| Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
Our Ambassador training on April 13th was a success with 40 businesses participating. Soon you will see blue INFO signs in businesses throughout the Okemo Valley. This means the business has attended the Ambassador Training and has passed 4 online tests. They are now recognized by the State of Vermont as being Vermont Information Ambassadors.
Speakers from the Ambassador training included:
Commissioner Bruce Hyde, Department of Tourism & Marketing
Christiane Skinner, VDTM - www.vermontvacation.com
Penny Libercent - Vermont Information Center Division
Kathy Murphy - Ski Vermont, www.skivermont.com
Rochelle Skinner - Vermont State Parks
Vicki Tebbetts - Vermont Attractions
John Dumville - Historic Sites www.historicvermont.org/sites
If you would like to take the online test, please email lynda.unwin@state.vt.us and she will email you the online link.
###
Our next Scenic Route 100 Byway meeting is May 7th. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Marji.
###
Senator Patrick Leahy is hosting the 14th Annual Women's Economic Opportunity Conference on Saturday, May 15th in Randolph. To register, go online to http://leahy.senate.gov
###
The VTSBDC is offering a no cost complimentary workshop "How to "Be the place to work", How to recruit, retain, compensate and motivate employees in your workplace" on May 6 in Waterbury, May 11 in Manchester, and May 13th in Woodstock. Call Linda Rossi at 802-349-5546 if you would like to attend.
###
Don't miss our Leadership program on May 6th 8-10am in the Octo Room at Okemo Mountain Resort with Guy Payne. This program is for business owners or those in a leadership position in a company. Program objectives;
1. Leaders will recognize their role in providing the climate for exceptional customer service both within their own establishment and the region;
2. Leaders will be prepared to reinforce the learning in the upcoming customer service training for front-line employees; and
3. Leaders will support the customer service strategy of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
###
Our May 12th mixer is at Bella Luna Ristorante in Ludlow from 5:30-7:30pm. Collette Tours will be speaking about our upcoming trip to Tuscany!!!!
###
Only a couple of spots are left on the inside back cover of Winter 2011 Vermont Vacation Guide. $370 for 100,000 distribution.
This also includes the online version as well as on our website!
CALL CHAMBER TODAY!
NEW THIS YEAR: Instead of the Calendar this year, Okemo Valley will be creating an Okemo Valley cookbook this Fall. Contact Marji if you would like to help put this together.
###
SAVE THE DATE: Our Chamber Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15th at 1p. Call Mary Knight 228-2260.
###
Be sure to print Chamber Mixer schedule and Special Programs below.
###
Please check your enhance listings on our website for accuracy or any changes.
###
|
Congratulations Ambassadors 
Congratulations to Doug Ficken of ClearLake Furniture in Ludlow and Dan Cote of Inn Victoria of Chester on being our 1st two certified Vermont Information Ambassadors.
|
|
Chamber Mixers & Special Programs
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!!!!
May 6 - 8-10am Leadership practices with Guy Payne Octo Room at Okemo Mountain Resort. Pre-register. 228-5830
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
July 14 - Social Media mixer at Good Commons
How to facebook, twitter - bring your laptops
August 11 - President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center in Plymouth Notch
September 8 - Bryant House in Weston
September 15 - OVRCC Golf Tournament - Okemo Valley Golf Course - 1pm shot gun start
September 22 - Business Showcase at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts. Call the Chamber office to reserve your booth space. Now accepting spaces. $99 table and can be shared.
September 23 & 24 - Big E in Springfield, MA
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
|
Upcoming Events:
5/1 Horse Partners Open Barn from 1-3pm. 802-263-5165
5/1-2 Fletcher Farm School classes
5/1-2 Billings Farm & Museum Spring Farm Festival Weekend
5/5 Endless Creations Pottery Studio's Cinco de Mayo Party
5/6 Leadership Practices with Guy Payne - Octo Room-Okemo
5/6-9 Good Commons Mind! Body! Spirit! Recharge Retreat
5/10 Blue Gentian Lodge- Koinonia of Vermont
5/12 Bella Luna hosts Collette Tours - Chamber Mixer 5:30pm
5/13 Misty Valley Books hosts Author Cornelia Read
5/14-16 Inn at Weathersfield Yoga Retreat
5/22 Chasse Fine Art Gallery offers an Appleblossom and Lilac Painting Class
5/22 Benson Chevrolet Malibu Give-Away Cookout
5/22 The Little School benefit - Black Fly Ball at Weston Playhouse
5/28 Ludlow Farmers Market
5/29 & 30 Open Studio weekend at Coolidge Homestead
For a complete list of events, please visit our event calendar http://yourplaceinvermont.com/weddings-and-events/calendar-of-events.aspx
If you have an event that is not listed, please email sgregg@yourplaceinvermont.com
|
Membership Committee News
The membership committee met on April 30th to discuss benefits to existing members and ways to increase the number of members. We would like input from existing members on ways the Chamber could assist you in growing your business.
For those members who can't make evening mixers, we are looking for a breakfast restaurant (with a separate dining room), to host our morning lead group mixers on a once a month basis on Tuesday from 8-9am. Please contact Chamber office if you can accommodate us and if you would like to participate in our one time/month breakfast meetings.
*Don't forget to refer a new member to the Chamber to get your FREE 6-month banner ad!
* You can SAVE hundreds of dollars by using your M2M benefit card at local Okemo Valley businesses!
To get more information about any of these benefits or to add a benefit, please call or email the chamber.
|
Marketing Committee News
The marketing committee did not meet this month. We are still waiting for our website to move over. New target date: May 14.
