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Member Spotlight: Educate Malawi 

Educate Malawi, Inc. is a charitable organization started in 2008 by Karen Hardy of West Springfield and her family. The goal of the charity is to support the children of Malawi, Africa by building a classroom block, sponsoring a pen pal program, and offering educational scholarships to women who want to become teachers.

Karen's  daughter Shannon Massey first went to Malawi in 2005. Then, two years later Karen accompanied Shannon back there. "I just couldn't let it go; I didn't feel like I had accomplished what I wanted to over there," said Karen, who is a professional counselor and hails from a family with a long history of volunteerism. After her trip, Karen decided to start Educate Malawi, which was incorporated just five months later. In 2009, Karen returned to Malawi with her husband Stephen to start work on the new classroom block. 

Educate Malawi just awarded their first 2 scholarships to women selected from 14 who applied. Educate Malawi's fundraising goal for building the school is $10,000, and their hope is to complete the school before Malawi's rainy season in November. Many different fundraising events are planned for 2011; the largest is Karen's 8-day, 500-mile bike ride through 5 New England states, which will begin on September 1.

Karen joined the Chamber in 2010, and has appreciated the support and networking opportunities she has found in the greater Easthampton area. "I am grateful and proud to be a member of the [Chamber] and look forward to more positive experiences during our membership."

Educate Malawi offers many opportunities for Chamber member sponsorships. Details of events, and the ability to make online donations, can be found on their website at www.educate-malawi.org .

The Daily Hampshire Gazette hired Fred Benson in January as its new Director of Advertising, replacing 37-year veteran Mark Iacuessa, who retired in October. Fred oversees a staff of 10 salespeople and a graphics and support team.

Fred recently worked in Fayetteville, NC as sales and marketing director for Fayetteville Publishing, handling four major publications and the company's websites. He looks forward to being involved with local business organizations such as the Chamber, as well as being part of civic and community-based groups, as he was in Fayetteville.

He's started talking to small business owners and finding out what things haven't been done in the past that can help them.  For example, he's looking at how small businesses do and don't budget for the marketing of their companies, and thinking of ways to help them learn to maximize their marketing efforts. "If I can bring them information they don't already have from other sources, and if that contributes to their eventual success, then I have accomplished something significant and I know they'll come back to me in the future."

Fred has spent his time meeting with current clients and marketing partners, such as the local TV and radio stations, to see where media complement each other. "If we aren't integrated into the local community, we can't serve them effectively."

Member News: New ECA+ Promotes the Arts

Easthampton City Arts, Art Walk and the Easthampton Cultural Council merged in January to create ECA+, an effort that has been in the planning stages for the past year. The new group is a city committee which coordinates the three arts groups, allowing them to pool their resources and promote better communication of their efforts.

The appointments of the new board members of ECA+ are pending approval by the mayor and the City Council. The City Clerk's office will receive the agendas and the minutes of each meeting.

ECA+ also was awarded a $27,000 Adams Grant from the MA Cultural Council, which will be matched by ECA+ and will help to operate the new organization. The new organization will work to continue attracting artists to the city of Easthampton, benefitting local businesses through increased foot traffic and artists' use of local resources.

Briana Taylor, ECA Coordinator, said that the group needs volunteers to help them raise funds and to plan and carry out events for 2011.  Volunteers do not have to be artists themselves; ECA+ is looking for skills such as grant-writing, fundraising, web design, and general administration. Applicants for volunteer positions can obtain an application form on the www.easthampton.org website  or at info@easthamptoncityarts.com.