E-Brief header
November 2013
Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn View our videos on YouTube
Highlights

Chamber Endorsed Candidate Wins City Council Seat  

Measure F Passes  

Health & Wellness Event: Care for the Caregivers 

CalChamber Releases List of New Employment Laws Affecting Businesses in 2014   

Forecasting the Future Economic Conference Builds Business Relationships    

Economic Outlook 2014 & Beyond 

Women of Industry Inaugural Luncheon  



 Upcoming Events
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 13, 5-7pm:
Mixer at CellularWorld
Win a free iPhone and other fabulous prizes!

Wednesday, November 20, 11:30am-2pm
Care for the Caregivers

Saturday, November 23, 10am
Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up

Tuesday, December 3, 11:30am-1pm
Women of Industry Inaugural Luncheon

 

Click here for detailed calendar
Click on the ad above to check out the SRCC's new "I Belong" campaign




Message from the Board Chair
Joan Capurro, The Hat Lady
Laura Bertolli headshot

Marin County's business community, but more specifically the San Rafael business community, knew Joan and her REAL title, Director of Community Relations at Bank of Marin.  After just about 24 years, she has made a life transition and left in September.

 

Joan did her job well, serving on many boards and volunteering for nonprofits.  She gave a lot to the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce over the years, by serving on the board and many committees, but her biggest contribution was to the San Rafael Leadership Institute, which (from the brochure) "offers a singular opportunity to develop leadership and team-building skills while learning about current issues that impact Marin County residents and businesses. The program brings together many of Marin's key policy makers and offers participants the chance to begin their own relationships with the key stakeholders of the County".  This year's class was the largest in history and had a waiting list!

more->
Leaders Circle Spotlight



Bank of Marin is the premier community and business bank in the North Bay with 17 offices throughout Marin, Sonoma, Napa and San Francisco.Known for their experienced, local team of bankers, they provide exceptional service, quick turnaround, and ongoing
guidance for their customers. They call this Legendary Service. more->

Founded in 1975, MV Transportation, Inc.("MV") is the largest private provider of paratransit services and the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting firm based in the United States.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MV and its subsidiaries operate more than 9,500 transit vehicles for more than 200 passenger transportation contracts in 140 locations around the world, and employ over 16,500 dedicated transit professionals. The company's vehicle operators
transport millions of passengers and travel more than 264 million miles annually. more->



Eckhoff Accountancy Corporation has been serving clients for over 50 years. We are a full service CPA Firm offering the complete range of services expected of a modern accounting firm to a broad range of industries. This includes, auditing and accounting,
consulting, tax planning and compliance, accounting systems consulting, litigation support and forensic accounting sevices, business valuation and management consulting. more->

The Unicorn Group is a proud member of the San Rafael Chamber, working hard to support the local community with efforts enhancing the activities of many non-profit and small business ventures. This family owned business has a rich history of providing printing, graphic design, fulfillment and direct marketing mail services for the past 34 years. more->

Strengthening the Local Economy

Committee of the Month: 

Ambassadors Committee 

     

The Ambassadors are the public relations arm of the Chamber - a group of motivated, enthusiastic and articulate business people who serve as the backbone of the Chamber's membership programs. They represent the Chamber at social functions and are the face of the Chamber in the community.   

  

 

Pictured - Marcus Lee, An Affair to Remember; Alta Ridley, Alta Cuisine; Gregory Quirarte, Sonoma Bank; Sean Murphy, RPM Mortgage; Ray Schlitzer, Accuchex; Becky Price; Debi Gellar, Nelson Staffing; Barbara Squires, The Busy B;  

Greg Schoff, Local Biz Marketing 

Not pictured - Christopher Harney, Mass Mutual Financial Group; Helen Ludvigson, Legal Shield; Shawn Spaulding, Wollberg Michaelson Personnel Service; Marc Apple, Forward Push Media; Jill Williams, JC Williams Group; Jeanie Boro, Boro Insurance Group and Mick Van Staveren, Insphere Insurance solutions 

Forecasting the Future Economic Conference strengthens the local economy by building hundreds of business relationshipsftf

The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the Marin Economic Forum in association with the Marin County Council of Chambers, presented the 10th annual Forecasting the Future Economic Conference to a sold-out crowd, Thursday at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael.
The Conference provided crucial insights about the local, regional and national economic forecasts and trends facing California businesses in the next three years. This sold-out event featured an esteemed panel of economists and industry experts including Tracey Grose, VP Bay Area Council Economic Institute, Dr. Robert Eyler, CEO Marin Economic Forum, Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold and Allan Zaremberg, President of the California Chamber of Commerce.  

