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A word from the Executive Director
The Piscataquis Chamber has gone through many exciting changes in the past six months. During this time, we have made a recommitment to add value to membership through custom- tailored business support,  to promote our wonderful county in ways we never have before, and to invest in our future by launching the innovative Junior Chamber of Commerce, Emerging Leaders initiative.  This newsletter will give you a "peek" into some of these changes, and bring you up to speed. We will be replacing a printed newsletter with this monthly email version. Please ask your friends to subscribe!  Keep your eyes and ears open, Piscataquis County and her businesses will begin to show up in places you've never seen before. I like to call us Maine's up-and-coming county. Look out, here we come! 
                                                                                                                               - Denise Buzzelli, E.D.
Bangor Daily News Blog: "A Peek Into Piscataquis"


The Bangor Daily News has partnered with the Chamber to promote Piscataquis County through various marketing strategies in 2014 (because it's about time folks in the Bangor Region find out what we have to offer here!). One BIG way they have done this is by giving us a blog spot through BDN Access. Once the blog reaches a substantial amount of reads, it will be placed in their printed paper as a column.  "A Peek Into Piscataquis" has already had a wonderful response. Jemma Gascoine of Blanchard wrote: 
".. my website counter says that I've received 115 unique hits in the last ten days.  About 105 are referrals from your blog.  Quite impressive Denise!" 
The blog will allow readers to come along for the ride as I take the scenic route through Piscataquis, giving them access to her beauty, businesses, food, talent, entertainment, recreation, and maybe a few other surprises along the way. If you have any
 ideas for the blog or would like to have your business featured, please contact me!  
 
America's 1st Junior Chamber for High School Students:   
Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs
Without a vision, nations perish. As a county, we must begin to look decisively into our future. The Chamber's mission to support existing businesses is rejuvinated and stronger than ever. But our mission is also expanding. We are committed to investing in our high-school students throughout the county. The future belongs to them, should they not have an opportunity to SHAPE it?  
Buzzelli speaks to emerging leaders at Foxcroft Academy
Piscataquis County is no stranger to record poverty and unemployment rates and families on welfare. We cannot ask our high school graduates to stay in Piscataquis with no hope for a future. 

What we CAN do -- is invest in them.

Give them a reason to dream. Show them how to take an idea and turn it into a business. Bring in business planners, web developers, social media and marketing experts, specialists in economy and experts in the field(s) they want to pursue.  Leaders in government, successful  (local) entrepreneurs and profitable business owners will share invaluable information, methods for success and life experiences. 

The program will get students involved in our communities now, through community service opportunities, event planning and involvement, volunteering, job shadowing, and more. They will attend workshops and conferences that will breathe life into them. Each year, one emerging leader will be chosen for the "Jr. Member of the Year" award and receive a scholarship. Upon graduation, each member will receive a letter of recommendation for his/her college or job application outlining all participation in the program.

 
 
Reserve an ad to promote your business on the Chamber's Website for up to two years, and Be SEEN!
No random donations.
No meaningless sponsorships.
No nonsense.
Going forward, the Chamber is moving away from fundraising for the sole purpose of raising funds "for the chamber", but rather, we will seek out worthy causes, invest in community events and secure funds for our county's students for the Junior Chamber program.
To replace the dollars we would normally bring in through fundraising, we are offering Chamber members an opportunity to place a photo enhanced ad* on our super website, gain local & international exposure, and have customers directed to your website or FB page with a simple click of the ad.
We make advertising dollars, you get online exposure.
Win-Win.

*Pricing (1 year reservation!):

Home page $400,                                              
Business listing page $250
(where else can you advertise for a full year at these prices?)

 
The 2014-2015 Piscataquis Guidebook is being prepared.

The Piscataquis Region Guide book is circulated throughout Chambers of Commerce within the U.S. This year, tourism offices will also receive copies. Businesses and families considering a move to our area receive a copy when they request information. It is a wonderful way to promote our area's events, towns, schools, lodging, restaurants, and much, much more. All Chamber members are listed in the guide book with contact phone numbers so that visitors can easily contact you.

 

We offer this advertising source to our members at no charge, simply because it is offered to us as a chamber at no charge.

