FEATURED MEMBER 

Mainstream Music - Offering music lessons since 1988

Gary endorses the National Educational Music Company's thoughts on why your child should play a musical instrument? "Students with coursework/experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT. The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling- training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attentional skills, intelligence, and ability for self-knowledge and expression."

Join Mainstream Music & the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce for an upcoming Ribbon Cutting on May 23 at noon at 2401 S. Main Street, Unit L in Blacksburg (phone: 520-552-7448) to learn more about music lessons and instrument rental opportunities...be sure to ask Gary about his Jazz group, FMJP and book them for your next event! Please RSVP for Mainstream's Ribbon Cutting with Allison at adavis@montgomerycc.org.  

    The Leadership New River Valley Sparkplug Award

Leadership New River Valley sponsored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce awarded the first "Sparkplug" Award for 2012. The recipients for the March award were Lauren Collins of the Marriot Courtyard, Shannon Hammonds of Warm Hearth, and Julie Rosenberger of the Virginia Tech Foundation. These three leadership participants have led the class toward the selection of their service project by learning as much as possible from the three agencies, reporting back to the class of 2012, and keeping the class focused on the appropriate path.

The criteria for the award were clear communication, high levels of energy, and their ability to work together and share with the full class.

Kevin Shaw was the first recipient of the Sparkplug Award from the LNRV Class of 2011. Kevin demonstrated full-on high energy throughout the 2011 LNRV Session. 

Congratulations Lauren, Shannon & Julie!

But Wait... Leadership Doesn't Stop At Graduation!  The Building Community Committee/Team for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce heard the voices of the alumni of the Leadership New River Valley. Under the direction of chairperson, Terri Mitchell, the graduates of LNRV were contacted to determine their interest in forming an alumni association. Over sixty percent of those graduates responding expressed an interest in forming such an association.

 An event was planned for May 3, at the Holiday Inn on Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg, to reunite members of the five graduating classes ('05, '06, '07, '08, and '11). Unfortunately, the weather kept many of those indicating they would attend away. Sarah Miller ('11) walked away with the Door Prize.

Catherine Sutton, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, pledged the support of the Chamber of Commerce toward this association. She shared her experiences with leadership programs around the country. She also commented the level of energy she has seen and experienced with graduates of LNRV is like no other. Terri Mitchell ('05), Chair of the Building Community Committee/Team, also shared her experiences and the support of the committee to move forward with the intent to provide advanced leadership education/development, social opportunities, and community service to build the program in accordance to the wants and needs of the alumni 

Seventy percent of the LNRV graduates have indicated they want to give back to the community. They attributed their knowledge of the bright spots and the areas in need in our community to what they have learned through Leadership NRV.

Information has been presented to the alumni and will continue to go out in reference to an opportunity for a community service project. Feeding Southwest Virginia is a food drive challenge which has been proposed as a competition for Chambers of Commerce throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia by our Governor. Food pantries are in need of food and Chambers of Commerce are being asked to secure food to help. We have the connections with our Leadership New River Valley graduates to take on this challenge.  Leadership NRV ROCK ON, Lets Feed Southwest Virginia!

For more information, contact Sharon Scott at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce or at 540.449.5656.