SEPTEMBER 2007 The Newsletter of the Concord Chamber of Commerce

REGISTER TODAY FOR: VISITOR CENTER INFORMATION:Business After Hours - September 12

SCORE Counseling - September 18

SCORE Counseling - October 16

CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER - October 24

Business After Hours - November 7

SCORE Counseling - November 20

Register online or call the Chamber at 978-369-3120

Open daily through October 28th. 10am-4pm

Guided Tours:Friday – 11am

Saturday – 11am & 1pmSunday – 11am & 1pm

Monday – 11amOther times by appointment

Agricultural CommitteeMakes Special Contributionto Local Events

Last Fall’s very successful Ag Day event in ConcordCenter set the ground-work for this year’s multi-eventagricultural calendar. The Chamber, hoping to expand

its Shop Locally initiative to encompass the localfarming community, encouraged the Agricultural

Committee to consider adding events so allthree areas of Concord would be servedby the wonderful market days.

“West Concord in Bloom”, a localgrowers flower market, took place in

West Concord on June 16th. Shopperswere able to buy cut flowers and garden

plantings and shop the West Concord storesfor special sales.

The Thoreau Street Farmers’ Market was set to take placeon August 25th but was cancelled for this year because ofnecessary road work on Thoreau Street. The event is on theschedule for next fall and is highly anticipated by the Depotarea merchants.

The Second Annual Ag Day will take place on the Milldam inConcord Center on Saturday, September 15th from 10am until2 pm. Participating farms will include: Hutchins Farm, VerrillFarm, Brigham Farm Stand, Scimone Farm, Millbrook Farm,Gaining Ground, Colonial Gardens, Hugh Cargill CommunityGarden, Walden Bros., Silverleaf Farm, Concord LandConservation Trust, Big Ox Farm (MMNHP), Kenney Farm,Thoreau Farm Trust, Chris Dooley, Carlisle Farmstead Cheese,Open Table and the Concord Natural Resource Commission.

Preserving our farms and our special land resources is ofvital importance to the community. And supporting the localgrowers is a wonderful way to support the Chamber’s ShopLocally initiative.

It is hoped that these three agricultural events will becomespecial Concord annual traditions!

2007 Business Person of the Year

Nominations are being accepted for the 2007 BusinessPerson of the Year award. The Concord Chamber ofCommerce will recognize the recipient of this year’s

award at the Annual Dinner in October.

Nominees should be individuals who:

• demonstrate contributions to community welfare

• participate in community activities

• evidence lasting contributions to the community

• exhibit leadership through exemplary personal and businessprogress

• contribute to a professional and strong business community

Past winners include: John Forbes, Guy Morrison, Womenwho ran TriCon Gift Shop, Guy P. DiGiovanni, Jane Barrett,Fritz Kussin, John W. Boynton, Patrick F. Padden, Andrew J.Mahoney, Jr., Bob and Nancy Carr, Kevin Hurley and BillJackson, Bill Sullivan, Joe Saia, Sharon Spaulding, StephenVerrill and Steve Vanderhoof. Past winners and currentChamber of Commerce Board members may not be consid-ered for nomination.

The 2007 Business Person of the Year will be honored atthe Chamber of Commerce 53rd Annual Dinner onWednesday, October 24th.

welcome N E W M E M B E R SBedford Plaza HotelFull Service Hotel340 Great RoadBedford, MA 01730Tel. 781-275-6700Preeti Malhotra

BUSINESS “ON THE AIR”The Chamber is committed to promoting local businessesand is working with Executive Director Charlie Paige toproduce a monthly TV series focused on Concord ChamberMembers. The show will feature interviews by the Chamber’sExecutive Director of local business owners and on-locationfootage of local businesses.

CCTV, Inc. is a non-profit,public-access facility operat-ing in Concord and Carlisle,Massachusetts. Their missionis to foster community, com-munication, and collaborationby providing citizens that live,work or attend school inConcord or Carlisle with the skills and equipment necessaryto produce their own local cable television programs. Theycan provide the resources and the Chamber can provide theideas for the programs.

