| Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
At the January meeting, The Board of Directors nominated the following for the Executive Board: William Dakin of Dakin & Benelli as our President, Lynne Reed of Misty Valley Books as Vice-President, Barbara Lemire of Chittenden Bank as Secretary and Maria Tomaselli of Bovine Bookkeeping as Treasurer. Jim Kubec of The Governors Inn is now our past-president.
We welcomed in our new Board of Directors and formed committees. If you would like to be on a committee, please contact committee chairs, Laura Tuttle-Williams, Chair of Membership Committee; and Brian Halligan of Okemo Mountain Resort and Jessica Alberty of Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort as co-chairs of the Marketing Committee. If you would like to be on Legislative, please contact Tesha Buss of Good Commons. The wedding committee will meet to appoint a chair in February. We also have a guiding coalition for Customer Service. Please call the chamber office if you would like to sit on this coalition.
Please read this newsletter. We have great programs planned for you throughout the year. We also have the new ChamberMail program and our trip to Tuscany this November. Remember, you will get out of your chamber membership the amount of effort you put in. Come to mixers. Let everyone get to know you and your business. Where else could you have 50 people referring or recommending your business?
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Upcoming Events:
2/2 2:30pm Board of Director meeting at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts (Executive Board meets 2pm)
2/4 6:30pm Ludlow Streetscapes monthly meeting in the Historic room of the Fletcher Memorial Library
www.ludlowstreetscapes.org
2/5-7 Ludlow Winter Carnival
www.yourplaceinvermont.com
2/5 8pm-12m Red, White & Blue Ball at Black River Academy Museum $10
2/6 10am-4pm Family portraits at MoonDog Cafe by Pam Nelligan Photography to raise money for Haiti Relief $25 for an 8 x 10 portrait. Contact Pam at pjnelliganphotography@yahoo.com
2/6 2pm-4pm Sledding party at Gill Home with bonfire, hot drinks & cookies
2/6 6:30pm Red, White & Blue Parade
Begins at Black River High School at 6pm and ends at 7pm (approx) at Dorsey Park for fun and fireworks.
2/6-7 Ludlow Village Scavenger Hunt
2/6 Green Mountain Festival Series: A Valentine's Event at Green Mountain High School in Chester
www.greenmountainfestivalseries.com
2/7 11am-1pm Okemo Kids Fun Race at Jackson Gore base area For ages 13 and under. 228-1956
2/7 5pm Super Bowl Party at the Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern 802-875-2525
2/10 5:30-7:30pm Let's Make A Deal mixer
at Green Mountain Banquet & Conference Center - Chester (bring plenty of business cards).
2/12-14 Fight like a girl fundraiser - throughout Ludlow.
Funds raised will go to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center.
2/13-14 9th Annual Vermont & Beyond Fine Art Show & Sale at the Weston Playhouse 11am - 5pm
www.westonplayhouse.org
2/13 Just desserts at the Black River Academy Museum www.bramvt.org
2/12-14 Chester Winter Carnival www.chester.govoffice.com
2/12 7pm bonfire and ice skating party at Cobleigh Field
2/13 8-10am kick off breakfast at Masonic Temple
11am Sled Races at Pinnacle
1pm Snowshoe Softball
4pm Snow Sculpture judging
7pm Winter Carnival Dinner at American Legion Post 67 followed by Valentine's Dance
2/14 Valentine's Day at Okemo - Sweetheart Scavenger Hunt, Snowcat Dining Experience and 7:30pm fireworks display at Clocktower base area.
www.okemo.com 802-228-1600
2/15 Billings Farm Teddy Roosevelt: Mind, Body and Spirit www.billingsfarm.org
2/27-28 Craft Fair & Flea Market at The Green Mountain Banquet & Conference Center - Chester
2/27-28 Amp Energy Light the Night Rail Jam www.Okemo.com
Please visit our website for up-to-date calendar of events www.yourplaceinvermont.com
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Membership Committee News
The membership committee met on January 19th at Java Baba's in Ludlow. We discussed ways to make the Chamber more valuable to area businesses. The consensus was to have the current members tell us what they would like to see the Okemo Valley Chamber add to member benefits. So here is your chance to speak out and have us listen. Email or call the Chamber with your ideas - mgraf@yourplaceinvermont.com. As a committee, we work for the Okemo Valley and we would like to have more members from different towns. We want to represent the Valley more effectively. Interested members can call Laura at 738-5556 or stop by the chamber to sign up. We meet once a month for about an hour and we need you. Our next meeting will be held at Java Baba's Tuesday, February 16th at 3:30pm. Please feel free to join us.
A reminder to all our members...recruit a new business to the Chamber, and you will receive a Free banner ad for six months on www.yourplacinvermont.com
Don't forget your email marketing savings with Constant Contact Be sure to come to Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort on March 10 at 5:30pm for training!!
