Thursday, March 16, 2017

Weekly Village Update 3.16.17

Chamber Events & News


Business After Hours
Tuesday, March 21st at 5:30 pm
Blowing Rock Medical Park/PLUS Urgent Care

Don't miss the FIRST Business After Hours of the year! Join us for networking & nibbles!

Don't forget your business card!



NCRMA Scholarships
The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2017-2018 academic year.

NCRMA is giving away 10 scholarships, at $2,500 each, dedicated exclusively to students who are connected to North Carolina's retail industry.

Deadline for applications is March 20th! Don't miss out on this opportunity!


TAP Talks Event
Tuesday, March 28th at 8:30 am
Courtyard by Marriott, Boone 

1 day, 10 speakers, 100's of practical and actionable business lessons, tips and tactics to implement immediately!
TAP Talks offer ten 30-minute presentations by experts in their business fields, focusing on tangible, actionable, and practical information that business owners can implement immediately. 
Cost is $49 per person.

Chamber Members receive a $20 discount! Use promo code MEMBERSSAVE when registering!




SAVOR Blowing Rock Video
SAVOR Blowing Rock is just around the corner (April 20 - 23)! Are you getting excited? We are! For a complete list of the weekend's events and to purchase tickets, visit www.savorblowingrock.com.

In the meantime, be sure to click on the "watch video" button for scenes from last year by Auburn Sky Productions!




Member Events & News



New Member:
North Carolina Guardian ad Litem
North Carolina Guardian ad Litem equips community volunteers to serve abused and neglected children by advocating for their best interests in court. Volunteer opportunities available!
Avery County Courthouse, Newland, NC 


The Coves Mountain River Club Receives 2017 Bliss Award!
Real Estate Scorecard provides in-depth research and candid insight into the overall happiness and satisfaction of over 390 master planned communities in the Southeast. Each year, they honor the ‘best’ with a Bliss Award in fifteen categories including Happiest Community in America.
The Coves is located at
2002 Johns River Parkway, Lenoir.



Blue Ridge Parkway Among Top on National Park Visitation Lists
The National Park Service celebrated its centennial anniversary last year and new numbers show that more people visited America's national park sites in 2016 than ever before. The park service's sites around the country hosted a record-breaking 330.9 million visits, according to NPS data released last month. The Blue Ridge Parkway took the #2 spot  on the list of the 10 most visited sites in the park system, which includes national parks as well as historic sites, lake shores and more!


Book Launch Party
Saturday, March 25th, 11 am - 5 pm
Alta Vista Gallery

Celebrate the launch of Maria Hyde's new book
"He Gave Me Barn Cats".

Refreshments will be served.


Caldwell Hospice Volunteer Trainings
Saturday, April 1st & Tuesday, April 4th
First Presbyterian Church, Boone

Attendance is required both days.

Register now by calling Sarah McKethan at 828.754.0101.


Chamber Information & Meetings


Upcoming Meetings:

Business After Hours: Tuesday, March 21st at 5:30 pm, Blowing Rock Medical Park/PLUS Urgent Care

Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge: Wednesday, March 22nd at 1 pm, Watauga High School

Executive Board: Tuesday, March 28th at 8:30 am

TAP Talks Event: Tuesday, March 28th at 8:30 am, Courtyard by Marriott

Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge: Wednesday, March 29th at 1 pm, Meadowbrook Inn

Ribbon Cutting: Friday, March 31st at 5:30 pm, My Mountain Home

Board of Directors: Wednesday, April 5th at 8 am

Blowing Rock Young Professionals Meetup: Monday, April 10th at 5:30 pm, Blowing Rock Ale House

Economic Development Council: Tuesday, April 25th at 3:30 pm (NEW quarterly meetings)

All meetings are held in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

TWO HIGH COUNTRY BUSINESSES JOIN FORCES TO OFFER EXPERT A/V NEEDS FOR MEETINGS & EVENTS

Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock partners with Boone-based RYGID AV to offer first-class audio-visual support for all corporate meetings and events.

Blowing Rock, NC – March 15, 2017 — Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock is pleased to announce a new partnership with Boone-based RYGID AV, a company with 10 years of experience in the world of specialized audio, video and lighting solutions. Chetola offers 5,700-square-feet of meeting and event space throughout a variety of unique indoor and outdoor venue options for groups of five to 200 people. RYGID’s professional-grade design perspective focuses not only on the technology, but “embraces the ambiance of each unique space,” says RYGID AV owner Ryan Gilbert. This innovative synthesis between service and space will raise the level and intent of each corporate and social event at Chetola.

“We maintain an extensive inventory of quality audio-visual equipment for all event needs,” says Bryan Moore, Chetola Resort’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “For more than 20 years, Chetola has been a destination for large corporations, small businesses and special events ranging from weddings to reunions. Our goal is to provide exceptional service for every type of need. We partnered with RYGID AV for comprehensive sound, lighting and graphics projection systems. Meeting planners in particular count on our trained technical staff to respond to every need both quickly and professionally. Through this relationship with RYGID AV, our team will transform any meeting or social activity into a dynamic event.”

RYGID AV understands that each meeting and event has a different story to tell, and thereby tailors the audio, visual and lighting experience to meet individual needs. Audio fidelity runs from large format line array speakers to lavaliere microphones; high-definition video capabilities range from cameras to playback systems, always utilizing the latest projectors, screens and cameras; and lighting techniques include house lighting and control, keynote lighting and indoor/outdoor accent lighting.

About RYGID AV
RYGID AV services the Piedmont and High Country of North Carolina as well as Eastern Tennessee with all things video, audio and lighting. Contact them at 980.263.9194.

For information on planning meeting and events at Chetola Resort, please contact:
Charles Wofford, Executive Meetings Specialist: charlesw@chetola.com
Steve White, Groups & Events Specialist: steve@chetola.com
Carey Driscoll, Weddings & Events Specialist: carey@chetola.com