Blount Partnership News and Events

SUPPORT BLOUNT COUNTY BUSINESSES ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

This November 30, the Blount Partnership wants to celebrate Small Business Saturday with you! It's a special holiday created so communities can show love for small local businesses. And it wouldn't be a celebration without businesses like you joining us!

The day was setup to help businesses with their most pressing need -- getting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before.

We encourage everyone to shop small and shop local this holiday season. View the Small Business Saturday list of discounts offered.

SAVE THE DATE FOR CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Put December 11 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in your calendar and join us for the Blount Partnership Christmas Open House (201 S. Washington St., Maryville). It's the staff's way to thank all the members for their support. Food is prepared by the staff along with a visit from Santa and photos by Jamie Weiss Photography and her Gigglebox.

READ THE DIALOGUE

Check out the latest edition of The Dialogue in this email where we visit with new Blount County Chamber member Anne Williams, Operations and Development Director for WDVX radio.

SMART TRIPS WANTS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS BECOME A BEST WORKPLACE

Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) is an innovative membership program that provides qualified employers with national recognition and an elite designation for offering outstanding commuter benefits. Employers and developments that meet the National Standard of Excellence in commuter benefits can get on the list of Best Workplaces for Commuters. The application deadline for the 2020 BWC list is December 30, 2019.

Smart Trips has partnered with Best Workplaces for Commuters to encourage employers to apply for this national recognition opportunity. Our program would love to cover the application fee ($230 value) for our Chamber's members. If you know of any members interested, please let them know this is available until the application deadline.

For more information about the application process, please visit our website.

MENTORS NEEDED FOR TNACHIEVES

Become a tnAchieves mentor! 12 hours a year is all it takes to help Tennessee students on their journey to higher education. The December 6 deadline is approaching fast. We need 67 more mentors locally to meet our goal of 192! Encourage your friends, family and coworkers to apply at http://tnAchieves.org/mentors/apply

GET PLACEMENT IN 2020 BASICALLY BLOUNT

The 2020 Basically Blount lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2020, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.

We are pleased to offer a variety of advertising opportunities at cost effective rates through our media kit. We have contracted with Marcon Marketing Consultants, a local Chamber member, to handle production and ad sales.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount, the importance of supporting the Chamber, and how to get your business involved, contact: Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at 865-705-8580 or Vicki Hawkins of Marcon Marketing at 865-310-2963

SIGN UP FOR THE DECEMBER SOFT SKILLS CLASS

It's Your Career! That's the focus of a free soft skills session offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.

Registrations are currently being accepted online at www.blountchamber.com for a class entitled Creating Infographics for Promoting Your Business on December 13. Learn the basics of what makes a good infographic and explore free tools for making them.

All participants will earn .5 CEUs per session for participating. They will also receive an email survey two months after workshop participation to assess application of new ideas.

All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. A complete class description is located on the registration site. All classes run from 8-10 a.m. with networking beginning at 7:30 a.m.

YOU CAN POST YOUR OWN MEMBER-TO-MEMBER DEALS

Blount Chamber members can now post their own Member-to-Member deals on this page at no charge. Simply login to your account, Click on the "New Coupon" button, fill out the form and click save. It's that easy.

Click here if you need access to your login information.

Of course, we will be happy to add your coupon. Just email information about the product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.

View the latest deals.

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT

Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event or any good news about your business, please send it to us. We'd love to share it with the community.

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1980 was "Lady" by the Kenny Rogers. The song was written and produced by Lionel Richie and ranks among Kenny Rogers's biggest hits. It became the first record of the 1980s to chart on all four of Billboard magazine's singles charts - country, Hot 100, adult contemporary and Top Black Singles.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 152nd installment visiting with Anne Williams, Operations and Development Director for WDVX, which is a non-profit community radio station that creates and provides content to promote the cultural heritage of East Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region by entertaining and educating audiences globally with original programs showcasing live radio performance, under-represented arts, and emerging local talent.

Describe WDVX. WDVX broadcasts 24 hours a day with a bluegrass morning drive, an Americana mix for the rest of the day, and specialty programming at night and on the weekends. WDVX broadcasts at least 8 hours of live music performance each week. The Blue Plate Special is WDVX's signature concert series Monday through Saturday at noon.

How did WDVX begin? WDVX started in a camper in Norris in 1997 playing a mix of bluegrass and Americana music as well as promoting events featuring this music.

What is the background? Founder Tony Lawson had been a commercial DJ for over a decade prior to the creation of the radio station. Don Burggraf helped as engineer while he worked for Channel 10.

Who is your muse? The music and culture of East Tennessee is a major resource as well as our people, mountains, lakes and rivers that inspired the songs and tunes. WDVX continues to look to new venues, festivals, and new artists to sustain us into the future.

Describe your listeners. WDVX listeners and donors believe in the entertainment value of the music and live performance as well as the preservation of the musical culture of East Tennessee. They love live music, go to concerts, eat at restaurant and are active in their community. Most are male and are between 35 - 65.

What impacts your work environment? WDVX was at the forefront of webcasting and maintains a wide international and national audience beyond East Tennessee. Along the way technology has allowed many people to find music other than reading a magazine or listening to the radio. These technical challenges invites us to go beyond thinking only about broadcasting over the air and through the web. We are launching a new streaming player, doing more video production and upgrading our website to engage more visitors and keep their interest.

Name three things you wish you knew when you started. Three things that we would have like to know about in 1997 would be satellite radio, internet radio, and capturing more of our live performances in multiple ways.

What do you enjoy about WDVX? Our listeners are so passionate about what we do. WDVX enjoys supporting local and emerging artists. We love seeing folks like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers grow to be top of the music business.

View previous Profiles

	Events

	November 25-December 1 November 25 -- Gmail Basics Computer Class November 25 -- ACA (Affordable Care Act) Enrollment Assistance November 26 -- Gmail Advanced Tips and Tricks Computer Class November 28-30 -- Fred Weiser at the Townsend Visitors Center November 28 -- Titanic's Thanksgiving Fireworks November 29 -- Best Workplace for Commuters Application November 30 -- Downtown Maryville Holiday Craft Market November 30 -- H.O.M.E. For The Holidays November 30 -- Small Business Saturday December 1 -- Titanic Christmas & Winter Celebration December 2-8 December 2 -- Springbrook Splendor December 2 -- City of Maryville Tree Lighting December 2 -- Southern Appalachian Studies Series: Memories of a Family Christmas with Jill Bond December 3 -- Chamber Social sponsored by Airport Hilton December 3 -- Public Stewards of Children training December 5 -- Santa Mouse Christmas House December 5 -- Festival of Trees December 6 -- Pinterest for Business - Social Media For Business Class December 7 -- Deck the Halls Wreath Workshop December 7 -- Mountain View Lodge #519 F&AM Chili Supper December 8 -- Townsend Christmas Parade December 8 -- Reindeer Run 5K Road Race & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk December 8 -- Holiday Candlelight Tour Save the Date December 12 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Treasures Jewelers You can access the Blount County Chamber events calendar here or the community calendar here.

	Chairman's Club, Champion's Club, President's Circle