Dear Chamber Supporters & Friends,
Thank you so much to all the volunteers who helped make Dawg Daze such a big success. Please visit our blog for pictures and recognition! THANK YOU!We have lots of events planned for this fall that you won't want to miss. A great panel of prestigious healthcare experts will conduct a Healthcare Reform Discussion on September 10th, followed by an important seminar directed to women regarding safeguarding their financial future entitled, " Successful Women Invest in Themselves" on September 24th. We're expecting a sell-out crowd at both events, so please register early! These events are followed by a networking event, Business after Hours on September 24th at McCormick & Schmick's. Please click on the links for details and to register! On October 1st, we are planning an informative breakfast regarding merchant credit card services. Don't know how to begin to accept credit cards online? Don't know which providers or banks to use? Wonder how much it costs? This seminar is for you! Please also check out Macy's "Shop for A Cause", on October 17th, a national charity shopping day during which you can partner with Mountain Brook's Macy's Department store to support local non-profit agencies in our area. You must pre-register your agency in advance to participate so follow the links for details. You might also be interested in the Compass for your Cause Program, a year-round opportunity for supporting your favorite charity - see details in the sidebar. MERCHANTS, we are initiating a regularly scheduled monthly Merchants Meeting at the Chamber headquarters. First meeting is Thursday, September 1st at 8:30AM and we will vote on the best time going forward. Please check our blog for more information as it becomes available.
In addition to a Calendar of Merchant Events, we have just added a Search Engine to the top of our blog. Try it! You can easily find all the mentions about your store, a specific event, or a restaurant on the blog, on the web, or through links that we've posted without scrolling through all the posts and archives. It's a terrific new feature! 
Tell us what's going on so we can keep our community informed and help grow our businesses! Thanks for supporting your Chamber of Commerce!
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Upcoming Chamber Events in September
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MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY FOR THESE EVENTS! THEY WILL SELL OUT!
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HEALTHCARE PANEL DISCUSSION AND LUNCHEON
SEPTEMBER 10TH
Mark your calendars for the Chamber's quarterly luncheon on September 10th featuring a panel discussion on Healthcare. Our prominent panel will be discussing many of the issues that will affect our future healthcare! This discussion may be lively! For more information and to register, please visit our website and make your reservations EARLY. We have a limited number of seats available.
Panel Members include:
- Brookwood Hospital CEO, Gary Gause
- St. Vincent's Hospital CEO, John O'Neil
- Trinity Hospital CEO, Bill Heburn
- HealthSpring Insurance CMO, Dr. Ken Botsford
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield CEO, Robin Stone
- Cooper Green CEO, Dr. Sandra Hullett
FINANCIAL FUTURE FOR WOMEN
SEPTEMBER 24TH
Calling all Women! Interested in your financial future? Don't miss the Go & Grow breakfast seminar by Kim Lepley, with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney entitled "Successful Women Invest in Themselves". She will provide tips on planning now to ensure quality of life in retirement, as well as addressing the financial problems facing women today. As a working parent to three children, Kim has lots of practical experience as well as a training background which makes her a compelling public speaker. Her friends who pressed her to share her knowledge with other women in a seminar, stressed her helpfulness to them, her ability to listen and provide directed information, and her vast knowledge of the financial options. Don't miss it! To register, please visit our website.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
SEPTEMBER 24TH
Business after Hours is a networking opportunity for chamber members and this month will also include the chamber members of Vestavia and Homewood. For more information and to register, please visit our website.
NAVIGATING MERCHANT SERVICES OPTIONS
OCTOBER 1ST
This seminar is specifically directed to merchants who are confused about the many options available to them in setting up online credit card transaction capabilities, in choosing services to offer, and in choosing from the multitude of vendors offering these services. Fletch Leonard who co-owns Omega Bankcard with Mountain Brook resident, Keehn Berry, shares the knowledge he's gained over a 10 year period in the industry in addition to informing merchants of the changes recently initiated and those that he sees coming. Merchants, this one is for you!
To register for any of these events, please click here.
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Save the Date for the Village to Village Run - 12/12/09
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Mark your calendar for the popular Village to Village Run, this year with an all-new route, beginning and ending in Mountain Brook Village, and meandering through some of Mountain Brook's most beautiful neighborhoods. Also new this year is a 1 -mile Fun Run! Designed as a 'walker and family friendly' event, prizes will be given in all categories. Start times: 8AM for the 10K, 9:00AM for the Fun Run. More details will be posted in the events section on the website soon including race information, route maps, and how to pre-register.Not a runner? Then set up your folding chairs along the race course to cheer on the participants. Don't miss it!
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Goodbye to a Mountain Brook Institution!
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 After three generations of business and 96 years, Browdy's Delicatessen closed their doors, August 19th. With a popular luncheon menu that changed everyday, they moved from their location downtown to the intersection of Mountain Brook in 1944 and finally next door to Western several years ago. The current owners, Stan & Marilyn Browdy are grandchildren of the founder, Victor Browdy, and spent their lives in the restaurant. Many also remember their father, Steve, who died in 1987, and their mother, Ruth, who was often seen managing the cash register until her death in December 2008. The restaurant had earned the distinction of the longest continuously operating business in Mountain Brook. To the entire Browdy family, THANKS for the memories! We will miss you!  |
Reception to celebrate Beverly Smathers 17 years of Library service!
