Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings! Please join me in welcoming our new Chamber President, Mark Verespy; Vice President, Dan Cote; Treasurer, Barbara LeMire; and Secretary, Jim Szabo to the 2012 Chamber Executive Board. ### We are working overtime to promote our region. We have invested in facebook ads and new google co-op adword campaigns for both Lovin Ludlow Winter Carnival (2/9-12) and Chester Winter Carnival (2/17-19) to make sure these events are promoted and well attended. Also, check out our blog at http://discoverokemo.org. ### Please click on important and time sensitive Advertising Deadlines below. ### Be sure to watch our latest video on lpctv.org. Vivian Li, co-owner of Chef Mei Restaurant came into the Chamber office at the time of this taping and we put her on the spot. Thanks for being a great sport, Vivian! ### We're attending the Boston Globe Travel Show on February 10-12 to represent the businesses in the Okemo Valley. On March 2-4 we'll be at the NY Times Travel Show and we've just been invited by the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, to participate (for free) in "Northern New England" Month on March 22-25. Other invited participants are Ben & Jerrys, Cabot Cheese, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Stowe and the VT Department of Tourism & Marketing! You can see we're in good company and right up there with well-known brands. I can take a stack of your brochures for $50. ### We have begun a pilot Chamber-to-Chamber exchange program and have invited the Windsor Connecticut Chamber to come to the Okemo Valley on April 12-15 for a history exchange throughout our towns. In exchange, we encourage you to come with us to visit Windsor Connecticut. If this pilot program works well, we will be expanding to other Chambers in our drive market. ### On May 12 the Chamber will be co-hosting a Home & Energy Business Expo from 10am-3pm at the Jackson Gore Inn in Ludlow. We are combining the 2nd Annual Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Home and Energy Show with the 4th Annual Chambers Business Expo. We will have the latest in home and energy savings as well as speakers. Please mark your calendars now and read press release below. ### On August 17 & 18, we're participating in the VT Challenge, (www.vtchallenge.com). The Vermont Challenge is the only bicycle Challenge that circumvents Southern and Central Vermont over 3 or 4 days and draws upon the creative energy of local businesses and people of Vermont, key ski resorts, restaurants and farms in each local community that they visit. ### Every year we design a calendar that is sold to the public as a fundraiser. For our 2013 calendar, we will be hosting an online web photo contest! We are asking residents and visitors of the Okemo Valley region to submit photos that show people enjoying our area and things to do in the region. These photos will be displayed online, and viewers to our website will vote for pictures for each month. There will be twelve winners that will get their photo in the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce 2013 Calendar, on our website, AND on postcards. Free to enter! Entries are now being accepted. Send photos to info@yourplaceinvermont.com. Mark photo contest in the subject field. ### These are just some of the projects we're working on. We will know in May if we receive the grant for the Scenic Route 100 Byway, to include road signs and a mobile application. ### I would like to thank the Newsbank Conference Center for hosting our Legislative breakfast on January 6th, Outback Pizza for hosting our Chamber mixer on January 11th, and Inn Victoria for hosting our new member orientation on January 24th. ### Our next topic in or free educational series is on February 2nd from 8:30-9:30am regarding social media marketing at Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow. Please rsvp to the invitation from 1/30. March 21- google analytics and google adword campaigns at the Village Green Gallery in Weston. April tbd- how to use our mobile app May tbd- save on credit card processing June tbd- save on postage meters and ink July tbd- email marketing with Constant Contact August tbd- how to promote your business in our Okemo Valley Guidebook, Map and Blog ### Our next Chamber mixer is February 8th at the Inn at Weston from 5:30-7:30pm ### Be sure to check our extensive calendar of events on our website. We need your event 2 weeks prior. |
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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.
2012 MIXER LINE UP
All Mixers are from 5:30-7:30pm
February 8 - Inn at Weston - Weston
March 14 - Six Loose Ladies - Proctorsville
April 11 - Papa Johns Sugar House - Mount Holly
May 9 - Good Commons - Plymouth
May 12 - Home, Energy & Business Expo - Jackson Gore Inn 10am - 3pm. Tables are $99 and sponsorships are available. (SWCRPC 2nd Home & Energy Show combined with OVRCC's 4th Annual Business Expo) Ludlow
June 13 - WestonVT & VT Country Store, Weston
July 11 - WaterMusicArt and Hugging Bear Inn-Chester
August 8 - Stone Hearth Inn - Chester
September 12 - Heritage Family Credit Union - Ludlow
September 19 - OVRCC Golf Tournament - Ludlow
October 10 - The Richards Group - Ludlow
November 14 - Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 12 - Annual Meeting & Holiday Party at Echo Lake Inn - Plymouth
Already reserving 2013 dates. Call soon.
