Find the products and services you need — click here!
Other search options:
Member List A–Z •
Category List •
Advanced Search
|
ChamberWorks
» Chamber to Launch 60th Anniversary Campaign
|
Browse past news items in the ChamberWorks Archive
|
Chamber to Launch 60th Anniversary Campaign
Starting in January, the Fairfield Chamber will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a six-month publicity campaign to remind folks who we are and how we benefit the community and local businesses.
The centerpiece of the campaign is an April membership drive followed by Birds of a Feather, a "beach party" event May 6 at the Patterson Club. Then we'll wind up the anniversary celebration at our Annual Dinner on June 7.
All throughout this six-month anniversary celebration we'll be getting the word out with a series of press releases -- and all of our sponsors will get prominent mention in those press releases.
The May event will feature hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, dinner, an open bar with the appropriate umbrella drinks, and a live Jimmy Buffet-type band. It's a fun event and we'll be honoring our new members and awarding prizes to those who brought in the most of them.
These are the sponsorship packages available for the 60th anniversary campaign:
Parrotheads - $5,000
Includes 4 comp tickets to the May 6 event at the Patterson Club; your company name on all dinner tables, save-the-date cards, press releases, monthly flyers and event signage; your logo on the Chamber web site's home page through June 30; and an opportunity to speak at the event -- your 15 seconds of fame!
Beach Bums - $2,500
Includes 2 comp tickets to the May event and your company name on cocktail napkins, save-the-date cards, press releases, flyers, the Chamber web site and event signage.
Coral Reefers - $1,500
Includes 1 comp ticket to the May event and your company name to be featured on table decorations, save-the-date cards, press releases, flyers, the Chamber web site and event signage.
Margariters - $500
Includes 4 free margaritas at the May event and your company name on press releases, flyers, the Chamber web site and event signage.
Coco Nuts - $250
Includes 2 free piña coladas at the May event and your company name on press releases, flyers, the Chamber web site and event signage.
This is the Chamber's biggest publicity and fundraising drive for 2006, and we'd love to have you a part of it. Call the Chamber office at 255-1011 for more information.
More Information on 'Twinkle' Sponsorships
Sponsorship opportunities abound for the Chamber's Feb. 16 event. Twinkle, Twinkle Fairfield Star turns our traditional wine tasting event on its ear by adding beer tasting to the mix and making our attendees the featured entertainment. Beer, wine, karaoke ... who could pass this one up? Check the updated listing on our events calendar for full details of the event.
The following sponsorship packages are available:
The Sun - $1,000 (1 only)
Includes 4 tickets to the event and your name featured on save-the-date cards, all media releases, the Chamber web site and event signage
The Moon - $750 - Sold!
The North Star - $500 (1 only)
Includes 1 ticket to the event and your name on all media releases and event signage
Shooting Stars - $250 (unlimited)
Your name will appear on all media releases and event signage
Area businesses will be donating the food, and Harry's Wine & Liquor is providing the wine and beer. All we need are a few heavenly sponsors to make the event a memorable one.
New State Laws Affecting Businesses
Among a number of state laws recently gone into effect, here are a few acts of the legislature we think our members should know about.
SMALL CLAIMS DAMAGES • The legislature increased the maximum damages that may be claimed in small claims court actions from $3,500 to $5,000.
GIFT CERTIFICATE FEES • A new law prohibits retailers and other property holders from imposing dormancy fees, abandoned or unclaimed property charges, inactivity fees or any similar charge, fee or penalty for inactivity on gift certificates.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES • The state's minimum hourly wage increases from $7.10 to $7.40 on Jan. 1, 2006, and again to $7.65 on Jan. 1, 2007.
TRANSPORTATION BOND AUTHORIZATIONS • The legislature has authorized:
- The acquisation of new self-propelled rail cars for the New Haven Rail Line and related maintenance facilities, operational improvements on I-95, the acquisation of 25 transit buses, and plans for transportation improvements in places other than I-95 (effective July 1, 2005)
- $485.65 million in bonding for rail-related improvements and $344.5 million for other required transportation improvements (effective July 1, 2006)
- $136.9 million in bonding for general transportation purposes in Fiscal Year 2006, $144.6 million in FY 07, and $49 million for capital resurfacing and related construction projects in FY 07
Chamber Ambassadors Grease the Skids
The Chamber's Ambassador Program is in full bloom. Jennifer Trcka of the Westport Inn has enthusiastically volunteered to chair this group, and it's already up and running thanks to Jennifer and her fellow Ambassadors: Ken Geriak, The Care of Trees; Maria Seaman, Darien Financial Services; Kathi Eigenrauch, Commerce Bank; and Regina Madwed, Capitol Photo.Interactive.
