Welcome to the October 2007 issue of the
Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter.

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 In this Issue




2007 Chowder Challenge Winners

Judge's Choice Awards
1st place: The Anchorage
2nd place: Town of Sunapee
3rd place: Sophie & Zeke's

Best Display: Town of Sunapee
Most Original Display: Sunapee Police Department
Best Traditional Chowder: The Anchorage
Best Alternative Chowder: Sophie & Zeke's

People's Choice Awards
1st place: The Anchorage
2nd place: Sunapee Police Department
3rd place: Sophie & Zeke's
Women's Supportive Services

Troop 40

Mr. Phil & Co.

 Did You Know?

That Warner has a coop buying club that buys from
United Natural Foods and Albert's Organics?

"The Warner Food Coop is a not for profit group that is dedicated to cooperative buying of healthy and local products. Our goals are to keep prices affordable and to support local and organic producers. We buy mostly from United Buying Clubs and Albert's Organics, but also order local products like specialty meats from Warner's own Yankee Farmer's Market at special coop member prices."
For more information go to their website at

 
September 2007 Business After Hours

Many thanks to the Inn at Danbury for hosting the September 11, Business After Hours. Attendees enjoyed music by Jim Hollis and ate their fill of fine



 Next Business After Hours

OCTOBER 23: 8:00 am  $5.00 per person
The Friends Program in conjunction with the New London Inn is offering a BBH from 8-9:00 a.m. Terry Kneeland, local chapter director, will be explaining and touting this wonderful program for kids and adults. The Inn is sponsoring the breakfast. Check out the blurb below:

Mentors Needed for Local Children
One individual can make a significant difference in the life of one child. The Friends Program needs adult volunteers (age 18 and older) to mentor children, ages 6-17 in the Kearsarge region. Volunteers are needed to spend 1-2 hours a week in a one-on-one relationship with a child to provide support, encouragement, a listening ear, and fun!   Volunteers choose to meet with a child at a local school or take a child out in the community. Volunteers are needed for children at elementary and middle schools in: Sunapee, Bradford, Warner, New London, Newport, and Grantham
For more information contact: The Friends Program at



 What's happening in Concord

LEGISLATION AFFECTING YOU
Checking legislative issues can and will keep you abreast of the things that could affect your business. It can help you to choose whether or not to take part in the passing or defeating of a particular bill or it can simply allow you to prepare for the effects of said legislation.
Take for instance most of the bills in the Ways and Means committee can and will have an impact on how you do business. Why? Because this is the committee that proposes bills on how we finance our New Hampshire. This is the latest hotspot on the legislative calendar that could affect you:

HOUSE BILL 520-FN-A  (get more info on the web or through your Kearsarge League of Women Voters)
AN ACT establishing a state-owned casino to provide funds for public education.
SPONSORS: Rep. DiFruscia, Rock 4; Rep. Gleason, Rock 5; Rep. Holden, Hills 7; Sen. Gallus, Dist 1
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Establishes a casino commission and authorizes it to establish state-owned casinos, at locations of its choosing, pending local approval.
II. Provides a limitation that no state-owned casino may be less than 100 miles apart.
III. Places control of gambling and betting at such casinos under authority of the commission.
IV. Provides that the commission shall have the option of administering the day-to-day operation of the facilities or contracting out such operation.
V. Requires the commission to investigate and issue casino work permits to casino employees.
VI. Provides that revenue from the facilities shall be forwarded to a casino revenue account, from which the costs of administering these provisions shall be paid. The balance shall be distributed as follows:
(a) Ten percent to provide scholarships for the benefit of residents of the state pursuing programs of higher education within the state.
(b) Ten percent to the university system of New Hampshire fund.
(c) Seventy-five percent to the education trust fund.
(d) Five percent to gambling addiction programs.
VII. Establishes salaries of commission members.
VIII. Provides a start-up appropriation of $1 to the commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

Other bills that are tied to this one are: HB 145, HB 637-FN-A-L and HB 866-FN-A-L

This bill is part of a package to help pay for education in New Hampshire. What happens to your business if this bill passes? Not considering your personal fundamental take on gambling in New Hampshire, let's look at the issue from a local business point of view while also putting aside the matter of whether or not it will provide the much-needed financial results for education.
This bill could definitely affect the local tourist industry. It is wise to remember that many economists feel that casinos are a "zero-sum game" industry and that they encourage no true economic growth.

