Whitemarsh Business Association, September/October 2008
WBA Newsletter
September/October 2008


Save the dates for 4th Quarter 2008…
  1. Tues., Sept. 9th, 7:45 am - Meeting & 7 pm - Traveling Art Show Gala
  2. Wed., Sept. 10th, 8:30 am - Fall Festival Committee Planning Mtg at Panera
  3. Tues., Oct. 7th, 7:45 am - Meeting
  4. Sat., Oct. 11th, 12 - 5 pm - Fall Pumpkin Festival
  5. Tues., Nov. 11th, 7:45 am - Meeting
  6. Thurs., Dec. 4th, 5:30 pm - Holiday Party

September Meeting & Events

 Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.
Meeting hosted by Lafayette Fine Arts Picture Framing & Storytellers Family Photography
651 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
Topic: Why Salespeople Fail and What To Do About It
Speaker: Robert Waks, The Training Center, Inc.

Continental Breakfast
Friends and business associates are welcome.

**Please bring 30 business cards for the Fall Festival Business Card board.
**For the Welcome Wagon - Please bring 100 pieces of promotional material.

RSVP by Sept. 6th to Carol Getz: carol.getz@comcast.net or 610-952-2986.


Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 7:00-8:30 pm

Please join us for The Traveling Art Show Gala
with a reception hosted by Ben Yoblick of Lafayette Fine Arts Picture Framing & Storytellers Family Photography.
651 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill.

Hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
This event is free and open to the community.

The Traveling Art Show will showcase National Art Honor Society students from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
Works of art will be placed in our member businesses each month.

RSVP by September 6th to Barb Asman: twoongo@comcast.net or 215-919-8886.


October Meeting & Events

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 7:45 am

Business Meeting Hosted by Whitemarsh Township, 616 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill
This will be a final planning meeting for the Fall Pumpkin Festival.

Continental Breakfast
Friends and business associates are welcome.

RSVP by October 3rd to Carol Getz: carol.getz@comcast.net or 610-952-2986


Saturday, October 11, 2008, 12-5 pm

4th Annual Fall Pumpkin Festival at Miles Park

Raindate: Sunday, October 12, 2008, 12-5 pm

Germantown Pike & Joshua Rd, Lafayette Hill.

Proceeds from the event benefit the WBA College Scholarship Fund. In May 2008, a total of 8 scholarships were awarded to PWHS students.

2008 Sponsors include: Highway Materials, Danella Rental Systems Inc, Lori Henry State Farm Agency, Jody & Phil Davies Allstate Agency, Robin Straff/ReMax Services, Spring Mill Presbyterian-Nancy Craig, Concrete Service Materials Co., Schank Printing, Insurance Planning Services-Abbe Kligerman, Whitemarsh Pharmacy-Carmen Petruzelli, Cahill Associates, Gail Devereaux Salon, Getz Printing-Carol Getz, Maple Acres Farm.

To date, we have collected $5,300 in Fall Festival donations from local businesses. For 2008, Whitemarsh Township will reimburse us up to $10,000 for Fall Festival Expenses. Our 2008 goal for total contributions and reimbursement is $22,500. We are looking to our local businesses to donate another $7,200 to make our 2008 goal. In 2007, we collected $7,725 in donations from local businesses and Whitemarsh Township reimbursed us for $4,000 in Fall Festival Expenses.

Every year, we attempt to make the Fall Festival bigger and better. However, we cannot do this without your help! We have a Sept 8th deadline for $100 (or more) Donation …

…to be listed on Fall Festival T-shirts and Halloween Bags. Will you please donate to this great community event by sending your contributions today to: WBA, 632 Germantown Pike Lafayette Hill, PA 19444. Use the following links to access the sponsorship form and the price list with PayPal payment options:
Sponsorship Form
Sponsorship Prices

This year, we are looking to fund our new activities which include a Haunted Halloween Game Tent that was designed by two Plymouth Whitemarsh Students, Jake Malone & Jamie Orman; Disc Jockey and improved entertainment sound system; and improved rides and games for the entire family.

Promotion for the event will include: Local radio station B101 will be on hand with their DJs and the B101 Bee will greet participants. The event is already listed on the Philly Fun Guide at: http://phillyfunguide.com/event.php?id=23283.

Press releases have been sent to the following for their event calendar listing: NBC10, CBS3, and Main Line Today, and the Philadelphia Inquirer Weekend section, Montgomery County Neighbors section, all our local papers and the Colonial School District for CITV.

Volunteers are needed for the following: Delivery of Fall Festival posters to all local elementary schools, as well as posting of Fall Festival posters & volunteers for the day of the event. If you would like to get involved in the Fall Festival, please contact Lori Henry: lori@lphenry.com or 610-825-2300.


November Meetings & Events

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 7:45 am

Hosted by Whitemarsh Community Arts Center, 100 Cedar Grove Rd., Conshohocken

Live Art Demonstration

Continental Breakfast
Friends and business associates are welcome.

RSVP by November 7th to Carol Getz: carol.getz@comcast.net or 610-952-2986.


December Meetings & Events

Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 5:30 pm

 Holiday Party
Brittingham's Irish Pub, 640 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill.

Friends and business associates welcome.

RSVP by December 1st to Carol Getz: carol.getz@comcast.net or 610-952-2986.


Thank you to the following: Lori Henry, Fall Festival Chairperson, for her continued tireless energy for coordinating the 4th annual festival; Ilene Miller for promoting the Fall Festival with the local media; Barb Asman & Candy Maggioncalda for their joint coordination of the Traveling Art Show; Jody & Phil Davies for hosting our July swim party and barbeque; Carol Getz and Gail Devereaux for wonderful event planning; Christina Binder of Native Return for hosting our June event. Also, Christina gave us a presentation and tour of her beautiful home and property. She converted and landscaped her property to a beautiful native habit with meadows, flowers, plants and ponds, as well as a background of lush forest.

