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Save the Dates!
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Business After Hours
5-7pm
Wednesdays
April 16, 2014
Boothbay Sea & Science Center at Bigelow Laboratory
April 30, 2014
Boothbay Railway Village & And Candy Too (tentative)
May 14, 2014
Cottage Connection
June 4, 2014
Newagen Seaside Inn
June 11, 2014
Maine State Aquarium
Business After Hours is open to members and non-members to encourage everyone from the business community to participate. The event is complimentary to Chamber members and $10 per person for non-members.
Contact us if you'd like to host one! We can do them year round!
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Dear Valued Members,
As we head into the holiday season, I wanted to give you an update from the Chamber. We have had an eventful year with many changes. We are about to welcome a new Board with voting underway. I have detailed this further in my report and I wanted to thank those who have served, continue to serve and those who are coming on board. We have grown the Chamber, welcomed Rimar and wonderful volunteers and continue to market our region in creative ways.
You may have noticed that I have not been sending this Executive Report every month to the members. I have had some feedback that it is long and I've found shorter emails with a few topics receive more of a direct response from members who are interested in the topic. It is always a balancing act between sending out too much or too little. I do know that many of you do read and appreciate this newsletter so I will be sending it out quarterly. We will continue to have our visitor E-news go out twice a month in season and monthly off-season and this will contain our member news and PR from the region. The E-news goes out to over 5,000 people who are interested in getting news about our region and to our members.
The Executive Report will be more concise and give you an overview of what's happening operationally with the Board & staff, new members, business news with seminars, events and marketing. I appreciate and always welcome your input.
Planning for the New Year is already well underway. We have five Business After Hours scheduled to start in April and run through to June (please see the side bar for full details). We are happy to host them (preferably every two weeks) throughout the year so please let us know if you'd like to host a winter soiree. We are wrapping up the Region Guide, planning co-op with Maine Magazine and others and working on our new website.
This weekend we are donning our holiday attire and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus with all their elves and characters as we celebrate our 28 th Annual Harbor Lights Festival. Thank you to all who help make this a magical holiday . Click here for full details.
Thank you as well to every member and their staff for your support of the Chamber. We have an amazing community and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!
Here's to ushering in a fantastic 2014!
Best wishes,
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Office & Board News
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Board Update:
It's that time of year again to vote for our 2014 Board of Directors. On Tuesday, Dec. 3 we sent an email to the Primary Representative listed for each business member. The company's representative needs to send in a vote by clicking on the link that was provided in the email or they can pick up a printed ballot at the Chamber. All voting must be returned by Tuesday, December 10th at 5:00 pm. We have 8 new Board member nominations, one re-nomination and five members whose terms are not expiring.
We have 14 seats available for the Board. Each member company will need to vote for 9 Board members as five do not have terms that are expiring. If the majority of Board members are voted in then they are elected. If an overwhelming result is "no" then that Board member would not be elected. We will be announcing the results via email on Wednesday, December 11th. The first Board meeting of the new fiscal year is Tuesday, December 17thand new Board officers will be voted in per the By Laws by the Board. Click here to see a list of the new nominees.
The current Board members whose terms are not expiring are as follows:
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Jim Chaousis
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Town Manager
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Town of Boothbay
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Dorothy Freeman
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Director of Philanthropy
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Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
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Sue Wood
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Friend of Chamber
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Friend of the Chamber
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Peter Robison
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Sales Manager
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Central Distributors
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Tim O'Donnell
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Principal
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O'Donnell, Lee, McCowan & Phillips LLC
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Downtown Information Center:
The Center will be open for Harbor Lights and then closed for the season until Memorial Day. If you'd like to be in the Center this spring, please email Rimar@boothbayharbor.com. We have wall and brochure space available.
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New Members
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The Boothbay Region Booster Club
(BRBC) supports ALL student clubs, sports, arts and academics at Boothbay Region High School. We raise funds to support these programs through concession and merchandise sales, fundraising, and business marketing opportunities. The funds are then used to purchase needed supplies and equipment for the programs that is not allocated within the school budget. New this year we are launching a membership program, a website and a social media campaign. Please visit our website to learn more information about changes we are making and programs we support.