July 2013 - Route 103 Auto Repair - Chester
November 2013 - Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
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Membership Committee News!
Our first membership committee meeting was January 13 at 9am at Java Babas in Ludlow. The committee chose Patrick Ciriello as the new chair.
We reviewed the results from our membership survey, member due structure and benefits of membership. The committee will bring up to the board the idea of allowing members to send out email blasts to membership (4x/year) through the Chamber.
January 24 was our first new member orientation and refresher course including how to use the Chambers website plus how to save money with special offers and benefits available to members. Thank you to Inn Victoria in Chester for hosting this breakfast. Our next orientation will be in April.
The chamber added a Pay Member Dues here button on our website. (It's $7 more due to paypals' fees.) You can still mail your check, call the Chamber with a credit card, or call to set up a payment plan. We're here to work with you.
We understand that times are tough and Mother Nature has not been good to us. When you're looking to cut expenses, the one thing you do not want to cut is advertising, marketing and promotion. Your chamber membership is invaluable for the $20/mo dues charged for the exposure, help and support you receive.
All members receive a FREE listing in our Regional Guidebook twice/year with a distribution of 20,000; a FREE listing on our mobile application; a FREE listing on our website; SAVINGS using your M2M Benefit card, FREE educational programs, FREE and fun mixers, referrals and being part of a bigger community.
Our next membership committee meeting is February 3 at 9am at Javas. |
Welcome New Members
The Chamber welcomes the following new members in January:
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Marketing Committee News:
The marketing committee met on January 5 at 3pm at the Cool Moose Cafe in Ludlow.
Our marketing assistant, Danielle, will be moving to Alaska to join her husband. I want to thank Danielle for her year of excellent work. Her last day is February 16th.
We've hired from within. Gabrielle Macklin started as our intern and has been helping at the Chamber office for over a year now. She has been hired to take Danielles place as our new marketing assistant. Gabrielle's official first day will be February 21st. Please join me in welcoming her.
At our meeting we discussed pricing for online co-ops, banner ads on event landing pages, our interactive photo contest on our website, and 15 events we would like to co-op and publicize this year.
The 2012 Summer Vermont Vacation Guide has been published and is available at the Chamber office and Welcome Centers throughout the State. We're now working on positioning for next Winters (2013) Vermont Vacation Guide. Distribution is 100,000 and the cost of your ad would be $370 on the inside front or inside back cover. First come, first served. We fill the inside front cover first.
We need your packages for these shows. I can take a stack of your brochures for $50 and hand them out with our Okemo Valley Guidebook and map. I recommend working together and creating packages including lodging and attractions and possible coupons.
February 10-12, Boston Globe Travel Show;
March 2-4, New York Times Travel Show;
March 22-25, Mohegan Sun, Connecticut;
September, Big E in Agawam MA;
October, Vermont Wedding Associations bridal show.
Our next marketing committee meeting is February 2 at 3:15pm at Cool Moose Cafe.
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Deadlines for Advertising:
February 3 for your banner ad to be placed on Lovin Ludlow Winter Carnival event landing page with a link to a special offer related to the event. Or, offer a coupon example, Cool Moose Cafe 2 for 1 appetizer 5-8pm or Pot Belly Pub, Free dessert with purchase of entree, or 2 for 1 shakin' skate admission. Be creative! Banner ads on event landing pages are $250 or $150.
February 10 for your banner ad to be placed on the Chester Winter Carnival event landing page. We are driving traffic to these events via co-op google adword campaigns. Banner ads on event landing pages are $250 or $150.
February 15 deadline to order your ChamberMail ad.
ChamberMail is a direct mail piece that is from the Chamber welcoming new homeowners in both Rutland and Windsor counties. Ads begin at $199 and you are guaranteed 2000 new homeowner leads over the course of the year. Each month you go into the ChamberMail lead program to retrieve your leads. You can then send out a special follow up offer. Follow this link to order online. Think about using co-op dollars for this. This program runs February 2012 - February 2013. You must order NOW on the above link or call the chamber office and we can fax in your form for you.
March 14 deadline to be in our May issue of Yankee Magazine. This program includes print, online, averaged 800 leads and email blasts. Ads are $735.
