| Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
Join our excitement around our Business to Business Showcase on July 8, under the tent, at the Echo Lake Inn in Plymouth from 5:30-7:30pm. There are 28 businesses from 10 towns that will be showcasing their products and services. Free food, live music and cash bar. Here's an opportunity to see each others products and services and the public is invited to see who the businesses are that make up our Okemo Valley Chamber. Shop for deals at our silent auction.
The Okemo Valley has scheduled September 23 and 24th to
be at the Big E in Agawam, MA. We have 4 shifts available; mornings
and/or afternoons. Please let me know if you are interested. It's a
great opportunity to meet people and talk about your product/service.
Okemo Valley night at the Weston Playhouse is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th. Our discounted tickets for this special night are $25 each. The program is "Fully Committed". Show begins at 7:30pm. Call the Chamber office for tickets. Cabaret tickets are an additional $12 per person.
How would you like to earn a FREE enhanced listing on our website? (Value $150). If you volunteer at the Chester or Ludlow Chamber office for any 3 Saturdays - (5 hour shifts), then you will have earned your FREE enhanced listing. Includes your logo, two pictures, link to your email and website and 75 word description. Please call the Chamber office to reserve your date(s).
I would like to thank John McAveeney from SunShine Acres Garden Center for donating the plants for the Chamber offices and thank Stephanie Karner from A Traveling Hoe for making them look beautiful.
Would anyone want to donate a picnic table or bench for the outside of the Ludlow Chamber office?
Don't forget to join us on LInkedIn.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/yourplaceinvermont
Our group is OkemoValleyRegionalChamberofCommerce
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Upcoming Events
June 2 Opening Day Black River Academy Museum, 14 High Street, Ludlow 802-28-5050
June 3 Board of Directors Meeting
1:30pm Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts 228-5830
June 4 - 7 Summer Recharge Weekend at Good Commons, Plymouth tesha@goodcommons.com
June 5 Jackson Gore concert - The Grift 6pm
June 5 - Vinny DiBernardo plays in the Tavern of the Fullerton Inn from 8pm - 10:30pm. No cover.
June 7 Farmers Markets 11am-2pm Chester and
12noon-3pm on the Green in Belmont
June 10 Chamber Mixer at The Bryant House in Weston 5:30pm - 7:30pm RSVP 824-6287
June 12 Ludlow Farmer's Market 4-7p OMS
June 12 Jackson Gore concert - Chris Kleeman
June 12 Stone Hearth Inn in Chester presents
John Specker - fiddler. 7pm 875-2525
June 13 Open Barn at Horse Partners in Perkinsville 1-4p Call Katie Adams 802-263-5165
June 13 5-K Race for David's House 9am @ Chester-Andover Elementary School 802-875-1063
June 13 Inaugural Winery Tour on The Good Bus
10:30am-6:30pm leaving from the Chamber office www.goodcommons.com
June 13 Vermont Days at all State Parks - FREE
June 13 Black River High School's ALUMNI weekend dance 8:00pm -midnight at the Black River High School
June 14 Farmers Markets 11am-2pm Chester and
12noon-3pm on the Green in Belmont
June 18 Weston Playhouse presents Stuart Little 824-5288 www.westonplayhouse.org
June 19 Ludlow Farmer's Market 4-7pm OMS
June 19 Stone Hearth Inn in Chester presents
Jamie Ward 7pm 875-2525
June 19 Bern McWain plays in the Tavern of the Fullerton Inn from 8pm - 10:30pm. No cover.
June 19 Jackson Gore concert - Nobby Reed 6pm
June 20 & 21 Wagon Ride Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum www.billingsfarm.org
June 20 Mount Holly Fire Dept Roast Beef Dinner at the Odd Fellows Hall in Belmont. 5:00 & 6:00pm seatings.
www.mounthollyvt.org
June 21 Church on the Hill in Weston Sunday Concert - Matt Haimovitz 4:00pm www.westonvt.com
June 21 Farmers Markets 11am - 2pm Chester and
12noon - 3pm on the Green in Belmont.
