November is here and with it comes the Holiday season – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa – whichever and however you recognize it, this is a time for celebrations. I find this time of year particularly significant, because while I try to practice gratitude and thankfulness every day, this season helps bring that mindset into focus. I want to take a moment to express to you, our members, how incredibly grateful I am for each of you. The welcoming arms and sense of community that were extended when I assumed this role in January has made my job so much easier and more fulfilling. Thank you seems so inadequate, but it is sincerely expressed. Looking forward to 2023, I am excited to continue the traditions of service to you, our members, and the community at large. We are planning some new initiatives to continue our growth and outreach – stay tuned for more information! As you plan for 2023, please set aside some time for Chamber events and the volunteer opportunities that come with them. The Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization, with limited staff and a 100% volunteer Board of Directors. The success of our events is dependent on volunteers like you to help plan, organize, and execute them. Volunteering is not only good for the Chamber, it is a wonderful way to learn about other member organizations and for them to learn about your business. We also have several standing Committees that work with the Board of Directors –Finance, Governance, Membership and more. Contact me to find out what opportunities we have available. We will be announcing our Sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming year in the next few weeks. I understand that businesses need time to budget and plan for their year just as we do, and I hope to be able to advertise ALL our available sponsorships for the year to help you with that planning. I hope to see you at the Awards Banquet and around the community. Have a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving. Judi Cooper Executive Director
Last Call! 98th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday, November 12th The Pavilion On Lakeland Farm 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Cocktails Appetizers and Desserts Buffet Dinner Silent and Live Auction Inflation Buster Raffle Drawing "Best 1920's Outfit" Contest Annual Awards Only a few seats left! Get your tickets today! https://www.orangevachamber.com/98th-awards-banquet
Small Business Saturday - November 26
Chamber Member Events
Dolley Madison Garden Club presents JOHN FORTI in their Author’s Forum: THE HEIRLOOM GARDENER
Wednesday, November 9, 10am-12pm
The Barn at Arcadia at Edgewood
454 Arcadian Way
Orange, VA 22960
$75 per person
Includes a book signing, delectable edibles, coffee and tea. Books available for purchase. Space is limited. Tickets available through www.dmgcvirginia.org John Forti, nationally recognized garden historian, ethnobotanist, and heirloom specialist, will be discussing his book The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants & Skills for the Modern World. Forti wrote this book for gardeners who want to deepen their knowledge and improve life for families, pollinators, and wildlife in their own backyards. As he describes the book on his website, www.johnforti.com, “It is a love poem to the earth; a map to the art of living intentionally and a guidepost for environmental gardeners and artisans. It unearths old-ways, storied plants, and artisanal life skills; like seed-saving, herbalism, foraging, distillation, ethnobotany, and organics which contribute to a new 21st century arts and craft movement.”
Germanna Community College Workforce Solutions
Meet Dana Cook, Product Development Coordinator for Workforce Solutions at Germanna Community College. Dana would love to get to know business owners in our area to learn about any training and educational programs you may need to help your current and future employees. She is here to help you -- reach out to her today!
The Orange Rotary Club is still accepting entries for the 2022 Orange Christmas Parade! This year, the parade will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, at 4:30pm, and there will be cash prizes for the best entries in each of four parade categories. This year's theme is "Christmas in Orange Past | Present | Future," and entries will be
judged, in part, on their reflection of the theme.
If your business cannot be *in* the parade this year, please consider sponsoring one of the cash prizes. Sponsors will have their logo on the parade website, in social media posts, and mentioned whenever the winner of the prize you sponsored is named.
For entry and sponsorship information, please visit: https://orangerotaryvaorg.wixsite.com/orangevaxmasparade
The Holladay House invites you to attend one of its Gilded Age Christmas Dinner events in December. Each dinner will feature a four-course period-appropriate meal catered by Provisions Market Table, accompanied by sparkling apple juice or wine from Chateau MerrillAnne, and followed by late Victorian parlor games.
For details and tickets, please visit https://www.theholladayhouseinn.com/upcoming-events