We need volunteers who have the time and interest tobecome the executive producer of the proposed series.CCTV will provide the necessary training to film and edit theshow, so what we’re looking for is a student or adult who hasthe time and interest to help us create an exciting commu-nication vehicle in our community. The “producer” will havethe opportunity to learn digital filming and editingtechniques at CCTV and will provide special support to theConcord community and businesses. If you or someone youknow is interested in this opportunity, please contact theChamber or CCTV.

VISITOR CENTER NEWSThree new employees were welcomed to the Visitor Centerthis summer: Sarah Armitage, Charlotte Corcoran and PeterHealy. The new employees all received their Concord Guidelicenses in May.

“Concord and the Dawn of Revolution; The HiddenTruths” is available at the Visitor Center. Local author andhistorian Michael Ryan writes about many of the misconcep-tions of the Revolutionary War. Ryan is an associate dean atBoston College and volunteers as an historical interpreter atMinute Man National Historical Park.

New publication “In History’s Embrace” by Leslie PerrinWilson, Curator of the William Munroe Special Collections at

the Concord Free Public Library, is now available. The bookshowcases less recognized people and events that havemade the town what it is today.

Check the Visitor Center for new postcards and notecards by Susan McAllister, cards by Fred MacNeill and cardsand magnets by Bonnie McGrath.

The trolley is coming! Actually the trolley is here. TheLiberty Ride has acquired a brand new, state of the art,enclosed, air-conditioned, handicapped accessible trolley.This is the first trolley to grace Lexington and Concordstreets in more than half a century. Now in its 6th year ofoperations, The Liberty Ride is a Lexington sponsored bustour of the events of April 19, 1775 in Lexington andConcord.

CHAMBER WEBSITE TO BE UPDATEDThe Chamber website, which was re-designed in 2005, willundergo some updates in September. New images willreplace many of the current pictures on the site and formatchanges will make calendar listings and the businessdirectory easier to search. New advertising opportunities willalso become available for Chamber members to help drivebusiness to member websites.

The website drew an average of 100 visitors a day in 2005and now attracts over 200 visitors with increases in numbersduring the Spring Patriot’s Day events and throughout theFall Foliage season. The over 75,000 annual visitors go toVisitor Information, the Business Directory and our Calendarinformation most often to gather information aboutConcord.

Call the Chamber to find out how to become a memberand be listed on the website or to inquire about specialmember advertising opportunities on the site.

CONCORDOPOLY TO BE RELEASEDFOR THE HOLIDAYSThe Chamber has reformatted the Concordopoly game andhas started selling spaces on the board. The “new” gamewill be a representation of sites and special places inConcord. Many of the historical sites are already “on theboard” and the game should be a good representation of avisit to Concord. The games will be delivered by November 30th, just in timefor the holidays and will be available at the Chamber ofCommerce and several historical site gift shops.

2007BOARD MEMBERS

PresidentSharon BuehrleDeaconess Abundant LifeCommunities

Vice PresidentBeth SheldonBest Western

Treasurer Kathy RetickerDirector Business School

Clerk Danner DeStephanoTown Recreation

DIRECTORS:

Glenn BurlamachiMacRae Tunnicliffe’sConcord Funeral Home

Laurie CadiganJ.M. Barrett & Co.

David GrossbergConcord’s Colonial Inn

David HeselToy Shop of Concord

Fritz KussinFritz & Gigi

Nancy NelsonMinute Man National Historical Park

Christine SchusterEmerson Hospital

Stephanie ShepardThe Gatehouse

Van SmickAction Business Coaching

OFFICE STAFF

Stephanie StillmanExecutive Director

Jean Ellis-LaBossiereAssistant to the Director

To Concord Chamber of Commerce Members,

Back to the fall and new beginnings for projects and events and activity! We have a fullschedule of events for the next three months and are hoping that you will participate as muchas you can. And, if we are not meeting your needs – let us know!

Don’t miss the September 15th AG Day on the Milldam in Concord Center. We are sopleased that we can include their in our Shop Locally initiative.

We will have new website activity in September with many new ads in new places. We havebeen very successful with the website and hope that you will be too if you advertise on our site.

The long-delayed Concord-opoly game will be in stores in time for the holidays. If you arenot “on the board”, be sure to reserve your games for holiday gift-giving!

