On August 14, 2011, Chamber member Scott Clifford will face his fear of water by swimming a half mile across Lake Massapoag in the Sharon Sprint Triathlon before completing the 12.3 mile bike course and the 4.4 mile run. When asked why he would take on such a daunting task, Clifford recalls the strength of a friend who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. "We have been friends with Jen since we were kids and to see her going through all of this is really hard. She is such a strong and inspiring person. We all want to do something to help others facing similar struggles. I am facing my fears in her honor."

This is the second year that Clifford and his teammates, sponsored by Hanover-based law firm Epstein, Lipsey & Clifford, will participate in the Triathlon -- not only as competitors, but also as fundraisers. Last year the team raised more than $15,000 for the Scleroderma Foundation in honor of teammate Tim Jenkin's mother who passed away from the disease after a brave 14 year fight. This year, in honor of their friend Jen's courageous fight against breast cancer, the team is raising money for the Ellie Fund, with a goal of $20,000.

To help the Epstein, Lipsey & Clifford triathlon team reach its goal of $20,000 to help local families fight breast cancer, visit:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/scott-clifford/sharontriathlon2011

To reach Scott Clifford directly for more information about the team's compelling stories, please email sclifford@elclaw.com.

More Member and Community Events and News

Member Affinity Programs

You can save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of our Member Affinity programs. Just click on the links below for details.

2011 Chairman's Circle

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Rising Star

Upcoming Chamber Events

26th Annual Golf Tournament at Blue Hill Country Club - Monday, August 8, 2011

"How I Trapped Myself Into Making 40k on a Friday Afternoon" at Gray, Gray & Gray - Thursday, August 18, 2011

Business After Hours at the Irish Cultural Centre - Thursday, August 25, 2011

Easy registration

Buca di Beppo has new function rooms for any occasion! Watch the video now.

*Video courtesy of the Buca di Beppo National PR Team.

Want to advertise your business or services through video? Contact Cristoff at cristoff@nvcc.com for rates and schedule.

Did you know that the Chamber offers FREE business counseling services at our offices?

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network (MSBDC) provides free and confidential business advisory services. For more information on the MSBDC or to make an appointment to meet with a counselor at the NVCC Office, visit their website or call (508) 673-9783.

NVCC offers free SCORE COUNSELING at the NVCC office on Thursdays, by appointment.

To register call (781) 769-1126.

From the President

Don't Go it Alone

I was fortunate to have some time on the beach down the Cape recently. While there, we spent time teaching my five-year-old twins to swim. Like many kids, they think they Tom. New pic can just charge off by themselves into the water whenever they want. My wife and I had to constantly remind them not to go into the water alone, but only with an adult or older brother or sister.

For most of us learning something new can be challenging and is often best accomplished with the help of other professionals who have already experienced what we are about to. Starting a business is no different. As a chamber member I want to remind you of the myriad services available to new and experienced business people alike.

First of all, your greatest resource is other members of the Chamber. While an important membership benefit is referrals from members, another one is advice and counsel from members. Don't be afraid to share ideas and questions with one another.

Secondly, the Chamber is a host site for two Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, SCORE and the MSBDC. SCORE provides free, confidential face-to-face email and telephone consulting to small businesses in the region. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) also provides free, confidential one on one business advisory services and training to local businesses. From developing a business plan to accessing financing these are great resources for your business. A simple phone call to the Chamber is all that's needed to get started with these professionals.

In addition, there are many other entities established to assist local business with a variety of specific services. The Center for Women & Enterprise has an office in Boston dedicated to empowering women to become economically self-sufficient through business and entrepreneurship. For those businesses requiring export assistance, the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Boston is an excellent resource.

In terms of financing for small businesses, many local member banks offer SBA loan programs. The South Eastern Economic Development Corporation (SEED) offers micro loan programs as well. In fact, SEED will be partnering with the Chamber, the Norwood Economic Development Committee and Norwood Bank to present a full-day workshop on starting a business on October 5^th at the Chamber office.

Sometimes even those with experience need the help and guidance from others. My brother and I often fish from our kayaks far off the beach. This year, however, due to stories of sharks and our own sightings of seals and even a whale, we made sure to stay in close proximity of each other whenever we hit the ocean. Similarly, for those who have been in business for some time it still can be helpful to reach out for assistance at times or simply to freshen up your skill set in a quickly changing world.

Again, for those who want to stay ahead of the curve nearly all the programs mentioned above cater to existing as well as new businesses.

Wherever you happen to be in the evolution of your business, I urge you take advantage of the programs and services that are available to you. In today's environment, there is simply no need to go it alone. I urge you to let the Chamber be your one-stop shop for business assistance. Contact information for these programs is on our website at www.nvcc.com/useful-links or you can always call us at 781.769.1126 for assistance.

