Chamber Logo 2010

Kent County Chamber of Commerce

122 North Cross Street

Chestertown, MD  21620
P. O. Box 146
410.810.2968 Tel  |  410.778.1406 Fax
[email protected]
www.kentchamber.org

 CHAMBER NEWS

APRIL 2011  

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.

In This Issue
Welcome New Members
Chamber Member News & Events
Chamber Events & Information
News Bytes
Our Sponsors
Quick Links

 

From the Executive Director

 

 

Dear Chamber Members,

 

Spring has finally arrived (almost!) and the strong winds can testify to that fact. Spring Breakers and Winter Kent Countians are on their way home.  Folks are slowly coming out of their winter hibernation and businesses are gearing up for the Easter season and all this new season brings with it. 

 

The Chamber office is busy preparing for the Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast and the New Members Breakfast this month, as well as the upcoming 2011-2012 Chamber Directory. We encourage all of our members to complete the Member Data Request form that was sent to each member.  We want to make sure that we have accurate information for all of our members, to be printed in the Directory.  This completed form is essential to that end.  If you have not submitted your information, please do so soon.  

 

We will also soon begin advertising sales for our 2011-2012 Chamber Directory, which has proven to be a very popular resource publication for visitors to our County.  We hope you will continue to support this project.

 

As always, we encourage you to contact our office with any suggestions or questions you might have about the services we provide to our membership. We look forward to hearing from you!


 

Loretta

Loretta M. Lodge
Executive Director 

  

 Welcome New Chamber Members 

 

The following businesses have recently made an important investment in their future and a significant commitment to the Community by joining the

Kent County Chamber of Commerce.  

 

 

Bay Tech Team

Greg Edwards & Shelly Neal-Edwards 

100-A Memorial Plaza 

Chestertown, MD  21620

443.282.0282 Tel     

[email protected] 

 www.baytechteam.com 

 

Bay Tech Team, LLC brings over 20 years of experience in the Technology field.  We focus on Microsoft technologies ranging from small Local Area Networks to Nationwide Area Networks  

 

~~~~~

 

 

Chester River Docks, Inc.

Jason L. Smucker, President 

8779 Rock Hall Road

Chestertown, MD  21620 

410.810.7005 Office  |  443.921.5941 Cell 

   [email protected]   

www.chesterriverdocks.com 

 

The owner's of  JLS Design & Construction  are proud to add Chester River Docks to our family of companies. Formerly known as Chester River Marine Construction, we changed the name to reflect the additional services we will offer. Our current construction services include Dock Houses, Piers, Floating Docks, Bulkheads, Living Shorelines, Rip Rap, Permits and Design.

 

We will continue to offer high quality marine construction and the customer service and client satisfaction our custom home clients have come to expect.

 

Our Boat Lift and Pier showroom will be opening soon on Rt. 20 in Chestertown.

 

~~~~~

 

Colonial Manor Apartments 

Lee Davis, Manager  

100 Hadaway Drive

P.O. Box 630 

Chestertown, MD  21620

410.778.3049 Tel  |  410.778.9381 Fax 

 [email protected] 

  www.chestertownapartments.com 

 

Colonial Manor Apartments is a  54-unit complex, built in 1967.  All units are two bedroom, 1 bath with wall-to-wall carpeting and central air.  A laundry facility is located on the premises. 

 

~~~~~

 

Kent Crossing Apartments 

Lee Davis, Manager

101 Morgnec Road

P.O. Box 630

Chestertown, MD  21620

410.778.3049 Tel  |  410.778.9381 Fax 

 [email protected] 

  www.chestertownapartments.com 

 

Kent Crossing Apartments is a 168-unit complex, built in 1988.  One, two and three bedroom apartments are available.  All units have a washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, central air, and wall-to-wall carpeting. 

 

~~~~~

 

Soroptimist International of Kent County, MD  

Charmayne Dierker, Treasurer  

P.O. Box 535  

Chestertown, MD  21620

410.778.1982 Tel  |  410.778.1411 Fax 

 [email protected] 

www.kentmdsoroptimist.org 

 

Soroptimist International of Kent County, MD is a chapter of Soroptimist International, an organization of professional and businesswomen who improve the lives of women and girls throughout their community and worldwide.   

 

~~~~~


Kirk Wilson 

Yacht Broker  

21124 Striper Run  

Rock Hall, MD  21661

410.639.7111 Office  |  614.989.7775

 k[email protected]  

 www.fromthebay.net 

 

Kirk Wilson is a yacht broker working at 

Gratitude Yachting Center in Rock Hall, MD 

Please visit my website to see details of the upcoming

Private Showing of Island Packets in the Water

on Saturday, April 9th.  

 

 

Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber members!

 

 

Chamber Member News & Events 

_________________________

 

 

A Ribbon Cutting & Open House

was held on 

Saturday April 2, 2011

for

Physiotherapy Associates

to celebrate the opening of their new location in Dogwood Plaza at 

119 E. Main Street

Galena, MD  21632

 

 ~~~~~

 