There are three upcoming Business After Hour events – September 12th at Verrill Farm,November 7 at Upstairs Antiques and December 12th at Emerson Umbrella. And, watch youremails for a very special October event! If you would like to host one of these popularnetworking events, please call me. We are looking for hosts for 2008!

We are planning some special lunch-time business presentations beginning in January.If you have suggestions for topics or speakers, please let us know.

Our SCORE counselors have now been meeting with local business owners for over a yearand have assisted over 20 individuals. The SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)counselors meet in Concord at the Chamber office once a month from 10am until 4 pm andcan take 5 one-hour appointments during that time. Please call the office for more details orto schedule a meeting.Please save the dates for the other upcoming events:• Wednesday, October 24th – the Chamber’s 54th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction• Wednesday, November 14th – the Chamber’s 2nd Annual Fashion Show• Thursday, December 6th – the Chamber’s Holiday Parade and Open House We are always looking for volunteers to help with these events. Please call for more information!

We try to serve our membership in many different ways. Please let us know how we cansupport you and be sure to talk to me or any of our Board members at any of these events!

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member news ?

from theE X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

H A V E Y O U H E A R D

Goodbye to:Wishes for Girls and to long-time Concord businesses Needle Arts of Concord, OpenMarket, Back Alley Café and Video Revolution. They will all be missed.Special thanks to:The Agricultural Committee and the West Concord businesses who participated in WestConcord in Bloom. The committee will be working on the Ag Day event to take place onSeptember 15th and will host a farmers’ market next fall in the Depot District.Best wishes to:Eric Broege & Carolyn Kemp, co-owners of Vintages – Adventures in Wine, as they expandtheir business and open their second store in Belmont.Congratulations to:North Bridge Antiques as they celebrate their new and expanded location at 28 WaldenStreet. They will host a special Open House, along with Nesting on Main, ThoreaulyAntiques and Upstairs Antiques, on Thursday, September 20th, from 5-8pm. Stop in andwelcome them to their new location!The 2007 winner for Best of Boston Home Accessories – Nesting on Main!

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS FALL 2007

CONCORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • PHONE: 978.369.3120 • FAX: 978.369.1515info@concordchamberofcommerce.org • www.concordchamberofcommerce.org

SAVE THESE DATESNOVEMBER 7 – Business After Hours – Upstairs Antiques

NOVEMBER 14 – Holiday Fashion Show at Nashawtuc Country ClubNOVEMBER 20 – SCORE

DECEMBER 6 – Holiday Open House

SEPT 12 Wednesday Business After Hours – Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, West Concord, 5:30 - 7:30pm. Join us under the tent(inside, if it rains) for wine and wonderful treats from the farmstand kitchen. Bring your business brochures andnetwork with new contacts. Members free; non-members $10. Please pre-register for this event.

SEPT 15 Saturday Concord Ag Day – Fall Farmers’ Market, on the Milldam on Main Street,10:00am - 2:00pm. Visit the farmers ofConcord for your fall produce and flowers and enjoy special sales and events at many of the downtown shops.

SEPT 18 Tuesday SCORE Counseling – Service Corps of Retired Executives provides FREE one-on-one small business counselingsessions at the Chamber office. Only 6 one-hour appointments available beginning at 10:00 am. Please callthe Chamber at 978-369-3120 to make your appointment.

OCT 10 Wednesday Business After Hours – special ConcordConserves.org Website Launch Party sponsored by BartlettCommunications and the Nashoba Brook Bakery, 5:00 – 6:00pm. Enjoy local food at this local bakery andlearn about ConcordConserves.org, an environmental website for town businesses and residents. Please pre-register for this event.

OCT 16 Tuesday SCORE Counseling – Service Corps of Retired Executives provides FREE one-on-one small business counselingsessions at the Chamber office. Only 6 one-hour appointments available beginning at 10:00am. Please callthe Chamber at 978-369-3120 to make your appointment.

OCT 24 Wednesday Chamber’s 54th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction – Nashawtuc Country Club. Make your reservations forthis special evening honoring the 2007 Business Person of the Year.

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The Concord Chamber of Commerce15 Walden Street, Suite 7Concord, MA 01742

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