{"id":5529,"date":"2015-12-14T20:24:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T20:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ballymenachamber.co.uk\/?p=5529"},"modified":"2015-12-14T20:34:01","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T20:34:01","slug":"christmas-socialnetworking-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/?p=5529","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Social\/Networking Event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its annual Christmassocial\/networking event in the Adair Arms Hotel\u00a0on\u00a08th December. There was an excellent turnout\u00a0of\u00a0Chamber members and guests.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is always an informal evening and Alan Stewart, Chamber\u00a0President welcomed everyone.\u00a0He welcomed Grace Carmichael from Ballymena BID\u00a0and Stephen Reid fromGrafters Design Studio accompanied by a very special guest, Ballymena Bear. He congratulated the BID on commissioning the Ballymena Christmas advert and Stephen on the excellent video which had been produced on a very tight budget.<\/p>\n<p>He then went on to present the trophies\u00a0and certificates\u00a0for the\u00a02015\u00a0Christmas\u00a0window dressing competition. The\u00a0first\u00a0three prize winners were:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ballymena Business Centre, Church Street<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Leaf Designs, Galgorm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>McKillens Footwear, Church Street<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Alan then presented a special trophy and certificate for the Outstanding Window to Designer Homes and Interiors, Broughshane. Alan said <em>\u201cRobin and Emma have won trophies for their window the\u00a0last two years and the judges this year asked that Chamber give special recognition for a truly excellent window display\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Congratulations to all the\u00a0winners!<\/p>\n<p>A presentation was also made to the NI Hospice. A raffle was held at the 2015\u00a0Business awards and a record \u00a34100\u00a0was raised. Chamber would like to thank the following businesses who donated prizes for the raffle:\u00a0Michelin Tyre PLC, Galgorm Castle Golf Club,\u00a0Galgorm Resort and Spa,\u00a0Tullyglass House Hotel,\u00a0Millside Restaurant (Gracehill), K &amp; G McAtamney Butchers and Deli (Greenvale Street) and Go Sun Chinese Restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you to the Adair Arms Hotel \u2013 the hospitality as always was excellent.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-5529 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-2.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5531\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5531'>\n\t\t\t\tAnne Donaghy (Chief Exec Mid &#038; East Antrim Borough Council), Aidan Donnelly (Acting Director Economic Development &#038; Growth MEA District Council), Chamber President Alan Stewart, Audrey &#038; Chris Wales (both Chamber of Commerce) and Eugene McKeever (Adair Arms Hotel)\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-3.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-3-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5532\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5532'>\n\t\t\t\tChamber President Alan Stewart, Grace Carmichael (Ballymena BID) and Stephen Reid (Grafters Design Studio) with special guest Ballymena Bear\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-5.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-5-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5533\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5533'>\n\t\t\t\tAlan Stewart with Rebecca and Nigel Ferguson from Leaf Designs, Galgorm\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-7.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-7-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5534\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5534'>\n\t\t\t\tKaren Johnston, Alan Stewart, Johnnie McKillen and Jayne Caldwell from McKillens Footwear\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-8.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-8-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5535\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5535'>\n\t\t\t\tAlan Stewart presenting the trophy for the Outstanding Window to Emma, Philip and Robin McNeill from Designer Home Interiors, Broughshane\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-11.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-11-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5536\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5536'>\n\t\t\t\tAlan Stewart presents a cheque for \u00a34100 to Jean Boyce, Gerry McCann, Muriel Barr and Maureen Giles from the N I Hospice Ballymena Support Group\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-13.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Chamber-Christmas-presentations-13-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5537\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5537'>\n\t\t\t\tJacqui McNeill and Stephen Scullion (Ballymena Business Centre, Church Street) receive their trophy from Chamber President Alan Stewart\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/CMAS_SOCIAL_FEAT.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/CMAS_SOCIAL_FEAT-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5546\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5546'>\n\t\t\t\tAnne Donaghy (Chief Exec Mid &#038; East Antrim Borough Council), Aidan Donnelly (Acting Director Economic Development &#038; Growth MEA District Council), Chamber President Alan Stewart, Audrey &#038; Chris Wales (both Chamber of Commerce) and Eugene McKeever (Adair Arms Hotel)\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its annual Christmassocial\/networking event in the Adair Arms Hotel\u00a0on\u00a08th December. There was an excellent turnout\u00a0of\u00a0Chamber members and guests. This is always an informal evening and Alan Stewart, Chamber\u00a0President welcomed everyone.\u00a0He welcomed Grace Carmichael from Ballymena BID\u00a0and Stephen Reid fromGrafters Design Studio accompanied by a very special guest, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[36,48,21,12],"class_list":["post-5529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-events","tag-latest-news","tag-local-economy","tag-recent-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5529"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5529"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5550,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5529\/revisions\/5550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ballymenachamber.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}