MARCH 2006 NEWSLETTER
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2006 BUSINESS FAIR
Saturday April 29th. 10am  4pm
Fireman's Activity Grounds, Twin Arch Road
A CALL FOR SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
There are still several tables available for the event, and sponsorship opportunities will remain open until 3/15/06. After that date our advertising and flier/poster campaign will begin  with all sponsors listed.
Please see the website www.MtAiryBusiness.com for more information  including sign-up forms and a photo gallery from last year's event  or call organizer Archie Rogers, Rogers Engraving + Stamps, at (301) 663-4311.

MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Our monthly membership meeting will be held on Thursday March 2nd at 8am at the Mt Airy Fire Hall (corner of Watersville Rd and Main St, park at the rear/lower level and enter through the back doors).
We will be trying some new things at the start of our meetings in coming months  starting with extended introductions at the beginning of the meetings, so be prepared to tell everyone not just who you are but also what you do!
As well as committee reports, news of upcoming business card exchanges and the Business Fair, there will also be an update on the Executive Committee's ongoing efforts to draw up guidelines and procedures for the day-to-day running of the Chamber. All members are encouraged to get involved in this process!

BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
TUESDAY MARCH 28TH
Plan now to attend our March Business Card Exchange, to be held from 4 to 7pm on Tuesday, March 28th hosted by the Stauffer Funeral Home, Mount Airy.
This event will be co-hosted by the Blossom and Basket Boutique, Knittin' Chicks, Ray Miller - RE/MAX Realty Group and Mt Airy Sports Supply. The event will feature a large number of tables, allowing individual businesses to set up a small display throughout the afternoon. There will be no cost to display your company's information at this event. To reserve table space, e-mail Ellie Bonde at blossomandbasket@aol.com.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR
The second in the Professional Development Series - "Financial/Tax Planning for Small Businesses,"  will be held Tuesday, March 7 from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm, at the Mt. Airy Senior Center, 703 Ridgeville Avenue (above the Library).
Learn the key points of financial planning for all small businesses and how the tax code may affect the success of your operation!
The instructor is Doug Howard. Doug holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has over 15 years experience in business development, tax and payroll accounting.
The workshop is FREE to Chamber members. To register, please (410) 386-8012 or email mtitus@carrollcc.edu.
[Professional Development Committee chair, Marlene Titus, Carroll Community College]

BUSINESS FAIR 2006
We are actively looking for volunteers to help with setting up and running the 2006 Business Fair. It's a great way to get involved and meet other Chamber members!
And please put the date in your calendars and come along with family and friends  and don't forget that Costco has donated a Stainless Steel Grill worth $1,500 as a grand door prize! For more information, please contact Archie Rogers of Rogers Engraving + Stamps at (301) 663-4311.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT
There were 19 new members in February:
Acupuncture Center of Mt. Airy, Amy Green-Phillips, 301-703-4339
A Do or Dye Day Salon, Tina Miller, 301-829-4120
Jeanne Bussard Center, Inc., Tamarah Clark, 301-663-9588
Community Mortgage, LLC, Dan Williamson, 301-829-5325
Jeremy Foundation, Inc. Dianne Ryan, 301-865-1587
Knittin' Chicks, Dalia C. Schulman, 301-829-4113
Laura C. Kreis, CPA, P.C.  301-829-5436
Main Street Market Place, Mark Baran, 301-829-4735                
Mellon Chiropractic Clinic, P.C.  Dr. Peter Mellon, 301-831-5444
Mt. Airy Heating and Air Conditioning, Mike Muskey, 301-831-7742
Nelson Lee Real Estate Bo and Carolyn Slocomb, 301-370-6047
Olive Leaf Cafe Tami Klosko, 301-829-9500
Paychex Michael Culkin, 410-382-6215
Payroll Services, LLC, Jonathan Pocius, 301-865-2217
Raymond (Ray) Miller, Remax Realty Group 301-370-3046
Scates Corporation,  Cary Scates, 301-831-0081
Stadium Zone, Jim Davis, 410-795-3379
Super Suppers, Stan Stigdon, 301-829-6112
Terra Nova Therapeutic Massage, Catherine Palmer, 301-865-8903
Our total for February is 239 members.
The membership promotion we ran giving away free Phone Book ads was a successful venture  we needed 13 new members to break even, and at time of writing we had 18 join.
 [Membership Chair and Member Emeritus Audrey Stapf].

