on August 7th!

PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Permit No. 35
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce publishes
this monthly newsletter to inform the Gatlinburg
community of Chamber and city news.
Subscription: $12.00 per year. Provided to
all business license holders and Chamber of
Commerce members
August 2008
News Items Welcome!
Deadline for materials: All submissions must
be written and received by the 15th day of the
preceding month of publication.
July 16, 2008 the inaugural run of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
M.A.P. Patrol hit the streets of Gatlinburg. M.A.P.
stands for Member Appreciation Program, and the
Patrol is made up of Board of Directors, Ambassadors
and staff of the Chamber.
The inaugural Patrol consisted of Director
Deborah Linnert with SmartBank, Director Paula
King with Citizens National Bank, Ambassador
Sherri Webb with I Love the Smokies, Connie
Burns Member Services Director, and driver Jim
Matuszak Chamber Staff.
811 East Parkway • P.O. Box 527
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
VISITOR INFORMATION
Toll Free: 800.237.4569
www.gatlinburg.com
865.436.4178
Our Services Include
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!DDRESS$IRECTLYTO-AILERs3ORTs4RAYs#OMPLETE
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Patrol with staff at Best Western Zoder’s Inn
The M.A.P. Patrol noisily entered random
member businesses bearing balloons and
confections courtesy of Food City of Gatlinburg
Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen staff got a sweet suprise!
and The Donut Friar as a gesture of good will and thanks. The Patrol visited Zoder’s Inn,
Havana Dreams Café, Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, Pancake Pantry, PAW’s Etc, Gabriel’s Horn
and Jim Gray Gallery.
Jim Gerding of Pancake Pantry & Patrol
If there is loud whooping and hollering behind a
balloon bouquet there is no need to be concerned…it
is just the M.A.P. Patrol saying thanks to another valued
Member of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce.
INFO FAST
#ANDO0OSTAL0ATRON3ATURATION-AILINGSFOR9OU
Coming to YOUR business soon!
Our Specialty
$AILY2ESPONSETO'ATLINBURGS#HAMBER
6ISITOR)NQUIRIES
Our Data Management Services Include
,IST-AINTENANCEs,IST0ROCUREMENTs-ERGE
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2ECORDSs#!33#ERTIFYTHE,ISTs'ENERATE$ELIVERY
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Call 436-9344s0/"OXs'ATLINBURGs4.TimsJohn - 414-3001
PAW’s Etc. was Bow-WOWed!
Patrol at Jim Gray Gallery
August Means Teacher Supply Closet
Visits – Please Help!
Don’t Forget to Vote
YES! on August 7th!
Another school year is almost upon us and the Gatlinburg Chamber
of Commerce hopes to continue keeping fully stocked shelves so local
Gatlinburg school teachers will be able to obtain free supplies they
desperately need. Any individual or business can donate supplies at anytime
– the first couple of months of the school year are when supplies are most
in demand – also a cash donation may be made for designated supplies to
be purchased by Chamber staff. Already the list of requested supplies has
started for the upcoming school year. You may obtain a list of the items
requested by local school teachers by calling the chamber at 436.4178.
On June 17, 2008, the Gatlinburg Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors voted by majority
to support the increase of the local sales tax by
.25% to be allocated by the cities and the county to
a line item designated for Education Capital Outlay
and Det Service. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
respectfully encourages the membership to vote in favor of this supportive
measure for the Sevier County School Systems. For more information, feel
free to contact Vicki Simms or one of your Board Members.
Director Election to
Serve During 2009 Open For Nomination
2008 Elected directors from left; Vickie King, Logan Coykendall,
and Deborah Linnert (not pictured, Claudette Geoffrion)
September 16th = Mini Golf Fun
at Old Gatlinburg Golf & Games!
Be sure to secure a team or hole sponsorship for the Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Mini Golf Tournament. Please call
436-4178 today to reserve for this fun fundraising event! This event
provides a fun day out of the office for participants – including the
option of dressing up in costume or character in order to be named
Most Uniquely Dressed Team plus Winning team will receive cash
prizes but it also is how the Chamber builds the Educational Fund
for providing scholarships to local school students, non-traditional
scholarships to those training in the hospitality field, donations
to both local schools, and allows economical Member Education
seminars to be offered during the year. We really want this to be
a successful and fun tournament and with your support it can be
the best ever! Thanks to our event sponsors: Bubba Gump Shrimp
Company, Tennessee State Bank, Morrison Printing Company,
Smoky Mountain Brewery, Brochure Distribution/InfoFast, Pepsi,
Old Gatlinburg Golf & Games, Hard Rock Café, & Best Italian/Brass
Lantern Restaurant.
