c astlines - Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
c astlines - Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
Page 1 May 2009 C ASTLINES May 2009 Business News From The Falmouth Chamber Of Commerce May Marks Our Final Green Breakfast, Falmouth Chamber Open House and Our New Member Reception! Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 7:30-9:00AM for our final Green Breakfast! The event will be held in the Board Room located upstairs at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, at 20 Academy Lane in Falmouth. Since October the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Green Businesses to provide informational discussions on Green Practices each month, all leading up to this final session in which we will introduce a new Green Certification Program. We have worked with FCAT (Falmouth Climate Action Team) to create a set of guidelines for any business or organization in Falmouth, and soon to be Cape-Wide, which can implemented and validated. This certification will allow businesses and organizations to market themselves as “Green,” and helps to promote Falmouth as a “Green Destination.” The event will include breakfast and an informational session lead by Nicole Goldman of ‘g’ Green Design Center and will also touch on the Green Practices the Falmouth Chamber has begun to implement. After breakfast, join us for an open house, in which the Falmouth Chamber will open its doors for the community, to tour our beautifully renovated historic building. We will also host a New Member Reception, providing information for our new members and anyone who would like to know more about the value of Chamber membership. Please RSVP to 508-548-8500 or by e-mail to info@falmouthchamber.com. INFOmania Finding the Fun and All That Falmouth Has to Offer! Thursday, May 14, 2009 2-7PM Highfield Hall 56 Highfield Drive This informational extravaganza boasts over 50 exhibitors including local attractions, restaurants, events, businesses and points of interest offering samples, coupons and gifts! Whether you work, play or vacation in Falmouth, spend an afternoon discovering why: There’s no place like home! Also enjoy an exciting new educational component: 3:00 pm – 3:45pm Andy Ross, Director of Marketing for Wequassett Inn Resort & Golf Club Customer Relations Management 3:45pm – 4:00 pm Nicole Goldman, Owner of ‘g’ Green Design Intro to Green Tourism – a presentation on low or no cost Green Business Practices that all businesses can implemented NOW. Arm yourself with the information needed to keep business thriving by helping Falmouth visitors experience the best of Falmouth…where the Cape begins! Free parking is available at Highfield Hall and Green Shuttle Service from the town parking lot on Depot Avenue. Cape & Islands Workforce Investment Board Spring Kick-Off with May’s Business After Hours at Freedom Boat Club! Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with an outdoor Business After Hours along the water! On Thursday, May 21st from 5-7 please join the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and Freedom Boat Club for our monthly Business After Hours event. The event will be held at Freedom Boat Club at Green Pond Marina, located Continued on Page 4 By David Augustinho, Executive Director The Cape and Islands Workforce Investment Board (WIB) has created two new programs to help Cape businesses in these tough economic times. One is the Workforce Training Fund, a state-wide program which provides local business with matching grants of up to $250,000 to train employees. The second program is the Cape Area Management Program (CAMP), a free training program that will be offered in the Falmouth region this fall. The Workforce Training Fund (WTF) has been in existence for nine years and has funded over $2,000,000 in training on the Cape and Islands including over $800,000 in training programs in the Falmouth area. Teledyne Benthos, Inc., Hydroid, Cape Cod Printing, Falmouth Prescription Center, and Sapphire Engineering are some of the companies who received funding from the program. There are two types of applications to the WTF. One provides larger grants, like the $72,000 grant received by Sapphire Engineering to implement a lean manufacturing process throughout the company. The other, called the express program, provides smaller grants to companies with 50 or fewer employees. Companies interested in the WTF can contact David Augustinho directly (david@ciwib.org) for a meeting to help determine if the WTF is a suitable vehicle for meeting your training needs. He can also refer businesses to appropriate free technical assistance services that support the WTF. The CAMP program is a 3 year grant-funded cross sector training program targeting management occupations on the Cape and Islands. Industries such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, real-estate, financial services, human services, public administration, construction and the arts can join the program. The training will be offered free of charge in the Falmouth area in the late fall of this year. Faculty from The Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com National Graduate