I attended the American Chamber of Commerce's Annual Convention in early August in which over 750 chamber executives from around the world attended. With that many attendees, needless to say, it was a little over whelming but I was able to find our Massachusetts chambers on Thursday at lunch!

The keynote speaker David Novak, Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc. was very motivating and an energetic speaker. The two other plenary session speakers were Katty Kay, BBC Correspondent and Rana Foroohar, Time Magazine Assistant Managing Editor in charge of economics and business. Both women were quite dynamic in their presentations.

Of the 30 available workshops I was able to attend four:

• Circle of Champions - Turning your Pipeline into Revenue
• Are They Buying What You're Selling
• Sponsor Fulfillment
• Recruit, Retain & Motivate your Leaders and Volunteers

Of course at any convention, what we learn is not always in the workshops but from networking. The camaraderie was amazing and everyone was so open about sharing information.  While it was evident that all Chambers are experiencing economic challenges presented in our respective communities, it was also very evident how we are just as excited and energized in overcoming these economic barriers.

Exciting changes will be coming in FY2013 to make our Chamber even stronger. There will be new programs and more opportunities for member feedback that will bring added value to all our members. Remember - stay connected by supporting your local chamber!

Sincerely,

Kate Phelon

Executive Director

Downtown Comes to Campus

Westfield State University

Tim & Jeanne's Dining Commons

577 Western Avenue

Westfield, MA 01085

18 Businesses Come to Westfield State University!  The event will run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.  This is a collaborative program with the Chamber, the WBID and Westfield State University.

September Chamber Breakfast

Rake in the Business 2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Castle of the Knights

1599 Memorial Drive

Chicopee, MA  01020

The Greater Westfield, Chicopee, Holyoke and Affiliated Chambers of Commerce invite you to be a part of the 15th Annual Table Top Showcase.

Sponsorships:

Platinum           $1000.00

Gold                    $  750.00

Silver                   $  500.00

Exhibitor Tables are $100.00 (includes 2 exhibitor passes and 6 comp passes). Admission is $5.00 for anyone who pre-registers and $10.00 at the door. Your ticket enters you in a drawing for a Kindle Touch with leather case.

Please contact Pam Bussell for tickets or for more information at 568.1618 or info@westfieldbiz.org.

Notes from the Mayor's March Coffee Hour

CITY OF WESTFIELD INFO BITES

Profile and advertise

Your company here for $75.00!

Catalyst Stage is a new theater ensemble that is performing on lawns and stages throughout Western Massachusetts this summer, including at the Westfield Athenaeum. Catalyst Stage will create an evening of classical one-acts when it performs Moliere's 'A School for Husbands' and 'A School for Wives' in the Florence Rand Lang Auditorium at the Athenaeum on Wednesday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m.

These one-act plays by Moliere have taught past audiences important lessons about gender roles. They are sure to teach us about ourselves - including our own foibles and shortcomings - while we laugh at the excruciating circumstances of each character. Summer theater at its comical best!

The performance is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information about Catalyst Stage's upcoming performances of 'A School for Husbands' and 'A School for Wives' at the Athenaeum, please call the Athenaeum at 413-562-0716 or visit www.westath.org.

Governor's Center

Monark Complementary Health, LLC is featuring Monica Gagnon, R.N. C.C.A.P. who will speak on "Aromatherapy."  What is it? Why use it?  Come hear the benefits of these essential oils. This interactive presentation will activate your senses and jar your memories. Kindly RSVP to Stacy Kenworthy at 413.896.8745. 

Stanley Park

Have you or any member of your family ever worked for Stanley Home Products in Westfield or Easthampton, MA?  Do you know someone who was or is now involved with Stanley Home Products, perhaps as an area sales associate or vendor?

Everyone is invited to the reunion picnic-retirees, their spouses and children, extended family members, former associates-anyone with ties to Stanley Home Products. Memorabilia is requested...pictures, stories, and special moments. A slide show of past memories will be of the days' activities. Westfield, Easthampton and field sales associates from throughout the region are urged to call the Stanley Park Development office at 413.572.2900 for more information.

The Carson Center of Human Services

The Carson Center of Human Services invites you to attend their Open House at 91 Elm Street to see their new Residential Program.  Meet the Staff; Tours; Brief Remarks; Refreshments.  For more information call 572.4108 ext. 149.

YMCA of Greater Westfield

You are cordially invited to attend the YMCA of Greater Westfield's Awards Dinner, featuring the presentation of the YMCA Spirit Award, Program Volunteer of the Year, Youth of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. Please RSVP by Sept. 7 to Sandy Kenyon -  skenyon@westfieldymca.org or Ext. 324.

The Arbors at Westfield

Arbors Gives Back, the nonprofit arm of The Arbors at Westfield, your local assisted living community, is hosting our first Pink & Denim Dinner Dance, a casual fundraising event, on September 14th, 2012 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield. We were inspired to raise awareness & funds by the courage of our fellow Arbors employees who are battling Breast Cancer, our treasured Arbors' residents who have survived Breast Cancer and the women in all of our lives who did not.  Arbors Gives Back is a philanthropic organization dedicated to raising funds to serve the needs of the local community.  All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Baystate Health Foundation through Rays of Hope.

