TRANSITIONS AND NEW BEGINNINGS

For most of us July represents the transition from a winter focus to summer fun. It also creates opportunities for new beginnings. This month a new Falmouth Cumberland Community Chamber board begins leading us for 2010-2011.

Here are this year’s board members:

            Sheri Apprille                Foreside Estates

            Ann Armstrong             Gorham Savings Bank Falmouth

            Jim Barns                     Law Office of James B. Barns

            Sharon Bushey             Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine

            Jim Caldwell                 Expense Reduction Analysts

            Alyssa Daniels             Town of Cumberland

            Barbra Esposito            Bath Savings Institution – Falmouth

            Marie Flaherty               Prudential Northeast Properties

            Jay Kiel                        Gorham Savings Bank Falmouth

            Sandra Lipsey               Consulting & Coaching

            Shelly Paules                Optimus Group Solutions LLC

            Kevin Sackville              Family Ice Center

            Valerie Sowles              Morong Falmouth

            Bruce Wildes                 Acadia Business Advisors LLC

            Karen Wood                  The Forecaster

HOW CAN YOU BE MORE ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY CHAMBER?

We welcome your involvement. There are a number of exciting ways you can be engaged in your chamber, depending on your personal interests.

ATTEND MONTHLY EVENTS (except July and August: we are Mainers after all!)

PARTICIPATE ON A COMMITTEE

You can choose any of these committees, each of which would welcome your help.

            Events                                      Membership

            Communications                       Municipal Affairs

            Community Partnership             Professional Development

BUILD YOUR BRAND

There are 120 members in your community chamber, any of which represent new business for you, or word of mouth recommendations. Both are of real value to any of our businesses. You can enhance awareness of your brand by adding something to our Member Appreciation Day “Thank You” bag that we give to all of our members.

HOST A BUSINESS AFTER FIVE EVENT

Create a party for your fellow community chamber members, add some of your clients and invite key vendors who support your success and you are sure to benefit from the festivities. Plus its fun!

ATTEND CONNECT-LEARN-CONTRIBUTE

Extend your business skills while networking and getting educated about local issues that affect your business.

ADD VALUE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES

Your membership in the community chamber extends to your employees. Can’t attend an event yourself? Send any of your people to take advantage of business networking and extend your business brand.

OUR COMMITTEES AND WHAT THEY DO

The Events Committee presents exciting activities that support networking and build relationships between chamber members. For more information contact:

            Barbra Esposito            besposito@bathsavings.com

If you are interested in spreading the word about the Falmouth/Cumberland business community contact:

            Sandra Lipsey               Sandra@SandraLipsey.com

The Community Partnerships Committee attracts businesses who want to connect their business efforts with community needs. For more information contact:

            Jim Barns                     jbarns@barns-law.com

            Sheri Apprille                sapprille@princetonproperties.com 

The Membership Committee keeps members connected to each other and the chamber. Contact:

            Valerie Sowles             vsowles@morong.com

            Sharon Bushey            sbushey@maine.rr.us

The Municipal Affairs & Business Development Committee serves you by providing information and programs that inform you about local issues affecting your business.

For more information contact:

            Jay Kiel                        jkiel@gorhamsavingsbank.com

            Jim Barns                     jbarns@barns-law.com.

            Bruce Wildes                 bruce@acaduabiz.com

            Jim Caldwell                  jcaldwell@expensereduction.com          

The Profession Development Committee serves business owners and their employees by presenting programs designed to enhance business and professional skills. To join this committee contact:

            Shelly Paules                mpules@optimusgs.com

            Sheri Apprille                sapprille@princetonproperties.com .

            Alyssa Daniels             adaniels@cumberlandmaine.com

The Nominating Committee is always on the lookout for leaders who can help us with our work. For more information, contact:

            Karen Wood                krajotte@theforecaster.net

            Sharon Bushey            sbushey@maine.rr.com

News submissions

If your company or organization is located in the Falmouth/Cumberland Community Chamber region we would love to include news about you or information about your happenings. Send information to be included to: Sandra@SandraLipsey.com