We had a great time Monday night at our June After Hours Networking. A huge shout out to Old Rappahannock Brewing Company for the amazing pizza and beverages! We can't wait to share all of our exciting news about upcoming events!

Happy June!  We hope that your summer is starting off great.   WRC Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting:  We approved a donation to the Northern Neck Arts Festival of $300.  The Festival is this weekend at the Belleville home.  For more information click on the link!  Northern Neck Fine Arts Festival | Warsaw, Virgina | Art Festival      Our June Networking Event will be held Monday, June 16th at the Old Rappahannock Brewery.  If you haven't already please RSVP at:  https://forms.gle/XvZzDkQrQ5wG25VP8 We are super excited to be starting a new Speaker series to be held in August.  Our Board wants to provide information you need to improve your business!  For our first speaker, we have lined up Deborah Newman of Petit Taway, Inc. to help our members with ways to improve your online presence.  Dinner will be available for a fee.  This will be a member only event.  Once we have the final details, we will email our members an invite. We can't wait to provide this great resource.   The Town of Warsaw Council meeting is Thursday, June 12th.  The agenda has been posted on their Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/townofwarsawva   We have decided to totally change how we do Christmas in July  this year.  We want to focus on our members and what you need.  We are going to roll out our Christmas in July Grant  program.  We are going to be offering up to $2000 in matching grant funding to members for related business "improvement" expenses (furniture, equipment, signage, etc), excluding payroll and operating expenses (utilities, rent/mortgage, etc).  We will send out a link to apply for the Christmas in July Grant  with more details by the end of June.  The grant will be open for applications from July 1, 2025 thru July 31, 2025.  Grant winners will be chosen at the WRC Chamber of Commerce Board meeting in August.   Warsaw Fest 2025 Planning Meeting:   Planning is moving along!  We want to thank everyone that has already sponsored Warsaw Fest 2025!  If you haven't yet completed your membership or sponsorship, please click on the corresponding links below: Join or Renew Now | Warsaw-Richmond County Chamber of Commerce   Sponsorship Opportunities | Warsaw-Richmond County Chamber of Commerce   We are going to be releasing a photo contest for the front page of the Warsaw Fest 2025 Guide.  Please be on the lookout for that information on Facebook!   We are looking for volunteers to help the day of Warsaw Fest (Saturday, October 11, 2025).  We have created a Google Sheet to sign up for a "job" and a time to help.  We need help with the Chamber Tent, Kids Zone, Judging the Pageant & the Parade, and monitoring Trash.  Please consider signing up for at least 1 shift.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ICz0OVUWe1kwq1fwAcwqen6AZCVMNqADqr0tNuGZSlc/edit?usp=sharing   I want to thank Mr. Charles Spivey for joining us at the Chamber meeting.  We want to invite everyone to come and join us at a meeting.  The more voices we have the more we can grow!  As always, if you have any questions or concern, please let me know.   Have a wonderful day!   Sara Carroll President WRCCOC

Pictured Left to Right- Connie Rosemont, Executive Director for Menokin and Sara Carroll, President WRCCoC ​ Menokin is the site of a historic ruin and a 500 acre park with public trails and kayaking, located on the ancestral homelands of the Rappahannock Tribe in Warsaw, VA. This National Historic Landmark was the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was also the home of many enslaved people who's descendants are now part the Menokin Descendant Collective. We are currently preserving the 1769 manor house, that has fallen in ruin, in a unique way by supporting the missing portion with glass walls. ​ In addition, we are a Chesapeake Bay Gateway, a part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, and members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Blue Star Museums, and Museums For All.

The Chamber would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Connie Rosemont, Executive Director of Menokin, Alice French, Director of Education & Programs and Jameka Campbell, Office Manager for a wonderful evening. Our business owners were thrilled to learn and get first hand information about Menokin and its historical significance in the Northern Neck. Watch the incredible video and enjoy!