Contact: Heather O'Brien, Website: www.boothbayregionbooster.com
Email: Heather@boothbayregionbooster.com
Ted Axelrod Photography
Ted's photographic career has taken him from Hollywood to top Manhattan restaurants, but most importantly, to Maine, where he has strong ties to the Boothbay region. With subjects ranging from chefs to dairy cows, his favorite assignment is one that tells a story; he brings that sensibility to all of his work, whether it is for a magazine feature or product marketing. While serious about photography, he believes a shoot should be a collaborative effort and above all, fun, which is why he is delighted to photograph the Claw Down again this year. Ted's photographs have appeared in cookbooks, national and regional magazines, major advertising campaigns, and on numerous websites.
Contact: Ted Axelrod, Phone: (207) 712-1881
Website: www.axelrodphotography.com, Email: ted@axelrodphotography.com
Ice Energy
Ice Energy is the leading provider of intelligent energy storage solutions and has facilitated a program in the Boothbay Region to offer energy efficient air conditioners to qualifying businesses. Click here for their latest news release about work they have done in the peninsula.
Contact: Dave Prezioso, Phone: (877) 542-3232
Website: www.ice-energy.com
The Greg Powers Agency
Greg Powers Agency is a Maine Based company providing Award Winning DJ services to northern New England destination weddings. From the coast to the mountains Greg Powers has been filling dance floors and helping to create some of the areas' most elegant and successful weddings and events for over 20 years!! Their staff and website's planning tools can keep you connected 24/7 to any thoughts, changes, questions for your event right up until the big day! And of course you can always give them a call at (207) 282-3783 and speak with Deb, their event specialist.
Contact: Deb Powers, Phone: (207) 282-3783
Website: http://www.gregpowers.net
The Boothbay Region Community Resource Council
The Council serves persons and families in need who reside on the Boothbay peninsula by providing resources, information, and referrals. Programs include the Community Navigator, the Community Fuel Assistance Program, Community Luncheons, Clothing Closet, Woodchucks Wood Harvesting and Delivery, Set for Success, and the Community Garden.
Contact: Sarah Foulger, Phone: (207) 633-4757 (Congregational Church)
Website: www.boothbayresources.com
Seacoast Catering and Lobster Bakes
Located on the Midcoast, Seacoast specializes in all types of catering, cocktail parties, lobster bakes, wedding receptions, pig roasts and more. We have been serving the Midcoast of Maine for 30 years. Fully licensed and insured.
Contact: Lurie Palino, Phone: (207) 632-5117
Email: seacoasts@tidewater.net, Website: www.seacoastcatering.com
T&D Variety
Family owned and operated convenience market. Open 7 days a week, year round. 24 hr. gas, Kerosene, fried chicken on Mon-Wed-Fri, pizza, live and cooked seafood, breakfast, lunch and dinner, indoor seating with air conditioning.
Contact: Tim Simmons or Deb Frenkel, Phone: (207) 633-2500
Email: tdvariety@outlook.com
https://www.facebook.com/TDVariety
Cod Cove Inn
"Welcome to the Cod Cove Inn!" More than a phrase to greet you, it's the way we strive to make you feel during your entire stay with us. We offer the privacy and amenities of a modern hotel; the warm, friendly atmosphere of a Maine inn; and the hospitality you expect from an independently owned and operated property. Your arrival at Cod Cove Inn places you high on a sweeping hill surrounded by four acres of lawns and gardens. The Inn has a commanding panoramic view of the western sky, the tidal Sheepscot River and Wiscasset, Maine's prettiest village. Every room has a balcony or patio, and every room offers a stunning water view. The Cod Cove Inn was built using the highest quality of construction ensuring safety, cleanliness and modern amenities. Over the years, beautiful flower gardens have grown and matured, and embrace two gazebos, a hidden-away arbor nook, and a heated outdoor swimming pool. Cod Cove Inn offers a memorable getaway in every season, and is open year-round. A continental breakfast featuring the Inn's legendary fresh-baked muffins and daily maid service is included. The Inn is perfectly located between the Pemaquid and Boothbay peninsulas for all your Mid-Coast Maine activities.
