The Power of Powerful Storytelling

Dear Friend, Tell Me A Story For the past year, we have been promoting conversation and storytelling as a way of growing community. People sharing about their roots, their struggles, their successes and their dreams are all part of growing movement to increase community awareness and to promote social capital. Community Matters Breakfasts, Conversation Cafe's, 63 Seconds of Unabashed Self-Promotion and Curbside Chats are all safe places to share a story.

Have We Got A Story for You! Each year, The Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts their Annual Awards Dinner. This year it is on Friday, May 6 at the American Legion Hall in St. Albans. Doors open at 5:00 pm.  The Chamber is thrilled to welcome humanitarian, physician and author Dr. Dilip Joseph as our guest storyteller for the evening. Dr. Joseph has spent considerable time working in Afghanistan, bringing training, aid and education to families who have no access to medical treatment or facilities.  In 2012, he was kidnapped and held hostage by Taliban insurgents, and was ultimately rescued in a daring mission led by Navy Seal Team Six. In 2014, Dr. Joseph put a pen to his story and wrote of his ordeal in his first book, "Kidnapped by the Taliban - A Story of Terror, Hope, and Rescue by SEAL Team Six."  Dr. Joseph has been speaking about his experience, what it taught him, and how it has formed his future work as a physician and humanitarian. I might add that his work spans developing and established countries, providing internships and work experience in public health and clinical medicine. He is most interested in incorporating his medical experience into positive and proactive endeavors in developing nations. I Don't Think You Are Going to Want to Miss This One Spoiler Alert, when I first heard Dr. Joseph speak, I could not breath for 45 minutes.  Tickets On Sale NOW! Hors-d'oeuvres & cocktails; Buffet dinner catered by Twiggs; Cash bar. Admission is $45 per person or $320 for tables of 8 people. Online reservations are available at www.fcrccvt.com. You may also reserve your seats in person at the Chamber Office.  Did You Know? The Chamber will also be recognizing the following businesses and individuals for their amazing contribution to Franklin County. Outstanding Large Business of the Year - Peoples Trust Company. Outstanding Small Business of the Year - Champlain Insuring. Tim Bovat Civic Involvement Award - Peter Garceau. Rising Star Award - Grunts Move Junk. Come on out and help celebrate the celebrated.

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

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

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

"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

Investing

Dear Friend,

2016 - A Year of Investing and Strengthening
As we sat down to draw up our goals and objectives for 2016, two themes came to the forefront. We must continue to Invest in our Community and work hard to Strengthen our Relationships. Goals well worth pursuing.

What Does Investment Look Like?
I went back over my calendar for the past several months. As I review the different community functions we either attend or committees we belong to, it is clear that the one of the primary functions of the Chamber staff is to represent its members. No matter where we are, we are representing the members of the Chamber, looking out for the things that matter most to them. While we are entitled to our own opinion, we very seldom lead with our personal concerns. Most often we invest our time in being the voice of others.

So Where Have I Been?
Here's a list of events and meetings we have attended lately:

• Brownfields Steering Committee
• Swanton Enhancement Committee
• Enosburg Business Association
• Franklin County Community Partnership
• St. Albans Town Legislative Hearing
• St. Albans Town Zoning Hearings
• Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board Steering Committee
• Northwest Tech Center Cooperative Education Steering Committee
• NWTC Conversation Cafe'
• Northern Vermont Economic Development District Board
• Community Committee on Healthy Lifestyles
• Hunger Council of Franklin County
• Legislative Session with Franklin County Law Enforcement
• Swanton Legislative Breakfast
• Vermont Association of Chamber Executives
• Career/Job Expo Planning Committee
• Swanton Chamber of Commerce
• Vermont-Quebec Trade Luncheon
• St. Albans Downtown Committee
• Franklin County Animal Rescue BOD
• FCIDC Manufacturers' Mixer
• Filming Franklin County Focus
• National Night Out in Taylor Park
• Champlain Valley Natural Heritage Partners International Summit
• Community Matters Breakfasts

Honey, It's Time for Dinner!
When we first accepted this job, one of the Board members approached my wife and said; "He's going to be out a bit!" The good news is, I'm home for dinner more often than not. The way I look at it, time is one of those valuable assets that we can Invest in our Community.

How Can You Help?
You can join me at a meeting or two. You can invite me to your meeting. And, you can invest in your Regional Chamber so we can continue to invest right back into our communities. Join or Renew today. We'll make it easy - Click Here

Did You Know?
Chris Mead says it this way (kinda - I paraphrase...), "Chambers came into existence primarily to safeguard and extend opportunities for businesses. In the past century, the role of the Chamber has broadened from targeting the needs of businesses to promoting community-wide initiatives. The Chamber of Commerce has morphed, to some extent, into a Chamber of Community." I think I agree. Coming dear...

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

We're From The Government...

