okobojichamber 
Help the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber light the night sky this 4th of July over majestic West Lake Okoboji!
Donations may be mailed to:
Okoboji Fireworks
PO Box 9
Arnolds Park, IA 51331
Day of Schedule:
11:00am – Lunch & Registration Check-In
12:00pm – Putting Contest & Announcements
12:15pm – Shot Gun Start
Awards & Social to follow
Click Here to view the 2019 Highlight video.
Flag Sponsor: Northwest Bank
Drink Ticket Sponsor: Ben Brant Construction
Lunch Sponsor: Bank Midwest
Golf Cart Sponsor: Central Bank
Scorecard Sponsor: Lakes Marketing & Print
Beverage Cart Sponsor: Liberty National Bank
Beverage Cart Sponsor: United Community Bank
Putting Contest Sponsor: GrapeTree Medical Staffing
Party Hole Sponsor: Sazerac Liquor Distributing – Fireball
Tee Box Sponsors: Alliant Energy, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Bank Midwest, Central Bank, Central Insurance, Farmers Trust & Savings Bank, Farmers Savings Bank, GrapeTree Medical Staffing, Hy-Vee, Keelson Harbour, Land Mark Products, Northwest Bank, Pure Fishing, Ruthven Locker, United Community Bank, Stauss Realty, Wal-Mart, Office Systems Co, Outrigger, MHR Insurance, Beck Engineering, Okoboji Motor Company, Advanced Network Professionals, Dowden-Hinn Realtors, Lakes News Shopper, Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home & Crematory, Williams & Co. CPA, Winther Stave & Co, ServPro, The State Bank, Pizza Ranch, Spirit Lake Chiropractic Clinic, Great Lakes Motor Company, Premier Communications, Consumers Lumber, Shore Station of Okoboji, IGL Teleconnect, Business Today, Service Master by Rice, Exit Realty, Erpelding Voigt & Co, Plumb Supply, Fareway, Okoboji Physical Therapy, Kozy Heat, Great Lakes Concrete, Harvey’s Five Star Roofing, Midwest Technologies, Bedell Family YMCA, Kuhlman Lake Service & Welding, Smokin’ Jakes
Over the course of the last month, the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and staff have been meeting regularly to monitor the COVID-19 situation in our region and across the country to assess its impact on the 38thAnnual Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend tournament. After much discussion with local government and the Department of Natural Resources about the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, we feel it is in the best interest of our visitors, volunteers, and locals to make the following changes to the tournament scheduled for May 2-3, 2020.
The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors feel it is in the best interest of our community to cancel the main portion of the 2020 Walleye Weekend fishing tournament. If you’ve already registered for the 2020 Walleye Weekend tournament, registrations will be refunded. While the weekend’s events have been cancelled, the Extended Contest will remain open and occur as usual. All registrations for the Extended Contest must be completed online only at www.okobojichamber.com. The registration cut off is 11:55pm on Sunday, May 3rd. All rules and information on the extended contest can be found online.
The extended contest will run from Monday, May 4th until Monday, August 31st. Ten tagged walleye will be released into the chain of the Iowa Great Lakes. The first three tagged walleye caught during this contest will receive a percentage of the entry fees. The fisherman who catches the first tagged walleye will receive 20%, the second will receive 15% and the third will receive 10%. One tagged walleye was caught in 2019 and three were caught in 2018.
Walleye season will still open in the Iowa Great Lakes on May 2-3, 2020. For more information on fishing regulations and details, please reach out to the Iowa DNR. All participants are urged to continue practicing social distancing during this tournament. Please limit the number of fishermen on docks and boats as much as possible. We have the utmost concern for the health and safety of our community and visitors and feel that these changes are the best decision to keep our area safe. For more information or questions on this decision, please contact the The Chamber of the Iowa Great Lakes at 712-332-2107 or email kiley@okobojichamber.com.
Easter Sunday is April 12th and although we may not be able to meet in-person together as we have in the past, we can still celebrate the holiday by bringing the community together with creative ways to show support for each other.
We have provided an Easter coloring page for you to share with your friends, family, customers, and community members. It’s simple: just click the image, download, email, print, color and post in your window! On Easter Sunday we can drive around the area and look for each other’s artwork!
Dear Dickinson County Residents,
The last few week shave been difficult for our country, state, and community. We have experienced a new virus spread throughout the world, enter the United States, travel to the Midwest, and make its way to our own county.
Some of you may be returning home from winter locations or opening your summer homes. It’s likely that you’ve traveled on planes, come from out of the country or out of the state which raises your risk of having been exposed to COVID-19. As a result, we respectfully ask you to remain in your home for 14 days after your return, in case you may have been inadvertently exposed to the COVID-19 virus and may be contagious to others.
It takes up to 14 days for symptoms to appear after exposure, which is why staying home during this time is critically important. If you do have symptoms of new-onset cough, fever, or shortness of breath, please call the Lakes Regional Healthcare COVID-19 hotline at 712-336-6696 for a phone evaluation. If you need groceries or food, please know local grocery stores now provide the ability for you to order your groceries online and pick them up at the door, without ever getting out of your car. Local restaurants are also available for you to call in your order and pick it up, again without leaving your car. You can also request to have a volunteer pick up and bring your groceries to your home by visiting https://iglcoronarelief.org/.