School of Quality Management (NGS), a Falmouthbased institution of higher learning, will lead four training modules. Module 1: First-Line Supervisor Principles of Practical Management Module 2: Teams/Team Work Module 3: Effective Project Management Module 4: Continuous Quality Improvement The program also includes Peer to Peer Practicum Sessions led by Ernie Oliveira, Founder and President of DEO Associates. The goal of the practicum is to have the attendees practice their newly learned skills in a safe environment while getting ongoing support from a business consultant with proven expertise. Information sessions will be scheduled this fall with the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers Wanted!!! The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to work Information Stations at the local beaches and Commodores Games this Summer! If you are interested, please contact Jay Zavala at 508-548-8500. Inside This Issue Facebook for Small Business and Entrepreneurs Page 3 Falmouth Chamber Annual Dinner Page 4 Do-It-Yourself Vacation Rentals Page 5 8 Tools to Save You Time and Make You Money Page 7 May 2009 Page 2 Free, High Quality Business Advisory Services for YOU President’s Welcome The 2009 Annual Meeting of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce is a big deal. On Thursday, May 7th, our valued members will meet for the 95th time to take stock of the affairs of commerce in our town and to pay tribute to those whom they have measured over time and Jay Zavala, President found to be the best of the better amongst us. When that is done and the gavel drops the ballroom doors of the Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center will open for a lively Spring Social with welcomed friends and neighbors who share a mutual interest in our community. Together, we will enjoy an entertaining evening overlooking the ocean. At this annual ritual our members, supporters and guests come together to celebrate hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance and generosity, and to salute those whom have earned their respect and admiration. Tommy Leonard, Emil “Bud” Tietje, JoAnn Fishbein and Karen Chorches will be honored. A new component will be added this year; the Spring Social. This gives us an opportunity to spend more time with other Falmouth citizens who customarily engage in other interests and move in other circles. Given the challenges we share, it is good to come together. Music and a festive setting are just the ticket. We have a lot to talk about. Besides, we certainly share a great deal in common; we share a common language, everyone likes a little competition, we admire action, and we find inspiration in excellence. In business, as in life, we come together to enjoy one another’s company, being fully aware that “whom you know” is often as important as “what you know.” After an evening of mingling, dining, and socializing with the visionaries, the successful, the disciplined, the tenacious and the hopeful, we will be ready to face the next day as a new adventure. We are reminded that if we stay the course we can reach our goals and more importantly – we won’t have to do it alone. That is the power of association. Jay Zavala President We are pleased to offer you direct access to the business advisors of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) where Your Success is Our Business! The MSBDC is the only nationally accredited agency which provides FREE high quality business advisory services and international trade and export assistance to small business entrepreneurs. Your local MSBDC is located right here at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce, and a professional business advisor is available to help you grow your business profitably. Working with a wide range of companies, the MSBDC provides FREE one-on-one, confidential and comprehensive advisory services which focus on helping you to grow your business with strategic, marketing and operational analysis as well as financing and loan assistance. The MSBDC also connections to resources from our funding partners: the US Small Business Administration, the MA Department of Business & Technology, and higher educational institutions including UMASS Dartmouth” said Melinda Ailes, Regional Director. “We work with our clients to develop innovative solutions to meet their needs, while at the same time working to grow the local economy”. The MSBDC provided assistance to over 8000 clients in Massachusetts last year. Why don’t you call and get some quality advice for your small business? The MSBDC welcomes the opportunity to work with all small Dr. Cliff Robbins, MSBDC businesses, from start-up to early stage, or growing and challenged. provides training programs through- Please call the chamber office at 508548-8500 or give the MSBDC a call at out Southeastern MA. “The MSBDC is a uniquely effec- 508-673-9783. And visit the web site tive advisor to small businesses, in at www.MSBDC.org/semass for more part due to its extensive access and information about YOUR MSBDC. Green Restaurants from www.greenrestaurants.org Taking steps towards becoming a greener restaurant will pay off in a