CHAMBER NEWS  DECEMBER 2012
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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.
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LEADERSHIP
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EXECUTIVE BOARD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LORETTA LODGE
PRESIDENT
DOUG CAMP
The Investor's Friend
VICE PRESIDENT
DAVID BOWMAN
PNC Bank
TREASURER
DIANE BRANDT
CNB Bank
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAVID BOWMAN
PNC Bank
BOB GREENWALD
East Coast Storage
JON HANLEY
Hanleyman Services, LLC
JIM RICH
Inn at Huntingfield Creek
JIM ROSS
Chester River Health System
BILL RUCKELSHAUS
Champion Realty, Inc.
KATIE WARRINGTON
Horizon Organic Dairy
LANSING WILLIAMS
Washington College
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CHAMBER EVENTS
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12/05/2012
Ribbon Cutting
5:30 PM
The Hearing Center
of Chestertown
818 High Street, Suite 3
Chestertown, MD
12/11/2012
Holiday Gala
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Uncle Charlie's Bistro
834B High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
12/12/2012
12:00 P.M.
Chamber Board Meeting
Chamber Office
122 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD
01/07/2013
Pre-Session
Legislative Breakfast
8:30 A.M.
Heron Point
501 East Campus Avenue
Chestertown, MD
01/16/2013
Economic Development Breakfast
8:30 A.M.
Washington College
Hynson Lounge
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD
01/24/2013
Excellence in Business Awards Gala
6:00 P.M.
Chester River Yacht & Country 738 Quaker Neck Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
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From the Executive Director
Season's Greetings!
Well here we are once again in the midst of another glorious holiday season. The Chamber will be celebrating with our annual Holiday Gala on Tuesday, December 11th. This year's event will be hosted by Chuck Ministero and his staff at Uncle Charlie's Bistro in Chestertown. We have had a tremendous response for this annual event. Door prizes have been graciously donated by over a dozen of our members and it promises to be a wonderful evening! Unfortunately, we are at our limit and cannot accept any more reservations for this year's Gala.
A big thank you goes out to Jon Coile and Patsy Whiteley, and their associates and staff at Champion Realty for hosting our Business-After-Hours in November. Generally, there is no admission fee for our Business-After-Hours, but again this year, Patsy required two canned goods from each attendee to be donated to our local food pantry. What a tremendous way to give back to the community. Thank you Patsy!
I want to remind everyone that these Chamber events provide great networking opportunities. There is always good food and drink and conversation, but the networking aspect cannot be overlooked. Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting with a potential customer or referral.
The 2013 Chamber of Commerce Kent County Map project is about to be put to bed. We have, however, extended the deadline for advertising in the Map to Monday, December 10th. I am pleased to say that rates have not increased from last year and are very reasonable, especially considering the extended shelf life and the distribution of the Map through the Chamber, the Visitors Center, the Department of Tourism & Economic Development and local businesses. So if you have not placed your ad yet, now is the time to do so! Send me an email or giving me a call at the Chamber office. (kentchamber@verizon.net or 410.810.2968)
January will bring the first Legislative Breakfast of the year on January 7 at Heron Point. We will be holding an Economic Forum Breakfast on January 16 at Washington College, and the Annual Excellence in Business Awards celebration will be held on January 24 at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club. More details on all of these events will be sent as they become available.
In preparation for our Excellence in Business Awards Event, please remember to submit your nominations. Click the link below to view the award categories and criteria, and to send us your nominations.
Click here for your nomination form
Winners will be announced at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Excellence in Business Awards Event in January.
The event is open to Chamber members and the public.
Thank you in advance for sending us your nomination. We value and appreciate your input and participation, and look forward to seeing you at the Awards Event in January, if not before!
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday season, and a prosperous New Year!!
Loretta Loretta M. Lodge Executive Director P.S. Did you know The name December comes from the Latin decem for "ten", as it was the 10th month in the Roman Calendar?
