Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce
Our Mission: To promote the growth & general prosperity of Southern Maine.
Member Happenings
Advertising Opportunities
Odds & Ends
Collection Boxes
We have a box at the Chamber for Toys for Tots - please stop by with new, un-wrapped toys before December 16. We also have a box for non-perishable food items for the York Food Pantry.  
Stonewall Kitchen
Friends & Family Offer -
20% off entire purchase
click here.
Festival of Fostering Trees
December 5-8, 2013 at Foster's Clambake
For more details click here.
Festival of Lights
Here is the brochure for this year's Festival of Lights in York
2014 Icebreakers
Are you interested in hosting an Icebreaker at your business in 2014? We're looking for hosts for the following dates: January 15 (Icebreaker & New Member Expo), April 16, June 18, September 17, October 8, November (Annual Dinner, Date TBA), December 17. It's first come, first served - so if you're interested in a date, please fill out the form here and contact Steph at [email protected].
Blood Drive - Dec 9
The Chamber is hosting a blood drive!
Monday, December 9, 2013
1:00 - 6:00 pm
Located at the American Legion, 9 Hannaford Drive in York, Maine

Donation appointments are encouraged, but not required. To make an appointment to donate blood, please go to http://www.redcrossblood.org and click on the dark blue box, located at the top right corner of the page, that says Make A Blood Donation Appointment or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

If you are interested in volunteering to help out at the registration table or with giving out cookies and juice to donors, please contact [email protected] or call 207-363-4422.
Thank you
Thank you to Bill & Phoebe Foster for the beautiful poinsettia! They bring us one every year. You two are the sweetest, most generous couple!
December 5, 2013
A Note from Executive Director, Holly Roberts

Greetings Members,

 

Thank you to all the businesses who donated items and all the bidders who made it possible to reach our fund raising goal for the 2014 Greater York Region Chamber Scholarship fund. I am very pleased to report that last night's Holiday Icebreaker and Silent Auction was a success! The final count of donated items was 40 by the time the evening ended. We had members arrive with items to donate and all who bid on the auction items went home with fantastic holiday gifts. To view the list of donors and items, please click on this link. The most popular item of the evening was Brunch for two, donated by the York Harbor Inn, valued at $50 and sold for $80! The highest bidder was one of our Ambassadors, Karen Ashley from SIS Bank. Thank you Karen! The expression on your husband's face every time you won was priceless!

 

Special thanks to Barbara Valarese and the entire staff at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center for hosting a wonderful evening! The food was absolutely scrumptious and the banquet room was elegantly decorated for the Christmas season. The wait staff was extremely polite and helpful and joined in the auction fun. This was the second year that the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center hosted the Holiday Icebreaker. The number of members and guests who attended the event doubled this year and we look forward to growing next year. The Regatta is located in Eliot on Route 236 in a very easy spot to find with lots of parking available. It is a pleasure for us as the chamber staff to promote the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center to anyone looking for a great place to hold your next function, meeting or wedding!

 

Moving on to the next event...

Please join us in more holiday fun this Saturday, December 7th at the annual Festival of Lights Parade located in York Village. On behalf of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, Steph and I will be carrying the banner honoring our 2013 Citizens of the Year, "Pink Pals", Leslie Ware, Ellen Baldwin, Cathy Barnhorst and Barbara Conda. These four remarkable ladies have raised thousands of dollars annually for York Hospital to help prevent Breast Cancer. Please come out to the parade on Saturday at 4:00 pm to help us cheer them on!

 

One more reminder...

The 2014 Gateway to Maine residents and visitor guide is well under way. There is still time to include your ad. Please fill out the attached insertion form and return it to me no later than Monday, December 23rd. We distribute 50,000 guides annually by mail to people from all over the U.S. and Canada. It is also a convenient tool for residents to keep handy when looking for local business and trades. If you have any questions on advertising in the guide, please contact me at [email protected], 207-363-4422 or just stop by and see me.

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Holly
Upcoming Chamber Events
York Winter Farmers' Market
This Saturday from 9:00am - 1:00pm
Located indoors at The American Legion, 9 Hannaford Drive, York
Sponsored by The Bank of Maine
Dates: Nov 23, Dec 7 & 21, Jan 4 & 18, Feb 1 & 15, Mar 1, 15 & 29
Local farmers, specialty food producers and crafters will sell their fresh produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, cheeses, homemade goodies and so much more! We also have a collection box for the York Food Pantry at each market and perishable items ARE accepted! For example, you could buy a bag a mixed greens for yourself and one to donate! For more information please visit the market website: www.gatewayfarmersmarket.com
Chamber Workshop: "Tax Law Changes Make Planning Both Complicated & Critical"
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
12:00 - 1:30pm
Located at the Chamber, 1 Stonewall Lane
Chamber Members are free / guests are $10
Lunch sponsored by Kittery Subway

Come hungry for a great lunch and great information on the 2013 Tax Changes. Presented by Sean O'Hare of O'Hare Associates. More information here.
Chamber Workshop: "Health Insurance Marketplace and What It Means for You"
Tuesday, December 18, 2013
12:00 - 1:30pm
Located at the Chamber, 1 Stonewall Lane
Chamber Members are free / guests are $10
Lunch sponsored by Kittery Subway

Please join York County Community Action Corp / Nasson Healthcare Health Insurance Navigator Robin Hewitt Bibber for a free information session about the Affordable Care Act. Robin will discuss the Health Insurance Marketplace as well as potential tax credits and subsidies available to individuals to assist in paying for insurance.  Plenty of time will be available for the many questions individuals have regarding the ACA. More information here.

1 Stonewall Lane York, Maine 03909 . www.gatewaytomaine.org . 207.363.4422 . [email protected]

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter

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