Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings!
We've had an extremely busy February in the Okemo Valley. It began with meetings with the Select Boards and Planning Commissions to review our Scenic Route 100 Byway Corridor Management Plan. Thank you to the towns and select boards in Andover, Ludlow, Plymouth and North for supporting our efforts. We thank Brent at Clear Lake Furniture for hosting an informative luncheon to update the business community along the proposed byway. Our public hearing is set for March 24 from 7-8p at the President Coolidge State Historic Site Education and Conference Center. Public support is welcomed. ### Next, WCAX-TV came to Lovin' Ludlow's Winter Carnival and participated in the Scavenger Hunt. All 11 businesses received a couple of minutes exposure on tv to make a :30 minute program. There was excitement around town and fun was had by all. Thanks to Liz Crowley and team for putting this carnival together. Chester Winter Carnival was extremely successful with more out-of-state license plates than ever before. The Chamber was glad to help with all the media and promotion in Yankee Magazine, Whofish, the Chamber website (with over 1500 hits each for these events) and online media sites, to get the most exposure possible for both winter carnivals. Kudos to Julie at Chester Hardware and her team for putting this yearly carnival together. Now we have to make them "Top 10" events in the State! ### The Chamber participated in the Boston Globe Travel Show and the New York Times Travel Show. We handed out Okemo Valley Regional Guidebooks, maps, our mobile app cards and "A Taste of Every Season" 2011 dining calendars. ### We had our Small Business & Chamber Legislative Day in Montpelier on February 17th. We had breakfast with our legislators, sat in on meetings regarding economic development and had a special luncheon at the Capitol Plaza Hotel with Commissioner Megan Smith from the Department of Tourism and Marketing along with Senator Alice Nitka, Representatives Dennis Devereux, , Ernie Shand, and Leigh Dakin. We're very lucky to have a great group of representatives for our area. ### There are 2 free programs as part of the e-vermont grant in Ludlow. 5:30-7pm at Fletcher Memorial Library. 3/11 Web based communication tools 3/31 Evaluating Information on the Web The Chamber welcomed new members Live Authentically from Cavendish; Northwoods Ice Craft from Montpelier, Country Treasures in Chester and the new owners of Chef Mei in Ludlow. Be sure and watch our monthly program on lpctv.org. ### Our Okemo Valley Mobile app is now on apple and droid platforms. Now guests can find us in our Okemo Valley Regional Guidebook, our website, and now on their mobile devices!!! We're looking for someone from each town that can update their Town's page. We have Margo from Cavendish, Cynthia from Chester, how about the others? Call Marji for a user name and password if you want to take this on. Weston? Ludlow? Mount Holly? Plymouth? ### Be sure to click on Marketing Committee news for upcoming advertising opportunities and deadlines!!! ### Our next mixer is March 9 at Endless Creations Pottery Studio in Chester from 5:30-7:30pm. Please join us and feel free to bring a door prize too. ### Your Executive Director will be in China on a fam trip from March 12-20 with 49 other Executive Directors from across the country. Can't wait to share this experience with you. ###
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Chamber Mixers
Join us for our monthly Chamber Mixers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Bring a door prize if you can.
All Mixers are from 5:30-7:30pm
2011 MIXER LINE UP
March 9- Endless Creations Pottery Studio - Chester
April 13- Bonnie's Bundles Dolls - Chester
May 11- Outback Pizza - Ludlow
June 8- Canvasworks Floor Cloths - Weathersfield
July 13 - Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts - Ludlow
August 10- 3rd Annual Okemo Valley Expo at Green Mountain Banquet and Conference Center - Chester
September 14- The Village Green Gallery - Weston
October 12- Berkshire Bank - Ludlow
November 9- Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 14- Annual Meeting at Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern - Chester
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Membership Committee News
The membership committee met on February 18 at 9:00am at Java Babas.