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Marketing Committee News
A meeting of the marketing committee was held on January 22nd
at Hawk Resort. Present were Marji, Brian, Tesha and Jessica. A review of 5 RFP's regarding the upgrade of the
Chambers website were reviewed, as there is a need to have all changes made in-house
to keep the site current and the costs down.
After review, it was decided that we
will bring our recommendation to the Board at February's BOD meeting. Marji and Tesha will review the budget
for this and go over at the next board meeting.
Marji reviewed with the
committee the brand ads that we will be taking part in this year in Vermont Life, Vermont Magazine, and Connecticut Magazine. We also have co-op ads in Vermont Vacation Guide (Summer and Winter), Yankee Magazine, Southern Vermont Arts & Living, and Travelhost of Vermont. This review brought up a discussion on
how we should be moving more towards online marketing opportunities that we can
get involved with. We presently have online marketing and links with vermont.com; The Vermont Wedding Resource Guides "The Book for All Brides 2010 Edition"; and The Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals.
It was also brought up that we should have all members get
involved with the social media programs that the chamber is involved with and finding more of our members to write on our blog and also have everyone become a "Fan" of the chamber Facebook page, Twitter and LinkedIn discussion board. Please click on the links to become a fan now. It's also a great idea to write reviews for one another on Merchant's Circle. It
was suggested that we plan a mixer to have someone come and speak with the
members of how important the social media programs will help.
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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!
All mixer times are from 5:30pm-7:30pm
We need door prizes!!!!
February 10 - Let's Make A Deal mixer at the Green Mountain Banquet & Conference Center in Chester. Please bring packages on rack cards, or create new
packages at this mixer that I can hand out at the NY Times Travel Show
on February 26-28. I would like packages on rack cards that I can
slip into the Regional Guidebook. We will also put rack cards in the
Chester and Ludlow Chamber Visitor Centers.
March 10 - Constant Contact training at the Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort in Plymouth.
April 14 - Mixer at William Austin Antiques in Chester
May 12 - Bella Luna mixer with Collette Tours
Click on link for information re: our Tuscany trip 11/4-13/2010
www.collettevacations.com/group-page/index.cfm?ID=388736
June 9th - Efficiency Vermont panel discussion Cornerstone Room at Jackson Gore Inn-Ludlow
Do you have a story to share???
July 14 - Let's Make A Deal mixer at Good Commons
August 11 - President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center in Plymouth Notch
September 8 - Bryant House in Weston
September 22 - Business Showcase at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts. Call the Chamber office to reserve your booth space. Now accepting spaces.
October 13 - Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern, Chester
November 10 - Okemo Mountain Resort - date not confirmed yet
December 8 - Annual Meeting at The Fullerton Inn in Chester.
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Welcome New Members
Heritage Deli and Bakery Inc.- Chester
www.heritagedeliandbakery.com
Vermont Apple Pies Breakfast Bake Shoppe - Proctorsville
www.vermont.com - Manchester Center
See their M2M offer on our website
www.yourplaceinvermont.com
Ronald J. Theissen CPA, CFP - Chester
Vermont Journal - Ludlow
See their M2M offer for new advertisers
www.vermontjournal.com
Primetime Concepts, Inc. - Dummerston
www.VermontArtsLiving.com
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NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS:
Jonathan & Julie Pierce from Inn Victoria have sold their Inn to Dan
and Penny Cote. We thank Jonathan & Julie for all they did for Chester and the
Okemo Valley and welcome the new owners.
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LPC-TV is looking for people to learn how to use cameras and take them out to events. This footage I can use in our monthly "Okemo Valley, Your Place in Vermont" television program. Please call LPC-TV or Marji. We need winter carnival footage!!
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The Inn at Weston is happy to announce their second Wine Dinner featuring a delicious Italian feast prepared by Chef Jennifer carefully paired with Italian wines so that both the dish and the wine are enhanced. The event will be February 5th at 6:30PM and will be $79 per person.
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The publishers of our well-loved "little phone book" - Freedom Publications - are less than two weeks from their advertising deadline for the 2010-2011 edition, to be published in April. This book, serving Ludlow, Chester and Springfield, has been in publication since 1992. It is distributed to every postal customer, and thousands of extra copies are snapped up by visitors and second homeowners. With focused local coverage of our area, great features and and low rates, the "little phone book" is a big value. Call Tom Van Sant at (877) 599-5499 to learn more.
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Legislative Update:
The Chamber of Commerce day at the Statehouse was January 21st. Chamber of Commerce executives from around the state gathered in the
building to talk with legislators about business concerns, tourism and
economic development as well as hear from other business leaders.
Participating Okemo Valley businesses were Dakin & Benelli, Heritage Deli and Bakery, DaVallia Art & Accents, The Vermont Country Store, Good Commons, The Good Bus, Salt Ash Inn, WAAWEE Family Farm Market, along with Senator Alice Nitka, Rep. Dennis Devereux, Rep. Kathy Pellet, and Rep. Ernest Shand. Our Okemo Valley had the strongest showing of participants throughout the State!!! Not to mention huge support from our Representatives!!