CARD EXCHANGE REPORT
Our first Business Card Exchange of 2006 was hosted by Michelle Caballero, owner of the Vintage Coffee House on Main Street.
Music was provided by Michelle's father and uncle playing guitars. It was a very pleasant evening with food and cold drinks provided by Howard LeRoux and Danielle Bradley, Mt. Airy Dent Repair and Touch Up and Ken Matthews, Freedom Carpet. Of course, fresh brewed coffee just the way you wished, was provided by Vintage Coffee House.
About 60 people enjoyed this evening along with many guests.  Guests were:
Alice Decker, Roberta Reardon, John Mosheim, Rich Heffley, Len Joseph, Kim Witner, Mike Lawson, John Kosciusko.
Door prizes were provided by: Valley Graphics, Jack Price; Sealcraft, Dave Pribulick; and Costco, Leslie Brenneman.
We would like to thank all the businesses who supplied the door prizes; the businesses that co-hosted the event, and especially Michelle, her father, and uncle who made us feel so at home at the Vintage Coffee House. [Audrey Stapf]

SEMINAR REPORT
The first of the Professional Development Seminars took place on February 7th at Carroll Community College.
The workshop "Business Uses of PowerPoint" was sponsored by Main Street Computer Consultants and was presented by Alissa Harrington.
Ms. Harrington was an energetic instructor, teaching the 15 registrants the tips and tricks of PowerPoint. One of the most interesting and valuable lessons learned was how to create a "self running" PowerPoint presentation for shows and business fairs. [Marlene Titus]

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION - APRIL
Immediately following the 8am Chamber meeting, a new member orientation will be held in the back area of the meeting room.
The Ambassador Committee will provide donuts and juice. Although this is billed as a New Member Orientation, this meeting is open to all members of the Chamber, and will be an opportunity to meet our officers and committee chairs and learn about their roles within the Chamber. We plan to begin our meeting at 9:15am. [Ambassador Committee Chair Ellie Bonde, Blossom & Basket Boutique].

PHOTO CALL!
Immediately following the April New Member Orientation we will have a photo call for all new members who joined at the November Membership Drive and since  plus our current Chamber officers.
GET INVOLVED -  JOIN A COMMITTEE!
If you would like to become more involved in Chamber activities, we welcome you to join one of our committees. The list of committees can be seen at www.mtairybusiness.com/
leadership.htm
Alternatively, please contact Chamber President Carol Cahall of The Main Event at 30-829-4444, or any of the committee chairs.

INFO TO SHARE?
If you have information you would like to share with other Chamber members  either through the monthly newsletter, the Chamber website, or Yahoo e-mail list  please contact Advertising & Marketing Committee Chair Keir Knight of Plain English Writing & Design at (301) 829-1982 or klknight@pipeline.com

NEW ADDRESSES & PHONE NUMBERS
Drs. Andrea and Andrew Williamson, Chiropractic First,  have opened their new office at 603 East Ridgeville Boulevard behind Burger King.
Paul and Paula, RE-Consultants are now working with Remax Realty Group located at 506 E. Ridgeville Boulevard. New office number  800-475-5128 x.409
Interiors by Decorating Den, Sandra King, wishes to inform you that all her phone numbers have been changed. 301-898-7760 Fax. 301-898-7540
Fast Mail, Boxes, Etc., Sam Zee, has moved out the Twin Arch Shopping Center and is now located in the Rising Ridge Shopping Center, 1302 Rising Ridge Road.
Dertzbaugh Constrution and Plumbing, Inc., Frank Dertzbaugh, is now located at 2904 Back Acre Circle, Suite 105, Mt. Airy, MD  21771.  Phone 301-703-4000, 301-703-4200 and fax.  301-703-4250.
The construction for Edward Jones Investment is complete, and Ginger Francis is now working out of her new office. Her location is 1502 S. Main Street. Suite 106, Mt. Airy, MD, 21771,301-829-0574. It is the FMH Building.
S & K Roofing, Don Katzenberger, has moved from 1341 W. Liberty Road to 5399 Enterprise Street, Sykesville, MD  21784. All their other information has stayed the same.
[Audrey Stapf]

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CALENDAR

Chamber of Commerce
Monthly Meeting
Thursday March 2nd, 8am
Mt. Airy Fire Hall, Watersville Rd

Seminar
Financial/Tax Planning for Small Business
Tuesday, March 7th, 2006
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Mount Airy Senior Center

Business Card Exchange
Tuesday March 28th
Stauffer Funeral Homes
8 E.Ridgeville Boulevard

Chamber of Commerce
Executive Meeting
(All welcomed)
Monday April 3rd, 1pm
Barkley Law Office
(Ridgeville Plaza)

Chamber of Commerce
Monthly Meeting
Thursday April 6th, 8am
Mt. Airy Fire Hall, Watersville Rd

2006 BUSINESS FAIR
Saturday April 29th, 2006
Fireman's Activity Grounds
Twin Arch Road
 10am4pm

Seminar
"Guerilla Marketing" for Small Businesses
Tuesday, May 16th, 2006
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Mount Airy Senior Center