For Greater Ocean City, MD Chamber of Commerce 12320 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, MD 21842

www.oceancity.org

mychamber@oceancity.org

Office 410 . 213 . 0144 Fax 410 . 213 . 7521

Ocean City’s

Business

July 2017

2017 Chamber Awards Celebration

September 12, 2017 6:00 - 10:00 pm Clarion Fontainebleau

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Steamed Blue Crabs Fried Chicken Corn on the Cob Steamed Shrimp Potato Salad Cole Slaw

Assorted Desserts Rolls and Butter Soft Drinks Draft Beer House Wine

Click Here for Tickets

13th Annual OC Chamber Crab Feast

$40 per person $15 -per child 7-12 6 & Under Free

October 12, 2017 5:00 - 8:00 pm Blu Crabhouse & Raw Bar

Executive Director’s Message

Melanie Pursel

With summer in full swing, we are full force in the visitor’s center, making referrals, answering tourism related inquiries and greeting the hundreds of guests that come through our doors every week! Please be sure that we have your most up to date marketing materials in the center. Our customer service specialists keep everything well stocked and visible! Please also feel free to stop in or call our staff to let them know what types of deals or specials that you have going on so they can pass those along to our visitors and your potential customers. Our visitors center team is top notch and are always willing to provide the absolute best customer service- Karen, Sharon, Kathy, Richard and Tammy are here 7 days per week from 8:30am to 4:30pm. We also have a rack with guides and maps out front for guests that come by after hours. Although we are continuously promoting all that there is to do and see in Ocean City this summer, we are al-so planning for the upcoming membership year. One of our top priorities is to maintain the Governor’s veto of HB1- the Paid Sick leave bill that was passed during the 2017 legislative session. We recently had a busi-ness roundtable discussion with the Secretary of Labor for the State of MD, Kelly Schultz. As part of the Governors initiative to collect both empirical and anecdotal data regarding the impact of this bill on Maryland Businesses, he has implemented a task force, led by DLLR. They want to hear from you and hear your sto-ries. To engage with secretary Shultz and have your voice heard, simply fill out the interest form by clicking http://www.dllr.maryland.gov/paidleave/ Again, it is critical that we express the impact that this would have on your personnel and overall busi-ness. As you know, especially with the seasonal nature of most Ocean City businesses, this could have a dra-matic impact if you were required to provide seasonal/part time employees paid leave. Synopsis of HB1: Requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide employees with earned sick and safe leave that is paid at the same wage rate as the employee normally earns; requiring employers with 14 or fewer employees to provide unpaid earned sick and safe leave; prohibiting an employer from being required to pay a tipped employee more than a minimum wage for earned sick and safe leave; requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to develop a specified model paid sick and safe leave policy for use by specified employers; etc. If you would like to review the bill in its entirety you may click http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/bills/hb/hb0001E.pdf Please always call on the chamber for anything- we are here to support, promote and advocate for your busi-ness as well as Ocean City as a whole. Happy Summer!

Warmest Regards, Executive Director 410.213.0144 ext 102 melanie@oceancity.org

2017 Networking Luncheon Ocean City Fish Company

Harbor Rd. WOC

July 19, 2017 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Premium Networking Opportunity!

Fabulous Lunch!

$25 per person

For More Information And to Register

Date Event Location Time

July 12 Monthly YP Meeting OC Chamber 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

July 19 OC Chamber Networking Luncheon OC Fish Company

Harbor Rd. WOC

Noon-2:30 p.m.

July 20 Executive Committee Meeting OC Chamber 8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

July 20 Board of Directors Meeting OC Chamber 9:00 a.m.

July 24 YP Christmas in July Fundraiser Burley Oak Brewing Co. 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

July 27 Big Mama’s Ribbon Cutting 82nd St. & Coastal Hwy 4:30 p.m. Welcome

5:00 Ribbon Cutting

July 2017 Calendar of Events

Question:

Although I stopped working a few years ago, I had additional seasonal earnings after my retirement. Will my

monthly Social Security retirement benefit increase?

Answer:

Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may in-

crease their monthly benefit amounts. If an increase is due, we calculate a new benefit amount and pay the in-

crease retroactive to January following the year of earnings. You can learn more about how work affects your

benefits by reading our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Question:

I’ve heard that Social Security retirement benefits are meant to supplement other retirement plans. Is there any

help for individuals who do not have a retirement plan through their employer to ensure that they have other re-

tirement options?

Answer:

There are several private sector options for retirement plans, from traditional and Roth IRAs to 401(k)s. Howev-

er, if you are unsure of navigating these options on your own, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has a new re-

tirement savings option. For more information, visit myRA.gov.

Welcome New Members

Thank You For Choosing Us

To Promote Your Business!