Tom O'Rourke

President and CEO

3 Secrets to Amazing Presentations

by Marty Kagan

Blogspot Raise your hand if you've ever been subjected to Death by Powerpoint.

Raise your hand if you've ever subjected an audience to Death by Powerpoint.

Let's stop killing each other with boring presentations, shall we?

Here are three simple, powerful things you can do to transform an average presentation into an awesome one:

1. Don't just share information; TELL A STORY.

Most presentations share a common goal: to persuade the audience to take action.

What's the best way to persuade someone? Get them to attach to your story emotionally.

What's the best way to get them to attach emotionally? Tell them a story with a likeable hero who encounters some roadblocks and then, [thanks to your product] emerges transformed.

Reframe your presentation like a great story: three acts with two turning points. Let your hero make your points for you. Have him show your audience "what is"-and contrast that with "what could be."

Nobody likes being sold to, but who doesn't love a great story?

2. Go overboard.

Boring presentations are safe presentations. They take no risks. They state the obvious. And they're more likely to provoke napping than purchasing behavior.

Sometimes the best way to make a presentation more awesome is to go completely overboard. Make ridiculous claims. State the opposite view. Use ginormously humongoussive words.

Polarizing slides engage audiences-they get people thinking and talking. So go ahead, BE EXTREME, and give them something to talk about.

3. Make your first slide and your last slide the AWESOMEST.

The first slide sets the audience's expectation. The last slide is the one thing they're most likely to remember.

And the stuff in the middle? It really only matters if the first and last slides kick major butt. So make sure they do.

What exactly makes a slide "awesome"?

Ask ten people that question and you will get ten different answers. But for me, it boils down to one simple thing: emotion.

Awesome slides make you feel something.

Love or hate.

Fear or desire.

Pain or pleasure.

Comedy or tragedy.

So go ahead. Take off the safety gear, let your hair down, get crazy. Make your next presentation AWESOME and kiss Death by Powerpoint permanently goodbye.

Presentations

"PUT YOUR CLOTHES TO WORK!" CLOTHING DRIVE IS A HUGE SUCCESS

On behalf of the Chamber and Morgan Memorial, I would like to thank all of our members for their gener clothes ous donations for the "Put Your Clothes to Work!" Clothing Drive; the response has been overwhelming with well over 100 suites.

Your donations will help those who have been affected by this uncertain economy achieve independence and dignity as they re-enter the work force. You have given them a second chance at the "American Dream."

A special thank you to Leslie Lockard for helping me put this together. Her enthusiasm and creativity were a driving force in the success of this program.

In the future I plan to continue to look for ways the NVCC can give back to the community and its members. Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome.

Best,

Cristoff

Director of Programs

Showcase and promote your product or services at the Mega Business EXPO, a collaborative of the Neponset Valley, Tri-town, and Milford Area Chambers of Commerce, on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Christina's in Foxboro.

For 10 years, this event has given exhibitors the opportunity to expose their organizations to the public and other businesses from three chamber areas. This is one of the biggest networking events of its kind in the area with over 150 exhibitors and ove Gray Gray & Gray Expo Sponsor r 1000 attendees translating to huge returns on investment.

The evening also features a Business After Hours, complimentary food and a cash bar, seminars, and prizes. For maximum exposure consider taking a high-visibility sponsorship which includes advertising, premier exhibit space, and custom ceiling banners.

In challenging economic times one must set themselves apart from the competition; let the Mega Business Expo move your organization ahead of the pack. Register today as booth space is limited.

Christina's

2 Washington Street (Route 1)

Foxboro, MA

More information

Easy registration and pricing

Print and mail your application

Small Business is a Big Deal to UPS

UPS

UPS knows how important your business is to you. Let us help you find ways to improve customer service, maximize cash flow, manage costs, save time shipping, and speed up your shipment processing. Learn how your business can save..

'QuickBooks for Small Business' workshops
sponsored by G.T. Reilly & Company

Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce programs will help small business owners leverage their productivity, profitability

Small business owners will learn how to leverage their productivity and profitability at two workshops sponsored by G.T. Reilly & Company and the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Oct. 17 and Monday, Oct. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. each day at the Chamber office in Norwood.

On Oct. 17, "QuickBooks for Small Business: The Basics" will help beginning QuickBooks' users get started by learning to use features for billing, receivables, time tracking and other simple functions.

On Oct. 24, "QuickBooks for Small Business: Beyond the Basics" will help business owners who are already using QuickBooks for invoicing utilize the software's more advanced features, including customization of reports and forms, job costing, online banking, year-end tips and tricks, and troubleshooting.

Participants may attend either one of the workshops or both.

"In this economy, small business owners need to get a handle on their finances and use all the tools at their disposal to improve profitability," says Gina Weinstock, a Certified QuickBooks Advanced Pro Advisor who will lead the workshop. Weinstock works with Reilly Business Services, which provides bookkeeping services, payroll preparation, financial statements and income tax returns for small businesses, in addition to QuickBooks support.

