Greetings Fellow Chamber Members: 

Board Chair Michael Kadel

It's hard to believe it's October and we are in the midst of planning for 2011 already. I'd like to congratulate the following individuals, approved by the Chamber Board of Directors to serve as our officers for 2011:  Gary Phillips - Chair, Lorraine Gauthier - Chair-Elect, Richard Kalish - Treasurer, and Laura Bertolli - Secretary. I will have the honor of serving as your Past Chair for 2011. 

I have full confidence that these individuals will do a superb job in leading the San Rafael Chamber next year. I would also like to congratulate and welcome our new team members to the dedicated staff of the Chamber. They are: Leonard Weingarten, Business Development, and Laurie Vermont, who will be coordinating our Leadership Institute. 

Must-See Events

On October 28, the San Rafael Chamber, Novato Chamber, the North Bay Business Journal and the Marin Economic Forum will join forces to bring you "Forecasting the Future" at Embassy Suites beginning at 7:30 a.m. Speakers include Russ Colombo, President and Chief Executive Officer at Bank of Marin, Scott Gerber from NorCal Investment Real Estate Company, Rob Eyler, Interim CEO of Marin Economic Forum, and Jon Haveman from Beacon Economics. All of these speakers will be prepared to give their perspective and outlook on the economic vitality and sustainability in Marin County.

On October 27 at 8 a.m. there will be a program titled "Excellence in Social Media:  Best Practices from HR, Legal and Marketing Experts." Here you can learn about legal issues during the entire work cycle of a manager/owner including recruiting, sourcing and marketing. 

The San Rafael Chamber completed a very successful Business Showcase at the Embassy Suites on September 15. I want to personally thank the Business Showcase Committee Chairpersons, Jerry Tallman from Minuteman Press and Don Maxon with Bank of America Mortgage, who put in a great deal of effort to make this event such a huge success. Their energy and commitment is truly commendable! 

I also want to recognize Chamber Events Manager Gina Marr, who put in many long hours to help coordinate all the booths, sponsors and last-minute logistics. As we finish the last months of the year, the Chamber continues to provide value to its members through events, mixers, special programs, and business advocacy. Thank you for your continued membership and support. Have a safe and Happy Halloween! 

Michael Kadel
Bank of Marin
Chairman of the Board