intouch 11 april 2011

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InTouch InTouch InTouch MONTHLY NEWSLETTER…….....…..………....APRIL 50 ELM STREET, WATERVILLE, ME 04901 • TEL: (207) 873-3315 • FAX: (207) 877-0087 • E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB SITE: www.midmainechamber.com • Bart Stevens, Chair of the Board • Kimberly N. Lindlof, President & CEO Highlights in this Issue: P. 2 : From the President’s Chair P. 3 : ‘Green’ tape is costing jobs P. 4 : Member Events Calendar P. 5: Good Health = Good Business P. 8: Member Spotlight: PFBF CPA SPECIAL INSERT — Annual Award Winners For sponsorship opportunities and teams for the 2011 tournament contact: Kim at 873-3315 or [email protected]. See blue flier for more details. Huhtamaki Team Bring Balance to Maine’s Chemical Legislation April 6, 2011 2:00-7:00 PM Alfond Youth Center 126 North Street, Waterville 2:00 - 3:00 PM: Marketing Roundtable Forum 3:30 - 5:00 PM: College Internship Fair 5:30 - 7:00 PM: Business After Hours Business After Hours and $1,000 Cash Prize sponsored by Oxford Networks: Thank you to our 2011 Major Sponsors: June 6, 2011 Natanis Golf Course 735 Webber Pond Road, Vassalboro 12:30 PM Shotgun start Only 8 teams remain! Thank you to our major sponsor Huhtamaki: By Brad Fisher Three years ago, the Maine Legislature passed a sweeping law that authorized the Maine De- partment of Environmental Protection to poten- tially ban a vast array of consumer products for sale in Maine today. It empowered the Maine DEP to establish a list of "chemicals of high concern." That list, some 1,750 chemicals long, lets a state agency pick chemicals off that list one-by-one. These chemicals may be potentially banned under the existing law impacting the sale, distri- bution and manufacture of products or services in this State. Those products and services translate into jobs. A state agency has never before been given this unprecedented authority. Certain special interest groups will tell you otherwise, but this law puts Maine jobs, and future economic growth in jeopardy. Supporters argue the law purports to be about children, but in fact it is a sweeping law that puts Maine jobs in jeopardy, and is unlike virtually any in the country. The definition of “children's product” in the law encompasses “any item sold for residential or commercial use,” including component parts and packaging. If another country decides to identify a "chemical of high concern" and ban it and the products that contain that chemical, Maine must ban it as well. That action is auto- matic under the law. There are alternatives available to Maine law- makers that can narrow the scope of the existing law, and achieve goals of protecting children from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. That goal is one we all support. The law passed three years ago goes way beyond that scope. At a time when our state is struggling to com- pete, when our business ranking is 50th in the nation, when we are desperate for new jobs and a stronger economy that benefits both young and old, we think it is appropriate to revisit this law, and strike a balance in this public policy area. Please contact your legislator today and urge them to correct the law. Brad Fisher chairs the Public Policy Committee and is a member of the Mid-Maine Chamber’s Board of Directors.

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Page 1: InTouch 11 April 2011

InTouchInTouchInTouch MONTHLY NEWSLETTER…….....…..………....APRIL

50 ELM STREET, WATERVILLE, ME 04901 • TEL: (207) 873-3315 • FAX: (207) 877-0087 • E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB SITE: www.midmainechamber.com • Bart Stevens, Chair of the Board • Kimberly N. Lindlof, President & CEO

Highlights in this Issue:

P. 2: From the President’s Chair P. 3: ‘Green’ tape is costing jobs P. 4: Member Events Calendar P. 5: Good Health = Good Business P. 8: Member Spotlight: PFBF CPA SPECIAL INSERT — Annual Award Winners

For sponsorship opportunities and teams for the 2011 tournament contact: Kim at 873-3315 or

[email protected]. See blue flier for more details.