number of ways. First, you’ll save money as you reduce energy and water use. Second, you’ll improve the dining and working environment for both customers and employees. Third, you will be able to differentiate your business as one committed to sustainability. Finally, your actions will genuinely make a difference, whether by lowering greenhouse gas emissions through reduced energy use, eliminating the stream of toxic cleaning chemicals into the sewer system or supporting local organic farmers. When you take these actions at home, you’re having a small impact. When you take them at your restaurant, you ��������������������� ���������������������� ���������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������� �� ������������������������� ����������������� ���������������� ��������������������� ��������������������������� ���������� �������������� ������������ ��������������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������������������� Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com are multiplying that impact by the number of customers you serve each day. The options for going greener in restaurants are limitless and cover every facet of your operations. Here are some ideas for how to get started: • Form a “green team” with staff members from the kitchen, front of the house and cleaning crew. Let them share ideas and map out a plan. • Create short-term and long-term objectives. Tackle one project at a time. • Focus on communications. Every employee is important to the program’s success and should know what you’re trying to achieve and why. Recognize some of the cultural and language barriers that may make implementation diffi cult. • Promote your actions. Let your customers know that you’re working towards becoming a greener restaurant and that the actions you’re taking can be replicated at home. • Get expert help. There are many organizations and consultants that are experts in these issues. Call and get their advice. • Spread the word. As you start to take some of these steps and see the results, let your colleagues know what you have done and what you have saved. The more that information and lessons learned are exchanged, the faster the restaurant industry can collectively move towards operating practices that are both environmentally and economically sound. Page 3 May 2009 Facebook for Small Business and Entrepreneurs Facebook is a popular online social networking site that adds a quarter million new users every day and currently has over 120 million active users. If you think your target audience isn’t on Facebook, you might be surprised to learn the fastest growing demographic is the 25 and older group. If you’re not comfortable or familiar with social media, you should think of it as a new take on the networking event, except with less pressure to make small talk and no shrimp cocktail boat. By investing some time and energy into Facebook you can build brand loyalty, establish your expertise, engage your customers on a deeper level, and drive qualified leads back to your Web site. Step 1: Create Your Profile Facebook is about personal relationships; the coin of the realm is “friends.” While people may want to be friends with you, chances are they aren’t looking to be friends with your company. Did you ever have a heartto-heart with Nike, or go to the movies with General Motors? In fact, creating a profile for your business breaks Facebook’s terms and conditions. Therefore, you need to start by creating a personal profile using your real name. To build your profile upload a photo, enter your education, business and contact info, and join your local network (i.e., Portland, ME). The more complete your profile, the more easily you can connect with other people. If you’re concerned about privacy, Facebook offers highly customizable privacy settings that control who can see different elements of your profile. This way you can share photos of your kids with friends and family, but not with your boss or customers. Next you can upload your contact database to see which of your contacts are already on Facebook, and ask to “friend” any of them you wish. This gives you a good starting point on Facebook, rather than starting cold. Step 2: Create Your Company Page Once you have a personal profile, you can create a page for your business. Pages can be populated with company information, photos, video, upcoming events, discussion forums and links back to your Web site. You can also add additional applications to increase the functionality of your page, such as an RSS feed from your blog or embedded videos from YouTube. Pages are made publicly available so search engines can find and index them, which is an added benefit. People on Facebook can become “fans” of your company, which is a great way for you to stay in touch with them and share information and advice. Think of gaining Facebook “friends” or business “fans” in ���������������� �������������������������� ������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������� ������������ ����������������������������� � � � � � � � � ���������������������������� ����� ��������������� the same way you think of increasing your email subscriber