For more information about the Forecasting the Future Economic Conference and to see key points from the speakers' presentations, please visit srchamber.com

 

Show Me the Money!! referral2

Want to earn some extra money this year? Refer businesses to the Chamber and you could receive $50 for each referral. . . it's a win-win for everyone!   

Nearly $1,000 has already been mailed out to Chamber members this year and over $400 contributed to the San Rafael Leadership Institute Scholarship Fund!

Click here for more details.
Add Member2Member Discount Plan to Your Business Strategy for 2013  
 
The San Rafael Chamber Member2Member Discount Savings Program supports our Chamber members' businesses and keeps shopping dollars in our Community. More businesses are signing up every day - we have over 80 businesses offering significant discounts right now! Members can sign-up for free

Member2Member Spotlight:

 

 



View All Member2Member Deals 

Representing Business to Government
Chamber News
Downtown News
Green Business News
City and County News
Promoting and Connecting the Community
Yoga Tree Corte Madera 1-Year Anniversary Party Attendees will enjoy a FREE yoga class from 1:30 to 3pm with Susan Hauser, Alison Smith and Andrea Manitsas. Yoga inspired projects for kids during the yoga class with Daria Gershman including face painting and other fun activities. Also offered: chair massages and a trunk show hosted in partnership by Lululemon Athletica. Drinks and snacks available after the yoga class. more->

Comcast Announces Internet Essentials Connects One Million 
Comcast Executive Vice President David L. Cohen announced that Comcast's Internet Essentials program - the largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program in America - has connected more than 1 million low-income Americans to broadband Internet in their homes, most for the very first time. This announcement came in testimony before the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The hearing examined the critical importance of expanding broadband adoption for Internet service nationwide and its crucial role in providing new opportunities in education, health care, and employment. more->

Bank of Marin Announces New Community Relations VP, Fabia Butler Bank of Marin has announced the promotion of Fabia Butler to Vice President, Manager of Community and Public Relations. Butler shifts into a newly created role that combines community relations and public relationsto leverage the Bank's efforts in these closely related areas. Butler succeeds Joan Capurro who recently retired after 24 years with the Bank and was the community relations director for over a decade.   more->    

  

Care for the CaregiverscareCalling all Caregivers... come celebrate all Caregivers at an open house
event at Hospice by the Bay. It's time to "Care for the Caregivers." In celebration of National Hospice & Family Caregiver Month, the Health & Wellness Resource Group of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Hospice By The Bay invite you to a day of Care for the Caregiver. This event is an open house to family and professional caregivers in our community. Whether you care for seniors, infants or any age in between this event is an opportunity for you to take a couple of hours and turn that nurturing light on yourself. more->    


More member news here

Chamber Members
OCTOBER NEW MEMBERS
OCTOBER MEMBER MILESTONES

30 YEAR MEMBER
Marin Center for Independent Living

20-29 Year Members

  • Blake's Auto Body
  • Bolds Insurance Brokerage
  • Double Rainbow Cafe
  • Latino Council of Marin / United Way
  • San Rafael Joe's

10-19 Year Members

  • Friedlander Cherwon Capper LLP
  • Ghilotti Construction
  • Marlene P. Getchell Law Offices
  • Parker & Crosland LLP
  • Peter Levi Plumbing, Inc.
  • Sandra Madison Reinhardt, CPA
  • TWM Architects & Planners
  • Visiting Angels
1-9 Year Members
  • First Community Bank   
  • Meritas Wealth Management, LLC
  • Neptune Society
  • Office Depot
  • Panera Bread
  • Patricia A. Mayer, Attorney at Law
  • San Rafael Airport LLC
  • San Rafael Pacifics Baseball Club

About Us

Emily Maloney
Office Manager

Joanne Webster
Director of Marketing and Community Promotion

Leonard Weingarten
Business Development

Rick Wells
President and CEO

Bay Area Green Business
Our Core Values
  • Strengthening the Local Economy
  • Promoting and Connecting the Community  
  • Providing Quality Networking Opportunities
  • Representing Business to Government
  • Political Action