| Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
Happy Spring! Due to the success of last months mixer, we will continue "Let's Make A Deal" for April 8 at Killarney's. We'll start at 5pm and our program will begin at 5:30pm. We might continue to 8pm depending upon the number of people. Please RSVP the Chamber office 228-5830. Here's what one business said: "I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the March Chamber mixer at Good Commons. As a new member, I've just started to attend mixers and found the opportunity to talk with others about matching services for a "package" was great! I connected with a new artist for my gift shop, I connected with several lodging places to provide guests with Summit Soapworks soap as well as offer their guests a discount. I may have even picked up a new retail outlet in a neighboring town. Thanks again." Christine Balch, Summit Soapworks
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Upcoming Events
April 3 Misty Valley Books presents Poets Wendy Mnookin & Baron Wormser at 7pm 802-875-3400 Chester
April 4 Cavendish Fletcher Community Library presents dinner & a Movie Film 1pm Titanic 802-226-7503 Cavendish
April 4 Weston Easter Egg Hunt 10am in front of the Weston Playhouse - Weston
April 4 Odd Fellows Hall in Belmont is a Spring MUD Fling - Road House Dance Hall Jamboree 8pm Please go to our website for details and ticket information.
April 7 Board of Directors Meeting 1:30p Newsbank Conference Center, Chester
April 8 Chamber Mixer at Killarney's "Let's Make A Deal" - Bring plenty of business cards!! RSVP 228-5830 Ludlow
April 11 10am-3pm Celebrate SPRING at Billings Farm & Museum 802-457-2355 Woodstock
April 19 Celebrate Nature: Author Bernd Heinrich will be at Misty Valley Books at 2pm 875-3400 Chester
April 25 - STEIFF Party at Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe, 802- 875-2412 Chester
April 25 Annual Tiki Train 3:30p
Bellows Falls to Ludlow 800-707-3530
April 27 1-3p Newsbank - Training with lunch. $8.50 Members/ $10.50 non-members.
SPECIAL PROGRAM: New member benefit and training with
Zak Barron, NE Regional Development Director for Constant Contact. Zak will teach us how to use Email marketing effectively to communicate with your customers in a professional manner. RSVP Chamber 228-5830.
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Advertising News Update
We will have a half page Chamber brand ad in the May issue of Connecticut Magazine (State of Vermont matched our funds) along with editorial in the Northeast Travel Feature: Ski towns in summer: Okemo in Ludlow, VT; Sunday River in Bethel, Maine; The Balsams in Dixville Norch, N.H.; and Killington in Killington, VT.
Travelhost Magazine will include the Okemo Valley in their May, June & July issue which will be located in the rooms in over 8,000+ participating lodging establishments.
Our Summer Okemo Valley Regional Guide has now gone to press and will be available end of April.
And last but not least our inside front and back covers in the Summer edition of the Vermont Vacation Guide is on the stands!
Our next Winter Vermont Vacation Guide has only one more spot available - call the Chamber 228-5830.
With this advertising and marketing underway, we are sure to attract summer visitors to our region!!
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Marketing Committee News
The marketing committee has met twice in the new year and the expanded team has been reviewing marketing ideas that span the spectrum from local advertising to future down-country TV opportunities.
Some quick Okemo Valley website notes for: overall, there have been 278,552 page views since we launch the new site in October 2008.
Monthly sessions have grown 42% since October! (that means more people are visiting the website each month.) The top 10 pages viewed in February were:
1 - the Calendar of Events,
2 - the member directory,
3- Casual Dining,
4 - Arts, Crafts and Antiques,
5 - Motels and Hotels,
6- Country Inns,
7 - Things to Do On Land,
8 - fine Dining,
9 - Weddings and
10 - specialty items(shopping).
We are currently reviewing possible Search Engine Optimization (SEO) service providers and what the valley's goals are for our SEO focus.
Did you know?
You can list available jobs on www.yourplaceinvermont.com for FREE? Call Marji or Sandy today to learn more.