A Warm Welcome to our Newest Members

Financial Independence Planning, LLC - Michael Grossman, CFP
Powers Capital Management - Timothy J. Powers
Triad Specialties - Stacy Kesselman
Westaway Apartments - Danielle Sproehnle

Good luck to Dr. Peter Andolino, DMD, of Lafayette Hill, who is now associated with Goldenberg Dental Group, 215-638-3350.

WBA Membership

Membership is at an all time high of 78 members - we need one more associate member to meet our 2008 goal!

To join or renew your membership, go to www.whitemarshbusiness.com or contact our membership chairs:
Robin Straff: robin@robinstraff.com or 610-825-3753.
Barb Asman: twoongo@comcast.net or 215-919-8886.

Please check your membership listing to insure accuracy. If you paid $200 for a Full Membership in 2008, you are entitled to a web listing. If your web listing needs to be updated, please forward the information to: jodydavies@allstate.com.

Fall 2008 Internship Program Deadline - September 10, 2008

The WBA has a partnership with Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Last year, PW supplied our members with 6 interns. Businesses interested in participating in the internship program should email: jodydavies@allstate.com or complete this form: www.whitemarshbusiness.com/InternshipInterestForm.doc by September 10, 2008.

Advertising Deadline - October 15, 2008

The WBA currently has a full-page business card ad once a month in the THREE InterCounty Newspapers: LH Journal, Plymouth Meeting Journal and Conshohocken Recorder. InterCounty Newspapers are published weekly.

The WBA currently has a business card ad page in the Whitemarsh Township Enterprise. The Enterprise is published once a month.

For those of you participating, the current ad runs through the month of October.
*The WBA discounted price for your individual ad is only $30 per ad. This is 40% off the normal ad prices. You can't beat the price!!!

If you are interested in advertising with us for the next six months, November 2008 - April 2009, please click here to pay via PayPal and to print out an advertising form that can be either emailed or mailed to us. Your choices are:
  1. 6 months of ads - once a month - $180, InterCounty Newspapers
  2. 6 months of ads - once a month - $180, The Enterprise Newspapers
  3. 6 months of ads - once a month in both of the above newspapers $360 ($372 via PayPal)
Please mail in 6 business cards to: Jody Davies Allstate Agency, 406 W. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken, PA 19428.

Special Thanks to: Sue Henigan and the InterCounty Newspaper group for running a free WBA ad every week advertising our monthly meetings for the last three years; and to Mike Fisher and The Enterprise Newspaper for continuing to spread the WBA News.

Community News

Tuesday, September 2nd at 5 pm - Whitemarsh Township needs your help to support The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation to "Turn the Town Teal." Volunteers are needed to help tie teal ribbons along Germantown Pike. Volunteers should meet in the rear parking lot of the Whitemarsh Township Building, 616 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill.

Recycle Campaign - Whitemarsh Township is accepting all electronic equipment (except TVs) for recycling.Equipment is accepted at the Township Building from Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 5 pm. Any questions or for after hours drop off call 610-825-3523.

Whitemarsh Welcome Wagon - Deadline September 15, 2008.
Since May 2008, Whitemarsh Township has been handing out approximately 25 Welcome Bags each month to new township homeowners. Each bag contains the WBA Membership booklet and WBA member promotional material. The Township has used up all of our member promotional material. Please bring 100 promotional items to the next WBA meeting or drop the items off to Jody Davies Allstate Agency at 406 West Ridge Pike, Conshohocken.

WBA Nominations for the 2009 Board - Deadline: October 7, 2008

The WBA is looking for dedicated business leaders and partners in the community to join our Board.

If you are interested in being a part of the WBA board, will you please contact our current Nominating Committee by October 7, 2008. Nominations and self-nominations should be sent to: John Gordon: john@johngordonlaw.com or Lori Henry: lori@lphenry.com.

The board position is an elected two-year position. The board member must be able to attend two meetings per month: the regular business meeting and the board meetings. Currently, business meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:45 am and board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 am.Based on the availability of the 2009 board, board meeting dates may be changed.

The slate of nominees will be voted on during the November 11th meeting, with voting open to all members in attendance. The 2009 elected board members will vote on the Executive Board at the November board meeting that will be held on November 18, 2008.

We currently have 8 board members. We are able to have up to 9 board members.

After many years of dedicated service, John Gordon and Lori Henry will be resigning at the end of the current year.

Jody Davies and Elizabeth Barker are up for reelection. All other 4 Board members will continue on the Board in 2009.

We have 5 Board openings for 2009. Jody Davies and Elizabeth Barker are interested in serving on the WBA Board for another 2 years.

Important WBA Policy Change:

The WBA has a long standing policy that stated member businesses should refrain from emailing WBA members. After careful consideration, we have decided to change our policy. Many businesses use email as an effective marketing tool. If you will be emailing newsletters to our members, please make sure you include an unsubscribe option.

Scarecrow Materials Needed

We need the follow items to make the Fall Festival Scarecrow Decorating Contest a success: stockings (used are fine), hats, gloves, long sleeve shirts, pants, costume jewelry, wigs, masks and belts. Donations can be dropped off at State Farm, 460 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill.
WBA Board Contact Information:
Jody Davies - President
Gail Devereaux - Vice President
Lori Henry - Treasurer
John Gordon - Recording Secretary
 Barbara Asman - Membership Co-chair
Betty Barker - Scholarship Chairperson
Carol Getz - Event Chairperson
Robin Straff - Membership Co-chair

General information and questions: jodydavies@allstate.com.

View the WBA website: www.whitemarshbusiness.com.