These workshops are free of charge to chamber members, but registration is required and seating is limited. The charge for non-chamber members is $25. A continental breakfast will be provided.

October 17 easy registration

October 24 easy registration

Member Spotlight

TGI Fridays wants to be your restaurant of choice.

TGI Fridays in Norwood has great food and atmosphere.

Fridays

Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or a night out with your friends or family, we are the place to be.

In the bar, we have great food and drink specials, with half priced appetizers from 4-7:00pm and 10:00pm - close, Monday - Friday. We also have specialty nights, which include:

Hero's Night on Monday
Members of the armed service, Firefighters and Police receive half off their food purchases

Trivia Night on Tuesday
Family fun trivia starting at 8:00pm

Hospitality Night on Wednesday
Special prizes and food specials if you work in the hospitality industry

Ladies Night on Thursday

We also have a private function room available at no charge that can accommodate up to 70 people.
(Great for baby showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties, business lunches and more!)

Join us today for our great menu deals including a three-course meal for $12.99.

Stop down and see us, we are located on Route 1 south in Norwood.

Thanks,

Brian Fagan
0731@crww.com
1345 Providence Highway
Norwood MA, 02062
(781) 769 3397

Interested in being featured in the "Member's Spotlight?" Contact Brian at brian@nvcc.com

Social Media Portrait/Avatar Sessions at the NVCC Offices by McKeePhotography.com

Quick and easy, painless and affordable portrait sessions designed to provide you with unique and creative portraits for use with all social media needs. Perfect for Google+, Matt
yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, MySpace, your web site and blogs.

What do you get? The session includes one sitting with professional photgrapher, Matt McKee, at the Chamber offices, onsite image selection, and a fully mastered and digitally enhanced, web ready image of you, ready to go and put your best face forward in the digital world.

NVCC Office

190 Vanderbilt Ave

Norwood, MA

September 12

8 am-1pm

$99.98 in advance, $114.97 at the door.

Easy registration

A message to members on behalf of the Governor

Students are one of Massachusetts' most valuable resources, and retaining the Commonwealth's highly skilled talent is critical to our state's economic growth and development. The Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to providing our talent pool MASS here in Massachusetts the critical resources necessary to build their future, and we would like local businesses to join in an important statewide initiative as we encourage our students to STAY HERE.

In an effort to strengthen the bridge between education and the working world, the state has joined forces with leading employers and industry groups to create a statewide internship network to help retain valuable talent in the Massachusetts ecosystem. The Massachusetts STAY HERE internship site leverages an innovative technology platform from Massachusetts-based Experience.com to directly connect students from the 100+ colleges and universities in the Commonwealth with key employers all across the state.

In order to maximize participation among students and employers, Massachusetts Chambers of Commerce are encouraging their member businesses to consider supporting this initiative.

Members of the STAY HERE team are available to present to you the benefits of internship programs and the great resources that are available to you. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Kofi Jones, head of the state's Marketing Office, at 617-973-8750 or kofi.jones@state.ma.us.

Or to simply post an internship for free go to

http://massitsallhere.com/Business/Massachusetts-Student-Internships.

Supporting our students and recent graduates is key to the success of our state, and ensuring that students are connected with local employers through internships requires collaboration between the education system, the government, and the private sector.

We hope that we can count on your participation in this important statewide effort.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. O'Rourke, CCE

President and CEO

Reach thousands of business owners by advertising with the chamber.

Rates and information

An Adventure Into the World of Sales Lead Generation

Part of the Needham Bank Small Business Seminar Series, "How I Trapped Myself into Making 40K on a Friday Afternoon" promises to be a unique and entertaining look on how to improve sales lead generation with Joe Cole, author of "Mercenary Cold Calling Tactics for the Sales Jungle.

After spending the first year of his business career as an inside marketing representative for New England Telephone Company, (NYNEX) Joe began his straight commission outside joecole

sales position with a financial publishing company selling book printing to publishers in Boston. He committed himself to a disciplined cold calling system during his 10 years with this firm. This system helped him to build a customer base that provided a top producing territory for the company and generated profitable sales leads in the millions throughout his career.

He will share his fascinating stories in the "sales jungle" and how you can apply those same techniques into sales lead gold .

Joe Cole will also be holding two Boot camp sessions on August 19th and 20th (location and pricing to be determined.) If interested, please contact Cristoff at cristoff@nvcc.com0

Sponsored by

Gray,Gray & Gray

34 Southwest Park

Westwood, MA

20.00 Members, 30.00 Non-members, 10.00 Facebook Fans

Easy registration

Lunch is included

Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce

190 Vanderbilt Avenue

Norwood, MA 02062

(781) 769-1126

'QuickBooks for Small Business' workshopssponsored by G.T. Reilly & Company

'QuickBooks for Small Business' workshops
sponsored by G.T. Reilly & Company