NEWSROOM

Your membership in the Chamber now entitles you to U.S. Chamber of Commerce benefits. Your involvement in this historic partnership between the Chamber and the U.S. Chamber is part of a concentrated effort to offer more value to your chamber membership than ever before. U.S. Chamber benefits are provided at no additional cost to you.

Get started now by creating an account on the U.S. Chamber Web site at http://www.uschamber.com/service/fed_member sonly. Take advantage of the following resources:

• Small business resources: The U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Center provides access to business tools and information, as well as a directory of local, state, and federal elected officials. Whether you need a financial toolkit or want to view your representative’s voting record, this is where you’All find it. Log in today and help your business grow: http://www.uschamber.com/service/fed_member sonly
• uschamber.com Weekly: This e-newsletter, delivered on Tuesdays, gives you exclusive access to current news, commentary, tips and tools, and legislative updates specific to your region.
• uschamber.com magazine: This monthly publication keeps you alert and up to date on legislation that affects your business. Whether it's taxes, energy, or transportation, the magazine will tell you what you need to know.
• Discounts and services: Receive deep discounts from market leaders on a variety of services, from shipping to job posting services. The U.S. Chamber and its partners help you save money and increase profits. Take advantage of these benefits now. Visit our Web site at www.uschamber.com/member/benefits.

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"Good News for Chamber Members"

Washington - A national study by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta based market research firm , and Market Street, reveals a number of important findings about how consumers and business owners perceive the local chamber of commerce and the businesses that are their members. For example:

• When consumers know that a business is a member of the local chamber, they are 44% more likely to think favorably about it.
• Consumers who are told that a business is a chamber member are 51% more likely to be highly aware of it and 57% more likely to think positively of its local reputation.
• Consumers are 63% more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local chamber of commerce.

The study also has good news for businesses that sell to other businesses.

• When business decision-makers believe that a business is a chamber member, they are 37% more likely to think favorably of the business, 51% more likely to be highly aware of it, 58% more likely to think positively of its local reputation, and 59% more likely to buy goods and services from it.

Supporting the previous findings, the study also reveals a positive perception for the local chamber itself:

• Regarding the chamber's impact on the local economy, 82% of respondents believe that the local chamber of commerce helps create jobs and promotes local economic development.

This results of the Schapiro study are clear: Positive perception increases among consumers and business owners when a business is identified as a member of the local chamber of commerce.

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There’s an Extra Day to Enjoy, so Leap Downtown!
(Front-Royal, VA)  You finally have that extra twenty-four hours you keep asking for, but what can you do for fun that day?  Leap downtown on February 29th, and beat those mid-winter blues as you experience the changing face of downtown Front Royal!
The Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Front Royal, and the Economic Development Authority have teamed up to create “Leap Downtown!” a day of festivities, activities, and unique shopping opportunities for everyone to enjoy.  Events will be scattered throughout the Downtown, from Chester Street and Peyton Street, up and down Main Street, and even onto Royal Avenue.

Participating stores will be open from 10 am to 7 pm that day, with a plethora of activities complementing their mid-winter sales.  At 2:00 p.m., all Leap Day babies are invited to a birthday celebration at the Blue Ridge Arts Council.  The honored guest of the day will be Eleanor Rappaport, former owner of the Boston Store on Main Street (currently Vintage Swank) for over 70 years.  (Eleanor will celebrate her 23rd Leap Day birthday this year!)  Listhus Gallery will have their ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration at 4:00 p.m. 
As you stroll around, stop by the various stores to take advantage of special sales or enter drawings.  Debbie’s Ivy Garden will be giving away free flowers.  D&B Chocolates will give away a sampler gift basket.  Five lucky folks will receive $10 gift certificates to Main Street Mill!  Need to relax? Maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of a massage from Inspirational Development Center.

“If you haven’t been down Main Street recently, you may be surprised by the new shops and the new hours,” says Mimi Ouakil, owner of Debbie’s Ivy Garden and chairperson of the Downtown Business Council, which is spearheading Leap Downtown!  “Many now stay open until 7:00 p.m., and even those that don’t do so on a regular basis are planning to do so on Leap Day.”

In fact, on this extra day in the year, the activities get more exciting at 5:00 p.m.  In addition to the franchise-wide promotion of the “Morning Buzz” coffee that day, Main Street Daily Grind is putting on a “cupping” from 5-7 p.m., so you’ll have a chance to try an amazing array of coffees that evening.  If champagne is more your taste, head over to Changes, where they will have a champagne reception featuring an opening of Pat Windrow’s work.  Or perhaps you would enjoy the wine tasting by Rappahannock Cellars, which will be over at Heaven Sent Shoppe, or the wine and cheese being served at Rogers Antiques on Peyton Street.   If you have the children in tow, you might prefer to hang out at the gazebo and let Mike McLean entertain them.   You could even cap off the evening by attending the premiere of Will Farrell’s new movie “Semi-Pro” at Royal Cinemas.

The energy and excitement are running strong in downtown Front Royal.  Come be a part of it!  A complete list of activities will be available online at leapdowntown.com by February 21, 2008. Participating merchants will also receive a printed list of activities the week before Leap Downtown!

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The Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced today the appointment of  Niki Foster as the new Chamber president effective immediately.  Unanimously elected by the Board, Ms. Foster has been employed by the Chamber since 1997 having served as an administrative assistant and program director before becoming its interim president a month ago.

Foster, a Front Royal native and 1990 graduate of Warren County High School, has been a board member of Warren County Council on Domestic Violence and the Family Assessment Planning Team.  Foster, a graduate of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Institute also attended Lord Fairfax Community College.

“I look forward to working closely with the Board, Chamber members, elected Town and County officials, businesses and the citizens to promote the vitality of our communities,” Foster said.  “Having been employed by the Chamber for 28 years, I look forward to supporting her in this role and am excited about our future as an organization,” said Pam Riffle, Chamber director of finance and operations.  “ Ms. Foster has dedicated herself over the past decade gaining the knowledge, experience and respect needed to lead our Chamber,” said Melanie Hamel, chairperson of the Board and associate broker with Weichert, Realtors.

Chamber Vision 2009