Chamber Plans 'Welcome' Packets

By Jay Crawford
Editor, Greene County Record

STANARDSVILLE (July 2006) - Thanks to the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, new county homeowners soon will have something new in addition to their homes.

The Chamber of Commerce, with the assistance of The Virginia Company, which recently merged with Virginia Traditions, is assembling "welcome packets" which will then be distributed by Chamber members to new homeowners.

The packets will include a welcome letter from the Chamber president, and novelty items, samples, discount coupons and other material from Chamber of Commerce members.  Gray King, who is joined by Tom Zakielarz in the organization of the project, said several members already had delivered items to The Virginia Company for inclusion in the packets.

For additional information on the packets, or to learn more about how to have your business represented, call King at 985-9709 or 800-568-2746, or send e-mail to: gking@thevirginiacompany.com.  Chamber member contributors are asked to deliver their goods to The Virginia Company, which is located on U.S. 33 business in Stanardsville.

Beginning in late August, the welcome packets will be delivered once per month.  If greater needs arise, according to Zakielarz, a real estate agent, the packets may eventually be distributed every two weeks.

In other action taken by the Board of Directors, the Chamber:

*Approved the purchase of invoicing and record-keeping software.  The software, said King, who serves as the treasurer of the Chamber, will be used for membership renewal at the end of each year, as well as the generation of e-mail lists and other necessary business activities.

Chamber president Alan Pyles recommended finding an online database capable of performing Chamber-specific tasks, and the Board agreed unanimously.

"If we have the money, and we do," Chamber secretary Ruth Parsons said before the vote, "this will solve a lot of problems down the road."

*Agreed to begin distributing a monthly e-newsletter, which is intended to keep members up-to-date on actions taken and activities planned by the Chamber.

Pyles recommended that the e-newsletter include specific business promotions and news from Chamber members, but quickly noted that there should be limits on such things as recurring ads, space (25 words) and the number of items submitted per member per e-newsletter (1).  The Board supported Pyles proposal, and Pyles asked that all Chamber members with an interest in submitting items for inclusion in the first e-newsletter send them to: alan@thelafayette.com.

Pyles said items could include information for the Chamber membership, for business-to-business communication, or for community sponsorships or other opportunities to help non-profit agencies and groups, such as reserving booths at the upcoming Greene County Fair.

*Announced that the next Chamber social will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Stone Mountain Vineyards in Dyke.  The event will include wine tasting and the first public display of Trish Crow's photo exhibit, entitled "Legacy of the Land."  A sponsor or sponsors are needed.  Additional information may be obtained by calling Pyles at 985-6345 or sending e-mail to: alan@thelafayette.com.

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