base: they build your network. You can promote your company page via email, your blog, and through the Facebook network to drive more traffic and build up your fan base. If you’re wondering why you need a Facebook page since you already have a Web site (and maybe a blog,) it’s about being where your customers are…location, location, location. some friends and fans to get the ball rolling. An assisted living resident might create a “sandwich generation” group; a business coach might create a personal power group. Once nice benefit of groups is that you can “bulk invite” people to join (who are connected to you on Facebook), and they can then “bulk invite” their friends as well. This means your group can go viral quickly, and so groups are great ways of promoting a movement. Step 3: Join and Create Groups Another way to network on Facebook is through the use of groups. Groups, unlike pages, are only visible to Facebook members. Groups can be formed around anything from sustainable business practices to political affiliations to love of a particular video game or breed of dog. Chances are your prospects already participate in these groups; if not, create a new group and invite Words of Caution (or Don’t Be “That Guy”) You know those people who go to networking events and try to sell you long before they learn anything about your needs? Who are pushing their product or service as they give you their never-let-go-G.I.-Joe-withthe-Kung-Fu-grip handshake? It’s easy in real life to see how obnoxious that behavior is, right? Well, then don’t behave that way on Facebook. (Or on any social media site, for that matter.) Anyone jumping into social media as a way to make a quick sale will be sorely disappointed, and may irrevocably damage their reputation. ����� ������ ������������� ����������� ���������� ��������� ��������������� �������������� ��������� ��������� ���������������������� ���������������������� ��������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ������������������������ ������������������������������������ ���������������������������������� ����������� ����������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ����������������� �������� ���������� ����������������� Social media is about building relationships; you build your network and your reputation over time by providing value to other people. The best book ever written on social media marketing could well be How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. As Facebook expert Mari Smith says, “You need to focus on building rapport, reaching out to connect with others, adding value, sharing information relative to your niche and marketplace.” In Conclusion Facebook is a powerful networking tool that connects you with your prospects and customers in new and engaging ways. There are conversations, events, and networking opportunities that are only happening there; if you’re not on Facebook, you’re missing these opportunities. Every small business owner and entrepreneur should invest some time to determine how Facebook fits in with the rest of his or her marketing efforts. The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce will be holding a Social Media class this Spring, so check back soon for more information! CHAIRMAN Chris Megan, On The Water Magazine & Television VICE CHAIRS Charlie Bardelis, Jr., Island Queen Robert D. Crane Jr., Crane Appliance and Sound & Vision TREASURER Stephen J. Spitz, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank SECRETARY Addie Drolette, Sovereign Bank DIRECTORS Don Estes, The Landfall Restaurant David Faus, Falmouth Academy Rachel Greenfield, Cape Wind Waterfront Resort Johnny Hatem, Johnny's Tune & Lube Anne Jarvis, Quarterdeck Restaurant Paul Lorusso, Cape Cod Aggregates Daren McDonald, Clover Paving Co., Inc. Jack Moakley, Northeast Fisheries Science Center Thomas J. Mundell, Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation Ernie Palazzolo, TFG Hyannis Hospitality STAFF President: Jay Zavala Member Services Manager: Maura Aldrich Information Specialist: Betty Bailey ����������� ������������������ �������������� ������������ ������������ Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com 20 Academy Lane • Falmouth, MA 02540 t.508-548-8500 • f.508-548-8521 www.FalmouthChamber.com May 2009 Page 4 April’s Business After Hours Hosted by Foley Real Estate Judges (from left) Todd “Randy” Bidwell, Maura “Kara” Aldrich, Kara “Paula” Griesbauer and Rick “Simon” Kelleher. The Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center. Falmouth Chamber Annual Dinner and Spring Social THURSDAY! The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Banquet at the Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center, sponsored by Eastern Bank, will be held on Thursday, May 7th. With a beautiful sunset on Old Silver Beach as the backdrop and the ambiance of live music performed by Absolutely Music/Four Guys in Tuxes, this is an event you won’t want to miss! The evening will begin with cocktail hour starting at 5:30PM followed by the Dinner and Awards Banquet beginning at 6:30PM, with entertainment beginning at 8PM. The Chamber will honor and recognize residents of