Gary A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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1 Volume 10, Issue nd Quarter A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Chamber Members Thanks to a joint effort by the City of Ocean City and the State of New Jersey our beach replenishment project arrived just in time to welcome in the summer season to Ocean City. Although much appreciated, this project was only able to bring the sand to minimal levels on many of our beaches and it is imperative that another, larger project follows this year s replenishment program. To this end the Chamber has been working very closely with Congressman LoBiondo who has been able to obtain $2.8 million in Federal funding and Congressman LoBiondo just announced that the House Appropriations Committee approved another $3.5 million of funding for Ocean City s beaches. This money along with State and City funds would provide for another major beach replenishment project in the very near future. We will keep on top of this issue. The Chamber staff and membership have been hard at work preparing for the season. Our new website was successfully launched. Our site, based upon insight and help from our accommodations industry, now provides for live search capabilities for our visitors to find their places to stay. The site is still a work in process and we would like to thank everyone for their input thus far. Our new home page has a simpler and user friendly design and we are already experiencing more people visiting our site to find out more about Ocean City. Our site has always been the number one visited tourist site for Ocean City and with our new design we are already improving on our success. We believe this site will not only help our visitors but it will also be a fabulous source of business for our members. Stayed tuned for more developments to help grow your business and please contact us with ideas that we may implement to help you. The promotion of Ocean City is vital to our remaining a top tourist designation. In today s difficult times it is of the utmost importance that we not only maintain a top notch product but we also promote Ocean City to our current customer base and continually expand upon that base. The Chamber supported the Tourism Commission s plan to increase their funding through expanding the base of those who pay into the tourism development fund. We believe that the Chamber can help the Tourism Commission with the promotion of Ocean City to help bring more people over the bridge. Our Executive Committee is currently working on a plan to help the Tourism Commission attain this goal. The Chamber hosted many exciting events this year. We all had a wonderful time at the roast for Bob Blevin. Thanks Bob for your good humor and thick skin as well as some of the others in the audience who were the unsuspecting recipients of a lot of good natured zingers! Other events such as the Farmers and Crafters Market and the Inn-to-Inn Tours are in full swing with great attendance. As always we appreciate your continued support and welcome both your participation and ideas. Please remember the Chamber is only as good as the organizations and members that make up our organization see you at our next meeting!!! Sincerely, Gary Gary Jessel INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Grand Openings 2 New Members 3 Executive Director s Letter Chamber Events 6 Tourism Services 7 MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT Weekly Specials Send your weekly specials, discounts and coupons to info@oceancitychamber.com to be listed, free of charge, on oceancityvacation.com. E m p l o y m e n t Availability Looking for employees? Send your employment l i s t i n g t o info@oceancitychamber.com to be listed, free of charge, on oceancityvacation.com. SAVE THE DATE Wednesdays in July & August Ocean City Farmers & Crafters Market Tabernacle Grounds 8am-1pm Thursdays in July & August Inn-to-Inn Tours Pick-up at 7th & Central 2pm-4pm $13 per person August 14th Membership Meeting Guest Speaker Mayor Perillo Flanders, 8:30am 4

2 Page 2 Chamber Notes GRAND OPENINGS Design House at Tile & Marble Central 844 Central Avenue, Ocean City The Tigerlilly Cafe & the Courtyard 805 E. 8th Street, Ocean City Ocean City Sailing Foundation Bayside Center, Ocean City From the Potters Hand 511 8th Street, Ocean City Kidz Creations 811 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City S/K Photography 811 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City

3 Volume 10, Issue nd Quarter Page 3 NEW MEMBERS 4/1/08 TO 6/30/08 Accountants P.J. Schneiders & Co., LLP 2021 New Road #5, Linwood Debra Quinn Apartments/Guest House The Thomas S. Simmons House 816 Wesley Ave., Ocean City08226 Karen Staley Attractions Jilly's Arcade 1168 Boardwalk, Ocean City Paul Levchuk Pirate Voyages 10th & Palen Ave, Ocean City Jamie and Joel Richard Carpet & Flooring Tile & Marble Central 844 Central Avenue, Ocean City Jas Szygiel Contractors Blue Diamond Disposal 426 Madison Avenue, Woodbine Johnnie Walker Food: Boardwalk Jilly's French Fry Factory 1034 Boardwalk, Ocean City Randy & Jody Levchuk Jilly's Ice Cream Factory 1172 Boardwalk, Ocean City Randy & Jody Levchuk Hotels & Motels Hotel Bellevue th Street, Ocean City Chris Chelo Residence Inn by Marriott AC Airport 3022 Fire Road, Egg Harbor Twp Mathew Winter Organizations Exchange Club Family Center 854 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City Susan Miller Ocean City Restaurant Assoc. James Yoa Restaurants: Ocean City Tina's Family Eatery 621 8th Street, Ocean City Tina Keller Restaurants: Regional Gaspare's Restaurant 501 Zion Road, Egg Harbor Twp Gaspare Campisi Spa & Wellness Compass Massage & Bodywork 803 E. 8th Street, Ocean City Monique DeLozier Shopping: Boardwalk 99 Four Shore 1044 Boardwalk, Ocean City Paul Levchuk Shopping: Boardwalk (cont.) Bad Kitty 1064 Boardwalk, Ocean City Christine Triggiani Jilly's Tee Shirt Factory 936 Boardwalk, Ocean City Randy & Jody Levchuk Jilly's Tee Shirt Factory 1048 Boardwalk, Ocean City Jody Levchuk The Spot by Jilly's, LLC 762 Boardwalk, Ocean City Jody Levchuk The Spot by Jilly's LLC 1066 Boardwalk, Ocean City Jody Levchuk Shopping: Dowtown Hot Stuff 838 A Asbury Avenue, Ocean City Michele Pokrass Storage/Moving Guardian Self - Storage, LLC P.O. Box 189, 1420 Route 50, Tuckahoe Denise Hope Transportation Services London Taxi Limousine Ocean City Mike Dufner Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce 854 Asbury Avenue l Ocean City, NJ l Phone: l Fax: info@oceancitychamber.com l

