The Chamber Beat

Photo:

John Williams

We have two new Chamber members to recognize, Art Moves Dance and everyone knows Deb Irons, a truly fabulous talent and teacher of dance. Deb’s dance studio is moving in a new and exciting direction. For more information go to her website, www.artmovesdance.com

And Alpha & Omega Thriftshop, located on Route 26 in South Paris. You can learn more about that ministry and it’s focus by logging on at www.alphaomegamin.com .

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the next SCORE and Chamber workshop, “Getting Started with Constant Contact Email Marketing,” Tuesday, February 12, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Norway town office. This is a terrific tool to market your business, non-profit, or community organization. Both SCORE and the Chamber utilize Constant Contact and believe me it works. Seats are going fast and it is free. Register online at the SCORE website or call the Chamber at 743-2281.

And more great news, the Manufactured Housing Group, Schiavi Home Builders, Twin Town Homes and Turn Key Homes on Route 26 in Oxford are coming together with the Chamber to host the 11th Annual Oxford Home Show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 26-28, 2013. The Oxford Home Show is, once again, sponsored by Norway Savings Bank. This continues to be one of New England’s largest home shows. More details are coming up, but put it on your calendar.

Wondering what benefits come with Chamber membership? I’ll start listing them for you each week. This week? Business Roundtables each month in cooperation with SCORE and they’re usually free.

The 36th Annual Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Dinner & Awards Ceremony is set to take place at the Four Seasons Function Center on Main Street in South Paris, Saturday, February 23, starting at 5 p.m. This is the largest business and community event that takes place in the greater Oxford Hills each year and it is a terrific opportunity to connect with business and community leaders while honoring our outstanding award winners.

This year’s event is special because we’re returning to the Four Season’s Function Center and our buffet is being provided by Joel Kane. In addition we have a truly outstanding Keynote Speaker in Allison Melangton, a native of Auburn who was the president and CEO of Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis and is a four time Emmy Award winning producer for NBC’s coverage of the Summer Olympics.

Allison has been a producer for 8 Olympic Games and has just recently been named as the CEO for the Indiana Sports Management Corporation, one of the largest such corporations in North America. She is one of the most influential women in America and I am thrilled that she has agreed to come and share her success story with all of us here in the Oxford Hills.

And, of course, we’ll be celebrating our Chamber Award winners including the 2012 Business Of The Year, The Oxford Casino, which in less then a year in operation has produced over 450 new jobs in the Oxford Hills. Our Community Service Award will be presented to Responsible Pet Care, truly one of the great humanitarian organizations in the western Maine region, whose employees, Board and countless volunteers help care for and find good homes for hundreds and hundreds of cats and dogs.

Our Rising Business Star is Service Master of Oxford Hills, which has grown dramatically with new owners Carl Carlson and Steve Cox at the helm and we are proud to Award our Employee of the Year to Steve Holbrook from the Oxford Hills Christian Academy for his years of dedication, commitment and tireless and selfless service to the goals and objectives of the Academy.

Want to come? You don’t have to be a Chamber Member. Call the office at 743-2281 and speak with Jennifer or go to www.oxfordhillsmaine.com and register on line. We’d love to have you come and enjoy what should be a night to remember.

I hope to see you there.

We continue to look ahead to find new and interesting ways we can serve our members and the communities of the greater Oxford Hills.

See you next week.