Co-sponsored by the Scarborough Public Library

Bring your own lunch

Seminars are held at the Library, 48 Gorham Rd., Noon-1 PM

Please register: online www.portlandregion.com or 772-1196

March 19, 2007

Career Expo held for sophomores

Careers took center stage for sophomores at Scarborough High School last week. Fifty-two different local presenters spoke to students about their careers which ranged from physical therapist to performing arts, with nurses, lawyers, entrepreneurs, law enforcement and game warden in between - just to name a few. Twelve facilitators from Scarborough’s Community Chamber, the organizers of the career expo, worked closely with the High School principal and guidance department to give students a good introduction to the working world.

The Career Expo is one of the most successful Scarborough Community Chamber events attracting the widest participation level of its local business members. Students see familiar faces from the community come in and explain their jobs in detail. Small panels were divided by career clusters and presented to students who visited each cluster on a rotation.

For the presenters, it was an opportunity to look back at these young adults and tell them the story of how they chose their career, and what personality, skills, and education was necessary for a particular line of work. It was also a way to give back to the community. The collaborative between Scarborough Community Chamber and the high school began four years ago when members of the Scarborough Community Chamber board of directors sent out a survey to chamber members asking: How could the Chamber add value to the community? The overwhelming response was to reach out to high school students by providing an opportunity to explore careers.

It just so happened that the new MEA requirement was out, and the high school faced the challenge of developing a career exploration program. Working together, the high school and the chamber took a year to develop the career program. In addition to the career expo, local businesses present regularly to the career exploration class, which also exposes students to work-study programs, job shadowing, mentoring, and internship opportunities.

Lunch & Learn Series

1/24/07

Pandemic Flu Preparedness

Scarborough Community Chamber and the Scarborough Public Library will present a free workshop for the small business community on planning for pandemic influenza on Wednesday, January 24 at noon at the Scarborough Public Library. Cory Hedman, Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Hannaford Supermarkets will review the challenges that a small business or organization faces in the case of a pandemic.

Local and state governments are actively preparing for a potential pandemic. Businesses should also anticipate challenges if a highly contagious epidemic were to occur today like the one that occurred in 1918. Integrating a pandemic in a business continuity plan requires an understanding of the possibilities such an event would bring. A significant reduction in workforce, interruption of banking resources, irregular utilities and Internet access and disruption of the transportation and supply chain are all possible scenarios.

Mr. Hedman will suggest strategies to address these challenges. Participants will learn from the experience of others and will receive materials to assist in their own planning.

In addition, a representative from Scarborough Public Safety will be on hand to answer questions about local preparations.

Scarborough Community Chamber will be offering lunch and learns on a quarterly basis at the Scarborough Library. Seating for this “Lunch and Learn” program is limited and registration is available through the Regional Chamber website or by calling the Library at 883-4723. The program is free - just bring your lunch!

October 12th at Scarborough Downs. This event is being combined with the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Chamber Business After 5.

Current Publishing and the South Portland, Cape, and Scarborough Community Chamber’s have given local businesses good reason to celebrate. This past July, the Current featured full page ballots inviting readers to choose the best businesses in sixty categories. Ballot boxes were distributed throughout the communities, and over 1000 ballots were received. September 28^th a dedicated Best of Best insert announced the top three winners in each category, with small pieces written on each business.

A joint BA5 will be held on October 12^th at Scarborough Downs, featuring a gala celebration to recognize all of the top three finishers, and honor the first place in each category with a Best of Best plaque. Of course, an opportunity for each business to strut their stuff will be provided, as display tables throughout the Down’s Club tiered restaurant will be filled with different businesses showing the community what they do best. Special thanks to Scarborough Downs for hosting this grand event!

September 14th, Cuts Fitness for Men and Passionate Stitches were the gracious hosts of the season’s first BA5. The season opener was well attended by 60 people, thanks, in part to the hosts themselves: Lisa Ferriabough, Alane Ainsworth, and Candy Macomber. It’s true; you get out of the Chamber what you put into it, and the hosts gave it their very best. It was like a Chamber/block party as neighbors in the strip mall joined the fun celebration. Lots of donated door prizes meant that nearly everyone who stuck around went home with a gift. The hosts did all of the food themselves – offering healthy and delicious home-made hors d’oeuvrs and energy beverages presented on family heirloom platters and plates that matched their company logo. A great time was had by all.

