Greetings!
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[I moved "In This Issue" to the sidebar. Let me know what you think.]
Neon signs,
sandwich board signs, temporary signs, blade and bracket signs, even streamlining--or not--the sign permit approval process and parking calculations are all
warrant articles for Town Meeting 2008 (see itemized list below). Any or all of these issues may have a direct impact
on your business, which is why the Arlington Redevelopment Board (ARB)
wants to hear from you.
The ARB is
holding a public hearing on Monday, March 17 at 7:00pm in the conference room
on the second floor of the Town Hall Annex. St. Patrick's Day comes every year and your chance to make a difference on any of
these issues comes but once.
At this
hearing, the ARB will listen to all opinions about these articles. Then
at Town Meeting, it will present its recommendations to TM members. This is
your chance to let them know how this will affect you. I have listed
the warrant articles below, with the gist of each. Accroding to Kevin O'Brien, ARB typically asks for a show of hands to see which one(s) have
the most representation in the audience and then deal with those first. I
invite you to save the date and invest the time if any of these issues is
important to you. I hope to see you there.
SIGNS
- Sign Permit
Approval (streamlining the process)
Chamber
Note: This would mean that you'd only have to go to one department for most
sign approvals.) - Neon Signs (allowing
them)
- Blade and
Bracket Sign (allowing them)
Chamber
Note: These are signs that hang perpendicular to the building. Here is
an example. - Temporary
Signs (controlling them)
- Sandwich
Board Signs (officially allowing them)
PARKING CALCULATIONS
- Seasonal
Outdoor Seating (exempting this from parking space calculation)
- Off-Site
Parking Spaces (discussion of allowing parking requirement to be met by lot
sharing)
OTHER
- Changing
Language Of Article 6, Section 6.13 And Article 7, Section 7.03
To see if
the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw in Article 6, Section 6.13 in the
first sentence by deleting the words "or R2" and inserting in place thereof the
words, "R2 or OS", and in Article 7, Section 7.03 by deleting the text in
subparagraph f and inserting in place thereof the word "(deleted)"; or take any
action related thereto. - Environmental
Design Review Standards
(adding new sustainable building standards and site design
techniques to review process)
Coyote Impressions let us know about a huge money saver when it comes to electric bills. Check it out in FYI below!
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Upcoming Events
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To pre-register for an event, you have several options:
- Visit the Chamber's secure website to register and pay online with Visa, MC and even AMEX!
- Complete the monthly event flyer sent to you by postal mail or
available on the website's events page and mail/fax it to the Chamber
with payment. (Check, Visa or MC)
- Stop by the Chamber Tuesdays-Fridays from 9:30-2:30 and pay in person. (Cash, check, Visa or MC)
Once the deadline for pre-registration for an event has passed, you'll be able to register at the door for an event.
BREAKFAST SEMINAR: Ready, Set,
Network! When: Thursday, March 6 
Sponsored by: ImprovAndy
Presented by: Andy Winig
Where: Robbins Library, 700 Mass. Ave.
Pre-registration fee:
$10/member; $20 visitor
FEE AFTER MARCH 4 / AT DOOR: $15/member, $25/visitor
Learn the
skills that will make you more effective at trade shows, business networking
events, and social gatherings. This session will keep you on your toes through
interactive exercises, puzzling twists, inspiring storytelling, and a surprise
musical ending. You will learn: 1) the most important skill for effective
networking, 2) an approach for making a great first impression and 3) a simple
exercise for practicing these skills every day
Andy is a leadership trainer, business owner, and keynote speaker, as well as a Chamber member and president of Arlington's Rotary Club. Using a
unique blend of corporate and acting experience, he draws on his 15 years of
experience building and managing teams as an entrepreneur, community leader,
and high tech manager. You will learn by doing in this interactive session. Register and pay for this event online.Download the flyer to register by mail or fax.
AFTER-HOURS EVENT: Watertown Savings Bank When: Monday, March 31
Hosted by: Watertown Savings Bank
Where: 980 Massachusetts Avenue
Pre-Registration Fee:
$10/member; $20 visitor
FEE AFTER MARCH 26 / AT DOOR: $15/member, $25/visitor Here is your chance to use your networking skills honed at recent Chamber events, eat and sip some fun food and beverages. You'll be able to participate in an ice-breaking exercise and be eligible to win door prizes from our host. Chamber members who attend this event will enjoy the Chamber Promo, an exclusive member benefit. On a rotating basis, their logos, taglines and URLs will appear on a giant screen-courtesy of The Computer Cafe.
Submission details
to be included in the Chamber Promo If you part of the January Chamber Promo, you are all set as long as you pre-register by March 26. For those new to this exclusive Chamber benefit,
it's easy!