Huhtamaki Team

Bring Balance to Maine’s Chemical Legislation

April 6, 2011 2:00-7:00 PM

Alfond Youth Center 126 North Street, Waterville

2:00 - 3:00 PM: Marketing Roundtable Forum 3:30 - 5:00 PM: College Internship Fair 5:30 - 7:00 PM: Business After Hours Business After Hours and $1,000 Cash Prize sponsored by Oxford Networks:

Thank you to our 2011 Major Sponsors:

June 6, 2011 Natanis Golf Course

735 Webber Pond Road, Vassalboro

12:30 PM Shotgun start Only 8 teams remain!

Thank you to our major sponsor Huhtamaki:

By Brad Fisher

Three years ago, the Maine Legislature passed a sweeping law that authorized the Maine De-partment of Environmental Protection to poten-tially ban a vast array of consumer products for sale in Maine today. It empowered the Maine DEP to establish a list of "chemicals of high concern." That list, some 1,750 chemicals long, lets a state agency pick chemicals off that list one-by-one. These chemicals may be potentially banned under the existing law impacting the sale, distri-bution and manufacture of products or services in this State. Those products and services translate into jobs. A state agency has never before been given this unprecedented authority. Certain special interest groups will tell you otherwise, but this law puts Maine jobs, and future economic growth in jeopardy. Supporters argue the law purports to be about children, but in fact it is a sweeping law that puts Maine jobs in jeopardy, and is unlike virtually any in the country. The definition of “children's product” in the law

encompasses “any item sold for residential or commercial use,” including component parts and packaging. If another country decides to identify a "chemical of high concern" and ban it and the products that contain that chemical, Maine must ban it as well. That action is auto-matic under the law. There are alternatives available to Maine law-makers that can narrow the scope of the existing law, and achieve goals of protecting children from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. That goal is one we all support. The law passed three years ago goes way beyond that scope. At a time when our state is struggling to com-pete, when our business ranking is 50th in the nation, when we are desperate for new jobs and a stronger economy that benefits both young and old, we think it is appropriate to revisit this law, and strike a balance in this public policy area. Please contact your legislator today and urge them to correct the law. Brad Fisher chairs the Public Policy Committee and is a member of the Mid-Maine Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Page 2: InTouch 11 April 2011

27 Cool Street • Waterville, ME 04901 (207) 873-0721 • Fax (207) 877-2287

www.genesishcc.com Rehabilitation and Living Centers

www.centralmaine.com

Activity Maine Contact: Stan Rintz

PO Box 503 Union, ME 04862-0503

Phone: 649-5657 [email protected]

Blinds By Design

Contact: Phillip McKinnis 307 Alder Park Road

South China, ME 04358 Phone: 445-8001

[email protected]

Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, LLC Contact: John Melrose

80 Exchange Street P.O. Box 1210

Bangor, ME 04402-1210 Phone: 872-5518

[email protected]

Jin Yuan

Contact: Qing Yun Chen 41 Temple Street

Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 861-4433

www.jinyuans.com

Maine Energy Pros Contact: Chris Poirier

P.O. Box 2564 Oakland, ME 04963

Phone: 680-9999 www.MaineEnergyPros.com

The Advertising Specialists of Maine

Contact: Stefani Berkey 80 Banair Road

Bangor, ME 04401 Phone: 990-6022

[email protected] - Kimberly

From the President’s Chair

Bowdoin Photography

Newslet ter Tit le Page 2

Oxford Networks Alfond Youth Center

126 North Street, Waterville Wednesday, April 6th

5:30-7:00 PM Cash bar & hors d’oeuvres

$1,000 cash giveaway Oxford Networks

Next Business After Hours: An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always de-livered a full portion of wa-ter. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of wa-ter. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accom-plishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter fail-ure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.” The old woman smiled. "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to deco-rate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house." Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the flaws we have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. I had to share this story because it struck me on a cou-ple of different levels -- not just our flaws and imper-fections, but our differences of opinion, beliefs -- reli-gious, political -- and backgrounds. As I watch the unrest around the world I'm thankful for our "flawed" political system! (But there's still room for improve-ment)

