| | Leading the way to economic vitality and quality of life in Blue Ridge, McCaysville, Morganton and all of beautiful Fannin County, Georgia. |
| Manda Gwatney is Chair of 2018 Board of Directors;
Frankie Rigdon is Chairman Elect
Paul Gribble received a plaque and gift as the retiring Chamber Board Chairman of 2017 at the Annual Dinner last weekend at Brasstown Valley Resort. Manda Gwatney will serve as Chairman for 2018, joined on the Chamber Executive Committee by Frankie Rigdon, ETC, Vice Chairman/Chairman Elect; Lisa Vest, IGA Hometown Foods, Secretary; Rene Bidez, Treasurer; and Paul Gribble, Georgia Mtn Cabins, Past Chairman. Other Members of the 2018 Chamber Board of Directors Keith Jenson, Summit Inspection Donna Tipton, United Community Bank Jason Farmer, Mountain Gateway Appraisals David Lewis, Tri State EMC Billy Porter, TDS Telecom C.J. Stam, Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals Richard York, Woodmen Life Shannen Oyster, Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods Betsy Hyde, Fannin County Schools Dr. Jennifer Jabaley, Jabaley Eye Care David Lillard, Mercier Orchards Sandy Ott, University of North Georgia Bill Banzhaf, Harry Norman Real Estate Jenny Mundy, Dickey McCay Insurance Brandon Holloway, Mountain Valley Community Bank |
Rene Bidez Receives Honorary Lifetime Membership Rene Bidez, CPA received the Chamber’s Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at the Chamber Awards Dinner, presented by Paul Gribble. Rene has served as the Chamber Treasurer since 1990. His services include providing accounting services for the Chamber on a voluntary basis. There is no one who has been more instrumental in the success of our Chamber than Rene Bidez. His professionalism gives our board, members, and local government partners sure knowledge that our finances are sound and money is being managed correctly. As a perpetual member of the executive committee he knows more about our Chamber than anybody else, and his council has been invaluable to the 27 executive committees he has served. |
Angela Stewart DeLorme – Chamber Member of the Year
The 2017 Member of the Year, Angela Stewart DeLorme, has served four terms on the Chamber’s board, beginning in 1989 and ending in 2016. She has practiced law for 33 years, is a former partner in the law firm of Ralston and Panter and currently a sole practitioner. She was the first female attorney in Blue Ridge. Angela was instrumental in writing the Chamber’s incorporation, bylaws, policies and procedures, and she is still the Chamber’s agent of record with the Secretary of State. She has chaired numerous committees and has been an invaluable board member because of her love for and dedication to the Chamber and Fannin County, her knowledge, wisdom, competence and leadership. |
Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited Receives Community Service Award Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited received the Community Service Award for conservation, protection and restoration of Fannin County’s cold water fisheries. TU was responsible for naming Fannin the Trout Capital of Georgia. The group sponsors Rivers Alive, Trout in the Class Room, the Trout Adventure Trail, and Troutfest, an annual event held in April for the past two years. |
| More 2017 Awards and Recognition
Bonnie Roper, Farmer’s Insurance, received the Ambassador of the Year Award, presented by Ambassador Chair Donna Tipton
Joe Foster, Glenn Harbison, Susan Kiker and Cynthia Panter |
| Newsworthy … WANTED: Sponsors for Business After Hours We’re looking for a few more sponsors for Business After Hours in 2018. The months available are March, August, October and November. Let us know if you are looking for this kind of great exposure for your business and what month you have interest in hosting! Call Dianne Mallernee at 706-632-5680 or email her at diannem@tds.net. HGTV’s Log Cabin Living to Feature Mineral Bluff Tune in to HGTV February 10 at 11:30 p.m. for Log Cabin Living. This episode will feature two home buying families who are searching for a log cabin close to Mineral Bluff, GA. |
| Welcome New Members! Blue Ridge Patriots Friends of NRA Morganton, GA, 30560 Dan Spies Friends of NRA is the blockbuster fundraising program under The NRA Foundation. Since day one, it has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports. Cone & Associates CPA, LLC John Cone Cone & Associates CPA offers accounting, tax and consulting expertise focused on your unique business and personal needs. Full Moon Over Blue Ridge Blue Ridge, GA, 30513 Patrick Binienda Full Moon Over Blue Ridge is a cabin rental with attached tree houses nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains. Full Moon Over Blue Ridge is perfectly located to all the activities and amenities that make the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Aska Adventure Area so desirable, yet also secluded enough to relax and enjoy the quiet and natural beauty of the Chattahoochee Forest. Grams & Pops Tracey Ciongoli Grams and Pops has a lil’ bit of everything: unique gifts, t-shirts, women and children’s clothing, home and garden items, jewelry, bath and body products. Mountain Attitude Designs Terri Adams Mountain Attitude Designs is located in the historic building of the Doradele Move Theater circa 1925 in Copperhill, Tennessee. They offer a wide variety of items including exclusive local handmade leather, sterling, stainless and copper jewelry, photo postcards, along with unique train and mountain jewelry & gifts and apparel. Silk Road Traveler Estela Carson-Priede Silk Road Traveler offers a variety of rocks, fossils and gems as well as meditation tools, sages and smudges. SleepMore Mattress Store Traci Hamby Sleep More Mattress Store offers a variety of mattresses to suit every comfort need.
Wilderness View Cabins Chatsworth GA 30705 Sharon Bungo Wilderness View Cabins offers vacation cabin rentals, property management and specialized cabin cleaning services. |
| February Community Events Calendar Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association Recurring Events * Trivia Tuesdays, Fightingtown Tavern * Bingo, Kiwanis Fairgrounds * Trivia Night! Fannin Brewing Company * Brewery Tours & Tastings: | | | |
| Chamber Events Calendar February 7 – Lunch N Leads, Blue Jeans Pizza and Pasta Factory 12:00 p.m. February 12 – Tourism Committee Meeting at the Chamber 12:00 p.m. February 20 – Business After Hours at The Black Sheep Restaurant 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. February 22 – Ambassador Lunch, Mercier Orchards 12:00 p.m. _________________ Member Renewals Thank you! 5 Star Lodge & Stables BB&T Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited Cameron Hall of Ellijay-Five Star Senior Living Cox Farmhouse Done Wright Packaging Elite Response GoCo Rolloffs Joseph C. Webb Mountain Getaway Cabins of Blue Ridge Nicholson Tire Center #2 North Georgia Storage Ridgeline Counseling The Sweet Shoppe The Village Restaurant Toccoa Wilderness Tubing Walter G. George Soil Consultants ____________________
Chamber Member Anniversaries – Thank You!
Cucina Rustica First Baptist Church of Blue Ridge 5 Star Lodge & Stables Cindy West, RE/MAX Town & Country Financial Guideposts Rays Tire & Auto Walter G. George Soil Consultants ________________________ |
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