Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Chronicle Online

Dear Members:

Welcome back to reality! As quickly as it began, summer has ended and we are all getting back to good old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work.
To help our members "get their heads back in the game" so to speak, the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce is leaping into September with numerous events and new initiatives to inform and involve our membership! For example, Social Media is all the rage now, but do you know how to use it effectively to drive sales? Our breakfast event scheduled for September 14th will show you how.
We are also pleased to bring you the "Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business Academy" (VCCBA) this month, featuring two types of Business programs designed to improve your company's success. First up is our "Peer Mentoring" program, starting September 15th, where participants will learn from other business leaders in a safe, confidential environment.
Perhaps you would like to send your staff to a basic learning session. Our "Peer Learning" program begins on September 16th and will run every month. The first session will focus on important sales basics that will be valuable no matter what business you are in.
We are also pleased to be launching a new partnership with PowerStream! PowerStream will be offering a series of three no-cost seminars at the Vaughan Chamber office, all about conserving energy and saving money for your business. The first in this series will be held on September 21st. Scroll further down this newsletter for information and registration details for all these events.
And finally, the Vaughan Chamber is excited and proud to be able to bring you a Mayoral Debate on September 29th at La Primavera Hospitality and Convention Centre from 7:00 until 9:00 pm! As of September 8th, there are seven candidates vying for the position of Mayor in Vaughan. Given that we have quite a few candidates for the 2010 Municipal election it would not be feasible to invite all candidates and be able to conduct a productive debate within a two-hour time frame. With this in mind, the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce carefully obtained and reviewed biographical information on each of the candidates. The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce's selection of debate candidates was determined by the interests of the business community. At this point, three candidates have been invited to participate in this debate, and two, Maurizio Bevilacqua and Mario Racco, have confirmed their attendance. Everyone is invited to attend this no-cost event, which will provide the opportunity for the leading candidates to respond to questions and issues identified by Chamber members as the most important for the business community in Vaughan. These will be put to the candidates by a panel from the Vaughan Chamber in a formal debate setting. The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce extends a sincere "Good Luck" to all mayoral candidates.
September is here, and the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce is ready to go with many activities and new initiatives to help you and your business achieve your goals. Make sure that you and your staff take advantage of these opportunities and join your fellow businesses in supporting the Vaughan Chamber in its ongoing role as the voice of your business community.

Sincerely,

Michael Manett
Chairman of the Board of Directors