A Unity of Effort

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Business Article

Culpeper Star Exponent

March 2, 2015

I certainly go to my share of meetings!  If it weren't for my online calendar, I'd be lost.  I've learned to color code my calendar folders according to committees, councils, and boards.  And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the meetings which are pre-meetings to prepare for the meetings to follow!  If I were texting this column, this is where I’d insert the ‘smiley face' or the 'LOL'.   But seriously, nothing beats the value of a face-to-face discussion to avoid miscommunications, lost nuanced quips, or body language interpretations to ensure that all are on the same sheet of music.  Unquestionably, unity of effort is key to the success of any endeavor that involves multiple people, agencies, or organizations.

Recently I attended my first meeting of “Healthy Culpeper”.  The gathering was held in a meeting room at UVA Culpeper Hospital.  When I walked into that room, I could literally feel the collective energy of those in attendance.  There was a palpable passion for making Culpeper an even greater place to live, work, and play; there was unity of effort.

“Healthy Culpeper”, is a nonprofit community-focused coalition devoted to promoting a healthy, safe, and educated community.  Established in 1997 as the result of a community health assessment conducted by Culpeper Regional Hospital, Healthy Culpeper is actively engaged with a diverse network of more than 75 community partners representing a broad slice of the governmental agencies and private organizations that provide social support services or conduct wellness-related programming in the County of Culpeper.  The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is proud to be included in the list of community partners participating in this forum; we believe in unity of effort. “Healthy Culpeper” is a sterling example of how our friends and neighbors can find common ground and collectively turn aspirations and vision into reality.

Clearly, your Chamber is a business-focused organization.  Having said that, it would be quite myopic to not realize the importance of a “healthy community”, broadly defined.   The overall quality of life or community “health” directly affects efforts to grow existing and attract new businesses.   This is why YOUR Chamber participates in so many meetings, serves on so many committees, and plans community outreach activities.  YOUR Chamber works very hard to not only be a facilitator of, and advocate for, business, but also to function as the catalyst that helps ‘make things happen’.

Culpeper is rich in so many areas; but none so important as the people who call this region home.  Through unity of effort, we can accomplish much.  Follow your passions and participate accordingly; I’ll color code another appointment folder just for you!

What’s Your Story?

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Business Blog

Culpeper Star Exponent

February 23, 2015

Sunday dinners were always a special event during my childhood.  After church, the family would gather around the dining room table, all set with the 'good' china and silverware, and eat the delicious meal my mother had prepared.  The select fare always consisted of a roast, some sort of potato dish and two vegetables.  Tradition dictated my father carve the roast and as he performed this ritual, he would bellow the Christian hymn, 'I Love to Tell the Story.'  My memory recalls these were the only words he would sing before he'd go into a story of his own.  My sisters and I loved to hear his tales of 'back in the day'.  Sometimes I'd catch my mother rolling her eyes at his version of a story - I guess they were often embellished!

Storytelling is an ancient art found in almost every culture around the globe.  Stories can be used to entertain, educate, or to preserve cultural heritages and traditions.  A well crafted story creates connections between the teller and the listener through shared feelings, emotions or events.  

Storytelling has found its way into marketing strategies for business - both big and small. In our homogenous world, the telling of your business's journey to success can create a lasting connection with customers.  Your story is unique and sets you apart from your competition.  Have you taken the time to think about your story and how it could be used as a marketing tool?

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is hosting professional storyteller, Kim Weitkamp, at the 3rd Annual Professional Women's Luncheon on Friday, March 13th at Tuscany Hall.  Kim's diverse experience in storytelling for entertainment and marketing will make for a fun and informative event. She will introduce you to the concept of storytelling as a tool to market yourself and your business and she will discuss how it could improve your ability to attract the people and clients that are right for you.

This event is sponsored by Fantastic Sam's, It's Up to You, and Kash Design.  To register for the luncheon visit www.culpeperchamber.com or call 540-825-8628.  The program is open to members, non-members, men and women!  Join us for "What's Your Story?"

