Adventure Member! Who in the world is that?

"Adventure Member" is a new guessing game of "Who's Who" in the Chamber membership.  All pictures are of current Chamber members who love adventure.  The first person to guess at least 9 out of 12 pictures correctly in the 2009 newsletters, will win a $50.00 gift certificate at the end of the year.

Who is March Adventure Member?

Click Here to submit your guess. Name business and at least one manager. (Click photo to enlarge image).

Would you like to be an "Adventure Member?" Submit your adventure picture to mchavez@playwinterpark.com.
Scroll thru newsletter to find out who was last month's Adventure Member.

Welcome Back to Winter Park Campaign

The winter Welcome Back campaign is going well. We have held several “Welcome Wagons” in the past month including a meet and greet at the Ski Train in Denver and at Winter Park Resort. 15,000 direct mail pieces have been dropped. Emails to 50,000 targeted individuals have been sent. Now it is your turn as Chamber Members to take advantage of the advertising effort.

Here are some simple things tools for you to use to stimulate business to your front door:

    1.  Send us a deal to place on the www.welcomebacktowp.com website.
    2. Contact us for posters for your window that identify you as a participating merchant.
    3. Contact us for key code cards to distribute from your business with any type of purchase of goods or services.
    4. Ask for a training of your front line staff if you want some help explaining the program.
    5. Participate yourself and encourage your staff to also. Remember, the more you visit your neighbor members, the more cards you can get and the better your chances of winning $10,000.
    6. Call and ask for ideas we have heard of to make the program work for you!
 
Remember there are only 4 weeks left to the program but we hoping for a big March push and to use the enticement of winning great prizes to drive business to Winter Park & The Fraser Valley.
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Please Start Using Reusable Bags!

The Reusable Bag Challenge Began March 1.

Please start using Reusable Bags at the following Participating Retailers.    And please make sure your bag is tallied when you check out.   Each time your reusable bag is tallied means that one plastic bag did not get used and get into the environment.   So, don't forget to shop with your reusable bag always!

The winning community gets a $5,000 grant towards solar panel installation at one of our local schools.

Need more info about this initiative?   CLICK HERE!

The Grand BYOB Project wishes to thank our sponsors and partners:

• - Rendezvous Colorado
• - Mountain Parks Electric
• - O2 Creative
• - Winter Park Resort
• - Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber
• - Colorado Association of Ski Towns 

 News From The Front Line:

In the last month we’ve sent out just over 2,000 Visitor Guides to guests around the world! WOW!

Want to give us a little insight about your business?  We are still interested in getting a first-hand look, and this mud season would be a great time for us to get out there and familiarize ourselves with our members.  If you would like the Chamber staff come do a tour, just let us know.  You can schedule a tour by calling Kristyna or Sara at 970-726-4118 or emailing us at visitorcenter@playwinterpark.com. 

Thank you to Kopy Kat Printers, Western Riviera and Winding River Resort for the excellent tours to their businesses, so we are more familiar with their businesses and what they have to offer. 

Did you know: Kopy Kat has the capability of printing everything from small business cards to large banners & signs?  And because they are able to do everything in-house, with folding, cutting, laminating, and binding machines they are competing with Internet Store pricing.  

Did you know: Western Riviera Motel & Cabins, situated right along Grand Lake, ½ a block off the main drag has incredible views of Grand Lake!  Sue showed us all of the different types of rooms & cabins they have – everything from a basic hotel room to 2 bedroom cabins, at very reasonable rates ($110-$160) with specials like 3^rd night FREE!

Winding River Resort tooks us for a beautiful Clydesdale-drawn Sleigh Ride around their property just southwest of  Rocky Mountain National Park.  Prior to the ride we viewed the owner’s private collection of vintage sleighs and wagons in a gorgeous new barn, which also houses the tack room for summer horseback rides. 

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Free Snowshoe Tours through the month of March on Friday @ 1pm, Saturday @ 11 am, and Sundays @ 1pm. Email visitorcenter@playwinterpark.com to RSVP or for more information. 