Your vote is needed to select the best individuals as
Chamber Director Nominees. You have the opportunity to
nominate person(s) you believe will best represent Chamber
Membership for the next three years. All you need to do is
complete the Nomination Form ( inserted in this Newsletter
edition ) and fax or mail back to the Chamber no later than:
September 12, 2008. After the nomination phase is completed
all Chamber Regular Members are mailed a Nomination Ballot
to elect the Board of Directors.
When you are selecting a candidate to nominate please
keep in mind that the individual must be a Regular Member
in good standing with the Gatlinburg Chamber and should
embrace the philosophy and drive to help further the Mission
of this Chamber: On behalf of our membership, the Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce will promote, unify, inform, serve and
enhance the business community in a cohesive voice for the
advancement of the economic, environmental, and social
concerns of the community in order to make Gatlinburg a
better place to live, work, and visit.
Further your selected nominee should be someone whom
you feel can be a strong advocate for the interest of the
Business Community. In making such a decision you may
want to refer to the 2008 Program of Work established by the
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce and think of those in the
membership who could best accomplish and enhance the
directives used to keep Chamber goals and programs moving
progressively forward.
Thank you for taking part in this important election process
and making your voice heard in the future of the Gatlinburg
Chamber of Commerce and its Membership. Remember the
deadline for return of this nomination form is September 12, 2008.
Chamber Staff
QuickFacts...
June 2008
Phone Request........................................
Web Request......................................... Regular Mail Request.............................. Total Vacation Guide Request .............. 2008
2,132
9,136
15
11,283
2007
2,092
11,201
18
13,311
% of change
1.9
-18.4
-16.7
-15.2
June 2008
Local Incoming Calls.....
800 Incoming Calls.............................
Total Incoming Calls........................
4,112
1,706
5,818
5,293
1,625
6,918
-22.3
5.0
-15.9
YEAR TO DATE
June 2008
Phone Request.......................
Web Request...................................... Regular Mail Request.....................
Total Vacation Guide Request........... 15,105
77,185
103
92,393
14,015
78,637
123
92,775
7.8
-1.8
-16.3
-.4
YEAR TO DATE
June 2008
Local Incoming Calls......
800 Incoming Calls............................ Total Incoming Calls.........................
26,118
10,073
36,191
29,606
11,293
40,899
-11.8
-10.8
-11.5
308,132
1,513,379
6,449
28,247
263,893
1,265,266
2,750
19,018
17.0
20.0
134.0
49.0
June 2008
Internet Visitors.............................
YTD....................................................
PDF Downloads.................................
YTD PDF Downloads........................ *Due to technical issue, Internet visitor & PDF download numbers have been adjusted to reflect corrected numbers.
CITY OF GATLINBURG GROSS REVENUES
(Rounded to the nearest/in 000)
May 2008
Lodging............................................
Restaurants........................................
Amusements/Attractions.....................
Gross Receipts - Other........................
Total.....................................................
2007 Most Uniquely Dressed Winner, Crown Park Resort
Chamber
eNewsletter
For more articles and
information, don’t forget
to check out our
eNewsletter delivered
directly to your Inbox each
month! Contact Angela at
436.4178 to sign up!
YEAR TO DATE
May 2008
Lodging................................................
Restaurants..........................................
Amusements/Attractions.......................
Gross Receipts - Other..........................
Total......................................................
BUSINESS BY TYPES
May 2008
Hotel with restaurant.............................
Over 50 rooms no restaurant................
1 to 50 rooms single location................
Chalets, Condos, etc.............................
Campgrounds........................................
Fast Foods/Deli...................................... Family/Steak House Type......................
Sweets/Snack Shops.............................
Retail Sales............................................
Service Business....................................
Amusement/Attractions.........................
Groceries/Markets.................................
All Others...............................................