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Welcome New 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 _________________________ Chester 5 Theatres 21 Washington Square Chestertown, MD 21620 Tel 410.778-6101 pgtheaters@gmail.com www.pandgtheaters.com
Local in Kent
Steve Atkinson - Owner
P.O. Box 222
Worton, MD 21678
Tel 410.708.3653
LIK@shoretobefun.com
www.localinkent.com
Local in Kent is an online (internet) publication featuring recreational and entertainment information on activities in Kent County, Maryland.
Connecting the residents and visitors of Kent County with the local community.
_________________________
Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber members! |
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
5:30 PM
The Hearing Center of Chestertown
818 High Street, Suite 3
Free & Open to the Public! RSVP is not required, but appreciated.
Chamber of Commerce Holiday Gala
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Uncle Charlie's Bistro
834B High Street
Chestertown, MD
Sorry - This event is full.
Reservations no longer being accepted
Chamber Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Chamber Office
122 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD
The meeting is open to all members. Please contact Loretta at 410/810-2968 or
kentchamber@verizon.net if you plan on attending.
Pre-Session Legislative Breakfast Monday, January 7, 2013 8:30 A.M. Heron Point 501 East Campus Avenue Chestertown, MD RSVP at www.kentchamber.org Online Registration ONLY Economic Development Breakfast Wednesday, January 16, 2013 8:30 A.M. Washington College Hynson Lounge 300 Washington Avenue Chestertown, MD Further details to come Excellence in Business Awards Gala Thursday, January 24, 2013 6:00 P.M. Chester River Yacht & Country 738 Quaker Neck Road Chestertown, MD 21620 Look for your invitation soon!
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The
Kent County Chamber of Commerce
Annual Excellence in Business Awards Gala
celebrating Business and Opportunity is just around the corner. This year's event will continue with tradition and is designed to recognize the dedication, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by Kent County Chamber members.
We are currently seeking seeking nominees for our 2012 Excellence in Business Awards. Click the link below to send us your nomination.
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR NOMINATION FORM
Winners will be announced at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Excellence in Business Awards Gala to be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club.
Invitations with additional information for this event to follow.
The event is open to Chamber members and the public.
Event & Table Sponsorship opportunities are available. If you are interested, please contact the Chamber at 410.810.2968 or
kentchamber@verizon.net
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NEWS FROM & FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS
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Do you have news about your business that
you want to share with our readers?
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Stevenson University bringing their
Bachelors of Science in Nursing to the Eastern Shore!
Beginning in January 2013, Stevenson University will be offering courses in the Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree at the Eastern Shore Higher Education Center, located on the Chesapeake College Wye Mills Campus. Licensed Registered Nurses are eligible to apply for acceptance into the program. Courses are taught on an 8 week schedule and will be offered at night face-to-face, and also online or in a hybrid format.
For more information about the program and on how to make application to Stevenson University, please contact Enrollment Counselor, Ms. Tonia Cristino at tcristino@stevenson.edu. Or you may contact Deborah Urry, Executive Director of the Eastern Shore Higher Education Center at durry@chesapeake.edu.
Deborah AH Urry
Executive Director
Eastern Shore Higher Education Center
PO Box 8
Wye Mills, MD 21679
Ph 410-827-5761
Fax 410-827-5406
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  Patti Willis, Senior Vice President, External Relations, Communications & Marketing 219 S. Washington Street Phone - 410/822 - 1000, extension 5508. Pager - 410/819 - 9347. Easton, Maryland 21601 Fax - 410/770 - 8603 Website - www.shorehealth.org News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (EASTON- November 30, 2012) Shore Regional Cancer Center Receives Donations from Kent County Longaberger Group Rita Kulley of Rock Hall (left) presents a check to Shore Regional Cancer Center for the center's Wig Room. The Cancer Center provides wigs, hats, and other assistance to help cancer patients look good so they can feel better while undergoing cancer treatment. The donation was raised by Kulley and her Longaberger Basket team, based in Kent County. The women, who have donated over $5,000 to the center, raised the funds through a variety of events. Accepting the donation on behalf of Shore Regional Cancer Center is Dorney Brown, Clinical Research Assistant.
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Standing in front of their contest board with some of their donations (left to right) are: Stacey Reischer, RN; Renee Thomas, RN; Francine Holt, RN; Jessica Caraker, RN; Bridget Smith, Monitor Tech; Stella Hubbard, RN; Mary Beth Daniels, RN; Haider Sarraf, MD; and Molly Smith, RN.
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Patti Willis, Senior Vice President, External Relations, Communications & Marketing 219 S. Washington Street Phone - 410/822 - 1000, extension 5508. Pager - 410/819 - 9347. Easton, Maryland 21601 Fax - 410/770 - 8603 Website - www.shorehealth.org News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (EASTON- November 30, 2012) Telemetry Staff Collect for Local Food Banks The staff in the Telemetry Unit at Memorial Hospital recently held a "Football for Food" canned food drive, raising nearly 1,800 cans for local food banks on the Mid-Shore. Chaired by Molly Smith, RN, the staff divided in four teams with four coaches and competed against each other to see which team could raise the most food. The canned goods will be distributed in early December to local food banks in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent and Talbot counties. |
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Members of Shore Health's Target Zero Steering Committee celebrate Shore Health's recent 2012 Partnership in Prevention honorable mention. Pictured (left to right) are Michael Tooke, MD, Chief Medical Officer; Ali Khan, Manager, Environmental Services' Kim Billingslea, BSN, RN, Director of Patient Safety and Advocacy; Christine Clarke, Director of Organization and Workforce Development; Dona Benford, MSN, RN, Manager, Joint Replacement Center; Rob Carroll, Director of Performance Measurement and Improvement; Julie Bryan, BS, RN, Infection Control Coordinator and Rosa Mateo, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist.
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Patti Willis, Senior Vice President, External Relations, Communications & Marketing 219 S. Washington Street Phone - 410/822 - 1000, extension 5508. Pager - 410/819 - 9347. Easton, Maryland 21601 Fax - 410/770 - 8603 Website - www.shorehealth.org News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (EASTON- November 13, 2012) Shore Health Patient Safety Initiative Receives National Recognition Shore Health's Target Zero initiative was one of four programs across the country that received national recognition earlier this year as an honorable mention recipient of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2012 Partnership in Prevention Award. This national recognition is given annually by HHS in partnership with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) to recognize the top hospitals who have achieved the greatest sustainable improvements towards eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The first of its kind, this award is meant to demonstrate that wide-scale reduction and progress toward the elimination of healthcare-associated infections are truly possible when multidisciplinary teams work together. "It is gratifying for Shore Health to be named among the top hospitals in the country for our Target Zero efforts because so many people at Shore contributed to our success, " says Michael Tooke, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Shore Health. Thanks to Target Zero, Shore Health has experienced extended periods of time with zero significant infections, in particular CLABSI, CAUTI, and VAP. Each ICU and many other hospital-based nursing units, including the home care and hospice team, have gone for periods of over a year (some even greater than two or three years) without a device-related infection. Additionally, Shore Health has seen reductions in every other healthcare-associated infection tracked, including MRSA, C-Diff, and VRE. "It is a thrill to know that the work we do every day is not only saving lives but also is serving as a model for other hospitals throughout the nation to follow.," says Julie Bryan, BS, RN, Infection Control Coordinator. "Through Target Zero, we have eliminated many healthcare-associated infections and sent our patients home to enjoy life with their loved ones. " The scope of Target Zero sets us apart from other organizations because, instead of focusing our efforts solely on the intensive care units of the hospitals, all departments throughout the system - both in the hospital and out in the community, even in patients' homes - are working toward this important goal. "Across the nation, in acute care facilities of every shape and size, we're seeing that involving, and sometimes even broadening, the healthcare team in efforts that combine science with implementation results in success," said Jan Patterson, MD, MS, president for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. To read more about Target Zero, visit www.shorehealth.org/target-zero/ .
