Happy New Year! Sending my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2023.
Now that the New Year is here, it’s time to plan for our events and networking opportunities for 2023. This year promises to be another busy one, and we need your help. Hosting a coffee meeting or after-hours mixer is a great opportunity to promote your business and can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. Contact the office today at (540) 672-5216 to reserve your networking date – slots are already beginning to fill up!
Want to get involved? The Chamber has several standing committees as well as event planning committees and we always welcome new volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to network and meet other members as well as show your community spirit. Most standing committees require only minimal time commitments, and the event committees are active only for that event. If you don’t feel you can commit to working on a committee, sign up to volunteer to help at an event. We are already actively looking for volunteers to work at the Orange Uncorked Wine Festival – and for a few hours of work you can get a free entry ticket! Contact the office to sign up – we can’t do it without you!
I’ll see you around, and remember to support your fellow Chamber members – think, eat, and shop local!
Judi Cooper
Executive Director
Upcoming Chamber Events
Classes have begun! Contact Lena at the school to start yours now!
**Don't forget your business cards
to enter for door prizes **
Call (540) 360-4370 or by email at lenak@lenak.digitalspacemail8.net to enroll.
Register online at:
Please RSVP to orangevadirector@gmail.com
Chamber Member
News & Events
Dogwood Village of Orange County was recognized for the third year by Newsweek and Statista Inc. in the fourth annual ranking of the best Nursing Homes for 2023. The ranking was recently released on the Newsweek website and was featured in the print edition of Newsweek Magazine. The Best Nursing Homes 2023 ranking lists the best nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size according to the United States Census Bureau. Newsweek and Statista designed a rigorous methodology that provided a score for every evaluated nursing home based on 3 indicators: Performance Data, Reputation Survey and COVID-19 Response. Congratulations to the entire team at Dogwood Village! https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-nursing-homes-2023/virginia
New CD Rates at Partners First Federal Credit Union
SAFE Mardi Gras
February 18, 2023
MARDI GRAS LUXURY BINGO EVENT BENEFITS SAFE
Following four successful Mardi Gras events, Friends of SAFE will stage a second luxury bingo event on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Culpeper Center from 7:00-11:00 p.m. A limit of 150 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Ticket will entitle the participant to 1 drink ticket, 2 bingo cards and the chance to win 1of14 luxury prizes, ranging in value from $500- $1000. The evening includes light refreshments provided by area restaurants; a cash bar, serving beer, wine & hurricanes; music & dancing; and 14 high-spirited bingo games! Additional bingo cards can be purchased at $5 each or 5 for $20.
For those not comfortable attending a physical event, SAFE will simultaneously host a virtual bingo event! Participants will be sent bingo cards and will join the fun via Zoom!
Proceeds from the event will help fund the continuing renovation & operation of SAFE’s two shelters, as well as support other ongoing programs.
Founded 40 years ago, SAFE provides programs that serve men, women, and children who are victims of domestic & sexual abuse in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock counties. It is the only agency providing shelter for domestic & sexual violence victims in these five counties. All services are free and confidential to their clients. In FY21-22 SAFE assisted its clients by:
● Answering 705 Hotline calls on their toll-free 24 hour Hotline
● Providing 6041 nights of safe, secure shelter to 125 clients
● Assisting 120 survivors of domestic violence in navigating the judicial system
● Providing 3684 hours of advocacy to assist 266 survivors of domestic & sexual assault
Support for the Mardi Gras Luxury Bingo event will be in the form of financial sponsorship of the event, the donation of prize items and/or ticket sales.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.safejourneys.org/events.
Orange County Economic Development Announces
CIC Spring 2023 Entrepreneur Workshop Applications are open!
Take your business to the next level! This hands-on course enables entrepreneurs to determine whether their business is viable, develop an initial plan for launching or growing their business, and learn the fundamentals of how to act on that plan. What can I expect? · Weekly 3-hour Tuesday evening sessions. · 16 weeks of high-energy engaging discussions centered around your business. · Excellent networking opportunities with your entrepreneur peers and leaders of the business community. · A combination of lectures, discussions, and applied learning activities that can include an additional 10-12 hours per week consulting with professionals and potential customers. · By graduation, you will have developed the components of a comprehensive business plan and consulted with financial advisors on personal finance.
You don’t know what you don’t know! In entrepreneurship, there is SO much to know! Pricing, sales, marketing, bookkeeping, taxes – the list goes on and on. Maybe you’ve tried doing it all alone. Maybe you’ve watched way too many YouTube videos. Maybe you’ve tried to become an expert in all things entrepreneurship but you’re feeling lost and overwhelmed. The reason it’s not working is that you can’t be an expert in everything. That’s why you got into entrepreneurship in the first place – because you’re passionate about your business + craft (and likely not as passionate about taxes, bookkeeping, and sales). If you’re tired of doing it all alone and want support, our Entrepreneur Workshop is a perfect fit for you. We’ll spend 16 weeks together developing an initial plan for launching or growing your business and learning the fundamentals of how to act on that plan. Applications are now open!! The deadline to apply is January 17, 2023. CIC Entrepreneur Workshop Webpage CIC Entrepreneur Workshop Application