2008
10,011
7,662
3,124
14,070
34,867
2007
10,703
7,366
2,523
14,209
34,801
% of change
-6.5
4.0
23.8
-1.0
-.2
40,839
34,013
16,589
57,955
149,396
45,719
33,223
14,380
59,142
152,464
-10.7
2.4
15.4
-2.0
-2.0
1,644
3,688
460
4,172
47
1,252
5,584
826
6,397
2,038
3,124
3,246
2,389
1,873
3,978
574
4,208
69
1,107
5,504
755
6,654
2,051
2,523
3,099
2,405
-12.2
-7.3
-19.7
-.9
-31.9
13.1
1.5
9.4
-3.9
-.6
23.8
4.7
-.7
WATER USAGE
*Water usage measured between the 18th of the month prior to the 17th of the month in report.
June 2008.........................................
53,836
65,032
-17.2
YTD .................................................... 322,326
332,854
-3.2
NATIONAL PARK VISITORS (Gatlinburg Entrance)
June 2008....................................... 390,954
414,942
-5.8
YTD................................................... 1,371,666
1,440,578
-4.8
Vicki Simms, ext. 109
Executive Director
vickis@gatlinburg.com
Linda Leone, ext. 110
Finance and Administrative Director
Assistant Executive Director
linda@gatlinburg.com
Connie Burns, ext. 113
Member Services Director
connie@gatlinburg.com
Angela Carathers, ext. 102
Internet Communications Director
angela@gatlinburg.com
Gretchen Ogle, ext. 103
Print Publications Director
gretchen@gatlinburg.com
Sherry Holtzclaw, ext. 114
Member Services Assistant
sherry@gatlinburg.com
Gladys Griffin, ext. 106
Lead Area Consultant
gladys@gatlinburg.com
Stephanie Shultz, ext. 140
Receptionist
stephanie@gatlinburg.com
Peggy Pickel, ext. 107
Area Consultant
peggy@gatlinburg.com
Jim Matuszak, ext. 105
Area Consultant
jim@gatlinburg.com
Emily Kelling, ext. 108
Finance Administrative Intern
emily@gatlinburg.com
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
Ethics Committee Report
Complaints for YTD
August 2008
Hotel/Motel
Overnight Rentals
Bed & Breakfasts/Inns/Lodges
Timeshares
Attractions
Shops
Dining & Entertainment
Services
Campgrounds
Wedding Chapels
11
18
0
10
5
4
0
3
1
2
Chamber Events
August 7
Dine & Discover Breakfast
Clarion Inn & Suites
August 12
Business During Hours
Victorian Gardens
Chamber business,
Mysterious Mansion rated #5 Haunted House in the World!
Mysterious Mansion, a Gatlinburg staple for 28 years, has been
rated a “Top Ten Favorite Walkthrough Attraction” by the Darkride
and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE). DAFE’s members were polled on
a variety of darkride and funhouse related attractions around the
world, and Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion was ranked number 5
on the list of favorites.
August 21
Business After Hours
Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg
According to Rick Davis, Director and Co-founder of DAFE, “our
members really enjoyed themselves during our visit last year and
they look forward to visiting again in the future”. Al Stromer, Event
Coordinator for the organization said, “We have never been to a
place that made it that high on the list the first time”.
August 26
Renewal & Refreshment
Gatlinburg Chamber
Mysterious Mansion has been the top rated haunted attraction in Gatlinburg for over 28
years, and manager Charles Moore says, “This Top 5 Nationwide ranking from DAFE sent a
chill down my spine, much like a trip through the Mansion”.
August 28
Mysterious Mansion has been filmed by Robert Statkus, Independent Filmmaker, for a
program on Haunted Houses that is being shopped to the Travel Channel for possible
airing in 2008.
35th Anniversary & Grand Opening
New Black Bear Habitat & Nocturnal House
Ober Gatlinburg
September 4
Annual Chamber Picnic
Twin Creeks
September 16
Mini-Golf Tournament
Old Gatlinburg Golf & Games
August 1 - 16
Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales
Downtown Gatlinburg
September 1 - 30
Old Fashioned Hayrides
Light #6 at Mountain Mall
September 11
Library Luau
Ripley’s Aquarium
6-10
16
24-27
29-31
• Greenbrier Award (Best Original Float)
Morristown, TN
• Mt. LeConte Award (Best Professional Float)
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg
• Best Equestrian Unit
Tennessee 12th Cavalry
Jonesborough, TN
• George Hawkins Award (Most Entertaining Float)
Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Theater
August
Convention Center Events
Event Type 2008 Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade Winners
United Parcel Service
City Events
Date Mysterious Mansion is a turn-of-the-century mansion, located on River Road in the dark,
bloody heart of Gatlinburg. The place is decorated in Early American creepy, and the
dead spirits of the house descend upon the visitor through walls, floors and ceilings. The
Mansion also provides a hearse to carry off the bodies of any ‘guest’ who doesn’t live
through the experience.
