Monday, March 28, 2016

The Hunt for Red Hot Jobs

Dear Friend,

Deep Dark Sea
This weekend I happened upon the tension filled thriller, The Hunt for Red October. A collection of wonderful actors cast in the role of underwater hunt and be hunted. And while I am not sure there is a tight correlation, I sense that looking for jobs is a lot like floating around in the deep dark sea hunting for that right moment to connect with just the right employer. All the time, armed with nothing but a good sonar system.

Up Periscope!
What if we were to bring the whole game up to periscope depth and let you have a good look around at all the players and all the possibilities? What if we were to add professional translators to help you negotiate the foreign languages of a new industry? What if we threw in some trainers to help mold your skills? Hunting for a job might not seen like swimming around in the dark any more. That's the beauty of a Career/Job Expo. Read more on the 18th Annual Franklin Region Career/Job Expo. 

Will I Get to Sink a Sub?
There are a dedicated group of volunteers, in our community, who work very hard to provide employers and job seekers with an opportunity to check each other out right there in the wide open. Ask questions, explore possibilities and in some cases touch and feel the products and services. While you might not launch any torpedoes, I guarantee that you will get up close and personal with your target. 75+ businesses and organizations paired with schools of students and job seekers make for the right climate for scoring a direct hit. OK, now I am all out of submarine analogies - so just get there: Thursday, March 31 - Collins-Perley Sports Complex. Students in the morning, adults in the afternoon. I'll see you in the shallows.

Did You Know?
There were 3.6 million job openings at the end of 2012. About 80% of available jobs are never advertised. What do employers look for before making an offer? About 36% look for multitasking skills; 31% look for initiative; 21% look for creative thinking; and 12% look for something else in the candidate. And, on average, interviews last 40 minutes. After that, it usually takes 24 hours to two weeks to hear from the company with their decision.

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Join or Renew Today. And, thank you for investing your support in the Chamber in your community.  

Dave Southwick

Monday, March 21, 2016

March 2016 Potpourri

Dear Friend,

Celebration!
The town of Swanton did it up right last Wednesday night with there Swanton Enhancement Project Celebration. In the words of co-coordinator Molly Lambert, "The videos, the greeters, the balloons, the food, the display boards, beautiful art pieces, the flowers, the fantastic elementary school and the wonderful musicians - combined for a fantastic gathering for our fantastic community." Check out what this town is up to - join a working group. 
Safe Work Places are Happy Work Places
We are fortunate to have Ric Lavalley in our community. He is a specialist in workplace safety and can help make your space a safe place. Join us this Thursday for Strategies for Success at the St. Albans Free Library to hear Ric share a few tips on workplace safety. We all can learn something this week. All seminars are free for Chamber members and $10 for guests. Click HERE for more details. 

Annual Dinner Pre-Announcement
Once a year we gather to share a meal, recognize area businesses, hear motivational speakers and hang out with friends. The Annual Chamber Awards Dinner is one of those rare chances to gussy up and enjoy the evening. Formal invitations are on their way so I won't steal any of Lisamarie's thunder, but I wanted you to save the date (Friday, May 6th) and begin to make preparations. Our guest speaker has an incredible story to share - you do not want to miss this guy. There is still time to add your name to the sponsor list. This is a major fundraiser for the Chamber and we need your help. Read More on how to Invest in the Chamber.  

Did You Know?
North Dakota has the most golf courses, churches and honey per capita of all states. The Fargo-Moorhead area has been designated as the flattest terrain on EARTH! More people need North Dakota to complete their collection of all 50 states than any other state. And, my list is now complete. What did you do this weekend? 
Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Join or Renew Today. And, thank you for investing your support in the Chamber in your community.  
Dave Southwick

Friday, March 4, 2016

"Smoke"

Dear Friend,

But, I Never Inhaled...
Fueling the 60's, helping forget the 70's, clouding the 80's, waxing and waning through the 90's and screaming into the new millennium. Marijuana, Pot, Weed, Grass, 420, Ganga, Dope, Herb, Joint, Blunt, Cannabis, Reefer, Mary Jane, by any other name, an ongoing, multi-faceted, controversy. 

For or Against Legalization - Question #1

The political playing field on which the legalization of marijuana plays out its drama looks as if it has been lined by too many officials. One set uses red (or hopefully, black) representing the states economy; a second set uses green, the color of healthy choices; another in the beige of anti-prohibition and the final set uses uniform blue as a concern for public and personal safety. A confusing field of play none-the-less. Each has its own logic, its own supporters and its own distractors. Not such an easy question to answer, is it? BTW, S95 did pass in the Senate and is now in the House. Regardless of the final legislative outcome, this issue begs a second question.

Good for You or Not Good for You - Question #2

Of the four angles pitched on our imaginary playing field you can find ample room to debate three - is this good or bad for the economy, is it right or wrong to regulate the use, and is it easy or difficult (costly) to enforce and detect. The fourth question, is it healthy (non-harmful)? is all in the science. What does the research say? I'm not the pot doc so I can't answer this question. But I do agree with others that the only way that we can wrap our minds around this cloudy issue is through solid education. So I encourage us all to "git learnt!" 

Where, When?

Glad you asked. Whether you are a parent, business, educator, clinician, chamber member or all of the above - you need to get the facts. This is where I am going to learn more: Monday, March 7th, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Swanton Village Complex. This working forum will present the current state of knowledge on marijuana, its effects and biology, as well as the methods of screening and intervention being adopted to identify and treat problems associated with its use. Free, open to the public. Be there. Registration requested, HERE

Did You Know?

Cheech and Chong...

Please make a Chamber membership part of your success strategy. Join or Renew Today. And, thank you for investing your support in the Chamber in your community.  


Dave Southwick