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Browse past news items in the ChamberWorks Archive
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Even More Visibly Improved
Every year we convene at Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate in Southport to recognize those property owners who have done the most to make Fairfield look its very best. At the May 15 event, awards were presented in three categories:
New Construction
Best Western Black Rock Inn, 100 Kings Highway Cutoff
Facelift
Bangalore Restaurant, 1342 Kings Highway Cutoff
Honorable Mentions:
Bob's Store complex, 855 Post Road
Friendly Cleaners, 1964 Post Road
Renovation
Beach Cafe, 2070 Post Road
Honorable Mentions:
Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana, 236 Commerce Drive
Starbucks, 1740 Post Road
A Very Busy Business Showcase
Another yearly ritual in the month of May is Business Showcase, a joint production of eight area chambers of commerce. (The BRBC and its associated chambers make up half the list, but I suppose that chamber inflation is unavoidable in this day and age.) This year's edition, held May 16 at Sacred Heart University, was as successful as ever despite the freaky rainstorm that blew through towards the end of the show.
The keynote speaker was Robert D. Scinto, a Fairfield resident and owner of nearly 3 million square feet of office and industrial space throughout Fairfield County. An engaging speaker, he took the time for a question and answer session at the end and then stayed to chat with folks for a while afterward. The presentation by business consultant and professional development guru André Bello was another draw, as was the session with Larry Janesky, president of Basement Systems. Add to that three afternoon seminars and you have a pretty full day.
But as you would expect, the speakers and seminars are just one part of Business Showcase. Attendance overall was quite good, and with more than 180 booths on the show floor there was plenty to hold their attention. We had a good mix of new exhibitors and returnees displaying their products and services, exchanging business cards and chatting up anyone who wandered close enough. And then there was the after hours networking event and Taste of the Showcase feeding frenzy to wrap everything up.
Showcase is quite a bit bigger than the March table-top expo we do each year with five nearby chambers. (Note that the BRBC gets counted just once for that one -- otherwise we'd have to call it a Nine Chamber expo and then things would really get out of hand.) Which makes us all the more grateful to the Greater Valley Chamber for doing the heavy lifting on this one. We also hope that their psychiatric bills are covered by insurance.
Our Biggest, Bestest Spring Event EVER!
Our new May Ball is so big, so huge, so insubstantial that we didn't even put it on our calendar. That simply wouldn't do it justice.
When does it happen, you ask? Whenever you like. Tuesday at noon, a Friday night, 3 am on a Sunday ... this isn't just an event in May, it is the month of May. And spilling over into June, July, August or next Groundhog Day if it has to.
Um ... so where does it happen, you want to know? My place or yours, heh heh heh.
OK, maybe you didn't want to know that.
It's the non-event event. A myth, a fiction, a fabrication. It's a very cool (and very greenish) invitation to nowhere, with no reservations, no name tags and no rubber chickens for dinner. Really. You pick the time, the place, the activities, even the price!
Yes, the price. You see, this time we don't want you, we just want your money. (We mean that in the best possible way, of course.)
By making a small or not-so-small donation to the Chamber, you're helping local business people make Fairfield a better place for all of us. I mean, that's what the Chamber of Commerce is all about, right?
Sure, we could throw a big party and hope everybody comes. But by simply writing us a check for nothing in particular, you can still support our tireless efforts to promote a healthy business climate and a high quality of life right here, and over there, and down the street -- not just in some banquet hall for the night.
So never mind the babysitter, and don't worry about fitting into your old formalwear. Do whatever you like, at home or around town. But give a little so we can do a lot for our community. You can even "register" online.
And oh yeah, we do enjoy messing with your head. Big time.
Business Community Seeks Experienced Hands, Heads, Etc
The Chamber is getting ready to launch its Senior Division: a new type of Chamber membership designed for so-called retired business people who think "retirement" is something you do when you're dead. Active, enthusiastic people looking for something to sink their teeth into.
And Fairfield needs them, because seniors bring with them years of business experience, they have time to volunteer, and they have lots of friends in the business community. And as members of the Chamber -- for only $50 a year! -- they can take advantage of exclusive health plans for seniors.
We invite retired business people over 60 to join the Chamber and get involved because we often get calls from people who need to pick the brain of someone who's been there. Perhaps they need help with a business plan, or a marketing campaign. Or maybe they need a group of folks to run a fundraiser.
You're never too old to show some bright-eyed youngster the ways of the business world, whether they're 25 or 55. And they'll be grateful for the help.
For more information, contact the Chamber office at 255-1011.
A Very Duckie Derby May 19
Project Pierre Toussaint, a non-profit organization serving the street children of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, will launch 1,000 rubber duckies into Fairfield's Mill River to raise funds for the group's farm works program.
The Duckie Derby gets underway at 2 pm, and the organizers promise food, duckie treats, duckie entertainment, prizes for the cutest duckie costume and (of course) a game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
(No word on a group singalong of Ernie's "Rubber Duckie," but we can only hope.)
Parking will be available at the Elks Lodge and St. Pius X Church on Brookside Drive. You can adopt a rubber duckie with a $10 donation.
For more information, contact Kelly Weldon (203-834-5029) or Liz Tamarkin (203-445-8236), send an email to duckiederby@sbcglobal.net, or visit Project Pierre Toussaint's web site at www.haitippt.com.
Member Drive Update: Pictures!
We've added some photos to our Membership Drive article in last month's issue of ChamberWorks, so be sure to stop by and see if you can spot anyone you know looking goofy. Or even not-goofy.