Dear Friend,

...And We are Here to Help.
It never gets old. Saturday with our U.S. Congressman and City Mayor and Monday with a half a dozen of our County Legislators. We are so fortunate to live in a state and community where we have the opportunity for personal, one-on-one, genuine conversations with our elected officials. All differences aside, when you have the chance to talk face to face with your government you have a much better feeling that they do care and that they are here to help. 

So, What Did You Hear at the Traveled Cup?
Saturday morning, I asked Peter Welch, U.S. Congressman for the State of Vermont, "What is happening at the Federal level that will have a direct impact on Franklin County?" And while he couldn't point to anything that was "earmarked" for Franklin County, he did offer up the efforts surrounding the Transportation Bills that will improve our infrastructure and long term support for the state. And as most of us know, transportation is at the root of many of our employment issues. He also acknowledged the funding efforts that have supported the Downtown Enhancement Projects in St. Albans.

St. Albans City Mayor, Liz Gamache, shared the vision for the expansion of the streetscape project on Kingman and Lake Streets along with the plans for an improved Federal Street corridor. Funding is in place and construction will start with the warm weather. In addition, we can anticipate an major sidewalk and curb project to coincide with the repaving of the main thoroughfares. 

And they make a great cup of coffee at the Traveled Cup.

Monday in the NWTC Hideaway, How'd that Go?
February is National CTE month - but you already knew that didn't you? Career & Technical Education Month is a celebration of the achievements of our CTE centers, formerly known as tech centers. The NWTC had invited our County Legislative team for a Conversation in the Hideaway. I really like that place. 

Our representatives were keenly interested in how things are going and what barriers keep us from filling local jobs with local talent. Fine tuning curriculum, understanding job requirements and teasing apart the application process are areas that the NWTC sees as the critical paths to success. The legislators agreed. I truly appreciate the depth of the questions they ask, the compassion they exhibit while listening carefully and the pages of notes they take during these encounters. These elected officials care. 

What Is Next?
Glad you asked. There is no shortage of opportunities for you to get your opinions heard. Check out this schedule:

• Mon., Feb 15, 6-7:00 pm. St. Albans Town Education Center. Public Hearing for Franklin County on the 2017 State Budget. Public encouraged to attend.
• Wed., Feb 17, 12-1 pm. Ethan Allen Room at the Statehouse, Legislative Discussion on the Senate marijuana bill with law enforcement. Public invited to attend.
• Sat., Feb 20, 8-9:30 am. Legislative breakfast at the Enosburg American Legion. Public invited to attend and participate in discussion.
• Mon., Mar 14, 8-9:30 am. Legislative breakfast, Bliss Room, St. Albans. Public required to attend (jk, encouraged).

Did You Know?
The definition of an Australian Ballot: a ballot containing the names of all the candidates for public office, printed and handed to the voter at the polling station to be marked in secret: so called because it originated in Australia. Ah, no kidding, you were hoping for something a bit more entertaining and mysterious, I know I was.

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

Dave Southwick

10" Plates

Dear Friend, Tasted Good! Hats off to the In Good Taste team for pulling off another great event with wonderful food, an evening with friends, a very comfortable setting (given the circumstances) and 10" plates. Yep, 10" plates!

A 10" Plate, You Say? A year or two ago, a group of forward thinking planners decided to start collecting 10" dinner plates to be used at community events. The thought was that each member would start canvasing the local flea markets, yard sales and discount outlets and buy up all the dinner plates they could find. Then, when there was a community event that was serving food, you break out the plates. Saving the environment of hundreds of paper or plastic dishes, saving the landfills and showing a greener, gentler side of the community. And so far it seems to be doing just that. There Has to Be More To It Than That... Well, yes, in a sidebar conversation with Tim Smith the other day, he pointed out that the 10" plates are more than just reusable dinnerware. He has observed that people take their time picking out just the right plate for their personal meal. Each plate carrying a certain lure for its soon to be diner. Some pick by color, some by design, some by the perceived volume of food it will carry (large or small), some by a small blemish or nick and most by a deep nostalgic memory of another time. But each choice is as unique as the individual making it.  Unique Plates + Unique Individuals = Great Community And as these unique diners mingle, with their prized plate mounded with finely crafted food, they make up the greatness that is a community. A community of individuals, as different as the plates they carry, coming together to share a meal, compassion, ideas, humor and good ole' conversation. All the while reminding us not to take each other, or our 10" plates, for granted. Coming together as one. A future we can all agree on. Did You Know? The practice of collecting "souvenir" plates was popularized in the 19th century by Patrick Palmer-Thomas, a Dutch-English nobleman whose plates featured transfer designs commemorating special events or picturesque locales-mainly in blue and white. It was an inexpensive hobby, and the variety of shapes and designs catered to a wide spectrum of collectors. Read more.

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

Dave Southwick