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Chamber Mixers
Join us for our monthly Chamber Mixers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
This event provides the opportunity for sharing business ideas, networking, showcasing your product, and developing a strong community connection. Food is provided and it is also a rare opportunity for hardworking business people to relax. We re-instituted a 50/50 raffle as well as door prizes. You must be present to win. Contact our office if you want to donate door prizes.
April 8 The Killarney - Ludlow 5p-8p Program begins 5:30p.
Topic: "Let's Make A Deal" Bring lots of business cards and practice your one minute elevator speech!
April 27 SPECIAL EVENT: Newbank - Chester 1-3 with lunch. Email marketing training by Zak Barron of Constant Contact $8.50 Chamber members/$10.50 non-members.
May 13 Vermont Country Properties - Sothebys in Ludlow
June 10 Bryant House in Weston
July 8 SPECIAL SHOWCASE: Echo Lake Inn in Plymouth
Business to Business (B2B) Showcase under the tent - only 48 tables available. First come, first serve. Call the Chamber for details. Tables $99. This Showcase is also open to the public. You can share tables with your "packaging partner".
August 12 Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts-Ludlow
September 9 Roving mixer "Tour the Okemo Valley" Bus leaves Ludlow at 5:30p. Visits Weston and Chester.
October 14 Curtis BQ - Chester
November 11 Okemo Mountain Resort - Ludlow
December 9 - Annual Meeting at Gill Home - Ludlow
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Welcome New Members
Another Way Out - Wallingford
Elizabeth's Okemo Mountain Lodge Rentals -Ludlow
Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine - Middlebury
The Current - Rockingham
AllartStudio - Weston
Taylor Farm - Londonderry
If you are happy with our Chamber and the direction we are heading, please invite other business owners to join us.
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News About Our Regional Marketing Initiative
We are currently completing a project called the "Southern Windsor County Map and Touring Guide." This is a combined effort of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Chamber and the Windsor-Ascutney Chamber. The Map and Guide details Recreation, Cultural, Historical, Attractions and Buy-Local information. Also included are covered bridges and driving tours in the area. The project was made possible by the RMP (Regional Marketing Program) grant from the state of Vermont.
The map and guide is being produced by chamber member Ken Saccardo of Spring River Enterprises (SRE). SRE specializes in web production, cartography and print media. Ken produces the Ludlow Map, the Chester Map/Guide and other Vermont resources.
The goal is to bring more visitors to our area during spring, summer and fall. Forty thousand maps will be printed and distributed via varies channels. CTM will distribute down the Route 91 corridor to hundreds of businesses including AAA travel offices CT. Distribution is also planned for our Vermont Welcome Centers as well as other local venues. The map is to be released in May.
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About Our Organization
Our Chamber provides the following member benefits to our members: Health Insurance provided by Cigna, Dental Insurance provided by Delta Dental, free listing on our website, free listing in our regional guidebook, free placement of your business brochures in our welcome centers, monthly chamber mixers, member to member discounts and referrals. Our membership committee is hard at work enhancing these benefits. Please feel free to contact the Chamber office for more information.
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Volume 1, Issue 9
www.YourPlaceInVermont.com
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Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Marji Graf
mgraf@yourplaceinvermont.com
Staff
Sandy Gregg, Office Manager
sgregg@yourplaceinvermont.com
Executive Board:
Jim Kubec, President
The Governors Inn
Lynne Reed, Vice President
Misty Valley Books
Bill Dakin, Treasurer
Dakin & Benelli
Terri Fuller, Secretary
Coldwell Banker/Watson Realty
Board Members
Linda Aldrich
Inn at Weston
Tesha Buss
Good Commons
Annie Fuji'i
The Village Green Gallery
Sheldon Ghetler
Stone Heath Inn & Tavern
Rob Hodgkins
Okemo Mountain Resort
Barb Lemire
Chittenden Bank
Laurie Marechaux
Fletcher Farm School
Ken Saccardo
Spring River Enterprises
Jack Smart
Gigg's Antiques
Laura Tuttle
Calm Moments Spa Services
Past President
John McAveeney
Sunshine Acres Garden Center
Your Chamber at work for you!
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