Genther Named Rookie Realtor(R) of the Year


Cindy Genther R.E. Rookie of the Year
  Pictured (L-R) are: Paula Ruckelshaus, Past-President of BAAR, Cindy Genther, Jim Flaherty, BAAR President

         

Cindy Genther of Rock Hall Properties Real Estate has been named 2010Rookie Realtor(R) of the Year by the Bay Area Association of Realtors(R) (BAAR). Genther, who helped start the new real estate company in March  2010, closed 11 transactions with gross sales over $1,000,000. In  September she was elected to the BAAR Board of Directors and currently  serves on the BAAR Media Relations and Legislative Committees. Cindy  has  participated in the Maryland Association of Realtors(R) Rookie Realtorseminars and National Association of Realtors(R) training programs. 

 

Prior to a career in real estate, Cindy was the Executive Director of  the Kent County Chamber of Commerce. At the BAAR 2010 Awards Dinner on March 3, Genther also received the Bronze Sales Achievement Award forsales volume between $1,000,000 and $1,999,999.

 

~~~~~

 

 Hospital Auxiliary Unit 2 Helps Equip

Inpatient Dialysis Service

 

CRHC Auxiliary 2 Donates Chairs

Pictured (L to R) are: Jim Ross, Hospital President & CEO; Ruth Briscoe, Auxiliary Unit's Treasurer; and Scott Burleson, Hospital Eexecutive Vice President

 

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Always eager to help.........The Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary Unit 2 donated $1,800 to purchase a special chair and wall-mounted flat screen TV for the comfort and convenience of people needing the Hospital's new life-sustaining inpatient kidney dialysis services. Inpatient dialysis services will be available in April.

 

 ~~~~~

 

2nd Six Pillar Character Counts! Essay Contest Awards Ceremony

 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

6:00 P.M.

Decker Theatre, The Gibson Center for the Arts

Washington College

 

Kent County community is cordially invited.

 

~~~~~

 

Chestertown Arts League's 63rd Annual Juried Show

 

The opening of the 63RD Annual Juried Show of the Chestertown Arts League will be held at

The Galleries of Heron Point, Chestertown

Sunday, April 10, 2011

2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.  

On display will be outstanding work by local artists,

judged by Donald A. McColl of Washington College. 

 

Awards will be presented at 3:00 P.M. 

 

Come join us for this festive event. 

  


Chamber Events & Information 

_________________________  


 

Kent County Chamber of Commerce 

Board Meeting 


Thursday, April 14, 2011

12:00 P.M.

Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown

 
The meeting is open to all members.  Please contact Loretta at 410/810-2968 or  [email protected] if you plan on attending.  
 

~~~~~

 

Kent County Chamber of Commerce

*** Legislative Wrap-Up  Breakfast ***

 

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

8:30 A.M.

Heron Point

501 East Campus Avenue

Chestertown, MD

 

Tickets:

$10.00 Members

$15.00 Non-Members

 

Come Out and Meet Your Legislators.

Get an update on recent legislation and how it affects your business.

 

   Deadline for Reservations: Tuesday, April 12, 2011

 

RSVP to Loretta at 410/810-2968 or [email protected] 

or online at www.kentchamber.org

   

~~~~~

Kent County Chamber of Commerce

*** New Members Breakfast *** 

 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

8:30 A.M.

Heron Point

501 East Campus Avenue

Chestertown, MD

 

All new members of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce who joined between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 are invited to attend

FREE OF CHARGE 

Look for your invitation in the mail! 

 

Each new member will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business and network in a friendly and upbeat atmosphere.

 

All others are invited to attend by purchasing a ticket.  

 

$10.00 Members

$15.00 Non-Members

 

Bring your business cards and join us as we welcome our newest members to the Chamber family!

 

Deadline for Reservations: Tuesday, April 19, 2011

 

RSVP to Loretta at 410/810-2968 or [email protected]

or online at www.kentchamber.org

 

 ~~~~~

  • E-Blasts - Broadcast E-Mail Service Now Available!

The Chamber now offers an E-Blast service to all of our members.  In an effort to help you build your business and get your message out efficiently and cost effectively, the Chamber office will send an email specifically on your behalf to all Chamber members and non-members who have signed up for our mailing list.  This is an excellent way to announce new products, services or events.  As a Chamber member, you can take advantage of this service at a very reasonable cost of $25.  Please contact the Chamber office for further details.

  • SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Executives)   

Invites retired executives to become counselors for new and existing local businesses. Contact Bart Stolp at SCORE to get more information: [email protected] 

  • Help Us Help You.  Keep Your Business Information Current! 

Please remember to contact Loretta in the Chamber office if you have any changes or updates to your business contact information.  We want to keep all of our members' information current.

  • Member-To-Member Benefit Program

This program allows any Chamber member to offer discounts on their products and services to other Chamber members and their employees.  Even if you do not offer a discount to fellow members, as a Chamber member, you may take advantage of the discounts offered by other members.  

 Don't miss out!  Sign up for this program today.