 

The guide book is professionally designed and printed by Bangor Daily News, and is funded by  ads for our local businesses, placed within the pages of our guidebook. Your ad helps pay for it's creation and circulation.

 

Within the next week or so, representatives from BDN may contact you or stop in for a visit to offer ad space to you. Please give them your time, and consider promoting your business through the guide book for 2014/2015.

 

 

 
UPCOMING E V E N T S!
APRIL__________________________________
April 4th       7:00pm              Center Theatre       2014 Community Film Festival  
                                                   Admission by Donation

April 9th                                   Pat's Pizza & Ollie Oops Sports Bar            Bistro Night
                                                   Fine dining - call 564-2500 for reservations

April 11th       5-8pm             Modern Image Salon    15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
                                                  Show your support, come out and celebrate!  
                                                  10 Lincoln St., Dover Foxcroft
 
April 12th      9am-12:30pm  Stretch Your Dollar Day    Morton Ave Complex of EMDC
                                                   Free workshop to learn great ways to stretch your dollar.
                                                   Free Tax prep offered, call 974-2440 to register for this service.

 

April 23rd       8:00am (Reg.)    Women of Worth Conference, Foxcroft Academy

                                                    Tickets still available. Call  974-2440 for info.

 

April 25th        7pm                  Pine Tree Hospice VARIETY SHOW @ Center Theatre

                                                    with Quilt Raffle. Admission by donation. More info: 564-4346

 

April 26th       8am (Reg.)         42nd Annual Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race 

                         10am Start        Start Athletic Field in Guilford, End at Foxcroft Academy

                                                      More info: 217-0962 Brian

 

May 3rd          TBD                     Piscataquis Regional YMCA  

                                                     (morning) Grand Re-Opening - business brunch

                                                     (afternoon) Healthy Kids Day more info 564-7111

SAVE the Date!
 
Piscataquis Heritage Hot Air Balloon Festival

May 30- June 1st

 

 

 
 Coming in June......

June 14th   SANGERVILLE BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

June 2 8th  WHOOPIE PIE FESTIVAL


 
 
Welcome New Members!
The following businesses and community members have joined the Chamber during the last quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.  The Chamber board of Directors welcomes you and sincerely thanks you for partnering with us to make Piscataquis County all that it can be!
 
The Covered Bridge Motel                            Thirty-One Gifts, Theresa Makowski
EMDC                                                                The Resource Exchange
Charleston Pentecostal Church                    Synergy Accounting & Bookkeeping
The Smiling Moose                                         Norm Higgins
Word of Life AG                                               Athens Pizzeria
Town of Sangerville                                        Elaine's Basket Cafe
Darn Good Yarn                                               North Country Journal
Knot a Lot                                                         Mary Kay - Nanette Redmond
Northern Reflections Salon                           Mock Power Sports & Rentals
Edwards, Faust & Smith                                 Joe's Repair
Mountain's Market                                         Emery Farms
Friends of Mountainview                               Brooklyn Oliver - Author
Hibbards Skilled Nursing Center                   Hicksville Photography
Mike Brown Photography


 
Like us on FACEBOOK
from NOW until April 15th
to be entered into a drawing for
  •  2 free e-blasts ($50 value)
  • and a blog post about your company on
    "Peek into Piscataquis"  (priceless)
 
 
Piscataquis County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Officers
Executive Director - Denise Buzzelli
President - Sherry French of Zone Radio, French Construction
Vice President - Will Wedge of Will's Shop 'n Save
Treasurer - Rosalie Durgin of Pleasant River Lumber
Clerk - 

Board of Directors
Ethan Annis -  Lary Funeral Parlor, Pisc. Monumental Co.
Debra Boyd - PRYMCA
Rosalie Durgin - Pleasant River Lumber
Sherry French - Zone Radio, French Construction
Amy Guyotte - Town of Dover Foxcroft, Legal Shield
Johanna Greenfield - Synergy Accounting & Bookkeeping
Amy Heywood-Smith - Key Bank, Guilford Branch
Janet Sawyer - PCEDC
Gail Stutzman - Stutzman Business Services
Tony Marshall - Lifesaver's Insurance
 

Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce
1033 South St.
Dover Foxcroft ME 04426
207-564-7533
[email protected]

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