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The Winter Park/Fraser Valley Rotary Club's Annual “Service Above Self” Dinner
April 4 | Beaver’s Lodge | 6pm

Come celebrate and honor our 2009 “Service Above Self” award winner Kirk Klanke and honor our “Rotarian of the Year” Will Arduino. 6 pm cocktails & entertainment. 7:30 dinner 8:30 award ceremony.

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $30 each. There's always a big crowd for this event so make your reservations now by contacting Steve Radcliffe: ridgecliffe@msn.com or 726-4454.
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"Lights, Camera, Action!" with Channel 17 - Mountain TV
Jody Mintken | 970.531.1225 | www.grandcounty17.com
Channel 17-Mountain TV is doing the 2009 summer edition of “Discover Downtown Winter Park."  With plans to air mid-June, Discover Downtown Winter Park, is in its fourth year and will continue to bring visitors, locals and second homeowners a creative, energetic and fun “video” tour of Downtown Winter Park!  We will be pricing the show affordably so everyone can participate during these tough economic times.  We hope you will all join in to promote Downtown Winter Park and to help ensure another successful summer season for all of our downtown businesses!
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The Winter Park Pub & the Grand County Blues Society Presents:
Jason Ricci & New Blood | March 8 @ 9pm at The Pub | $8.00 GCBS member discounts apply.
Jason is one of the most hi energy harmonica players on the planet.  If Hendricks played harmonica he would sound like Jason.  If you haven’t seen Jason yet, this is your opportunity to see him up close and to catch every bit of his energy.

Go to www.GrandBlues.org for 2009 Blues From The Top Line-up & future blues shows. Email info@grandblues.org for 2009 festival sponorship opportunities!

The staff of the Sky-Hi Daily News brought home 17 statewide awards for writing, photography and design from the Colorado Press Association this weekend. This was the first year competing as one county-wide daily. The Sky-Hi Daily News competed in Class Four against newspapers that include the Craig Daily Press, The Fort Morgan Times, Montrose Daily Press and the Telluride Daily Planet.

The Sky-Hi Daily News won nine first place awards, including Best Series by Tonya Bina for her project last August discussing conservation of land and lifestyle in Grand County.  Click Here for the full article.
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Adventure Member Answers:

January's Adventure Member: Jon Brickner of Winter Park Winery & Cassidi Peterson of 10 Pound Gorilla.

February's Adventure Member:  Michael Stovall with the Town of Winter Park & Rami Carter of Pick Me!

2009 Co-op Advertising Program

The Chamber and O2 Creative have teamed up to create a fantastic co-op advertising program for our members.  Co-op advertising is a great way to pool dollars with other members to buy advertising that your budget may not otherwise afford.

Here is a list of the co-op ads we plan to offer you this year:

• 5280 Magazine - May - space still available!   CLICK HERE for details.
• Colorado Avid Golfer - space still available!  CLICK HERE for details.
• 2010 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide
• 5280 Magazine - November

And NEW this year!

• My Open Space e-News - Sign Up Here!
• The Chamber will be releasing seven emails in 2009 to its database of 50,000 names promoting our events.
• There will only be THREE spaces available per release for co-op advertisers.
• Includes your offer, logo, contact info and link.
• Your offer must be compatible with the content of the e-mail.   For example, if you choose to advertise on our Jazz Festival release, your offer must be a call-to-action during Jazz Festival weekend.
• Release dates and content are subject to change.

CLICK HERE to print out a complete list of all co-ops.

Please contact Philip Naill at O2 Creative at 726-8021 or philip@o2creative.com for more information and pricing on all of our co-ops.

Sales Council 1% Surcharge and FAM Updates

Cindy Harder-Sales Director | Sara Sable- Sales Assistant | 726-4221 x 6

Sales Council has recently announced the termination of the voluntary 1% community sales funding that has graciously been collected by member businesses and pledged to the Chamber to be used for community sales events. The 1% program has lasted over 4 years and has had great success in supporting FAM tours, events, Lifestylez College week and much more. We wish to thank the Town of Winter Park for helping administer the program and thank you to all those that provided contributions, support and involvement.