Acopia Home Loans Kaitie Huttenberger 405 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 (717) 465-8069 http://www.acopiahomeloans.com Mortgage Company

Ropewalk Chincoteague Chris Reda 6262 Marlin St. Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 (757) 336-0512 Restaurant

Salty Social Marketing Courtney West 12506 Deer Point CIrcle Berlin, MD 21811 410.881.3093 http://www.saltysocialmktg.com

Ocean City Barbeque Maureen Canale 4517 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 (410) 524-1018 http://www.oceancitybbq.com Restaurant

Pet Threadz Amanda Knauff 9808 Stephen Decatur Hwy. Unit #4 Ocean City, MD 21842 (443) 955-0904 Pet Boutique with handmade clothes & sup-plies for pets. Referred By: Jamie Davis, Coastal Coffee Roasting

All About Fishing OC James Kramer Bahia Marina 21st St. & Bay Ocean City, MD 21842 (941) 822-1419 http://allaboutfishingoc.com We offer Educational Fishing Charters, Run the Beach Boat Ride, Search for Dolphin in the Ocean,Search for Ponies on Assateague and a Crabbing Discovery Charter

Renewing Members May 24-June 21, 2017

Thank You !

Delmarva Two-Way Radio

http://www.delmarvatwoway.com

Pocomoke River Canoe Company http://www.pocomokerivercanoe.com/

OC Tri Running Sports

http://www.octrirunning.com

Maids On The Go

Ocean City Brewing Company http://www.ocbrewingcompany.com

Paradise Watersports

http://www.paradise-watersports.com

Ponzetti's Pizza http://www.beach-net.com/ponzetti

Law Office of Thomas Maronick Jr LLC

http://www.maronicklaw.com

J.L.S. Hair Design

Una Bella Salute http://www.unabellasalute.com

Culture / Authentic Eatery

http://www.culturerestaurant.com

Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 486 http://www.ualocal486.com/

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham

http://www.microtelinn.com

Airmasters

Absolute Investigative and Security Services

Starbucks - Quality Inn Boardwalk http://www.ocmdrestaurants.com

Independent Tattoo

http://independenttattoo.com

Fry Publications, Inc. http://www.frycomm.com

Delmarva Teen Challenge, Inc.

http://www.delmarvateenchallenge.org

Click below for the latest news & weather

Click Here to Check out all the latest

BIG DEALS

Ribbon Cuttings

Back East Boutique Ribbon Cutting

Dry Dock 28 Ribbon Cutting Town Center Antiques 20 Year Anniversary

June Business After Hours OC 360 Eats & Drinks

Out & About With Your Chamber...

Rare & Rye Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

In the Visitor’s Center...

Welcome to Ocean City! Quadruplets from Ryebrook, NY.

From left, Madison, Mom, Michele, Marissa, Dad & Michael.

On the Boards....

Anna Dolle Bushnell

Melanie & the Mayor

Federal, State and Local Representatives Announce Beach Replenishment & Inlet Dredging Plans

Thrashers!

Chamber Staff Melanie Pursel, Executive Director

Lisa Dennis, Events Director Danielle Davis, Financial Officer

Nancy Schwendeman, Publications Mgr Vera Spalt, Membership Services Mgr

Jill Brady, E-Marketing Manager

Visitors Center Staff Richard Ohanlon - Karen Lynn - Angie Krause - Sharon Craven -

Kathleen Smith

Community Representatives Economic Development Committee Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association

Downtown Association Ocean City Development Corporation

Town of Ocean City

The mission of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce is to provide community leadership in the promotion and support of economic development and the continued growth of tourism in Ocean City. The Chamber serves as a hub for development, educa-tion and communication within the business community to preserve the viability, quality of life and aesthetic values of our town.

Officers 2016- 2017 John Gehrig - President

D3 Corp Stephanie Meehan - President-Elect

Funcade Toni Keiser - Vice President

Atlantic General Hospital Bob Thompson - Treasurer Bluewater Development Corp. Phillip Cheung - Secretary

CG Accounting Group, LLC

Directors 2016- 2017 Brett Wolf -

Professional Mortgage Services Justin McGinnis - PrintIT Solutions

Buck Mann –Polynesian Condo Sal Fasano - LaQuinta Hotel & Suites

Steve Pastusak - Jolly Rogers Amusements Chris Woodley -

Williams, Moore, Shockley & Harrison , LLC Ruth Waters

Harrison Group Resort Hotels Madlyn Carder - BJ’s On the Water

Cole Taustin - Embers Restaurant & Blu Crabhouse

The Greater Ocean City, Maryland Chamber of Commerce "Where Business is a Pleasure"

Ocean City’s Voice for Business is published the first of each month. Ads and articles may be submitted for pub-lication no later than the 20th of the preceding month. Items received after the 20th may be published in a later newsletter, or if time sensitive, published in the next weekly e-lert.