The Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the return of the Taste of Neponset River Region on Wednesday evening, April 10th, 2024!
The Taste of the Neponset River Region is an elegant food and beverage tasting event where guests may sample the creations of the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries in the area. You'll also enjoy music by local musicians from the The School of Rock and magical entertainment from Dennis Blanchard, Eventful Magic! The TASTE is open to the public so gather some friends and make a night of it. Tickets are limited so get yours now! In recent weeks the Department of Transitional Assistance has seen a notable increase in skimming incidents affecting DTA clients.
Skimming, as you are undoubtedly aware, is a fraudulent practice wherein criminals obtain card information illegally by installing skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals or ATMs. These devices capture sensitive card data -- including card numbers and PINs -- which are then used for unauthorized transactions, leading to financial losses for customers and businesses. Given the severity of this issue and its potential impact on our clients, it is imperative that we all take collective immediate action to address and mitigate the risks associated with skimming. In this regard, we respectfully urge all retailers to: • Conduct Regular Inspections: Ensure that all point-of-sale terminals and ATMs are routinely inspected for any signs of tampering or unauthorized devices. Encourage staff to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately. • Enhance Security Measures: Consider implementing additional security measures such as tamper-evident seals, security cameras, and encryption technologies to safeguard customer data and prevent skimming attacks. • Educate Staff and Customers: Provide training to employees on how to recognize and respond to skimming attempts. Educate customers about the importance of vigilance when using payment cards and advise them to report any suspicious transactions promptly. • Collaborate with Law Enforcement: Work closely with local law enforcement agencies to report incidents of skimming and gather intelligence to identify and apprehend perpetrators. The Chamber is excited to announce that the highly anticipated Taste of the Region event will be returning in 2024.
This gastronomic extravaganza will be held on April 10, 2024, at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. The event promises to captivate the taste buds of our community and celebrate the rich culinary tapestry of our region. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the finest offerings from local restaurants, caterers, breweries, wineries, and distillers. In addition to the delicious food and drink, there will be music, raffles, and a cash bar. This is an excellent opportunity for networking and creating new connections. Limited tickets are available, so grab your coworkers, colleagues, and friends to join in on the fun. Don't miss out on what will be our biggest event of 2024! As we enter the New Year, I'd like to reflect on a 2023 filled with accomplishments and collaborative initiatives that have strengthened our Chamber and our community. We began the year with our Annual Breakfast and Awards Ceremony, highlighting some outstanding members and the return to all, in person, face to face events. The energy in the room was exhilarating, as we were ready to get back to business as usual, networking without masks, and certainly without Zoom.
As the year progressed, we leveraged state funding for a number of Chamber initiatives. We proudly hosted our 3rd annual Restaurant Week, showcasing the culinary talents of 15 participating restaurants within Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood. This event highlighted the diverse flavors of our region and fostered economic growth by attracting customers to return to a favorite restaurant or explore a new dining experience. We also worked hand-in-hand with small businesses, helping them establish a robust online presence through the creation of new websites. This initiative aimed to enhance visibility for these small businesses, drive traffic to their physical storefronts and to their new websites, ensuring their sustainable digital presence. We are grateful to have worked with such talented collaborators as Kerry Aglugub, KMA Web Design, Tricia White, T. White Creations, Amanda Deiratani, Deiratani Designs and Diana Bagas, Launch Social Media. As always, our dedication to facilitating meaningful connections among our members remained steadfast with the organization of 20 "noon networking" and "after hours" events throughout the year. These gatherings provided invaluable opportunities for our professionals to build relationships, share insights, and forge partnerships that contribute to the growth of our business community. We are thrilled to announce that we proudly welcomed 34 new members this year to our ever-expanding network! The summer brought us our competitive Golf Tournament at Brookmeadow Country Club, attended by some impressive foursomes, with enviable handicaps . The day started with a little fog and mist, but the sun emerged and our golfers enjoyed a terrific day of awards, raffle prizes and camaraderie. And rounding out our year, our fall flagship event, Chamber Talks was a huge success. This "ted talk" themed event brought together our local industry leaders and professionals for engaging discussion. Thank you to our panel from Legacy Place, Castle Island Brewery, Morva Stone, Mass Restaurant Association, Northeast HR Association, our MC Rob Ferrini, and, our host at Grazina (Little Bird Events), who outdid herself with beautiful decor and delicious food and drink. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce the return of what will be our biggest event of 2024, The Taste of the Region. Mark your calendars for April 10, 2024, at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton for this greatly anticipated gastronomic extravaganza which promises to once again captivate the taste buds of our community and celebrate the rich culinary tapestry of our region. As we step into this new year, we are excited for what's to come. The Chamber will always remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering growth, collaboration, and prosperity for our members and for our community. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Julie Molloy, Chair of the Board, 2022 & 2023 Chamber members don't just operate businesses; they are the heartbeat of our communities, making a profound impact in a host of ways. Beyond providing essential products and services, they are job creators, employing thousands of local residents and contributing vital tax revenue to our communities. However, their influence goes far beyond the economic realm. These businesses are the unsung heroes, offering unwavering support to local organizations, non-profits, sports groups, cultural institutions, and more.
