Battling another winter snow storm, Chamber members gathered at the Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel on Wednesday, February 19th for the Annual dinner celebration. Guest speaker, Hank Philippe Ryan, did not disappoint the ninety plus Chamber members who came out to hear her speak. Giving an upbeat account of her career, as well as her life's philosophy, she proved that it's never too late to change careers and follow your dreams. Our Executive Director, Maureen Sullivan, set the tone for the evening with a warm welcome and several jokes about Ms. Ryan's book names, The Other Woman and The Wrong Girl. President Adam Schwartz introduced and thanked the board of directors and gave a brief outline of the Chamber's 2014 goals including: improve the health of the Chamber by increasing membership, expand member participation, and incorporate best practices. He also mentioned a desire to expand relationships with town officials and collaborate, influence, and advocate for changes.

The Chamber awards were presented to Summit Health & Fitness - Business of the Year, John Jamesapollos - Business Person of the Year, Mark Abrams - Outstanding Service to the Chamber, and Bennett Driscoll -Ray of Hope Winner. However, it was the Chamber's Diversity award winner, Anne Guay, who brought the house down with her acceptance speech. Guay was recognized for her tireless volunteer efforts.  Guay has been providing assistance to families in transition at the Bedford Plaza Hotel since the spring of 2011. She has been the welcoming face of the Bedford community to these displaced families who are living at the hotel temporarily and not by personal choice.  Ann has been a tireless advocate for the rights of families currently without shelter, and she does what is needed to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives.  She provides this service by securing food staples, clothing, and adequate long-term shelter. She has educated the Bedford community both by example and by verbally welcoming diversity of all types, and she has made Bedford a better community.  Ms. Guay's humble acceptance speech included a story about the children living in the hotel around Halloween.  Volunteers had secured thirty costumes, but when they arrived to distribute them, there were ninety children in need. Over the next 24 hours, the volunteers scurried all over town to secure more costumes and returned with them the next evening. Ms Guay noticed that the children were quite well behaved, unlike the chaos of the previous day.  When one of the teenage boys approached to thank her for the costumes, she asked him why everyone was so calm.  "Because you came back... most people don't" he replied.

Guay left the podium to a standing ovation.

The annual dinner will air on Bedford TV beginning the week of March 10.

Chamber President Adam Schwartz, Fadi Khab, Larry Covin, Anne Guay, John Jamesapollos, Mark Abrams, Executive Director Maureen Sullivan

Sue Baldauf & Ray of Hope Winner Bennett Driscoll

Healthy Bedford asks  

"What are your transportation needs?"

In 2012, Bedford embarked on a Healthy Communities Planning Grant process funded by the Community Health Network Alliance (CHNA 15), which asked us to inquire about the assets and needs people felt most affected their quality of life here in Bedford.  Information gathered from that project indicated that the most appreciated assets were:  Sense of Community, Trails and Nature.  Primary areas of concern were:  Traffic, Sidewalks and Lack of Public Transportation.  Items identified as priority needs were:  sidewalks and local transportation options.  In order to learn more about what Bedford desires in transportation options, we are asking you to take our brief, confidential Transportation Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BedfordTransportation  

Paper copies are available at Youth and Family Services, Board of Health, Town Hall, CoA and the Library.  For questions, contact Healthy Bedford Coordinator Carla Olson at healthybedford@befordma.gov.

This survey is funded by: Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds from Lahey Clinic.

Economic Development Position: The Chamber will sit in on a second round of interviews and will provide candidate feedback to the town. The Business Development Group had a discussion on what candidate qualities would best serve the town in this position.

Bedford First:The Chamber is relaunching this program. We are updating the website and will be featuring a merchant of the month. We are will be making a special outreach to some of our larger members to get the word out to their employees.
Alcohol Policy Updates.: The updates have not yet had a final vote  by the Selectman. They are waiting to hear back from Rick Reed/Town on some minor changes.
Bedford Depot Park : The Depot Park Advisory Committee has an opening. This would be a good opportunity for a Chamber Member to join this committee and provide a business perspective on improving Depot Park 

SCORE:SCORE is free business counseling service provided to entrepreneurs, both for profit and not-for-profits.  They work with both new and established businesses mentoring them in their development of business plans, financials, sales, marketing, operations - all phases of their business. SCORE currently works with businesses in Burlington and Concord and would like to reach businesses based in Bedford. Businesses make appointments to met with them. They visit each town twice a month. For the first step, The Chamber has agreed to  promote the SCORE service to Bedford businesses but appointments will initially be scheduled in Burlington. As interests builds, the appointments can be moved to Bedford. SCORE meets with one business at a time, so a conference room that can hold six or more people will eventually be needed for a few hours twice a month. The Chamber will be promoting SCORE through it's website and in upcoming newsletters. We will probably also have SCORE attend an upcoming catch the net event in Bedford.


  

   An event for everyone 

Wednesday, March 12^th

7:00 - 8:00pm

You'll learn:

* The science and medical principles that shape The Well Effect^™ Program

* How our experts support you to achieve your wellness goals

* Learn the difference between "wellness" and "change" activities.

* Skills that you can start using right away to look and feel better

* How to sustainably lose weight and eliminate nagging injuries.

* Examples from our staff and clients about their own change

thewelleffect.com/change/seminar/

186 Great Road, Bedford MA      

In the Starbucks Plaza     

Bring a friend!

Please RSVP by March 10th by email to change@thewelleffect.com or  call 781-275-8400

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CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 

March 6
Multi-Chamber Networking Burlington Marriott 

 
March 13
Board of Directors
Bedford Police Station
7:30 AM  

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