Falmouth who have made outstanding contributions to our community, including this year’s Citizen of the Year, Tommy Leonard. Also honored will be Professional Excellence Award winner, Emil “Bud” D. Tietje, Chairman’s Award winner, Karen Chorches and Community Service Jim Foley of Foley Real Estate served as the MC of the evening, here with the winner of Falmouth Idol, Mary Bernardo. Thank you to all of our Members who donated amazing prizes! Bellezza Salon | MedSpa The Quarterdeck Restaurant The Landfall Restaurant Paul Harney’s Golf Course The ‘cast’ of Falmouth Idol serenaded the crowd! ��������� �������������� Freedom Boat Club Business After Hours May 21 ���������������� ���������������� ������������������ ������������������ grams that enhance the teachings of preschools, elementary schools, at 366 Menauhant Road in East and other children’s organizations with fun and engaging hands-on Falmouth. There will be live music and deli- learning. Programs meet the Mascious food under a tent on the har- sachusetts Curriculum Framework Guidelines. bor, and tours of the docks! Please RSVP to the Falmouth ChamOur featured non-profit for the evening is the Cape Cod Children’s ber of Commerce at 508-548-8500 or Museum. The Cape Cod Children’s by e-mail to Info@falmouthchamber. Museum offers educational pro- com. Continued from Page One ���������������������� ���������������������� ���������������� ������������������� ������������������������������� �������������������������� � � � ���������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������������� Award winner, JoAnn Fishbein. The Chamber will also be announcing the election of new members joining the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the incoming Chairman. Wear your dancing shoes, because this year a new entertainment component has been added - a “Spring Social,” with entertainment sponsored by the Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center! The Spring Social will follow the dinner and awards presentation, kicking off at 8PM, when the doors open for all members of the community to join the fun for an entry fee of $25. Please contact Maura Aldrich at Maldrich@Falmouth Chamber.com or by phone at 508548-8500 or pay online at www. FalmouthChamber.com in the online store. ������������������������������ To Become a Member of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce ������������ ������������������������������� ���������������������������� ������������������������ Call 508-548-8500 Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com Page 5 May 2009 Do-It-Yourself Vacation Rentals Marketing Your Home By Joan and Jeff Talmadge of WeNeedaVacation.com In today’s tough economy, it is more essential than ever to effectively market your vacation rental home. You can easily do this on your own—and save thousands of dollars in realtor commissions. A majority of vacationers turn to the Internet to find and book vacation rental homes—which makes a rental-by-owner easier than ever. There’s no need to place costly ads, spend time on the phone trying to describe your rental to prospective tenants, or do lots of selling. With attractive photos and an appealing written description, your rental will sell itself! All that is required is finding an appropriate vacation rental website, creating and maintaining your listing, and responding to vacationer inquiries. Once you set up your initial listing, very little time is required. Be sure to reply to potential tenants in a timely manner and keep your listing current with an accurate calendar showing availability. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Pictures are the vacationers’ first impression of your home. Attractive pictures, inside and out, are crucial to successful renting. The quality of your pictures should equal or even exceed other listings. Do your pictures create a mood, or are they just pictures of rooms? Vacationers are more likely to book a home if they can envision themselves vacationing there. Some vacation rental owners also include in their listing a video to highlight specific features of their home, such as a water view, a wraparound deck, or cathedral ceilings. This helps the vacationer to further picture themselves in a particular home. “In this economy with many lovely homes available, I go into the summer with confidence that I will, again for the fourth season, fill all weeks in the high season,” Susan Smith, a Brewster vacation rental, owner told us. “The pictures and the video on my listing show our home to its best advantage, and vacationers comment on this.” thought-out description gives a positive impression of both the home and of you as the owner. Don’t forget to provide information about the area and the activities offered. Remember that the Internet brings vacationers from all over the world; thus, many vacationers may be totally unfamiliar with the Cape or Islands. Above all, describe your home and its environment accurately. Do not exaggerate its strong points or try to hide its flaws. Let your description portray your rental and your pictures confirm your description. It is better to have tenants be pleasantly surprised by your