The Scarborough Community Chamber congratulates Pat Conant! As the Director of Guidance, Pat has been the driving force behind the success of the SHS Career Development Program, a partnership between the SCC and the High School. The program begins its third year this fall. Pat’s masterful teaching and coordinating has set the stage for continued success. Thank you, Pat, good luck, and we all look forward to working with you in your new role!

The keystone of the Career Development Program has been Chamber members presenting their career experiences in the classroom. If you have not already volunteered and would like to, please contact SCC Board Members Randy Judkins or Jim Gove. The students greatly appreciate learning about the vast range of careers that Chamber members represent!

Scarborough rocked this summer! What’s not to love about free concerts in the park? This summer, Scarborough Community Chamber partnered with Community Services to welcome seven musical performers on Thursday nights at the gazebo at Scarborough’s memorial park. Enjoyable evenings were had by all – providing opportunities to kick back and enjoy the show, reconnect with friends, or simply relax in the park and take in the care-free evenings of summer.

Concert attendees were able to enjoy a variety of music as singer and song writer, Carolyn Currie kicked off the concert season July 6^th. Legendary Maine performer, Annie Clark took the stage July 13^th in her usual style – original folk, pop, and blues with a little Maine hume-ah’ thrown in! A regular in Scarborough’s concert series five year history – Dan Merrill with the Simon Apple Band performed to the delight of both young and old on July 20^th. And a great showing from his native home town – a record 770 people came out August 27^th to welcome Don Campbell and his band and enjoy his music. Back by popular demand, Scarborough’s local band, Wavelength entertained concert goers with those featured classic hits that everyone loves on August 3^rd. Chicago blues-based rock band, The Nervous Wrecks performed on August 10^th, and Acoustic Motion wrapped up the series on August 17^th.

The concert series was a tremendous success, thanks to great performers, excellent weather, and generous sponsors. This year’s concert series not only had record attendance for its five year history, but also grew in sponsorship support creating great visibility for Scarborough’s Community Chamber and the businesses that sponsored.

Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers that made this event possible.

CLICK HERE FOR CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

The Scarborough Community Chamber is pleased to welcome a beautiful new car dealership. "Sales have exceeded our expectation" said Ira Rosenberg of Mercedez-Benz Prime Motor Cars who opened his new dealership's door on June 30th to customers who had waited for opening day. Rosenberg praised the Scarborough Town officials for being meticulous and fair commenting that in his 35 plus years in the car business he's never been through such a professional review. "I hope the people of Scarborough are pleased by the aesthetic improvement to the land, and the economic contribution to the tax base. I'm tickled to death to be a part of this fabulous community," says Ira Rosenberg.

Chamber members get the most out of their membership when they get involved, and we always have opportunities. Are you interested in being part of the voice of business in Scarborough? Would you like to help put together next summer’s excellent Concert series? Do you like to write articles? Do you want to help high school students explore careers? Our Board members will be more than happy to talk with you about how you can get involved in these and other valuable efforts. Please contact any of us to see how you can get the most out of your Chamber membership.

Our April 20 Membership Meeting was hosted by the Scarborough Public Library. Susan deGrandpre, Management Consultant, presented "4 Steps to Get Your Customers to Complain − to YOU!".

The Scarborough Chamber, Scarborough Public Library and Scarborough Economic Development Corporation partnered to celebrate Small Business Week from April 30-May 6. What a success! Over 50 people attended our Business After 5 held at the Library, and enjoyed networking and tasting the excellent cuisine provided by Hannaford. Jack Miller of Commercial Loan & Training Consultants, and Don Zihlman, President of DRZ Marketing gave very informative presentations at two Lunch and Learn sessions. Over 30 businesses contributed to the interesting display at the Library, reflecting the breadth of small businesses in Scarborough. Thank you Nancy Crowell, Bob Nadeau, Karen Vachon, Mark Hews, and everyone else who worked so hard to make this a great event!

Photo: Scarborough High School

The classroom-based course has been a great success, both for the students and businesses who have participated so far.  We look forward to implementing other components of the program, and will continue to keep you updated through Business Perspectives and at Membership meetings.

Chamber helps to fund

Grants from the Scarborough Community Chamber  and Chamber members Wal-Mart and Sam's Club have helped purchase over 150 books for the Scarborough Library's business collection, with many more to come.  Recent additions include books on business management, career information, computers and personal finance.