Strategic Plan:
We reviewed and updated the Strategic Membership Plan dated July, 2009. New M2M Benefits were discussed: 1. LaValley Building Supply invites Chamber members to become an Okemo Valley/LaValley Retail Member. Show your M2M card and fill out a LaValley/Middleton member form. Currently this program is to provide a standard 5% discount, however, if you also sign up for the e-member program, you will receive the latest updates on products and services. Yard items are not included in this program. Call Ron Godfrey for details 228-4665. 2. High Peaks Media is offering a 33% discount to the first six Featured Advertisers. In addition, we will provide Chamber Members with the remainder of the 2010-2011 Winter/Ski season at no charge. Join our Resort Area Guide today and your ad will be up within 48 hours, but your advertising term won't begin until April 1, 2011 providing your business with Premium Exposure on our network of 13 Year-Round websites through March 31, 2010. www.powderbank.com or call 802-483-2884 3. Live Authentically is offering 10% off courses www.liveauthentically.org or call Martha 802-226-7848 4. Free coupon offer on www.yourplaceinvermont.com Call 228-7664 Spring River Marketing to get set up. One time $20 set up fee. Payment Policy / Collections: Any member with monies owed to the Chamber in dues and/or advertising, (that is over 90 days and not on a payment plan), is in jeopardy of losing their member benefits: listings in our regional guidebook, website, mobile app, advertising, insurance, etc. Next Membership CommitteeMeeting is scheduled for March 25th at 9:00 to be held at Java Babas. Feel free to come and join this committee. We want to hear your ideas. We look forward to seeing you at our next mixer on March 9th at Endless Creations Pottery Studio in Chester. Feel free to bring a door prize.
Be sure to check all Member Benefits on our website. Please call or email Denise to add or update your M2M Benefit. Let's all do business with each other at a discount. Keep it local and support one another.
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Marketing Committee News
The marketing committee met February 8th at 11am at the Cool Moose Cafe. Please contact Marji Graf, 228-5830 or mgraf@yourplaceinvermont.com if you would like to join this committee.
Tesha Buss from Good Commons in Plymouth volunteered to be the Marketing Committee Chairperson.
We discussed initiating Pay Per Click & Keyword advertising for our chamber website, setting a summer/fall and winter/spring budget.
Our FREE Okemo Valley App is available for download from the App Store.
We just returned from a very busy Boston Globe Travel Show and NY Times Travel Show, distributing Okemo Valley Guidebooks, "A Taste of Every Season" 2011 dining calendars, and representing our region. Our next show is April 30 at the Green Getaways Local Food & Travel Expo in Brooklyn, NY. We have limited space, so let Marji know asap if you would like to participate. $250 for the day. We will drive up and back the same day.
Upcoming Co-op advertising opportunities:
Ken Saccardo of Spring River Marketing will be calling you regarding our upcoming Okemo Valley Summer Regional Guidebook.
May issue of Yankee Magazine (only 2 spots left); (deadline now);
Early summer issue of Travelhost, (deadline March 31);
Inside front and back covers of next winter's Vermont Vacation Guide (deadline May 9).
Call the Chamber asap to reserve your spot. Payment plans are available as well as MC, VISA, Discover cards.
We are currently running co-op pages in:
Winter/Spring 2011 So. VT Arts & Living Wedding Issue; February - April 2011 Travelhost Magazine;
Brand ad in the May 2011 issue of Connecticut Magazine.
Banner Ads are still available and are a great bargain! Promote your business on www.yourplaceinvermont.com
It's not too late to get on our mobile app. Take advantage of the special pricing today and the opportunity to communicate directly with your customers in LIVE time. You will have your own user name and password so you can let customers know you're special offers, menus, bands, sales, etc.
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Upcoming Events:
Please submit your events to us 2 weeks in advance.
