FEBRUARY 2004 NEWSLETTER

Mt Airy Business Fair
Saturday March 27th, 11am - 4pm
Mt Airy Senior Center
Sponsorship opportunities still available. Details below.
Contact Carol Cahall at (301) 829-4444 or Donnis Klein at (301) 829-2928

BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Our next Business Card Exchange will be hosted by Billie Wilkinson at the Farmers & Mechanics Bank on Ridgeville Blvd (next to Arby's) on Wednesday February 11th from 4-7pm.
Ken Matthews of Freedom Carpet Cleaning will provide the door prize of a free cleaning service for upholstery, either sofa or chair.
We hope all of you can join us at this networking event.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Membership Secretary Audrey Stapf of Stapf-Crafters Woodworking has been working very hard to ensure that as many members as possible re-up their membership for 2004.
Audrey would like to thank Ray Miller, New Horizon Van Lines and Ross Levin, New York Life Insurance Company for their help in getting new members and seeking renewals.

NEW MEMBERS
We are pleased to welcome the following new members to the Chamber:

Allstate Insurance Agency
Patti Ayton, 301-829-5758

The Entrepreneur's Source (Coaching/Consulting Business)
Joyce Picard-Busse, 301-829-0838

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE
Our new Chairman for the Ambassadors Committee is Elle Bonde of The Basket and Blossom Boutique.

NEW CHAMBER BROCHURE
Keir Knight of Plain English Writing & Design will be preparing a new Chamber Brochure at the beginning of February when all members have the chance to re-up their memberships.
The brochure features contact details for all members plus a membership application. Business Fair sponsors will be receiving special billing in the brochure.

BUSINESS FAIR
Our Business Fair will be held Saturday March 27 from 11-4pm at the Senior Center on Ridge Drive above the Mt. Airy Library.
The cost of a table at the fair is $75 for members and $100 for non-members.
There will also be three break-out rooms where presentations will be given. The cost of the rooms will be between $25 and $50 and the presentations will be from 30 to 45 minutes.
Sponsorships can still be had: Gold sponsors are $300, Silver sponsors are $250 and bronze sponsors are $150.
We will also be giving out door prizes during the event.
Any questions, please contact co-chairs Carol Cahall, The Main Event, 301-829-4444, or Donnis Klein, Weekenders USA, 301-829-2928.
Up-to-date information will be posted to the website, MtAiryBusiness.com.

BUSINESS & GOVT LEADERS
For those of you unable to attend the lunch, a very good write-up can be seen at: www.gazette.net/200403/mountairy/news/197542-1.html
This was a very successful event for the Chamber. Many thanks to Mike Zimmer.

SOUTH CARROLL BUSINESS ASSOC
Robert Holt of the South Carroll Business Association, spoke briefly at our January membership meeting. He spoke of the similarities and differences between our two organizations and invited any Chamber members to attend their Association meetings at any time.
(We are also planning a joint Networking Event to be held later this spring). The SCBA meets at Salernos in Eldersburg on the third Wednesday of each month at noon.

INCORPORATION
Tim Barkley, Barkley Law Office, informed us that the Chamber is now officially incorporated. All the papers have been completed, signed and sent in.

EXECUTIVE MEETINGS
The Monday before the first Thursday of each month will be the date of Executive meetings in 2004. The next meeting will be Monday February 2nd at 1pm at the Barkley Law Offices.

PLANNING MEETING
Our planning meeting took place on January 22, 2004 with twelve Chamber members enjoying a delicious lunch served by Lorien Assisted Living Facility. Paula Wilhelm was a very gracious hostess and we thank her for all her hard work in putting the event together.
Key items on the agenda for 2004 include:
BUSINESS DIRECTORY & PHONE BOOK : Plans are going forward for a new phone book for Mt Airy and the immediate surroundings. The Chamber is in discussions with the Kiwanis Club to help with this project. Stay tuned for more updates.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Mike Zimmer, Law Office of Mike Zimmer, is looking to continue the success of last month’s lunch and hopes to have Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich speak to the Chamber later in the year. Mike is also looking to develop a Chamber legislative agenda for the coming year.

TREASURY: Dennis Ahalt, New Windsor State Bank, will put together a budget to help us best utilize Chamber funds. He will also investigate the cost of keeping the Chamber phone line and look for possible cost cuts.