"I Spy 1973"



"I Spy 1973" is a guessing game of "Who's Who" in 1973.  All pictures are of long-time locals currently living in the Fraser Valley who are, or have been, active in our Chamber and community.  The first person to guess at least 9 out of 12 pictures correctly in the 2008 newsletters, will win $35.00 at the end of the year.
Go to to preview past "I Spy 1973" in archived chamber newsletters at www.playwinterpark.com/about-the-chamber. 

Who is December "I Spy 1973?" 
Click Here to submit your guess.

Stimulate the Economy – Shop Locally

I do not need to tell any of you that it is a rough world out there for all the businesses in Winter Park & The Fraser Valley. With “recession” becoming the official word, we are all faced with some hard times. Why not help each other out by doing our holiday shopping locally? I know, you hear this from me every year- but I do mean it. We can help each other by spending our hard-earned dollars right here at home.

Skis, snowboards, outerwear, TVs, appliances, new furniture, jewelry, hip sweaters and hoodies can all be found at reasonable prices right in our own neighborhood. So get out there, visit with your fellow business owner and shop until you drop. You will even have enough money leftover on gas savings to go out for a lovely meal at one of our fabulous eateries!

Do not forget that in these hard times our local non-profits are having a harder time fundraising and more demand for their services. Please consider a gift to one of the many deserving charitable organizations this holiday season.

________________________

Ron Nelson Named 2008 Citizen of the Year

The Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is honored to name Ron Nelson as the 2008 Citizen of the Year. Ron Nelson moved to the area in 1996. He has been an active community member ever since. Presently Ron is the President of the Fraser Branch of Grand Mountain Bank.

Karen Vance, the 2007 Citizen of the Year, describes Ron as “one of those quiet guys, behind the scenes who contributes to every organization, every fund raiser, and every need in Grand County." Certainly, the Chamber board agrees and is pleased to bestow the Citizen of the Year honor on Ron.

Some of Ron’s many contributions include President of Grand Foundation for 6 years; Board of Directors of the Grand County Concert Series for 4 years; Treasurer/Board Member for Trout Unlimited for 3 years; Fraser River Valley Lions Club for 8 years and fundraiser for the "Ike" statue at the Fraser Fishing Ponds and past President of United Cerebral Palsy of Colorado. 

The citizens of Winter Park & The Fraser Valley are fortunate to have Ron working so hard to make this a better community. Please join us to officially present him with his award on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Chamber Mixer at Silverado Steakhouse & Grille at 5:00 pm.
__________________________

Chuck Graves and Family Receive Pioneer Award

The Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce board, staff and members were honored to award Chuck Graves the second annual Pioneer Award at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on November 14, 2008.

Lynus Charles “Chuck” Graves is the son of Helen and Lynus Oliver “Doc” Graves, one of the founding families of Hideaway Park- presently known as the Town of Winter Park.  Chuck and his daughter and grandson accepted the Pioneer Award on behalf of their entire family.

In 1932, Helen and Doc purchased ten acres of land on the western slope of Berthoud Pass that they chose for its natural beauty and proximity to the clear waters of Vasquez Creek. The village of Hideaway Park was a tourist-based business center since the beginning.  The couple started a simple business with ten small cabins that were rented out on a nightly basis to hunters and fishermen. They eventually expanded their enterprise to twenty-three cabins of varying size along with a café and service station.
_______________________

Mark Your Calendar!
U.S. Senator Ken Salazar - Dec 17 at Granby Town Hall at 12:30pm
Please join the Senator for an update on national issues affecting Colorado. Look for aditional information next week.
______________________

The Quarterly Colorado Travel and Tourism Indicator Report

The Quarterly Colorado Travel and Tourism Indicator is an information service provided to the state's travel and tourism industry by the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). The Indicator is prepared by the University of Denver’s School of Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Management through the Daniels College of Business under contract to the CTO. The CTO publishes the Indicator to serve as a statewide tourism activity tracking tool.  Click Here for full report.

News from the Front Line:
by Kristyna Nedele

We're selling Christmas tree permits until Dec. 24 at the Visitor Center in Winter Park so come and get 'em!  The Forest Service is also selling permits in their office during the weekdays.  Christmas tree permits are $10.00 and can be received between the hours of 9am-5pm daily.  We also have a map we can provide along with regulations and suggestions.

Remember, the Visitor Center staff is always hard at work sending business your way. Keep us informed so we can work for you! Winter Activity Members: we would love an update on when you will be starting up this winter so we can keep our guests informed and send them your way.  Please bring by any updated brochures.

Let’s see those snow dances…Happy Winter!

Chamber Members! Pick Up at Visitor Center:
Visitor Guides
Laminated bus schedules
Menu Guides
Guest Guides
Community Maps
____________________________

Member-to-Member
Holiday Specials!