Every year, we have the privilege of singling out a select few members whose exceptional business success and outstanding community support set them apart. The spotlight is on these remarkable individuals and businesses during our Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast, a celebration of their remarkable contributions. The big event is set to take place on January 18, 2024. We invite you to be a part of this recognition process by nominating a member business or individual whose impact deserves acknowledgement. It's your chance to shine a light on those who go above and beyond. Don't miss out--download the nomination form now There are four categories of awards:
Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO Yesterday morning we held a Member Orientation meeting to help members understand how best to utilize their membership. I thought it might be helpful to share some of the items we covered for everyone's benefit.
Did you know that?
Thomas O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO Lexi R. Branson is executive director of federation programs and grassroots at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
With thousands of chambers of commerce thriving today, it’s no secret that chambers are an integral part of business communities nationwide. And while the primary purpose of a chamber of commerce is to serve its community and the businesses they represent, often times chambers are in the background, pulling strings and making magic happen without garnering much attention. That’s why Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day, which takes place on the third Wednesday of every October, is a great time to highlight the work that chambers do every day to promote free enterprise, boost the economy, and celebrate their local communities. Let’s look at some of the behind-the-scenes work chambers, including their staff and volunteers, do on a regular basis. Advocating on Behalf of Business Chambers of commerce are the voice of their local business communities with policymakers and government entities. Whether it’s lobbying for favorable business regulations or advocating for the interests of local small business owners, when it impacts the business community, you an count on your chamber’s involvement. Promoting Economic Development From attracting new businesses to their communities to helping existing businesses expand, promoting economic development is a top priority for chambers. Helping Businesses Thrive Chambers provide the resources local businesses need to grow and thrive, like networking opportunities to connect with new customers and other businesses. Serving Communities Whether it’s promoting tourism or engaging communities in major events, chambers of commerce place bettering their communities at the top of their to-do lists. Join us in thanking your local chamber of commerce for their work today and every day. Not a member of a chamber? Let’s change that! Join here Happy Labor Day Weekend! The unofficial end of summer is upon us. Next week the kids will be back in school, footballs will be flying and it's back to business in the workplace.
But first a day of rest on Labor Day. I did a little research on Labor Day and found a nice history in the Old Farmer's Almanac that I thought I'd share. "The funny thing about Labor Day is that it’s the one day of the year no one expects to work! We celebrate work by not doing any. But it replicates our week. We labor, and then we rest. On Labor Day, we honor the value of labor by putting it out of our thoughts for an extra-long weekend... Labor Day is to celebrate you, the American worker! It was envisioned by the founders to honor the American worker, the driving engine behind the most productive economy in the world, and the American work ethic that resulted in one of the highest standards of living in the world. All of this came out of a belief in economic and political democracy. Labor Day was the idea of Peter J. Maguire, a labor union leader who, in 1882, proposed a celebration honoring the American worker. Peter Maguire was the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor. The date chosen was simply “convenient.” Peter Maguire suggested that this date would nicely fall “nearly midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.” In the U.S., the first Labor Day parade was on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September a legal national holiday every year." I hope you all have an opportunity to enjoy the weekend. I'm looking forward to a couple of days down the Cape. Which means I'll be sitting in traffic for much of Labor Day, alas. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the five-year rolling capital plan for the 97 cities and towns in the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) planning area. The MPO allocates federal transportation funds to these projects based on a variety of criteria. The Chamber represents our region as a member of the MPO.