Attendance
Storytelling Conv.
400
Robert T. Foundation 700
TN Healthcare
1200
Gathering 2008
2500
Pigeon Forge
• Best Use of Lights
Texas Roadhouse
Gatlinburg
• Best Marching Band
Litchfield Marching Dragons
Litchfield, Minnesota
Board of Directors
Dan Booth – President
Jerry Morton – President Elect
Logan Coykendall – Treasurer
Vickie Blake – Secretary
Tim King – Sergeant At Arms
David Perella - Ex-Officio
Kevin Tierney - Past President
Term Expires 2008
Vickie Blake - Dan Booth
Ryan DeSear
Term Expires 2009
David Dixon - Paula King
Tim King - Jerry Morton
Term Expires 2010
Logan Coykendall - Vickie King
Claudette Geoffrion
Deborah Linnert
Designated Directors
Cam Caton
Attractions Association
Term Expires 2010
Candace Ogle
Lodging and Hospitality Association
Term Expires 2010
Dan Tilley
Wedding Chapel Association
Term Expires 2010
Jeff Prange
Retail Merchants Association
Term Expires 2008
Frances Shambaugh
Arts and Crafts Community
Term Expires 2009
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Mojitos in the
Mountains hosted their Grand Opening &
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed by a
Business During Hours. This Cuban inspired
Café provided an enticing sampling of Cuban
cuisine and their delicious miniature Mojitos.
Attendees enjoyed the live
entertainment and door
prize opportunity! Thanks
to Laura, Amelia, and the
Mojitos staff for a fantastic
afternoon!
Check out Mojitos in the
Mountains located at 631
Ski Mountain Road and
remember they will deliver!
Chamber Prepares for Recognition of Service Awards
to be Presented At Banquet!
Two very important Service Award Recipients will be recognized at this year’s
Chamber Annual Banquet on Monday, November 17, 2008 and your help is
requested in selecting the most deserving individuals. The two individuals chosen
will be bestowed with the highly prestigious Zeno Wall, Jr. Tourism Award and
the William C. Stevens Volunteer Spirit Award. You can take part in the process by
submitting the names of qualified nominees to be considered.
The Zeno Wall, Jr. Tourism Award is bestowed upon a recipient that exemplifies
the character and dedication to our area’s most important resource, TOURISM. The
person selected to receive this award should be active in the promotion of our area,
as well as active in the community and the decisions made that affect the future of
tourism in Gatlinburg. This award should be given to someone who has dedicated
his or her life’s work to the tourism industry for Gatlinburg as a tourism destination
on a personal and professional level. Remember for whom the award is named
and the selfless promotion that Zeno Wall, Jr. gave to our area and the results that
transpired from his dedication.
The William C. Stevens Volunteer Spirit Award nominee should best display the
same qualities of selflessness possessed by William C. Stevens himself needed
to serve our community with only the best intentions for the betterment of
Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. The winning recipient
will be a person who may or may not be seen throughout the year but rather is
someone who is there, behind the scenes, and may or may not receive the glory
for the success of things that they are involved in – this person wants to see events
and causes succeed, not for self gain but for the community as a whole.
Please submit the name(s) of any person(s) you feel would be most qualified
to receive these recognition awards to a Chamber Board Member no later than
August 12, 2008.
WELCOME!!
Regular
Members
July
Ambassadors in Action!
The Ambassadors of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce have been busy this year in front and
behind the scenes of Chamber Events and Member Programs. We are proud of all of the Chamber
Ambassadors for their contributions. Chamber Ambassadors for 2008 include: Barbara Stevens and
Bud Lawson who are Charter Ambassadors. Dorothy Johnson, Jackelyn Schaefer, Jim Johnson, Judy
Ann Dial, Shannon Cathey, Sherri Webb, Sherry Arnold, Toni Flenniken and Wendy Rigsby.
