com.
Once you have logged in, scroll down to the blue "Member Account Dashboard." This is where you can update all of your information, such as your physical address, phone number, and email address.

Member Database Login

Voter Registration Deadline Ends Tuesday, February 20

"The Presidential Preference Election (PPE) for voters registered with the Republican or Democratic party throughout Maricopa County will be held this March. Voters have the option of voting in person, or if they are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and receive a ballot by mail they have the options to return it by mail, drop it off at a secure ballot drop box or voting location, or vote a replacement ballot in person."

Click the button below to verify your voter registration information.

Learn more

Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition

FEBRUARY 23

Moonshot's Rural Arizona Pitch Competition is coming to Wickenburg in February. The Shark Tank-style competition is designed to give Arizona's rural entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. If you have a "moonshot" idea or an existing business that you'd like to expand, check out the details of the competition for your chance to win.

Learn more

Last Month, By The Numbers

JANUARY 2024		YTD
New Members	4	4
Mixer Attendance	N/A	N/A
Phone Calls	584	584
Visitors	1,252	1,252
Mail Inquiries	34	34
Chamber Website Visitors	5,200	5,200
Visit Wickenburg Website Visitors	13,000	13,000
Chamber Facebook Reach	37,500	37,500
Visit Wickenburg Facebook Reach	101,100	101,100
Gold Rush Facebook Reach	41,100	41,100
Bluegrass Facebook Reach	315	315
Film Commission Facebook Reach	52	52
Chamber Instagram Followers Gained	27	27
Visit Wickenburg Instagram Followers Gained	47	47

Member Reinvestments

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Arizona@Work Maricopa County, Badowski & White CPA's, Bear Cat Mfg. Inc, Ben's Saddlery

Benner-Nawman Co. Inc., Buttermilk & Honey Bakeshop, Canyon Electric, Century 21 Arizona West - Laura Coughanour, Choice Auto Glass, Inc., Citywide Home Loans, Community Alliance Church, CORE Construction, Country Club Park, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, Desert Gold Condominiums, DeVries Custom Coachworks, Double H Custom Hat Company, Double M Country Club Condos, Edward Jones-Sam Buchert

Farm Bureau Financial Services, General Federated Woman's Club-Morristown, Grantham Fence & Supply Company, Hampton Inn & Suites-Surprise, Hassayampa Justice Court CONSTABLE SCOTT BLAKE, Hassayampa Smokehouse BBQ, Horspitality RV Resort, Hospice of the Valley, Jones Ford-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Kiki's Kottage Little Treasures & Gallery, La Cabana Saloon, Law Office of Eileen M. McGuire PLLC, Long Horn Complex, LLC, McKeever's Ace Hardware, Mike Rodriguez Gardening, NRS Trailer/P&P Trailer Sales, PDS Properties, LLC, PDS Properties, LLC, Rafter P Horseshoeing, Rancho de los Caballeros, Redbird Electric LLC, Robbie's Grooming Saloon, Rovey Farming, Rustic Ranch Senior Living, Serape Bleu, Snyder Mini Storage, Stotz Equipment John Deere, Super 8 – Wickenburg, The Meadows, The Wickenburg Sun, Tinzie Realty-Shanna Grossman, Vulture Peak Patchers Quilt Guild, Western Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Wickenburg Breast Cancer Network, Wickenburg Community Hospital, Wickenburg Conservation Foundation, Wickenburg Country Club Golf, Wickenburg Elks Lodge #2160, Wickenburg Landscape & Irrigation, Inc., Wickenburg PTA