Kim will also appear at 'Culpeper Tells...A Festival of Words' on Saturday, March 14th at the State Theatre.  This 2nd annual storytelling festival is sponsored by The Friends of the Culpeper County Library. (www.culpepertells.com)

Be A Culpeper Local

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

February 16, 2015

Debbie Stohlman, President/CEO

debbies@culpeperchamber.com

Occasionally I find myself in need of retail therapy.  I find it to be a very effective self-prescribed treatment for many ills.  Last weekend, my husband was hanging out with his amateur radio buddies doing whatever it is that “hams” do with all that electronic stuff, so I seized the opportunity to indulge myself - free of retail guilt!  Also, since the shopping weekend was proximate to Valentine’s Day, I knew I had a clear pass to avail myself of as much “retail therapy” as may be needed to cheer-up the late winter blahs!

While a quick “Google” search of Valentine’s Day will provide great detail with regard to how the holiday came to be, it is generally accepted today as a day  ‘associated with romantic love’.   Yet “love” is defined by Wikipedia as a ‘variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, etc.’  So, I am going to make the connection and report that the receipts collected during my retail therapy sessions could be justified as Valentine’s Day cards to myself!  Yes, I am a lover of shopping; Culpeper, Virginia shopping to be more specific!

If you want (or need) to buy “it”, there is a very good chance you can find “it” right here in Culpeper.  Since this was a “retail therapy” session, the therapeutic value was immediate as I could browse, hold, select, purchase, and then take home.  I found many things I wanted and a few that I didn’t know I “needed” until I saw them!  It really is amazing the diversity of shopping and dining available to us in our community.  

As they say on TV, ‘But wait, there’s more’!  My stack of receipts yielded a bonus round of good vibes.  With each and every dollar I paid in sales tax, 2% will come back to Culpeper - 1% for town and county general funds and the other 1% for our schools. And the bonus round gets even better -   “Studies have shown that for every $100 spent in a locally owned business, $45 stays and circulates in the community”, according to the Culpeper Department of Economic Development’s program, Be a Culpeper Local.  (www.beaculpeperlocal.com)

My day of retail therapy did the trick - the winter blahs are gone and my pride in the community where I choose to live, work, and shop positively reinforced.  There is plenty to love about Culpeper - and love her, I do.  I am proud to call Culpeper home and I enjoy knowing that my ‘therapy of choice’ helps to support our rich and diverse economy.    

As you make decisions on where to spend your hard earned dollars, consider keeping them in Culpeper - it will help create a stronger community for all of us.  In the coming weeks watch for more information on the program “Be A Culpeper Local” as Culpeper’s Department of Economic Development works to create awareness of the impact of keeping your dollars circulating in the local economy.     

As always, if you have any questions about what your Chamber of Commerce can do for you, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.  

Connections

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

February 9, 2015

Debbie Stohlman, President/CEO

debbies@culpeperchamber.com

As many of you know, I’m a military wife.  My husband’s career as a Coast Guard officer provided a wonderful opportunity for our family to see the United States--at least that’s how the assignments were so advertised!  Although we were never permanently stationed overseas, we still did our share of travelling around this beautiful country during our 29+ years of service.  Our daughter was young then, and our Golden Retriever older (and perhaps wiser than us all), so travel by van or SUV was the selected mode of transportation. And oh, by the way, please don’t ask me about how to avoid overheating brakes when crossing mountains.  Moving also meant new schools, churches, neighbors, and friends -- a new network to be built every few years.

As we drove the highways and byways of this beautiful country during transfers or trips back to New Orleans to see family, I was often struck by how connected our Nation is today. I could be anywhere in the country and continuously drive on an improved surface to the opposite side of the continent. Our Nation’s physical network of roads is among the more amazing and for me, they were always my connection to home.

Connectivity is an often tossed about buzzword, but it is so frequently used with good reason. Transportation-related “connections” create business opportunities through interstate road travel and modern mass transit systems. The internet and its leading-edge information management technologies allow us to connect, communicate, and share data with amazing speed.  However, it is vital to note that there is always some type of network or “hub’” to facilitate the connectivity I mention above.  

For businesses in our region, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is the “facilitator” of business-related connections and the opportunities they create.  In addition to serving as a general advocate for business, a core function of your Chamber of Commerce is to help membership connect with each other and the community at large so they may explore the potential for mutually beneficial business opportunities.

Are you as connected as you want (need) to be?  Your wi-fi may work great, but could you benefit from exposure to a wider cross section of the regional business community? Are you new to the area and need to build your network?  Please feel free to connect with me by calling me at 540-825-8628 to discuss what your Chamber can do for you and your business.