We had a good November meeting with Pioneer Rep, Paul Stocker present giving us updates on the new balloons & products out and those coming out soon.  He showed us one of Robbie Furman's creations to use in our business marketing and we all got samples.  THANK YOU Paul for coming and  bringing your give-aways!

Paul also brought some products by Artistic Party Essentials to use in centerpiece creations.  Various sizes of tubing and bases (mirrored or clear plastic).  Worth checking into!

Updates from the September Annual Meeting were:
- Scholarship winner(s) 1st name, Lise O'Connell, 2nd name Sandy Hartzell and 3rd name, Wendy Farenwald.
- Rumor has it that Tammy Smith will have an arrangement featured in an upcoming Images.
- CONGRATULATIONS to Jeanne Greb & Tammy Smith for receiving their CBA status at Ballooniversity this summer!

We're looking for possible seminar presenters for next year; any suggestions contact President Sandy Hartzell at (410) 456-3019 or email SEHartzell@verizon.net.

Mark your calendars for next year's meetings March 14, May 9, Annual Dinner September 12 and November 14.

November Chapter Meeting on 8th

The next Chapter meeting will be Thursday, Nov 8th at the Cherry Hill Conference Center.  Paul Stocker, Pioneer Rep for NE, will attend to give us an update from Pioneer and what's new in the industry.  President Sandy Hartzell will also give some ideas for candy decor.

Don't miss it...Jeanne will be bringing snacks & refreshments!

Use 72001 for the Gate Code....see you then!

MAQBN Annual Dinner, September 19th

It's that time again for our Annual Dinner.  Wednesday, September 19th after the E&R Seminar with Jan Iiams, we'll be going off to The Grill at Waterford in Midlothian near E&R Sales.  Directions below.  We have a little business to attend...picking this year's Scholarship Winner!  So hope everyone will make it after the seminar.  Please let Wendy Farenwald know if you are attending at celebrate@balloonaffairs.com or 301 698-9895...

The Grill at Waterford

804-763-0555

13548 Waterford Place

Midlothian, VA 23112

Directions from E&R:

Turn right onto Old Hundred Road. Go 1.9 miles (you will go through a traffic circle – stay straight) to a stoplight. Go straight through the stoplight (road changes name to Charter Colony Parkway ) and take the first right onto Waterford Lake Drive . There is a shopping center on your right, take the first right onto Waterford Place which leads you into the parking lot of the shopping center. The Grill at Waterford is in front of you (next to Twisted Tomato which is on the corner).

When leaving the restaurant, it is very easy to get on Powhite Parkway which leads to I-95, and Rt. 288 which will get most people home easily.

For more info on Jan Iiams Seminar go to http://ersales.cameoez.com/images/New_Seminar.pdf.  Early Bird price ends September 4th!

March Meeting Findings!

It was a great meeting with Ed Hunt in March. Those in attendance were Wendy Farenwald, Jeanne Greb, Glenda Holman, Lise O'Connell, Betty Williams, Ed Hunt, Yasmin d'Souza, Brenda Hardy and photographer Mary Cormier. Thanks to Jeanne for the wonderful refreshments. We're working on getting the "balloon beads" photos and writeup available for the members...stay tuned!

March Meeting with Ed Hunt

Great meeting this month! Ed Hunt of Southern Sales Associates came to give us an update on what's happening in the balloon industry and Glenda Holman of Helens Angels filled in for Prez Sandy (hope you're feeling better!) on the "balloon beads". Lots of good info and networking!

Thank you Ed for coming as well as bringing door prizes ~ winners Jeanne, Lise, Mary and Yasmin. And special thanks to Southern Sales for offering the WBC Registration Rebate to a member attending this year. Winner was Roxie Gray!

Special thanks for Glenda for the demonstrations on the "balloon beads"and the hands-on help. What a great technique!

Be watching for photos to come!

Chapter News from November Meeting!

Welcome new members Su Laswick & Mary Cormier of Fun Filled Balloons in Ashland, VA! Glad to have Su back as a MAQBN member!

