Dear members and friends:

June has certainly been an exciting month with so many GBCA meetings and events and not just one, but two incredible concierge strolls!!

A big thank you to our friends at the South End Business Alliance for hosting a fun-filled informative stroll through the South End on Monday, June 1, 2015. Our concierges enjoyed delicious food, shopping and the opportunity to meet the business owners who make the South End the lovely destination it is. A special thank you goes to Amanda Accardi; Around the Corner Custom Framing Fine Art who worked diligently to ensure this event was successful. I have included her e-mail address for you to share your letters of praise for a perfect evening. amanda.accardi@gmail.com. Also read more about the event and the businesses that participated in this month's newsletter.

Our February GBCA meeting had to be postponed due to bad weather (let's not be reminded of last winter!) . But our hosts more than made up for that on June 16, 2015 when we met at Boston's newest museum, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute at Columbia Point. More than 60 members of the GBCA were treated to an incredible reception, meeting and tour. Our business meeting was held in the Senate Chamber, a replica of the original located in Washington DC. We heard from informative guest speakers from the EMI, the JFK and Commonwealth Museum, now three great reasons to come to Columbia Point and spend the entire day. Again, I want to give a big thank you to Namita Raina, Director of Marketing for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate for making the evening such and overwhelming success. Namita can be reached by e-mail at amita.raina@emkinstitute.org 

Thank you again to our friends at Old Town Trolley for donating transportation to the EMI and back to Boston, our members really appreciate your support. Read more about this exciting event in this month minutes from our secretary Bonnie.

On Monday, June 22 concierge members enjoyed the annual Harvard Square stroll. As always Bill Manley, Manager of Marketing and Events with Harvard Square Business Association and Denise Jillson, Executive Director of HSBA showed us an amazing time and once again surpassed our expectations. Members enjoyed delicious food, shopping and strolling their way through the Harvard Square neighborhood. Super Tours with our good friend Ellen Silverman provided exceptional transportation throughout the evening. The night wrapped up at Rialto, home to the legendary Chef Jody Adams. Thank you again to all the folks we met along our tour and also those who donated generous swag bags that we all received. Read more about this fun event in this month's newsletter.

Our GBCA Family Fun Day held on Saturday, June 20th, 2015 was a huge success. The event was held at the Charles River Bistro on the Esplanade. Our friends at the Anthem Group were our hosts. There was plenty of family fun for all ages. We enjoyed jazz music while relaxing on the Esplanade. There was face painting, balloon animals and a magic show from Silly Willie the Clown. Adults and kids alike played catch, corn hole bat mitten and throwing Frisbees on the Esplanade. A delicious lunch was donated by the Charles River Bistro and Anthem Group. The GBCA made sure everyone stayed cool by providing ice cream Sundays. Last but not least, raffle prizes were donated by the GBCA. Mirko Bissetta, concierge at the Liberty Hotel took home the grand prize a state of the art Corn Hole Game. I know he and his family will have lots of fun in the sun with that incredible out door yard game.

Thank you to all of our members who attended this awesome event and our volunteers Elizabeth Carey, Krissy Beal, Natalia Wilk and our photographer VP. of Public Relation's Evan Martin. It was great to see all of our members with their families enjoying a great day of camaraderie and merriment. I have already been asked many times when can we do this again?

Reminder our official June meeting will take this Monday, June 29, 2015. I will share actual details of this much anticipated event in our July newsletter. Thank you to Della Grallert, Group Sales Manager of the New England Aquarium for hosting us. We will have several stimulating speakers as well as a wonderful tour and refreshments. This is sure to be an exhilarating event. I look forward to seeing you all there.

With Pride in Service

Betty Salemme

GBCA President