June 21 President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site presents Grace Coolidge Musicale #1, 4:00pm www.HistoricVermont.org/Coolidge
June 22 - 26 Billings Farm in Woodstock present Wild & Woolly Week www.billingsfarm.org
June 23 President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site presents An Evening with Stellafane 7:00pm - 9:30pm
June 23 Opening night of the Weston Playhouse www.westonplayhouse.org
June 24 Plymouth Strawberry Festival, Plymouth State Park 5-7:30pm
June 24 Chamber night at the Weston Playhouse - "Fully Committed". 7:30pm Tickets are $25 each. Call the Chamber office to reserve 228-5830.
June 25 Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort Presents Summer Lawn Music Series 7:00pm "Braintree" www.hawkresort.com
June 26 Ludlow Farmer's Market 4-7pm OMS
June 26 Vinny DiBernardo plays in the Tavern of the Fullerton Inn from 8pm - 10:30pm. No cover.
June 26 Jackson Gore Inn presents the Vermont Symphony Orchestra http://www.okemo.com/okemosummer/resort/events/concertseries.asp
June 27 Inaugural Brewery Tour on The Good Bus leaving from the Chamber office 10am - 6:30pm www.goodcommons.com
June 27 Race for Grace Bicycle Hill Climb - Ludlow Rotary
www.bikereg.com
June 27 Classes begin at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts www.fletcherfarm.org
June 28 Farmers Markets 11am - 2pm Chester and
12noon - 3pm on the Green in Belmont
June 30 3:00pm Okemo Regional Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee meeting at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts. Contact Laura at 802-738-5556.
Please look on our website for details.
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Membership Committee News
Your Chamber Membership Committee is working on inviting new members from the Chester, and the Proctorsville/Cavendish area. If you know of a business that is not a member let us know and we will contact them.
There are many benefits that come with your membership, ads in the Okemo Valley Guidebook published twice a year, Your business on the chamber website, discounted Constant Contact email marketing, educational programs, as well as rack card space in two Chamber Welcome Centers, Business After Hours, work groups, discounted shopping, medical and dental insurance for single owner to multiple employee businesses, co-op advertising and more. Take advantage of these benefits and start saving money.
We encourage all of you to take advantage of the member to member discounts available. SAVE $ and shop at a members business. Click on this link http://www.yourplaceinvermont.com/about-us/member-benefits.aspx to see what is available to you and start saving today!
The special this month is to go to the Family Farms Market (WAAWWE). When you spend $25 you get a free farm fresh dozen eggs with your m2m card.
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Marketing Committee News
The marketing sub-committee met on Thursday, May 14th at Good Commons (thank you to Tesha for hosting the meeting and for the fresh, hot, out of the oven - blueberry muffins!). The hot topics were: the Economic Baseline Metrics, Strategic Marketing Planning Matrix, Banner Ads, future T.V. efforts and Blogs.
*The chamber has been working to develop a baseline economic measurement which can be implemented, so we can track the OVRCC efforts in the coming years. We are close to finalizing those metrics.
*The Strategic Marketing Planning Matrix was introduced by Annie (of the Village Green Gallery in Weston) to help us prioritize out marketing interests and efforts. We will be presenting a consolidated matrix to the Board of Directors at the June 2 meeting. We will then apply the matrix as a guide to our strategic marketing plan for the next 3-5 years.
*We have been collecting information and details regarding banner ad placement on the Okemo Valley website. We are doing some more research to confirm that members can select certain sections of the website for the ads, or if they so choose, can be promoted across numerous pages or "zones". We'll have more details after our June marketing meeting.
*Ken and Jack gave a terrific update regarding T.V. meetings with some regional vendors/members to see what opportunities are available to the OVRCC.
