A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings,

Thank you to all of our Chamber members, for being a part of what makes the Chamber a great resource for residents, visitors and the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel community.  With almost 400 members and working with prospective member businesses, we have welcomed 21 new members since January 2014.  Join me in welcoming from Arundel - Ambidextrous Inc., Labbe Excavating, and O'Reilly Auto Parts; from Kennebunk - Abode of the Kennebunks (Lower Village), Anchor Fence, Capital Resorts 84 Main, Doucet Survey, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Graceful Recovery, Kennebunk Medical Center, Maine Insurance Benefits Group, and York County Toastmasters; from Kennebunkport - CL Design & Landscape, LLC, Kiddebunkport Sitters, LLC, Maine-ly Drizzle, and MW Photographic; and from outside our geographical area, and serving our communities - Dining Out, Hot 104.7, Maine Limousine, Penmor Lithographers, and Women, Work and Community. 

The Chamber has begun our member visits in earnest.  Traci Freed, Membership & Marketing Manager, and I started our visits in Downtown Kennebunk, Lower Village, and Dock Square.  We have met with over 100 businesses to date, and will be stopping by and/or making appointments to visit the rest of our member businesses through August and September.  We are learning much, enjoying our visits and business owners have been welcoming and receptive.  We are giving updates, information, and hearing from business owners as to what they need from the Chamber and how we can help them. 

On Friday, August 1st, I attended a business forum hosted by the Maine State Chamber.  Leaders from major business corporations in southern Maine and several Chamber executive directors heard loud and clear from the State Chamber, that there will be many legislative issues facing our delegation in the next sessions.  Be part of the action, be part of the voice - as our Chamber mobilizes our member businesses and the public to help retain many of the business incentive programs necessary to keep a vibrant, robust and essential economic environment here in Maine.  Stay tuned, and if you want to be involved - please contact me to serve in a grass-roots effort to serve our communities. 

With an open-door philosophy, the Chamber welcomes you to stop by.  We would love to hear from you.  If you have ideas, concerns, or need help navigating through business resources and information, feel free to call me or set up a time to meet.  I would be more than happy to help. 

Best regards,

ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS CEREMONY

The Chamber's Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony will be held September 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wells Reserve at Laudholm. 

Light dinner and beverages served with a cash bar available. Tickets 

are $35 per person. To reserve or purchase tickets, contact 

Dawn Brennan-Daly at 207-602-1063.

Annual awards will be presented during the meeting. Please download and complete your nomination ballot  by August 12th and email to 

Dawn at [email protected].

TOUR BUS SCHEDULES

The Chamber becomes aware of tour bus visits to the Kennebunks if tour operators submit an application to our office. Download the current schedule. The schedule of cruise lines arriving in Portland is here.  

MAINE TOURISM RESEARCH

The Maine Office of Tourism commissioned DPA to conduct a visitor research program. The visitor tracking research report and Maine tourism highlights provide information on tourism activity in Maine and explore the motivations of visitors. 

SOCIAL MEDIA 102: 

YOU'RE SOCIAL, NOW WHAT?

Register for Social Media 102 on August 21! Join Nathan Leary from Mainely SEO to learn how to make social media work for you. This seminar will show the benefits of using popular social media networks and tips for marketing your business through them. This is an interactive session so bring your questions! The seminar will be held at the Chamber office on 16 Water Street, Kennebunk from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

If you would like to attend this seminar, please register by contacting Traci Freed at 207-602-1061 or [email protected].  

 MEMBER NEWS 

Norway Savings Bank Displays Local Artists' 

Work in Kennebunk Branch

Norway Savings Bank is proud supporter of the arts in the communities they serve. The Kennebunk branch has been the perfect opportunity to highlight the many talented artists that reside in that community. Currently, the branch is featuring photographer David Bates' artwork throughout their offices. Read the press release here.

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Camden National Bank Honors Employees at Annual Stakeholder Appreciation Event

   Camden National Bank celebrated and honored the extraordinary efforts of its employees at the company's Stakeholder Appreciation Event, held at the Augusta Civic Center on Wednesday, June 18. The annual event draws hundreds of employees from the bank's 44 locations across the state and recognizes exceptional commitment to customer service and the core values of the organization: honesty and integrity, trust, service, responsibility and excellence. Awards presented over the course of the evening honored individuals for their commitment to service to customers, fellow employees, shareholders, the community, and the overall success of Camden National. Read the full press release here.