We had breakfast and lunch together to discuss topics of concern (Chester Bridge and taxes), as well as sat in on the Jobs Forum. Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith greeted a full room of business leaders, advocates, and legislators to express their desire to improve Vermont's ability to create more jobs.
The focus of the forum was to hear from Vermont's business leaders about what is working and how the Legislature could help. Ten Vermont business leaders gave opening statements addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the state's business and job climate.
Strengths identified included the size of the state and access to state leaders, as well as the value of the Vermont way of life. However, these positives were countered, according to many on the panel, by the increasing tax burden, the lack of infrastructure, the need for a quality workforce. Due to time and space constraints, not all businesses were able to be heard. However, in order to get a broader spectrum of ideas, businesses are encouraged to submit written comments to jobs@leg.state.vt.us.
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce supports a jobs bill that includes economic incentives for businesses, tourism funding and greater workforce training.
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Our Customer Promise:
At our January 13th mixer at Newsbank, we had Guy Payne from Action to Excellence talk to us about delivering our Okemo Valley Customer Promise. The guiding coalition has come up with the following:
To: People from outside of the region and local community members:
- We are a 5 Star Region.
- We strive to create memories and stories about your experiences.
- We are family focused.
- We are a 4 season region with knowledge of how to capitalize on this designation.
- If we can't answer your questions, we will graciously find the information you need or refer you to the most knowledgeable source (The Chamber of Commerce).
- If we don't have what you are looking for, we will refer you to another business in our region. We don't want you to be disappointed.
- We are well informed our our region's attractions.
- We graciously and genuinely acknowledge your presence even when we are busy.
- Our guest service goal is to make you feel like our most honored guest.
- We are enthusiastic about our region- No matter what our specific industry, we are in the hospitality business.
To: Our fellow business owners:
- If we don't have what a customer is looking for, we will refer them to other businesses in our region.
- We strive to be fully informed of the uniqueness, packages and offerings of other businesses in our region. "We know who has what."
- We support the initiatives of other businesses.
To: Our employees:
- We treat all employees with respect
- We commit to assisting employees learn and act on our core values as a business.
- In our orientation and ongoing development of our employees, we provide them with the knowledge and skills essential for the delivery of excellent customer service as well as timely feedback for learning and growth.
Customer Service Testimonial
A customer called to see if we sold tie-tacs (which we do not) after seeing our ad in the yellow pages.
We were her sixth attempt to find this special gift for a friend. I informed her that it would be a hard item to find and proceeded to give her alternative locations(shop) to try. After giving her half-dozen options, she cut me short and began to thank me. "I've never been in your shop before, but you will see me soon." She was very grateful for my efforts and time to help her find this special gift instead of me trying to sell her something she did not want. I put her needs first. I may not
have made a sale, but the word of mouth advertising she did that day was more valuable than the gift she would have bought.
Sincerely,
Michael Alon, DaVallia Art & Accents, Chester
Thanks Michael for sharing that story. Do you have a story to share?
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About Our Organization
Our Chamber provides the following member benefits:
*Health Insurance provided by Cigna,
*Dental Insurance provided by Delta Dental,
*Free listing on our website with web link,
*Free listing in our regional guidebook,
*Free placement of your business brochures in our welcome centers in Ludlow and Chester,
*Free monthly chamber mixers,
*Member to member discounts,
*Referrals,
*Co-op advertising,
*Marketing,
*Events publicized,
*And much, much more!!!
Our Vision Statement:
The Okemo Valley region, consisting of the Towns of Andover, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth and Weston, is recognized as a four-season sustainable Vermont destination to be enjoyed by all.
The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is recognized as an organization providing leadership, support and services vital to the health and future growth of the member businesses in the communities that we serve.
Chamber members are ambassadors for the Okemo Valley region, promoting the area as a vibrant place to live and to visit.
Our Mission Statement:
The
Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit,
member-driven organization. It is the voice of its members and the
business communities in the Towns of Andover, Cavendish, Chester,
Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth and Weston, Vermont. It provides
advocacy, support and unified regional marketing to promote and enhance
our regional businesses and four-season economy.
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Volume 2, Issue 7
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:
President
William Dakin
Dakin & Benelli
Vice President
Lynne Reed
Misty Valley Books
Treasurer
Maria Tomaselli
Bovine Bookeeping
Secretary
Barb Lemire
Chittenden Bank
Board Members
Jessica Alberty
Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort
Michael Alon
DaVallia Art & Accents
Tesha Buss
Good Commons
Liz Crowley
CZ Construction Management
Annie Fuji'i
The Village Green Gallery
Sheldon Ghetler
Stone Heath Inn & Tavern
Brian Halligan
Okemo Mountain Resort
Laurie Marechaux
Fletcher Farm School
Laura Tuttle-Williams
Calm Moments Spa Services
Mark Verespy
The Killarney
Past President
Jim Kubec
The Governor's Inn
Your Chamber at work for you!
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