Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce
September 2013
The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce
Official Business Association of Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick, York Village,
York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick


BUSINESS MATTERS
Our Mission: To promote the growth & general prosperity of Southern Maine.

Member News & Icebreakers
What's happening with our Chamber members? Check out their press releases and member news. To submit your news for the next newsletter, send press releases to steph@yorkme.org OR save us some time and submit it directly through your member login by looking for "news releases" in your  member portal. Use your username and password at www.chamberlogin.com

2013 Icebreakers List: The Greater York Region Chamber's Icebreakers are our monthly networking opportunities for members of the Chamber.
The next icebreaker will be on September 18 from 5-7 at Bangor Savings Bank in York. (More info on that in the events section below.) There is no admission fee to attend. Businesses interested in becoming members are welcome to attend one Icebreaker as a guest.
 
Save the Date: The Fall in Love Wedding Showcase will be held on December 1, 2013 from 10:00am - 2:00pm at the Union Bluff Meeting House. All members in the wedding industry will receive applications in September.
 
Guidebooks & Menu Guides
We still have plenty here! Please let us know if you would like to pick some up or have some delivered to you. 207.363.4422. 

 

Don't forget to check out upcoming events  and hot deals by our Chamber members! 
From the desk of Executive Director, Holly Roberts
Thank you so much to everyone who helped with our Golf Tournament! Please check out the list of supporters here. For photos from the event click here.

Now that the golf tournament is over, we're gearing up for Harvestfest! This year, the festival will take place on October 19 & 20.
Watch for Save The Date cards within the next few weeks. 

 

Thank you to our members who have already stepped up to sponsor!

 

Major Sponsors: Cutty Sark Motel, Kennebunk Savings, Union Bluff Hotel & Woods Family, Inc. 
Program & Save the Date Sponsor: Anchorage Motor Inn 
Horse & Wagon Rides: York Hospital

Promote Your Business as a Sponsor of Harvestfest!

On behalf of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce Harvestfest Committee and the Board of Directors, I want to express our appreciation for the continuous support we receive each year from our Harvestfest Sponsors. Every year we strive to make the event better than the year before and we need your help to make that happen! Each year, Harvestfest draws thousands of visitors to York. Don't miss this chance to promote your business! There are different levels and opportunities for sponsorship. Please click here to see what's available and to fill out a sponsor form.  

Calling all Volunteers!

Please let us know if you would consider lending a hand at the festival. We need your help! This festival is made possible by the support of volunteers & sponsors. Please contact Amanda at 207.363.4422 or amanda@yorkme.org. 
Upcoming Chamber Events
 
 

September Icebreaker Bangor Savings Bank logo
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 from 5:00 - 7:00pm
Hosted by: Bangor Savings Bank   

Located at 2 Moulton Lane, York, Maine  

Bangor Savings Bank will have a tent outside for mingling & delicious food; complimentary beer & wine will be served from inside the building. Click here for more information about the Icebreaker.

 

 

York Gateway Farmers' Market

Every Saturday: June 1 - October 12, 2013 from 9-1pm
Every Thursday: July 4 - August 29, 2013 from 9-1pm 

Location: Back parking lot at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors' Center, 1 Stonewall Lane, York, Maine (off Route 1)

Sponsored by When Pigs Fly  

Local farmers, specialty food producers & crafters sell their fresh vegetables, fruits, baked goods, meats, eggs, breads & handmade crafts ...read more

NEW THIS YEAR: We're collecting food donations for the York Food Pantry on Saturdays! The food pantry is able to accept perishable items from our market, which means you can donate produce! For example, come to the market, buy two heads of lettuce, keep one and donate the other - it's that easy! You'll find a table & box set up at the market for you to leave items. Food pantry representatives will be by to collect everything at the end of the market.

 

Chamber Workshop: "How to beat the cost of the Affordable Care Act"
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 from Noon to 1:00 pm
Located at the Chamber, 1 Stonewall Lane, York ME
Chamber Members Free, Guests $10
Lunch: Sponsored by Kittery Subway

Presented by Sean O'Hare of O'Hare Associates.

Sean will present an overview of the costs of the Affordable Care Act and how it will affect your business. To RSVP and for more information, click here

 

 

More Upcoming Chamber Events Here 

Annual Dinner
The Chamber's Annual Dinner will take place on November 13, 2013 at The Red Barn at Outlook Farm (The Links at Outlook Golf Course).

