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BMBA party aids businesses, spreads cheer

By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent

The annual company holiday party has become an event many employees anticipate, but with a recovering economy, some small businesses have cut holiday celebrations from their budgets.

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Discussing plans for a holiday party to be held Dec. 12 at “The Cottage” are, from left, Sonia Seman, Chris Tweedy, director of development for the Lands at Hillside Farms; and Chip Morgan. Only recently made available for private events, the ancestral turn-of-the century estate home of the Conyngham family will be the site for the Back Mountain Business Association’s annual holiday party.

CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST

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IF YOU GO

What: Holiday party for small businesses

Time: 6 to 11 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Dec. 12

Place: The Cottage at the Lands of Hillside Farms, 65 Hillside Rd., Shavertown.

Admission fee: $42 per person. Reservations required.

RSVP: 675-9380.

Menu: Catered by Appletree Terrace

The Back Mountain Business Association (BMBA) and The Lands at Hillside Farms have joined forces to spread holiday cheer by hosting a Holiday Party for Small Businesses.

“We wanted to give small business owners a chance to invite some employees or entertain a client for the evening,” said Chip Morgan, BMBA member and co-chair of the event.

The Holiday Party will occur from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Cottage at The Lands of Hillside Farms. An admission fee of $42 per person covers the cost of catered food from Appletree Terrace and other expenses.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 675-9380. For more information on the menu, visit the BMBA’s website at www.bmbaonline.com.

This is the first year the BMBA is holding the event with support from The Lands at Hillside Farms and representatives from both organizations would like to see the event blossom into a yearly affair.

Morgan said the historic cottage can accommodate 50 to 75 guests who will not only be treated to many of the cottage’s charm, but will also be able to dine on the original 1881 mahogany table.

Sonia Seman, BMBA treasurer and event co-chair, said The Lands at Hillside Farms is donating the use of the cottage on the hill at no charge. Chris Tweedy, director of development with the Lands at Hillside Farms, added a shuttle bus will be available to take party-goers from the parking lots at the dairy store up to the cottage.

“We have a 15-person shuttle bus we will be using,” he said.

The marriage between the two organizations was a natural fit. Tweedy said the goal for The Lands at Hillside Farms is to promote community and support local businesses. Seman and Morgan said the BMBA wanted to do a holiday community event that would allow people to network while enjoying holiday cheer.

“Successful business communities do not happen by accident, but are a result of shared ideas, active cooperation and a collective vision,” Seman said.

Morgan said the business casual event will offer an opportunity for business people to network.

“We will have a business networking table,” he said. “People can drop off their business cards or pamphlets.”

While mingling, attendees will be entertained by a baby grand player piano and will have an opportunity to admire the Victorian holiday decorations while exploring the first and second floors of the historic cottage.

Morgan smiled when he reported that this will be only the second time a holiday celebration has ever been held in the house.

“There was only one other Christmas celebration held here and that was about 125 years ago,” he said.