THE BEDFORD BANNER
Bedford Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
MAY/2012
Vol. 14   Issue 8
In This Issue
Celebrating the Chamber
Be a champion human being
What the Chamber did in April
Member Announcements
Chamber Connections
Chamber Calendar
CHAMBER HONORS AWARD WINNERS

 

 

By Stacey Thureen

bedford@wickedlocal.com

STAFF/The Bedford Minuteman

 

The Bedford Chamber of Commerce celebrated its own members and for the first time, a young person from the community.

On Wednesday evening, April 25, more than 50 people attended the Bedford Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and celebration, sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank and The UPS Store.

Among this year's award line up featured a brand new award - the Ray of Hope. This award was given to a high school student who has performed outstanding service to the Bedford community by his or her actions and served as an excellent role model for peers.
Modeled after an award given in Needham, and in collaboration with Youth Family Services, The Ray of Hope Award was created in recognition that young people and their development are important to the overall function of the local community.
Elle Thompson was this year's award recipient. A senior at Bedford High School, she was the team captain for the Relay for Life Cancer Research Fundraiser, a Best Buddies volunteer and a member of the Red Cross and Interact Club.

Thompson was nominated by Suzanne Johnson who said, "Elle is very personable and giving of herself, and has served as a caring, trustworthy and energetic role model for her peers. She has demonstrated her willingness to help whenever needed and share her talents with our church and the larger Bedford community."
Awards presented for the evening were for Business Person of the Year, which went to Kevin Sullivan of DSA Printing; Business of the Year, which went to iRobot; Diversity Award, which went to Elm Brook Place; Ray of Hope Award, which went to Elle Thompson; and Outstanding Service to the Chamber, which went to Dani De Paris.
The chamber has been serving the Bedford community for 40 years with a mission to advance the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the Town of Bedford.

"Tonight is an opportunity to recognize people in the Bedford community and to celebrate what the chamber has done in the past year," said Bedford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maureen Sullivan. "We get to look back on last year and look ahead to a new one."

The evening was set at the Double tree Bedford Glen Hotel and started off with registration and cocktails, followed by an award ceremony, dinner and dessert, and entertainment by corporate magician David Hall.

"I stepped into the role as Chamber president three and a half months ago," said Snap Fusion Finance Manager Josh Cohen. "There has been a lot of good work already done. I want to thank Maureen - she's the glue of this organization. And I want to thank the last Chamber president, Pam Brown, who did a great job and built a foundation for the chamber."
To learn more about the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, including upcoming events on May 12 and May 17, and how you can get involved visit bedfordchamber.org.

 

 

2011 award winners
 The 2012 Bedford Chamber of Commerce Awards recipients line up after receiving their awards Wednesday night.
Pictured left to right: Bedford Chamber President, Josh Cohen; Business of the Year Recipient, iRobot; Business Person of the Year Award Recipient, Kevin Sullivan; Outstanding Service Award Recipient, Dani De Paris; Ray of Hope Award Recipient, Elle Thompson; Diversity Award Recipient, Elm Brook Place, Carrie Endicott; Bedford Chamber Executive Director Maureen Sullivan.

 

 

  

Arnold Palmer's Marketing Secret:

 "Be a champion human being."

 

By Geoffery Moore

 

Watching The Masters a couple of weeks ago, I saw a conversation about golf champion Arnold Palmer. The reporter, who had known Palmer, said one of the things that set Palmer apart was the attention he paid to fans.

Not only did Palmer never reject a request for an autograph, but with every autograph he took time to look at the person, converse with them, and write his name clearly and legibly. This was in contrast to many famous golfers who so quickly scribbled their autograph that the fan couldn't read the name.

The reporter said that Palmer's genuine attention to "the customer" helped to spawn real loyalty. At every golf tournament, there was a big crowd of fans that followed Palmer around and cheered him on; reporters dubbed them "Arnie's Army."

The reporter summed up by saying that Arnold Palmer "was a champion human being."

I'm not saying customers are going to ask for your autograph. But it is true that paying careful attention to small interactions with customers can, over time, make a difference. How do customers feel after they've talked with you on the phone? Or visited your place of business? Or read your brochure? Or visited your website? Do they get the feeling they are talking to real people who really see them and actually listen to them?

Of course, there is more to marketing than this. And of course, this is hard to quantify. But I'm convinced that if you work at putting this kind of genuine attention into all of your communications with customers, it can help spawn loyalty to your brand and your business.

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Sales & Marketing Jumpstarts is written by Geoffery Moore, president of Geoffery Moore Marketing and author of Think Like a Customer To Market Like a Genius.He can be contacted at 603-353-4700 or gmoore@YourBestMarketingMove.com.His website is www.YourBestMarketingMove.com.

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What the Chamber did in April?

 
Mens Breakfast Club ~ Scott Hartman
Catch the Net ~ The Edge
Working Women Alliance ~ Potluck Lunch
 
kevin magician

Kevin Sullivan & Magician David Hall

 at the Annual Dinner


Multi-Chamber After Hours ~ Waltham, MA
Chamber Annual Dinner
Liquor Policy Committee Meeting
Board of Directors Meeting

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Bedford VA Hospital
Summer Assistant Position

  • Location
    • Center for Health Quality, Outcomes, and Economic Research at the Bedford VA Medical Center
  • Description and qualifications
    • This is a posting for a summer assistant to help Christine W. Hartmann, Ph.D. with her daily work tasks in an academic research setting. The job is at a research center located within the Bedford VA Medical Center, but the job itself is office-based and does not involve interacting with patients. Daily activities may include helping Dr. Hartmann answer emails; conduct Web based searches of journal articles; reading, summarizing, and filing journal articles; writing sections of journal articles or grant applications; preparing presentations; and other tasks to help Dr. Hartmann with the daily work of completing ongoing projects. Dr. Hartmann's area of research is long-term care, specifically improving the quality of care for Veterans in nursing homes. She is also an assistant professor at the School of Public Health, Boston University. See http://www.chqoer.research.va.gov/Christine_W_Hartmann_PhD.asp
    • Qualified applicants will have strong English skills; exceptional writing skills, as exemplified in independently written papers for classes; strong interpersonal skills; strong Microsoft Word and PowerPoint skills (Excel preferable but not required); organizational skills; and the ability to work independently. An interest in psychology, sociology, human development, English, public health, or the social or natural sciences may be helpful, but anyone interested in investigating a career related to academia, writing, research, health, etc. is welcome to apply.
    • Educational requirement: high school graduate or college student.
  • Term & hours
    • Mid-June to early August
    • Mon-Thurs, 7-8 hours/day (somewhat negotiable)
  • Salary
    • Somewhat negotiable dependent on work hours and education-more details available upon request
  • How to apply
    • Contact Dr. Christine Hartmann at christine.hartmann@va.gov or 781-687-2738
    • NOTE: extensive application procedure is necessary for working at the VA-applicants should be willing to complete paperwork promptly (by mid-May) to ensure processing is completed in time for start of employment
  • Deadline for applications
    • May 9, 2012
    • Rolling interview process (early application encouraged)
  • Christine W. Hartmann, Ph.D. Research Health Scientist Center for Health Quality, Outcomes, and Economic Research Bedford VA Medical Center AND Research Assistant Professor Department of Health Policy and Management School of Public Health Boston University

 

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Bedford Education Foundation

 

What:

CREATE A PLAYZONE (an Outdoor classroom accessible to all) for Integrated preschool (51% typical, 49% special needs), CASE collaborative preschool(significant special needs, visual impaired, wheelchair bound, autism spectrum) and LABB classrooms.

 

WHY:

To honor Judy Mirel Bedford's Early Childhood Coordinator who is retiring after 35 years.

What you can do:

1) Purchase an element of area..prices range from $100-$3000.

