Fall Fest_September 25; rain date, October 2

Exciting plans are being coordinated under the direction of Debbie's Florist owner, Debbie Briggs who is also Secretary to the Berlin Business and Professional Association. Among her team are Mayor John Armano, Dan Molnar, Maria Byrne, Bob Borbe and Rita Christensen.

At the last meeting, branding, solicitation for vendors and volunteers was discussed.

Please join us (whether you are a business member, community member) for our next meeting on Wednesday, February 3 at 4:30 am at the Library on the White Horse Pike (meeting is held upstairs). Invite your friends and neighbors to join us. We are hoping this event will be a great success to the business community and tons of fun for our friends and neighbors.

WE DID IT!

Thanks to a training grant secured through Camden County College under the direction of Carol McCormick, we completed eight hours of Excel training. Fun and thorough with instructor, Lisa Branch. We learned functions, labels and values. Special thanks to member, Frank Domin and the Berlin Community School for their exceptional hospitality (including Tech personnel) and for hosting this learning event.

Don't forget...Thursday, February 4, noon time meeting

Our first noon time meeting is Thursday, February 4. Hope to see you there. Rita, Chris and Deb

Haiti Relief

Member, Roe Nevitt owner of Unlimited Salon and Day Spa is offering a program called, "Haircuts for Haiti". Book your haircut appointment for Saturday, January 23, and a portion of the proceed will be donated to the Haitian relief efforts.

If any of you have any promotions to share with your colleagues, I will be happy to blast it, blog it and eventually Facebook it. In addition, don't forget to contact me if you need the database so you can notify folks yourself.

Don't forget Excel training tomorrow at Berlin Community School, 3 PM; not too late to join, too late to back out as grant depended on full class size.
I'm attending and coming casual.

Also, I will be posting some networking events you may want to go to. One is at Dave and Busters, Philadelphia, February 4, 6 to 9 pm. I will be going.
Go to http://southjersey-bizbuzz.com/calendar.cfm?pgfn=event_detail&event_ID=751413

To register....pre registration is required. Free attendance.

Ring in the New Year with Social Media

Bolster your business. Increase your knowledge of Social Media. Presentation by Rita Christensen, CEO, iColor Studio and The Poducator.

Thursday, January 7 at 7:30 am.
Virtua Hospital Community Room
Light refreshments.
Networking opportunity.
Bring your business cards and a prospective new member.

See you there!

Rita Christensen
Chris Chekouras
Deb Briggs

How can we serve you?

Holiday Decorating...Saturday, November 28, 8:00 am at the Library/Town Hall

Hi all, just a note to remind everyone about our commitment to the downtown area. We will be gathering at the Town Hall/Library to hang wreaths and garland. It takes about two hours....bring your family members....it's a fun way to spend the morning...visiting folks and laughing. I learned how to drive a pick up truck last year...so you never know......Best regards and Happy Thanksgiving, Rita, Chris and Deb

A huge thank you to Debbie's Florists, Excel Update, Loretta's Event, and 2010 dates

I noticed beautiful, bright orange bows on the cornstalks in downtown Berlin. I surmised that Debbie Briggs, owner of Debbie's Florists, quietly made, donated and arranged the bows on the cornstalks. I overhead Debbie recently state, "Those cornstalks need some livening up." Thank you, Debbie. Your generosity is only surpassed by your daily kindnesses that I have observed. What a great mentor you are for me with regard to volunteering.

Am working with Frank Domin and Carol McCormick to finalize the dates for the Excel training (I wouldn't have been able to make it November 5 and 6 as Frank proposed). Part selfish on my part and also because I am part of the headcount we need to make the quota for this training. We are aiming for a late afternoon session. I will be in touch.

Loretta, we are hoping your ballroom event to raise funds for Breast Cancer was a success. For those of you who do not know, Loretta's South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition, on the White Horse Pike (near Cash for Coins) is a non profit firm that donates dollars to breast cancer patients who have fallen behind in their bills due to treatment and side effects. I always tell Loretta, she is doing God's work. Hope it went well; your event conflicted with a Scleroderma Walk my family does every year in Philadelphia for a member of our family who lost their fight to Scleroderma.

Chris Chekouras will be our guest speaker next month. Mark your calendars. Chris will be speaking on Virtua's ambitious construction plans in South Jersey. From what I hear, you won't have needs to "cross the bridge" for quality healthcare. Thanks, Chris, for bailing me out of a calendar conflict. I am so blessed to have a group of officers who are all about service to one another. Chris, let me know if you need any "props"!

The dates for next year will eventually be posted to the right of the blog but for now, mark you calendars. We took the survey into account and are alternating times next year. Here they are:

2010 Dates
January 7, am
Feburary 4, noon to 1:30 pm
March 4, am
April 1, noon to 1:30 pm
May 6, am
June 3, noon to 1:30 pm
September 2, am
October 7, noon to 1:30 pm
November 4, am
December 2, noon to 1:30 pm