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E.L.F. 3rd Annual   

Golf Tournament  

 

 

 Point of Purchase Fundraiser  

 

GOT DRUGS? 

FREE Collection Day  

 

 

Big Rig Day

May 15, 2011

 

 

Chamber Events

SAVE THE DATE

Annual

Clean Up & Recycle Day 

April 30, 2011

Contact the Chamber

for more info and how

to participate

 ______________

 

NEW DATE

May 20, 2011 

 Click to learn more

Welcome New Members

TSYS Merchant Solutions

JJM Boiler Works, Inc. 

 Regional Tourism Council Planned

The new Hampshire County Tourism and Visitors Bureau was announced at a March 25 planning meeting at UMass with over 75 representatives from area business, government and the hospitality industry attending. This new effort to promote Hampshire County as a tourist destination will be a great asset to economic development in our area.

Initiated by the Amherst Area Chamber and the Greater Northampton Chamber and supported by the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, attendees learned of the ground work already started in this exciting new venture.  Through the hard work of State Senator Stan Rosenberg, the RTC was created in the State Legislature which included an initial planning grant from the Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism.  A marketing platform has been created that brands the cultural, educational and agricultural assets of Hampshire County.  Plus, a website portal for cultural tourists and arts patrons is now in development through a collaboration with the College of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst.

This is just the beginning of what will become an essential part of the picture for our economic growth.  The Chambers need the support of our members to bring the RTC to fruition.  If you would like to be a part of the RTC committee and help plan its future and continued success, please contact me at eric.snyder@easthamptonchamber.org and I will pass you name onto the RTC organizers.

 Spreading the Word about Greater Easthampton 

The Chamber Marketing Committee is excited to announce that Greater Easthampton will now be a part of the 2011-2012 Pioneer Valley Visitor Guide with the inclusion of an advertisement in the guide touting Greater Easthampton as a "Destination for All Seasons". 

The Guide, with a printing of 125,000 copies, will be available at local Chambers, regional visitor centers, as well as outlets in the Berkshires, Albany, Boston and Canada.  Plus, in cooperation with the Amherst Area and Greater Northampton Chambers, 20,000 copies of a brochure containing the advertisements of all three of our Chambers will be made available for our members to distribute at their place of business.

The Marketing Committee extends their thanks to Cottage Street Studios 

and Easthampton City Arts+ for helping to underwrite the advertisement.

Clay Crow and Brad Robbins have been the co-owners of Mantis Graphics since 2006, when they moved into their current location on Adams Street. Mantis Graphics does graphic design, including signs and logos, T-shirt printing, and embroidery. Clay has been a member of the Chamber since 2004, and a Board member for the Chamber for the last four years.

A little-known fact about Mantis is that all of their signs are custom designed and hand made by Clay. He designs, constructs and usually installs the signs, with an emphasis on high quality and durability. He can make any kind of sign a client needs, from a single lawn sign to a lit shopping center sign.

One of the projects coming up for Mantis Graphics is an addition to the Old Town Hall signage, in keeping with the flavor of the historic building. Others include signs for the Williston-Northampton School, which are carved and use gold leafing to ensure that they last a long time, and signs and graphic design for some of Autumn Properties' commercial locations. Clay also just completed a logo for the city's "Local Works" arts program, soon to be unveiled.

Clay also loves spending his time doing logo design, as he is an illustrator by training. Before starting Mantis Graphics, he spent 10 years in the corporate world, doing packaging, brochures, websites, cards, ads, trade show booths and banners.

Mantis offers new clients "one-stop shopping." They come there for their logos and signs, then return for their promotional products for years to follow. "When you wear a T-shirt, you are a walking billboard for your company."

As a Chamber Board member, Clay is devoted to helping all businesses succeed locally. "I really like doing business in Easthampton. It's a small town, and I get to know my customers by name. I like running into a client in the grocery store who says to me, 'Hi, Clay--I'll be in touch about a new project I need you to do.'" He also knows the local officials and can help clients follow the process to obtain the approvals they need for permits.

Clay's favorite part of the business is being on the front line of helping people to start their new businesses, helping to make their dreams come true. "My services lend credibility to what they are trying to do."

Mantis Graphics can be contacted at 413-527-8716 or at

www.mantisgraphics.com.  

The elegant E.L.F. Ball took place on March 5 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting Hall, raising over $42,000 for the Easthampton Learning Foundation. It was attended by 362 people and featured dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions.

The Easthampton Learning Foundation is a charitable organization that funds innovative, hands-on learning programs not funded by school budgets. The total cost of the ball is underwritten by its sponsors, so 100% of the funds collected go toward the endowment. Formed in 1999, E.L.F. is already halfway toward its goal of a total endowment of $1,000,000.   

In 2010, E.L.F. made eight grants totaling $14,000 to support learning programs in Easthampton schools, such as the E.L.F. Jazz Band and Reaching the World from School. Grant applications for 2011 programs are due by June 30.

E.L.F.'s president, Dick Perras of Finck and Perras Insurance Agency, was pleased with the success of this event. "The board wants to thank the community for their support in helping to grow the endowment." The ball is one of E.L.F.'s two major annual fundraisers; the second fundraiser is the Madeline E. Perras Memorial Golf Tournament on June 6. Information about sponsorships and registration can be found at

http://www.elfhelps.org/.

Area News: City Creates
Easthampton Agricultural Commission

A new Easthampton Agricultural Commission has been created by the city to educate residents and other boards about the interests of local farms. Its formation in October 2010 was encouraged by local residents who own or operate farms, and livestock businesses for horses, cattle and chickens.  The five member committee led by Gerry Raucher, who owns the horse stable Legacy Farm, met for the first time on February 22 and again on March 21.

The members of the committee, Gerry Raucher, Pete Solis, Susan Chicoine, Russell Braen, Sage LaCroix and Mart Lepine, represent a diversity of local agricultural business and interests. The commission aims to facilitate local economic development and pursue initiatives to create a sustainable agricultural community. Andrea Burns, City Council Member At-Large, who advises the commission, said "Farms are the ultimate small business: people who work in town, buy products in the town, and rely on local customers and other small businesses to survive. Studies show that agriculture is a key economic driver and an important part of our local economy."

Andrea also feels that the Chamber could be a key partner for the Commission, to raise the visibility of agricultural businesses. "We have a unique position in the history of Easthampton, which was originally an agricultural and manufacturing town. We make things here."

Some of the activities planned by the Commission are to conduct a census to develop a comprehensive list of local agricultural businesses, publish a brochure, and enhance efforts to promote the Easthampton Farmer's Market.