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Dividends—October 2005 President’s Message One of the relationships we are building at the Chamber is with the A recent topic for discussion was public policy and how business interacts with government, whether it be local, state or federal. I joined two other business partner executives in leading the class through a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that the public policy process creates. Ross also asked me to talk health care policy and housing in The fight for the Shipyard was a great example of how federal policy can be shaped by hard work and an engaged community. The process of developing good public policy can be messy, frustrating, and slow. That is true whether on the local, state or national level. As I wrote last month, there are some good lessons that we can transfer from that experience into our state and local policy-making experience. The Chamber recently hosted a discussion addressing “Housing for Everyone”, a key element for ensuring vibrant diversity and economic growth. Sponsored by Bank of America, this dynamic discussion pointed out the need for leadership from the business community to find solutions for important issues that affect our quality of life – economically as well as socially. On Oct. 19, our next installment of the Bank of America Speaker Series will bring the discussion to a very local level. We will we host the candidates for Portsmouth City Council in a breakfast roundtable. The November municipal elections will influence how the city moves forward during the next two years. You should be engaged in the process if you care about the future of There is much on the agenda for all of us as we shape the future of the city and the region. The new downtown conference center promises jobs, improved parking options and a year round influx of economic activity into our area, and especially our vibrant downtown. The Chamber, together with others in the community, will be exploring possibilities for enhancing the These possibilities, and others that I have not mentioned, remind us that the one constant in life is change. A community that does not change will wither and die. Businesses that do not adapt to new conditions will soon be replaced by those that do. Change can be unsettling but is not something to fear. Change is what creates the future. Our challenge in the midst of change is to retain what is best about where we have been and use it to build the best future for We can create an exciting future beyond the gates of the Shipyard. We are building a future that carries forward the best of where we have been and integrates it with new ideas, new businesses, and new opportunities. We can lead by example and be the gold standard, here in This Chamber will contribute to the work of developing good public policies in as many ways as we can. We will advocate locally, in That is what I taught my students at UNH recently. We can’t let them, or you, down. You deserve our best efforts. If you see times where we fall short let me know. We want to be the gold standard.
Canadian Ambassador Guest
The Honorable Frank McKenna, the new Canadian ambassador to the “ McKenna has served in a volunteer capacity with a number of organizations, including the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation, the Canadian Unity Council, the Public-Private Infrastructure Ad Hoc Steering Committee, Historica — A Foundation for the Study of Canadian History, the National Adult Literacy Database, the C.D. Howe Institute, The Portage Program, The New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts, the National Ballet School Capital Campaign, and the Capital Campaigns for the University of New Brunswick and l’Université de Moncton.
New Incentive Rewards
A current Chamber member who signs up a new business will now receive a 10-percent credit based on that new member’s annual membership toward dues thanks to a new policy instituted this month.
According to Dick Ingram, Chamber president, the policy reflects a renewed commitment to promoting the growth and diversity of the membership base which in turn will allow the Chamber to offer better programs and services.
This is how it works. Sell a prospective business on the value of the Chamber membership. “When that prospect forwards the application and initial dues to the membership manager, have them note your company as the referrer on the application,” said Kendra Frangos, Chamber membership development manager.
Payment of the referral fee will be made as a credit to the referring member’s account with the Chamber and may be used against dues, attendance at events and programs or services like the member database disk, expanded web presence on the Chamber’s web site, sponsorship or Dividends flyers.
For more information, contactrangos at (603) 610-5518 or kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org. Chamber Takes Delivery of ‘Coastline Magazine’ The Chamber recently took delivery of this year’s Coastline Magazine, the region’s only relocation guide and comprehensive business directory. Chamber Ambassadors and staff have already organized and started hand-delivering copies to members in the immediate
The program is an annual tradition that gives the Chamber staff and volunteers an opportunity to visit with members face-to-face and thank them for their support. Copies have also been mailed out to all members listed as the primary contact in the Chamber’s database.
