Nmbcoc Sept 09 Newsletter

♦ NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ♦ CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ♦ SEPT 2009 ♦

From the Desk of Our President

Dear Member, Tourism and Hospitality is the city’s number one industry. As the “Designated Marketing Organization” for marketing and promoting the community nationally and internationally with the support of Accommodations Tax dollars, your North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, advocates a strong partnership with the city and county to help assure that the business climate at the local level remains positive and supportive for quality growth and a thriving economy.

Over the last ninety days, perhaps you have read about the special Advertising and Marketing Blitz Campaign we initiated with the financial support of the City of North Myrtle Beach.

In addition to hospitality and tourism, our Business Plan for 2009-2010, includes position statements and collaborative initiatives in support of transportation and infrastructure; planning and development; education and workforce; economic development; and efficiency of government; all aimed at enhancing and improving North Myrtle Beach as a premier vacation destination, as well as a place to live, work, and raise a family.

The results were impressive and hopefully you have seen examples of these results from the number of visitors we have been fortunate enough to attract to our city. This means critically needed tax dollars are generated to keep our businesses operating and city services at optimum levels.

Realizing the downturn in our nation’s economy, and the negative projections made for this summer’s tourism business, the city agreed to grant the chamber $200,000 with an additional $50,000 from the chamber’s budget to provide $250,000 for the campaign.

The online marketing campaign, which ran from March 15th through July 15th, leveraged the impact of the chamber’s current marketing efforts already in

Inside this issue…

place. Internet inquiries rose 70% during that time. In June alone, the chamber distributed close to 40,000 Visitor’s Guides and a total of 81,000 over the 3-month period. This compares to 47,000 one year ago for the same 3 months. Overall inquiry types were up even more. Hotel-Motel inquiries rose by 152%; Condos/ Beach Houses were up 125%; Attractions rose by 119%; and Golf was up 72.8%. This truly indicates the quality brand we have all created for North Myrtle Beach and the huge number of potential visitors interested in our location as a family vacation destination. It also says wonders about how our full time residents welcome these visitors which is so very much appreciated and important to our success. Thank you for all you do to make our community such a wonderful place. Sincerely,

Annual Turkey Dinner Drive………………………………………..pg 5 Board of Directors Spotlight……………………………………..….pg 6 Henry Brown visits North Myrtle Beach……………………………pg 6

R. Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE President/CEO

North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Staff

Officers Mike Robertson…………………………………Chairman of the Board Damon’s Grill

Marc Jordan President/CEO

Ed Horton………….…..Immediate Past Chairman/Visitor Center Chair Anderson Brothers Bank

Trina Scabery Executive Assistant

Rachel Whitley………………………………………………...Treasurer National Bank of South Carolina

Ann Arnold Chief Financial Officer

Marc Jordan……………………………………………..President/CEO North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce

Ruth Anne Ellis Visitor Center Director

Ed Prince…………………………………………….Public Policy Chair Prince & Prince Properties

Marilyn Rinehart Marketing/Advertising Director

Hardy Butler………………………………………...Membership Chair Retired Retailer

Charlene Lynam Community/Special Events Director

Joyce Thomas……………………………..Marketing/Advertising Chair Century 21 Thomas Realty Ron McManus……………………..Community & Special Events Chair Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament Monroe Baldwin…………………………Economic Development Chair Myrtle Beach Tours Board Members at Large Bubba Collins Bubba Collins Insurance

Kim B. Dayvault Myrtle Beach Mall

John Griggs State Farm Insurance

Larry Spainhour HTC

John Smithson Ex-Officio

George Gregory Elliott Realty

Jim Eggen Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts

Richard Scott Gilmore Entertainment

Grace Spainhour Grace Realty Co.

Dan Moore DM Development Company

Tom Staats Century 21 Barefoot Realty Inc.

