May 2016 - Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Connection
May 2016
Meet the Board!
The
Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
Welcomes
Lisa Wark
Sarah Lee Brooks
University of Maine at Presque
Isle
TRiO Upward Bound
Educational Talent Search
Academic Advisor
Lisa is our new Electronic Media and Office Assistant
She will be working with the website and social media for events, business
happenings and member information.
She can be reached at 207-764-6561 or [email protected]
2016 Board of Directors
Sarah Brooks
Bobbie-Jo Caron
Greg Doak
Nola Farley
William Getman *
Karen Gonya *
Kim Jones
Shawn Lahey *
Shelley McAtee *
Jim McKenney
Laurie Nelson
Karen Ouellette *
Bonnie Pack
Justin Pelletier
Floyd Rockholt *
Karen St. Peter *
Sherry Sullivan
Penny Wickstrom
Miles Williams *
* Indicates member of Executive Board
Klowning Around at work with
that Anah Shrine Klowns!!
Sarah is in her 6th year as a
member of the Central
Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors.
She is the leader of the MaineQuebec Caravan which travels
each February on the logging
roads through the North Maine
Woods to their final destination Quebec City’s Winter Carnival!
Sarah enjoys the
comradery
with other Board members and
learning about and trying to help
the area business wise. She has
worked for the
University of
Maine at Presque Isle for six
years with the TRiO Upward
Bound/Educational
Talent
Search as an academic advisor.
Sarah is born and raised in the
County and she is very active in
local events especially in the
towns of Portage Lake and
Ashland. You can often see her at
festivals driving teams of horses
for wagon rides and she is the
Vice President of the Can-Am
Sled Dog Races. She loves the
seasons in the County, being
outdoors in the woods, all the
wonderful activities here and the
fact that there is no traffic!
3 Houlton Rd., Presque Isle, ME 04769; Phone (207)764-6561, Fax (207)764-1583, www.centralaroostookchamber.com
Thank You to all
RENEWING MEMBERS
For your continued support!
The Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce is only as strong as its
membership.
Davis, Gates & Alward, P.A.
Eagle Hill Stamp & Coin
Emera Maine
F. A. Peabody Company
Four Points by Sheraton Bangor Airport
Goin’ Postal
Greater East Grand Lake Chamber of
Commerce
Haney’s Building Specialties
Harry’s Motor Sports & Equipment Sales
JP Martin & Sons Construction Corp.
MMG Insurance
Machias Savings Bank
Marden’s Surplus & Salvage
Mechanical Services, Inc.
Merchants on the Corner
Northeast Pellets, LLC
Northeastland Hotel
Office Depot Max
PNM Construction, Inc.
Portage Lake Tourism Committee
Presque Isle Elks Lodge
Rockwell & Quinlan CPA’s, Inc.
Salmon Brook Valley/Stockholm Realty Trust
Sign Place
St. Apollonia Dental Clinic
State Farm - The Harvell Agency
Subway - Caribou
Subway - Presque Isle
The Olde Rustic Attic
United Insurance Hayden Perry Agency
United Insurance Kieffer Agency
University Credit Union
West Mountain Kettle Corn
March 2016
Portland Glass
Tell us about a recent
Customer Service Experience
and
nominate the business you want to recognize.
Nominations are due by the 25th of each Month
And can be made by calling the Chamber at 764-6561
Or by emailing us at
[email protected]
Chamber Connection
Page 2
Welcome to our
Newest Chamber
Members!
How to contact your representatives:
2016 Elected Officials
U.S Senator
Susan Collins - [R]
25 Sweden St.
Caribou, ME 04736
207-493-7873
U.S. Senator
Angus King - [I]
169 Academy St. - A
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207-764-5124
U.S. Representative
Bruce Poliquin - [R]
445 Main St.
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207-764-1968
Maine State Senators
Senate District 1 - Peter Edgecomb - [R] 207-287-1505
Senate District2 - Michael Willette - [R] 207-287-1507
Central Aroostook Chamber
of Commerce
Maine State Representatives
District 146 - Dustin White - [R-Washburn] 207-227-8756
District 147 - Robert Saucier - [D-Presque Isle] 207-227-1160
District 148 - Anthony Edgecomb - [R-Fort Fairfield] 207-484-8119
District 149 - Carol McElwee - [R - Caribou] 207-498-8605
District 151 - John Martin - [D-Eagle Lake] 207-834-7568
Opportunities to be Involved
CACC has several committees in which
members of the community and businesses in the area
are welcome to help plan and
participate while learning what the Chamber does.