Those who haven’t yet received a copy should contact the Chamber at (603) 610-5513 or email info@portsmouthchamber.org
Thousands of magazines are mailed out each year to prospective new businesses and residents through the Chamber, the Pease Development Authority, the City of
The 128-page, full-color magazine is filled with information on Seacoast lifestyle, business, history, real estate, dining, shopping and education. Coastline magazine also features profiles on nine Seacoast communities and a directory of Chamber-members. “We hope our members will keep their copy handy and use it when they need products or services,” said Kendra Frangos, the Chamber’s membership development manager. “Using the directory in the back of the magazine is a great way to support your fellow members.”
To find out more about the benefits of advertising in Coastline, call Frangos, the Chamber’s membership manager, at (603) 610-5518. This 2006 issue will be published next September. Chamber Scores Grant for Tourism Promotion
The Chamber recently scored $28,400 in matching grants through
The grant will fund a number of tourism initiatives including the production of three seasonal rack cards, participation in a half-page destination ad in Boston Magazine, the creation of three, 30 to 40 second web-based videos that will give prospective visitors a preview of the area before they arrive, participation in the American Bus Association’s Marketplace and the New England Sales Mission to Canada, other advertisements in Yankee Magazine and Meetings Media East, and a quarterly e-newsletter that will be sent to prospective visitors.
“The seasonal videos will provide a way for people to “experience”
According to Hubbard, the Chamber’s grant will be matched by supporting Chamber members and will be used to increase awareness that the NH seacoast is a year-round destination with something to do in every season. She added that the primary target for the marketing campaign will be the domestic and Canadian markets focusing particularly on leisure visitors with a household income of $75,000 or more, and those who live within a six-hour drive.
Fuze Communications was chosen through a proposal process to produce print collateral for the marketing campaign. New England Video Productions will create the web videos.
For more background in the tourism grant proposal, or to participate in the initiatives, contact Hubbard at (603) 610-5517 or mhubbard@portsmouthchamber.org. The full proposal is available at www.portsmouthchamber.org/uploads/2005jpp.doc.
Chamber Events LifeSize Graphics Becomes Infinite Imaging at Sept. BAH
There were some “big” doings at September’s business after hours as LifeSize Graphics celebrated the rebranding of their professional graphic reproduction services to something that more adequately characterizes the scope of their offerings—Infinite Imaging.
The new company combines Portsmouth Blueprint & Copy, LifeSize and York Copy into one entity.
More than 120 Chamber members and guests attended the special celebration Sept. 22. Throughout the evening guests were treated to a tour of Infinite’s studio which was full of wall-size historical art, charts and maps as well as samples of client work they’ve done over the years. Café Espresso and new member Vintner Cellar Wineries provide a taste of local cuisine and “homemade” refreshments created and bottled just a few yards away.
Business Owner and Founder Bill Hurley offered a few words in recognition of his company’s milestone and thanked local businesses for their support over the years.
Some lucky guests left with mementos of the night including artwork from Infinite’s gallery and gift certificates good for graphic services and meals for two at local restaurants. Stephen Lorentzen, Lorentzen Associates, won an ArtPlaq-mounted photo by Doris Rice; Wynne Levine, Key Partners, Inc., picked up mounted print of a photo by Shaine Rutherford; Doreen Halla, AFLAC, drew a $100 worth of imaging services from Infinite Imaging; Karen Stanley, Deck Apes, won a gift certificate for Café Espresso; and Sanford Salava, Great Bay Insurance Agency, picked up a meal for two at Weathervane Restaurants. Ellen White, Federal Savings Bank, also won honors as member of the month. As a winner, the bank will be the featured business for the month of October on the Chamber’s online home page. Boston Bank Officer Talks on ‘Housing for Everyone’
If communities are to meet the challenges of providing reasonably-priced housing for employees, students and young families, then housing advocates first need to dispel the myths and call out the realities on the issues. That was the message of John Eller who came to
Eller, senior vice president of housing and investments for the Federal Home Loan Bank in Boston, said that it is up to community leaders to dispel the myths associated with affordable housing, to work to support housing projects that come up for approval at land-use boards, and to encourage business to make space available for housing.
Eller said the development of affordable housing is a must for continued economic vitality in the region. He added that a recent report showed that the state risks losing nearly 3,000 jobs a year if the problem isn’t addressed.
For more background on the breakfast and the Chamber’s activity relating to the issue, visit www.portsmouthchamber.org/library.cfm. Candidate Breakfast
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