A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings,

Thank you to all of our Chamber members, and to those members who supported the development of our 2014-2015 Experience the Kennebunks guidebook with advertising. The guidebook is hot off the press; I encourage you to stop by our office to get a supply for your business. The guidebook provides valuable information and serves businesses, residents, tourists and people interested in relocating to our area. It is distributed in the New England region, Canada, at trade shows, and upon request throughout the United States and beyond, and will be able to be downloaded on our new website.

Our visitor information center, located at 16 Water Street in Kennebunk, continues to be the hub for people looking for area business information. Please be sure to bring us your newest rack card, brochure or business card for your continued visibility and exposure. Check out and like our Facebook page to stay current on our upcoming events and activities, and most importantly see our area's and member businesses' accolades and successes.

I also want to recognize member businesses, who are working in collaboration with member Amtrak Downeaster, in bringing tourists to our area. View Downeaster travel packages to the area here.  Thank you to Downeaster for helping to market the Kennebunks!

REGISTER FOR DISNEY INSTITUTE BY APRIL 7 TO RECEIVE THE EARLY REGISTRATION RATE!

Don't miss the opportunity to attend Disney Institute on May 21 at The Coastal House in Wells. The full day program focuses on Disney's best practices in customer service. Topics include defining quality service, quality standards, service delivery systems and integrating service.

Learn more about Disney's approach and hear what others are saying about their Disney Institute experiences!

Chamber members booked by April 7 receive an early registration rate of $359 per person.  After April 7 rates are $379 for Chamber members and $399 for non-members.  Contact the Chamber office at 207-967-0857 or [email protected] to register.

Thank you to our marketing partner Alisson's Restaurant for their support of this program.

 Sign up to play or sponsor the Chamber's 25th Annual Golf Tournament. Download the registration form or contact Traci Freed at

207-967-0857 or [email protected].

REGISTER FOR THE SERVSAFE COURSE

The Chamber is offering the Certified ServSafe Manager Food Safety class on May 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Duffy's Tavern & Grill. The cost is $134 per person for Chamber members and $139 per person for non-members. Fee includes textbook, national exam and certification. Learn more about the course here. Please contact the Chamber office at 207-967-0857 by May 5 to register.

THE CHAMBER NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK!

The Chamber is conducting a survey to learn more about your customers, how you market your business and your expectations of the Chamber. If you have not already taken the survey, please take a few minutes to share your feedback.  Click here to start the survey.

Complete the survey by April 14 to be entered in a drawing to win gift cards from Alisson's Restaurant or Kennebunkport Resort Collection.

 MEMBER NEWS 

 Nonantum's Stephen True Honored as

Maine Chef of the Year

Congratulations to Chef Stephen True, executive chef of 95 Ocean at the Nonantum Resort, for being named by the Maine Restaurant Association as Chef of the Year. 

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University of New England Ranked Number One

Return on Investment in Maine

 Payscale cited the University of New England as the top career return on investment for colleges and universities in Maine. The press release is available here.

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Animal Welfare Society Events

The Animal Welfare Society has many events in the community this spring. The full calendar of events is available here.

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 Exhibitions at the Brick Store Museum

"New to the Collection: Artwork by Louis Norton"

Be the first to see six newly acquired works of pastel and oil by early 20th Century American artist Louis Norton.

"To Sea: The Maritime Heritage of the Kennebunks"

Paintings, portraits and artifacts illustrate the area's golden age of sail in the 19th Century.

"Vitamin V: How Food Fought the Second World War" 

The Brick Store Museum's blockbuster exhibit, From the Kennebunks to Appomattox: The Civil War at Home and Away, recently closed after being on display since October 2012. During the exhibition, visitors to the Museum were invited to write letters to service members, filling the doorway of the Museum's gallery with sentiments and thanks. Now, the Museum has sent these letters for troops abroad to read via Operation Gratitude. The gallery now awaits the newest installation, Vitamin V: How Food Fought the Second World War, opening April 22.

Visit www.brickstoremuseum.org for more information.

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 OTHER NEWS 

Treasury Department to Streamline ACA-Mandated Reporting Requirements at King's Insistence

Following a letter from U.S. Senator Angus King, the Treasury Department announced that it is streamlining health insurance reporting requirements for businesses. The rules, mandated under the Affordable Care Act, will only require a single, consolidated form to avoid duplicative reporting and simplify certification options for employers that provide healthcare, including an option to ease reporting by not separately identifying full-time employees. More information here.

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Factors Influencing the Growth of Women-Owned Businesses

The National Women's Business Council released key findings on factors influencing the growth of women-owned businesses. The National Women's Business Council initiated this research to determine the factors influencing and prohibiting growth of women-owned business. The National Women's Business Council will continue to use its research to highlight critical issues of concern facing women entrepreneurs.