There are also committees essential to the basic
operation of the Chamber. Anyone with an interest in
the success and future of the Chamber is
encouraged to become involved through committee
participation.
Now is a good time to join and help make a
difference in Central Aroostook County.
For more information please contact
Theresa Fowler at:
[email protected]
January—Annual Awards Dinner
February—Maine Quebec Caravan
June—Area Wide Yard Sale
June—Strawberry Shortcake Sale
July/August - Potato Booth/Northern Maine Fair
August—Crown of Maine Balloon Fest
October—Haunted Woods Walk
October—Aroostook County Brew Fest
December—Holiday Light Parade
Grand Opening
Sign!
Available for your use
from the
Central Aroostook
Chamber of
Commerce
$75.00 deposit fully
refunded when sign is
returned!
Call us at 764-6561
To reserve it today!
[email protected]
Area Events
5/05-5/07 - Anah Shrine Circus
5/06- First Friday Art Walk
5/06 - Caribou Mother/Son Dance
5/06-5/08 - IAT-ME Annual Meeting
5/07 - UMPI Outing Club to Acadia National
Park
5/07 - Community Voices 2nd Annual High on
Life 420 Run
5/07 - Wintergreen Saturday Open Studio
5/07 - UMFK Jim Grandmaison Bike Tour
5/07 - Caribou Historical Society War Display
5/07 - Mapleton Lions Club Auction
5/07 - Northern Maine Chamber Society
Concert
5/10 - Southern Aroostook Historic Walking
Tour
5/10 - UMPI Empty Bowls Event
5/11 - PI Fish & Game Hunter Safety Course
5/11 - Aroostook Birders-Collins Pond
5/13-5/15 - The Maine Dance Academy Recital
5/13 - PI Historical Society Guided Tour of
Fairmount Cemetery
5/14 - Aroostook River Fun Run
5/14 - Aroostook Birders-Perham Bog/Salmon
Brook Lake
5/14 - Baskahegan Stream Canoe/Kayak Race
5/14 - East Grand Adventure Race
5/14 - PI Historical Society Narrated City-Wide
Tour on Molly the Trolley
5/14 - Friends of ANWR Vernal Pool Walk
5/14 - Wintergreen Women’s Day Event
5/14 - University of Maine at Presque Isle
Commencement
5/14 - Caribou Historical Society War Display
5/15 - Got Guts? For Crohn’s & Colitis 5K
Walk/Run & 1 Mile Kids Fun Run
5/17 - Aging Well Living Well Expo
5/18 - Chamber Breakfast Series Commissioner Mary Mayhew DHHS
5/20 - Wintergreen Pizza & Paint for Teens
5/21 - 5/22 - Caribou Area Wide Yard Sale
5/21 - 5/22 - Spring Art, Craft & Small
Business Fair
5/21 - Wintergreen Saturday Open Studio
5/21 - The County Service Challenge
5/21 - Kidabaloo
5/21 - Caribou Historical Society War Display
5/21 - Pathway to Recovery Walk
5/22 - Madawaska River Run
5/28 - 5/29 - Greater Madawaska Yard Sale
5/28 - Wintergreen Saturday Open Studio
5/28 - PI Historical Society Free Guided
Walking Tour of Downtown Presque Isle
5/28 - Caribou Historical Society War Display
5/28 - PI Historical Society Guided Tour of the
1875 Vera Estey House Museum
5/29 - Portage Lake Memorial Day Parade
5/30 - Presque Isle Memorial Day Parade
5/30 - Mapleton Memorial Day Parade
6/01 - PI Historical Society Presentation on
Charles Phair
6/02 - Thursdays on Sweden with The Mallett
Brothers!
6/03 - First Friday Art Walk
6/04-6/05 - Central Aroostook Area Wide Yard
Sale
6/04 - Live United Aroostook Auto Rally 2016
6/04 - Caribou Historical Society War Display
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
TO SEE COMPLETE INFO ON THE ABOVE EVENTS!
http://www.centralaroostookchamber.com
If you would like to see your event in our newsletter
or on our website please contact us at:
Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
207-764-6561
Or by email at
[email protected]
*Monthly Meetings*
Chamber Board Meetings are typically the
SECOND Tuesday of each Month.
During the winter they are held at the
Chamber office.
During the spring and summer months we like to
visit members in the community.
“I’m a Member, Now What?”
For some businesses, being a member of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
(CACC) is second nature. For others, they have a hard time seeing the value in their investment.