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(Left to right: David Roth, Beverly Smathers, Library Director Sue Murrell)
On the evening of August 18, 2009, The Emmet O'Neal Library
and the Mountain Brook Library Foundation hosted a reception to honor Mrs.
Beverly Smathers. During the
reception, a plaque honoring Mrs. Smathers' seventeen years of service was
dedicated and now hangs in the heart of the library. Mrs. Maura Goodwyn, current Library Foundation Board member,
and Mr. Bill Tynes, former Foundation Board Chairman, each expressed their
appreciation for Mrs. Smathers' outstanding dedication to the library and its
patrons. Mr. David Roth, current Library Board Chairman, read a resolution on
behalf of the citizens of Mountain Brook, honoring Mrs. Smathers for her
contributions to the library.
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Where can you get a Flu Shot? |
According to the CDC, swine flu vaccinations will not be available to the public until October.
Regular Flu Shots will be available to the public administered by Nursing Specialties, LLC
at the following Mountain Brook locations:
- Piggly Wiggly - Crestline - September 9th (10AM - 4PM
- Fire Station - Overton Road - Thursday, September 10th (10AM - 4PM)
- Fire Station - Overton Road - Friday, October 16th (9AM - Noon)
- Brookwood Mall (Near the Food Court) - Wednesday, October 28th (12:30PM - 2PM)
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Congratulations to George Jones with Snoozy's Kids!
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George Jones with Snoozy's Kids is a finalist in the 2009 Retailer of the Year Awards to be announced in a ceremony on September 29th! He has been notified that he has won either the gold, silver, or bronze award in the $1 Million to $5 Million Sales Category! We will keep you posted, but in the meantime, please stop by and congratulate him!
Great Job, George! (And thanks for sponsoring the Dawg Daze movie, Hotel for Dogs! It was a huge hit!)
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Kathy Cate to be featured at Open House - Mulberry Heights |
Mulberry Heights is featuring their latest artist, Kathy Cate. Great paintings, jewelry, and t-shirts but also an exciting new addition - Christmas ornaments. Please drop by their Open House to see all the beautiful gift ideas!
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Bug's Boys has Navy Blazers for Ballroom Dancing!
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BUGS BOYS NOW CARRYING VINEYARD VINES
REMINDER: FOR BOYS THAT ARE TAKING BALLROOM DANCING, YOU MUST WEAR A NAVY BLAZER! Find them at BUGS BOYS from sizes 8-20
200 Country Club Park
Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213
(205) 879-2992 |
9/11 Remembrance Event
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Note that this year, Homewood will be the site for the
September 11 Remembrance Service
for the communities of Mountain Brook, Vestavia, and Homewood to be held at 9:00AM in front of Homewood City Hall.
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New Member - Francis Hare of Hare Communications
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Visit their website for "Harebrained Notions" like, "leading with our ears", "go forth and multiply" and "jumping whenever clients call"! Intriqued? So were we! Read more about them by clicking here. They ask, "What do you expect from your agency-aside from a devotion to your needs bordering on the obsessive? Give us a call and let's think about it together"! Call them at 205 939-4001 or email them here.
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Website Development Offer! |
For a limited time, new chamber member Don Moore with Moore Solutions, Inc, is offering a special discount to chamber members for an effective website of 6 pages, up and running in less than a week, easily updated by the website client, all for less than $1,000! Small Business Web Design Package includes:
- 1 hour consultation
- Easily updated content management system
- Professional website development of 6 pages (with more pages added if needed for an additional fee)
- 1 year domain name registration and website hosting
- Google analytics to track your website traffic
Take advantage of this special offer to create a website presence or update your existing website! Extras can be added economically including extra pages, feedback form, fillable pdfs, google maps, photo galleries, e-newsletters, and e-commerce. Contact Donald B. Moore for more information. |
Snap Kids in Crestline NOW OPEN - Urban Clothes for fashion forward kids
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A new children's clothing store just opened in Crestline Village. Love it for yourself? Love it for your kids! Snap Kids
is an Urban Kids Apparel Company featuring the best collection of
durable and comfortable clothing for kids sizes newborn to 14. Drop by
and see for yourself!
Signature lines include Charlie Rocket, Diesel Kids, Ella Moss Girl,
Little Ella, IKKS, Splendid Littles, Splendid Girl, Tea Collection,
Daily Tea and Ben Sherman. Designer Denim lines include J. Brand,
Diesel and Hudson Jeans.
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Chamber members, we will continue to update our chamber list and provide additional benefits to our chamber members only. Welcome mats are here and are a great way to advertise your support of
your community as well as extend a hearty welcome to all your customers. New members, it's not too late to order a welcome mat. Please email the chamber for details.
