eunice q. sorin visitor & conference center ocean city, md ......planning a successful ribbon...
TRANSCRIPT
Planning a Successful
Ribbon Cutting
The Greater Ocean City, MD
Chamber of Commerce Eunice Q. Sorin Visitor & Conference Center
12320 Ocean Gateway
Ocean City, MD 21842
Office: 410-213-0144 Fax: 410-213-7521
Ambassador Committee Chair
Sallie Johnson (410) 726 - 6479 [email protected]
Ambassador Committee Ribbon Cutting Chair
Terri Mahoney (443)-497-1124 [email protected]
Ambassador Committee Board Liaison
Stephanie Meehan 443-235-7005 [email protected]
OC Chamber Events Director
Lisa Layfield (410) 213-0144 ext. 104 [email protected]
OC Chamber Membership Services
Vera Spalt (410) 213-0144 ext. 103 [email protected]
Melanie Pursel, President/CEO
Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
12320 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, MD 21842
410-213-0144; fax 410-213-7521
Sallie Johnson- Farmer’s Bank of Willards - Chairperson
Terri Mahoney - ABC47 - Ribbon Cutting Chair
Trisha Seitz - Comcast Spotlight - Secretary
Stephanie Meehan - Funcade - Board Liaison
Pam Rocco - Movement Mortgage
Elaine Davidson - Remax Advantage
Kellie Meehan - Mann Properties
Colleen Brown - New Wave
Anne Marie Conestabile - United Work & Travel
Jason D’Amore- United Work & Travel
Madalaine How - MAD Design Group, Inc.
Gina Shaffer - Shaffer, McLauchlin & Stover, LLC
Stefanie Gordy - Salisbury University
Tara Zaiser -Miller - D3 Corp
Steve Ashcraft - Sandpiper Energy
Ali Jacobs - OC Paint Experience
Jamie Jacobs - OC Paint Experience
Sophia Christian - Okiaya Rods & Reels
Mike Healy - Ireland RnR
Heidi Slacum - Casual Designs
Diane Lyons - First Home Mortgage
Scheduling Your Event Select your date & time
Create an Invitation that can be shared with chamber members & officials
Prepare Press Release (optional ) Please send your press release directly to the
newspapers that you choose & email a copy to [email protected] for chamber publications.
It is our great pleasure to assist you with your upcoming Ribbon Cutting
Celebration. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote your business and all that it has to offer. Whether you
are a new business or a long established business, it is always beneficial to remind the local community of
the services that you offer and anything new that they may not be familiar with.
Here are a few helpful tips for a successful event: Serve light refreshment for your guests (chose your offerings based on the time of day your event occurs)
For dining establishments this is a great opportunity to give guests a taste of what you have to offer
on a daily basis and to showcase things that are unique to your establishment.
** When you offer the above items it also creates a great networking environment for you and
those in attendance - as they typically stay longer and mingle.
Have a list of any upcoming specials you maybe offering or maybe a coupon for a small discount
for their 1st visit/ next visit as an incentive for them to return as a customer for whatever service your
business offers.
Create an event on your Facebook page for the Chamber and others to share promoting your event
Do something such as a business card drawing for a door prize to collect names of potential
customers that have attended your event.
Ribbon & Scissors are provided by the chamber
The chamber will be promoting your ribbon cutting celebration through our chamber newsletter &
weekly E-blasts, our upcoming events calendar and on our Facebook page.
It is our goal to provide you, our valued members, with as many tools as possible to help grow your business.
Ambassador Committee Members
Writing Your Press Release
Press Releases 101 - How (and why) to Write a Press Release
The purpose of a press release is to get attention, make news, and generate publicity.
It’s cost effective marketing (free) and they can be used to create brand awareness.
The Basics of Crafting a Press Release:
Make it newsworthy; it’s not an ad, it’s a news article
Use an attention-grabbing headline
Be time sensitive – no one wants old news
Stick to one topic
Write it in a professional tone, or even better, write it like you’re a reporter
Proofread it and then have someone else proofread it
Key Components of a Press Release:
Letterhead (identify that it’s from your organization)
Date
“For Immediate Release” under the date
Headline: Limit it to 15 words
Subtitle (optional): Keep it short
Lead paragraph: Your organization’s location (city, state) in bold type and the 5 Ws (who, what, when, why, where) of the sto-
ry
2nd Paragraph: Supportive information and at least one quote
Other paragraphs: Additional, relevant, non-essential information
Call to Action: An exact, complete, non-embedded URL (not “Click Here to visit website”) in one of the paragraphs
Conclusion: A brief description of your organization
Media Contact Information: Name, email, phone, and website
A Press Release Should Not:
Be longer than 1 page
Have a lot of formatting
Include exclamation points (unless it’s a direct quote)
Exaggerate
Use the words: I, we, our, me
Distribution of a Press Release:
Develop a media contact list of people you will send the release to
Send the release to an actual person, or at least to a specific news department
Use a detailed subject line in your email (not simply “Press Release”)
Post the release on your website
Share the release on social media
Incorporating all of this into your press release should result in a well-organized, relevant article that is news-
worthy.
Sample Invitations
This is a sample letter that you might consider sending on your company letterhead.
A possible list of Elected Officials and Chamber Officials are included in this packet. The bold face items are
those you will need to change to reflect your company’s grand opening/ribbon cutting arrangements.
Month/Date/Year
Mr./Mrs. Official
Address
Ocean City, MD 21842
Dear ( Title) _________,
You are cordially invited to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for your company name.