home than disappointed. Happy tenants often become repeat tenants. When to Advertise What is the best time to advertise? Year round is ideal, but a six-month listing will also yield results. Many vacationers look for next year’s rental while on their current vacation. They may want to just drive by your home to see it in person. Typically the earlier vacationers look, the less likely they are to negotiate your price. Paint a Picture with Words The written description of your home is the second most important part of your listing. Your goal should be to create an ad that presents your Pricing home as inviting, welcoming, and Competitively price your rental. relaxing. A well-written, carefully Look at what similar rentals in the area are asking. It doesn’t matter if you spent $50,000 decorating—your rental is a commodity in the marketplace and the market dictates rates. While some vacationers are willing to pay for luxury, others are happy 1. For Interior Pictures: in a funky 60’s Cape Cod cottage. • Avoid aiming your camera directly at a window, as this can Above all, be realistic. wash out your shot. For more suggestions about mar• Do some minor staging of your home: Eliminate clutter; turn keting your vacation rental home (as on lights; set the table for a meal. well as managing your rental), please • Aim the camera at a corner rather than a flat wall. (This provisit: www.WeNeedaVacation.com. duces a more interesting photo.) • Stand on a stepstool while taking pictures to help capture the Joan and Jeff Talmadge are owners and entire room more effectively. founders of WeNeedaVacation.com, owned and operated by All Seasons Vaca2. For Exterior Pictures: tion Rentals, LLC, which lists more than • Take pictures on a sunny, blue-sky kind of day preferably in 3,500 vacation rental homes on the Cape early morning or late afternoon. Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, • Include pictures of your view, deck, or the nearby beach. and in Florida. They can be reached at info@weneedavacation.com. Tips for Successful Picture-Taking ��������������� � ������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������� ����������������� ���������������� ���������������������� ����������������������������� ��������������������� ����������������� ������������������������������ ������������ ����������� ��������������������� ������������ ����������� ��������������������� ����������������������� ������������������ ������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com ������������ ���������������������������� ��������������������� May 2009 Page 6 Upcoming Events May 2009 Please visit www.falmouthchamber.com for complete event listings and details. 1 May through May 31 Maritime Days Various Locations, Cape Cod Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center 350 Quaker Road, North Falmouth 5:30p.m. 7 May 7 May Friends of Fairwinds Annual Gala Coonamessett Inn, 311 Gifford Street, Falmouth 8 May May Baskets on Main Street Shore Street-Depot Ave, Falmouth Village 9 May Meet the Author: Peter Arenstam Plimoth Plantation, 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth 10:00 or 3:00a.m. 10 Mother’s Day Brunch Coonamessett Farm, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Culinary Tourism 14 INFOmania Expo Highfield Hall, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth 2:00p.m.-7:00p.m. What is Culinary Tourism? Why Culinary Tourism is Important Thousands of years ago, merchants traveled the Seven 1. Nearly 100% of tourists dine out when traveling Seas, looking for foodstuffs to trade. Spices, wine, fruits 2. Dining is consistently one of the top 3 favorite tourand olive oil were the currencies of yore. Today, we unist activities wittingly do much the same. However, modern travelers 3. The higher the total bill, the more likely the patrons tend to prefer restaurants and wineries in place of pirateare tourists infested trade routes. 4. High correlation between tourists who are interestCulinary tourism is not new. It is a subset of Agri-toured in wine/cuisine and museums, shows, shopping, ism that focuses specifically on the search for, and enjoymusic and film festivals ment of prepared food and drink. 5. Culinary tourists are highly likely to participate in Previously overlooked, “culinary tourism” is an imoutdoor recreation portant new niche that fosters economic and community development and new intercultural insights. Culinary 6. Interest in culinary tourism spans to all age groups tourism can be found in rural or urban areas and should 7. Cuisine is the only art form that speaks to all five be available to visit year round. senses Keep in mind that just because it is food or drink it 8. Culinary tourists are “explorers” is not necessarily “cuisine”. To foster culinary tourism, 9. Culinary “attractions” available year-round your food or beverage experience must be unique and 10. Local cuisine is the #1 motivating factor in choosmemorable. Culinary tourism is much more than just ing a destination restaurants and wineries. 