Happy April!   This month was a quick meeting.   We had no donation requests this month.   We discussed the great turnout for our March After Hours and wanted to shout out to Menokin for hosting us.  It was great!  We have some awesome plans for June.  As soon as we have the date set we will let you know.   We have 38 members so far for 2025.  If you name is not on the list below- please go to our website ( https://www.wrccoc.com/join-or-renew-now ) and renew your membership.  Please make sure you share with your business friends as well.  We want to make sure everyone has access to our monthly updates and networking events!   A huge shout out to Petite Taway for helping us get our website up and running.  We have officially moved all of our payments and forms over.  When you pay online you will now pay through Square (not PayPal).   The Town of Warsaw has moved their budget meeting to this Thursday, April 17th at 6pm at Town Hall.   We are talking about Christmas in July and if we want to do receipt submissions again, do a Restaurant Week, or something else all together.   We only had $375 of $1000 returned from our Shop Local & Win gift certificates.  If you still have some outstanding, please let us know ASAP!   We are still looking for new Board Members.  If you are interested, please let us know.   Warsaw Fest 2025 is coming quickly!   We are looking for Grand Marshal Nominations https://forms.gle/sGnun3A7QiDm4LXm7 We discussed potential layout changes due to Dominos being open 🙂    We will be reaching out to potential Pastors for Opening Prayer and Musicians to sing the National Anthem.   Sponsorship & Vendor forms will be going out soon- but I do want to let everyone know about a new In-Kind option for sponsorship-  This year, we have also decided to offer a special In-Kind Sponsorship.  We are looking for organizations to help us with 50/50 raffle sales, trash collection, judging events (Baby Pageant, Car & Truck Show, and Parade), and monitoring of rides/ticket collection in the Kids Zone.  If your organization would like to help with any of these activities on the day of the event, please contact Sara so we can arrange a sponsorship for your organization that fits.   Our next Board & Warsaw Fest meeting is Monday, May 12th, 6pm at Town Hall.  We hope to see you there!   Have a wonderful month!   Sara Carroll President Warsaw Richmond County Chamber of Commerce

It's March! We have hopefully seen the last of the snow for 2025! Please join us on Friday, March 14th at 6pm for the first of our 2025 After Hours Business Networking events. Please RSVP at: https://forms.gle/JCTjJbNTPb9ZmSyaA Also- don't forget to complete your 2025 Membership if you haven't already: https://www.wrccoc.com/join-or-renew-now We hope to see you there! Sara Carroll President Warsaw Richmond County Chamber of Commerce

Happy Valentine's Day!   The past months have been busy and snowy!  I was remiss in sending out January's update so I will include it in this month's update.   Cristal Evans has resigned as Treasurer but will consult as needed.  Kirsten Self is Interim Treasurer. We are in the process of looking at accounting software that works with PayPal and is inexpensive and easy to use. Our Budget requests for the Town & Richmond County have been sent.   We approved donations of $500 to RHS After Prom and RCC for the Scholarship Program.  We also approved a $550 sponsorship for RCLL for a Pennet and Banner.   Please pencil in March 14th at 6pm for our first 2025 After Hours Networking event.  It is tentatively planned at the Menokin Vistor's Center.  We can't wait to see everyone there.  An RSVP email will be sent out soon!   This month marks the beginning of our 2025 Membership Drive.  The following businesses are already 2025 members and will receive a special letter in the mail to update their information.   Precision Glass & More, LLC Stella-Jones Corp. Willow Stitch Beauty Bungalow Town of Warsaw   I have attached the Membership Newsletter to this email.  You can also renew your membership at: https://www.wrccoc.com/join-or-renew-now   We will mail out the newsletter as well.  Please contact Sara if you have any questions.   We have set the date for the first 2025 Warsaw Fest meeting.  It will be after the Board meeting on March 10th.   WRC Main Street Program has decided to cancel the Red Dress Gala due to low ticket sales.  Considering an event around the 4th of July.   We are looking into creating a Chamber Gift Certificate program for Christmas in July.  Sara plans on reaching out to Tappahannock Historic District to ask about their program.  We also discussed having a restaurant week.   An update on our Shop Local & Win Certificates.  I've attached the reimbursement form to send in or drop off with Sara.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  We are hoping that you have been receiving the certificates!  They should be used by February 28th and reimbursements submitted no later than March 17th.   We are looking for Board Members!  We have 4 vacancies.  If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Sara or any Board member.   Have a great month and we hope to see you at our next Board meeting on March 10th, 6pm, at Town Council Chambers.   Sara Carroll President WRCCoC