To show our appreciation to the town and its residents for welcoming us into the community, the festivities are planned for Month/Date/Year
at time.
We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to be our guest for this very special event.. Your presence will convey a message of vision
for the future for our employees and management staff.
Our ceremonies are scheduled to start promptly at time and will take place at address.
Please take a moment to note the date and time on your calendar.
A quick R.S.V.P. would be extremely helpful for our planning. You may have someone contact Name at 410-000-0000.
We are very excited about our new venture and becoming a fixture of the community.
We look forward to seeing you on Month/Date/Year.
Sincerely,
Name / Company
Many businesses choose to use an invite that they can either mail or email out to attendees. Something in the
line of an email invite and a piece such as a matching postcard invitation with a handwritten note .
Below are a few examples:
Greater Ocean City, Maryland Chamber of Commerce 12320 Ocean Gateway
Ocean City, Maryland 21842 410-213-0552 / 888-626-3386 fax: 410-213-7521
www.OceanCity.org
RIBBON CUTTING SCHEDULING FORM
Name of Business: _________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
Contact: ___________________ Phone# ________________ Cell # _______________
Email: _____________________________________
Brief Description of Business:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Ribbon Cutting Info: Please Check One: New Business Anniversary _______ Years
Significant Change with our business
(new location, remodel, addition etc.)
Date: _______________________
Welcome Time: ______________________
Ribbon Cutting Time: _______________________
Location: (if different from physical address) ______________________________________________
Will this be a joint Ribbon Cutting? Y / N If yes, please list other participating chambers & contact below
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Would you like the Chamber to e-mail your press release to the Chamber Membership Y / N
----- If yes, please email to [email protected]
** Business is responsible for sending Press Release to all Media outlets
Ambassador Liaison: ____________________________________________________
*** Two weeks minimum advance notice is desired for scheduling ribbon cutting celebrations.
Please email or fax completed form to Lisa Dennis – Events Director
Email: [email protected] Fax: 410-213-7521
Ambassador Committee Ribbon Cutting Chair: Ambassador Committee Chair: Terri Mahoney (443) 497-1124 Sallie Johnson (410) 250-2535 [email protected] [email protected]
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 2017-2018
OFFICERS
JOHN GEHRIG
President
D3Corp
9927 Stephen Decatur hwy, Ste G16
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-213-2400 phone
STEPHANIE MEEHAN
President - Elect
Funcade
905 Atlantic Avenue
Ocean City, MD 21842
443-235-7005 phone
410-250-8830 fax
TONI KEISER
Vice President
Atlantic General Hospital
9733 Healthway Drive
Berlin, MD 21811
410-641-9678 phone
410-641-9670 fax
BOB THOMPSON
Treasurer
PHILLIP CHEUNG
Secretary
CG Accounting Group, LLC
19 120th Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-524-2720 phone
410-524-5925 fax
DIRECTORS
BRETT WOLF
Professional Mortgage Services
10031 Old Ocean City Blvd #216
Berlin, MD 21811
410-641-4300 phone
410-641-3022 fax
(2006-2018)
RUTH WATERS
Harrison Group Resort Hotels
P.O. Box 160
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-289-1470 phone
410-289-2382 fax
(2006-2018)
MADLYN CARDER
BJ’s on the Water
P.O. Box 751
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-524-7575 phone
410-524-7624 fax
(2006-2018)
COLE TAUSTIN
Embers Restaurant & Blu Crab House
2305 Philadelphia Avenue
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-3322 phone
410-289-0609 fax
(2015-2019)
BUCK MANN
Mann Properties
220 16th St.
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-6156 phone
410-289-5443 fax
(2006-2018)
SALVATORE FASANO
LaQuinta Hotel & Suites
106 32nd Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-LQOC phone
410-289-0488 fax
(2015-2018)
CHRIS WOODLEY
Williams, Moore, Shockley &
Harrison LLP.
3509 Coastal Hwy.
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-3553 phone
4102-89-4157 fax
(2013-2018)
STEVE PASTUSAK
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
P.O. Box 572
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-289-3477 phone
410-289-0450 fax
(2015-2018)
BOBBI SAMPLE
Casino at Ocean Downs
10218 Racetrack Road
Berlin, MD 21811
410-641-0600 phone
(2017-2020)
JOE WILSON
Condominium Realty
6200 Coastal Highway
Unit 101
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-641-0600 phone
410-524-8260
(2017-2020)
Greater Ocean City , Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Eunice Q. Sorin Visitor & Conference Center
Greater Ocean City, MD Chamber of Commerce
Eunice Q Sorin Visitor & Conference Center
12320 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, Maryland 21842 410-213-0144 / 1-888-626-3386 Fax: 410-213-7521
[email protected] www.oceancity.org
NOTES
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COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
Economic Development Commission
11700 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-524-1000 phone
410-520-2466 fax
Hotel Motel Restaurant Association
5700 Coastal Hwy. #302
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-6733 phone
410-289-5645 fax
Downtown Association
P.O. Box 128
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-289-1413 phone
410-289-4900 fax
Ocean City Convention & Visitors Bureau
4001 Coastal Hwy.
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-8181 phone
410-723-8655 fax
Town of Ocean City
P.O. Box 158
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-289-8221 phone
410-289-7385 fax
Ocean City Development Corporation
108 Dorchester Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
410-289-7739 phone
410-289-7742 fax