Joe Flesch Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort Jessica Worley Ocean Drive Resort

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/North-Myrtle-BeachChamber/100000067578226 2

Vicki Keibler Membership/Sales Director Jennifer C. Prince Media/Communications Specialist Antonel Neculai MIS/Marketing Database Manager Jay Drummond Operations Assistant Visitor Center Information Specialists: Sandra Appelbe Charlotte Bailey Brenda Brewster Debra Brown Jan Ellington Patricia Harrison Betty Mauney Fazelle Scaggs Betty Ann Sharpe Office Volunteers: Mary Beam Frances Beck Dottie Brehaut Jean Etheridge Rosemary Hannell Jean Gibson Lucille Lewis Minnie McIntyre Mary Kay Nance

Member Spotlight The Signatures Group, Inc.

SendOutCards

In 1996, with the Internet just getting started, Cara Adams left The Post and Courier Display Advertising Department in Charleston to set out on a new venture, exploring how and what this new internet opportunity could do to promote and expand small business; with the idea of starting a local online directory to shop businesses, get local assistance for leisure travel and groups needing our knowledge and expertise.

Kerry Kasotsky is an independent distributor of SendOutCards, a relationship marketing system. With SendOutCards, businesses can send customized greeting cards and gifts to their clients and prospects to build and maintain relationships. Take a moment and send a thank you for your business card, an unexpected birthday card, etc. Clients may not remember exactly what you did or said but they WILL remember how you made them feel. Kerry helps her clients plan and budget SendOutCards marketing campaigns that take advantage of the time and cost saving features of the system. With SendOutCards, you create cards with photos, digital handwriting, and signatures with a few keystrokes. The system’s card catalog contains 13,000+ greeting cards and its gift catalog has dozens of business-appropriate gifts and gift cards. You can store contact data online and receive email alerts for important events. Once you create your custom card with SendOutCards, the company prints and stuffs it, adds a first class stamp, and mails it via the U.S. Postal Service. A gift is packaged with a custom card in a clear envelope and mailed via Priority Mail. All you do is make selections via your SendOutCards account on the internet, and SendOutCards does everything else! There are several SendOutCards packages available with costs and features to fit every budget. For more info contact Kerry at (910) 383-2741 or [email protected]; go to www.sendoutcards.com/

Today, The Signatures Group, Inc., offers 8 one stop source city guides for business info, real estate assistance, and destination travel planning; Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Columbia, Greenville in South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, Asheville, North Carolina and New Orleans Louisiana. Other destination cities that will be included as well are San Francisco, California, New York City, Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida. Linda Cox is our newest addition as Sales Manager for The Signatures Group, Inc. for the Myrtle Beach area. She will be handling all leisure travel and groups in the Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach area from our AccessMyrtleBeach.com city guide and local business clients. Give her a call today at (843) 427-4112.

Want to be included in the Member Spotlight? E-mail Jennifer Prince at [email protected] or fax 843-280-2930. Spotlights are on a first come first serve basis and may be edited by staff members SANDPIPER HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, LLC We at Sandpiper Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC would like to introduce ourselves to you and tell you a little about what we offer as a local company. In our ongoing efforts to provide the very best products and services to our customers, we endeavor to help make your home or place of business as healthy and comfortable as possible. If you are a restaurant owner we are now also able to service your refrigeration equipment, such as walk in coolers and freezers and ice makers. We also highly recommend our Preventative Maintenance Contract which extends the life of your equipment and gives you priority status as our customer. We are also excited to be able to offer Duct Cleaning. Unhealthy air in the home can cause stale, musty odors as well as breathing problems such as allergies, asthma or other respiratory ailments. Our goal as a company is to keep our customers 100% completely satisfied. Please contact us with questions you may have. We look forward to serving all of your Heating and Air Conditioning needs. Visit us on the web at www.sandpiperhvac.com. Contact us at (843) 385-7263 or (910) 443-0883.

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Awesome Party Planners and Catering Awesome Party Planners and Catering can help you plan your next event. Experience the taste, ease, and excitement of letting us assist you on making your event one to remember for a lifetime. Our professional consultation services can help guide you from planning to clean up. We present a talented team that includes a professional Cake Artist, skillful DJ/Master of Ceremonies, and friendly wait staff. Use our services at your location or ours. Our on-site reception hall is the perfect venue for catered parties of between 15 to 70 guests. It is a great place for family and friends to spend quality time together! We are now taking reservations for all events: anniversaries, birthday parties, board meetings, community events, family reunions, holiday parties, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and retirement parties. For more information please call (843) 385-0765 or visit our website at www.awesomepartyplanners.com

Happenings Music on Main Thursday, Sept 3rd Andrew Thielen (Big Band) Journey to downtown North Myrtle Beach to get to know the area merchants in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Enjoy a live band on Main Street from 6:30-8:30 pm the first Thursday night of the month through the summer. For more info contact Parks & Recreation Center at (843) 280-5584.