4 Page 4 Chamber Notes A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Chamber Members, The Ocean City Regional Chamber Team has been working hard to prepare for the summer season. Our new web site has been well received and a great advertising tool for Ocean City and the business community. What s Happening and Legislative Updates have been a great success keeping all members informed. Take advantage of all the benefits of the web site. Forward your information on employment opportunities and weekly specials to the office. Many improvements have been made to the Welcome Center that includes signage and flags so that you know we are open for business. A computer and new phones have been installed at the Center to insure that communications are much better. The Chamber has been working closely with the Department of County Tourism in marketing to Canadian visitors. The less than a tank away campaign has been very successful in our traditional markets. The new membership committee has been meeting and would like to remind everyone to renew your membership and invite a friend to join. (Wait until you see what Carol Heenan and Mark Reimet and their committee are putting together in a members benefit program). Our 9th Annual Farmers and Crafters Market is in full swing every Wednesday from 8am-1pm at the Tabernacle Grounds. Visit early as some days they sell-out! The annual Historic Inn-to-Inn Tours are running every Thursday at 2pm. We have had many positive comments on both events from guests and residents. We will have our next Breakfast meeting at the Flanders Hotel on August 14 th at 8:30 am and Mayor Sal Perillo will be the speaker. Hope to see you there! Kindest regards, Michele Gillian Executive Director For your peace of mind South Jersey Home Health Care Provides: Highest Quality Caregivers in South Jersey. Hourly and Live-in Specialists. Case Management Available 24/7. In-Home Consultation with Certified Senior Advisor and RN Evaluation at no cost to you. Specializing in Elderly & Special Needs Care 1028 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, NJ

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6 Page 6 CHAMBER EVENTS Chamber Notes 10th Annual Chamber Roast held at Greate Bay Country Club 2008 Roastee: Bob Blevin Special Recognition Luncheon for George Harms Company held at Ocean City Yacht Club Bridge Tours with George Harms Company of Rt. 52 Bridge Project 2008 Ocean City Council Candidates Forum held at OCHS 2008 Salute to Working Women held at The Flanders Honored Maura Primus-McMahon Business Networking Mixer with Somers Point Business Association In a Jam Call Gam! Air Conditioning Plumbing Heating FREE Estimates 115 Roosevelt Blvd., PO Box 37 Marmora, New Jersey License #827 HIC #13Vh

7 Volume 10, Issue nd Quarter Page 7 TOURISM SERVICES Visitors Guide The 2008 Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitor s Guide is a valuable resource for all! 80,000 copies of the guide are distributed t hr ou g hout t h e s t a t e v i a information centers and through the chambers website. If you would like to distribute the guide to your clientele call the Chamber Office, Coupon Book The Chamber produced the 2008 Coupon Book to be heavily distributed through October. The attractive and easy to use coupon book is professionally produced with quality materials. DISTRIBUTION: 75,000 books to be d i s t r i b u t e d E x c l u s i v e l y distributed from all six Municipal Parking Lots Distributed to 30,000 vis it or s t o the Chamber 's Information Centers Distributed to weekly Bus Groups Distributed to the thousands of visitors staying at several local Campgrounds. Getting the Word Out! The Chamber offers several brochure rack locations for its members to display their brochures to visitors and locals year-round at a reasonable price. Display your brochure for the 30,000+ visitors and locals who pass through the Chamber s Information Centers. Brochure Rack locations include 9th Street Causeway Information Center, Acme at 34th Street, Stainton s Square, and SuperFresh. Pricing for Brochure Racks: 1 Location $35.00/season 2 Locations $65.00/season 3 Locations $80.00/season 4 Locations $95.00/season Be Seen! Be seen by over 20,000 visitors each year (2 per view)! Chamber members are able to display posters at the 9th Street Causeway Information Center. The 2x3 glossy posters highlighting your business are eye-catching to visitors who stop by the Information Center for information and brochures on accommodations, activities, restaurants, shopping and more. $475 per year. To take advantage of any of the above services, call the Chamber Office,

8 Page 8 Chamber Notes Robert W. Yaskin, D.M.D. General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry th Street, Suite 1 Ocean City Emergency Patients Welcome