BluBird Rentals is changing the way u rent skis as Winter Park’s premier rental delivery service.  After a reservation is made, BluBird Rentals delivers your equipment at a time and place that works best for you.  We’ll even pick up your equipment on the last day of skiing.  BluBird Rentals saves you both time and headaches.  We offer a simple, convenient way to rent equipment and enjoy your vacation.  Book your reservation today! 

• No more lines! – BluBird Rentals brings the equipment to you.
• No more inattentive rental technicians! – Our technicians go above and beyond to make your vacation the best ever.
• No more hassle of filling our IRS-like forms! – You’re on vacation – leave the paperwork at the office.
• No more worrying about getting your equipment back! – BluBird Rentals picks it up when you’re done!

_____________________________

Member Limelight: ResortInternet
Increases Visitor Reservations to Your Lodging Property
Contact John Erwin 970.531.4603 | www.resortinternet.com

Charles Jennings of ABC News recently said that 60% of folks now take a laptop computer on vacation to keep in touch via email.  By keeping in  touch, they can stay longer and take vacations more often. And, they can avoid the mountain of email waiting for them on their return home. 
 
The folks Mr. Jennings is talking about are the hub of our visitor industry.  And ResortInternet is poised to help our condominium and townhome communities deal with the changing reality of the visitor industry.  People simply choose not to stay in hotels or condos unless they have high speed internet access.  ResortInternet has already hooked up Beaver Village, Iron Horse, King's Crossing and Winter Park Place condominiums with high speed wireless internet access. 

If you would like to improve rental revenue for condominium owners by having high speed internet access, call John Erwin at 970.531.4603 with questions or for information.  ResortInternet currently serves over 5,600 condominiums in various mountain communities. 

Joyce Burford

Passport & Large Groups Update

by Cindy Harder- Sales Director | Sara Sable- Sales Assistant

sales@playwinterpark.com | 726-4221 ext. 7

The Sales Council has just printed the Winter Park - Fraser Valley Chamber Passport Promotion that features special deals from participating business partners.

The Passport will be given to group guests, as targeted by Sales Council and Winter Park Resort, with the goal that guests will circulate through town and participate in collecting stamps from visiting the different locations.

If a guest collects 50% off the stamps in the booklet, they can send their passport to the Chamber to be entered in a Vacation Giveaway at the end of the ski season.

Thank you to all the participating businesses that made this fun promotion opportunity possible!

For November - January the groups that will receive the Passport are:

• The Texas Ski Council (180 people) Nov. 25-30
• National Brotherhood of Skiers (250 people) Dec. 6-14 
• The Ohio University Ski Group  (300 people) Dec. 14-20
• Lifestylez Promotion in gearing up for the Winter Park College Ski Week  (300 people) Jan. 5-10, 2009. Winter Park/Fraser is host to over 800 college students that will be here after the Holidays. 

  ___________________________ 

Check out the new “Mountain Trends” updates from MTRiP. Click on the link for details: 

www.playwinterpark.com/about-the-chamber/mountain-travel-trends

Hideaway Park December Events
Go to www.playwinterpark.com/events for more details on these events.

It’s finally winter and Hideaway Park is ready for activities. The events in the month of December include: 

Dec. 20
Holiday Ornament Decorating and a snowshoe hike starting at the Park

Dec. 26
Holiday Sing-Along in Hideaway Park with a bonfire and s’mores

Dec. 27
Snowshoe Hike

New Year's Eve Celebrations

MARY JANE'S BIRTHDAY BASH 
JANUARY 23-25
Sponsorship Opportunities!

Sign up NOW for the Mary Jane Parade on Main Street or the "Mary Jane on Parade" cardboard display contest (see picture).  Click Here MJ Parade on Main Street and Parade Form.

The first ten entries for the Parade on Main Street receive $50.00. The theme this year is music but lights are encouraged.

Sponsorship Opportunities!

Click here  for sponsorship description for the Mary Jane Birthday Bash.  Click Here for sponsorship form & fax it in ASAP!

Events in December

CLICK HERE for a the complete calendar and details of community events. 

Is your event not listed on the web site and you would like it to be?  If so, please email Kristyna Nedele at chamber@playwinterpark.com with your event(s).

-------------
Cooper Creek Holiday Events
Click Here for Schedule.  Includes "Holiday Music on The Mall" and info on how to participate in the "The Angel Tree" benefit project.  Guardian Angels are needed to "adopt" deserving
children this holiday season to ensure something appears
under the tree.

Santa is Coming! Santa is Coming to Cooper Creek Square!

General Store |  Dec 13 @ 5-7pm | Dec. 19 @ 4-7pm
Cascade's Cabin | Dec 14 @ 2-5pm | Dec 22 @ 2-4pm
Christy's Sports | Dec 15  @ 4:30-6pm | Dec 20 @ 1-5pm
B'Jammin | Dec 21 @ 2-4pm 

 ---------------

Untamed Brewhouse & Grill Holiday Events. Click Here for schedule.

Silverado Steakhouse & Grille Chamber Mixer