The recently approved 2024-2028 TIP includes a number of local projects that are or will be completed over the next few years. Here is a summary of the projects in our region that are receiving funding: Dedham - Improvements along the Bussey Street corridor will include resetting the curb and reconstructing ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps on both sides of the roadway. Minor geometric improvements will make the roadway more pedestrian friendly and shared bicycle accommodations are planned. Norwood - This project includes traffic signal upgrades at the intersection of Route 1 with University Avenue and Everett Street. Related improvements include constructing an additional travel lane in each direction on Route 1, upgrading of traffic signals, lengthening of left-turn lanes on Route 1, upgrading of pedestrian crossings at each leg of the intersection, and upgrading of bicycle amenities at the intersection. Norwood - This project involves intersection improvements at two locations on Route 1A through the installation of traffic and pedestrian signals to support vehicle flow and roadway safety. In addition, Washington Street and Upland Road will be widened to accommodate turning lanes and existing sidewalks will be reconstructed to meet ADA/AAB standards with upgraded pavement markings. Canton - This project will purchase and install bicycle racks in Downtown Canton to provide for additional bicycle parking near MBTA commuter rail facilities. Canton -This project will install new bicycle racks at three public elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in Canton. Walpole - This project which is nearing completion, consists of reconstructing Route 1A from approximately 2,000 feet north of Route 27 north to the Norwood town line and includes improvements to the intersection and approaches at Fisher, Gould, North, Bullard/Willet Streets, and the Stop and Shop Plaza as well as the Route 1A bridge over the Neponset River. Westwood - This project will reconstruct Canton Street from East Street to University Ave. and install pedestrian and bicycle facilities where none currently exist. A sidewalk will be constructed along the southbound side of the roadway, with a shared-use-path constructed along the northbound side. High visibility crosswalks and beacons will be added at seven locations. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO So I decided last week to dip my toe into this thing called Artificial Intelligence (AI). It started with Constant Contact, which now has an AI component to translate my boring description of our events into happenings that you simply must attend. Pretty cool.
Then I tried ChatGPT. Super cool! I asked a simple question, "What is a Chamber of Commerce?" I could not have written a more accurate and nuanced answer. You can read it below. For better or for worse AI is here and it's impact will be felt everywhere. There are certainly many ways in which it can be a helpful business tool. At the Chamber, we are looking forward to bringing in speakers who can address AI for business so that you can learn what to do and maybe more importantly, what not to do. Stay tuned. Oh, and by the way, when you read below, don't take my word for it. Take ChatGPT's. Tom O'Rourke, CCE President and CEO "A chamber of commerce is an organization that represents and promotes the interests of businesses within a particular geographic area. It acts as a local advocate for the business community, aiming to enhance economic growth and development in the region. Chambers of commerce are typically formed as nonprofit entities and are governed by a board of directors composed of business leaders and professionals. They can be found at various levels, including local, regional, national, and international. The primary functions of a chamber of commerce include: 1. Networking and Relationship Building: Chambers provide opportunities for businesses to connect with one another, fostering relationships and collaborations. They often organize networking events, business expos, and trade shows to facilitate interactions among their members. 2. Advocacy and Representation: Chambers serve as the voice of the business community and advocate for policies that promote a favorable business environment. They engage in lobbying efforts, work with government officials, and represent the interests of businesses on issues such as taxation, regulation, and economic development. 3. Business Support and Resources: Chambers offer various resources and support services to their members. This can include business education programs, mentoring, access to business tools and databases, and assistance with navigating government regulations. 4. Promotion and Marketing: Chambers play a role in promoting local businesses and attracting investment to their region. They may engage in marketing campaigns, produce business directories, and participate in tourism initiatives to highlight the advantages of the area for businesses and visitors alike. 5. Community Engagement: Chambers often get involved in community initiatives and events. They collaborate with other organizations, support local charities, and participate in activities that contribute to the overall well-being of the community. Joining a chamber of commerce can provide businesses with networking opportunities, access to resources, and a platform for influencing local policies. It allows them to be part of a collective effort to strengthen the business environment and contribute to the growth of the community. |