The Ambassadors have three primary functions:
- Welcoming New Members: Ambassadors meet in the Chamber's conference room at 9:00 am each Wednesday prior to the monthly board meeting. The Ambassadors have an opportunity to choose the new-member packets that best match their company's interests and then deliver them personally to our new members.
- Facilitating at Member Events: Jennifer assigns two Ambassadors to each Chamber networking event. The Ambassadors attend the event without charge, but their job is to greet attendees and make introductions, and generally make everyone feel comfortable. (Any Ambassador who can't attend their assigned event must inform Jennifer in a timely manner so she can call on another Ambassador to fill in.)
Keeping in Touch: The Ambassadors are expected to touch base periodically with all of our new members, making them feel welcome and important to us. This constant contact is key to member retention.
Pictured (l-r) are Jennifer Trcka, Westport Inn; Ken Geriak, The Care of Trees; and Kathi Eigenrauch, Commerce Bank. Not pictured: Regina Madwed, Capitol Photo.Interactive; and Maria Seaman, Darien Financial Services.
Land of the Million-Dollar Homes
A US Census Bureau survey shows that the number of Connecticut homes valued at over $1 million has more than doubled since 2000.
Using 2003 data, the American Community Survey ranks Connecticut fifth in the nation in the sheer number of $1 million+ homes. Those homes -- 29,270 in all -- represent 3.3% of the total housing market in the state. In 2000 there were less than 13,000 of them.
California leads the nation by a wide margin, with more than 280,000 homes topping the $1 million mark. But in percentage terms Connecticut is a close second, and the state is going upmarket at a faster rate.
The survey reported a national total of nearly 740,000 homes in the $1 million+ range.
IRS Boosts Mileage Deduction
Those of you who take the standard mileage rate deduction on your income taxes will be happy to know that the IRS has given it a sizable increase for the last four months of 2005.
For business miles driven from Sept. 1 through the end of the year, the standard mileage rate climbs from 40.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile. The original 40.5-cent rate is still in effect for business miles driven prior to Sept. 1.
So even if your Hummer's getting a measly 10 mpg, you can still expect an extra 80 cents per gallon in tax deductions. Prius owners, please don't gloat.
Ghouls, Goblins and Stranger Things
On a "boo-tiful" late October day, over 1,500 costumed trick-or-treaters descended on downtown Fairfield for Trick or Treat on Safety Street, the annual event that gets area businesses involved in an all-treats, no-tricks afternoon of fun. Many of the merchants wore elaborate costumes of their own as they greeted the kids.
A number of people dressed up as political candidates were also on hand, forking over the goods to future voters.
And of course, the Chamber tent was pitched on Sherman Green as always. Volunteering their time to pass out candy and event flyers at the tent were Greg Beno and Jana Rahrig of Adecco, Chairman Mary Ellen McLean, Marketing Chair Beverly Balaz, President Patricia L. Ritchie and our own Linda Matthews (any resemblance to Marie Antoinette is entirely coincidental).
Special thanks to Kevin "Omar the Tent Maker" Lally, who helped us set up and take down the tent, and to Greg Beno for taking on the photography duties this year.
We'd also like to draw attention to Mary Perkins' fantastic window display at Decorium.
You couldn't fully appreciate it on a sunny Oct. 31 afternoon like this one -- better to come back after dark, when the real monsters and politicians were haunting the night -- but if you missed it, this is just a small sampling of Mary's ghoulish creation:
| ||||||
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Take an Artful Saturday Walking Tour
The Fairfield Gallery Association presents Fairfield Center's 3rd Saturday, described as "a self tour of fine art, shopping and dining the 3rd Saturday of every month, 5-7 pm." November's tour happens Nov. 19, and next month's is Dec. 17.
The "Gallery Trail" has stops along the way at the Bruce S. Kershner Gallery, Ulla Surland Gallery Eleven, Chef's Table, Fairfield Gallery & Frame, Palooza, The Greenwich Workshop Gallery, Karl Soderlund Gallery & Studio, J. Russell Jinishian Gallery and Art/Place Gallery.