2) Donate money.3) Volunteer servicesa. mason

b. workers to install items

c. people to build elements

d. people to help create landscape

e. plantings

f. artist to create mural

CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 

 

 

 Each month, Executive Director Maureen Sullivan tapes the Chamber Connections at the Bedford Tv Studio. Check out the links below of who she has interviewed and if you are  interested in being a guest, email her at bcoc@bedfordchamber.org

 

 Joan Turnberg - Live LIfe Well
 

Dr. Jean Marc Slak ~ Slak Chiropractic Group


Lea Ann Knight ~ Garrison KNight Financial

 

The Goddard School

 

Brookline Bank


Kristen Presley/Bedford VA

Karen Kenney/ OrganizingWorks

JRM Antiques

 

 

_________________________________________________________________

 

Chamber Calendar 

 

 

May 10
Board of Directors
Bedford Police Station
7:30 AM
 

May 12 
 
Comprehensive Plan Workshop
Multi-purpose room
Town Hall
9:00 AM

May 12
Ribbon Cutting
Get in Shape For Women
328 Great Road
1-3 PM

 

May 17 

Mens Breakfast Club
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
44 Middlesex Turnpike
Bedford, MA 01730

7:30 AM


May 17 

Working Women Alliance

Brightview Concord River
 noon 

May 17
Sign Bylaw Meeting & Discussion
Town Center Flint Room
7:30 -10:00  PM 

 

May 21 
Catch The Net
Edward Jones Investments
Great Road
Bedford, MA

5:30 -7:00 PM

June 5
Cambridge Savings Bank Senior Prom Stroll
Town Common
4:45 PM
Class Picture @
5:15 PM 

 

SAVE THE DATE

Lowell Spinners
July 12, 2012

 

 

 

 

JOIN US FOR A SUMMER BASH WITH THE LOWELL SPINNERS

JULY 12, 2012
7:05 PM

 

Ticket includes a hot dog, beverage and ice cream.

15.00 per person

 

We have secured 70 tickets and they will be distributed first come ..

So don't wait... email the Chamber office and reserve your tickets today!!

 

 

2012 CHAMBER MEMBERS   

 

Welcome to New Member

 

       Patents Etcetera and Minuteman Legal Services

200 Great Road
Suite 204
Bedford, MA 01730
781-275-8059

 

Acme Packet Inc

Advanced Media Web

Atlantic Capital Stregies
Atria Longmeadow
Baldwin Insurance
Baudanza Electric
B2B CFO
B&D Agency

Bedford Acupuncture Center
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Center
for the Arts

Bedford Children's Center
Bedford Farms

Bedford Funeral Home, Inc
Bedford Historical Society

Bedford Plaza Hotel

Bedford Motel
Bedford Orthodonics
Brightview Concord River

Brookline Bank
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Cafe Luigi

Callahan's Karate Studio
Calling All Pets

Cambridge Savings Bank
Carlton & Duran CPAs

Carleton-Willard Village

Christine Pinney MArketing

CouponSurfer.com

Cranberry Hill Associates

Dalya's

Design 1 Kitchen & Bath

Design Photo

Dr. Dianne Brisgeman

Dr. Kiana Kaymanesh

Dr. Oscar DePriest

DSA Printing

Edward Jones
Elm Brook Place

EMD Millipore

Enterprise Bank
Family Growin Stronger

First Parish
Flatbread Company
Frank Webb's Bath Center

Fujifilm Recording Media U.S.A.
Garrison Knight Financial Planning
GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc.

Genetti's Wine & Spirits, Inc
Get In Shape for Women
Great Road Gallery & Framing
Grow a Stronger Family
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Harold Nichols Insurance Agency
Heritage at Bedford Springs

Inner Visions Interiors
JRM Antiques

Inside Outside Staging
Kamate Fitness

Keller Williams Realty

Latady Design
Leary Auto Repair

Lexington Symphony

Live Life Well
Massage Therapy Associates

McColough Associates, Inc
Middlesex Savings Bank

Minuteman Volkswagon Inc.
New England Nurseries, Inc.

North Road Chiropractic
Organix Spa & Salon
OrganizingWorks!
Panospin Studios

Patriot Pediatrics
Peter Quinn Insurance Agency

Progress Software

Pulte Homes of New England

Quality Database Design

Rental Car Momma
Richard Ehain Insurance Agency

Right At Home

Salon Alfonse
Salon OZ
Scotia Lights
Serenity Yoga
Slak Chiropractic Group
Spencer Company

St. Michael's Parish Center
TD Bank
The Bedford Minuteman
The Boardroom Bistro

The Divorce Collaborative
The Edge Sports Center

The Goddard School

The Higgins Group
The MITRE Corporation
The Tired Dog

The UPS Store
Town Planner

Vela Ventures

Watson Law Offices
William Raveis Real Estate

Women's Financial Network