What does the Central Aroostook chamber of Commerce actually do? The mission states: To
serve, advance and publicize the commercial, agricultural and civic interests of Central
Aroostook County. This mission is multi-faceted: it involves Business Networking, Education,
Economic & Community Development and Community Events.
Business Networking: This may be the most well-known opportunity for our members. Along
with our monthly newsletter, we have advertising opportunities, we give business referrals and
we are often the first information resource that new businesses seek out when considering
Central Aroostook County.
Education: The Centr al Aroostook Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly
Breakfast Meetings to meet the State of Maine Commissioners. The CACC also joins other local
institutions and businesses to provide forums for discussion on local issues.
Economic & Community Development: One of the main objectives of the Centr al
Aroostook Chamber of Commerce is to make Aroostook County a place where people want to
live and work. The Chamber is the liaison between our region, the State of Maine and the nation.
We work to accentuate the positive aspects of our region to those near and far.
4. Community Events: If you live or wor k near Aroostook County, then you have most
certainly been exposed to one of the numerous community events that the Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce hosts. The Annual Dinner in January, The Maine Quebec Caravan in
February, City-Wide Yard Sale and Strawberry Shortcake Sale in June, Potato Booth at the
Northern Maine Fair in July, Crown of Maine Balloon Fest in August, Haunted Woods Walk and
Aroostook County Brew Fest in October and the Holiday Light Parade in December are all
opportunities for your business to participate and gain exposure in events that draw people from
all over the State of Maine.
You membership is important to your community AND your business—utilize it! Call us today
at 207-764-6561 and connect with us to access all the resources available to you!
Original article by Cynthia Ross appeared in the Business Insider, a publication of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Connection
Page 5
The
Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce
would like to wish
Bill & Sylvia Getman
The Best of Luck
as they embark on a new
journey together
in the Adirondack
Mountains of New York.
They have been strong
advocates in the promotion
of Aroostook County and
they will be missed.
Chamber Checks
Program
YEAR ROUND GIVING !!
The Chamber Checks Program isn’t just for the holidays! It is for year round spending in our local stores!
They are regular business size, fully encoded checks. The checks will be signed by Lynnette Frederick or Theresa Fowler. They are
being issued in $ 10, $15, $25 and $50 denominations. At the time of use the checks will be dated and made payable to the receiving
business. The check will be accepted at its full face value and any required change will be given to the client. For simplicity they will be
considered like cash until the bank deposit is being made.
Your business will then deposit the check in your bank deposit like any other check received for payment from a client.
The checks have gone through a duplicate printing process to make them protected against forgery.
Like Gift Certificates the money from the purchase will be placed in a specific account and held. There are no printed expiration dates as
they will expire 6 month after the check is presented for purchases, not 6 months from date of purchase here at the Chamber.
We are hoping that this project will encourage support of local businesses. There will be a list of businesses which have agreed to accept
these checks as forms of payment sent with each purchased check. Local businesses will be given window decals to advertise that they
accept these checks for payment as well.
If you have any concerns please contact the Chamber office and speak to either Lyn or Theresa at your convenience.
Thank you for your continued support.
The Following Businesses Participate in the Chamber Checks Program:
ACE Rent A Car
Amy’s Flowers
Aroosta Cast
Aroostook Limousines
Aroostook Savings & Loan
Aroostook Shredding
Aroostook Tech, Inc.
Ashland 1 Stop
Ashland Diner
Aural Rehabilitation Services/ARS Hearing Aids
Beaulieau’s Auto
Big Cheese Pizza (Caribou & PI)
Bigrock Mountain
Bike, Board & Ski
Braden Theater
Bradley’s Citgo & Car Wash
Bread of Life Bulk Foods & Specialty Store
Burger Boy
Card Smart
Care & Comfort
Caribou Inn & Convention Center
Caribou Save - A -Lot
Cary Medical Center Gift Shop
Chandler Farms, Inc.
City Drug Store
Collage Beauty Studio
Condon Sign, LLC
Country Cleaners
Country Collectibles
Criterium-Brown Engineers
Cushman & Sons, Inc.
Daigle Property Maintenance
Dana’ s Auto Sales
Eagle Hill Stamp & Coin
Family Eyecare & Mavor Optical
Gagnon’s Auto & RV Sales, Inc.
Gil’s Sanitation
Governor’s Restaurant & Bakery
Graves Supermarket, Inc.
