Welcome to Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greetings! The Okemo Valley has hosted FAM tours in June with tour operators visiting from Italy, the United Kingdom, and throughout the USA. They all loved our region and the diversity of our businesses and towns and will be bringing groups back to visit us. We were also visited by Americade in early June. Thank you for putting out the welcome mats to this motorcycle club. ### Watch your email on Monday, July 9th for an announcement concerning our new website launch. ###
July 27-29 the Okemo Valley will be hosting the Windsor Connecticut Chamber for our first Historic Chamber-to-Chamber Tourism Exchange. Please consider taking the Good Bus to visit Windsor CT on September 7-9 for $450 all inclusive. Click on the Travel with the Chamber link on our website for the weekend itinerary.
Our next Travel with the Chamber program will be going to the National Parks from November 6-13, 2012. All inclusive for $1500. Boston to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Page, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and back to Las Vegas to Boston. Open to the public.
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August 17 & 18 the VT Challenge will be in Ludlow.(www.vtchallenge.com). Would you like a table at their event? $75 will put your business and products in front of 1500 cyclists and their families. Contact John at jsohikian@vtchallenge.com 914-420-8805 asap.
On August 19 they leave Ludlow and pass through Chester.
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Our golf tournament is September 12th. Call Mary Knight to register your Team 228-2260.
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The Okemo Valley has two days at the Big E this year: Thursday, September 20 and Friday September 21. Let me know what days/shifts you would like to attend. Either 9a-3p or 3p-11p or both days.
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Be sure to read your email tomorrow for your "Just Between Us" deals for July!
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Our Scenic Route 100 Byway committee with help from our Towns will be putting up our byway trail signs this month.
We have Byway maps available in the Chamber office.
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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
July 11 - WaterMusicArt and Hugging Bear Inn-Chester
August 8 - Stone Hearth Inn - Chester
September 12 - OVRCC Golf Tournament - Ludlow
September 19 - Heritage Family Credit Union - Ludlow
October 10 - The Richards Group - Ludlow
November 14 - Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 12 - Annual Meeting & Holiday Party at Echo Lake Inn - Plymouth. Tentative speaker Lt. Governor Phil Scott.
Only 5 2013 mixer dates available. Call soon.
January 9 -
February 13 - Country Girl Diner - Chester
March 13 -
April 10 - Outback Pizza - Ludlow
May 8 -
June 12 - President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
July 10 - Route 103 Auto Repair - Chester
August 14 - Inn Victoria - Chester
September 11 -
October 9 -
November 13- Jackson Gore Inn - Ludlow
December 11 - Annual Meeting tbd
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Membership Committee News
The membership committee did not meet in June due to vacation schedules. The next meeting is July 20th at 9am at Java Babas in Ludlow. Feel free to attend and join our committee.
We also welcomed Kimberly Grenier as our new membership assistant. Her email is kgrenier@yourplaceinvermont.com
Feel free to drop Kim a quick email to welcome her into our Chamber family. |
Welcome New Members
The Chamber welcomed the following 4 new members in June:
Martha S. Stretton, PH.D - ChesterPrivate practice in psychology
msstretton@vermontel.net
875-2267
Plan B Stables - ChesterOwners Katie Boehrer & Nancy DePalma
Trail rides, lessons, pony rides, special events 875-5110Magic View Motel - Londonderry
802-824-3793
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Marketing Committee News:
The marketing committee met on June 21st at the Killarney in Ludlow.
We met again with Kasia Karazim of Green Mountain Advertising & Marketing, Inc., to finalize the features and layout of the new site.
We are getting a new, robust WordPress platform that will provide us will a myriad of opportunities going forward including sophisticated search engine optimization, ability to leverage the latest in social media, additional advertising opportunities, a blog on the site, a customized weather widget, a managed area for contests like the photo contest and much, much, more. You will be able to enter your own events and we will be asking you to update all your own information online. Watch for an email on July 9th.
At our last educational seminar we showed you how you can use 'one time only coupons' on our Okemo Valley mobile app. If you have a basic listing, now is the time to upgrade so you can use all the new features. For just $249 per year you will have a featured listing for your business that includes a slide show with up to 5 images, links to your website, facebook, or u-tube and 3 pages to describe your business, feature what you sell and list events and/or specials. Your business will also get a pin on the GPS enabled map within the app that will guide customers right to your door.
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Celebrations:
Congratulations to John C. Stewart & Sons in Cuttingsville on their 97th Anniversary!
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Congratulations to Bill Ackerman of The Vermont Country Store for winning the Vermont Chamber's Allied Member of the Year Award! This award is designed for an individual who is a leader in offering a service that supports and promotes the hospitality industry in Vermont. Way to go Bill!
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Congratulations to Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts who is celebrating their 65th Anniversary! What a gift to have this Arts & Crafts School in our Okemo Valley!
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Please let us know of your 1, 5 or 10 year celebrations. (or increments of 5). We would like to promote that for you!!
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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
Gabrielle Macklin
Marketing Assistant
gmacklin@yourplaceinvermont.com
Kimberly Grenier
Membership Assistant
kgrenier@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
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
Laura Williams
Calm Moments Spa
Past President
William Dakin
Dakin & Benelli
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