Chamber E-Connection

TRIPLE PLAY” Membership Offer in Full Swing for the Spring

Last spring, three local Chambers, the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce and Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce, created a partnership initiating a new member drive to strengthen and impact their combined membership of 2,100 business members.

The “Triple Play” program allows businesses to triple their exposure, marketing and training opportunities, while growing their customer base. The new venture was part of an economic development strategy to provide more impact for businesses through local Chamber membership.

Local businesses joining under the “Triple Play” umbrella will get exposure from Wareham to Hyannis, with brochures in six Information Centers located in Hyannis, Falmouth, Sagamore, Sandwich, Buzzards Bay and Wareham. In aggregate, those locations attract and provide referrals to over 200,000 visitors annually. Moreover, each member will obtain listings in three Annual Guidebooks and Member Directories for a combined distribution of 310,000 copies, visibility via links on three highly visited websites with more than 922,000 combined unique visits per year, and year-round business referrals from the trained staff of three Chamber offices and visitor centers.

For more information on the “Triple Play” membership, please contact either Jennifer Perrault-Minshall or Michelle Galasso at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce at 508-548-8500.

*A new member joining under the “Triple Play” promotion must make individual payments to each of the three Chambers. New members who have no current affiliation with any of the Chambers will receive 33% off of each of the Chamber membership fees. A member belonging to one or two of the “Triple Play” Chambers will receive 25% off of the additional membership fee of the Chambers they join.

MEMBER HAPPENINGS

The Community Bank’s Women’s Business Exchange is hosting a seminar entitled, “Negotiation Skills: To Win & Cope with Emotions” on Thursday, March 27th , registration at 8:30am at the Cape Codder Resort, Hyannis, MA. Beverly Ryle, Director of The Center for Career and Business Development, is guest speaker. The event features a light breakfast and an opportunity for networking. Registration will be online only. Visit www.communitybank.com to register by 3/20, seating is limited to 60 guests. This series of seminars is focused on connecting women business owners with the experts and resources to grow their business.

Friday, April 4th, Saint Margaret’s Regional School in Buzzards Bay will hold its 7th Annual Auction Fundraiser, at the Brookside Club in Bourne. 508-759-2213

Sunday, April 6th, Open House for prospective families at The Bridgeview Montessori School, 2 – 4 PM. More info 508-888-3567 or visit www.bridgeviewschool.com

Saturday, April 12th, is Healthy Kids Day at Gleason Family YMCA, Wareham. Demonstrations, free classes and children’s activities are scheduled from Noon until 3 p.m. Call 508-295-9622 for more info.

The South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation and Sovereign Bank will hold two business workshops in Plymouth aimed at assisting potential and existing entrepreneurs. The free workshops are being held in cooperation with the MA Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce and SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business).
Both workshops will be held at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South Street, Plymouth, MA on Thursday, April 17, 2008. The first workshop entitled “Learn the Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing For, and Financing Your Business” will be held 9 a.m. to Noon. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge to attendees. This workshop is geared toward helping potential entrepreneurs evaluate and understand the fundamentals of owning one’s own business. Information on how to get started, where and how to get financing and the loan application process will be presented. Attendees will also be provided with a free guide to writing a business plan and other materials.

The second workshop entitled “Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business” will be from 1 to 4 p.m. The focus of this workshop is to help attendees understand a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The workshop also explains how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficiently. Call Tamarah Barao at SEED Corporation at 508-822-1020, to register for either or both sessions by Friday, April 11th and for directions to the Plymouth Public Library.

Cape Cod Children’s Museum, 577 Great Neck Road, Mashpee has a full array of programs scheduled for school vacation week, April 21 through 27th. Visit www.capecodchildrensmuseum.org or call 508-539-8788 for more information.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

Congratulations to James McLoughlin who was recently selected as the National Naval Sea Cadet Corps Officer of the Year for 2008.
The Award will be presented at the U.S. Navy League (NLUS) National Convention in Kansas City.

The Casual Gourmet, a full-service catering company was recently awarded Signature Caterer – Best Wedding by the International Caterers Association. Winners of these prestigious “Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence” (CATIE) awards were announced at the ICA annual gala February 27th in Las Vegas. Congratulations to Olive and her entire staff!