The Busy Month of May

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

Jim Charapich

May 6, 2013

The Chamber schedule is very active in May. There are few highlights that are big. First, we have invited Secretary Hazel to speak about Health Care reform in Virginia. He will join us at the Country Club of Culpeper for a luncheon on May 9th. We have also invited the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce, Orange Chamber of Commerce, and Madison Chamber of Commerce to join us for the luncheon. Registration is available online at www.CulpeperChamber.com.

In addition, we have invited Barry DuVal, President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to speak about a program called Blueprint Virginia. The program is a collaborative initiative with business leaders in Virginia to develop a vision for Virginia’s economic development. The Virginia Chamber is forming industry specific committees to develop strategic roadmaps for our future. Mr. DuVal is also a former Secretary of Commerce in Virginia. He will also speak at the May 9th luncheon. If you are interested in learning more about developing a plan for our economic vitality, register for the event at the Chamber website and join us for lunch. Preregistration is required and seating is limited. www.CulpeperChamber.com

Our Non-Profit Council meets on Tuesday, May 7th from Noon - 1 PM at the Culpeper Library community room. The Council’s mission is “To Strengthen the Business of Non-Profits.” We will hear from Alvin Petitt of A & S Technology Solutions regarding the use of Google Apps in organizations. Mr. Petit will discuss the way Google Apps can save money and enable cloud based collaboration for organizations, their members, and their boards of directors. The meeting is a BYOL meeting... Bring your own lunch... and is open to Non-Profit organizations and small businesses interested in Google Apps.

Our Social Media Coffee Group will meet on Monday May 13th 8:30 AM at the Depot. We select a different subject in social media each month to focus our discussions. This is not to say that we stay on subject the entire meeting. Social media discussions usually cross from one subject to another since they are so interrelated. This month we will begin our discussions with Yelp. The meeting is open to Chamber members and their associates. If you are interested please contact the Chamber office for more information. This is a BYOC meeting … Bring your own coffee. #Culpeper for those who would like to follow by Twitter.

Our Young Professional Group will continue their legacy of fund raising for good causes. They will host their Annual Bowling Tournament on the evening of May 14th at the Mt. Run Bowling Center in Culpeper. This year the YPG’s will be raising funds for the Verdun Adventure Bound Organization. If you have been to the facility you know of the generousity to the community. The facility is a place the is dedicated to youth and education. The facility has supported team training for many by use of the outdoors course that includes amenities like zip lines and pamper poles. If you do not know what a pamper pole is... well let’s just say it is about building confidence. Check out the Chamber website for sponsor and team registration.

Finally, It is time to register for your CulpeperFest booth. We are planning the best Culpeper Fest yet. Shawn’s Barbecue will be back again this year for some of the finest food. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at the Chamber website or at the Chamber office at the Depot. We have put the person in charge of weather last year back in charge this year since she did such a great job last year. See you at CulpeperFest on June 6th.