Ambassador of the Month Congratulations to Cathy Honeycutt with FOX TV on winning July Ambassador of the month! Are you interested in becoming an Ambassador? Contact Vicki at (843) 241-2109. 4

Business After Hours (BAH) Thursday, September 17th 5:30 –8:00 pm Grand Strand Resorts 408 Main Street, NMB Don’t miss this great networking opportunity. Come and enjoy food, beverages, and door prizes! Next After Hours: October 15th—Molly Darcey’s

Irish Italian International Festival Saturday, September 26th 10 am—4 pm Main Street, NMB Entrance is free to the public the day of the event. This festival highlights delectable entrees from local restaurants that feature Irish and Italian foods, arts and crafts, awesome music, and an area emphasizing FREE children's activities. If you have questions regarding the Irish Italian International Festival please contact Parks and Recreation at (843) 280-5570, or visit www.nmb.us/afc.

Freedom Fest ‘09 Saturday, September 12th Freestyle Music Park This daylong festival will feature a concert by country music superstar LeAnn Rimes at 8 pm, followed by “Kiss the Sky” a spectacular fireworks and laser finale. Additional entertainment will include afternoon concerts by Charlie Floyd and Southern Express, Jeffrey Allen Edwards and Southern Blues and 60’s superstar Billy Joe Royal. Tickets for this exciting event are on sale now. Tickets include 2day park admission, rides, a patriotic parade themed exhibits and concerts. Purchase your tickets by calling (843) 236-7625. For more info visit www.FreestyleMusicPark.com.

Special Thanks… Atlanta Bread Company for the delicious pastries…

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Frank from Pittsburg for the hot doughnuts…

Friday, Sept 18th 7—9 pm McLean Park, NMB

Bruce Brown from the North Brunswick Chamber for the wonderful gift basket…

Featuring Jim Quick and Coastline (Beach music). Bring a beach chair, blanket and nonalcoholic beverages! For more info call Parks an Recreation at (843) 280-5584.

All the models and volunteers that helped make our photo shoot at the new O.D. Pavilion a success…

Welcome New Members For July Acosta Mechanical 4245-A Exchange St. Little River (843) 272-4174

Carol R. Stump 1000 11th Ave. N. #108 North Myrtle Beach (843) 249-3962

Bloomin'deals Consignment 10001 Beach Dr. Calabash (910) 575-4949

Martinez's Painting Company PO Box 4135 Wilmington (910) 231-7515

5th Annual Paws Across the Water Duck Race Saturday, September 12th Barefoot Landing, NMB Support the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach by attending the 5th Annual Paws Across the Water Duck Race on September 12th beginning at 11:30 am. The race will be at 2:00 pm, but there will be festivities all day long! This event will be held on the Intracoastal Waterway at Barefoot Landing. See thousands of ducks race to win the 1st place prize, a $2,000 gas card from Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson. Also, 20 other prizes will be awarded! To purchase your ducks please visit the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach shelter at 409 Bay Street or adopt your ducks o n l i n e : www.HumaneSocietyNMB.org. Also, adoption papers are avaiable at the Chamber’s Visitor Center. All the proceeds from this event will benefit the Humane Society.

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Pike-McFarland-Hall Associates, Inc. 1300 Professional Dr., Ste. 201 Myrtle Beach (843) 497-0272 Send Out Cards 9180 Southern Blvd. SE Winnabow (910) 383-2741

MyrtleBeachHotels.com 357 Lake Arrowhead Rd., MB (843) 445-2930

Annual Turkey Dinner Drive Sponsored by Grand Strand Resorts and Boulineau’s Two North Myrtle Beach businesses in conjunction with the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to make the Thanksgiving holiday a little brighter for hundreds of families in the North Myrtle Beach area. Boulineau’s IGA and Grand Strand Resorts are working together for the fifth year in a row to raise money for turkey dinners. "In the past four years, the Turkey Dinner Drive has donated over 1,000 dinners to area families," said Betty Mauney, Information Specialist for the North Myrtle Beach Chamber. Mauney is spearheading the fundraising effort and will help organize volunteers to deliver the turkey dinners November 25th. "There are many deserving families in our area," Mauney said. "We work with churches, schools and North Strand Helping Hand," she continued.