Hampton Inn By Hilton
Hand Me Down Antiques
Harry’s Motor Sports & Equipment
Diana Higgins, LMT
Hillside IGA
Irish Setter Pub
JP Market & Deli
Lynox Welding Supply
Diana Mains, LMT
Mars Hill Country Club
Mars Hill IGA
Merchants on the Corner
MOJO Outdoor Sports
Northeast Pellets
Northern Business Products
Northern Maine Community College
Northern Prosthetics & Orthotics
Pat’s Pizza
Percy’s Auto Sales
Plourde & Plourde, Inc.
Pottery by Karen St. Peter
Precision Lawn Services, Inc.
Presque Isle Country Club
Presque Isle Save - A - Lot
Quality Homes Services
RLW Management, Inc.
Rathbun Lumber
Shallie’s Place
Star City IGA.
Steaks N’ Stuff
Sunrise Massage & Birth Services
The Aroostook Medical Center
TAMC’s Country Heart Gift Shop
The Maine Dance Academy
The Olde Rustic Attic
Tim Horton’s (Caribou & PI)
Verizon Wireless Zone
Walmart
BDN Maine Outdoors
1/16 page—$65.00
1/8 page—$130.00
1/4 page—$260.00
1/2 page—$520.00
BDN Maine Outdoor prints over 50,000 issues
of their magazine four times a year.
Advertising
Opportunities
All purchased advertising will receive a free
Facebook posting
Email Blast to Membership—$25.00
The Chamber will send your ad out to our over
300 members
Monthly Newsletter—$25.00
Your ad will be included in our monthly
newsletter
Annual Directory
The Directory includes all of our membership,
local organizations, places of worship, and
information on Central Aroostook County. With
1200 printed annually, the directory is given in
relocation packets, new member packets and is
distributed throughout Aroostook County.
Website Banner/Rotator Ads
Top Banner—First Month FREE then $50.00 per
month with a 6 month
commitment up front. After 6 months you can
continue on at the same monthly rate or pick
times of the year that would benefit your
company the most.
Rotating Side Banner—First month FREE then
$20.00 per month with a 6 month
commitment up front. After 6 months you can
continue on at the same monthly rate or pick
times of the year that would benefit your
company the most.
Bangor Metro
1/16 page—$100.00
1/8 page $200.00
1/4 Page—$400.00
1/2 Page $800.00
With a monthly circulation of 12,500 magazines,
Bangor Metro is growing in popularity here in
Aroostook County due to a special feature called
“Crown of Maine”.
WAGM-TV-CACC Presents
$260.00 for 40 airings total over one month.
Choose the month that best suits your
business’s needs. The Chamber pays $60.00 of
the cost..
You get: A 15 second piece that introduces you as
a member of the Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce (5 seconds), then your advertising
information with an
exterior shot of your business (10 seconds) with a
total of 20 airings on CBS and 20 airings on FOX
over the month you choose.
Event Sponsorship
The Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce holds eight events each year with
varying levels of sponsorship. Please contact the
Chamber for sponsorship menus.
The Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce buys advertising to share with it’s
Members through local radio, local
publications, special inserts, and tourism items
sent through out the State of Maine
.
The Central Aroostook Chamber is excited
about the opportunity to assist our
members and our communities by offering
a tuition waiver to Leadership Maine.
There are 30 alumni in Aroostook County
who would be very happy to share their
experiences if you are considering
attending. This is an 8-month program that
includes acknowledged leaders representing
the private and public sectors from every
region of Maine. We are fortunate that
Maine Development Foundation has
extended the application period for our
members. The Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce will offer payment
for representatives of 2 member businesses
to attend this wonderful network of
classes. The cost that the business or
participant would be travel and
accommodations. Most of the classes are
held in the Portland area. Please contact us
for information on applying for the
Leadership Maine program and the tuition
waiver we are offering.
If we don’t promote our region and our
people, no one will! Speaking of which I
have had a great couple days visiting
businesses in our enlarged service area. I
have been in some stores with wonderful
items that I had no idea were available
before my visit. We should all spend time
traveling around the Central Aroostook
area, visiting shops and businesses that you
have not been at before.
We are pleased to have Lisa Wark as part
of our staff. Lisa will be a great addition to
our communications team. You can expect
to hear from her on occasion. Lisa will be
adding information to our website and
Facebook pages as well as sending out
information on upcoming events. Like
everyone else at the Chamber, she will be
doing all sorts of things depending on the
day and moment.
As summer starts and we have increasing
tourism, please remember that we are
known for Aroostook County friendliness.
Smiling uses fewer muscles than frowning!