OXFORD NETWORKS

Page 3: InTouch 11 April 2011

Page 3

KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 92 Western Avenue

Fairfield, ME 04937-1367 (207) 453-5134 * www.kvcc.me.edu

“Your Path to Success”

Full Service Office Supplies Retail Store and Furniture Showroom

in Downtown, Skowhegan

The Paper Klip New & Used Furniture

A Local, Independent, Family- Owned & Operated Company

www.WarrensOfficeSuppplies.com 800.924.9006

Business Resources The Maine Center for Enterprise Develop-ment will present Media Hype: What does my business really need to use? at its April 13 Spring Lunch and Learn Series. The session will be held from 12-2:30 p.m. at the Wishcamper Room 133, USM, Portland. Cost is $10, check or cash day of seminar. Reservations are encour-aged to assure adequate space and seating. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting. Coffee and water will be provided. For more information: http://www.mced.biz/news.html#events. Maine’s 18th Annual Recycling and Solid Waste Conference will be held Monday and Tuesday, April 25-26, at Point Lookout Resort in Northport. For information on registrations con-tact John Albertini, MRRA Program Coordina-tor, 942-6772 or e-mail [email protected]. Among this year’s sponsors are eWaste Recy-cling Solutions, LLC and OneSteel Recycling, Inc. Maine Tourism Association has partnered with eLearningU to provide ongoing tourism education through live and recorded one-hour training programs. Every week there will be a live course where you can attend online and at the end of the training program you can ask questions. All courses that are delivered live, as well as additional courses, are recorded and will be available through the eLearningU Web site for you to take anytime. All courses are tourism focused and are delivered by industry experts on an array of topics of interest to tourism profes-sionals - Internet and social media marketing, branding, customer service, packaging. The cost is $49.95. Three workshops in May will provide hoteliers and restaurateurs with practical advice about reducing energy, water, waste and toxins and attracting new customers. To register, or for more information, contact Dan Ruben, [email protected], 617-527-7950. The registra-tion fee is $20. A continental breakfast will be served.

By Tom Donohue

A combination of federal, state, and local regulatory red tape is preventing American businesses from creating new green energy jobs and generating more than a trillion dollars in economic output. Is that acceptable with 8.9 percent unemployment and a struggling econ-omy? Or is there a better way? By our estimates, 351 job-creating projects pro-moting energy across the country are currently snarled by a broken permitting process and by a regulatory system that fails to ensure timely re-views and actions. (To see what projects are being delayed and denied in your state, go to www.uschamber.com/pnpstudy.) If allowed to go forward, these projects could produce a $1.1 trillion short-term boost to the economy and create 1.9 million jobs annually. The flawed regulatory system is also open to manipulation. Some environmental activists and their allies — who should be the strongest green energy supporters of all — are using every re-source at their disposal to block, delay, or cancel clean energy projects. They have organized local opposition, changed zoning laws, opposed per-mits, filed lawsuits, and bled projects dry of their financing. Call it “green tape” bureaucracy. Their efforts are undermining job creation and slowing the adoption of environmentally friendly energy technologies. Lawmakers and the American public must recog-nize that our broken permitting process and ex-treme groups are denying projects opportunities

to be fairly considered on their merits. To be clear, we are not saying that ill-conceived pro-jects should be allowed to move forward. Rather, all projects should be given a fair chance to prove their worth in the market within a reason-able period of time. And if a project is worthy, it should receive a permit. The discussion is beginning in Washington about improving the regulatory process. What is ur-gently needed now is a careful consideration of how all these permitting obstacles, uncertainties, and time delays can be addressed to speed up the processing, approval decisions, and development of many pending job-creating projects. Private investors and developers are prepared to fund, build, and operate energy projects that could materially increase GDP and create jobs—but only if policymakers remove obstacles. No one objects to a fair and timely process whereby projects are examined and the affected communities can be heard. But reasonableness and common sense must carry the day. The truth is that it takes too long to build almost anything in our country today — even clean, green, and renewable energy resources that create jobs, enhance our energy security, and improve our environment. It’s time for change. Tom Donohue is president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Green” tape is costing jobs

March Meet the Reps We had another great turn out March 3 for the Mid-Maine Chamber’s Meet the Reps event. Among the evening’s attendees was Maine Secretary of State Charles E. Summers (fourth from right in photo).