22 Cross Road, Edgecomb, ME. 04556
Contact: Jill Hugger, Phone: 800.882.9586
Email: jill@codcoveinn.com, Website: www.codcoveinn.com
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Business News:
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Seasonal Business Hours / "Open/Close" Lists
Rimar has compiled a list of business hours for the following: Please click on each link to learn more.
Paid Photographers Wanted!
Maine's MidCoast Council of Chambers (MC3) is exploring the possibility of engaging the services of a photographer to assist the trustees of the region in building a consistent and beautiful presentation of MidCoast Maine for marketing the region to tourists domestically and internationally. The main objective is to increase the photography assets and provide a broad range of images to improve the visual presentation of Maine's MidCoast online and in print advertising. We are focused on showing tourists the natural beauty of the region, including the coast and landscape, as well as showing our quaint villages and unique experiences of the region. Respondents are asked to submit responses to this RFP by January 17, 2013 by 4:00 PM. RFP PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL: Description of photography, locations, Rights and fees quote. Click here for the complete RFP. Click here to learn how you as a member of the Chamber benefit from MC3!
Maine Eastern Railroad offers new connection with Amtrak's Downeaster for 2014
MERR's expanded service to the mid-coast will begin next summer. MERR is revising its schedule to run one two-way train a day between Brunswick and Rockland on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from July 4 to October 13. The Mid-Coast Limited will leave Brunswick at 12:50 PM, allowing a direct connection with the Downeaster, which arrives at 12:25 PM. It will return to Brunswick at 5:20 PM, permitting a direct connection with the Downeaster, which leaves at 5:50 PM. This train will stop in Bath and Newcastle. Stops in Wiscasset will be at 1:35 PM and 4:35 PM. In addition, MERR will run the Wiscasset Flyer excursion train on Saturdays. It will leave Wiscasset at 12:00 PM, go to Newcastle and immediately return to Wiscasset at 12:45. It will then do a round trip to Bath, leaving Wiscasset at 2:30 PM and returning at 3:30 PM. Between the two trains, there will be opportunities for travelers to stop in Wiscasset, Bath or Damariscotta for a couple of hours. The MERR will be doing cross-promotions with the Downeaster to increase traffic on the Mid-Coast Limited and Wiscasset Flyer Train Service. We are looking into ways to bring people to the Boothbay Harbor region. Click herefor MERR's press release and stay tuned!
Going Green - We want your stories...
As many of you know, we have been working with Grid Solar, Efficiency Maine, Heliotropic Technologies and 350 Maine to help green the peninsula. We'd love to hear your stories of how you've tied in with these projects so that we can spread the good news. Please email Catherine@boothbayharbor.com with your green news!
Boothbay Peninsula Regional Values and Branding Project
The Boothbay peninsula is working to build consensus around community values in order to help us develop a solid regional brand, which is essential to attracting and retaining people and jobs. The brand will be used to create and develop a new regional logo, and identify a potential tagline or core message, based on the community responses received and the talent of a professional design team.
The goal is to create a regional brand useful to a myriad of sectors to attract, connect and retain talented people to the region. Community input has focused the region's uniqueness into three broad categories: quality of place, cultural heritage and economic development. This is your opportunity to tell us what's important to you about the Boothbay region. Please go to the link below and take the survey to help us develop this brand. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BoothbayPeninsulaSurvey
Please also consider sending this to your friends, neighbors, and other community members. We would like to capture as much input as possible. Thank you for your help! For more information and to assist with this project, please e-mail the Boothbay Region Steering Committee at boothbayvision@gmail.com.
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Seminars & Workshops
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Market Boothbay 2014
"Market Boothbay" is an initiative of the Boothbay Register to facilitate greater advertising impact by joining together to plan and promote business.An initial meeting was held on Dec. 3 at the Boothbay Region YMCA inviting all Boothbay merchants, restaurants, lodging, realtors and businesses in the region.The group discussed upcoming events and a 2014 calendar.Please join us for the next meeting scheduled at the YMCA Coastal Club Room on Thursday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m. Click here to learn more.