Pictured Left to Right- Connie Rosemont, Executive Director for Menokin and Sara Carroll, President WRCCoC ​ Menokin is the site of a historic ruin and a 500 acre park with public trails and kayaking, located on the ancestral homelands of the Rappahannock Tribe in Warsaw, VA. This National Historic Landmark was the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was also the home of many enslaved people who's descendants are now part the Menokin Descendant Collective. We are currently preserving the 1769 manor house, that has fallen in ruin, in a unique way by supporting the missing portion with glass walls. ​ In addition, we are a Chesapeake Bay Gateway, a part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, and members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Blue Star Museums, and Museums For All.

Thank you to everyone that entered. Picking some of these winners was really hard! Everyone did an amazing job! Message us to arrange pick up of your certificate and prize! Classic Christmas- Williams (157 Riverview Rd) Best Theme- Knight (51 Waterside Dr Apt B "treehouse") Clark Griswold Award for Most Lights in a Display- Napier (851 Resingers Rd) Cousin Eddie Award for Tackiest Display- Sill (31 Maple St) Best Overall- King (139 Folly Neck Rd)

We are excited to recognize The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck as our December Monthly Member Spotlight.  Pictured Left to Right- Phillip Mumford- BGCNN Executive Director, Jean Light- BGCNN Richmond County Unit Board President, and Sara Carroll WRCCC President The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck (BGCNN) started in Lancaster County in 2008. After expanding into Northumberland County several years ago, BGCNN found a home in Richmond County most recently. BGCNN found a great partnership with The Community’s Christian Church in Warsaw. Renting the fellowship hall and classroom space, we proudly serve approximately 75 youth and teens from Richmond County daily in that space. Offering STEM programs, SMART Girls, Passport to Manhood, and Power Hour, we continue the learning after school! We also provide dinner to the Club members during school as well as breakfast and lunch on full days (7:30-5:30) As we look to grow and eventually expand, we need the support from the community. Guests are welcome to stop by for a tour with Unit Director, Richie Carter. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.bgcnn.org .

We hope you will join us as we gather together to celebrate our 2024 successes and what we are looking forward to in 2025.  Old Rapp Taphouse has curated a delicious menu of heavy appetizers and desserts, so please come hungry.  There will also be a cash bar.  The Chamber is excited to see all of our members and sponsors there, so please make sure to RSVP!   Where: Old Rapp Taphouse, 130 Main Street, Warsaw, VA 22572   When: Monday, December 9, 2025 6pm-9pm   Contact Sara at 804.832.4307 or warsawrcchamber@gmail.com  for more information   Please RSVP by Fri, December 6th at: https://forms.gle/n3dQgGHJvEbSeYQY7

Do you think you have one of the best decorated houses/businesses in Warsaw/Richmond County this holiday season? Have you been planning your exterior illumination for months? Here is your chance to win bragging rights! Warsaw-Richmond County Chamber of Commerce will be conducting our annual Christmas Decorating Contest for 2024. Participants may enter in one or more of the following categories: Residential A Classic Christmas Best Themed Display Clark Griswold Award for Most Lights in a Display Cousin Eddie Award for Tackiest Display Best Overall Business Best Window Display Most Creative Use of Lights Best Overall To participate, please complete the below form below and return it to the WRC Chamber of Commerce in person at Cuddlebugs, by mail, email to warsawrcchamber@gmail.com, or online at www.wrccoc.com. Or further down complete the online registration. All registration forms must be received before 5:00pm on Thursday, December 12th. Judging will take place after 6pm on December 13th & 14th. Winners will be announced on December 16th.