Potpourri for 100

Dear Friends, Occasionally Lots of Things Are Going on at Once So, I think I'll take a couple of minutes to chat about a couple of things. No rhyme or reason, just thoughts for the last day of June.

St. Albans Town - Gear Up for 1% Tax Hike Someone mentioned that I should say something about the upcoming additional 1% tax hike in the Town. I said, really - you want me to be the bearer of that news. They said - no, just make sure your businesses are informed so that they can properly collect and report the new tax.   Good point. If you are a business in St. Albans Town or any one of the other 11 towns in Vermont using the Local Option, then make sure your cash registers and accounting tools are reprogrammed to start collecting and reporting the tax increase beginning tomorrow - July 1, 2014.  Read More    Zoning Commission Speaking of St. Albans Town, I sat in on a Public Zoning Hearing last week conducted by Maren Hill from the Town office. If you are wondering "where are the opportunities to be heard in my town," well here was one. And from what I understand, there will be others. Several people sat around the table and interjected their thoughts and ideas that should be taken under consideration when the Town revisits it's zoning by-laws. Local government at work. Don't miss out on these chances - this is where you get heard.   New Board of Director Members Let me introduce you to our four new Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors - Adam Paxman (Swanton), Tammy Ryea (Richford), Sandy Lovelette (Enosburg) and Nate Meuhl (Fairfax). We are thrilled to have these new members join our leadership team and look forward to their help as we move into the second half of 2014. Welcome.   Another shameless Plug! The Great Race is just a handful of days away (That is, if you are the six fingered man, who killed my father. Name that movie?). Stop by the Chamber office and pick up a registration form or register on line at ACTIVE.COM (key word: Great Race XXXV). We still can use additional volunteers - call (802) 524-2444.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick

The End Game

Dear Friends, Do You Want to Ride Off into the Sunset? Proper planning today can make a world of difference in how you enter your Golden Years of Retirement. Have you thought about your End Game? If your Strategy for Success is based on winning the lottery - think again - I've already taken that one!

Let Me Tell You a Story or Two I have been part of a few start up companies in my career. For the most part these are some exciting times for any company - growth is exciting, building new products is a blast and building a network of wonderful clients takes the cake. But in two separate cases, a failure to think out the End Game caused grief, pain and a sense of loss.   In the first instance, Company A had a great business plan and a sound product line. The single mistake was that the location they chose never panned out. The exit strategy was to one day close the doors and send everyone home - bummer.   Company B was a bit more complex. The President of the company probably never had any plans of ever retiring. However, the CEO and Board had visions of an IPO and a nice retirement for all the vested employees. Since there was no agreement at the top, when the time came the President used his veto power to crash the buy out. Very few made any money, the company floundered, the President was fired and many lost their jobs - bummer.   I tell you these two sad stories to reiterate a famous saying "If your fail to plan, you plan to fail."   Strategies For Success This week, Will Hinman and John Holzscheiter from the Vermont Agency will be presenting a seminar on "Retirement Planning for Business Owners." This is your chance to talk to experts about successful strategies for your End Game. Join us in the St. Albans Free Library on Thursday, June 26 from 3:30 to 5:00. Admission is free. Register Here.    Shameless Plug! The Great Race is part of our Fourth of July tradition. Stop by the Chamber office and pick up a registration form or register on line at ACTIVE.COM (key word: Great Race XXXV). Don't want to race but would love to help out - call (802) 524-2444.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick

The Great Race is Great!

Dear Friends, I Can't Imagine a Fourth of July Weekend WITHOUT the Great Race  For the first five years we lived in Franklin County we celebrated the Fourth of July like all but 500 Americans. We did the BBQ, the beer, the Red-White-Blue shirts and the great bay fireworks. Very patriotic - we didn't know any better. Then we found out about The Great Race and now we celebrate like the other 500.

Community 200 teams and about 500 participants in and of itself is enough reason to want to be part of the 35th Annual Great Race. But when those same 500 are your friends, neighbors and great visitors from out of state, well then there is no place better to be. If you look around and can't find your neighbor on the Sunday morning of the Fourth weekend - then they are probably at the bay. The sense of joy and community brings people back year after year.   Camaraderie Friends and families come together to form teams and participate in one of the three legs - running, cycling or paddling while the die-hards take on all three in the Ironman or Ironwoman categories. Don't like the water - try the Duathlon and skip the paddling. No matter what category you choose, you will be participating right next to another close friend or family member. There is no other time of the year when this many people are all gathered in one place just to have fun and be together.   Competition It wouldn't be a race if we didn't have a little competition. I mean, we have trophies, we have mugs, we have glasses and we have ribbons. Somebody is going to win something. Each year I tell myself; "self, take it easy, enjoy the scenery, no big deal." And then the gun goes off and self says; "yeah right, I want a glass." I am at it working as hard as I can to catch that person who is right in front of me, like we are racing for the goldest of gold.   Count Me IN! For the past 15 years we have made the Great Race a part of our Forth of July family tradition and that is what makes the Great Race - GREAT! Interested? Stop by the Chamber office and pick up a registration form or register on line at ACTIVE.COM (key word: Great Race XXXV). Don't want to race but would love to help out - call (802) 524-2444.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick Executive Director  802 524-2444

Invest In Our Youth

Dear Friends, "Recent Graduate Returns to Franklin County"  Is it just a dream or is it possibly a real headline? And why would such news even qualify as headline material? Well, over the past few years several of our own have returned to Franklin County and are starting their careers in the very towns where they grew up. Thanks to those who have contributed to this "internal measure of community success."

Internships Each time a student gets an opportunity to experience work in a business close to home, the more likely that student is to staying in that job and setting up house in that town. Each time a student gets a feeling of belonging, they will consider that a tremendous pull to set up in that area. We all like to feel wanted and welcomed. If we don't create the internship opportunities in Franklin County then we are to blame if our homegrown move on to greener pastures. Kathy Lavoie will be speaking to local businesses in July to help them understand how easy it is to set up an internship program that will attract our most valuable and most sought after resources - our kids.   Mentoring All children need attention. Often a child needs more attention than parents can give. It is our responsibility to reach out an additional helping hand. I contend that in order for a child to have the greatest chance at success, they need at least four hands holding them up. Children who have that kind of loving support go on to be more productive students and have a greater appreciation for home. Students with a greater appreciation for home will look for jobs in the area. Beth Crane is building strong mentoring opportunities - reach out and lend her you hand. Once again we are investing in our most valuable resource - our kids.   Alternative Education Opportunities Franklin County provides a variety of learning formats to meet the ever changing needs of the 21st Century student. We have great high school programs, tech center programs, community college bridge programs and alternative adult learning centers. There is more than one way to educate our next workforce population. By showing flexibility in our teaching methodology, we show that we care about the education of our most valuable resource - our kids.   Changes in Infrastructure It is important that we take a close look at the infrastructure we provide in Franklin County for a young adult to set up home. Affordable housing has to be top on the list. It is not cheap to live in Franklin County. Rising taxes and utilities add to the burden placed on a new pay check. And, let's face it, an entry level salary will not meet the high bills we face in this area. We need to be looking for ways to make it affordable for a young adult who choses to stay in our area. Supporting - our kids.   Big Smiles This past weekend I saw several pictures of weddings and young couples starting their lives in Franklin County. I notices other young adults dancing and celebrating. But best of all, I saw parents smiling and sharing time with the next generation of Franklin County. Something to smile about - our kids.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick Executive Director  802 524-2444