Chamber executives grab chance to promote SML

Courtesy of SML Regional Chamber of Commerce

Representatives of the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce — (from right) Frank Chrzanowski, Vicki Garnder and Roy Enslow — met with Gov. Bob McDonnell on Chamber Day in Richmond.

A chance decision to skip lunch led members of the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce to meet Gov. Bob McDonnell.

On Jan. 27, Vicki Gardner, the Chamber's executive director, and Frank Chrzanowski and Roy Enslow, the Chamber's chairman and vice chairman, traveled to Richmond for Chamber Day, when statewide Chamber representatives can meet and talk with state legislators.

While they were en route to the capitol building, the trio saw some activity and went to investigate, said Gardner. A nonprofit was hosting a Brunswick Stew luncheon, with Virginia's First Lady Maureen McDonnell helping serve while her husband talked with constituents.

"It gave our little group a wonderful opportunity to shake hands and to have a conversation about Smith Mountain Lake," said Gardner.

She said the Richmond visit included meetings with local legislators, and speeches by the governor, Lt. Gov. William Bolling, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Speaker of the House William Howell.

Gardner said she and fellow Chamber representatives were encouraged by McDonnell's pledge to spend money on Virginia tourism.

"There hasn't been dollars for tourism in years," said Gardner. "It's a big, big deal for us."

Some of McDonnell's incentives to promote tourism in Virginia include reopening closed rest areas and welcome centers, giving a boost to Virginia's wine trails, and doubling funding for the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

"Everybody is fighting for these dollars," said Gardner. "Anything that we can do to encourage people to come by and deposit their dollars is not a bad idea."

In addition to meeting Virginia legislators, the SML Chamber trio had an opportunity to talk up SML, said Gardner.

"We get to make legislators from the governor all the way down the list know that we're Smith Mountain Lake and we're paying attention," she said. "Our community was not left in the smoke and dust."