Dear Friends,

Since its inception in September 2006, BerkShares, Inc. has continually strived to improve and enhance the program by promoting participating businesses through various advertising mediums. This has heightened public awareness about the power of purchasing from locally owned businesses and the positive influence this purchasing power can have on the fate of their community.
 
I am writing today to share with you some exciting recent developments: BerkShares, Inc. is proud to announce its collaboration with the Berkshire Visitors Bureau.
 
The Berkshire Visitors Bureau will be promoting the efforts of BerkShares, Inc. through their website www.berkshires.org and the 2008-2009 Berkshires Official Visitors’ Guide. BerkShares has now been added to the Berkshire Visitors Bureau’s website as a member listing and is featured under the “Getaway Deals” section, with a picture of the currency and hyperlinks to BerkShares. The berkshires.org website boasts 625,000 unique visitors and 3.3 million page views per year. In addition, the 2008-2009 Guide will inform and educate visitors on our unique local currency program. These efforts will increase public exposure immensely, as 200,000 copies of this valuable guide are distributed to area visitors, second homeowners and people relocating to the area each year.

Thank you to everyone at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for supporting our community through this collaboration and for their ongoing efforts to promote the region and Berkshire businesses.
 
Please feel free to contact me if you would like me to call on particular businesses about joining in accepting BerkShares.  The registration form is online at www.berkshares.org and takes approximately 30 seconds to complete. Signing up is free.  Businesses can set their own policy for use of BerkShares.
 
Sincerely,

Laura Fetherolf
Membership Coordinator
413-637-4663

BerkShares, Inc.
P. O. Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230