Due to the number of important activities being held at the end of October, November's newsletter is "hot- off-the-press" a few days early. We hope this early arrival date will help remind everyone of the many activities scheduled over the next days and weeks.

Swainsboro has a new business!

Southern Companions, an adult care-giving business, has announced its intentions to open an office here in Emanuel County. The Chamber will have a "welcoming reception" for the company officials on Thursday afternoon, 4:00 p.m., October 29th, at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce building. All chamber members are invited to come by and meet Tim Taylor and Allen Jernigan, company owners.

On Thursday & Friday, October 29th & 30th, The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce will once again welcome University of Georgia fans to our community as they pass through on their annual pilgrimage to Jacksonville, Florida for the Georgia/ Florida game.

The chamber will have free coffee and doughnuts for our visitors.

Downtown Swainsboro will turn scary on October 29th, 30th and 31st, when the Downtown Development Authority opens its "Halloween Haunted House" each day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The house will feature scary attractions for guests who dare to enter.

The "Haunted House" will be held at the Emanuel Arts Center. Admission is $2.00 per person or a donation of a canned good.

Don't forget Thursday, October 28th, is the official "kickoff date" for Southeastern Technical College's Foundation Fund Drive. Foundation members will join together at 10 a.m. at the Maurice Boatright Conference Center before contacting potential donors.

Dr. Cathy Mitchell, president of the college, Larry Calhoun, provost of the Swainsboro campus, along with a number of students and teachers, will speak to the group on the importance of the Foundation and how it meets the needs of students and employees.

For more information on the Foundation, contact Johnny Payne, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, at 478-289-2218.

Some 160 students and 30 to 40 advisors are expected in Swainsboro for the State FFA Wildlife Competition. The event will be hosted on Thursday, November 5th, by the Fish and Game Management Program at Southeastern Technical College. Registration is expected to begin at 2 p.m. with competition set to begin with a written exam at 2:30.

Many of the students and advisors will be in town prior to the event visiting local restaurants, so let's be sure to give a friendly "Swainsboro welcome."

The American Legion Post #103, Lanier-Moore VFW Post #5745, and Voiture Locale #867 are planning a special Veterans Day program in Twin City. The event will be held at the Charlie Oglesby Pavilion on November 11th, which is located across from City Hall.

The event is planned for 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Monday, November 16th, will be an historic day for East Georgia College. At 5:30 p.m., the Bobcats women's basketball team will "tip-off" the first home basketball game for the college. The men's game will follow at 7:30 p.m.

East Georgia College recently announced its foray into college athletics and has officially joined the ranks of Region 17 of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Plans call for the college to offer collegiate sports in men's & women's basketball, men's baseball, women's fast pitch softball, and wrestling.

The Emanuel County Farm Bureau and the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce will once again highlight the importance of city and farm with a breakfast planned at Catered Creations. The event is slated for 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18th. The "Farm Family of the Year" and "City Person of Year" will be announced. Tickets are available at the Farm Bureau Office, located at 320 Lambs Bridge Road in Swainsboro. Call 237-6426 or 237-8848 for more information.

The Chamber board has elected to participate in upcoming 2010 edition of the Georgia State Travel Guide. This marks the third year in a row the Chamber has joined forces with other regional representatives to promote tourism in this part of the state.

"Each year, the Georgia Department of Economic Development publishes a 200- plus page, full-color magazine highlighting Georgia's many tourism destinations. Last year over 850,000 copies were printed and distributed. The magazine denotes historic landmarks, festivals, attractions, state parks, lodging facilities, bed & breakfast operations and camping facilities," stated Bill Rogers Jr., chamber president

"With Geo. L. Smith State Park, Flat Creek Lodge, Ohoopee Sand Dunes, Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO, and a number of outstanding restaurants & lodging facilities, we need to be a part of this effort to attract tourists to our part of the state. Each dollar spent by tourists directly impacts our economic well-being."

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce is a member of the Classic South Tourism Region which includes Oglethrope, Wilkes, Lincoln, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Washington, Jefferson, Hancock, Johnson, and Emanuel counties.

Christmas is just around the corner and plans are already underway for this year's annual Christmas parade. This year's event will be held on Thursday afternoon, December 3rd, in downtown Swainsboro and will feature a huge parade, Nativity scene, Christmas carolers, and arts & crafts vendors. The event is scheduled to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. with Santa arriving at 7:00 p.m.

If you would like for your organization to participate in the parade or as a vendor, please call Anthony Farris, Director of the Swainsboro Downtown Development Authority at 478-237-7025 or the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 478-237-6426.

In an effort to promote local businesses this Christmas season, the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce reminds everyone about the "Emanuel Made-Emanuel Grown" page on the Chamber's website.

The Chamber continues to promote local artists, local wood crafters, quilt makers, etc. and those items that are unique to the region.

"We will be glad to place these items on our webpage at no cost! We will need a photograph and description of the item including a price point," stated Bill Rogers, Jr. chamber president.

To view the page, go to www.emanuelchamber,org.

In observance of October Breast Awareness Month, Raven Hall, 2008 Miss Emanuel County, has turned the city fountain "pink" to remind everyone of the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Miss Hall approached Swainsboro City Council on the merits of the project and raised the necessary funds so that no tax dollars were use to turn the fountain pink. Congratulations, Raven!!!