If the casino is located close enough to the Lake Sunapee Area to allow people to take advantage of our lake/mountain but not to take advantage of our shopping, lodging and restaurants we will lose business. If the casino is in our immediate area, the socio-economic impact can be huge since typically those who can afford it less, gamble more. In addition, the smaller businesses lose because casinos offer "one-stop shopping" in their facilities and hotels negating much of the need by tourists for local business. If the casino is far away enough, it could potentially draw our already struggling economy away from us and into another region, say the seacoast or White Mountains.

How can we impact this bill and do we even want to? Are there some covenants that could be set in place to encourage tourism and business throughout New Hampshire and still allow for casinos?

Think about it…before it becomes a fact of New Hampshire life.

~Ingrid Braulini, ISee Consulting
(first-hand witness of the impact of a casino on the economy of a tourist town in Michigan)


 Business Joke of the Month

Help Wanted
A law firm put a sign in the window saying "HELP WANTED. You must be a good typist and have good computer skills. Successful applicant must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer."

A short time later a lovely golden retriever dog trotted up to the window,  saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign,  looked at it, whined and pawed the air.

The receptionist called the office manager. He was surprised, to say the least, to see a canine applicant. However, the dog looked determined so he led him into the office.

Inside, the dog jumped up on a chair and stared at the manager expectantly.  The manager said, "I can't hire you. The sign says you must  be able to type."

The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to quickly type a perfect business letter. He took out the page with his mouth and trotted over to the manager,  gave it to him, then jumped back up on the chair wagging his tail.

The manager was stunned, but told the dog, "That was fantastic, but I'm sorry. The sign clearly says that whomever I hire must have computer  skills." The dog jumped down again, went to the computer and proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs. He produced a sample Excel spreadsheet, a sample Power Point  presentation, retouched a picture with Photo Shop, and then printed all of them for the manager.

The manager was dumbfounded. He said to the dog, "Listen, I realize that you are a very intelligent applicant and have fantastic talent, but you're a dog! There's no way I can hire you!"

The dog jumped down and went to the sign in the window and pointed his paw at the words, "Equal Opportunity Employer."

The exasperated manager said, "Yes, I know what the sign says. But the sign also says you have to be bilingual."

The dog looked him straight in the eye and said............"Meow."
Top Photos courtesy of Paul Howe Photography

 Executive Director's Update

The Sunapee Parent Teacher Organization (SPTO) and the Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the judges, participating restaurants, sponsors, guests, and many volunteers who joined in to make the Sunapee Chowder Challenge such a great success.

Sunny weather, live music, excellent chowders, and hungry crowds created a successful seventh annual Sunapee Chowder Challenge. Eleven local area chefs provided samples of their best chowders for over 900 tasters.     

Special thanks for their contributions of time, effort, and donated resources goes to major sponsors Mount Sunapee Resort, New London Hospital and Peter E. Smith Associates; Program sponsors Forfeng Designs, Hubert's, Lake Sunapee Bank, Ledyard National Bank, Sugar River Savings Bank, Sunapee Harbor Riverway Corp., Tattered Pages and MESA, and General sponsorship from Coldwell Banker-Milestone Real Estate, Deck Dock Home & Garden, Harbor Light Realty, New London Agency while some supplies were donated by Bill Turner of  Performance Food Group NorthCenter, Eric Medeiros of Dunkin Donuts and Jeff Kelly at Hannaford. Our thanks as well to Sunapee Harbor residents and businesses.  

The participants offering up their chowder were The Anchorage Restaurant, Sunapee Harbor, Appleseed Restaurant, Bradford,  Colonial Farm and Inn Restaurant, New London, Foot Hills Restaurant of Warner, La Dolce Vita, New London, The Maples B & B in Warner, New London Agency/ Salt Hill Pub, Newport, Proctor Academy Dining Services in Andover, Sophie & Zeke's in Claremont, and both the Sunapee Police Department and the Town of Sunapee in a friendly competition.  All were winners just by participating.  Raffle items included support from Dexter's Inn and Rick Libbey.