The committee will be reviewing more online advertising options in their May meeting. Topics will include banner ad placements on other websites, reciprocal links, adding package pages, pictures, videos and banner ads to enhance our website.
|
Advertising/Media update
Our upcoming advertising campaign includes the following;
1. Okemo Valley Regional Guide - Summer/Fall Completed.
2. Winter Vermont
Vacation Guide -A couple of spots are left on the inside back cover. Call NOW! Also includes online version.
($370/ad - 100,000 distribution).
3. 1/2 page brand ad in May's Connecticut Magazine. Completed.
4. One full page co-op ad in May's Yankee Magazine. Completed.
5. Southern Vermont Arts & Living - co-op ad
6. Travelhost of Vermont - co-op ad. Completed.
7. ChamberMail co-op direct mail piece to new residents. Completed. Goes to new residents beginning May 4th.
8. Vermont Wedding Resource Guide - brand ad. Completed.
9. www.Vermont.com - brand ad. Completed.
10. RSN-TV summer program with videos added to website.
(see News from our Members section).
11. LPC-tv monthly television program.
I received confirmation this morning from the editor of the New England Business Journals that Ludlow and the Okemo Valley will be appearing in both the Valley and Rutland Business Journals in June.
|
Welcome New Members
Redbarn Design and Build, LLC - Shrewsbury
Canvasworks Floor Covering - Perkinsville
Cafe at deLight - Ludlow
Big Buzz Chain Saw Carving Festival - Chester
Ludlow Country Store - Ludlow
|
News From Our Members
RSN TV 20 is now booking the Summer-Fall season of the Chamber sponsored show, Okemo Valley-Your Place in Vermont. This show is a colorful way to profile your business and be part of our co-operative effort to promote our region using television while continuing to enhance our website with video segments from the show. The pricing is done as a co-operative effort for all Chamber members. One low price includes turn-key production work, advertising time and cross-promotional web presence. Please call Dan at RSN TV 20 802-258-2200 to set up a meeting. The show runs July 5 to October 24, 2010
###
Congratulations to Waterwheel House Quilt Shop on their one year anniversary!
###
Chevrolet
Local Marketing Group is going to be giving away a free Chevy
Malibu. Benson's Chevrolet in Ludlow will be having a cookout at 1:30 PM
on Saturday, May 22, during which time they will select their
dealership's finalist for this giveaway.
Then, a little later,
the program headquarters will select a dealership at random, and that
dealership's finalist will be the grand prize winner.
Entrants
must be present at Benson's to win,
and will need to sign up before May 15 at the dealership or email the
info to George at bensonschev@tds.net or Dave Jellie at
bcisales@tds.net. They will need your name, address, phone number and
email address. All this info is necessary in order to submit your entry.
###
Steven Goldstein of the New England Business Journals will extend advertising discounts to any Chamber member for the June issue. 802-775-9500 x2241
###
|
Legislation Update
The Senate
Adopts $4.7 Billion Budget Plan.
The Vermont Senate this week put the finishing
touches on a budget for the year that begins on July 1, allocating about $1.1
billion toward the general operation of state government itself, and another
$3.6 billion toward transportation, education, capital spending and
federally-funded programs. Senate passage of the budget is generally
considered the first sure sign that adjournment is near.
###
Employer Interests on the Line in Challenges for Change.
As the legislature courses rapidly toward
adjournment, one massive item remaining on the table is the "Challenges
for Change" initiative. In
the past couple of years, state government has made major budget cuts in each
and every agency and department. Now, the task assigned to Vermont's
leaders at the outset of the session under the bipartisan Challenges for
Change initiative is to make sweeping changes to the organization and
structure of government, and adjust the implementation and delivery of
Vermont programs and services.
###
Defining Balance in the Unemployment Insurance Crisis.
After a week of closed door discussions with
legislative leadership and the Douglas Administration, a balanced solution to
the unemployment insurance crisis remains elusive. Each time the
legislative leadership exits the gubernatorial office, the next volley is
planned with interested parties coaching each step of the way. The
Vermont Chamber of Commerce continues to work with the leadership and
the Administration to seek a balanced approach but with each passing day,
heavy increases in the taxes on employers and limited permanent changes
to benefits levels are more and more likely.
###
House Passes Minimum Credit Card Purchase Legislation.
By a unanimous vote of 139-0, the full House on
Thursday passed legislation authorizing merchants to impose a minimum
purchase requirement of up to $10.00 for the use of a credit card. The
bill also allows merchants to provide discounts and other benefits for
payment through the use of cash, cards or other types of payments. The bill
was approved by the House Commerce Committee earlier in the week by a vote of
10-1. Vermont banks and credit unions, as well as credit card issuers such as
Visa and MasterCard, continue to oppose this bill.
###
Senate Committee Adds RPS Study to Energy Bill.
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy
Committee approved the renewable energy bill (H.781) this week by a vote of
5-0. The committee added language directing the Public Service Board
(PSB) to develop a plan for increasing the amount of renewable energy used by
utilities through either an expansion of current requirements or the creation
of a renewable portfolio standard.
###
Menu Labeling Rears its Head in House Health Care.
This week Rep. Steven Maier, Chair of the House
Health Care Committee, took up the menu labeling bill in his committee.
The version of the bill that appeared before the committee is a much
different version that was passed from the Senate Health Care Committee last
month. In a few brief paragraphs, the bill requires disclosure of
caloric information at all chain restaurants, but eliminates the protections
and clarifications that developed in seven drafts of the former bill.
###
The above is courtesy of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update of April 30, 2010.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
Volume 2, Issue 10
www.YourPlaceInVermont.com
|
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!
|
|
