8 March 2012 • Vol. 17, No. 3 In Search of Outstanding Teachers Gamble on a Good Time


The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership Committee is seeking nominations for the 2012 Outstanding Teachers of the Year. The award, which recognizes educators in the Bismarck- Mandan area for their accomplish- ments and student impact, will be presented at the end of April. Nominees must have a demonstrated sense of dedication to their students and the profession. They will have demonstrated a spirit of classroom innovativeness. Nominees should have the respect of their students, peers and the staff with whom they work. Nomi- nees must have at least 51 percent of their working time directed to student instruction. After nominations are submitted, nominees will be asked to provide further information. The selection committee will consider this informa-


tion, along with the nomination form to select the inalists for the Outstand- ing Teacher of the Year in the elemen- tary, secondary and higher education categories. Anyone may submit a nomination


form - parents, students, business peo- ple and other teachers. Help support our educators by submitting a nomina- tion for someone you know who makes a diff erence in the world of education. Nominations must be received at the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of- ice by March 16, 2012. They may be mailed or delivered to 1640 Burnt Boat Dr., Bismarck, ND 58503; faxed to 255-6125; or emailed to spaulson@ bismarckmandan.com. Nomination forms are available at all schools, online at www.bismarckman- dan.com, by calling 223-5660 or via email at spaulson@bismarckmandan. com.


Morton County Ag Day is March 15


The Morton County Ag Day is sched- uled for Thursday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Open Road Honda on the Strip in Mandan. Ag Day is a free and fun-illed educational event that demonstrates how agriculture impacts everyday life. There will be numerous booths with information about the industry. Participants will have the chance to


take home handouts, view, touch, taste and smell agriculture. Farm and exotic animals will be on display and live sheep shearing will be demonstrated throughout the day.


The Chamber’s Ag Committee thanks


the Farm Bureau for coordinating Ag Day and commends Open Road Honda for volunteering their facility.


Lunch and Learn: A Look at Unions


Recent changes in the law by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the NLRB’s proposed new rules regarding the union election process promise dramatic changes for employers, large and small alike. These signiicant legal changes and the unprecedented inlux of out-of-state workers into North Dakota are creating conditions ripe for union organizing. In March’s Lunch and Learn: Union


Organizing on the Rise, labor lawyers Dominic Cecere and Joel Abrahamson of Leonard, Street and Deinard will discuss the recent changes, the NLRB’s


proposed additional changes sched- uled to take eff ect on April 30, 2012, and practical solutions to challenging issues in the workplace. Please join us at the Chamber for a Lunch and Learn on March 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $15 to at- tend and includes lunch. Non-member price is $20. Register online at www. bismarckmandan.com/events or by calling 223-5660.


The Chamber thanks our event sponsors. Please recognize them on page 23.


Vet Network Formed A new Bismarck-Mandan area vet-


eran’s network will host its quarterly meeting on March 14 at noon at the AMVETS club in Bismarck. The BisMan Veterans Network mission is, “Veterans First: Uniting Veteran service provid- ers, organizations and businesses to- gether to assist in meeting the needs of the Veterans in the Bismarck-Mandan


Join members of the Bismarck-Man- dan Chamber for the March Mem- bership Mixer at Advanced Business Methods (ABM) on Thursday, March 22 at their new building at 4480 Coleman St. in Bismarck. Founded in 1971, Advanced Busi- ness Methods has sold a variety of ofice products, but copiers have been their mainstay since the emphasis today is on connectivity and multifunc- tional equipment (print, copy, scan, and fax). ABM is an authorized dealer for both Canon and Savin products, two of the top ten manufacturers in the business. In addition, ABM now carries and supports Lexmark business multifunctional products. ABM provides service throughout North Dakota, the western Minnesota, and eastern Montana. With ofices in West Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Minot, and Dickinson, their custom- ers are within a 100-mile radius of an


area.” Those in attendance are respon- sible for the cost of their lunch. RSVP to BisManVeteransNetwork@ gmail.com if you have an interest in joining this network through the quar- terly meetings or the email connec- tions. Other meeting dates will be June 13, Sept. 12 and Dec. 12, 2012 at the AMVETS.


ofice. Celebrating their 40th anni- versary, ABM attributes their success to the philosophy of providing solid, reliable service to all customers and keeping customer needs and satisfac- tion paramount to daily business. ABM considers their dedicated employees their best asset. Currently, their team is composed of 12 administrative staff , 16 sales persons, and 29 service technicians. The average tenure of all employees is more than 15 years. Please consider attending the mixer on March 22 anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available to Chamber members. RSVPs are appreciated and may be made online at www.bismarckmandan. com/events or by calling 223-5660. The Chamber thanks our event spon-


sor. Recognize them and others on page 23.


Can’t get to Vegas? Junior Achieve- ment of Bismarck-Mandan is bring- ing Vegas to you. Enjoy an evening of Vegas-style entertainment on May 18. The spirit of Las Vegas is taking over the Mandan Eagles for the 6th Annual Junior Achievement Casino Night, and though the money is faux, the fun is real!


Blackjack,


poker, a paddlewheel and roulette will span the club leaving no shortage of places to play. After hitting the tables, high roll- ers may “cash in” in their winnings for tickets to play the bucket auctions. Music, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and an endless amount of fun will help


round out the Vegas experience for all players. Tickets are $25 or $50. A $25 ticket is good for admittance to the event as well as $75,000 in cold, hard play cash. The $50 ticket is good for admittance, $75,000 cash and entry into the rafle that features two grand prizes - a great ticket for the “high rollers” in the crowd and only 100 will be sold.


Participants must be at least 21 to


attend. All proceeds will beneit Junior Achievement of Bismarck-Mandan. For more information go to www.bismanja. org or www.bismarckmandan.com/ events.


ABM Celebrating 40 Years with Chamber Mixer


I. Keating Recognized


I. Keating Furniture World’s four North Dakota Ashley Homestores were recognized nationally by Ashley Home- stores, Ltd., with an award for their top-notch service as the only licensee with multiple stores reporting zero customer service issues. Each of I. Keating Furniture’s North


Dakota stores, located in Bismarck, Dickinson, Minot and Williston, were


honored. Minot and Williston sites were awarded 100 percent customer satisfaction for the past two years. The prestigious award has been given to the Dickinson store in all three years that Ashley has been presenting it. I. Keating’s store in Bismarck was also named for its 2011 service achieve- ment.


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