The Chowder Challenge was possible only with the support of a legion of volunteers including parents, students, Sunapee Honor Society Students, Sunapee Middle School Council too numerous to mention, Uncle Funkle Trio, Mr. Phil and Co,  judges Perrin Long, Heather Turner and Laura Whitcomb.   Janet Hutchens, Chris Naimie, Ingrid Braulini, Deb Campbell, Ella Casey, Heather Makechnie, Kurt Markarian each also were invaluable.  SPTO Chowder Challenge Chair Tina Naimie and Chamber Chowder Challenge Chair Deb Markarian led the effort.

With continued area support, the SPTO and Chamber of Commerce look forward to an even better Chowder Challenge next year!

Sincerely,
Rob Bryant, Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce


Thank you to Heather Makechnie
of Heather Vision LLC for the great photos!
Colonial Farm Inn

The Appleseed Restaurant

Town of Sunapee

Sophie and Zeke's

Sunapee PD


The Maples at Warner B&B

Salt Hill Pub

The Anchorage


 Member Focus

Serendipity Boutique
New London Shopping Center New London, NH
603-526-4475

DISCOVER A WORLD OF UNIQUE TREASURES AT SERENDIPITY BOUTIQUE  is what her advertising says, and it goes on to say that you'll find "an eclectic mix of relaxed and dress clothing"..."authentic folk art from around the world," that you will be "dazzled by the spectacular selection of jewelry" and that children will find "fun gifts and treasures, handmade wooden toys" and "a whole lot more." What can't be conveyed, what has to be experienced firsthand, is the feeling when you walk into "Serendipity"- it feels like you're visiting family. While speaking with owner Talli Jones in one of the "behind-the-scenes" areas of the boutique, I can't help but notice the walls around me. One wall has an inspirational verse written on a post-it note, next to a calendar of scenes from Musterfield Farm ( a local attraction/working farm.)  The other has an article with pictures of a friendly-looking gent hard at work- the headline reads "Making toys the old-fashioned way." "That's my Dad!" Talli says. "For years he made the handmade wooden toys we sold here." Next she shows me an adoreable baby cap and sweater. "And my Mom, who is in her nineties, still makes these beautiful sweaters for the babies."

Talli started working for Serendipity Boutique as a part-time employee in the late 1970's, "Back when my kids were little."-for original owner Carla Marshall, who began the business around 1975. It wasn't until subsequent owner Susan Sidmore moved the business to it's present location in 1988 that Talli. who had previously been through the Executive Training program with the large retailer Macy's, thought to herself  "It's time- I love this business and I really want to own it."

Talli credits part of the success of Serendipity Boutique to Liz Manning, who has been there pretty much since the business changed hands in the late eighties, and Mary Lou, who has been in the store since 1998, who, in Talli's words "trreat the business like it was their own." She goes on to state that her customers "range from three to my Mom's age, in their nineties." When asked about her biggest accomplishment with the business, she replies "The people-we have people that just want to come in and say hi, hangout. I've made so many wonderful friends here over the years!" She loves "having the right thing that people are looking for and being able to help them."  Talli agreed that it's great when people can find what they want locally and dont have to travel outside of the area.

So....if you want to dicover a little whimsy, a little "magic", and some great items for every member of your family, come visit Serendipity Boutique at the New London Shopping Center in New London.
~Bernie Wesoja

