A Historically Hip Holiday Happening
The Fairfield Museum & History Center still has that new building smell. Toss in a big ol' Christmas tree, model choo-choo train displays and lots o' food and drink, and you've got all the ingredients of a hopping holiday party.
The Flying Dish, Barcelona and Mo's Wine & Spirits brought the edibles and drinkables, and attendees brought an SUV's worth of gifts and cash donations for Operation Hope. HSBC Bank generously sponsored the whole shebang, and a chunk of the evening's proceeds goes to Operation Hope as well.
The warm lighting helped take the chill out of the night (we thank the weather people for postponing the snow until Thursday), and the historical exhibits seemed a fitting backdrop for a holiday party -- though I'm quite sure that the fine, upstanding Puritans who founded Fairfield would have chased us out of the joint, possibly with pitchforks.
Richard Loehfelm of Countrywide Home Loans won some nice door prizes provided by the museum, which to my knowledge didn't include any pitchforks. Choking hazard and all that.
There was plenty of space to wander with food and drink in hand, and Greg Beno captured the scene in his latest dotPhoto slideshow. Be sure to check it out.
Next up is the January Business After Hours, Jan. 23 at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. We'll see you there.
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And Now, A Few Words About Reverse 911
First, a public service announcement: Calling 911 to complain about your neighbor's dog is a big no-no. You don't want a SWAT team tearing up your lawn -- that's the dog's job -- and besides, Santa will leave a big hunk of radioactive lead in your Christmas stocking. Thank you.
Now for something you probably don't know. Reverse 911 is a service that calls you in the event of an emergency. But it's only as good as its phone number database, and the Fairfield Police Department has found that their list of businesses is less than complete.
To make sure you'll receive word about disasters, crime alerts, missing children, and other important public safety information, visit the FPD's Reverse 911 web page. Learn more about the program and how it works, and then register online.
And about that dog next door? Try beef-flavored pepper spray. On his owner.
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Economic Strategy Forum at University of Bridgeport
The state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is holding a series of economic strategy forums around the state -- and wants to hear what the business community feels it will take to strengthen Connecticut's economy and help companies succeed here.
The University of Bridgeport's Arnold Bernhard Center will host one of these forums Jan. 10 from 5-8 pm.
This is an excellent opportunity to speak directly to the state officials who will be drafting a new economic plan for the state. Tell them about the factors that affect your ability to compete and what should be done to make Connecticut's business climate more welcoming and competitive.
You can can give the DECD a three-minute spoken testimony. Or, if you can't attend, submit your ideas in writing. CBIA is attending each of these meetings, and can provide more information on how to prepare and what to expect. Contact CBIA's Jesmin Basanti at 860-244-1929 or basantij@cbia.com for more information. Additional information can also be found on the CBIA web site.
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The Return of the Package Deal
It's that time of year again. The Chamber has an offer you can't refuse (well, you can, but we'll pretend we didn't hear that): the $135 Package Deal has returned.
It's your golden opportunity to sign up for an entire year's worth of Chamber networking events, eleven in all. We know some of you end up paying a premium price to attend these events, whether you forgot to reserve in advance or just found it easier to pay at the door. Well, this is an even easier way to take advantage of your Chamber connections -- and at the same save some money. You know, cash. Moolah. Dough.
This is bigger than just our blockbuster Business After Hours events. Much bigger. Included in the price of admission is the outrageously fun Penfield Bash, which some of you may remember (or have difficulty remembering) from last summer. Space is limited -- the town sorta starts to hyperventilate if we try to squeeze more than 125 people into the pavilion -- so this is the best way to guarantee you'll be there on the beach with all the other maniacs.
It's absurdly simple, really. You pay for the $135 Package Deal now (this offer expires Dec. 31, so don't dawdle), and then all you have to do for the rest of the year is show up. Stampede the registration table, trample all those hapless people waiting to pay the door fee. Do a little victory dance because you can -- you've got a standing reservation for the biggest and best networking events of the year.
And don't forget about that Penfield Bash. Miss that one and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Seriously.
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Two Chambers, Twice the Fun!
What? It's December already? Oh, yeah.
Our Double-Chamber Networking Expo invaded the Westport Inn Nov. 15 (just pretend you were reading this last month) as it has every year. But this time there was a different feel to the popular tabletop expo, a joint presentation with the Westport Chamber.
Spread out over two floors in the former Spyglass Restaurant, our 45 exhibitors luxuriated in the decor. We had The Pantry serving up eats for a good 125 people while Milt Jacoby, accompanied on violin, filled the place with music. It was a gratifying turnout for sponsor Patriot National Bank and provided great fodder for cross-border networking.
This event is a big hit with small businesses looking for a more intimate venue than the larger regional expos. And the post-restaurant setting delivered on that promise in spades. Check out Greg Beno's slideshow and you'll see why.
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