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Events
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Windjammer Days
Per the Annual Business Meeting held on October 30, 2013, the Board issued a Request for Proposal to secure an individual, a non-profit, a committee structure or a management organization to coordinate, promote and execute the 52nd Annual Windjammer Days Festival in 2014, within the given guidelines set forth in this Request for Proposal (RFP) by the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce. The completed RFP's are due to the Chamber by close of business 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013. The Chamber will review all proposals and make its final selection by December 20, 2013. All bidders will be notified of the Chamber's decision including those who do not win the bid. Click here for a copy of the RFP. The Chamber has received a number of inquiries and interested parties who would like to work with us for Windjammer Days. The Board will be reviewing these proposals in their December meeting and will be good stewards of this very important community event.
28th Annual Harbor Lights Festival - This Weekend!
 The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 28th Annual Harbor Lights Festival this weekend, December 6-8. The festival will offer a variety of joyous events throughout the weekend, in conjunction with several Boothbay Harbor Region businesses and the Town of Boothbay Harbor. Click here to learn more.
Also don't miss Studio 53's Holiday Event - Gifts For Giving '13 - Every weekend 11am - 4 pm, now until Men's Night Wed. Dec. 18th 4pm-9pm. An annual showcase of some of the finest, stand-out talent in the Boothbay region, this year's collection of unique, hand-crafted, original works of fine art, sculpture, & fine crafts, will be joined by local authors on hand for book signings. This event is a wonderful opportunity to support the arts, culture, and commerce at a local level - complete with complimentary edibles & beverages. Studio 53 Holiday Event - Gifts For Giving - combines a special shopping experience with meaningful community spirit! Click here to learn more. |
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Marketing Opportunities
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Getting Away Together - We're almost there...
We are still a few thousand short of our goal for funding the GAT project. It would be appreciated if you could find a way to help us with this last bit. We will probably be seeing the final product in January. Please stay tuned for the date for the Premier to be shown at the Harbor Theatre.
Please send checks to the following: Cottage Connection, "The Film Account", 675 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, ME 04537
New ibrochure for the Boothbay Harbor Region
Check out the Boothbay Harbor Region's ibrochure on "Vacationfun.com" America's leading source for free travel information! http://www.vacationfun.com/programs.asp?id=32 Here is another example of the Chamber marketing the region for you at not additional cost.
Region Guide 2014 - Last call! - We need ads, copy and calendar listings..
We are putting the finishing touches on another fabulous Region Guide for 2014. If you haven't sent in your ad, basic listings, chart listings, events for the calendar and photos, now is the time! It is going to print and we want you to have a presence in our region's top resource for tourists and locals!
Portland Jetport Airport Display - It's full!
Thank you to the Boothbay Harbor Country Club, the Cuckolds Fog & Signal Light, A Silver Lining, Spruce Point Inn, Rocktide Inn and House of Logan for signing up for our display at the Jetport! Being in this display will create new opportunities for our members to reach more than 1.7 million travelers who annually visit Maine's largest airport. It will also feature our 2014 Region Guide so make sure you are in the hands of these potential visitors!
Maine Magazine Co-op Ads - Now's the time to start advertising for 2014
Last year we had great success advertising in Maine magazine. Given this response, we decided to open up our co-op advertising to all issues in Maine magazine including their special issues like the Eat Guide and 48 Hours to give members the best pricing. If you want to do your own ad, you can take advantage of this pricing. For the themed ads, we will be doing them again for the June, July, August and September issues.
We have "pre-selected" issues that we think tie in well with our market. You can do any issues you like but we recommend the following:
February - Wedding issue [DEADLINE: Space December 13, ad December 20]
EAT Maine guide
- comes out Mid February (this is going to be different this year. It will be like a normal issue with all the different size ads. Size of magazine will be the same. Not template based. Past food editorial. Big photos of beautiful food spreads. Will be out on newsstands all year long.
March - Food issue
May - Real Estate feature
June - Kennebunkport Festival guide at the end of the June issue
July - 50 Mainers feature - Boothbay 48HRS
August - 48HRS issue - Will be out on newsstands all year long.
August - Boating issue
September - Hospitality / Lodging issue
Click here for a sign up form.
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