Along with ticket sales to the dance, our hope is to raise funds through a prize drawing that evening.  We are currently soliciting donations from our valued partners and Westfield neighbors.  In our fight against Breast Cancer, no gift is too small. Your donation entitles you to have your business's name listed in the program, displayed on a poster at the dance and announced during dinner.   

All donations to Arbors Gives Back are tax deductible.  Our Tax ID # is 30-0609241. Please contact Nicole at The Arbors at Westfield, (413) 562-0001 or  nsweeney@arborsassistedliving.com, with any questions to purchase tickets to the event or to arrange pick-up of your gift.

YMCA of Greater Westfield

Activities and Events:

Bounce House 11-2

Westfield Police Department Finger Printing ID for children 11AM-2PM

Westfield Fire Department 12PM-2PM

Eliebow the Clown

Musical Chairs & Games

Noble Hospital Skin Analysis & Wellness Information

Family Zumba 1:00PM

Poi 12:00PM

Make a fall bird feeder

Healthy Family info Table

Cool Smiles Healthy Dental Hygiene

Popcorn

Face Painting

Raffles

Don't miss the Schmonsters!!

YMCA Golf Ball Drop - You could win up to $1750!

Drop times are as follows: 
12:30 pm -$250; 1:00 pm-$500; 1:45 pm- $1,000

You can purchase tickets at the event or at the YMCA Reception Desk. All proceeds from this event go towards the annual Partners With Youth Campaign, which provides financial assistance to children, adults, families and teens who cannot afford the cost of programs offered by the Y.

For more information, please contact Bruce Loubert at bloubert@westfieldymca.org.

Five Star Building

All proceeds from this tournament go directly to Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. Please contact Dave Felty or Noelle at Five Star Building Corp for more information at 413.587.4060. 

Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services, Inc.

Please contact Jennifer Gruszka at 413.562.7049 or at jgruszka@noblehealth.org for more information.

Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center  

(To see a full listing of events please click the link  http://www.genesiscenter.us/)  

This annual event is held to support Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center and a local non-profit. This year the event will benefit the Westfield YMCA.

Amongst the treats that attendees will be tasting are fine wines from the Westfield Spirit Shop and Chocolates by Chocolate Works, East Longmeadow. In addition, beer will be provided by Westfield River Brewing and food by several different restaurants and caterers from the area.  An extensive auction and raffle will be held also.

The major sponsor of the event is Westfield Bank. Tickets are $30 per person which includes the tastings and food. They can be purchased at Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center, Inc. at 53 Mill Street, Westfield, MA, phone 562-3627 or the YMCA of Greater Westfield, phone 568-8631. Space is limited, so please reserve tickets early.  Sponsorship and donation opportunities are still available.

For more information, please call Genesis at 562-3627 or email Suzanne@genesiscenter.us.

Stanley Park

"Nature Reclaims History" - Arthur O'Leary

Take a walk back in time using an 1850 map to locate and identify man-made structures and learn the rich history of industry, home life and the stories behind the names. Travel old roads, trails and bushwhack in the Wildlife Sanctuary. This little known portion of Stanley Park contains the remnants of a canal, dams, mill foundations, an old channel of the Little River and footbridge abutments. Nature steadily reclaims these sites with successional growth, deposition, and weathering. Locate these disappearing sites in the remote reaches of the Wildlife Sanctuary, learn about John Munn's "Newfoundland", the Ruinsville Mill, Cotton Cooley's boarding houses, Cyrus W. Field, Jebediah Clapp, traumatic amputations at the Saw Mill of Lucas Cowles and other tales and verbal histories. Wear appropriate hiking attire and sturdy boots; bring water, camera and

Noble & Cooley Center for Historic Preservation

The Museum will be hosting a monthly free movie night. Bring your family and friends for an interesting mix of short films that show "how they made that". Rope manufacturing, a visit to the Boston Navy Yard forge shop and making bobbins, textiles and slates at Industrial Revolution sites in England are all scheduled for the first film night. The movies performances at 7:00 on the fourth Wednesday of the month are free, however donations are gratefully accepted. 

WOW (Westfield On Weekends)

Please click the link for a complete listing of events.  
http://westfieldonweekends.com/

CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

Noble Hospital Receives Check from Westfield Bank 

for the 48th Noble Ball 

From Left to Right:  Ronald Bryant, President & CEO of Noble Hospital;  Kevin Queenin, Board of Trustees, Noble Hospital;  Catherine Jocelyn, Assistant Vice President/Marketing Manager;  Dr. Stanley Strzempko, Vice President of Medical Affairs;  Allison Gearing-Kalill, Vice President of Community Development;  Kevin O'Connor, Vice President of Retail Banking and Marketing, Westfield Bank;  Stacy Waite, Branch Manager, Westfield Bank;  Dr. Jacques Blanchet, Emergency Department, Noble Hospital.

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce eNewsletter