July 2016 - Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Connection
July 2016
Canadian Consul General to New England David Alward (center)
(From left) with CACC Executive Director Theresa Fowler, Core Leadership
Team of Acadia of Lands & Forests George Dumont & Lori Ann-Cyr,
Aroostook Partnership Executive Director Bob Dorsey, Core Leadership Team
of Acadia of Lands & Forests Kelly Martin & Lise Ouellette
2016 Board of Directors
Meet the Board!
Greg Doak
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Coordinator of Campus Center Services
Greg Doak has served on the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors for one year. He really enjoys the community engagement that being on the
Chamber Board provides.
Greg has worked for the University of Maine at Presque Isle for seven and half years and
he is currently the Coordinator of Campus Center Services. He was born in Caribou and
loves Aroostook County for the people, sense of family within the community and the
beautiful lakes and woodland areas. He enjoys being outdoors and boating with his
children.
Sarah Brooks
Bobbie-Jo Caron
Greg Doak
Nola Farley
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
*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.
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.
Academy Dental, P.A.
Acadia Federal Credit Union
Café Sorpreso
Chester M. Kearney, CPAs
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Crown Travel
Cushman & Sons, Inc.
Hampton Inn Presque Isle
Impact Autobody
Kirkpatrick & Bennett Law Offices
Lionel Theriault Inc./Theriault Equipment
Mars Hill Country Club
MSAD #1
NAPA Auto Parts/Clukey’s Auto Supply
North Country Auto
Pack Rat Storage
Plourde Furniture Co.
Presque Isle Save-A-Lot
Quality Home Services
RLW Management, Inc.
Star City IGA
The Lane Construction Company
The Old Iron Inn B & B
Tim Horton’s Café & Bake
Shop- Presque Isle
Tim Horton’s Café & Bake Shop - Caribou
Verizon Wireless Zone, Premium Retailer
Webxcentrics
Wings for Children & Families
May 2016
Caribou Maine Veteran’s Home
Tell us about a recent
Customer Service Experience
and
nominate the business you want
to recognize.
CROWN OF MAINE BALLOON FEST
AUGUST 25-28 2016
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TODAY!
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
New England Marketing Solutions
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]
Stop by the Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce’s
POTATO BOOTH
at the
Northern Maine Fair
July 29 to August 6
Get your delicious
$5.00 each Ice Cream Float Refills $2.00
At
Mondays on Main 7/18 & 8/22
Or at
Thursdays on Sweden
7/14, 7/28, 8/11 & 8/25
Like us on Facebook!
For the most
complete
Calendar of Events
in
Aroostook County
Check out our
Website
at
www.centralaroostookchamber.com
“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
Spotlight Members
WebXcentrics Design Group is proud of the rich background in website design and the long list of satisfied customers we have. We offer plans for small, medium
and large businesses. We have the right plans to fit your needs. Call us today at 764-4024. Visit us on the web at www.webxcentrics.com
Academy Dental traces its origins to 1979 when Dr. Garth Duff returned to his hometown to practice dentistry. Dr. Duff purchased a private practice at 179
Academy Street and, over the years, became a Presque Isle institution. Many of Academy Dental's current patients numbered among Dr. Duff's original patients.