15 Broadway Love Songs for Mothers, Fathers, Friends, and Lovers Peanut Butter Club, Redfield Auditorium, Woods Hole 12:00p.m. 17 Cape Cod Child Development’s Ride for Literacy American Legion Rte 130, Sandwich 10:00a.m. 21 Business After Hours at Freedom Boat Club of Cape Cod 366 Menauhant Road, East Falmouth 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. 22 Hoisting Their Colors: Cape Cod’s Civil War Navy Officers Falmouth Senior Center 300 Dillingham Avenue, Falmouth 1:30p.m. 23 Fiber Festival and Flea Market/Crafts Show Coonamessett Farm 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m. May Cape Land And Sea Harvest May May May May May May through May 24 www.falmouthchamber.com ������������������� ���������������� 28 Green Breakfast Falmouth Chamber of Commerce 20 Academy Lane, Falmouth 7:30a.m.-9:00a.m. 30 Master Gardeners Plant Sale Barnstable County Fairgrounds 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, Route 151, East Falmouth 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. 30 Organic Landscaping - with Eco Friendly Ideas to Save Water and Runoff ‘g’ Green Design Center, 28 Bates Road, Mashpee 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. 30 Gardener’s Days Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m. May ������������ ������������������������� ����������� ���� � ������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������� May ���������������� ������������������ ������������������������������ �������������������������� ������������� May May through May 31 �������������������������� ��������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������������� Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com 31 May through June 6 Cape Cod Life Food & Wine Festival Capewide - see webite for details 3:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Page 7 May 2009 8 Tools to Save You Time and Make You Money Especially in this downturn economy, most of us would consider our time one of our most valuable commodities. Falmouth is filled with small businesses where our entrepreneurs are wearing the hats of CEO, salesman, receptionist and marketing director. These days, time is money, and when we discover a product or service that helps us reclaim our time, we feel like we’ve struck gold! Here is a list of helpful websites that can free up your time: AddressGrabber Business Address Grabber Business helps small business owners capture names and addresses from sources like email signatures, web sites or documents into a chosen database (ACT, Excel, Outlook, etc.) in just one click. www.addressgrabber.com Argali White and Yellow Argali White and Yellow searches multiple telephone and email directories so you don’t have to. The found listings are combined, formatted in uniform way and displayed as if they came from one integrated metadirectory. You can also do a reverse search for a phone number and search for area codes. The program even updates itself with any new listings every time you open it! www.argali.com Evernote With EverNote you can easily store and quickly access typed and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents and more! www.evernote.com/en/downloads/ GotoMyPC Need access to your files but don’t want to drag your laptop with you on vacation or on a business trip? A subscription to GotoMyPC.com will enable you to log into your office computer and retrieve whatever you need, just as though you were sitting in front of it. www.gotomypc.com MaxEmail MaxEmail lets you send and receive faxes through the Internet/email, making the need for a fax machine obsolete. The faxes arrive in PDF format, so you can easily share you faxes with others as needed. Practice Pay Solutions Merchant Account If you’re not taking credit cards in your business, you’re missing out on sales. The coolest feature that they offer in this service is the ability to do batch uploads of charges, so if you have a number of clients on retainer that you invoice every month, you can simply create a spreadsheet and batch upload the data rather than entering each client’s information individually. www.profcs.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=127926 Roboform This program is the top-rated password manager and web form filler that completely automates password entering and form filling. You’ll never have to remember a password again! www.roboform.com XDrive Xdrive is your personal hard drive on the Internet. Whether you are managing files for yourself or your business, Xdrive enables you to store, access, share, and backup your files anytime, anywhere. You can also send others a link to a file that’s too large to send through email. www.xdrive.com list courtesy of smallbiz.com. Welcome New Members April 2009 Falmouth Housing Trust 65A Town Hall Square Falmouth, MA 02540 Contact: Wayne Theroux 508-540-2370 www.falmouthmass.us/depart. php?depkey=fht Aqua Lazer 366 Menauhant Road East Falmouth, MA 02536 Contact: Tim Connolly 508-548-6510 Swanson Violins 10 Chase Road Falmouth, MA 02540 Contact: David Swanson 508-681-9579 www.swansonviolins.com Full Spectrum Music PO Box 269 Falmouth, MA 02541 508-495-0532 SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING Please Join Us ���������������������������� ���������������������������� �� Tuesday, May 5th • 7 pm Falmouth Public Library Trustees