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ChamberWorks April 2004 |
» Past Issues |
» Message From Our Chairman
» Johnny Be Dead
» Business After Hours Recap
» Found
» Web News
» FYI
» Rotary Accepting Grant Applications
» Export Documentation Seminars
» April 15 at the Community Theatre
» Visual Improvement Program Awards
» 'Business at the Speed of Life'
» March 16 Business to Business Expo
Spring is in the air, or is it? Hopefully we won't be having a never-ending string of rainy weekends similar to last year. Remember? Every free day was wet until July.
Regardless of the weather, however, spring is the time of our annual fundraiser. Don't forget to contact the Chamber office early for tickets to the outstanding May 8th event "Johnny Be Dead." Last year we sold out so early that many members were unable to attend and missed a fun party.
This year the spring event will be at the Brooklawn Country Club, at the bargain price of $100 per ticket. We will be providing an open bar, full dinner and a wonderful 1950's murder mystery hosted by a professional theater group from the Boston area. Remember to come in your best 1950's attire if you want to win a nifty prize. There will be other contests as well -- trivia, singing, hula hoping and dancing to a 3-piece band. This is our largest fundraiser and we would appreciate the support of all of our members. The income from the event is used to promote Fairfield businesses, and to help defray the cost of the various community events the Chamber sponsors.
Ted Fitzgerald
Chairman
Date Saturday, May 8
Place Brooklawn Country Club
Price $100 per person
Have you ever had the urge to be Elvis Presley, Janet Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, or Jimmy Dean? Come dressed in a 1950s costume to Fairfield's premiere event of 2004, Johnny Be Dead -- a rock 'n roll murder mystery, and win some prizes.
Dance to the live music made famous by Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone,The Platters, Rosemary Clooney and others. Enjoy a live auction with some neat prizes like tickets to the Pilot Pen tournament or a family pack of tickets for a UConn football game at the new Rentschler Field.
For the bargain rate of $100 per person you will get a fabulous dinner, and an interactive murder mystery show with the chance to figure out who killed Johnny Velcro. There will be singing and dancing contests, games and trivia, and the opportunity to let it all hang out. Mark your calendars now for May 8 to reminisce along with us who are old enough to remember those good ole happy days.
Don't forget that last year's wedding tickets were sold long before the invitations were mailed. So don't hesitate -- get on the phone now (or register online) and reserve your space for an evening loaded with laughs. Call 255-1011 today.
The fare was typically Irish in honor of St. Patrick at the March 17 Business After Hours. What else would one serve on St. Paddy's Day than corned beef and mashed potatoes and a smoked salmon for those who don't eat meat. Ellen Hyde-Phillips/Fairfield Interiors really knows how to throw a party. The March 17 event was chock full of people and food. There were pots of green filled with chocolates, and a bowl full of black and white M & M's. (Not sure of the significance of that, but Ellen can fill us in.) And what was Betsey Beaven (Present Memory) doing with a chef's hat and coat on? It appears that in her other life she is an ardent (and professional) cook and Ellen was lucky to have her. Marianne Crystal (JP Travel) was the lucky recipient of the door prize -- a basket of goodies from Total Look of Southport. Thank you again, Ellen, for an elegant and beautiful evening.
A Special Thanks from Me
It's been a long time since I was feted at a party. The March 17 St. Patrick's Day business after hours served the dual purpose of a business/social evening. Thank you everyone for remembering me (but how could you forget that Patricia/St. Patrick's Day are synonymous) with a cake, complete with my picture on top, green and white frosting, and, thank God, no acknowledgment of my advanced age in the candle count. Just to give you a heads up ... you don't have to do this every year! Since I am now at an age known as don't ask, don't tell, it's OK if St Patrick's Day comes and goes without acknowledging my birth. But no kidding, thank you all again for your kind wishes on my special day.
Patricia L. Ritchie, President
A black cut velvet scarf tinged with red was found at 25 Lindberg St. after the business after hours event at Fairfield Interiors. If it's yours and you wish to claim it, please contact Ellen Hyde-Phillips directly at 256-8008.
So, by now you're asking yourself, "How can I use the Chamber's web site to promote my business?" (If you're not asking yourself that, we'd be happy to ask on your behalf. Somebody has to do the dirty work around here.)
Well, off the top of our heads, we can think of several ways to do just that.
If you have a web site, we'll link to it from your online Member Directory listing. Let our web site be a stepping stone to your site, where our visitors can learn more about your business and what you have to offer. It's a free service -- all you have to do is ask. Or they can start learning about you while they're still on the Chamber site, thanks to a free Member Profile. (More on that in next month's column.)
But if you're looking for broad exposure to the thousands of people who visit our site, we have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities to choose from, with something to fit every budget.