Moving forward, the Sales Council will continue to support FAM tours, events, Lifestylez College week and additional community sales programs that will be identified as they develop. We will fund these functions by way of voluntary sponsorships and donations. If you are interested in supporting future sales efforts, please consider setting aside funding that you may direct to the cause. As events arise, we will post ways to get involved and what funds are needed to effectively proceed. We are working closely with the Chamber Marketing Director, Joyce Burford in targeting our sales efforts with the marketing and branding efforts and feel this year will bring multiple opportunities!

If you haven’t noticed, the home page of the Chamber website now sports the Online Reservation button. This is very exciting news and a great benefit to the membership as well as a great tool for our guests to use. If you are interested in listing your property for lodging or activity or service, please contact us at the Chamber and we will send you the contract to sign up. There is no charge or set-up fee; however, there is a commission structure paid out based on booked business.

2009 Summer Sponsorships Have Been Mailed!
Sign up now to be a title sponsor for a summer event with the Chamber! Other opportunities are available - take advantage of signing up now! We have a new event called  "Cruiser Party" in July. Dates and events are subject to change.

Click Here to find out more details on events and sponsorships.

Click Here for the agreement form that can be faxed back to 970.726.9449 or email Tamara Davis at tdavis@playwinterpark.com for more information.
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March Hideaway Park SnowZone Events!

March 13: 1-3pm Kids Survival Day
Come have fun learning some Winter Survival tips with Bill Ross. Learn to make a snow cave and what to bring on hikes in Grand County. This will be a free fun family event for all ages. 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult. There will be free sledding and hot chocolate. Waivers must be filled out prior to event by a parent. RSVP with the Fraser Recreation District at 970.726.8968 www.fraservalleyrec.org

March 14: 1-3pm Adult Snow Survival Class
This is an introduction to Winter Survival information. Avalanche safety with beacons and winter survival information will be among the topics at this event taught by Bill Ross. This is not a certification class but an introduction class with great tips all Grand County residents should know while snowshoeing, back-country skiing, or snowmobiling. FREE! RSVP to tdavis@playwinterpark.com 970.726.4221 ext 5 www.playwinterpark.com

March 20: 4-6pm Kids Flag Football
Families welcome-bring the kids to play an open game of flag football. This event is for kids ages 6 and above. Free hot chocolate and free sledding after the game. Waivers must be filled out prior to event by a parent. FREE RSVP with the Fraser Recreation District at 970.726.8968 www.fraservalleyrec.org

March 21: 6-8pm The Winter Park Pub Presents Flag Football
Bring a team to play Flag Football under the lights in Winter Park. This event will be an open flag football tournament so anyone can come and play. Don't have a team, come and play during the open game! Great Prizes! FREE! RSVP to tdavis@playwinterpark.com 970.726.4221 ext 5 www.playwinterpark.com

March 28: Cardboard Derby 1-4pm
Sign up now for the first cardboard derby at Hideaway Park SnowZone! Lots of fun prizes! This fun event can be done by everyone. Hot dogs, s'mores, and lots more. Cardboard Derby material available from 1-3pm at Hideaway Park. The tournament will start at 3pm! FREE! RSVP to tdavis@playwinterpark.com 970.726.4221 ext 5 www.playwinterpark.com

Events in March
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).
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USDA Rural Development Funding Opportunities
Wednesday, March 25 at Mountain Parks Electric
12:30 to 4:30 | Register by Monday, March 23

Sponsored by Mountain Parks Electric and will be providing lunch for the participants.  Thank you MPE for bringing this timely seminar to Grand County!  Click Here for more info and to register.

McConnell Printing Chamber Mixer
Thursday, March 12 | 5-7pm

You're invited to an open house mixer at McConnell Printing Co., Inc.! Please stop by and enjoy complimentary refreshments and appetizers and meet the local team behind all of your Design and Printing needs, as they introduce you to a newly remodeled facility with updated design and digital printing technology! Contact McConnell Printing at 726-5830.  Click Here to RSVP by March 10.
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Millennium Bank Chamber Mixer
Thursday, March 26 | 5-7pm

Come enjoy beverages and appetizer's while mingling with fellow chamber members and the Millennium Bank staff. Meet the new President Rob Holway and get the latest on the Millennium Bank. Contact Millennium Bank at 722.0600. RSVP Here by March 23.
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Mark Your Calendar!