News from Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce

Please enjoy this week's edition of the Chamber e-newsletter. FINAL TWO WEEKS of COFFEE WITH THE CHAMBER!! The last regularly scheduled Coffee with the Chamber will take place on Feb. 25th, but there's still the 18th, as well. Hope to see you there!!

Wistaria/Spring Co-op Advertising Opportunity for Chamber Members (and non-Members)

The Chamber has negotiated with the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group for some advertising in the Pasadena Star News. Ads will be full color ads, on a repeat basis. We have not signed the contract yet, we are looking for commitments from our member businesses prior to agreeing to the terms. If all goes well with the first run, we will purchase a second run, etc.

· Advertising will be on a first come, first served basis.

· FULL COLOR ad size is 3" high x 3.375" wide.

· Double ads available

u Portrait (vertical) orientation will be 3" high by 7" wide

u Landscape (horizontal) orientation ads are 3.375" wide by 6.25" high.

· Single ads will be $75 per ad for members, $100/non-members/issue.

· Double ads are $150 per ad for members, $200/non-members/issue.

The ads will be placed 4 times in an approximately four week period. For this first run, there will be two half-page ads featuring 7 spaces, and one full page ad featuring 10 spaces. The full page ad will feature 1/3 page at the bottom promoting the Wistaria Festival. If enough businesses are interested, a third half page ad will be added. Here's a look at a Pasadena business ad that our ad will be similar to.

First run (Wistaria, spring):

Full page, Sunday, March 7^th (10 spaces)

Half page, Thursday March 11^th (7 spaces)

Half page, Thursday, March 25^th (7 spaces)

Half page, Thursday, April 8^th (7 spaces) optional, only if sales warrant

Possible second run (Trail Race, Father's Day, Grads):

Half page, Sunday, May 23^rd

Half page, Thursday, May 27^th

Half page, Sunday, June 6^th

Half page, Thursday, June 10^th

Possible third Run (4^th of July, Friday Night Live)

Half page, Sunday, June 26th

Half page, Thursday, July 1^st

Half page, Sunday, July 11th

Half page, Sunday, July 18^th

Additional runs are being considered for Back to School and Dickens Village/Holiday.

Call Bill or Tiffany at the Chamber, (626) 355-5111, to reserve your space or for more information.

Wistaria Volunteers Needed

It's that time of year again. The Wistaria Festival is fast approaching, and the Chamber is putting out its annual call for volunteers. Here's an opportunity to be a part of Sierra Madre's signature event. Can you spare a couple hours on Sunday, March 14th? We need people to man barricades (all times of the day), direct vendors to their locations (early morning), draw booth lines on the boulevard (Saturday night) act as docents at the vine, work in the Chamber booths, help with entertainment, and to set up and tear down. Any help you can offer will be very much appreciated. If you or a friend or family member want to help, call (or have them call) the Chamber at (626) 355-5111.

Chamber to Sponsor City Council Candidate Forum

UPDATE - John Crawford, Pat Alcorn, "Eagle" Bill Tice, Nancy Walsh, and Josh Moran have confirmed that they will participate in the Chamber's Candidate Forum on March 8th.

Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host a City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, March 8th from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The Forum will be held at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. All candidates have been invited to participate. The forum will be conducted by the League of Women Voters, Pasadena Area, and they will provide a moderator, timekeeper and question sorters, all of whom are non-Sierra Madre residents.

Candidates will be seated alphabetically; only candidates are invited to participate. If a candidate is unable to attend, they may submit a written opening and closing statement which will be read by the moderator. Each candidate will be given 2 minutes for an opening statement and 2 minutes for a closing statement. One minute will be given to answer written questions from the audience; questions must focus on issues relevant to the Sierra Madre City Council election. These rules will be explained to the audience at the beginning of the forum.

Tables outside the forum room will be provided for campaign materials (buttons, flyers, literature, signs, etc) and no campaign materials are to be brought into the room where the forum is being conducted.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Wistaria Festival

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce annually hosts the Wistaria Festival in March. This event has become, for many people, Sierra Madre's signature event, and the SMPD estimated last year's crowd at nearly 13,000 people. It is definitely the biggest single day event in Sierra Madre.

Take advantage of this event to increase awareness of your business. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and you can find out more about that by clicking here. All of the sponsorship levels include a booth in the downtown festival where you can promote your business, VIP shuttle tickets to the vine for you, your business associates or employees, and logos and links on the Chamber's website and third party websites designed to increase traffic to your site and increase awareness of your business/brand. These links will remain on the Chamber websites for years to come.

This year's top sponsorship also includes some high visibility benefits never before offered. Top level sponsors will have the opportunity for their logo to be displayed on every shuttle ticket, as well as links and logos on the ticket ordering page (last year nearly 2800 people rode the shuttle to the vine). As an additional bonus, the top sponsors will also have the chance to put their logo on the sleeves of the shirts the Chamber will be producing for sale, not just at the Wistaria Festival but throughout the year, while supplies last.

So click on the link to find out more about sponsorships, or call the Chamber at (626) 355-5111.

City Council Candidate Forum, Monday March 8th See related article above.

March Mixer at Sierra Madre Woman's Club

Thursday, Mar. 11^th at the Sierra Madre Woman's Club, 550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7pm, $10/members, $15/non-members - City Council candidates invited (UPDATE - all candidates except Don Watts and Joe Mosca have confirmed their intent to be there), business networking, food lovingly prepared by women of the Club.

Wistaria Festival

Sunday, March 14^th, Downtown Sierra Madre, 9am to 5pm. View the world's largest blossoming plant from 9am to 4pm. Entry to the vine is free, round-trip shuttle ride to the vine is $10/pre-sale, $15/day of the event. Pre-order your shuttle tickets (coming soon) at www.WistariaTickets.com. Downtown festival (admission is free) features the works of 175 juried artisans and crafters. Shop at downtown stores, enjoy live music at multiple outdoor venues, kids attractions, remote broadcast by KOLA 99FM. Fun for the whole family!! More info: www.WistariaFestival.com

April Breakfast Mixer at Hart House in Memorial Park

Thursday, April 8th at the Hart House in Memorial Park, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 7:30 - 9am, $10/members, $15/non-members. Learn about Microsoft Windows 7 from Chamber member Village Domain.

Smith-Asbury to Host May Mixer at Pinney House

Thursday, May 20th (note change of date) at the Pinney House, N. Lima, Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7pm, $10/members, $15/non-members. Since 1987, Smith-Asbury has served companies providing brand development and strategic marketing plans. Does "doing it the way you've always done it" still work? Find out at the Chamber's May mixer.

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