LisAnns
New London Shopping Center, New London, NH
800-526-3830

Ann Harrison and Lis Ann's have been a valued member of the local retail community since they first opened their doors in the original Scytheville Row location in 1983.  When you first walk into this beautifully laid out shop, the first thing that you notice beyond the lovely aesthetics is that there is customer service, and plenty of it. Immediately I got a smile and a friendly "Good Afternoon!" from the employee by the door, and I'm told that Ann is in the midst of expertly fitting a customer for her garments.  While talking outside the shop with Ann a few minutes later, I'm told that she and her staff have been busy fitting models for a local fashion show.  I also realize that this energetic woman with the cloud-colored hair and broad smile seems to know nearly everyone who passes by!
Ann, who describes her business as "essential and extras for women, with a few extravagances" has had a long involvement with the world of women's clothing, having been a sales representative selling goods to retailers for many years prior to opening her own business, and years as the buyer for a department store before that.  Customer education in the proper fit of different garments is an important part of what the staff of Lis Ann's does. I learn for, example, that many women really don't know how a bra should be properly fitted. "Our aim is customer satisfaction and service. Providing a unique, personalized shopping experience." Judging from the length of time that she has been in business as well as the happy looks on her customer's faces, you can tell that this is a woman who, along with her staff, practices what she preaches.
Though sometimes miscast as "a lingerie store," just by taking a look at some of her ads (most of which feature NON-lingerie items,) or by taking a look at the attractive clothing in the window, it's obvious that Lis Ann's is much more than that.  In addition to undergarments and wearables for the boudoir, Lis Ann's has a great selection of clothing and women's gift items. It's plain to see that
Ann still enjoys what she does as she speaks about the previous special retail events that she has been a part of over the years.  She remembers an "April Fool's Sale" that her and her daughter came up with years ago, where her daughter encouraged her to start with 40 percent  off store-wide at 7 a.m., adding "nobody will be in that early."  Ann laughs as she says "You should have seen the line of cars at 6:40 a.m., filling the spaces of Scytheville Row, out onto the street, even into the parking lot across the street! We had a great time! What a day!" She laughs again.
And perhaps it's that sparkle in the eye, that easy laugh that help to make Lis Ann's special. Find out for yourself  by visiting Lis Ann's at the New London Shopping Center.
~Bernie Wesoja
 Other Chamber News

 Workshops and other Business Events

October 17th
IRS Phone Forums:  e-File & Identity Theft
The October 17th Phone Forum will be offered in both English and Spanish on the topic of Identity Theft.  Learn about Identity theft:
Types of Identity Theft
How Identity Theft impacts Taxpayers
How Identity Theft impacts the IRS
What is the IRS doing to combat Identity Theft
What you can do to protect your identity

Earn Continuing Professional Education credit:
Enrolled agents receive one CPE credit for a minimum 50-minute participation
Other tax professionals may receive credit if they qualify per their organization
You need to register individually and use your PIN to receive credit
Call in on a separate line to verify attendance
Registration and call-in information are included in the attached flyer.
The IRS sponsors seminars, conferences, phone forums and other practitioner events throughout the year. Many are free and may qualify for CPE credit.  Information about these may be found on IRS.gov at http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=99098,00.html.


October 19th
10th Anniversary Celebration
NH Made and the Granite State Ambassadors are partnering together to host a 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Canterbury Shaker Village on Friday, October 19th, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The only "fee" is to bring a New Hampshire-made food to share with others.
This is a great time to network with other business owners and supporters of NH Made
Square dancing, hayrides, wine & cheese tasting, pumpkin carving and more-
Relax and enjoy a glorious autumn location- RSVP to lisa@nhmade.com today!


 Pass the Word
Spotlight on things to do and see in the area.

The New Hampshire Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc.
Artisan's Day, New London NH  - September 29, 2007
(sponsored by Ray Deragon & Artisan's Workshop)

"Forever Locked" is a life-size, museum-quality taxidermy exhibit depicting a rare, natural event that occurred near an early settlement known as Fowlertown, located in Gile State Forest, Springfield, NH. It portrays two bull moose that permanently locked antlers while dueling, causing their deaths. The exhibit is the property of the N.H. Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc. (non-profit); it is funded and supported by many sponsors, donors, contributors and partners. For more information about Forever Locked and where the exhibit will appear next, please go to http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_00000b.htm


 Chamber Board Meeting Schedule

The next chamber board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 8:00 am at Sunapee Cove in Georges Mills. Chamber members are encouraged and invited to attend.