Our Gold Package puts your ad in rotation at the head of every page, from the member sections to the relocation info page to the newsletter. This is the only package that includes the home page. The cost is $3,000 a year, or $900 a quarter.
The Silver Package is more specific. You pick one of the primary sections of the site, and we'll place your ad in rotation on all of the pages in that section. Want to sponsor the Member Directory? The Chamber Events section? The Gift Certificates page? You can do that for $1,000 a year, or $600 for six months.
If you're looking for ways to stand out from the crowd, you can upgrade to a Preferred Member Listing in the online directory for $175 a year. And additional Member Category Listings are just $45 a year, great for businesses that can't be pigeonholed into just one category.
If all of that didn't answer your question, more details will appear shortly on the web site (you know the drill: www.FairfieldCTChamber.com, with a "CT" in the middle) and in a brochure we're putting together right now. Or give us a call at 255-1011 -- because we have all the answers.
Become a Hospice Volunteer -- and touch lives in a very special way. The Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut are looking for volunteers to serve in their professionally-led training program. This training program will enable those who have an interest in providing hands on comfort and care to hospice patients as a volunteer.
For more information or to enroll in the training program, contact Dale Janoski at (203) 366-3821.
Rotary Accepting Grant Applications
All local not for profit organizations are welcome to submit their funding requests. The Grant should be used for, but not limited to, capital expenditures, or non-recurring expenses ranging from $500 to $2500. Each applicant must be sponsored by a current member of the Fairfield Rotary Club, and include the following information: The name, physical and e-mail addresses, name and phone number of contact within the organization, a brief description of the organization's overall purpose and the nature of the project targeted for funding. Additionally, please detail the means of completion, information on shared funding, if applicable, and the proof of the organization's non-profit tax status.
The completed request must be received by Kevin Lesko, Chairman of the Grant Review Committee, c/o: Lesko Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 by May 31, 2004. For any questions regarding the grant process, please call (203) 256-8988 or e-mail at Leskofh@aol.com. The Fairfield Rotary Club web site is www.FairfieldRotary.org.
The seminars are intended to provide Connecticut Exporters with the information, knowledge and tools to ensure compliance with the appropriate requirements needed to export. The speakers are professionals in export shipment requirements and will give a detailed overview on the principle documents required.
The Export Documentation Seminar will be held at two locations, Shelton (Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce) and Middletown (Middletown Corporate Center, 2nd Floor), 12:30 to 5:00 p.m., to make it convenient for all of Connecticut. There is a $50 registration fee (payable in advance) which will include all materials and refreshments. For additional information contact: The Connecticut District Export Council, c/o Middletown Export Assistance Center, 213 Court St., Suite 903, Middletown, CT 06475-3382, or call (860) 638-6950.
April 15 at the Community Theatre
Our April Business After Hours will take place in the Fairfield Community Theatre on Unquowa Road. Co-hosted by the Fairfield Chamber, this event will be held at a special time, 5:00 to 6:45 p.m. An invitation is extended to our attendees to stay for the movie showing, beginning at 7 p.m., free of charge. (At this time we don't know what will be "on screen.")
Visual Improvement Program Awards
The annual Visual Improvement Program Awards will be held on Wed., May 19 at Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate. Co-Chairs Cathy F. Granneberg of Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate and Peter Ventriglia of Landmark Financial Group LLC, along with their committee, present an evening event that combines a program of presentations, along with an opportunity to network.
'Business at the Speed of Life'
Wednesday, May 12th is the date set for the upcoming 11th Annual Business Showcase 2004. Expected are 200 participating exhibitors. Keynote speaker will be Jack Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell's/Richard's. This major area event will be held in the William H. Pitt Health & Recreation Center at Sacred Heart University. Eleven free seminars will also be presented this year, and the event will run from 9 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with an expected attendance of over 3,000 people.
This is another way to show off your business to other business owners, to network and get leads. We continue to sign up exhibitors, so if you have not yet been contacted and have interest, please call Linda Matthews at the Chamber office, 255-1011 TODAY. The official web site for the event is www.biz-showcase.com. If you cannot exhibit, try to attend the show.
March 16 Business to Business Expo
New Englanders are used to our changing weather. Never was this more obvious than at the March 16 six-chamber business expo at Norwalk Community College. As the snow continued to fall all morning, the phone never stopped ringing -- people were wondering if the expo was still on.
Of course, the show went on as planned, even though four exhibitors who had planned to be there stayed away. Intrepid New Englanders came as planned, and the turnout was more than we expected. Most exhibitors said they made some new contacts and did some business, which is what the show is all about.
All six chambers were delighted with the numbers that attended the well-planned and well executed sold-out show. Westport, Fairfield, Darien, Stamford, Norwalk and the BRBC plan to get together and do it again in 2005.