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The Mission of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce is to serve, represent and be the leading advocate for the business interests of its membership in ways that enhance the environment of the business community and quality of life and well being of residents and visitors. |
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Greetings:
Well, it's been a month since I took over as Executive Director of the Chamber ...and it's been a good month. The learning curve is there, but thanks to our former Director, Cindy Genther who has been a marvelous mentor, the Board of Directors, Ken Collins, Doug Camp and Diane Brandt who have been there to encourage and support, and all of the other Board Members and Chamber Members who have been so
welcoming and helpful every step of the way, it has been a relatively smooth transition. Thanks to all of you!
A major portion of my time over the past month has been spent familiarizing myself with systems and organizations. I hope to have more time in the months to come to get out and meet our members face-to-face and find out what your concerns are and how the Chamber can help you resolve any issues you may have and help you reach your goals.
On the progress side, the 2010-2011 Chamber of Commerce Business Directory has been sent to the printer and we hope to have a proof sometime next week with the final printed copies by mid-month. I will let you know as soon as they arrive.
With so many folks on vacation, July is a relatively quiet month for Chamber activities. We do however, have two Ribbon Cuttings, one on July 9 at 5:00 PM for Community Mediation Upper Shore at their new location at 100 N. Cross Street and a second one for Molly's Mart (Chesapeake Diesel's new convenience store) on July 14 at 10:00 AM, at the corner of Routes 213 & 298. Please come out and show your support for our local businesses.
Additionally, the Chamber Booth will be at the Kent County Fair on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 15 - 17. We do need members to man the booth for two-hour time periods. You can find the time slots needed in the Upcoming Chamber Events section of this Newsletter. If you can't volunteer, come on out to the Fair anyway. It is always a wonderful event!
And last, but not least, don't forget the S.C.O.R.E. Workshop on Social Networking to be held at the Chamber Office on Thursday, July 15 at 8:30 A.M. See further details later in this Newsletter.
Wishing all of you and your families a safe and happy 4th of July!
LorettaLoretta M. LodgeExecutive Director |
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Congratulations to Susan Price
Winner of the Chamber's 2010 Scholarship
Susan worked at these Chamber businesses during High School: Chesapeake Physical Therapy, Haven Harbour Marina, Pride & Joy Childrens' Apparel, and the Fish Whistle Restaurant. Susan plans to major in Nursing at Stevenson University beginning this Fall. Again, congratulations Susan and best of luck as you begin your college career!
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| Member News Bytes
Chesapeake Bank & Trust has been ranked among the best community banks in the country for a second consecutive year. An article titled "The New Benchmark" in the June 2010 issue of U.S. Banker Magazine listed Chesapeake Bank & Trust number thirteen of the nation's community banks. The article focused on banks with less than $2 billion in assets, and cited such indicators as assets, return on equity, market value, and efficiency ratio.
Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area recently recognized 16 individuals and organizations for their distinguished contribution to the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area at its 5th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Presentation at Historic Christ Church in Stevensville, MD. The event, hosted by Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc. (ESHI) and chaired by Clayton Washington, celebrated the first five years since the heritage area's certification by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority in 2005.
Among the honorees were R. Flanigan "Polly" Shannahan (posthumously) for her achievements in and outstanding contribution to heritage preservation in Talbot County, Virginia Sharp and Mary West (Caroline Co.), William Pickrum (Kent Co.), Madelyn Hollis and Capt. Eldridge Meredith (Queen Annes' Co.), Walter Black, Capt. Warren Butler and Kathleen Francis (Talbot Co.) for sharing memories and traditions of the Eastern Shore through ESHI's African-American Heritage Oral History Project.
Also recognized were Vicco von Voss for his skills in preserving the traditional craft of woodworking, Michael McCrea for his leadership in the restoration of the Linchester Mill, Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin for initiating and providing research for a website commemorating the War of 1812 on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Salon is collecting their hair clippings and your stockings for boom construction for oil spill containment along the Gulf Coast. Bring in your old nylons and Salon will get them there. They have also announced the Business to Business Bonus! $10 off haircuts for local business people through 2010. Bring your business card to qualify and check out their new website: www.salonatchestertown.com And don't forget, every Friday is Ladies Day at Salon. A makeup application and blow-dry style for only $50!
Ask them about their contribution to cancer research.
Maryland's Hiring Incentive Rebate for Employers (HIRE) is a tax credit program for businesses that provides $5,000 for each employee hired off unemployment rolls in 2010. Get more info at www.dllr.state.md.us
Local Management Board is seeking free office space for 4, plus small conference room and bathroom. Starting Sept 2010-July 2011. Contact Candy Edwards at 410-810-2673.
S.C.O.R.E. (Senior Core of Retired Executives) invites retired executives to become counselors for new and existing local businesses. Contact Bart Stolp at S.C.O.R.E. to get more information: bartstolp@gmail.com
Do you have news you'd like to share with Chamber members? Send it to us and we'll include it in our next issue.