Conference Room Meeting agenda ������������������������� ������������������ �������������������������������� ������������������������ ������������������������������������� ������������������������� �������������������� �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������ The purpose of this meeting is to inform local citizens & businesses throughout the cape & islands on how to get involved in the festival. WE are looking for individuals, businesses, farmers, manufacturers, designers, installers, builders, architects, non-profits and government agencies that are interested in volunteering, marketing their products, & leading workshops on sustainable living. What is sustainable living? Why is it important? Come join us and bring your ideas and solutions for a cleaner, sustainable economic future. Festival date: August 15 & 16th 2009 Location: Barnstable county fairgrounds Contact: David Moriarty 774-521-8474 PO Box 550 W. Falmouth, MA 02574 Email: waveydavei@aol.com Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com JMGI Glacial Energy & Stanlin Energy 129 Falmouth Heights Road, #29 Falmouth, MA 02540 Contact: James DiCostanzo www.jmgi.net Falmouth Young Professionals New Members K.J. Kozens Baystate Financial Services 39 Temple Street Somerville, MA 02145 617-585-4517 www.baystatefinancial.com May 2009 Page 8 NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ������������������� ��������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������� VAGABONDVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY ������ ������������ ������������������������ ������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������ ���������������������� ����������������������������������� �������������������������� ��������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������� ��������� ������ ���� ������ �������� ���������� ���� �������� �������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������� ������� ������� �������������������������������� �������������������� ������������������ ���������������� ������������������ ������������������� ���� � �� �� ������������������������������� ������������� ������������ ����������������������������������� ������������ ������������������������� Coastlines • www.FalmouthChamber.com ��������������� ������������������ ����������������������� The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the business of VagabondView Photography to the community. Located at 95A Davis Straits in Falmouth, VagabondView Photography represents the highest ethics and standards of business today. Lee Geishecker and Stefanie Egan, the two women owners of the photography studio believe that the most important thing about running a successful business is to have highest possible customer relations. “EveryWhether in the studio or on location, VagabondView capthing else doesn’t matter if you don’t tures amazing memories. treat your clients like gold”, says Lee who is the daughter of the longtime family retail store, Geisheckers. two women’s friendship and their eled the world independently and The business was conceived by the love of photography. They have trav- photographed both people and places from Europe, South Africa, Asia, South America and all over the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Their love and passion for the art of photography has brought them together and compelled them to open their virtual doors 4 years ago at www. vagabondview.com. They then took matters to the next level by opening up their commercial space in downtown Falmouth this past summer. Stefanie and Lee treasure working with individuals, families, couples and children producing beautiful lifetime keepsakes of albums, large prints, canvas prints and framed art. Their work ranges from weddings to corporate headshots, family beach portraits, studio portraits of babies, children and high-school students… The VagabondView studio. they even photograph the family pets working closely with the Falmouth pet store of Uptown Dog, Cape Cod! VagabondView Photography is a ��������������������� Falmouth based business but their ������������������ work continues to take them all over ����������������������� New England and beyond. Their energy, passion and love is welcomed as ������������������������������������ they continue to contribute to Mas���������������� sachusetts communities with chari������������������������������������������������������������� ties such as the Cape Cod Chapter March of Dimes, Falmouth VIPS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� (Volunteers In Public Schools) St. �������������������������������������������������������������������������� John’s Preparatory School, The Win121 Locust Street, Falmouth, MA 02540 chester Fine Arts League and WestTelephone: 508.457.7465 • Fax: 508.457.7466 • info@capecoastalcomputers.net wood Elementary School Coalition. Please welcome Stefanie and Lee and their beautiful work to ���� �� ������ ��������� Falmouth. Stop by the studio or visit the website to learn more! ������������������ ������������������ ������������������� ���� ������������������� ����������������� 95A Davis Straits Falmouth, MA 02540 508.540.VIEW