Chamber Events
The Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of events for the enjoyment and education of members and supporters. Check the news items and calendar for updates and click onto to the details and registration links for downloadable forms.
Fourth Of July Parade & Street Fest
The Fourth of July has been a major event in Randolph for years. It’s a multi-day affair incorporating many events sponsored by a multitude of organizations. The Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce organizes the Parade and Street Fest, which typically takes place on the actual 4th of July. This year the parade is scheduled to start at noon on Sunday July 4, 2010 with the street fest to follow directly afterward on Merchants Row, pending Town approval. Keep an eye on our community calendar for updates!
The parade starts on South Main Street (VT Route 12) near Gifford Medical Center. Because there are often about 75 entries the parade line stretches back to well past the Justin Morgan Plaza. The parade route heads North, then leaves South Main Street to go right, down Maple Street, then left at Earle, then left again on Highland Avenue where it will return to South Main St. The procession will then continue North, passing the Judges Stand just past the railroad crossing, continuing until it reaches School Street where participants can either take a left onto School Street or continue straight on Route 12. Southbound traffic is diverted down Prince Street to Pleasant St. and then onto Beanville Road during the parade; northbound traffic follows the same route in the opposite direction.
This year’s theme is "Stars and Stripes Forever." The Parade Committee, chaired by Mona Colton, heard the concerns of citizens who thought the parade had lost some of its patriotic focus. This year the committee also felt it important to show appreciation to the Vermont troops deployed overseas and to their families.
The Street Fest will feature live entertainment starting with the Panhandler Steel Drum Band, food galore, arts and crafts, and fun for all ages. Many vendors will be open for business before, during and after the parade.
Click here for parade entry form (pdf)
Click here for booth entry form (pdf)
Fourth Of July Advertising Supplement & Sponsorship
In conjunction with the Fourth of July Parade and Street Fest, the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce invites Heart of Vermont businesses to join together to advertise in the Fourth of July Supplement insert in the Herald, with additional distribution by the Chamber to tourist centers and businesses. This publication also serves as the must-have schedule for the holiday week as well as an update on Community and Chamber activities. Members and friends are invited to submit ad copy in this effort to support Heart of Vermont businesses.
Click for 4th of July Advertising Supplement Request
A business, organization, or individual can also choose to be a sponsor on four different levels. Click on the pdf below to see yet another way to contribute to the festivities.
Click here for the sponsorship form.
Chamber Fall Golf Classic 2010
On September 11, 2010 area golfers will step up to the tee for the Chamber's annual golf tournament at Montague Golf Club. The Classic is a significant fundraising event for the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds helping to administer programs to promote the Heart of Vermont communities and businesses.
Golfers join us for an eighteen-hole scramble, an elaborate finger-food buffet, great camaraderie and the opportunity to win a number of prizes. Our hole-in-one prize this year will be a new Ford vehicle sponsored by Ted Green Ford and co-sponsored by Poulos Insurance. We are adding a 50’ Putting Contest with a pre-qualification to win a 4-Wheeler, co-sponsored by Lucky's Motor Sports and the Holden Agency. Prizes donated by generous supporters are awarded for first gross and first net, the closest to the pin and the longest drives, along with innumerable door prizes for our guests.
The generosity of our Chamber members & supporters along with the turnout of so many golfers make this Golf Classic a heart-warming community-building day. Registration begins at 10 a.m., shotgun start at 11 a.m. The hors d'oeuvre buffet will be awaiting golfers at the end of play. Selections from the snack cart and grill will be available from Montague for a fee. Cash bar will be available.
Please sign up today to sponsor a team, sponsor a hole, or play on a team. We appreciate your support!
Click here to link to the downloadable pdf.
Annual Dinner
The Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce holds its Annual Meeting and Dinner in February. This popular event is held at Vermont Technical College, with 2009's dinner at the beautiful Shape Center. In addition to enjoying cocktails and a scrumptious dinner, Chamber members and friends also look forward to hearing from a guest speaker, welcoming new Chamber Board members, thanking the retiring members and congratulating the Business Executive of the Year.
Business Executives of the Year are chosen each year for their dedication to and leadership in the community and in their businesses or professions, for their Chamber support, their community service, their work with other groups, as well as for their support and enrichment of the community. Past recipients of this award have been Jack Cowdrey of Cowdrey Rentals (2009), Larry Richburg of Richburg Builders, Ty Handy of Vermont Technical College, Rebecca McMeekin of the Chandler Center for the Arts, Joe Woodin of Gifford Medical Center, Ted Elzey of Century 21 The Mill Stone Agency, Ron Greenwood of L.W. Greenwood & Sons, Edna Burnett of Randolph National Bank, Ken Jacobs of Ken's Barber Shop, Robert Wright of Vermont Castings, Dwight & Mary Porter of Porter Music Box Co., John & Gail Osha of My-Our Farm, Dick Drysdale of The Herald, David Palmer of Stagecoach Transportation, Steven Dimick of Randolph National Bank, Bill Bauman of DuBois & King and Bill Markle of Braintree Associates, among others since 1984.
Legislative Breakfasts
The Chamber and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission co-sponsor four legislative breakfasts during the legislative session each year. These 7:30 - 9:00 AM get-togethers give members and guests an opportunity to meet with State Legislators, the Lt Governor and the Governor in order to make comments and learn more about happenings at the State level. Legislative breakfast meetings are a perfect venue for networking, too.
Mixers & Milestones
In support of our member businesses, the Chamber holds seminars, ribbon-cuttings, after-hours mixers and milestone celebrations periodically. These are publicized in the local papers, by postcard, the Web, the E-news, and e-mail. We encourage businesses to team up to co-host mixers or other networking events with and for both member and non-members. Let us know if you’re interested in hosting one of these types of events.
Scholarship Bowling Tournament
The Scholarship Bowling Tournament raises money for scholarships for Randolph Technical Career Center graduates. The fourth annual tournament was held in January 2010, but is typically held in November. Randolph's Valley Bowl hosts the event, with teams of five joining in the fun by bowling three strings at either 11:00, 2:00 or 5:00. Door prizes are given to lucky participants throughout each time slot. Raffle prizes are awarded at the end of the day (winners not present will be notified). The 2010 raffle prizes included a three month family SHAPE membership at Vermont Technical College's new fitness center, a pair of 2010 Red Sox Tickets from Milne Travel, lift tickets from Mad River Glen, and a gift certificate to RTCC Automotive Center. A $1500 Scholarship will be awarded to a RTCC graduating senior at the June Award’s Ceremony as a result of this year’s tournament.
Holiday Shopping Card Promotion
Each Holiday Season, the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce invites Heart of Vermont businesses to be part of the Annual Holiday Shopping Card Promotion. This initiative invites holiday shoppers to shop locally at participating businesses from the Friday after Thanksgiving through the Christmas holiday and enter weekly prize drawings with each $100 spent. The weekly prizes of a $25 gift certificate are donated by participating merchants. The promotion is co-sponsored by area businesses. Grand prizes are also awarded. In 2009 shoppers had a chance to win one of 36 prizes and had the incentive to accumulate "double stamps" on the first and last days of the promotion.