News from Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce

August, 2010

Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce

Greetings!

We had a very busy July! Congratulations to the Ludlow Merchants Association for organizing a great 4th of July fireworks show!! I'm sure the 13th Annual State Zucchini Festival on August 14th will be as successful. This event is on the State's Top 20 Things To Do and has been advertised in Yankee Magazine. Please bring a zucchini baked good to the Festival. Restaurants, please make zucchini specials for the weekend. Thanks.
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Congratulations to Motel in the Meadow who raised over $3,000 to benefit Race For The Cure. Way to go, Pat!
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Congratulations to our newest Ambassador, Will Nye from Hunter Lea Gallery and Frameshop in Ludlow. I encourage everyone, including your staff, to take the online tests (even if you don't want a sign). Email lynda.Unwin@state.vt.us for a login and password.

Newest VT Ambassador

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The Chester Innkeepers Association is sponsoring the fourth pot luck supper on August 10 at 6pm at the Stone Hearth Inn and Tavern. All Chester business people are welcome. RSVP Sheldon at the Stone Hearth or Georgette at Hugging Bear.
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In Ludlow, I sit on the steering committee of the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project which was obtained by Jill Tofferi of the Fletcher Memorial Library. The project is a two-year initiative to help rural Vermont towns take full advantage of the Internet to create jobs, drive school innovation, provide social services, and increase civic involvement. Ludlow has a community forum on http://frontporchforum.com. Ludlow residents, please sign up. There will be a meeting at the Town Hall on August 10th at 7pm to celebrate Ludlow's selection as an e-vermont community and to explain how the e-vermont project can benefit Ludlow. To get involved, contact me at the Chamber, stop by the library and speak with Jill, Michelle at LPCTV, Pam at the Town Hall or Patty at The Book Nook. Be sure to watch the interview of Helen Labun Jordan and Phil Petty, from the Vermont Council on Rural Development e-Vermont Community Broadband Project on www.lpctv.org. Next round of applications will be out in October!

For the Towns of Weston, Ludlow and Plymouth (as well as Towns to the North and South of us), we are making Route 100 a scenic byway. The National Byway Program recognizes and supports outstanding roads. It provides resources to help manage the intrinsic qualities within the boarder Byway corridor to be treasured and shared. The program is about recognition, not regulation. 12 of us on the byway council met on July 9th along with 3 regional development corporations. Our goal is to receive our byway designation this year and apply for funding next year. Our byway will consist of Route 100, Route 100A and Route 103 to connect with Scenic Route 131.

Our 2011 "Taste of Every Season" dining calendar from the Okemo Valley is underway with only 2 available months left; April and May. Please call the Chamber office asap to reserve your month. Your page will include a picture of your dish, recipe, and either wine pairing, appetizer or dessert. Participants include:

January - Stone Hearth Inn and Tavern - Chester
February - Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort - Plymouth
March - The Killarney - Ludlow
April -
May-
June- Echo Lake Inn - Plymouth
July - Inn at Weston - Weston
August - Willie Dunns - Ludlow
September - Inn at Weathersfield - Weathersfield
October - Cool Moose Cafe - Ludlow
November - Fullerton Inn - Chester
December - Coleman Brook Tavern - Ludlow
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Our next Travel with the Chamber trip is underway! We listened to you. Shades of Ireland leaves May 1 - 10, 2011.
Reservations must be made by 12/2 and final payment due 3/2/2011!
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SPECIAL PROGRAM:

You are invited to come to our mixer on August 11 from 5:30-7:30pm at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and NEW Education Center. Christine Werneke, Chief Marketing Officer from the State of Vermont, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Vermont Ski Areas Association collaborated on research to study the perception of Vermont and how these perceptions affect decision making for choosing a vacation. The goals were to: 1. Understand Vermont's unique strength and areas of opportunity. 2. Identify the attitudes, needs and behaviors of our customers and 3. Determine the triggers for selecting a vacation destination. The research shows we are on target with our visuals in both the guidebook and website, also on target with our marketing efforts in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. Christine will be sharing the results of the State's branding study at our mixer and we are also welcoming the surrounding areas to join us. You MUST CLICK HERE to register with the State to attend.
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Our guest on lpctv.org this month is Laura Tuttle-Williams and Patrice Johnsen of Calm Moments Spa Services. Here about their backgrounds, their services, and the benefits they've received by being members of the Chamber.
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SAVE THE DATE: Our Chamber Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15th with a tee off at 1p. Call Mary Knight 228-7870 or Mark Verespy 228-7797.
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DID YOU KNOW that every member that has an enhanced listing on the website has their very own page. Call Marji and we'll get your page together with text and pictures. Restaurants can have their pdf printable menus on as well!!! Send us coupons for our "coupon page".
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CALL TO ACTION - PRINT & SAVE!!!

1. RSVP to 8/11 mixer at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and Education Center by 8/6!

2. Reserve your spot in next summers Vermont Vacation Guide deadline 8/6! Payment plans are available: $200 end of August, $200 end of September, and balance $206.25 end of October.

3. Reserve your spot for our 2nd Annual Business Showcase on 9/22. deadline 8/20! $99 table - and they can be shared. We have inside rooms as well as outside space available this year at the Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts in Ludlow. DaVallia Art & Accents

4. Sponsor a stop for the mini cooper scavenger hunt. Deadline 8/27! Call Laurie Marcheaux 228-8770

5. Reserve your dining month for our 2011 "Taste Of Every Season" dining calendar. (Apr or May left) deadline 8/3! Will be ready for distribution this October.

6. Reserve your participation for the BIG E on 9/23 & 24 by 9/3! Hotel will need to be booked asap.

7. Get your Okemo Valley Annual Golf Tournament form and check into the Chamber office by 9/8!

8. Reserve your participation for the NY Times Travel show and/or Boston Globe Travel Show, both in February, 2011. Limited space. $250/day. Deadline 9/17!
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ATTN: Non-profits
Vermont non-profits are required to file new paperwork with the IRS by October 15th in order to maintain their tax-deductible status. Visit Rep. Welch's webpage to find out more: welch.house.gov