A Thanksgiving dinner can be provided for $19.00 which includes a twelve to fourteen pound turkey, yams, two cans of vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and a pie. The Turkey Dinner Drive will kick off Thursday, September 17th at the Chamber’s Business After Hours, held at Grand Stand Resorts beginning at 5:30 pm. Those wishing to donate can also make contributions via mail; please make checks payable to: North Myrtle Beach Chamber, PO Box 349, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. But the reality is that many people in this area can’t afford a holiday meal and many would spend the day alone if it weren’t for some caring, generous people in our local community. Help make Thanksgiving special for the less fortunate in our community by donating an entire Thanksgiving dinner.

Chamber Celebrates 10th Anniversary The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce celebrated our 10th anniversary on August 9th. An open house was held on Friday, August 7th from Noon – 5:00 pm to commemorate the event. Chamber members were invited to stop by for refreshments, cake and tour of the Chamber office. The Chamber definitely has plenty to celebrate. This past year; we received 4-Star Accreditation from the US Chamber of Commerce, a recognition only 283 chambers have received. In March 2007, the chamber hired a new President/CEO, R. Marc Jordan, who was attracted to North Myrtle Beach following

Henry Brown visits NMB Congressman Henry Brown Jr. made a stop in North Myrtle Beach on August 20th to speak to the Chamber legislative Grassroots Network. The meet and greet was held at Prince Resort in Cherry Grove. Members of the Chamber’s Legislative Grassroots Network received a special invitation to attend. Chairman of the Legislative Council, Ed Prince along with Mayor Marilyn Hatley presented an appreciation plaque to Brown for his efforts in completing the much-needed beach renourishment project last summer.

a 32 year chamber career. The chamber has a staff of eleven full time employees and six part-time. The Chamber has worked diligently promoting tourism. In 2008 they created the “Twice the Fun, Half the Distance, Experience North Myrtle Beach Bus Tour.” The tour was so successful it was repeated again in 2009 and plans have been made to continue to tour each year. The Chamber has also increased marketing efforts by developing a $250,000 interactive blitz campaign that ran this past spring, which increased inquires 70%. Also, we are currently working on travel centers that will be placed in upscale malls in North Carolina.

The Chamber Staff poses for a photo with the 10th Anniversary Celebration cake on Friday, August 7th.

“As we reflect and celebrate on our first decade of service to the business community and citizens of North Myrtle Beach, we must

Board of Directors Spotlight Kim B. Dayvault Specialty Leasing Manager, Myrtle Beach Mall Board of Directors Term: 2008-2011 Serves on Community & Special Events Committee Hometown: Fairfax, VA Lived in North Myrtle Beach: 28 years Kim has spent 14 years in mall management at Myrtle Beach Mall, and has held several positions there.

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salute the foresight and leadership of our founders many who are still active with the organization today. The enthusiasm and commitment still exists today to continue this legacy of leadership into the future,” stated Marc Jordan, President/CEO of the Chamber.

Kim is also the President of the North Myrtle Beach Kiwanis Club and loves being involved in the community. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her family, husband Mark and daughter Peyton. Kim says her happy place is Disney World!

Visitors Guide Ads Due Sept 8th We have begun production for the 2010 Visitor Guide. For those who have purchased an ad in the guide, please remember your ads are due no later than Tuesday, September 8th. If you need more information on ad specs please contact Vicki Keibler at (843) 241-2109 or email Vicki@NorthMyrtleBeach Chamber.com. The guide will be available by early December. AND don't forget we have a great opportunity with NC Road Trips for you to promote your business in upscale malls in North Carolina! Call Vicki for details!