If you don't see your event in the calendar, please call us.
www.YourPlaceInVermont.com |
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Scenic Route 100 Byway Update
The proposed Vermont Byway Designation of Route 100 is a joint effort of town representatives from Pittsfield, Killington, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Ludlow and Andover; Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Office of Killington Economic Development and Tourism, local businesses, and the Southern Windsor County and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commissions. This designation offers travelers historic, cultural, scenic and recreational information and waypoint centers about the towns and villages along the Byway. The Committee has finalized their Corridor Management Plan that identifies these resources along the Route 100 Byway. This Plan also includes a vision for the future of the Byway and strategies to improve and enhance the resources and destinations along the way. The hearing with the Vermont Scenery Preservation Council is on March 24 at 7pm at the President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center, 3780 VT 100a, Plymouth, Vermont. Please attend to support this byway. Full Scenic Route 100 Byway Corridor Management Plan Scenic Route 100 Map |
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News from our Members/Congratulations
Congratulations to Inn Victoria for having been chosen by our readers as North America's "Best Complimentary Afternoon Snack" for 2011 by LanierBB.com. Guests picked Inn Victoria from over 8,500 B&B's. "Warm, welcoming and full of character and charm, Penny & Dan Cote offer exceptional hospitality and effort to go that extra mile. Earning themselves the designation of "Best Complimentary Afternoon Snack for 2011" with Lanier readers, this B&B truly stands out above the rest". -Pamela Lanier |
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SWCRPC Sponsors Home Energy Expo at RVTC
The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Energy Committees of Springfield, Windsor, West Windsor and Weathersfield, are hosting the Home Energy Expo on Saturday, March 19th from 9am to 3pm at the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield. To participate, call Jason Rasmussen at 674-9201 or email jrasmussen@swcrpc.org for more information. |
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River Valley Workforce Investment Board
The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is a volunteer group of stakeholders (business, education, agencies and the community) working together to identify and address current and future workforce needs, foster the development of skilled lifelong learners, and enrich the quality of life by providing opportunities for people to achieve their highest potential. WIBs were created to give businesses a voice in education and to foster partnerships between business, education, and service providers to create a competent and thriving workforce. The River Valley WIB is undergoing a transition. In an effort to better determine the needs of our communities, we are reaching out to businesses in the region. Are you interested in building the workforce of the region? Would you like to help the unemployed and underemployed have access to training that will help them to have viable employment? Do you want to make sure there are opportunities for your employees to participate in ongoing education and skill development? Would you like to have a positive impact on the community? If you answered yes to any of these questions the River Valley WIB invites you to participate in our organization. We are currently growing and working to assess the needs of the communities through outreach to employers in the area and we need your help. For WIB, meeting dates, questions, or more information please contact:
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Judith Pullinen, Director
River Valley Technical Center
307 South St.
Springfield, VT 05156
(W) 802-885-8300
Email: jpullinen@rvtc.org
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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 listing on our mobile app,
*Free placement of your business brochures in our welcome centers in Ludlow and Chester,
*Free monthly chamber mixers,
*Free educational programs,
*Member to member discounts,
*Referrals,
*Co-op advertising opportunities
*Marketing and Promotion
*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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Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Marji Graf
mgraf@yourplaceinvermont.com
Staff
Danielle Lillard
Marketing Assistant
dlillard@yourplaceinvermont.com
Denise Cote
Membership Assistant
dcote@yourplaceinvermont.com
2011 Board of Directors
William Dakin
Dakin & Benelli
President
Lynne Reed
Misty Valley Books
Vice President
Barbara LeMire
People's United Bank
Treasurer
Mark Verespy
The Killarney
Secretary
Jessica Alberty
Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort
Michael Alon
DaVallia Art & Accents
Tesha Buss
Good Commons
Dan Cote
Inn Victoria
Liz Crowley
CZ Construction Management
Donald Dill
Images by Donald Dill
Sheldon Ghetler
Stone Heath Inn & Tavern
Brian Halligan
Okemo Mountain Resort
Laurie Marechaux
Fletcher Farm School
Jim Szabo
The Vermont Country Store
Laura Williams
Calm Moments Spa Services
Past President
Jim Kubec
The Governor's Inn
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