Where Are We Advertising?
During the first four months of 2008, tourism advertising has included ads in Airtran’s in-flight magazine “Go,” Southern Living Magazine, Georgia EMC Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend Magazine, Blue Ridge Country and Retire in Georgia. We have monthly classified travel ads in Southern Living and Coastal Living Magazines, and weekly classifieds in the AJC, Jacksonville Times and Tampa Tribune. The Chamber also advertises in the state travel guide, Atlanta CVB Metro Guide, Georgia State Parks Guide and Georgia Outdoor Guide. In May, we will have a travel ad in a Georgia newspaper travel insert published in 24 newspapers throughout the southeast.

Co-op Advertising Opportunities
Lodging and cabin rental businesses can participate in the chamber’s co-op advertising program on a line by line basis in weekly classified travel ads in the AJC, Jacksonville Times and Tampa Tribune. Cost for the Atlanta Journal is $20/line/week; Tampa Tribune is $5/line and Jacksonville Times is $7/line. Businesses can advertise in one or all of the newspapers, and payment to the Chamber is quarterly. For more information about co-op advertising, contact Elaine Dilbeck, 706-632-5680.

Two Additional SCORE Seminars
The Chamber’s SCORE Seminars have been very popular, but there is limited space available in the next two workshops, Marketing in the Mountains and Beyond, May 8th; and Financing Your Dream, May 22nd. Cost of the workshops is $10 each. They will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Morganton Mountaintown Baptist Association on Highway 515, Blue Ridge. RSVP to the Chamber at 706-632-5680.

Membership Picnic is June 17
The Chamber’s Membership committee, chaired by Jackie Seabolt, has invited members of the Blue Ridge Business Association and the Tri-Cities Business Association to join us at our annual Membership Picnic on June 17th at Horseshoe Bend Park. Entertainment will be provided by Lisa Jacobi’s bluegrass band, Steel String Session. You will receive an invitation in the mail soon for this very special event, but save the date! Cost of the picnic will be $10.

Candidate Forums Planned
The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs committee, chaired by Amanda Mercier, has scheduled two Candidate Forums for 2008. The first will be a Pre-Primary Forum on June 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. The primary election will take place on July 15. The second forum will be on October 21 prior to the general election on November 4. Both forums will be held at the Fannin County High School Performing Arts Center from 6 to 9 p.m. If you would like to suggest questions for the June pre-primary forum, please send them to Jan Hackett at the chamber, or e-mail to jahackett@tds.net.

Internet Marketing Tips
The Chamber’s website, www.blueridgemountains.com, is linked to 418 other websites, according to a Google search. To find out how many other sites have linked to your website, type in the Google search box:
links; yourwebsiteaddress There is a space between links; and the website address (don't use www).

Here’s a list of some other websites we have entered information about Fannin County tourism and events on: Georgia.org, Atlanta Events, Access Atlanta, Discover Things to Do, American Towns, Southern Highroads Trail, Georgia Magazine Calendar Events, DMOZ.org, Georgia 515 Magazine, North Georgia Mountains Magazine, North Georgia Living, Georgia Mountain Living, Appalachian Country, Blue Ridge Highlander, BlueMoosetoDo.

Short Subjects--Thanks to Appalachian Bank for a great April Business After Hours.
--Ambassadors of the Month for March: a three-way tie between Wilda Dickey, Jackie Seabolt and Sara Waterhouse. Congratulations!
--The May edition of Blue Ridge Country Magazine included a great article about a Father/Daughter weekend in Blue Ridge. If you would like a copy, let us know. The May edition of Guide to Georgia has Arts in the Park on the cover, along with a full page ad on the back cover paid for by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and the Chamber. The May edition of Georgia Trend Magazine has a great community profile on Fannin County.