Quarterly Membership Meeting Wednesday, September 16th Please join us for our next Quarterly Membership Meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 8:00 am (location TBA). Held quarterly in each of the founding beach communities which make up the City of North Myrtle Beach, the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Membership Meetings are aimed at gathering with all chamber members for the purpose of learning more about chamber activities and discussing ideas to enhance membership value.

Our Next Class: Wednesday, October 7th at 10:00 am, “Travel Distribution Trends: 2009-2010” 7

Once the location has been finalized we will announce it in our weekly email blast and it will be posted online in the Members Only Area. Don’t know how to access the Members Only Area? Visit our website, click on Members Only and use the same email address the Chamber has on file to retrieve your username and password.

To RSVP please call Charlene Lynam at (843) 281-2662. There

Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Offers FREE classes to Chamber Members The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau enjoys many benefits of membership with Southeast Tourism Society. As a North Myrtle Beach Chamber Member you arte invited to attend the next STS Professional Outreach Program (POP) class, complimentary. This program brings timely information right to your desktop with topics important to your organization’s success. You can enjoy this class from the comfort of your own office by watching the presentation on your computer and listening over your own phone – without leaving your desk! This class is complimentary.

is no fee to attend and please note all Chamber members are invited to each area meeting.

PhoCusWright, the travel industry research authority on how travelers, suppliers and intermediaries connect, will discuss key trends shaping travel distribution in 2009 and beyond. Presenting key findings from recent research in online and offline channel trends, consumer behavior, destination marketing, leisure and corporate travel, PhoCusWright’s senior director of research Douglas Quinby will examine the key challenges and opportunities facing travel marketers in the months to come. We welcome you to our next class on “Travel Distribution Trends: 2009-2010.” For more information about this class and to register, click here.

Upcoming Events Endless Summer Festival We are now seeking sponsors for the upcoming Endless Summer Festival on Saturday, October 31st! We have sponsorships ranging from $500 to $1,000. This is a great event and perfect way to promote your business to visitors and locals! Christmas Parade It’s that time again! We are now accepting applications for the 2009 Christmas Parade to be held on Saturday, December 5th on Main Street. You can download an application by visiting www.nmbevents.com or by calling Charlene Lynam, Events Director at (843) 281-2662.

August Ribbon Cuttings

Sea Haven Inc.

Wachovia Bank

September Ribbon Cuttings Eagle Realty 4245 Sea Mtn. Hwy, NMB Thursday, September 10th @ 11 am

Beach Memories Studio 157 Pinnacle Place, Little River Tuesday, September 15th @ Noon

Timeless Memories 4020 Railroad Ave, Loris Tuesday, September 22nd @ 11 am

Horry County State Bank 617 Hwy 17 South, NMB Friday, September 18th @ 9 am

Sandpiper Heating & Air Conditioning LLC 15050-B Hwy 17 N, NMB Thursday, September 24th @ Noon

August Business After Hours

Special thanks to Apache Pier for hosting a wonderful Business After Hours! 8

Six Commandments of Effective Search Engine Marketing If you are looking for an effective, low financial risk, low cost way to market your business over the internet, I have good news for you. The answer is Search Engine Marketing with a blend of Search Engine Optimization. Wouldn’t be interesting to cut a deal with a newspaper, a magazine or a TV station that would be willing to charge you only if the ad you placed with them is generating results for you? You know what? As crazy as it sounds, there actually is such a mass media outlet and is called Internet. Now that I (hopefully) grabbed your attention, let me detail six of the most important rules (I’ll call them commandments just to ring a bell in your mind about how important they are). If you are not very familiar with the concepts but still believe it sounds promising and helpful for your business, don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber offers its members and the local business community in general, through programs like “Recipe for Success”, many opportunities to become more knowledgeable in the field. 1. Perform SEO People think they can buy their top position on search engines under the upper and side paid areas. What they don’t know is that ranking is another important factor. 9