Visit our new online shop! It's a great way to support your community and your chamber! And we will be adding new products and designs frequently. Have an idea? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you! Products ship directly from the manufacturer - it's quick and convenient. Try it!
Did you know Mountain Brook was originally developed in 1929 by local developer
Robert Jemison as an extensive residential subdivision, and was
incorporated on May 24, 1942? The plans, by Boston-based landscape architect Warren H. Manning,
called
for estate-sized lots along winding scenic roads and denser
commercial development centering on three "villages" known as English
Village, Mountain Brook Village and Crestline Village. Mountain Brook's planner Warren Manning,
along with world-famous landscape architect, Frederick Olmstead, also
included in his portfolio such notable projects as Central Park in NY,
Biltmore Castle in Asheville, and the Chicago Columbian Expo. Mountain
Brook has good roots!
Thanks for helping us help you!
Sincerely,
Suzan Doidge
Suzan Doidge
Director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce
P.S. Missed a past issue? They are now archived on the News page of our new website. You can continue to forward them if there is an article of particular interest with live links up to 90 days past the publish date. (And the Casuals Etcetera link has been fixed! Sorry about that!)
We would like to maintain a calendar of all upcoming merchant events through the holiday season so that everyone can coordinate dates. Please click on the link above, view the sidebar on the right or view them on our website! If you have something to add, please contact us as soon as possible. We will keep these events posted in the events menu bar on the website through the end of the holiday season, so you can refer to the calendar when planning your schedules. Thank you!
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Please join our mailing list to receive our monthly email newsletter. And thanks for forwarding this information to your friends and neighbors using the link on the left.
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Susan Mathews is closing shop
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After 9 1/2 years of happy clients, Susan Mathews is closing her dress shop in Mountain Brook Village to be a stay-at-home mom. Drop in to wish her well, and to take advantage of special closing sales up to 70% off.
Susan G. Matthews, inc.
2730 Cahaba Road
Birmingham, AL 35223
205.879.7186
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Lane Parke Development
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Want to keep in touch with what's going on with the 27-acre Lane Parke Development in the heart of Mountain Brook? View the plans and renderings in the storefront next to Little Hardware (formerly Jonathon Benton) or visit their website by clicking here.
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What is the 3/50 Project?
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What 3 independently owned businesses would you miss if they were gone. Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around!
For every $100 spend in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. Spend it online and nothing comes home.
For more info: click here
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Welcome Our New Member, The Fred Smith Group!
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The Fred Smith Group is a full service, professional real estate team that can assist you in all your real estate needs. With decades of combined experience, The Fred Smith Group can professionally guide you through the most important transactions in life. Visit their Website!
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New Ownership at Gus's Hot Dogs!
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New Owner, Ernie Gerontakis invites you to come by and try his fabulous chicken sandwich!
You'll love it - I did!
NOW OPEN LATE ON TUESDAY NIGHTS AFTER BALLROOM DANCING!
All Greek fare on Friday nights!
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Charitable Opportunities
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The Compass for your Cause Program
No checks to write. No telemarketing. No door-to-door sales. In other
words, no hassles. Compass For Your Cause allows you to support your
favorite organization by doing something you do virtually every day-use
your check card for purchases. For more information click here! |
What is Shop For A Cause?
This one-day shopping event is one of
the many ways Macy's gives back to our community through support of
local non-profit organizations! On Shop For A Cause Day, guests have
the opportunity to participate in a unique shopping experience
including discounts, entertainment, special events and the opportunity
to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes.
How do organizations raise funds?
Participating organizations sell $5
shopping passes to the event. Your organization keeps the proceeds from
every shopping pass you sell. It's that simple! By purchasing a
shopping pass, customers can support their favorite cause, while
enjoying a day full of extraordinary discounts and events throughout
the store.
Click here for more information |
Calendar of Merchant Events
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SEPTEMBER 2009
- September 23rd & 24th - Table Matters: Fall Linen
Trunk Show: Linen Samples from our top vendors. Beautiful Italian
pieces we don't usually stock
OCTOBER 2009
- October 7th - Table Matters: Simon Pearce Glass Blower
from Vermont. Pia Pearce, his wife, will be signing their new coffee
table book while Simon is signing glass pieces. (bowls, pitchers,
stemware).
- October 22nd - The Cook Store: Tena Payne of Earthborn Studios Pottery Signing
- October 24, 26, 27 - Table Matters: Lauren Lachance Oct. 24, 26, 27 Botanical Illustrator with plant pressings
NOVEMBER 2009
- November 5 - Table Matters: Kick off JULISKA (month of
November) with Girls' Night Out/Holiday Open House (live music &
cocktails) (Sally Legg in Store). 4-7PM
DECEMBER 2009
- December 12 - Table Matters: Good Earth Pottery Mississippi ceramist will be here signing 11-5
- December 28 - January 10 Table Matters: After Christmas Sale
- TBD - Table Matters: Craven Studios
- TBD - The Cook Store: Cookbook signing by Idie & Chris Hastings
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