The organization was founded by MRH teacher, Heather Bailey and her husband, who witnessed hard-working families experience huge setbacks because of system gaps.. Because at-risk families often come from extended families that are also at-risk, the couple felt there needed to be an organization like Mosaic Services. They were inspired to do so by the life of a loved one who humbly served an at-risk population in New York City.

Mosaic Services is completely volunteer driven with 100 percent of donations going towards the mission and purpose. They depend on monetary donations from the community and their Annual Family Fun Run which occurs each September.

Find out more about Mosaic Services by visiting them online athttp://www.mosaicmrh.org/.

Charm Boutique is located at 7312 Manchester or find them online at www.charm-boutique.com.

In 2011, the Chamber  welcomed 17 new or relocated businesses to Maplewood with Ribbon Cutting ceremonies. We held well over 30 networking events for Chamber Members resulting in stronger relationships among our membership. The launch of our Net-Lunch program was a hit as well as our first ever Chamber Pub Crawl in conjunction with the City of Maplewood, Let Them Eat Art event.

The Chamber experienced our highest attendance and success in years for both of our signature events.  Despite a forecast of epic storms and torrential rainfall, the Taste of Maplewood Street Festival brought record crowds who enjoyed sunshine, live music and tasty bites from our restaurants. The Christmas Tree Walk looked like a cross between Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and Black Friday at its very best. There is nothing more fulfilling to myself or our Board, then seeing Maplewood filled with visitors spending time and money enjoying our businesses.

Finally, perhaps our greatest accomplishment of 2011, was the launch of our website! Redesigning our website was a major part of our strategic plan that came to fruition in August. The new site allows us to serve and promote our Chamber Members in ways we haven’t in the past.

After reflecting on the year and trying to pinpoint the success factor, I concluded that it takes the perfect storm to create a year like 2011. It begins with a strong and innovative leader, like Jerry Gibbs, supported by a dedicated and involved Board of Directors. It gains momentum by buidling strong parternships with the City of Maplewood, MRH School District and community leaders. It grows by taking risks, experimenting with new ideas and thinking outside the box. Finally, it is sustained by our Chamber Members who choose to be active, involved and engaged. This was the perfect storm of 2011.

2012 marks significant anniversaries for several Chamber Members. Please let us know ASAP if your business is celebrating an anniversary that we haven’t acknowledged below.

Congratulations to all of the following businesses:

80 Years

Jay B. Smith Funeral Home

75 Years

 Sherwood Forest Camp

65 Years

 Essex Manufacturing

45 Years

 Unique Heating and Cooling

25 Years

 Cozad Commercial Real Estate

Gobberdiel Strategic Communications

Myotherapy Pain Relief of Missouri

20 Years

 Schaefer Shell

10 Years

Girls on the Run St. Louis

 Event Partners

Martz & Wilson

5 Years

Mike Piazza Automotive

Premier Insurance Source

Saint Louis Cellars

The Hermann London Group

Troll Construction

Moosylvania has eighty plus employees, not including the nearly twenty Hatch Research employees who float between the Maplewood facility and the newly opened Hatch Research West offices, located in the La’ Chateau Village in Frontenac. We continue to enjoy countless lunches and shopping outings along Manchester and Sutton and are looking forward to sending twenty or so employees to the Vom Fass cooking class later this month. Basically, we love where we work and play.

Moosylvania has successfully supported, ‘Joe’s Place’ in 2011 as Moosylvania, VP, Sharon Ayres joined the Board of Directors for this great organization. Moosylvania employees designed a new logo, and assisted in the production of the Joe’s Place Documentary DVD, which are now available for purchase. Moosylvania refurbished twenty plus computers this year and sold them back to employees for their personal use, with proceeds going to Joe’s Place. We filled up a train of Shop ‘N Save carts with several hundred pounds of food for the St. Louis needy. Moose hands are eager to get to work on other community effort projects in the new-year. We also saved and crunched every aluminum can used for the fight against MS and to be as green friendly as possible

Moosylvania acquired the Loud Few Digital agency in May of 2011 and grew our Digital capabilities to service clients such as Dean Foods and Universal Studios. Our Experiential division put drivers across the country with new clients like Assa Abloy and Spectrum Brands. In the fall of 2011 we sent a team to LA to work with the Muppets for several Alamo commercials, so from Miss Piggy to Capital One we’ve had some great opportunities.

We have been fortunate enough to work with such great brands that it forced us to redo our website to best present the diverse case studies. We hope to continue the journey towards the achievement of our goals and to have fun along the way with the other great businesses and community organizations in Maplewood. Watch for us to host a coffee or evening networking event in February. We’d love to get to know you and give you a tour!

The Business of the Year Award is a brand new award in 2011. Unlike our other annual awards, this honor is reserved for businesses that have made major or visible contributions in the last 12 months versus a lifetime of achievements. Each nominated business has made a significant impact in a variety of areas including: industry achievement, revenue growth, creative marketing endeavors, impeccable customer service, innovative products and/company wide community involvement. Through their efforts and success in 2011, they’ve not only gained attention for themselves, but for the entire Maplewood business community.

The winner of 2011 Business of the Year Award will be determined by a selection committee, however, one vote among the selection committee belongs to the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce Membership.  To cast your vote for the 2011 Business of the Year, click here after reviewing the nominations below.  The winner announced the first week in January, and  honored at the Chamber Annual Meeting/1st Quarter luncheon on January 24.