 Don't Forget!
The Chamber provides Information Booth Coordination
between Newbury, Sunapee & New London
The seasonally-manned booths provide a FREE venue
for members to leave brochures and business cards
for public acquisition. The New London Information Booth will be hosted at a local business for the winter. Please stay tuned for updated information!


 Newsletter Deadlines

Deadline for submitting things for the chamber newsletter is the 22nd of every month. If you are a chamber member and you have news for the newsletter or you would to write an article or submit a photo, please EMAIL US!
 Marketing Tips

A new study from Nielsen of consumer perceptions of advertising shows older media are considered more credible than newer ones, reports Brandweek.

The consumer survey pegged newspaper ads as the most trustworthy, with 63 percent of media consumers saying they put strong mental stock in the ads there.

TV came next, with 56 percent.

Search ads were the highest-scoring online format, with 34 percent saying they trusted them. Banner ads were trusted by just 26 percent of respondents, and mobile advertising scored earned 18 percent of the public trust.

Other online media fared better than formal advertising. Online brand recommendations were trusted by 61 percent of those in the survey. Sites focusing on one brand, and built by brand marketers, were mentioned as trustworthy by 60 percent of respondents.

Consumer-created blogs were trusted by 61 percent of global respondents, a figure that shot up to 66 percent for US-only respondents. That, combined with the 78 percent who trust word-of-mouth recommendations, suggests people put far more stock in the opinions of other "real" people.
-news provided by MarketingVOX: The Voice of Online Marketing

 Internet Business Marketing Tips

Sites that deliver on the needs of adults for social interaction also deliver advertiser results. Learn from Enlighten what these sites have to offer.

A few months ago, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg surprised online marketers by revealing that since opening registration of his site to the public in late 2006, 50 percent of its user base now falls into the non-student category. It was just the wake-up call advertisers needed to realize that social networking is no longer just for kids.

In fact, while sites like Facebook and MySpace still dominate the social networking space and much of their audience continues to skew young, social networking is being embraced by internet users of all ages. Over the past few years, social networks have emerged catering specifically to older, more educated, and often more affluent audiences. Like the social sites most marketers are familiar with, this next generation social networking site for older generations offers both traditional and unique ad customization options, and a new avenue through which to reach baby boomers and busy moms.

Click here to read the rest of article about social networking at http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/16703.asp


 Internet Business Scams and Warnings

All incarnations of the old-school AOL Instant Messenger have a gaping security hole that lets anyone who sends a message able to running commands and exploit Internet Explorer.

AOL announced its latest beta is impervious to assault after implementation of a new patch, but ZD Net's Zero Day says this is not true, having tested it with a security researcher.

The hole was first announced more than a month ago by AOL. The software is used by tens of millions of people worldwide.

Lesson.........use Mozilla Firefox Browser, it's safer!


 Motivational Quote(s) of the Month

You can get anything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.
-Zig Ziglar

"The undeveloped piece of property with the greatest
potential is still between the ears."


 Ad Rates

Chamber members may advertise in the
chamber newsletter.

Business Card ad (31/2" w X 2" h) $35.00
Quarter Page ad (31/2" w X 41/4" h) $60.00

Online ads can link to the person's website if they have one, Please provide your website address.
Advertising ads run for a month in the main
monthly newsletter then run online in the
newsletter archives.
Ads will have underneath (this is a paid ad).
Ads need to be print and digital ready and submitted by Email or on Disk in JPEG format
in at least 300 DPI.
Deadline for submitting ads for the chamber newsletter is the 22nd of every month.

EMAIL US! or please bring your ad on CD to the Chamber Booth and give to Executive Director Rob Bryant

Please make checks out to
Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce


Help your website and the
chambers get more traffic:
Reciprocal relevant links help your website rankings.
add a link and/or logo back to:

Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce

 JPEG       GIF

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Newsletter articles contributed by Bernie Wesoja (Huberts), Ingrid Braulini (ISee Consulting)
and Heather Turner (Forfeng Designs)
Many thanks to Aryn Hoke from Echo Communications  for providing print issues of this newsletter to the chamber booth.

Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 532, New London, NH 03257
 877-526-6575 • 603-526-6575


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