AMBASSADORS
Monthly Recognition of Achievement
Magic and Novelty Outlet
Stephen Knowles
611 Parkway Suite D12
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Specialty Shop
Perceptions in Nature
Bruce Hannold
651 Parkway #104
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Gallery
Southland Log Homes
Jason Kirby
968 Parkway #5
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Service - Log Home Sales
Business
Partners
Arrowhead Structures
Rhonda Epling
3139 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Kodak, TN 37764
Builders
Smith Family Theatre
Kim Bridges
2330 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Theater
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To better serve our Community
and our environment, the
Gatlinburg Chamber monthly
newsletter is printed on
30% post consumer and
100% recycled paper and ink.
1st Quarter
January
• Toni Flenniken
• Sherri Webb
February
• Sherri Webb
• Toni Flenniken
March
• Sherri Webb
• Wendy Rigsby
April
• Sherri Webb
• Dorothy & Jim Johnson
May
• Toni Flenniken
• Dorothy Johnson
June
• Toni Flenniken
• Sherri Webb
2nd Quarter
Toni Flenniken
Sherri Webb
Mowbray has served since 2005 as a
Ridge Runner in the Smokies where
he volunteered for 9 months in 2007
spending five days and four nights
each week on the Appalachian Trail.
Think of the Baby
The average baby will have a minimum of
6,000 diaper changes over 2.5 years. More
than 18 billion disposable diapers are used
in the United States every year, and 92% of
those end up in landfills. A staggering 10,000
tons of disposable diapers are thrown into US
landfills every day, and the manufacturing of
these single-use diapers requires more than 1
million metric tons of wood pulp and 75,000
metric tons of plastic each year.
But environmental and consumer agencies
rate reusable cloth diapers as being just as
harmful to the environment, depending
on what detergent you use and at what
temperature you wash them. While
disposable diapers create greenhouse gases
during the manufacturing process and
contribute to landfill, reusable cloth diapers
require large amounts of water, energy, and
detergents in their washing and drying. Minimize the impact by washing
in bulk and line drying, and by choosing disposable brands that are
biodegradable and chemical free.
Taken from True Green 100 everyday ways you can contribute to a healthier planet.
by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonin
Toyota and Great Smoky Mountains National Park have partnered to
foster environmental education through Toyota’s contribution of one
million dollars and three hybrid vehicles to America’s most visited
national park. In support of raising environmental awareness, the
donation will enhance and develop a variety of new science education
initiatives for K-12 students, teachers and families to encourage careers
in science and service-learning opportunities.
Park Volunteer, Jim Mowbray received the Appalachian Trail
Conservancy’s (ATC) 2007 Partnership
Award as Volunteer of the Year.
GreenCorner
Gatlinburg Goes GREEN!
New Participants
GSMNP Backcountry Management
Specialist, George Minnigh, said,
“The Park and ATC are recognizing Jim for his vital role in maintaining
the Trail, serving Park visitors and in training and supervising other
volunteers...I doubt that there can be a more dedicated, capable and
versatile volunteer anywhere on the whole Trail.”
Jim Mowbray receives award from Park
Deputy Superintendent, Kevin Fitzgerald
Park Receives Donated Electric Vehicles
Bronze Level
Entry Level
Gatlinburg Chamber Library
Toyota Donates $1 Million to
Friends of the Smokies
Park Names ATC Volunteer of Year
Program Sponsored by:
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GSMNP in
the News
Operations at Deep
Creek Campground and
at Cataloochee Valley
in North Carolina got a
little cleaner and quieter
with the addition of two
new donated electric
vehicles. The two new
vehicles are classified as
“Neighborhood Electirc
Two volunteers talk with visitors about biology of elk with
Vehicles” which means
electric vehicle in background
that they are street legal for
use on public roadways where speeds are limited to 35 mph or less.
The Park has assigned them to highly-visible uses where they serve as
tools to help educate visitors about the Park’s air quality issues as well
as some alternatives to fossil fueled transporation.
To read the full story on these articles for Great Smokies National Park,
visit the members only area of gatlinburg.com.
Have you CHECKED us out lately?
Are you looking for some cool information about
Gatlinburg or ways you can promote your business?
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce library is a great
way to get the information you’re looking for without
the additional cost or investment.
Come “check” out our book and video library today. If
we don’t have what your looking for - let us know and
we’ll try to get it!
Dine & Discover videos are also available to “check out”.