Scholarship from MAQBN...criteria for winning a Scholarship from our Chapter are as follows. Each category denotes one name submission towards the drawing. Members can do one, two, all or none of the items below:

• Bring snacks and/or drinks to a MAQBN event
• Attendance at Chapter meetings
• Sponsor a new member
• Present a Chapter program
• Help with Seminar (set up, telephoning, mailing, etc.)
• Contribute an article to the Blog
• Make a library donation
• On time payment of dues
• Agreement to hold office and acceptance of committee position

This Scholarship is intended to help promote our Chapter, continue its success and provide support to its members. Currently the Scholarship is $250 towards a balloon related learning experience. Next drawing will be our Annual Dinner in September, 2013.

We pull three names, #1 has first choice of funds and if chooses to pass to #2, #2 chooses or passes to #3. This year's winning names are #1 Yasmin d'Sousa, #2 Jeanne Greb and #3 Sandy Hartzell. Yasmin, let Wendy hear from you to start the chain!

Upcoming Chapter Meetings are as follows (all Thursdays):

March 8th - Prez Sandy will refresh us on "Balloon Beads" and Ed Hunt, Pioneer Rep, will update us on new products and news from Pioneer.

May 10th - Chapter meeting

July - Seminar month to be announced

September 13th - Annual Dinner

November 8th - Chapter meeting

Thank you to our President, Sandy Hartzell of Magic Moment Designs Ltd for sharing some Holiday Ideas & Techniques at our meeting.

November 10th...Next Chapter Meeting

Plan to join us on Thursday, November 10th at the Cherry Hill Park Conference Center at 9800 Cherry Hill Rd, College Park, MD 20740 starting at 6:30 pm for networking and 7 pm for business meeting and program. Also this meeting we will be drawing for our Scholarship Fund.

President Sandy Hartzell will be giving us a Holiday Session with balloons using various techniques and Link o Loons! Don't Miss It!!

Annual Dinner on Thursday, Sept 8th coming up!

It's almost here, Thursday, Sept 8th is our Annual Dinner...15 years!!! We'll be going to Gunnings Restaurant at 7304 Parkway Dr, Hanover, MD 21076 (410 712-9404). Check their website www.gunningsonline.com for directions and menu.

Hoping to see everyone and maybe some new faces too!

Jo Werling CBA Seminar July 24, 2011 in Baltimore

Great turnout and great class by Jo Werling CBA of Big Balloon Bash! Learned alot about foamboard and new ideas for decor. Many THANKS to Rainbow Balloons for sponsoring our event as well as thanks to Hi-Float, CSR Weights, Creative Balloons, Clik Clik, and Party Dots for offering door prizes. It was an awesome day!

Eddie Heyland Seminar at E&R Sales in Midlothian, VA

Fun and informative class with Eddie Heyland of Balloon City USA presented by E&R Sales in Midlothian, VA. Wendy & I enjoyed Eddie's class and got lots of balloon decor ideas. Even had a mini-MAQBN meeting with some members - Sandy Hartzell, Brenda Schwaab, Glenda Holman, Betty Williams, Tammy Smith & Jeanne Greb.

Looking forward to our own one-day seminar with Jo Werling on Sunday, July 24th. Info is posted on our Blog below...check it out!

Designs by Parties Your Way!

Michelle Myers Melson CBA of Parties Your Way! shows off some of her recent designs -- Under the Sea for a Boat Show and Princess Castle at a Shoppers Fair. Great work Michelle!

Members send us your photos to share!

May Chapter Meeting

We had a great speaker in Beth Schillaci, founder of VillageWorks in Frederick, MD. She helped us navigate thru the tools of Social Media. Her book "Your Social Media Roadmap" is a great tool...check it out from Amazon.com. Thanks again Beth, it was an informative evening! You can check Beth's Blog at www.marketingroadhouse.com and she's on Twitter also at bethschillaci.