This is why you first need to push up your website organically, through classic SEO, otherwise you will get lower and lower in the sponsored link section no matter how high you are willing to bid for the keywords. 2. Understand your keywords for every page Bring your customers to the right page once they searched for a specific keyword. Make sure each page on your website has specific keywords and you don’t mix them up to create confusion for search engines and most important, for your potential customers. 3. Check your meta keywords In order to rank highly, make sure the meta keywords you can see under View—Page view in your browser match the keywords on that page. 4. Always create good content Content is the King! Google hires so many young PhD’s that is no wonder their search engine is able to act exactly like a human mind. There is no way to fool search engines and the better the content is (easy to follow, to the point, wrapped around the keywords), the higher they will rank your website.

every web site visitor asks with no exception: “What’s in it for me?” Pay extra attention to the description of your pages, it’s just like the subject line of an email. You need to grab people’s attention and you need to do better than your competitors. Who are your competitors? All the other nine websites listed along with yours on the search engine results page. It’s a tough competition: “Click me, no, me, me…” 6. Search engine market through Pay-per-Click You don’t want to ignore a strategy that is able to offer you a 300% return on your investment. You obviously have to invest a little bit in order to get a return. This is not only fun, but also very effective. In the end, there is only one more thing I would like to emphasize: these strategies and tactics are not without risk. Any mistake you make, any wrong word placed on your website might have a huge negative impact on your brand. People talk and you know how quickly words spread out. Only this time it’s the word of… mouse.

5. Focus on WIIFM

This should be the core of your marketing strategy - the question that each and

Antonel Neculai

Candlelight Memorial Vigil Lets get together and show our support and patriotism on Patriot Day, September 11th to honor the innocent victims of 9-11-01. The Vigil will be held at the Horseshoe on Main Street at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 11th. Red, white, and blue glow sticks will be provided for the fist 2,974 participants. Our goal is to light a candle stick for each one of the 2,974 victims of 9-11-01. Sponsored by NMB Lions Club, Jays of Little River, City of NMB and Rolling Thunder Chamber 13. For more information please contact LION George O’Neill at (843) 399-1111 or email [email protected].

Keibler places 2nd in National Sales Contest by ACCE Vicki Keibler, Membership/Sales Director for the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, placed 2nd place in the United States and Canada sales competition by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The award recognized Keibler for 259 memberships sold during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Keibler attended the annual ACCE conference in early August in Raleigh, NC to receive her award. The North Myrtle Beach Chamber competes in the $200,000$499,000 category with many other chambers across the nation. At the conference in Raleigh, NC the first week in August, chamber of commerce representatives from 10

all fifty states and 23 countries were in attendance. “It is always nice to get recognized by your peers and for the city of North Myrtle Beach and the State of South Carolina to stand out is great for everyone,” stated Keibler. The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce has been serving the local community for the past ten years. The mission of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is to be recognized as the premier business organization serving the North Myrtle Beach area and its business members by providing quality products, programs, and services while influencing issues that enhance the economic prosperity of our community.

Members in the News Congratulations to Capital Bankcard and Vice President of Merchant Services Brian Peters for their recent recognition as the #1 Independent Sales Organization for 2009 by the Electronic Transaction Association during the organization’s recent annual convention in Las Vegas. Capital Bankcard is a provider of merchant accounts and credit card processing solutions, including hand held portable terminals, online processing, gift cards, and check processing. [email protected]. Visit online at www.capitalbankcard atlantic.com. Did your business receive an award? Email Jennifer Prince at Jennifer@NorthMyrtleBeach Chamber.com to include your announcement in our next newsletter!

Chamber President chosen to serve as Ford Foundation Fellow and ACCE Board Member The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has selected R. Marc Jordan, CCE, President/CEO of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce CVB, along with 33 other business-civic leaders to participate in its Regional Sustainable Development (RDS) Fellowship, funded by the Ford Foundation. Beginning in the fall of 2009, two groups of Fellows, one of which will include Jordan, will begin the 12-month program that will deepen Fellows’ understanding of the policies and practices that lead to long-term economic and community growth. Each Fellow will work on a regional action project that will address an opportunity for or barrier to creating sustainable, inclusive prosperity for their own region. “Spurring regional, sustainable development is one of the major issues facing civic organizations, especially chambers of commerce, in the 21st century,” says Mick Flemming, President of ACCE. “This program immerses regional leaders in integrated economic and community growth strategies that foster greater equity of opportunity for all sectors, neighborhoods and individuals.” Jordan was chosen from a pool of more than 60 distinguished and talented candidates. Each Fellow chosen, represents diverse communities and personal backgrounds. As part of Jordan’s application he submitted four letters of recommendation, a biographical sketch, news articles, personal

statements, and a history of his 34-year Chamber career; which includes the last 20 years spent as the CEO of regional Chambers in Raleigh, NC and Memphis, TN.

