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Dividends-September 2005 President’s Message By Dick Ingram, Chamber President Better Together. That is a phrase often used by those engaged in the business of community building. It is also the title of a pretty good book on the subject. My natural inclination is to try and find common ground with others, so it is a phrase that I use often. That is not to say that disagreement and debate over different ideas and opinions shouldn’t have a place in our work together. They certainly should. They are grist in the mill, so to speak. Debate and differing opinions are the seed of real progress. The trick is to find the common ground. When we do, great things happen. We saw some examples of that in Two contemporary events that have been much chronicled locally are more recent examples of how an attitude of “better together” works. The dominant story regionally was the removal of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the BRAC closure list. More immediate to The effort to “Save the Shipyard” has been thoroughly reported by just about every media outlet imaginable. It is still hard for me to put into words my own personal reaction to the news that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will remain open. I am happy for my friends and neighbors who work at the Yard. I am relieved for our country that the process worked fairly and openly. I am honored to have been part of it all. August 24, 2005 will always be a very special day in my mind. The celebrations that day resulted from an incredible effort by a lot of people. First were the Shipyard workers because of the unparalleled work that they do. Our political leaders in The Children’s Museum story is a bit different. You might ask how I see that story in the context of “better together”. I did not get what I wanted most of all, which was the Children’s Museum remaining in Decisions like the one made by the Children’s Museum leadership are complex and not easy, on them or the people affected by their decision. They, like the chamber and many other organizations, struggle to maintain a balance between the needs of their various stakeholders. As I worked with museum leadership and others in the community exploring options for it to stay in What I often find in the midst of disappointments, however large or small, is the seed of something very good, some very exciting and much unanticipated good things. Certainly that is true in this case. It gave me the opportunity to open dialogue with others who have wonderful dreams for You should expect that the Chamber will be involved in the significant issues that face us. You should expect that I maintain solid relationships with leaders from throughout the region and beyond. Our membership draws broadly from well beyond the boundaries of our city, in addition to the Greater Portsmouth business community. That is part of the appeal of our chamber and one of its great strengths. It also creates challenges for us as we work to balance the needs of our many different stakeholders. An example of our work on your behalf will be on display at our September Breakfast Forum when we address the issue of “Housing for Everyone”. Developing a diverse and affordable housing stock is one of the key elements of assuring our continued quality of life here in the Greater Seacoast. I hope that you can join us for this important event. Details are included elsewhere in this edition of Dividends. So, it has been an eventful time in
Chamber News Housing for Everyone; What Business Can Do About It Workforce housing continues to be a limiting factor in the region’s continuing economic growth. Chamber members and community leaders are invited to find out how they can help at the September breakfast forum focusing on “Housing for Everyone, What Business Can Do About It.” The breakfast, underwritten by Bank of America, is set for 7:30 a.m., Sept. 21, at the Community Campus Gymnasium, which is located at Keynote speaker for the breakfast will be John T. Eller, senior vice president with Federal Home Loan Bank of “As the Seacoast region continues to be one of the most desirable places in the country to live and work, it becomes harder for everyone to find housing they can afford,” said Dick Ingram, Chamber president. “John Eller and other invited speakers will address what business leaders can do to ensure that a diverse housing stock is available in our communities. Our speakers will also talk about how business leaders can advocate and act so that we maintain community diversity and economic vitality, what programs already exist and what alternatives are available to leaders who want to make a difference.” The Chamber recently facilitated a study of workforce housing issues in the Seacoast which will be unveiled at the breakfast. Findings are summarized in a white paper funded by a grant from the NH Housing Finance Authority and authored by Barbara Kravitz, Kravitz & Company Limited, LLC. Kravitz’s company, a Chamber member, specializes in business management and research. Cost is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Those interested are asked to RSVP in advance by contacting the Chamber at (603) 610-5513 or info@portsmouthchamber.org. Seacoast Guide Ad Sales for 2006 Now Underway Advertising sales are now underway for the 2006 issue of the Seacoast’s most comprehensive visitor guide which features listings spotlighting local attractions, accommodations, dining, shopping, services and function facilities. More than 110,000 will be distributed through “Every year we find new ways to use the Guide to sell the Seacoast,” said Marge Hubbard, the Chamber’s tourism manager. “This year we plan to continue increasing our distribution and participating in the state’s cooperative advertising program which generates thousands of queries for information on our area--the Guide to the Seacoast is one of the ways we fill those requests for local details.” Guide advertisers get a number of additional benefits beyond the initial listing. Advertisers are prominently featured in the guide map, and are eligible for other tourism program discounts. For more information on Seacoast Guide advertising, or advertiser benefits, contact Hubbard at (603) 610-5517 or email mhubbard@portsmouthchamber.org. The Guide contract is also available online at www.portsmouthchamber.org/guide2005.cfm. Chamber Unveils Peace Treaty Trail at Reception The Chamber helped celebrate the Portsmouth Peace Treaty centennial June 8 with the creation and unveiling of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail. The guided walking tour provides visitors with a roadmap to appreciate the people, places and events that led to the end of hostilities between The event, held at the Gov. John Langdon House in Portsmouth, featured comments from Van MacLeod, NH commissioner of cultural affairs, Chuck Doleac, cochair of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Centennial Committee, Danny O’Brien, president, Ocean National Bank, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Dep. Cmdr. Capt. Mike Gilmore. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Tour is a program of the Chamber supported by the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Centennial Committee, and funded, in part, by a grant from the NH Humanities Council which was used for research and to develop the script. Contributing writers include local historian J. Dennis Robinson and Kurk Dorsey, UNH professor of history specializing in diplomacy. The tour brochure was underwritten by Ocean National Bank. The Chamber thanks the following sponsors for helping to make the event special: Historic New England, Sakura and Attrezzi. For more on the new tour, visit www.portsmouthchamber.org or contact the Chamber at (603) 610-5513 or info@portsmouthchamber.org. Win $10,000 Just inTime for Take a chance to win the Chamber’s new $10,000 Cash Bash drawing just in time for the holiday shopping season. The raffle, a first for the Chamber, will actually feature five cash prizes: 1st prize, $10,000; 2nd, $1,000; 3rd, 500; 4th, $300; and 5th, $200. “There are only 400 tickets available so the odds are pretty good for scoring big,” said Dick Ingram, Chamber president. Ingram said the fundraiser will support expanded programs and services. The Cash Bash drawing is scheduled to take place at this year’s Holiday Wine Tasting set for Dec. 21 at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. Participants don’t have to be present to win. Tickets cost $100 each and are available for purchase at the Chamber or upcoming business after hours and breakfast forum events. For more details on the $10,000 Cash Bash, contact the Chamber at (603) 610-5513 or email info@portsmouthchamber.org. Chamber Welcomes New The Chamber recently welcomed Maureen Arsenault to the staff in the newly cast role of visitor center supervisor. Arsenault, a | |
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