The early practice had the great fortune of hiring a tremendous original team of loyal, hardworking, bright, and consistently consistent employees. Of these, Mary
Delong, Anne Dicker, and Sue Sager still practice their craft at 179 Academy Street today. Their familiar faces help our patients experience a comfort and
continuity of care unique to Academy Dental. In 1995, Dr. Duff merged his practice with that of Dr. Norma Desjardins. Together, they founded Academy General
Dentistry (AGD). A native of Van Buren, Dr. Desjardins brought with her a tremendous addition to AGD—her St. John Valley patients. She also brought
ambitious plans for the new partnership. Together, Dr. Duff and Dr. Desjardins were fortunate to have a bevy of dental professionals join their team. These
outstanding new hires included Cheryl Bossie, Patty Ericson, Karen Edgecomb, Margaret McPherson, and Sandi Bouchard. As the practice began demonstrating
significant growth, Dr. Desjardins and her husband Paul purchased the practice real estate and built the current clinical section. In 2002, the "new and enlarged"
building was opened to patients. A more accessible and patient friendly workspace, AGD now housed nine operatories and, yes, more employees. Stacey Smith,
Lisa McPherson, and Shelley Clark joined the dental practice next. In 2007, Dr. Mark Melendez-Christensen came to Academy Dental by way of Kentucky. He
subsequently purchased Dr. Duff's interest in AGD to coincide with Dr. Duff's semi-retirement and his move to the Topsham area. In 2009, Dr. M-C and Dr.
Desjardins changed the name of their practice to Academy Dental. Around this same time, Kristen Hoglund joined our outstanding hygiene team. Dr.
Desjardins and Dr. Melendez-Christensen, their manager-spouses Paul and Charlotte (Char), and all the members of the Academy Dental team are committed to
continuing the fine tradition of providing quality and comprehensive dentistry in a patient centered environment on Academy Street.
Ike Wilder, a well-known Presque Isle jeweler, was born in 1905 in San Francisco, California. At twenty-eight, he
opened his first business in Presque Isle. In 1947, Wilder lost this business in one of Presque Isle many fires. In
1950, he bought the Holmes Jewelry store and changed the name to Wilder’s. Some of the showcases in the store
are more than a hundred years old. Ike Wilder didn’t sell just jewelry, but also electric shavers made by Schick,
Remington, and Sunbeam. The Wilder Jewelry Building goes back to 1885 and has survived two devastating fires,
one in 1884 and another in 1923. In 1974, Ike passed away and his son Harry took over the business. Harry
passed away in 2003. Present owner Kathy Beaulieu purchased the business. Wilder’s Jewelry also sells Vera
Bradley, Alex & Ani, Brighton and gorgeous items for your home.
Wilders Jewelry Store
The Wintergreen Arts Center (WGAC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2006. It is located in downtown Presque Isle, Maine, in the historic Wight
Furniture Building. Wintergreen is an organization based on the idea that creativity, activism, and community can produce great things. Our mission is to provide
meaningful experiences that encourage an appreciation of the arts, stimulate creativity and innovation, and offer an artistic community space where all are welcome.
The Wintergreen Arts Center receives frequent requests to participate in events, fairs, and fundraising activities for civic organizations. It is our mission to encourage
creativity and the arts in Aroostook County and we deeply regret that we are unable to answer “yes” to all of the worthy causes. Does your request involve selling
goods or services? (i.e. candles, kitchen supplies, jewelry) If so, please consider renting our facility for your party or event. Party planning services are available.
Pamela Megathlin from the Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Standards
gave a presentation to over 50 business owners and community leaders on the new OT rules and
regulations set to take effect on December 1, 2016.
The link below will take you to all materials relating to this change:
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?c=ecfr&sid=48d6ee3b99d3b3a97b1bf189e1757786&rgn=div5&view=text&am
p;node=29:3.1.1.1.23&idno=29
Happy Summertime! Here is a few IRS news releases, fact sheets which we feel will be helpful and
informative. Some of these messages may have already been featured in a recent issue of Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) e-News for Small Businesses and apologize if you receive e-News for Small
Businesses and you have already received this information but felt it was worth additional emphasis. If
you haven’t subscribed to IRS e-News for Small Businesses and would like to please go to e-News for
Small Businesses. We suggest you do that today! Also please feel free to share this link with anyone in
your small business community that you feel may have an interest.
IR-2016-95 Sign Up for IRS Summertime Tax Tips – The Internal Revenue Service today
encouraged taxpayers interested in receiving helpful consumer tips this summer to get a jump-start
on this year’s taxes by subscribing to the IRS Tax Tips email service.
IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2016-01 IRS Says be Alert for Tax Scams – Tax scammers work
year-round; they don’t take the summer off. The IRS urges you to stay vigilant against calls from
scammers impersonating the IRS. There are several tips from the IRS to help you avoid being a
victim.
Are You Prepared For Disaster?
Download the FEMA App
Available for Apple, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices.
 Receive severe weather alerts
 Upload and share photos of damage
and recovery efforts
 Locate and receive driving directions
to open shelters and disaster recovery
centers
 Apply for assistance
 Save a custom list of your family’s
emergency kit and emergency meeting
spot
 Receive safety and preparedness
reminders and learn how to stay safe
before, during, and after over 20 types
of hazards
 Easily toggle between English and
Spanish for all features of the app.
Credentials to Check
In Picking an Adviser
Excerpted from “Wealth” by Paul Sullivan
Spending Well New York Times
Found in the Bangor Daily News June 25-26, 2016
A few years ago, the board that administers the certifies financial planner designation decided to test the idea that investors will ask pointed questions of a prospective adviser and not be fooled by a slick presentation.
So the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards hired a professional DJ named Azmyth Kaminski, shaved
off his dreadlocks, removed his body piercings and put him in a suit. It taught him a few financial phrases and sat him in a
conference room. Then it brought in people looking for a financial adviser. “We gave him buzzwords, like ‘401(k) is the
way to go,’” said Joe Maugeri, managing director for corporate relations at the CFP Board.
After Mr. Kaminski spent about 15 minutes with each person, all but one were ready to work with him, Mr. Maugeri said.
The experience presents an interesting conundrum for people seeking advice: how to best determine if a financial
advisor id qualified for the job. And the related question: With financial advising becoming a second career for some, are
they bringing something more to the table because of their previous experience?



The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s BrokerCheck website lists brokers who have had complaints filed
against them, what kinds of complaints were filed and how they were resolved.
Aligning your interests with an adviser who had a previous career, maybe one similar to what you are doing now
makes certain sense.
Credentials help because they show seriousness about the profession. Look for a designation as a certified financial
planner and/or masters in business administration. A chartered financial analyst can assess investments and provide
advice. A certified financial planner credential shows the person can help people create plans for their financial lives.
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
.
Everyone I talk to speaks about how
quickly the time goes by. This summer and
fall we will be concentrating on how the
changes in overtime regulations and
potential increase in minimum wages and
surcharge on people and businesses making
over $200,000 may impact our economy.
The presentation on OT regulations was a
popular event last week. I do have copies of
the documents presented in case anyone
missed them when they were released.
This weekend is Easton Field Days and the
beginning of Maine Potato Blossom
Festival and soon it will be Northern Maine
Fair which everyone knows means it is time
to bank the house! We just barely got the
screens on!
Aroostook Partnership, Association of
Aroostook Chambers of Commerce and
WAGM TV are collaborating to arrange
opportunities for area residents to meet
their State candidates as well as the
Congressional District 2 candidates.
October promises to be a month devoted to
information. Presque Isle City Council
candidates will be invited to a Candidates’
Forum on October 3 prior to the regular
City Council meeting. October 12 there will
be information presented on a number of
referendum questions. This event will be
held at the Caribou Recreation Center.
October 13 Caribou City Council candidates will be invited to a forum in Caribou
City Council Chambers. The State and
Congressional candidates’ opportunities will
span Octobers 3 to October 20 throughout
the county. Encourage your family and
friends to attend or watch the presentations
that are important to them. The dates
should be released soon.
By the time you read this many of you will
have eaten the first of the “new” potato
crop. WE are so fortunate to live where we
can get fresh vegetables and fruits so easily.
Hopefully the weather will continue to be
favorable for growing and harvesting. Have
a great month until we see you at Mondays
on Main, Thursdays on Sweden, Movies in
the Park, Sundays by the Stream or one of
the many fairs in
the area.