Call Loretta at 410/810-2968 or email at [email protected]   

The following businesses are participating members.  Please support these businesses. 

 

 



 

News Bytes 

_________________________

 


March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Have you been screened?

 

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon (large intestines, bowel) or rectum. It is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths for Kent County residents. Over 93% of all colorectal cancers are found in persons age 50 or older. Regular screening starting at the age of 50 can prevent colorectal cancer by finding polyps (precancerous growths) and removing them. If there is a family history (First Degree Relatives-mother, father, sister, brother, or child) of colorectal polyps or cancer, screening may need to start before the age of 50.

 

Health Dept Star Image

What are the symptoms associated with Colorectal Cancer?

  1. Bleeding from rectum or blood in stool
  2. Pains or cramps in the lower abdomen
  3. Changes in bowel habits (constipation/diarrhea)
  4. Narrowing or "penciling" of stool
  5. Unexplained abdominal mass
  6.  Click here for more  

There are currently three screening tests available to Kent County residents who meet the program and financial guidelines.

 

To find out if you qualify, contact Andrea Edwards, RN

at the Kent County Health Department 410-778-7970 or [email protected]  

 

 ~~~~~

 

 

 Maryland Business for Responsive Government, (MBRG) 

MBRG Logo 


Dear Business Colleague:

 

PleaseSave the Datefor the:             

MBRG "After Session Wrap-Up" Luncheon

 

Date:Thursday, April 14, 2011                                             

Time:11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.                                        

Place:Four Points Sheraton at BWI Airport Hotel 

Location:7032 Elm Road, Baltimore, MD 21240.

 

More details about this event will follow shortly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Debbie Peragallo

Maryland Business for Reponsive Government

 

  

 

 

 

MBRG's Purpose:

  

INFORM Maryland's businesses, elected officials, and the general public about the political and economic climate needed to foster economic development and job creation in Maryland.

 

IMPROVE the role of business in Maryland's public policy.

 

PROVIDE support for pro-business candidates.

 

ENABLE business to hold politicians accountable for the state's economic well-being - like no other organization -- through MBRG's evaluations of the voting records of Maryland's state and federal legislators. 

  

MBRG is a statewide, nonpartisan political research and education organization supported by corporations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and individuals. 

 

~~~~~

 

Last month, we invited you to participate in our Business Opportunity Session, an information-sharing, outreach program we periodically hold, which connects Federal acquisition and program officers with small business stakeholders. Business Opportunity Session activities stimulate small business participation in Department of Energy contract and other mission-supporting opportunities.

Our most recent Business Opportunity Session on March 3rd brought small business owners and Departmental small business advocates together to discuss the best ways we can partner with the small business community. As our March event took place during Women's History Month, we had a specific focus on women-owned small businesses, one of the fastest-growing sectors of small businesses.

Whether or not you were able to make it to our event in March, we want to make sure that all interested parties get the information that was presented there.


Visit our site to view presentations from our most recent Business Opportunity Session.

On our site you can also learn more about our small business resources and how to connect with our  network of Small Business Program Managers. We will continue to host Business Opportunity Sessions at the Department's locations around the country, as small businesses are at the top of President Obama's agenda. We will announce our next public event via email and on our website http://diversity.energy.gov. Looking forward to continuing the conversation.


  ~~~~~

Help Promote the 8 Regional Open Houses for

PlanMaryland in April and May      

 

PlanMaryland Public Forums II: The Open Houses

MDP has scheduled eight regional open houses throughout Maryland as part of the next phase of public outreach for a State Growth Plan known as PlanMaryland. We're holding these Open Houses to present the draft plan to Maryland residents and stakeholders and to continue the dialogue about PlanMaryland.

 

The first of these is being held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at the University of Maryland, College Park on Wednesday, April 6th.  Each week following throughthe month of May we will hold another open house.  A complete listing of all of these dates and locations can be found at the PlanMaryland Regional Open Houses registration page.

 

We want to get the word out to the largest audience possible.  For this we need your help.  MDP respectfully requests your assistance in promoting this event to your contact lists, on your website and to your social media followers.  

Anyone who has a stake in the future of growth, development and preservation in out state will want to attend this open house.

 

We also have available fliers in Adobe Acrobat format to help promote each open house.  Please contact me to have these emailed to you.

 

Thank you for your assistance in making these 8 open houses very successful.

 

Sincerely, 


John Coleman
Public Information Officer
Maryland Department of Planning  (410) 767-4614, office
(410) 292-9580, cell
(877) 767-6272, toll-free
[email protected]
Plan.Maryland.gov


~~~ OUR SPONSORS ~~~



PLATINUM
PNC Bank


GOLD

Atlantic Broadband

CNB

 

SILVER

David A. Bramble 

Chester River Health System 

Horizon Organic Dairy 

The Peoples Bank

Washington College

 

 

BRONZE

Affinity Business & Technology Solutions

Connect the Dots Events 

imPRESSive Printing

Sears Hometown Store - Chestertown

ShoreToBeFun.com

WCTR - am 1530