West Point/ Tri-Rivers Chamber of Commerce 621 Main Street, PO Box 1035 West Point, Virginia 23181 (804) 843-4620 www.westpointvachamber.com WE MEAN BUSINESS!
Janice McGowan, Office Secretary	Office Hours: Tues - Thurs 9:00 - 1:00	FAX 804-843-2434
October 2011 President’s message…………. It has been several months since we distributed a newsletter.  As you can imagine, we have been busy concentrating on the Crab Carnival, which takes many months of work and planning and then a great deal of concentrated effort prior to the Carnival.  The Chamber supports the Crab Carnival as a method to draw individuals to the Town that will help support the local businesses and enjoy the family atmosphere of the event.  We hope that the businesses have customers that visit and return to the Town at a later date to conduct business.   What a nice way to introduce strangers to the wonderful Town that we have and enjoy.           Crab Carnival takes an “army” of volunteers and they make the efforts seem so easy in spite of all the work and coordination efforts.   Please see the acknowledgment and article in the newsletter by the chairmen of the Crab Carnival.   In addition, many thanks to the businesses that support Crab Carnival, Jammin, and Christmas on the Town.   The financial support provided by these businesses and the many volunteers make these events successful and profitable for the Chamber.  We are so fortunate to have so many businesses that support the chamber efforts and make the events possible.           The Chamber of Commerce takes profits from these functions to support the stage and different components of the park.  The Chamber has committed profits to assist the Town with some additional park improvements in 2012.           With all of the volunteers that consistently help, WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS.  Please consider volunteering.  We have a variety of functions, i.e., taking tickets, selling shirts, setting up, cleaning up, etc., etc.  You may have noticed the same faces repeatedly at all of the functions.  In order to continue to provide functions for the Town, we need to recruit additional volunteers.  Please consider giving some of your time and talent to help continue making your Town successful.  We have a list of additional events that would be beneficial, but the current volunteers have reached their maximum commitment. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD MEMBERS Members, please consider how you can contribute your time and expertise to the Chamber.  The Board of Directors strives to find programs and topics of interest to the membership and manage the affairs of the Chamber.  Please let us know if you are interested in holding a position on the Board, would like to recommend another person, or would like to volunteer for another project or role.           Thank you very much for your positive comments and support!! Sandra Willis President JAMMIN ON THE POINT The West Point/Tri-Rivers Chamber would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came out and supported the Jammin on the Point Summer Concert Series.            A special thanks to our Sponsors:  Loveland Distributors, West Point Pharmacy, BayLands Federal Credit Union, Mark M. Neale, DDS, Citizens and Farmers Bank, Commonwealth Assisted Living, Klein Mechanical, West Point Chiropractic Clinic, Essex Bank, Dr. Sam English, II, Thrift Insurance, the Town of West Point and the West Point Tri-Rivers Chamber of Commerce.           Also a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to our volunteers, Stuart and Nancy Jackson, Bill Collins,  Holly McGowan, Rob Balderson, Virginia Blaska, Sandra Willis, Mary Gene Simmons, Chris Burgess, Gary Hogenson Norma Bullock, Kara Jackson, Tara Bickerton, Billy and Janice McGowan, John Crowder, Sandy Boswell, Shawn Hershberger, Maureen Medlin, Lori Nein, T.C. Moore, Betty Brown,  Bobby Boyer, Michael Snoddy, Curry and Cathy Rickman, Lindsey Loranger, Lisa Graham, Caren and  Charlie Gallihugh.  CRAB CARNIVAL Another Year of Crabby Fun! The West Point Crab Carnival Committee would like to express their many thanks to all of the organizations and volunteers that made the 29th Annual Crab Carnival a huge success.  Along with hard work, time, and effort The Town of West Point experienced another year of crabby fun with live music, crafts, food, and fireworks.  We would like to thank the following sponsors for donations: Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs – Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation, G4S International Training, Inc., Loveland Distributors, Rock Tenn, Medlin Motor Company, and Baylands Federal Credit Union, Dungeness Crabs – Citizens & Farmers Bank, My Three Sons, and West Point Pharmacy, Soft-Shell Crabs – BB&T Bank, Old Dominion Grain/Division of the Mennel Milling Co., Modr’s Texaco, Tri-County Animal Hospital, Commonwealth Assisted Living, Radio Communications, and TPMG West Point Family Practice, Hermit Crabs – Dr. Sam E. English, Essex Bank, Wyatt-Ogg Furniture, Inc., Thrift Insurance Corp., Riverside Convalescent Center, and Quinn Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, and Fiddler Crabs – Simply Nails and Dr. Mark M. Neale, Jr., DDS, MAGD.  We would like to thank the following for allowing us to use their property: Chris & Robin Vincent, First Baptist Church of West Point, St. John’s Episcopal Church, West Point United Methodist Church, Burke & Lou Johnson, Keith & Teresa Harver, Citizen & Farmers Bank, Jonathan Kinney, and The Town of West Point.  We would also like to thank all of the volunteers that dedicated their time for this event: Town of West Point Public Works Department, West Point Volunteer Fire and Rescue, West Point Police Department, King William County Sheriff’s Office, New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Virginia Defense Force, West Point YMCA, Boy Scouts, West Point High School National Honor Society, Zambelli Fireworks, West Point High School Key Club, West Point High School Junior Class, Radio Communications, Bay Transit, Tom Cervenak, Lisa Graham, Sandra Willis, T. C. Moore, Shawn Hershberger, Linda Sprouse, Liz Speake, Wendi Townsend, John Edwards, Bill Hodges, Janice McGowan, Virginia Blaska, Curry Rickman, Cathy Rickman, Ben Kenney, Vicki Dean, Beverly Sibley, Lauren Hogan, Thomas Wyatt, Jim Fronkier,  Bob Turco, Roger Harmon, Maureen Medlin, Eric Nost, John Crowder and Nancy Bishop, and all of the Town residents that cooperated with the Crab Carnival Committee.   Once again, the West Point Crab Carnival Committee thanks everyone who participated and expresses their gratitude to all of the volunteers. Holly McGowan & Stuart Jackson Chairmen West Point Crab Carnival  CHAMBER MEETING Our next Chamber meeting (Pizza Social) is Thursday, November 3rd   at 7:00 p.m. in the Downtown Business Center at 621 Main St.  Bring a friend!!!  Please feel free to provide ideas on topics or programs you would like to see at future Chamber meetings. RSVP to Janice by Wednesday, November 2nd if you plan to attend.  CHRISTMAS ON THE TOWN Mark your calendars for our 19th Annual Christmas on the Town hosted by the West Point/Tri-Rivers Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 1 – 5 p.m.  Come out for a fun-filled afternoon of Holiday Shopping, pony rides, Elf workshop, crafts, wagon rides, the parade and of course get your picture taken and visit with SANTA! The West Point Historical Society is supporting the Chamber of Commerce and hosting a West Point Home Tour event for Sunday, December 4, 2011, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Several homeowners have graciously agreed to have their homes open for tour, including historical homes and newly built homes:                   The Shreaves home – 358 First Street                   The Nichols home – 407 Lee Street                   The Bland home – 1205 Main Street                   The Wilson Home – 410 W. Euclid Ave.           Tickets for the tours will be available beginning Nov. 1st at the following locations:  West Point Antiques, Divin’ Off the Dock, Citizens and Farmers Bank, Essex Bank, BB&T Bank, and BayLands Federal Credit Union.  Ticket prices are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 day of tour. All proceeds will benefit the Historical Society of West Point