Details are out on our upcoming one-day seminar on July 24, 2011 with Jo Werling CBA of Big Balloon Bash! Rainbow Balloons will be our proud sponsor. We'll be at the Sheraton BWI Airport Hotel in Linthicum, MD. Foam Board Fantasies and Fun & Festive Entrance Arches will be our theme. Door prizes provided by Party Dots, CSR Balloon Weights, Creative Balloons Mfg Inc. and more. Stay tuned for more info; to receive the official flyer email celebrate@balloonaffairs.com or contact Wendy at 301 698-9895.

Upcoming May 12th Meeting-Speaker Beth Schillaci

Join us on Thursday, May 12th at 7pm for our General Meeting with speaker, Beth Schillaci, founder of VillageWorks in Frederick, Maryland. Beth will be speaking about the Importance of having a Social Media Plan and what should be included. We'll meet starting at 6:30pm with networking and 7pm for brief business meeting at the Cherry Hill Park Conference Center in College Park, MD 20740. Passcode to enter is 72001.

As the founder of VillageWorks, Beth has spent more than 12 years helping small businesses market themselves online through websites, email and social media. In her book, Your Social Media Roadmap, she provides small businesses with her own successful framework for working with clients. Reading the book allows you to take advantage of her experience to create a solid social media plan. For more information, visit www.villageworks.net.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear what's important about Social Media...and bring a friend!

DUES are due and payable by May 1st. Primary members pay $75 and affiliate members pay $25. Dues should be payable to MAQBN and sent to Treasurer, Wendy Farenwald at 8902 Knollwood Way, Frederick, MD 21701 or bring your check to the May meeting!

March Meeting with Paul Stocker

We had a good time networking at our meeting this past week. We enjoyed Paul Stocker, Pioneer Balloon Rep from the NorthEast, who demonstrated the Master Bow Machine as well as update us on various Qualatex products. We got to play with the bow machine as well as see the new Bubble balloons and discussed the new processing of microfoil balloons.

We discussed our new By-Law changes coming and suggestions for instructors for our one-day seminar this year. Good meeting! Keep checking our Blog for Chapter happenings.

Treasurer, Wendy Farenwald of Balloon Affairs of Frederick LLC with Paul Stocker and President, Sandy Hartzell of Magic Moment Designs.

March 2011 Meeting!

Don't miss our next meeting...Paul Stocker, Qualatex Rep for the NE Region, will join us and fill us in on the MasterBow System as well as updates from Qualatex, what's new with Bubbles, and some decor twisting tips. Thursday, March 10th at 6:30pm starts networking and business meeting will begin at 7pm at the Cherry Hill Conference Center in College Park, Maryland.

Come join us!

Valentines Sales!

Balloon Affairs of Frederick LLC was in the FSK Mall in Frederick, MD to sell for Valentine's Day.

Parties Your Way! was ready for the Valentine Season in Berlin, MD.

What did our other Members do? Let us know.

What's Coming UP!

Just wanted to pass along some dates for educational opportunities this year if you haven't heard:

Twist & Shout is February 16-20, 2011 at the Marriott in Burlington, MA

Ballooniversity Dates: Dallas June 24, Atlanta July 13 and Chicago July 29

World Balloon Convention - March 21-25, 2012 in Dallas, TX

Our Chapter is working on a one-day seminar, hopefully in July this year. Stay tuned for more details to come. Next meeting is Thursday, March 10, 2011...more info to come!

Anyone have any photos to share?...hope everyone is hanging in there with all the snow!!!

Happy New Year!

Hoping for a safe, fun and prosperous New Year and especially one with lots of balloons!

Happy New Year to all our MAQBN Members and Balloon Friends! See you in March for our next Chapter Meeting.

November Meeting...let's play!

We had a good time playing with Tapers & Starbursts. As you can see we certainly created some different pieces of decor. Thank you to Yasmin D'Sousa of Events Are Us for making extra copies of the Decor flyers and Instruction sheets given out.

We'll be meeting the following dates next year, on Thursdays...March 10th, May 12th, and November 10th for General Meetings again at the Cherry Hill Conference Center. We're trying for another Seminar in July; we'll keep you posted and our Annual Dinner will be September 8th.

Keep checking our Blog to keep up with Chapter happenings...send your photos to celebrate@balloonaffairs.com.