Page 4: InTouch 11 April 2011

Page 4

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April 1-9: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kennebec Valley will be hosting their Bowl for Kids’ Sake at 1-7-10 Bowling & Entertainment Center in Augusta on April 1, at Sparetime Recreation in Augusta on April 2, at Central Maine Family Fun Center in Skowhegan on April 8 and at Spare-time Recreation in Waterville on April 9. To support a lane sponsor-ship or to form a company team call 626-3408 or visit www.hereoswanted.org. April 2: at Inland Hospital’s 14th Annual World of Women’s Wellness, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Thomas College 180 West River Road , Waterville. Dozens of local organizations will join Inland to offer women free health screenings, well-ness tips, pampering samples, cook-ing and exercise demo’s, and infor-mative talks-including one that will encourage you to “Take the Comfort Zone Challenge.” Also, a panel of healthcare providers will take your questions about “all things female.” April 2: Stevens Siding and Win-dow Co. Inc. is hosting their 2nd

Annual Fairfield Community Home Show with even more exhibitors and things to do than before. The show will be at the Fairfield Community Center. FMI: 453-8346. April 6: Introductory Pottery, Tues-days in April, 6-8 p.m. Learn the basics of throwing on the wheel at Freshwater Arts, 74 Main St. located beneath Barrels Market 680-2055. April 6: Waterville Main Street announced qualifying rounds con-

tinue for Seize the Mic 2011 Kara-oke competition at 9 p.m. at the Bob In, Waterville. Other rounds: Wednesday, April 13, 9 p.m. at T&B Celebration Center, Waterville; Wednesday, April 20, 8 p.m. at Colby College (Cotter Union, Lower Pulver). Semifinals: T&B Celebra-tion Center, Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m.; $3 admission.Finals: T&B Celebra-tion Center, Saturday, May 7, 7:30pm. $8/$6 (seniors/youth). Con-test Rules: http://www.watervillemainstreet.org/STM2011_Rules.pdf. April 7: Fundraising Coach Marc Pitman is taking his "Ask Without Fear!" fundraising class on the road. The next stop is in Augusta at 9 a.m. People involved with a nonprofit, will be taught a simple, four-step fundraising process. For more infor-mation on this 90-minute class, and to register, go to: http://fundraisingcoach.com/class April 9: Freshwater Arts Open House, "Inspired by Literature," April 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open house featuring demos and work-shops in wood-carving, painting, poetry, collage and much more. Lo-cated beneath Barrels Market, 74 Main St. 680-2055 April 12: 5:30 p.m. informational meeting on upcoming Living Well workshop series to be held at Four Seasons Family Practice, 4 Sheri-dan Drive, Fairfield. To register, contact Janet at 621-3742. The work-shops will be held once a week on Tuesdays from April 19 through May 17, 5:30 – 8 p.m.

April 14-17: Third Annual Kids with Cameras Exhibit, 1-4 p.m. sponsored by the Waterville Boys and Girls Club/YMCA, will be on display on the first floor in the Hathaway retail marketplace corri-dor. April 16: 6-9 p.m. Pecha Kucha Waterville 3. The third Pecha Kucha Night Waterville, a celebration of creativity and community, will be held on April 14 at the Hathaway Creative Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., presentations start at 7:20 p.m. Open to the public, $5 admis-sion, with food provided by Bar-rels Community Market, including Maine beer, wine and other refresh-ments. Pecha Kucha Night began in Tokyo in 2003 as an event for people with a creative bent to meet, net-work . April 16: United Way of Mid-Maine holds its 2nd Annual Dodge-ball Tournament Last year’s inaugu-ral Dodgeball event raised over $4,000 for local programs and cre-ated awareness for the work of United Way of Mid-Maine. More than 150 people on 24 teams played dodgeball last year. FMI call 873-0686 or visit www.unitedwaymidme.org. April 23: First Annual Earth Day Move and Groove in Downtown on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities will include an Earth Day 5K, envi-ronmental vendors, live music, a downtown clean-up, recycled art-making and more. FMI Barrels Mar-ket, 680-4844

April 23: Eggs-ploring Art! Satur-day, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; all ages; FREE. Begin with a scavenger hunt at the Colby College Museum of Art, followed by an egg-decorating workshop at Freshwater Arts beneath Barrels Market 680-2055. April 27: “Monitoring Your Mu-seum and Collections Climate” workshop presented by Ron Harvey of Tuckerbrook Conservation. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the L.C. Bates Museum. The workshop is free, but registration is needed. Please send registration e-mails to Deborah Staber at [email protected] or mail the information to L.C.Bates Museum, PO Box 159, Hinckley, ME 04944. FMI 238-4250 or e-mail at [email protected]. May 5: Nancy Makin at INTERI-ORS is hosting an Open House at 319 Main St., Waterville from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. celebrating customer appre-ciation and 25 years in business. Refreshments and prizes. FMI call 873-6261 or e-mail [email protected] May 12: Crisis and Counseling annual dinner Thursday at the Wa-terville Elks Club, 76 Industrial St. Waterville. Social hour 5:30 p.m.; buffet dinner 6:15 p.m. followed by coments by Lynn Duby, CEO, Mary Darling, president and award presen-tations. Cost: $25 person; table of eight $150. RSVP by May 3. Con-tact Jo Ellen Staples 626-3448 x 159 [email protected].

Page 5: InTouch 11 April 2011

Page 5

Good Health = Good Business

Free Free

Worksite Wellness Program Specifically for Your Business

Supporting Employee Health is Good for Business!

Contact Amber Desrosiers, MBA

Program Director

P: (207) 873 0686, E: [email protected]

Disclaimer: LIVE HEALTHY is a program of United Way of Mid Maine, and serves Albion, Benton, Belgrade, Fairfield, Oak-land, Rome, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow.

Planned Approach to Community Health (PATCH) is a Healthy

Century 21 Surette Real Estate, garnered a host of awards recently when it joined fellow Century 21 offices throughout the state at the Century 21 Annual Awards Rally held at the Marriott Sable Oaks in South Portland. The company received recognition for Top Office Closed Units and Top Office Adjusted Gross Commission, according to Michael Byrne, presi-dent and Courtney Blood, vice president. Century 21 International awarded the Century 21 Surette Real Estate office with the Quality Service Pinnacle Office and the Gold Medallion Award.

Century 21 International recognized Pam Casavant for the Emerald Award and Jeff Jolicoeur for the Ruby Award. Award winners for Tourmaline Producers were Erika and JR Russell, Alice Burrill, Jill Huard and Mike Byrne Award winners for Garnet Producers were Alan Corson, Cathy Matthews, Cheryl Bardwell, Harold Charles, Jessica O’Halloran, Michael Bard, Muriel Grenier and Sandy Surette Violette.

Alan Corson, Cheryl Bardwell and Jessica O’Hal-loran were awarded the Quality Service Producer Award. The Russell Team received the Quality Service Team Award. Alice Burrill, Harold Charles, Jeff Jolicoeur, Jill Huard, Michael Byrne, Muriel Grenier, Pamela Casavant were all awarded the Quality Service Pinnacle Award. Rookie of the Year Award went to Michael Bard.

Maine Criteria for Worksite Health Promotion

When it comes to designing your wellness pro-gram, it is important to recognize that successful and effective programs are comprehensive in na-ture and combine policy with environmental sup-port, awareness/education and behavior change strategies. The Maine Leadership Group for Worksite Wellness’ Criteria for Worksite Health Programs has 58 standards related to designing wellness programming. These standards cover:

Planning, Design, Budget

Health Benefits Plan

Tobacco

Physical Activity

Nutrition/Weight Management

Work Related Stress

Depression

Substance Abuse

Safety – Injury Risk

Ergonomics

Health Risk Assessments and Screening

Medical Self-Care

Program priorities are identified through the analy-

sis of data collected during your information gath-ering phase. The planning, design and budget standards are all policy related and include requir-ing your wellness program to have mission and vision statements to help guide setting your pro-gram’s goals. The standards also require the development of an annual workplan that includes linking measurable objectives to your goals, identifying evidence based and best practice interventions to be used with detailed action steps laid out and intended evaluation strategies. The workplan also includes a budget sufficient enough to meet the anticipated operational expenses needed to achieve your stated goals, as well as marketing and communication plans. The Maine Leadership Group for Worksite Well-ness believes, where possible, employers should implement interventions, practices and activities that are evidence based. While evidence based interventions, practices and activities do not exist in all programming areas, their number continues to increase. To locate evidence based program-

ming, check out the following sources: The Guide to Community Preventive Services www.thecommunityguide.org Promising Practices to Fight Chronic Disease www.promisingpractices.fightchronicdisease.org/programs Research Tested Intervention Programs http://rtips.cancer.gov/rtips/index.do The Cochrane Library www.cochrane.org/cochrane-reviews National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices www.nrepp.samhsa.gov Using evidence based interventions, practices and activities increases the likelihood that your pro-gramming efforts will achieve their stated goals because the interventions have demonstrated suc-cess in the past to the satisfaction of a researcher or program evaluator. Next month, we will begin looking at the stan-dards related to specific wellness programming topics. Bill McPeck is a Certified Worksite Wellness Pro-gram Consultant and Director of Employee Health and Safety for Maine State Government. Contact Bill with your questions and comments at 287-6783 or [email protected].

Page 6: InTouch 11 April 2011

Page 6

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Bubbl.us makes it fun to brainstorm online. Easily create colorful mindmaps to print or share with others. With almost no learning curve, it is a mind-mapping product aimed to-wards literally anyone who needs help organiz-ing their thoughts or any untidy information. It’s meant for prompt, on-the-spot organization. https://bubbl.us/ Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your notable life using your computer, phone, and the web. This outstanding and free tool changes lives. http://www.evernote.com/ Gist is a free online service that automatically tracks all e-mail and social-network contacts and provides an easy-to-scan report on a user’s correspondence with them and what they and their companies have been up to – it also does online searches on them to get the latest. Gist brings a user’s contacts into one place to give a full view of the user’s network making it easy to find anyone, anytime. http://gist.com/ Google Docs offers a suite of web-based pro-ductivity applications including documents, presentation, spreadsheet and form in a simple folder within a file organizational system. It

allows users to easily create, share and edit files in real time online, or upload an existing file into the system. http://docs.google.com/ MailChimp is a powerful email-marketing service. MailChimp makes it easy to design exceptional email campaigns, share them on social networks, integrate with web services already in use, manage subscribers and track results. http://www.mailchimp.com/ Wave Accounting is a completely free, full-featured accounting web app targeted toward small business owners, startups and freelancers. It connects with users’ banking and credit card institutions, importing and categorizing transac-tions for a real-time view of the business’ fi-nancial health. http://waveaccounting.com/ Tammy Rabideau is Business & Career Librar-ian, Waterville Public Library Business & Ca-reer Center, 680-2611, [email protected], http://www.watervillelibrary.org/departments/business/.

Upcoming Events

April 5 Tues. 8:00 a.m. Biz Attraction & Retention

Chamber Boardroom

April 6 Wed. 2:00-7:00 p.m. Business Showcase Alfond Youth Center

April 14 Thurs. 7:30 a.m. Executive Board Chamber Boardroom

Noon Public Policy Chamber Boardroom

April 26 Tues. Noon Ambassadors’ Lunch Butcher’s Choice

April 27 Wed. 8:00 a.m. Membership Committee Chamber Boardroom

April 29 Fri. 7:30 a.m. Board of Directors Chamber Boardroom

2011 Business Breakfast Series 7:30-9 a.m., Thomas College

April 13: Learn to Read Your Customer's Mind! and Other Essential Skills of Delivering Excellent Cus-tomer Service. The customer used to be king (and should still be) but in today's world it seems like technol-ogy now wears the crown. So when you are in front of or speaking to a live customer, it is critical to know how to deliver the best service possible - by reading their mind - to insure repeat loyalty. Learn how to acquire this and other important communication skills at this unique ses-sion on techniques from the science of human behavior as applied to business. Presented by Denise Martin of Good For You Coaching & Consulting, www.goodforyoucoaching.com , coaching on managing the people dynamic through communication skills train-ing. May 4: The New Nonprofit—Good Intentions, Per-formance, and Innovation. Tom Davis, CEO of Skills, Inc., in Waterville and the 2010 Maine Biz Nonprofit Business Leader of the Year, will share his perspective on how nonprofits can adapt to a rapidly changing eco-nomic environment.

Tammy’s Tips for Businesses

By Tammy L. Rabideau,

The Maine State Chamber launched an innova-tive Website targeted to serve the specialized needs of Maine's small business community. The Maine Corner Store portal, located at www.MaineCornerStore.org, provides a gath-ering place reminiscent of local corner stores, albeit in a modern medium. Maine's smallest businesses and entrepreneurs are now able to access timely information and discuss applica-ble topics. Key "departments" found at www.mainecornerstore.org include: Policy Blogs by the Maine State Chamber's advocacy team of experts, and what they are doing to represent small business interests at the Statehouse; HR Blogs by representatives from the Maine

State Council of the Society for Human Re-source Management (SHRM), which works to advance HR professionalism and serve its prac-titioners through seven chapters statewide and the Diversity Hiring Coalition; Profiles of small business case studies, as well as the programs and services of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce; Links to Partners and Resources. A Member Forum where you can swap sto-ries, share tips, and ask questions of your fel-low entrepreneurs. For more information contact Melanie Baillar-geon, director of communications, by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 20, or emailing [email protected].

FREE WEB APPS

Maine Chamber posts Website for small business

Page 7: InTouch 11 April 2011

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The Harold Alfond Foundation has announced a commitment of $5 million dollars that will support the construction of the Harold Alfond Academic Center and the establishment of the Harold and Bibby Alfond Scholarship Fund at Thomas Col-lege. This commitment is the largest single gift in the history of the College. Greg Powell, Chair-man of the Harold Alfond Foundation, made the announcement before a gathering of Thomas Col-lege alumni, faculty, staff, friends and students at the college's Harold Alfond Athletic Center. Campus upgrades continue at Kennebec Valley Community College, including work on the new Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Lab, which is central to an overall plan to create an Energy Ser-vices and Technology Center. Phase I of the lab renovation project is complete and includes three rooftop mock-ups for installation training, class-room space, offices and other instructional assets. Phase II of the project, which will be completed by July, will include the installation of a live solar thermal system. The Central Maine CA$H Coalition in the Water-ville/Skowhegan area is offering free tax filing assistance throughout the tax season. For the third year, the Coalition has provided tax filing assis-tance to individuals or couples who together earned less than $50,000 during 2010. This year, the tax clinics have been so popular they were full within weeks of the program starting. The CA$H Coalition tax filing clinics are being held in both Waterville and Skowhegan at Key Bank (Main Street) and Franklin Somerset Federal Credit Un-ion, respectively. Part of the Coalition’s goal is to educate people about their tax benefits. Last year’s CA$H Coali-tion helped over 60 individuals and families with tax filing. FMI call 873-0686 or visit www.unitedwaymidme. Waterville Main Street congratulations to the following businesses, which have been nominated by their peers for the 2011 Downtown Business of the Year Award: Cancun Mexican Restaurant;

Jorgensen's Café; Joseph's Market; Pinnacle IT; Yardgoods Center. Cast your vote at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T8PNHKF Voting will be open until April 8. Past recipients of this award include: Maine Made & More, Day's Jewelers, The Framemakers, KFS, Digital Im-ageWorks, and Mainely Brews Brewhouse & Restaurant . The Downtown Business of the Year Award will be presented at the 7th Annual Down-town Celebration on May 12, at 5:30 p.m. (location TBA). Unique Designs, located in the Hathaway Crea-tive Center, is now an official distributor of the Miche Bag! One Bag, so many possibilities! Stop in today to shop the new spring line of bags, hand-crafted jewelry and spring home decor pieces. They are also offering a new bridal regis-try with free consults. Good Will-Hinckley officials are proposing an agricultural and environmental-themed magnet school and are seeking state funds to launch it. Lawmakers have heard testimony from Good Will-Hinckley President Glenn Cummings on the Averill School day program, which the nonprofit hopes to open this fall. According to a press re-lease from the Fairfield-based organization, should the state approve $730,000 a year, the or-ganization would provide a boarding option for children as early as January 2012. It would be the state's second magnet school. Kennebec Savings Bank has joined with the Sen-ior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF), the American Bankers Association

(ABA) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) to ensure that local Maine veterans are free from crime, abuse, neglect, hos-tility and deprivation of personal freedom, as pro-vided through the Senior Housing Crime Preven-tion Foundation’s Senior Crimestoppers program. The High Hopes Club House “model” has been accepted for inclusion as an Evidenced Based Practice by United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations. (SAMHSA). This has been a nationwide effort since 2008. The Intervention Summary can be viewed at http://.nrepp.samhsa.gov/. Type the word “clubhouse” in the search box. KFS is offering four $500 scholarships for the pursuit of a 2- or 4-year degree program at a Maine college. Candidates for the scholarship must be receiving their high school diploma in 2011 and be entering college in the fall of 2011. Candidates must have 3.0 GPA or higher in high schoo. Applications and information are available online at www.kfsavings.com, at KFS offices in Waterville and at high school guidance offices (Lawrence, Messalonskee, Temple Academy, Waterville, and Winslow). Application deadline is May 6.

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50 Elm Street Waterville, ME 04901

PRE-SORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT #146

Waterville, ME 04901

Have some news you would like to share? Submit a short announcement to the Chamber office by the 3rd Friday of the prior month. Inserts are also available for $125 per month. Call 873-3315 or email [email protected]. Disclaimer: The Mid-Maine Chamber’s InTouch newsletter is published monthly as a benefit to members and affili-ates. All member news is compiled and submitted solely by our members; therefore, we reserve the right to omit and/or edit as appropriate, and cannot guarantee complete accu-racy of all announcements. Sponsorship inserts do not necessarily reflect the position of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

166 College Ave., PO Box 215 Waterville, ME 04903-0215

www.az-cpa.com

12 Monument St Winslow, Me 04901 207­872­2636 www.wcfcu.com

COMMUNITY PEOPLE YOU KNOW

“Business Spotlight of the Month” selection proc-ess takes place at every Business After Hours from the door prize drawing. A business cannot be se-lected more than once every two years, and must be a member in good standing. The more co-workers that attend our BAH’s, the better chance your business will be selected!

PFBF, CPAs, is a public accounting firm offering a variety of accounting, audit and tax services for individuals, small and large businesses, as well as non-profit organizations. They understand today’s business environment and are equipped to help you maximize the opportuni-ties that lie ahead. From planning to financial reporting and management advisory services, they take the time to understand their clients’ individual needs. Founded over 25 years ago by Reg Perry, the firm has grown to over 16 professionals and is located at 46 FirstPark Drive in Oakland. Another specialty of PFBF is their QuickBooks

expertise and training. Are you interested in learn-ing QuickBooks in a relaxed hands on environ-ment? If so, call Debra Veilleux at 873-1603 and sign up for the next class beginning May 4th PFBF believes in giving back to the community and their employees participate in many commu-nity events. This year’s big event is the Second Annual 1/2 Marathon 5K Run/Walk Charity Race scheduled July 10, 2011. This year’s recipient will

be the Make-A-Wish Maine foundation. Haven’t filed your taxes yet? PFBF CPA, 46 First Park Drive, Oakland, ME. 04963. Give them a call today at 873-1603. PFBF has the tools to work for you. For more information check out their web site: www.pfbf.com

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