*We will be introducing a new Blog on the website within the next 4-6 weeks. Ken Saccardo and I will be working closely with Marji and SilverTech to get us set up with a "free" Blog service, and get it linked from the website. This blog will focus on the flavor, events and fun found in our seven towns of the Okemo Valley.
Thank you to Sandy for joining us at our May meeting. She gave us some great feedback, insights and ideas.
Did you know? We are seeking 1-2 volunteer writers from each of our seven towns to help with our new blog. We don't need professional writers, but good grammar and spell-check are still important. We're looking for people to post a small log once every one or two weeks. If you are interested in learning more about participating in the new Okemo Valley blog, please contact me, Rob Hodgkins at 802-228-1797 or by email at: rhodgkins@okemo.com
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Chamber Mixers
Join us for our monthly Chamber Mixers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Please mark your calendars NOW!
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.
June 10 Bryant House in Weston 5:30p-7:30pm
RSVP Kathy 824-6287.
July 8 SPECIAL B2B SHOWCASE 5:30p-7:30pm
Echo Lake Inn in Plymouth under the tent!!!!
First Annual Business to Business (B2B) Showcase.
Free food, Live music, Fun, Shop for Deals at our Silent Auction and learn what businesses are in our Okemo Valley Chamber and "Keep It Local".
August 12 Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts-Ludlow
RSVP Laurie 228-8770.
September 9 Roving mixer "Tour the Okemo Valley" Bus leaves Ludlow at 5:30p. Visits Ludlow, Weston and Chester.
RSVP Chamber office 228-5830.
October 14 Curtis' All American Restaurant - Chester
RSVP Christopher 875-6999.
November 11 Okemo Mountain Resort - Ludlow
RSVP Rob 228-1797.
December 9 - Annual Meeting at Gill Home - Ludlow
RSVP Chamber office 228-5830. Pending Speakers: Secretary of State, Deb Markowitz;
SBA Darcy Carter and Confirmed: Linda Rossi of SBDC.
All dates are subject to change. Check our calendar of events on our website.
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Welcome New Members
Wedding Resource Publishing Guide - Woodstock
Horse Partners, LLC - Perkinsville
Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals - Richmond
Waterwheel House Quilt Shop - S. Londonderry
DaVallia Art & Accents - Chester
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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Let's Make A Deal Testimonials
Testimonial from Laurie Marechaux, Executive Director of Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts:
"I
would like to say that the two "Let's Make a Deal" events that were
held earlier this year were fabulous gatherings. The connections that I
made with fellow members and discounts that will be given to my
students and instructors as a direct result of LMAD. What kind of deals
did we make? Blue Sky trading is offering discounted shopping to our
students and instructors. And I am negotiating with other business
owners in the area. I also found out that Mary Rita Batesole of
Northern Benefits will assist in any Health Insurance issues and
charges, co-pay etc. She has already helped me to save over $250.00
this year in medical charges that were not covered by my insurance but
should have been. Mike from Awesome Graphics and I have "Made a Deal"
for giclee printing for my student, instructors and members. I am
looking forward to more of these events in the future. Be sure and
attend these as they are great social networking and marketing tools.
Be sure to stop by our table at the Business to Business Showcase on
July 8 at the Echo Lake Inn in Plymouth from 5:30-7:30pm. Look forward
to seeing you there!"
Testimonial from Jack Smart, Giggs Antiques:
"I never knew there was a veterinarian in Ludlow"
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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 11
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
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
Stephanie Karner
The Traveling Hoe
Barb Lemire
Chittenden Bank
Laurie Marechaux
Fletcher Farm School
Ken Saccardo
Spring River Enterprises
Jack Smart
Gigg's Antiques
Maria Tomaselli
Bovine Bookkeeping
Laura Tuttle
Calm Moments Spa Services
Past President
John McAveeney
Sunshine Acres Garden Center
Your Chamber at work for you!
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