events February 2009

Member Events & More

The Retail Marketing Expo committee is gearing upand ready for the best show yet  

The Expo this year will be on August 4th at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.  Expo Co-Chairs,  Joe Winston, Doctor of Techno Marketing; Peter Larsen, Cobb Office Technologies; and Cordell Briggs invite you to join one of the following committees. 

• Marketing/Promotions
• Sponsorship
• Exhibitors

It is a great way to get involved and doesn't require too much time. For more information please contact Jenny Price at jprice@retailmerchants.com.

---

Powhatan Chamber of Commerce Luncheon—Recession Proof Your Business

Thursday, February 19, County Seat Restaurant 

Networking begins at 11:30.  Lunch begins at 12:00 Noon

3883 Old Buckingham Road

Bring plenty of business cards.

Lunch is $8.00 per person . Please RSVP at 598-2636.

---

Spotsylvania Towne Centre Spring Bridal Fair

Sunday February 22, 11am-6pm

Aussie Retreat will be at the bridal fair doing up-dos and makeup for the fashion show models. Join us for door prizes, raffles and other give a ways. Also Book an appointment for your bridal consultation and receive a special discount (only if you book your apt on the day of the fair). 137 Spotsylvania Mail, Fredericksburg,

---

Chesterfield "Breakfast with the Pros" series of educational seminars

Join the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 26 as we kick-off our "Breakfast with the Pros" series of educational seminars. Our keynote speaker will be Michael Moore, owner of Strategic Persuasion. Michael will talk about PTP marketing (if you don't know what it is—join us to find out!)  Michael will discuss how to lead your business or non-profit through these challenging times and come out stronger than ever by applying a variety of appropriate marketing actions. Our panel of marketing experts will then answer your questions on how to grow your business or non-profit in today's volatile economy. Panelists include Anne Moss Rogers of AnneMoss.com; Dave Saunders of Madison+Main, Advertising & New Media; Nat Pham of Successwerks; David Martin of Martin Branding; and Michael Moore of Strategic Persuasion LLC. You will walk away from this seminar with useful tools to apply daily in your business or non-profit. Please go to the website or contact Lenita Gilreath at 804-748-6364 x3 for more information. 

Registration and breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Program is from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

John Tyler Community College—Chester Campus
Nicholas Student Center
13101 Jefferson Davis Highway
Chester, VA 23831

$20 for Chamber members registered by February 24 or $25 for nonmembers and those who register after February 24 or at the door. Includes Continental breakfast.

• www.chesterfieldchamber.com

---

Help Us Honor Those Who Have Done So Much For Our Country!!!

Charity Auction on Saturday, February 28

The Rotary Club of South Richmond and Village Bank are sponsoring a Charity Auction on Saturday, February 28 starting at 6:30 PM at the Cultural Center of India in Chester.  A "black tie" optional banquet will kick off the event and will be followed by a live and silent auction. All net proceeds from the event will be given to the Families of the Wounded Fund to support and honor wounded veterans of all services who have so honorably served their country and who need extra financial help to get by.  Tickets for the event are $75.

Some of the 30+ items on the list for the live auction include:

• One week stay in a St. Maarten condo
• A home theater system
• One week beach front home in the Bahamas
• Other vacation trips
• And many more auction items!

Items (35+) for the silent auction include:

• Flat screen TV
• YMCA membership
• Scuba or golf lessons
• Flowers for a year
• Weekend getaway trips
• And much more!

Tickets are available for purchase online or at any Village Bank location.

---

March 10 “Tax Talk Today” Program Illuminates IRS Audit Process

Although no phrase may strike more fear in a taxpayer than the dreaded, “IRS audit”, the prospect of an IRS audit need not paralyze small businesses and the tax professionals who assist them. They can learn how to prepare for and what to expect during an audit by tuning in to the Internal Revenue Service March Tax Talk Today program, “Surviving the IRS Audit,” on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The program will include what happens before, during and after the audit as tax professionals and IRS staff talk about audits from both sides of the desk.

To access the Web cast at no charge, viewers can register online at Tax Talk Today. They can view the show with Windows Media Player or an Adobe Flash Player. Go to the Tax Talk Today Web site for complete information. To get the latest IRS information and learn about IRS products and services as they become available, start a FREE subscription to e-News for Small Businesses; just go to IRS.gov, type in your e-mail address and submit.

---

10th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party

Friday–Saturday, March 13th–14th

Siné Irish Pub & Restaurant (1327 E. Cary St)  The party starts Friday with live music by Richmond’s own U2 cover band Even Better Than the Real Thing.  They come back when the pub opens on Saturday at noon for more live music with William Walter & Company, Naughty Little Monkey and Broken Monday.  Rain or shine the party goes on inside and outside. For more information visit www.sineirishpub.com or call 649-7767

---

Bravo Member Jim Donlon! 

The following was recently received at RMA:

This e-mail is in response to our recent visit to Ashland, VA to attend a surprise 40th Birthday Party for our daughter and son-in-law. We arrived in Ashland by Amtrak on February 6, 2009 and asked a passerby for directions to the Ashland Hampton Inn. As he was unsure, he referred us to Train Town Toy & Hobby shop and manager Jim Donlon for assistance.

Mr. Donlon insisted that we not walk to the Hampton Inn but that he would take us there himself.  He temporarily closed his shop. As he had limited space in his van, he first took my wife to the Hampton with instructions to me to wait for him to return and also take me to the hotel. He refused any gas money or any other remuneration for this kind deed.  Beyond that, he offered his help for any other transportation or aid we may need during our stay in Ashland.

We wanted to acknowledge his kindness and friendliness and also to make the Merchant Association aware of the caliber of merchant they have in their organization.  Ashland, VA will remain a fine memory for us and we hope to visit again.

Respectfully,

Dennis & Christine, Bowmansville, New York

---

New Media Seminars Announces Special Offer for RMA Members!

So you have a website, but it doesn't bring you any business. You have a LinkedIn or a Facebook account, but you don't know why. Sound familiar? New Media can help!

• Click here for details >>

---

Graphics Gallery Steve Samuel—Celebrity!

Our very own Steve Samuel is now a TV celebrity, having appeared on the local CBS TV network affiliate during the prime time news last night to counter the “sky is falling” crowd (and along with Steve’s comments you’ll also see some commentary from “Chicken Little” and others from the “doom & gloom” society). 

Click on this web link below, then check out the 2nd video shown under the HHHunt ad at the top right of WTVR’s home page.  As appropriate, you might want to pass this along to your business associates, family & friends to help encourage a more positive attitude . . . .and to stimulate some viral marketing for Graphics Gallery (which, of course, would help us avoid the recession).

• http://www.wtvr.com