All of us should be practicing the following:
The support of the community has been inspiring to us as you’ve gone online to church services, put rainbows in your windows, created a COVID-19 local guide on Facebook, supported local businesses, sewn face masks, canceled public events, and more. Everything you do demonstrates the cohesiveness, strength, and hope we have as a community. We applaud your efforts to “flatten the curve” and with all of us working together, we will keep our neighbors and family safe from COVID-19.
We appreciate your attention to this important step in keeping our community safe.
Best regards,
City of Arnolds Park
City of Lake Park
City of Milford
City of Okoboji
City of Orleans
City of Spirit Lake
City of Superior
City of Terril
City of Wahpeton
City of West Okoboji
Dickinson County Board of Health
Dickinson County Board of Supervisors
Dickinson County Emergency Management
Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Lakes Regional Healthcare
Milford Commercial Club
Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce
Unless otherwise stated, many of our area businesses remain open, and continue to provide a positive, safe, and welcoming experience. Area shops and restaurants are taking extensive, diligent measures to provide a clean, safe and welcoming environment for customers.
Nevertheless, the COVID-19 public health crisis can post incredibly difficult financial challenges to our locally owned and operated stores, services, and restaurants. Event just a few weeks of diminished patronage can be devastated.
We encourage everyone to follow the guidelines of public health official at the local, state, and national level, and high-risk populations especially should exercise caution. If you choose to limit your exposure temporarily, here are a few meaningful ways you can still shop local and help some of your favorite Iowa Great Lakes businesses during this challenging time.
Buy a Gift CardAs a promise to return to support them, purchase gift card from your favorite local shops and restaurants. This puts money in the pocket of your favorite store owner today and helps them to cover operating expenses and help assure a strong tomorrow.
Pay it Forward – Consider buying gift cards now to gift to health care providers, service staff, or teachers!
Shop Online or By Phone Many retailers have online shops. Use this time to check out their online offerings. For those shops who don’t offer online options, many are happy to take an order over the phone. Plus, I”m sure they could benefit from hearing a friendly, supportive voice!
If you’ve decided to spend more time at home, call in your order and schedule a time for pick-up and carry-out.
Have a steady paycheck? Leave a little extra cash for service workers – they especially are going to need help. Consider a full tip on takeout orders, and designate a little extra for the kitchen staff, too.
Spending more time online? Engage with your favorite businesses – it doesn’t cost a thing! Like, Comment, and Share their social media posts. It’s free to you, but it helps to remind businesses that we haven’t forgotten about them.
Show your support and help spread the word by using #supportlocalboji hashtag on social media!
Dear Members,
The purpose of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote the business, civic, tourism, and agricultural interests of our members and area residents. This includes serving as a resource for businesses during times of emergency.
In response to the recent updates regarding community spread of the COVID-19 virus in our great state of Iowa, it is with great caution and concern for our community that we have decided to cancel Chamber events for the next few weeks.
We are aware that many of you have also made the difficult decision to cancel, postpone, or limit your events as well. During this challenging time, one of the most important things we can do is remember to stay positive and support each other. Our local businesses are the livelihood of our community and our community thrives because of the continued support and encouragement we give to each other.
With that said, we encourage you to find safe, creative, responsible ways to support our local business community. We have provided some ideas on our website and hope you will consider participating as you see fit.
As always, you can reach out to us with questions regarding local business or event updates and we will do our best to assist you; however, moving forward, we strongly encourage you to visit the links provided below to ensure you have ht most accurate and up-to-date information related to COVID-19 in our area.
Warmest regards,
Blain Andera
The following Business After 5 events have been cancelled.
We will continue to provide updates on chamber events, so keep an eye on your email and social media Chamber profiles.
Learn more about these wonderful Iowa Great Lakes Area businesses and what they have to offer while enjoying food, drinks, prizes, and networking! Business After 5 events are open to the public—all are encouraged to attend this fun and rewarding Lakes Area networking opportunity. The cost is $5 per person.
Contact the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 712-332-2107 or e-mail kiley@okobojichamber.com.
Did you catch us this morning on KUOO Campus Radio for the monthly IGLA Chamber Update with Lakes Regional Healthcare? 🏥 😁
We talked all about tonight’s Business After Five schedule at Okoboji Inn & Suites with co-host No Streaking and a second this month on Monday, March 23rd at Outrigger with Stauss Realty and MHR Insurance! We also discussed the countdown to the 38th Annual Walleye Weekend and the great $38,000 grand prize. We also chatted about the fundraising for this year’s beautiful 4th of July Fireworks display.
Lakes Regional Healthcare shared with us some more information on the awesome award they received recently, being named one of only 407 5 star rated hospitals in the nation. We also heard more on their construction updates for the beautiful new addition to the hospital.
Click here to listen for yourself and catch up now! 👍😁
Did you catch us this morning on KUOO Campus Radio for the monthly IGLA Chamber Update with Central Bank? ❄️😁
We talked all about kicking off the 2020 Business After Five schedule at The Dry Dock, #LeapOfKindnessDay, the Concept Contest for Winter Games 41 and 42, and the 38th Annual Iowa Great Lakes Walleye Weekend scheduled for May 2-3, 2020! Central Bank shared with us some details on their fun Emerald Club and how you can get signed up today and let us know about the awesome mortgage rates and perks to chatting with them when buying a home or refinancing!
Click here to listen for yourself and catch up now! 👍😁