LBOT NEWS

Right now it feels like I’m in the center of a tornado!  We have located a new office space and will be moving to 13 C Street on Monday, November 25th. In the meantime, we have been running around doing all the things that moving requires, from mail forwarding to utilities, packing, and so much more.
Thanks to Jim Cross, John Donohue, Shane O’Brien and Marilyn Johnson for seeing this through.
 
While we’re doing all that, we have been planning the Annual Membership meeting which will combine with the monthly Networking meeting. All of that is set for this Thursday, November 21st from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at Partnership Hall (811 5th St). There will be lots of networking. I will deliver the Annual Report and I’m hoping we have another Food Member Showcase. 

To support our non-profit members, we are asking that you bring a canned good or non-perishable item to the meeting to share with LARS and FISH. Please plan to attend. This will be an important meeting, and invite others to join you. Thanks to Marilyn Johnson and Jody Broughton for organizing this.
 
We will be holding the 2nd Annual Main Street Holiday Decorating Contest with applications available online starting November 25th. Last year’s contest was sort of an experiment, and we learned a lot of what worked and what didn’t so this year’s contest will be much improved. Thanks go to Carla Conway, Ally Ramsey and Jessica Sharp for taking this on.
 
Mark your calendars for an In Person Networking meeting on December 19th at Big City Body Art from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Thanks Jody Broughton and host Mike Abbott, it sounds like a good time.
 
We are working with the City to co-host the 3rd Annual Business Roundtable. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in the Council Chambers. This Roundtable is open to all businesses in Laurel and has proved to be very informative and productive for both the City and the business community.
 
We are growing as an organization which is great; it increases our reach, makes us a stronger organization in support of the business community, and offers opportunities to expand what we are able to offer to members. However, as we grow, it requires more time and effort to sustain it. We have a BOD volunteering their time and skills to keep LBOT going, but we have reached the point where we need you to become involved.  Attending events is a start, but serving on a committee, and sharing your time and talents is what we need. It could be just showing up for a couple of hours to staff our table at an event or getting more involved with one of the many committees that keep us going.

One volunteer position we are in the process of creating is Main Street Merchant Block Captains. If your business is located within the Main Street area, you could be a Block Captain and relieve some of the stress on the Board of Directors in communicating with Main Street businesses. Once we have this program in place and all the kinks worked out, we will expand it to the rest of Laurel.

If you are ready to volunteer, please go to our website and complete the Volunteer form and choose how you would like to volunteer.

November Networking!!

MEMBER NEWS

Mike Mondy/Keller Williams Realty

 Mike Mondy/Keller Williams Realty is hosting the 2nd annual Blessing Baskets event on Wednesday, November 20th from 4:00 to 9:00 pm at 555 Main Street (the house behind Oliver’s Tavern in the Patuxent parking lot). Last year they donated 140 baskets to Laurel families and hope to do more this year. You can help by donating a basket, a food item, grocery store gift cards, attending the event to help decorate/wrap the baskets, provide an item for the raffle or sponsor the event as a local business.

Sadija Smiley/SAILS

Sadija Smiley/SAILS is hosting their annual fundraising Gala on Friday, November 22nd. Details are on their website. This group does good work for those who have experienced infant loss.

LARS

LARS has sooo much going on for the next few weeks, more than I can list here! On Thanksgiving morning, they host the 20th Annual Turkey Trot and that leads up to the annual Adopt A Family holiday program. For details on each of these and other LARS events, please visit their website.

Stephanie Roulette/FISH of Laurel

Stephanie Roulette/FISH of Laurel will be providing meal services at Elizabeth House and at the Community Kitchen inside the new Laurel Multiservice Center. She also shared info about volunteer opportunities from Daily Meal Service to Food Pantry services. For information about how to donate food items or to volunteer, please visit their website.

Jody Broughton/Social

Jody Broughton/Social Tailwaggers will host Christmas Canine Escape Rooms on December 22nd and 28th. Each dog/human team will receive a gift, treats and a photo op. For details visit their website.

CITY NEWS

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has lots of stuff planned for the Holiday Season starting with the Armory Illumination on December 7th. Check out the City’s website for all the details on this and the Breakfast with Santa event.

Economic and Community Development Dept reminds you that the Thrive Small Business Grant Program is now open. For details and to apply, contact them at [email protected]

COMMUNITY NEWS

As I said earlier, we are moving to 13 C Street, Suite A.  Our landlord, Peter Aloupis asked me to share that there is another suite available as well. So, if you’re looking for commercial space and would like to be our neighbor, please give Peter a call at 240-393-6092.

That’s it for now, folks!
See you next month!

President & Editor

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