“I would like to thank Marc for his willingness to represent our community and share the benefits of the Fellow’s program through his service,” stated Ed Horton, Immediate Past Chairman for the Chamber Board of Directors. Also, Jordan was recently elected to the association’s board of directors. Jordan was officially welcomed to the board during ACCE’s annual national convention which, this year, was held in Raleigh, NC, July 29 – August 1. “Marc’s successful leadership of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce combined with his excellent contribution to ACCE and to many other boards, will be of great value to our organization,” remarked ACCE president Mick Fleming. Jordan joined the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce in February of 2008. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Memphis Regional Chamber, a position he held for ten years. February of 2010 will mark an impressive 35year career serving in leadership positions with Chambers of Commerce including Raleigh, NC, Norfolk, VA, Rocky Mount, NC, and beginning with the Greater Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce.

Marc Jordan, President/CEO of the Chamber. About ACCE Established in 1914, ACCE is the only national association uniquely serving the professional development needs of individuals managing chambers of commerce throughout the United States and Canada. Representing more than 7,000 chamber professionals, ACCE enhances the knowledge, leadership skills and management effectiveness of chamber executives and their staffs through education, trend analysis, benchmarking and best practices. ACCE promotes the highest standards of professional excellence and integrity within the chamber profession.

Read all the latest Chamber News online! www.NorthMyrtleBeach Chamber.com Click on “Chamber Information” then “Press Releases”

July Website Report

NMO…

Total number of visits:

47,094

Total number of page views:

132,807

New visits:

70.89%

Countries generating most number of visits

* The website received visits from 75 countries and territories

United States

45,309

Canada

1255

United Kingdom

118

Poland

65

Germany

57

Chamber’s Inquiry Overview

Learn about the benefits the Chamber has to offer! New and existing members are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Wednesday, September 30th @ 8:30 am Held at the chamber office. 270 Hwy 17 N. North Myrtle Beach Upcoming Events: 5th Annual Paws Across the Water Duck Race Saturday, Sept. 12th Barefoot Landing

18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 July 08-June 09

July 08-June 09 July 07-June 08

July 07-June 08

Irish Italian International Festival Saturday, Sept. 26th Main Street Endless Summer Festival Saturday, October 31st Main Street

The chart visually compares the number of requests for specific information.

Types Visitors Guide E-Newsletter Hotel/Motel Condos/Beach Houses Attractions Golf Group Tours Calendar of Events Fishing TOTAL 12

July 07-June 08 131,450 1,355 4,338

July 08-June 09 210,963 3,015 11,148

5,229 7,990 2,988 817 3,613 1,531

10,237 16,827 4,094 1,383 12,337 5,111

159,311

275,115

% Increase

72.69%

North Myrtle Beach Chamber Of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau 270 Hwy 17 North, North Myrtle Beach (843) 281-2662 (877) 332-2662

September 2009 SUN

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TUES

WED

THURS 2

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15 16 17 18 RC—Beach Quarterly MemRC—Horry Memories Studio bership Mtg @ 8 BAH—Grand County State Bank @ Noon am Strand Resorts @ @ 9 am 5:30 pm

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27

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RC—Timeless Memories @ 11 am

BOD @ 8 am

RC—Eagle Realty @ 11 am

Exec @ 4 pm

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SAT

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FRI

22

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NMO @ 8 am

24 RC—Sandpiper Heating & Air @ Noon

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Final Reminders… □

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Donate a Turkey Dinner for a much needed family in the North Myrtle Beach area. Attend the next Quarterly Membership Meeting on Sept 16th. Attend Business After Hours on Sept. 17th at Grand Strand Resorts. Join a Chamber Committee! Call us to find out how!