Rutland Region Chamber focuses on the future

Vermont Business Magazine, Dec 01, 2004

The Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce (which began in 1898 by a group of downtown retailers) recently held their 106th Annual Meeting and Celebration. The luncheon meeting sponsored by General Electric was held in the Holiday Inn's Ballroom and featured David Wolk, President of Castleton State College as the Keynote Speaker.

The Chamber announced the recipient of this years RRCC Business Person of the Year Award, which went to Mark Foley, a large employer, owner of Foley Services/Foley Distributing, Pistols & Roses &The Party Store. Tom Donahue made the announcement along with Chamber President Mark Monson and Mayor John Cassarino. In his remarks Donahue noted Foley's historic commitment to the Rutland Region and significant acquisition and restoration of buildings in Downtown Rutland.

Donahue presented a PowerPoint presentation to the audience highlighting the many Chamber accomplishments last year. The presentation included the Chamber's active involvement in Montpelier, daily business promotion and business referrals (over 17,000 phone calls), website activity at rutlandvermont.com (3,072,403 hits), regional promotion through Crossroads of Vermont Partnership, including regional magazine distribution (75,000) and visitor center operations, 25 special events and business networking opportunities including their flagship events the 11th Annual Business Show with a record 95 exhibitors, Winter In August at the Diamond Run Mall and the 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza at the Vermont State Fairgrounds.

In addition, the Chamber promoted the Killington Classic Motorcycle Touring Rally, continued efforts to maintain the all inclusive Calendar of Events on line and created the first comprehensive on line Summer Concert Series Calendar. Also new this year was the creation of the Chamber's Regional Fall Foliage Tour, which was very popular with visitors.

The Chamber focused on future projects, including the first annual Vermont Comedy Works festival in downtown Rutland on June 24th and 25th , 2005, regional promotion of the Paramount Theatre as Vermont's Premier Showcase and significant airport marketing for Rutland State Airport and Continental Connection's daily passenger airline service to Boston and Albany thanks to a $240,000 grant from the Federal DOT.

Area legislators, Chamber staff and past and present members of the Board of Directors were recognized at the meeting. At the end of the meeting a 50/50 raffle was held to benefit First Night Rutland, door prizes were awarded and Chamber President Mark Monson adjourned the meeting slightly ahead of the timed agenda to music provided by DJ Eric Groce.