Letter From the Chair of the Board
Dear Chamber Members:  Another year is coming to an end and as far as 2015 is concerned all I can say is WOW WHAT A YEAR!! Our goal has always been to provide our members with high quality programs and events and we seem to get better at it each year. This year was a blockbuster with highlights in every category. Our Veteran's Auction with (then) New England Patriot Vince Wilfork was a sell out with proceeds going to the Chaplains Emergency Relief Fund. Over the past 8 years this auction has raised over $120,000 dollars to support out veterans. This year Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler will be our main attraction on April 22, 2016 and again we will be partnering with CERF.
Member Education had a very successful year with programs to help our members grow their businesses. Dr. Bob Nadeau's Linked-In session drew a crowd so large it was necessary to move to a larger venue.
Two new events this year - The Health and Wellness Fair in May and the Women's Leadership Conference in October - were well received and will be added to the schedule as annual events.
Business growth is important to the Chamber because it is important to our members. In 2014 we began the Business Retention and Expansion program with UNH interviewing local businesses about the challenges they face doing business in the Souhegan Valley.
Our follow up was the Economic Summit held in September where many of the participants came together to discuss the findings and identify key concerns. As the year progresses we will be looking to work with the communities in our region to share our findings.
The Annual Dinner in June and the Southern NH Business Expo rounded out the calendar year. All of this along with monthly After Hours, Before Hours, lunch and learns, committee meetings, and ribbon cutting events make us a chamber on the move. It is a lot, but that is what our members expect and that is what we want to deliver to them.
This is a great time to be a member of the SVCC- thanks to the board, our sustaining partners, the committees, and the work of our executive director Tracy Hutchins and operations manager Beth Boggis. We have an active organization that continues to grow and improve each year. Here's to a Great Year in 2016! 
From The Executive Director
Dear Friends:  We are wrapping up 2015 and what an extraordinary year it has been! Many thanks to all who have been supportive of the Chamber over the last year - our members, sustaining partners, volunteers and board members. Without the contributions of all of you, we could not have achieved our many accomplishments in 2015.
our 2015 activities. As you can see, it has been a great year in bringing local people together and highlighting the Souhegan Valley as a great place to do business.
Those unfamiliar with our Chamber often ask "Who is the Chamber and why should I join?" Of course, we offer many tangible benefits to our members to help support their business or organization, all of which are described on our website. But the true answer to this question is: The Chamber is You. You, and the many other concerned business and community leaders who wish to see our region maintain a high standard of living, a vital local economy, and communities where you wish to live, work and raise families. We exist to promote and enhance the area's economic climate so businesses will locate in our region, grow and hire employees, and stay in our area. The Chamber supports our local businesses, from the large to the small, by giving them the tools to succeed - with information, referrals and programs. Healthy, diverse and profitable businesses mean healthy and prosperous communities with low unemployment, support for local charitable organizations, good quality schools and high quality of life. When you join the Chamber, you are part of a much larger effort.
Although our special events provide us the most public visibility, it is the day to day activities of the Chamber that personally give me the most satisfaction. Over this last year, we have assisted members in finding new business locations, new employees, hosted job fairs, made referrals, helped new residents settle in their new community, promoted local business accomplishments and brought organizations together for common goals. Our board, committees and staff are dedicated to delivering the best possible service to our members and communities - and we love what we do.
We are already planning some fantastic events and activities for 2016. We hope you will join us. Have an idea for us or need some ideas for your business? Stop by - the coffee is always on and we are here to brainstorm. Thank you for your support and continued participation. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Warmly,
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