Cocktail Hour: 5:30-6:30
Dinner: 6:30-7:30
Dessert and Awards: 7:30-8:30

Keynote Speaker: Wayne Mitchell
C. Wayne Mitchell, IOM, has worked with businesses and organizations for the past 30 years. He is a past Chamber of Commerce CEO, a past Association CEO and currently manages two associations under contract. He has worked for associations on the local, state and national level. In 1991, Wayne founded ProdComm, a company that assists organizations with grassroots programs, communications, public relations and strategic planning. Mitchell has worked with chambers and associations from Maine to California. He is often requested as a keynote speaker and addresses a wide variety of topics including changes in volunteerism, positioning your organization/ community to compete and the impact of different generational attitudes in the workplace. Wayne and his wife Bonnie live in Sidney, Maine.

Join us for a three-course dinner and awards ceremony. We will be honoring our 2013 Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year & Volunteer of the Year.

Cost to attend is $40 per person for Chamber Members, their employees & family members. For non-members it is $50 per person. Fees must be paid in advance by credit card or check. Sponsorships available: table sponsorships ($100 per table), banner sponsors ($150) and we are also looking for a wine sponsor. If you are interested in any of these sponsorships, please contact Holly at holly@yorkme.org or 207.363.4422.

The Red Barn is located at #10 Route 4, South Berwick, Maine 03908
 
Odds & Ends

 

RAFFLE UPDATE: We have crossed the halfway point in meeting our goal! Please help us reach the finish line! 
The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce and
Sunrise Grill Restaurant are sponsoring the SAVE THE BOON ISLAND FRESNEL LENS RAFFLE to raise the funds the Kittery Historical & Naval Museum needs in order to keep the Boon Island Lighthouse Fresnel Lens on display. Due to increased insurance expense, the Museum is in danger of losing the display. The Museum needs your support!
Tickets: $10 each and can be purchased online or at the Chamber, Kittery Historical & Naval Museum or Sunrise Grill.  More information & purchase tickets here. 

Want to lower your electricity bill? Gulf Electricity might be able to help! To enroll, please visit www.gatewaytomaine.org and click on the Gulf Electricity icon on the right. It is easy to make the switch, all you need is your Central Maine Power account number to complete a fast and easy virtual enrollment form, or call 207-363-4422 for assistance with sign-up. There is no change in the billing process, and you continue to remit payment to your utility company. There is no change in reliability whatsoever. 

For more information feel free to contact Gulf Electricity directly by calling toll free (855) GULF-ELE (485-3353) or visit www.gulfelectricity.com

Nominate someone for York Citizen of the Year here!

Worth noting: We recently received a phone call by someone looking to rent a hotel room. He claimed he had been turned down by several local establishments because he is under 21, but he was over 18-years-old. We were curious about the legality of that, so we did some research. It appears as though anyone over 18 cannot be denied accommodation based solely on their age. Here is a great page from the Maine Innkeepers Association which summarizes the laws: http://www.maineinns.com/member/government/laws-detail.aspx?id=16

Our Chamber will be participating in a 9/11 Food Drive with the United Way of York County. We will serve as a drop-off location on September 11, 2013 from 10:00am - 3:00pm.
United Way will provide a volunteer to be at the chamber during those hours to assist with food donations and questions people may have. Please bring your non-perishable food items to us at 1 Stonewall Lane, York, ME!

In celebration and appreciation of Cabot House's 100th Anniversary, Cabot House is giving back to the community. On Saturday November 23rd there will be a Gala event. The Bendetson Family will be honored at the Chairs for Charity event which will raise funding for 4 different benefactors, AIDS Response Seacoast, Cocheco Valley Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity and Jaden's Ladder. Kathy Anderson has asked that we pass along the information to see if any of our Chamber members would like to donate items for the silent auction. For more information click here or contact Kathy Anderson at 

KAnderson@seacoastonline.com.  

 

The Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are excited to announce the next set of Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinar dates, with SBA Administrator Karen Mills joining as a special guest on August 15.

Each week, small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for their company and employees, including insurance reforms, the small business health care tax credit, the new health insurance marketplaces, and employer shared responsibility provisions.  SBA representatives help small business owners understand the facts of the Affordable Care Act so they can make informed decisions about providing health insurance for their employees. Click here for the dates and links. 

 

Additional webinar:
Navigating the Maze: Small Business and the Affordable Care Act 
Tuesday, September 10, 6:00pm-7:00pm
The Maine Small Business Coalition and Consumers for Affordable Health Care 
are excited to offer this webinar for small business owners. Mitchell Stein, Policy Director at Consumers for Affordable Health Care, will explain how small business owners can understand the ACA and what steps they should take to prepare for the next steps of implementation. Click here for more information. 
 
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1 Stonewall Lane York, Maine 03909 . www.gatewaytomaine.org . 207.363.4422 . info@yorkme.org

The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer.