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ChamberWorks October 2003 |
» Past Issues |
» Message
From Our Chairman
» Preparing
for a Smoke-free Connecticut
» Does
the State Have Perception Problems?
» Casino
Update
» Business
After Hours Recap
Message From Our Chairman
Fall is a busy time for the Chamber office, which means it is
time for members to become more involved in the special projects being planned
for the community.
Trick or Treat on Safety Street is scheduled for October 31 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Sherman Green. It's an event that the kids love and the moms prepare for it weeks in advance. Along with the tradition of handing out candy, local merchants do a great job of utilizing the day to get the word out about a special sale or information regarding their business, hoping that the parents will come back at a later time. And parents love the opportunity to have their children participate in the Halloween tradition in a safe and controlled environment during the daylight hours. We need volunteers to help set up the Chamber tent on Sherman Green, and to hand out candy on behalf of the Chamber. If you have never attended this event, you are really missing out. Call the chamber office and let them know you will give an hour or two on October 31.
While Santa's Arrival may seem far off, we all know how quickly time passes. Plans are under way to have a wonderful holiday event on Saturday, November 29, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, also at Sherman Green. This is another great Chamber tradition; Santa arrives via hook and ladder. Children of all ages get the opportunity to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, while various community organizations and businesses are provided a venue to let folks know who they are, selling products and services that benefit the community. We already have reservations from 25 organizations—even more than last year. We need volunteers to help set up the tent, blow up balloons, and clean up the green at the end of the day. Please call the Chamber and volunteer a few hours of the day to help with this fun event.
The Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfield Rotary Club will sponsor a Candidates' Debate scheduled for October 27 at the Gaelic American Club on Beach Road at noon.
The debate will be moderated by Jacky Durrell; several questions have been prepared in cooperation with the League of Women Voters, while others will come from the audience. Contact the Chamber office and make your reservations now, as seating is limited. The cost is $20 per person and lunch will be served.
We are also looking forward to the grand opening of the Fairfield Theatre Company and wish them all the best. The opportunity to see an off Broadway show in downtown Fairfield should be an excellent compliment to the wonderful retail stores and restaurants in town.
Now is the time to start thinking about how you can become more involved with the Chamber and the upcoming events. Involvement is the key to your personal and business success.
Ted Fitzgerald
Chairman
Preparing for a Smoke-free Connecticut
In addition to a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, all businesses with
five (5) or more employees will be affected by the new law which went into
effect on October 1, 2003. Public Act 03-45 prohibits smoking in buildings open
to the public and most indoor work places to protect employees and the public
from the hazards of secondhand smoke.
Does the State Have Perception Problems?
Expensive. That's the term used most frequently when someone talks about the
state of Connecticut. Those of us who live in Fairfield County will say: What
else is new?
The costs of doing business in Connecticut, which ranked the fourth-most expensive state in the nation, are huge. Labor costs are fourth-highest. Energy costs are ranked eighth-highest. And the state ranked 21st for highest nonfederal tax burden.
However, while the state ranks high in the cost-of-living, the state also ranks high when measuring the market potential, productivity index and livability index. According to Fred V. Carstensen, director of UCONN's Center for Economic Analysis, "It's important to have perspective on the different factors that contribute to the state's value."
Casino Update
Dean Nell Jessup Newton of the University of Connecticut Law School has proposed
housing an Indian law center at the UCONN campus and has asked Congressman
Robert Simmons (R, 2nd District) to explore funding for the facility from the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Clearly this is a serious conflict of interest,
since the dean has publicly criticized the vote on Las Vegas Nights repeal and
has been an outspoken critic of the state's legal and legislative efforts. The
dean has staked out a public stance in support of groups seeking federal
recognition, some of the same groups that the Attorney General has opposed on
behalf of the state. Jeff Benedict, President of The Connecticut Alliance
Against Casino Expansion, is questioning both the motive of such a program and
the manner in which it will be funded, and has recently written Rep. Simmons to
express his concern. Stay tuned.
Business After Hours Recap
Two for the price of one! What a great idea to have two businesses combine to
offer an evening of wine tasting and elegant munchies. The business after hours
event began at The Twisted Vine, a fine wine emporium a few doors away
from Mercurio's and around the corner from Saint Tropez where the second
half of the evening concluded. Darius Kadagian, the proprietor of Twisted Vine,
allowed us to sample ten wines, including whites, reds, and sparkling vintages,
with munchies supplied by Callie's Market. Everyone was having such a
good time that they had to be persuaded to move on for the wonderful hors d'oeuvres
and happy ending at Saint Tropez, also a chamber member. Thank you all
for a wonderful evening of networking.