Photo: Greg Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Bank, congratulates award winners. Pictured left to right: Dufour, Penny Johnson, Tena Wallace, Cindy Dines, Angie Snow, Danny Jackson, Betsy Maguire and Susan Van Allen. 

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 Legally Blonde at the Arundel Barn Playhouse

The Arundel Barn Playhouse is pleased to announce the presentation of Legally Blonde from August 5 to August 16.  Prices range from $35 to $40.  For more information and prepaid reservations, call 207-985-5552 or visit www.arundelbarnplayhouse.com.   

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Pulitzer Prize Winning Author David Oshinsky to Speak in Kennebunkport

Pulitzer-Prize winning author David Oshinsky will speak at a special fundraising event for the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library on August 22 at the Kennebunk River Club Casino.  A welcome reception begins at 5:30 catered by Downeast Wine Imports and Kitchen Chicks. 100% of the proceeds from Mr. Oshinsky's appearance benefit the Graves Library.  Tickets are $40 per person.  Seating for the event is limited. For tickets and more information this program and the Library, please call 207-967-2778 or visit graveslibrary.org.

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Rotary Riverfest Duck Race

Join the Kennebunk Portside Rotary at the Mat Lanigan Memorial Bridge over the Kennebunk River for the annual Rotary Duck Race where they drop the adopted plastic ducks into the river. After 3 heats the top 30 winner ducks will race against each other for the grand prize of $1,000. You do not have to be present to win, and the last day for sales is the day of the race, August 23rd between 1:00 and 2:00 pm,. A small donation of $5.00 gets you a chance to win a thousand dollars.

 For the second year free samples will be given at three businesses on race day for those who buy a duck before the race. Federal Jack's will offer a sample of their Captain Eli natural soda on the deck, the Candy Man will have a free sample for children and the Poofberry's Toy shop will be giving children a small ducky eraser for those who have bought a duck. A three duck race coupon will be given the Day of the race to claim the free gifts. Look for the large yellow ducks at the storefronts to lead you to the free samples.

 Enjoy your time in Kennebunkport Riverfest and stop by the Everything Ducky Table to get unique ducky souvenirs of your Kennebunkport visit. All fund raising proceeds will benefit Rotary Projects locally, regionally and internationally. Every day some child in the world thanks you for your help. Call Cornelia Stockman at 207-468-4586 to volunteer or participate

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United Way of York County and Kennebunk Savings Honor Young Volunteers  

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Animal Welfare Society Events

The Animal Welfare Society has a schedule of events for the month of August. View the calendar of events here.  

   The Arundel Barn Playhouse hosted the Community Harvest Volunteers of Kennebunk on July 22 at a performance of My Fair Lady.  Community Harvest is a non-profit organization that meets the needs of its neighbors through food sharing, fellowship, and financial assistance.  Thank you to Kerry de Bree of Community Harvest and Kelli-Ann Paterwic of the Arundel Barn Playhouse for arranging this neighbor-to-neighbor event.

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 Portside Rotary Awards to Town Police and Nurse

Anybody going by the Kennebunkport Public Safety building can't help but notice the big green dumpster in the front yard. Since 2008 the Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club has coordinated the gathering and recycling of about $20,000 in recycling via that dumpster - over 300,000 bottles and cans! Members of the Club make sure the area is neat as well as disposing of non-recyclable materials.

At its July 22 meeting, checks for $1,050 each were awarded to the 'Port Police and Health Departments. Chief Craig Sanford accepted the award saying how it will be used this year to help pay for ballistic shields, enabling an officer to get closer to a violent action. Town Nurse Judy Barrett noted how the Club's donation will go to meet needs of the 'hidden poor' of the town helping with food and fuel purchases to name a few. Nurse Judy said that this past winter as many as 30 families were helped with 100 gallons of oil from the fuel fund.  Many local people will benefit from the Rotary's work and contribution. She feels fortunate to work very closely with the P.D. who, because they are on the scene, is able to let the Health Department know of health needs.  Everyone relies on Nurse Judy to reach out to help those in need among us. 

At the same meeting Portside Rotary presented recent KHS graduate Kaitlyn Cimerian with a $500 scholarship helping her attend Rollins College. Because of her involvement with the KHS Interact Club and the good work it has done for the community and in Guatemala, she has been motivated to start a Rotaract Club at Rollins. When you adopt a duck at Portside's annual Riverfest fund raiser, your donation will support such projects as the scholarship, school furniture in India or the impressive entrance to Rotary Park on Beachwood Avenue.

Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club meets on Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 at the Village Firehouse, North Street. Please be our guest. Call 

207-468-4586 for more information.

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