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IN THE NEWS
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AROUND THE STATE
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Executives renew calls for business-friendly Maryland
Chamber's policy conference highlights regulatory concerns
Echoing familiar themes, company executives again denounced what they see as the state's difficult business climate during the Maryland Chamber of Commerce's annual conference on business policy. "We need to develop regulatory and growth policies that encourage business growth," said Scott Dorsey, CEO of commercial real estate developer and property manager Merritt Properties of Baltimore. "Too often people get frustrated with infrastructure problems and that leads to the conclusion that we need to stop building." Dorsey joined with the leaders of Pepco in Washington, D.C., W.L. Gore & Associates in Newark, Del., and Old Line Bank in Bowie at Turf Valley in Ellicott City on Friday to discuss strategies and concerns for today's economy. Dorsey, who also is a director of Maryland Business for Responsive Government, said frequent minor business regulatory changes have led to a "death-by-a-thousand-cuts" situation. Dorsey compared his company's reception in Maryland with Virginia's reaction. "When we expanded into Virginia, an amazing thing happened: They were happy to see us. We haven't seen that in Maryland," he said. Merritt has been involved in real estate development in Maryland for more than 40 years. James Cornelsen, president and CEO of Old Line, agreed with Dorsey. "It takes too long to get anything accomplished," he said, pointing to Old Line's four-year wait to build its new office building in Bowie. "I think it would move faster in other states." "Four years to get a building approved is ridiculous," said Robert W. Cannon, a lawyer with Saul Ewing in Baltimore. He said Old Line's situation reflects a "failure of leadership at all levels and a culture of 'I'll get around to it'" in the state. Although Prince George's County officials have reiterated the county's goal of streamlining its permitting process, Cornelsen has little faith, saying every county executive has made the same claim. Old Line has 19 branches and has been on a bit of an acquisition binge, purchasing Maryland Bankcorp of Lexington Park and agreeing to acquire Washington Savings Bank of Bowie. "We've got to turn up the advocacy," Cornelsen said. "We've got to fight each and every day. You can't just sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to do the heavy lifting." "I would like to change the way government and business interact," Dorsey said. "Right now, it's 'I see you want to do something - how can I stop you?'" He explained the problem may not have been so pronounced in the past because Maryland businesses have always been dependent on the nearby federal government. But now businesses need to "re-engineer" the process and figure out how to transform Maryland's assets into jobs, Dorsey said. Terri Kelly, president and CEO of W.L. Gore, which has several plants in Maryland, had a more positive outlook on the state, saying her associates "love" living in the state. But she did say that Maryland's regulatory changes can be difficult to navigate when Gore must manage different state locations. "It's almost like Kelly is in another state," Cannon said, referring to Kelly's experiences with the state. As for federal changes, Kelly lamented how regulatory changes have forced companies to hire people to handle the additional paperwork, which does not necessarily drive investment. Cornelsen complained about the nation turning the bank industry into a "commodity" and a utility, the same as the energy industry. He warned that regulations are killing off the smaller banks because they cannot grow at a sustainable rate. "Keep in mind that when they disappear, they're sometimes in really small towns, where they may be the center of commerce," Cornelsen said. Dorsey added that the real estate industry needs more predictability instead of politicians "just kicking the can down the road" when it comes to fiscal policy. Thomas Graham, president of Pepco Region, also emphasized that the Maryland business community needs to stand united when dealing with local and federal issues and not have different businesses moving in different directions. lrobbins@gazette.net Scott Dorsey is a director of Maryland Business for Responsive Government. |
- 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 Damon Bradley at SCORE to get more information: windtryst04@aol.com
- 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 kentchamber@verizon.net
The following businesses are participating members.
Please support these businesses!
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