Chamber Events

It’s the Holiday Season again, and that can mean only one thing: every theater in America is contractually obligated to mount a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

BUT . . . what if you want a Scrooge that is both familiar and new? Simple. YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN!

In Bah Humbug, Michael Harris and a team of Maryland’s best improvisers turn your suggestions into a Never Seen Before, Never to Be Seen again reboot of the Dickens' Classic. Hilarious, unpredictable and full of audience participation, Bah Humbug is everything you remember, and everything you never knew, from the Story of Scrooge.

Bah Humbug has played in front of sold out audiences in Arlington, D.C., and Frederick, and now it arrives for the first time at Black Rock Center for the Arts. A Show for all Ages based on a Story for all Times.

If you love A Christmas Carol, if you hate A Christmas Carol, then Bah Humbug is for you!

Our monthly Nonprofit Direct Connect meeting will be in person in December at GGCC member BlackRock Center for the Arts.

Our next event is our Coffee & Cookies meeting on Monday, Dec 9, at 11 am at BlackRock Center for the Arts. We're discussing end of year activities and challenges, as well as what programming we would like to see next year so we can start planning!

Plans for 2025 to date:

• Monday, January 13,  11 a.m./Location TBD - Heidi Webb, CFRE: Mapping a whole year fundraising plan

• Monday, February 10 11a.m./Location TBD - Dona Deutsch: Tips to a happy, healthy heart/Stress management and wellness activities for small shops

More to come!

Our Nonprofit Direct Connect group typically meets on the 2nd Monday each month virtually or in person. This Direct Connect group is led by Denise Fredericks, Mercy Health Clinic, and Deborah Zimmer, Universities at Shady Grove. All meetings are open to all Chamber members.  For more information on the GGCC's Direct Connect program, please click here. If you need accommodations to comfortably access this event, please email llumbreras@ggchamber.org. 

Join us for this quarterly "Up Upcounty" breakfast series! Each session will include a guest speaker - an elected official or civic leader - to engage in discussion about needs and opportunities in the northern-most footprint of the Upcounty and of GGCC's service footprint, and we'll enjoy great networking of course. Thank you to Hornet's Nest Grille for coffee and breakfast! Free to members! Please join us!

December speakers and guests:

1) Audrey Vogel, Montgomery Planning Dept, will share a recap of the Damascus Placemaking Event and highlight next steps

2) We will share information about the proposal to remove M83 from the Transportation Master Plan and how you can get involved.

3) Officers from MCPD will attend to answer your questions about recent crime and traffic incidents. 

Hope to see you all there!

We are looking forward to our in person SOHO meeting on Tuesday, Dec 10th at 10am!
We will be meeting at Empress Coffee & Cocktails at 325 Main St. Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Please join us and celebrate the great year we've had with SOHO!
And get ready for a wonderful year of SOHO in 2025!

The Health & Wellness Direct Connect is designed for like-minded business owners committed to learning, growing, and driving success together. This intimate group will focus on exchanging insights, solving problems collaboratively, and holding each other accountable in a confidential and supportive environment.

Bring your lunch and join us to develop relationships and gain fresh perspectives! If you have any questions, please contact Steve Reinhold at steve@phwassociates.com or Wendy Iglehart at wiglehart@wendyiglehart.com.

Cybercriminals today are more advanced than ever, putting your finances and personal information at greater risk. Join our upcoming webinar to discover key strategies for protecting your digital presence.

Our expert speaker, Walt Houser, a volunteer with the Montgomery County Police Department’s Financial Crime Section, will share valuable insights and tips to help you stay ahead and take charge of your cybersecurity.

Join us for the ribbon-cutting celebration of our chamber member, James Bonato Videography, as we celebrate the premiere of his newest documentary film Resilience Has a Face!

The movie will be shown at BlackRock Theater. The event will begin at 7:30 PM with the Ribbon Cutting, followed by the movie from 7:45 PM to 8:45 PM, and a Q&A session from 8:45 PM to 9:15 PM.

To pique your interest, here is the film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_64k15Xsjs

Come visit the GGCC's Germantown Town Center tent with our #ShopLocal campaign for some cocoa and cookies at this wonderful Germantown Holiday event!  You can also learn more about upcoming community activities and planning in the Germantown Town Center business area!

Bring a gently used coat (any size!) for our Coat Drive.  

Any GGCC member may table with us for any portion of the day – let us know in advance by emailing llumbreras@ggchamber.org.

BlackRock Center for the Arts has planned a day full of magic including an outdoor holiday market with child choirs performing your favorite holiday song selections throughout the day! Complete with holiday music, crafts, snacks, and surprises, this festive season kickoff only needs one more thing - you - to complete its winter wonderland magic!

Thank you to Wegmans for sponsoring our cocoa and cookies!!

It's MERRY GGCC! Join us at the last networking event of 2024; make it count!  Enjoy appetizers, beverages, great networking, and brighten the holidays with the GGCC!

Sponsorship Opportunities are available!

Please bring:

• A gently used or new warm coat for the COAT DRIVE and/or a $25 gift card to a local chamber restaurant or coffee shop or grocery to be given to our local public safety officials in 5D and 6D who must work on the holidays. Don't have time to pick up a gift card? We can do that for you! Donate here and we'll take care of the rest! 
• An ornament or gift tag representing your business to decorate the GGCC office holiday tree – surprise fun to come! Don’t have an ornament or gift tag? Not to worry, we’ll give you one at the open house!

Please email llumbreras@ggchamber.org if you require accommodations to comfortably access this event.     

Want your logo on the GGCC calendar, shoutouts on socials, and logo on this invite?        

• Catering & Cocktail Sponsorships: $100 
• Gold Sponsorships: $300
   

Thank you to these sponsors!