Participants in the 2011 Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce co-op section received leads ranging from 730 to 1,070, depending on the target regions. The online added value programs, which included a 12-month YankeeMagazine.com listing, four month reader service listing, and a Great Yankee Giveaway sponsorship (totaled over $4,000 in online value for each participant). With exposure to over 2 million readers with a love of New England; the OVRCC advertising package offered tremendous print and online value for under $800. ** Same for 2012** Along with a print ad, online listing and lead generating reader service program, we will be offering an Email Marketing Component to your co-op package which will allow turnkey promotion of specials and packages. April 12 deadline for the Summer edition of the Okemo Valley Regional Guide. An expanded listing is only $90 and display ads start at $265. Spring River Marketing will be sending more details in March. Spring River Marketing will contact you for our upcoming Summer Issue of our Regional Guidebook. May 9 deadline for inside front or inside back cover of the Winter 2013 Vermont Vacation Guide. Distribution is 100,000 and ad cost is $370. We fill inside front cover first, so first come, first served. Remember to work together and create packages that we can hand out at trade shows! |
News From Our Members
Congratulations to Inn at Weathersfield and Stone Hearth Inn and Tavern for being in the Top 10 for Green Restaurants!
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Upcoming Events:
Please let us know of your 1, 5 or 10 year celebrations. (or increments of 5). We would like to promote that for you!!
Do you have an event that would qualify for Vermont's Top 10 Summer or Winter Event? Let us know so we can nominate your event.
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 |
Welcome back newly remodeled
Shaw's Supermarket!
 Marji Graf, CEO of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce helps to cut the ribbon with Shaw's President Mike Stigers, and Store Director, Darren Williams. When interviewed about putting up a tent in the parking lot, President Stigers said "it was the right thing to do. We had to make sure people in Ludlow had access to food and water".
A company with a conscience! The new store is beautiful. A huge produce department, organic department, fresh bakery, deli, sustainable seafood, wide aisles, warm and welcoming. Check it out for yourselves. It was worth the wait!! Thank you Shaw's.
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PRESS RELEASE
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Announces the 2012 Second Annual Home Energy Expo in conjunction with the 4th Annual Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. The Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission announces the Second Annual Home Energy Expo: a free event for Vermont families, home and farm owners, and local businesses. The event will provide an opportunity to learn more about programs and products that will reduce consumption, decrease energy costs, and improve the long-term sustainability of the community. This years' event will be co-hosted by the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and will take place on Saturday, May 12, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Jackson Gore Inn located in Ludlow, Vermont. The event will feature educational sessions and booths showcasing: - 2012 energy-efficiency incentives and programs
- Weatherization options for the home, office, barn, or building
- Making the right investments in lighting, heating, and buildings
- New innovations in wind and solar
- Simple, high-impact waste and recycling programs
- Regional businesses, manufacturers, and health and wellness providers
The expo will feature hands-on displays, products, and door prizes from regional vendors. Food and drinks will be available from participating local restaurants and include free tastings and samples. "We are thrilled to be kicking off our 2012 Home Energy Expo," said Thomas Kennedy, Executive Director, Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission. "Our inaugural event in Springfield was a huge success and we are excited to partner with the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and provide a larger facility and more educational opportunities." If you are a provider of energy-efficient products or services and would like to participate contact: Dan Potter (dpotter@swcrpc.org) or at 802-674-9201. Attendance is free of charge and more details can be found at www.swcrpc.org. If you are a member of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and would like a booth, please contact Marji at 228-5830. About Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission: Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC) is a compact of ten municipalities in southeastern Vermont, founded in the late 1960s. The ten member towns are Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Reading, Springfield, Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor. The Region is bordered by the Connecticut River on the east, Windham County on the south, and Rutland County on the west.www.swcrpc.org |
About Our Organization
Our Chamber provides the following member benefits:
*Health Insurance provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield *Dental Insurance provided by Delta Dental, *Free listing on our website with web link, *Free listing in our (twice/year) 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, *Google adword campaigns
*Facebook ads *Story ideas submitted to news outlets *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.
We are not affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. |
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OKEMO VALLEY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Marji Graf
CEO
mgraf@yourplaceinvermont.com
Staff
Danielle Lillard
Marketing Assistant
dlillard@yourplaceinvermont.com
Andi Smithmeyer
Membership Assistant
andi@yourplaceinvermont.com
2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Board:
President
Mark Verespy
The Killarney
Vice-President
Dan Cote
Inn Victoria
Treasurer
Barbara LeMire
People's United Bank
Secretary
Jim Szabo
The Vermont Counry Store
Regular Board:
Tesha Buss
Good Commons
Patrick Ciriello
Hawks Mountain Consulting
Liz Crowley
CZ Construction Management
Donald Dill
Images by Donald Dill
Sheldon Ghetler
Stone Hearth Inn & Tavern
Brian Halligan
Okemo Mountain Resort
Mary Knight
Knight Tubs, Pools & Spas
Ken Saccardo
Spring River Marketing
Laura Williams
Calm Moments Spa
Past President
William Dakin
Dakin & Benelli
missing in photo Tesha Buss and Liz Crowley |
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