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Focus on New Members
Welcome New Member Pick n' Paint Pottery
Pick n' Paint Pottery
Rita Ritter & Mary Kay Foley
109 E. Water StreetCentreville, MD 21617Phone: 410/758-8494
Pick n' Paint Pottery is a paint-your-own-pottery studio and has been in business since 2004. They offer an array of programs including summer and winter camps, after school programs, birthday parties for the young and old, wedding showers, team building, ladies night out, specialty workshops, and much more. Additionally, they offer pottery-to-go, which provides for activities outside of the studio, enabling customers to take pottery and paints with them for the home-bound, slumber parties, family reunions, etc.
Pick n' Paint Pottery offers a variety of ways
to spend quality family time together as well as creating a
one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone.
Pick n' Paint Pottery is open Tuesday through Sunday. Check out their website for hours and additional information.
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings!
July
9 at 5:00 P.M.
Community Mediation Upper Shore, Inc.
100 N. Cross Street, Chestertown
July 14 at 10:00 AM
Molly's Mart
Corner of Routes. 213 & 298
Congratulations Kent County Community Center, Simply Bed & Bread, Lab Corp and Primitive Finds
on your recent Ribbon Cuttings!
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Chamber News & Events Calendar
Negative Impact of Consolidation - Easton Mail Processing
Dee Collins, Vice President of the American Postal Workers Union (AMP) is compiling a report on the
negative impact to Eastern Shore Businesses that may result from the consolidation of the Easton Mail Processing Facility. She will be sending this report to the review chain for the
AMP study
for Easton Mail Processing.
Ms. Collins has requested input from local businesses to be included as part of this report, if you feel that your business will suffer
from this proposed move.
Any comments or concerns should be mailed to Dee Collins at P.O. Box 856, Easton, MD 21601.Grant Funding OpportunityThe Local Management
Board for Children's & Family Services of Kent County is pleased to announce
the creation of a funding opportunity up to $75,000 to support the development of
evidence-based programming in Kent County. The guidelines for this Evidence-Based
Program Development Grant are
posted on the LMB website in the LMB News section at www.kentcountylmb.com For further information, please contact Rebecca C.
Lepter, Program Monitor, Local Management Board for
Children's & Family Services of Kent
County at 410/810-2673
UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS
July 8, 12:00 P.M.
Kent County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting
at the Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown. The meeting is open to all members. Please contact Loretta in advance if you plan on attending.
July 9,5:00 P.M.
Ribbon Cutting for Community Mediation Upper Shore, Inc.
at their new location at 100 N. Cross Street at the corner of Cross & Park Row, Chestertown
July 14, 10:00 A.M
Ribbon
Cutting for Molly's Mart
at the corner of Routes. 213 & 298,
Kennedyville
July 15 - 17 - The Chamber Booth will be at the Kent County Fair!Stop by and see us!
Remember! If you have any literature you would like distributed from the Booth, please let Loretta know by no later than Monday, July 12.
Also! We are looking for Chamber member volunteers to man the booth for two-hour stints during the following times:- Thursday, July 15, Noon - 5:00 P.M.
- Friday, July 16, Noon - 5:00 P.M.
- Saturday, July 17, 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Please contact Loretta at 410/810-2968 or kentchamber@verizon.net to sign up!
NOTICE
The AG Mixer, originally scheduled for November 5, has
been rescheduled for September 16. It will still be hosted by Crow
FarmStay. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
This
leaves us with an opening for a host for the November Mixer. Our
mixers draw more than 50 people to your
business location. Call Loretta if you're interested in hosting a mixer.
RSVP for any of these events to Loretta at 410-810-2968 or
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Member Events
July 2 - The Prince Theatre presents RED, BLONDE & BLUES
Two
distinct songwriters (RED from NYC & BLONDE from South Carolina) bring their
SOULFULL collection of songs together for a compelling evening
of POP, SOUL and BLUES music.
The artists combine their own material with that of musicians that have
influenced them: Aretha, Stevie, Ida, Bonnie, Otis & more!Learn
more at www.kirstenthien.com (RED) and www.brittneal.com (BLONDE)
July 7 - Mindfulness Meditation
Class
Sponsored by Chester River Health System
5:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.
Fee per session: $10
Classes will meet
monthly in the Health Education
Center at Memorial Hospital, 219 S. Washington Street, Easton. For more
information , call the Center for Integrative
Medicine at 410-770-9400
July
15, - SCORE Workshop - Social Networking
8:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.
This
workshop features discussions with local businesswomen Robin Kurowski
and Trena Williamson. Robin developed and maintains a highly successful
social network for Gratitude Yachting Center in Rock Hall. Trena is an
associate with Mullin Ashley Associates in Chestertown. Mullin Ashley
advises many regional businesses on marketing communications and how to
use the internet as a personal, inexpensive and interactive
communications channel with social networking technology. Don't miss
this opportunity!
RSVP to Loretta for this Workshop at 410/810-2968 or kentchamber@verizon.net
August 14 - Sixth Annual "Ride To See"
Bicycle Tour of Kent County, MD- Sponsored by Galena Lions Charities, proceeds fraom this ride will be used to proudly sponsor the Galena Lions' sight-oriented foundations, scholarship fund and community organizations.
- Any financial support you may wish to contribute will be gratefully accepted. Donations of $100 or more will sponsor a route and have your name and/or business displayed on a route sign along one of the four routes.
Your gift is tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law as goods and
services were
not offered in exchange.
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