Nominee #1:              Autohaus-BMW

Nominee #2:             Girls on the Run St. Louis

Nominee #3:             The Hermann London Group

Nominee #4:             Kakao Chocolate

Could your office use a new Kuerig coffee machine, shredder, printer, lunch or breakfast?  Place an order of $200 or more for HP inkjet cartridges and or HP laser toner by December 16th and your company will be entered in to our drawing for 12 great prizes, click here for details.  By the way, HP has announced a price increase of 2-17% on laserjet cartridges.  Why not beat the price increase and get a chance to win a prize for your office and order today?

Is your company enrolled in HP PurchasEdge Loyalty Program?  With PurchasEdge, every dollar you spend on qualifying HP supplies goes back to work for your business, earning points towards the latest HP products like printers, scanners, HP paper and more.  You’ll earn one point for every $4 you spend in qualifying purchases.  Continue purchasing HP printing supplies such as LaserJet toner and inkjet print cartridges and we’ll submit your purchases directly to HP.  Once you are a member, you will receive a welcome gift of 150 free points!

Plus we’ll thrown in a free HP coffee mug with your enrollment and acceptance in HP PurchasEdge Loyalty Program.  Click here for the enrollment website.

Could you use some extra cash for the Holidays?  Click here and enter our Holiday Cash Sweepstakes to win 1 of 3 prizes of $1000 Cash!  No purchase necessary.  Any US resident at least 21 years of age is eligible to enter.  Pass this around to everyone in your organization and please list our company as the office products dealer that gave you this entry.

Last but not least, we have copy paper on sale for $29.99/carton (in store pick-up only).  Next time you are in Maplewood stop by for a visit and take advantage of this great price on paper.

We are thankful for your continued support and look forward to serving you and your organization in the coming new year!

Sincerely,

Jerry, Donna, Sherrie, Matt, J P and Elizabeth

Join us as we officially kick off the holiday season in Maplewood at the 10^th Annual Christmas Tree Walk. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. in Citizens Park with caroling, the grand lighting of the tree and Santa Claus’s arrival. Throughout the evening, enjoy free carriage rides, hot chocolate and a shuttle service that will take you through historic Maplewood. Visit our merchants and take advantage of their holiday shopping specials. Relax and refuel at one of our popular dining destinations or coffee shops that are featuring live entertainment. Make Maplewood your first and last stop for holiday cheer, shopping and entertainment. Very special thanks to our sponsors: City of Maplewood Special Business District, Citizens National Bank, Moosylvania, Sunnen Products Company, Patch.com and the MRH School District.

Participation information for Maplewood Businesses and 2011 Christmas Tree Walk Registration Form

Program of Events

 6:00 p.m.

• Grand Lighting of the Christmas Tree
• Caroling
• Arrival of Santa Claus
• Merchant Window Decorating Contest winners announced

6:30-9:00 p.m.

• Santa visits and photos and free carriage rides (7305 Manchester)
• Merchant Open Houses throughout Maplewood
• Free Shuttle Service (see map below)

See below for a list of participating businesses. Check often for updates.

Citizens National Bank (7305 Manchester Ave.)  Train Display, visit and picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Kakao Chocolate (7272  Manchester Ave.) Handmade chocolate samples, specials on hot chocolate

Tigerlily Gifts & Monograms (7328 Manchester Ave.) Book signing by Amanda Doyle, personalized ornaments by artist

Home Wine Kitchen (7322 Manchester Ave.) 3 course special menu for $40 (not including alcohol)

St. Louis Salt Room (2739 Sutton Blvd.)   Open House, celebrating our first year with various specials offers

Paramount Jewelers (7348 Manchester Ave.)  Holiday appetizers and drinks

Charm Boutique (7312 Manchester Ave.)  Christmas cookies

Roots (3104 Sutton Ave.)  10% off entire purchase and light refreshments

Vom Fass (7314 Manchester Ave.) Complimentary wine tasting, apple punch, cookies

Encore Baking (2730 Sutton Blvd.) Complimentary cake samples

Maya Cafe (2726 Sutton Blvd.) Live entertainment and specials on selected drinks

Concordia Lutheran Church (7291 Sarah) Complimentary food, music performances, and caroling

Foundation Grounds (7298 Manchester Ave.) Seasonal drinks including hot cocoa, apple cider, and honey cardamom latte

Gisele’s (7318 Manchester Ave.) Special pricing on certain items for the evening only

Stellar Batik (2506 Sutton Blvd) Light refreshments

Penzeys Spices (7338 Manchester Ave.) Complimentary  1/4 cup jar of Penzey’s mulling spice

Boogaloo (7344 Manchester) Live entertainment and specials on holiday beverages

Saratoga Lanes (2725A Sutton Blvd.) Buy one game bowling get one free or free shoe rental

Airedale Antics (7316 Manchester Ave.) Refreshments, $5 nail trims or coupon for later use, meet trainer Jennifer Huddleston, 50% off marked gift items

The Post Sports Bar & Grill (7372 Manchester Ave.) $2 Schlafly seasonal beer

The Wood (2733 Sutton Blvd.) Live entertainment, special on Irish hot chocolate