GBCC NEWSLETTER FOR DECEMBER 2006

Faith that the thing can be done is essential to any great achievement.-- Thomas N. Carruther

The next monthly membership meeting of the Greater Brunswick Area Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday, December 6th, 7:30 AM, at the Green Country Inn - 620 Souder Road. All new and prospective members are encouraged to attend.

The next GBACC Business Card Exchange will be at Sage Small Business Services LLC, 3880 Roundtree Road Unit 2, Jefferson, MD on Friday, December 8th from 5:30 until 8:30. It’s a special night and time because it is being held in conjunction with the celebration of the merger of Keeping Current Bookkeeping and Sage set to be settled on January 2nd. Bring lots of business cards as clients and associates of both firms will be in attendance. It is important that we have an accurate head count so I ask that everyone that is coming RSVP (301) 473-9777 by December 4th. There will be drawings for door prizes and light refreshments will be served. Come out and meet fellow business owners in the Greater Brunswick area.

All monthly membership meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 am at the Green Country Inn, 620 Souder Road, unless otherwise designated.

GBACC Members that have not received their newly created GBACC Membership Certificate, which is suitable for framing, should attend our next general meeting on December 6th. GBACC Membership Dues for 2007 are due by January 1st and are $85.00—and can be paid at the General Membership Meetings or mailed to P.O. Box 192, Brunswick, MD 21716.

All minutes to all meetings in November are posted on the GBACC web site under Meeting Minutes. www.gbacc.net

GBACC NEWS:

Thursday, November 16th the monthly Business Card Exchange was held at Antiques N’ Ole Stuff. Bill and Edie Sims were the perfect host and hostess and everything went smoothly. Bill put a new twist to the drawing for the door prizes. He had three prizes on the table numbered 1,2,3 and when the winner was drawn they had to draw a number to see which gift they would receive. Twenty-three GBACC Members were in attendance, which is one of the best turnouts we have had in some time. Jerry Knight (me, and about time) of Cripple Creek Antiques won the first door prize and then drew number three so received a pair of silver mantel candleholders. Jeremy Biser of Altitude Home Inspections, Inc. was winner number two and he received a pair of ceramic birds. Doug O’Rear of West Financial Group won the final door prize, a pair of Abe Lincoln Bookends and a baseball book. Bill and Edie donated all the door prizes. Brunswick Mayor Carroll Jones dropped by to visit and birthday girl Sheri Wright of Book Crossing dropped in on her way to her birthday dinner at Pacific Café. It was a very nice evening for everyone attending. Karen Gourley of Head-Quarters Barber and Styling Shop and John Rickard of Rickard’s Auctions joined up at this event. Welcome to both of you.

Happy Birthday to:

Hanna Politis – Beans in the Belfry 12/4

Katherine Iacovelli – Maryland Business Advisors, LLC 12/5

Bonnie Hawker – Bonnie’s Country Kitchen 12/18

Rob Mercer – Onsite Auto & Truck Repair 12/29

If your name is not mentioned in this column during your birth month please let me know so I can add it to our GBACC Birthday list.

NEWS AROUND TOWN:

Vegas Radio 1520 AM – WTRI. Listen to the “Buddy Rizer Morning Show”. Buddy hosts a show based on great music and important information for the local listening area. Buddy will make you feel good about starting your day.

Editor’s note: If you have any news about what is good around the area drop me a line and let me know and I will add it in this space

NEWS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP:

Catherine Breeden of Brunswick Wellness Center writes: I wanted to let the GBACC membership know that I have opened a second office in Frederick. I will still be in Brunswick! The new office is located at: 176 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 105, Frederick, MD 21702, and the phone number will be the same 301-401-0998.

I have not yet set a date for the official "Grand Opening", but hope to do so in the next few weeks! I am very excited to be working with some very highly regarded professionals in my field! I hope to be in the office in Frederick on Mon, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 until 4:30, and in the Brunswick Office on Tuesday and Saturday and Thursday and Friday evenings. For my current Brunswick clients, I will try to be available as needed.

Buddy Rizer of WTRI Radio 1520 AM has a fantastic holiday season set for this year. Per Buddy: "Once again this year, Vegas Radio will be featuring all Christmas Music for their second annual ‘Swinging' Holiday’. If you love Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and the rest of the great singers...you'll love Vegas Radio this Holiday Season. And be sure to listen Christmas week for the great radio versions of Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol."

Sundance Art & Frame (18 W. Potomac St.) in downtown Brunswick will have evening hours until 9:00 p.m. on First Friday, Dec. 1, and during the Hometown Holidays event on Saturday, Dec. 9. Hot mulled wine will be offered during Hometown Holidays and the first 25 customers will receive a free print of Old Saint Nicholas by artist Peggy Abrams. Art makes a great gift and Sundance has a selection of pictures by local and regional artists. Custom framing is also available.

Whether you’re shopping or not, stroll down Potomac Street and see the holiday window displays at Sundance and other downtown shops. Many of the shops have colorful and fun displays. Sundance owner Diane Ellis wishes every Chamber member and their families a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Per Ellis Burruss of Bellwether Printing: “The new 44 page Brunswick Area Business Directory is available, pick up your copy at local businesses. If you are having guest from out of town the Visitors Map of Brunswick and A Walking Tour of Historic Brunswick are also available at local merchants. Old copies of A Driving Tour of Historic Brunswick are available at Cripple Creek Antiques. There is a small donation to the Brunswick Railroad Museum charged for the Driving Tour Pamphlet.

DECEMBER EVENTS:

FIRST FRIDAY … DECEMBER 1st from 5-9pm "North Pole Stroll"- Celebrate the holidays with a North Pole Stroll and Journey Through Hallowed Ground Gallery Exhibit in the Kaplon Building. Shop at local merchants and participate in special activities on Potomac Street until 9:00 pm

SANTA TO VISIT BRUNSWICK ON DECEMBER 1ST. Santa will be checking to see who has been naughty or nice as he makes his annual visit to Brunswick on a Fire Truck.

Reindeer Lane Gift Shop, Friday, December 1st, 6 pm - 8 pm at the Brunswick United Methodist at 7 S. Maryland Avenue. This is where children can select gifts for their families. Gift items range from 25 cents to $12.00.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS CELEBRATION: DECEMBER 9TH, 1 – 7 PM. Join us for hayrides, marshmallow roasting, entertainment and Brunswick traditions reminiscent of a hometown holiday celebration. This event is held in conjunction with the Greater Brunswick Community Church Tour and the Candlelight Tour at the Brunswick Railroad Museum.

Vegas Radio’s Swingin’ Holiday!! Christmas Weekend, Vegas Radio presents the best in Holiday Programming! Check their web site for details.

Upcoming events:

Basket Bingo January 27th at the Brunswick Eagles Club. This is a great opportunity to get out and have some fun after the holiday hustle & bustle is over.

Maryland Games Club is back at Beans in the Belfry every THIRD SATURDAY from 1pm-7pm. Join Karl Musser and share his hobby of playing intriguing and amusing board games from around the world. It’s good, old-fashioned entertainment.