Include in an email to mmeagher@arlcc.org using this
subject line:
[your company name] Info for
Chamber Promo - Company name
- Company website address
- Company tagline (not to exceed 15 words)
- Company logo in JPG format
Deadline to be included in the Chamber Promo: March 26!
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Welcome Our New Members
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Meet new Chamber members here first! As members join, we will provide you with their company name, a direct link to their website and contact information, too.
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Good News to Share About Chamber Members
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Has your business got good news to share-won an award, been reviewed, appeared in the media, added a
new employee, relocated? Then shoot an email to info@arlcc.org and we'll spread
the word in our weekly email. For your information to be included it must be in
the body of the email and not in an attached document or in the body of a
newsletter. - For the second year in a row, Edward Jones is the highest ranking
brokerage firm on Business Week magazine's second annual ranking of "Customer Service Champs" according to Chris Chen, the Edward Jones Financial Advisor in Arlington. Edward Jones ranked 8 among 25 international
companies according to the magazine's March 3 edition."
- When I received the February 2008 issue in my inbox, I was delighted to see that another "graduate" from the February Constant Contact Tutorial has entered the world of ezines. Pam Nourse of Germaine Lawrence. Even better, I learned something new that I have put into practice here. Pam included a "Forward to a Friend" button at the top AND then at the bottom. Thanks, Pam!
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| Chamber Connections |
The Chamber is where connections are made and business happens. If you have
connected with a Chamber member at a recent event, let me know and I will share
the good news here. And if you have kudos to share about another Chamber member, send that along too!
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| Chamber Member Events |
Are you having an open house, a benefit, a wine tasting? Then send me the info
in sentence form in the body of an email and I will mention
it and include a link to your website for folks to visit.
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Special Offers for Chamber Members
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Do you want to extend a special offer to your fellow Chamber members? Send it
along and we will include it.
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FYI: Members with Info to Share
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Would you
like to post a job? Are you moving? Has your business name changed? If you have
information you would like to share with your fellow members, send it along. For
your information to be included it must be in the body of the email and not in
an attached document or in the body of a newsletter. - How would you like to save a substantial amount of money on your electric bill every month? Then do what Coyote Impressions just did: participate in NSTAR's Small Business Solutions program. According to Carol Pollack, the program is designed to help small
businesses incorporate energy efficient lighting fixtures & other energy
saving strategies. Energy audits are performed free of charge to find energy
saving strategies. Financial contributions can cover up to 70% of the projects
costs & paid directly to vendor by NSTAR. Payback is pretty fast - energy
savings typically pay for themselves in less than one year. She calculates that the store's R.O.I. is 6
months. There is an interest free financing option for 12 months. "Saving money and helping to conserve energy - it doesn't get better than that! Contact for
us was William Frary, 617-371-4443."
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Critical Knowledge: Tips from Chamber Members
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Do you have critical knowledge that you would like to share with fellow Chamber members. Then include it in the body of an email and send it to the Chamber.
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| SCORE-Appointments for March and April |
SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business is a
nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneurial education and the formation,
growth and success of small businesses nationwide. SCORE's national network of
retired and working volunteers are experienced entrepreneurs and corporate
managers/executives. These volunteers provide free business counseling and
advice as a public service to all types of businesses, in all stages of
development. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. A SCORE counselor comes to the Arlington Chamber's office twice every
month to meet with Chamber members for free confidential one-hour consultations.
Once the counselor has met with you, meetings can occur more often at your and
SCORE's mutual convenience. Call the Chamber at 781.643.4600 to make an appointment. Both
members and non-members can take advantage of this opportunity; however, Chamber
members get first preference for appointments. March
- Judy Wessels, Tuesday, March 20: 10:00, 11:00 and 1:00
April- Marty Kress, Wednesday, April 2: 10:00, 11:00, and 1:00
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Sincerely,
Michèle M. Meagher
Arlington Chamber of Commerce
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From Michèle
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Let's tip it!
It's not often that towns give money to businesses. Some folks, maybe
even you, would say it nearly never ever happens. Well, I am here to say you
are wrong. Yes, you are wrong. That's exactly what Arlington Redevelopment
Board is doing in March. Giving away $10,000 in free architectural services to
up to 10 Arlington
businesses to improve their storefronts. That's not all.
It's not often that banks make it easy as 1-2-3 for small business owners
to borrow money at rates so low. Some folks, maybe even you, would say it nearly
never ever happens. Well, I am here to say you are wrong. Yes, you are wrong.
That's exactly what Leader Bank, Cambridge Savings Bank and Watertown Savings
Bank are offering in three exciting ongoing programs designed exclusively for Arlington business owners.
Even better, the loans are not restricted to outside improvements. Want the
skinny?
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