Weekly Newsletter
SAVE THE DATES &
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
As 2019 comes to a close we are excited to announce
we've set dates for a number of our major events and
hope you will add them to your calendars for 2020!

  • 63rd Annual President's Awards - Friday, January 31st
  • Sponsorship Opportunities available HERE
  • Tickets can be purchased online HERE or from the Chamber Office
  • Scholarship Fund Pancake Breakfast - Saturday, April 11th
  • Scholarship Applications Open in January
  • Career & Community Connections Fair - May 1st
  • Table registration coming soon
  • Auction Gala - Saturday, May 30th
  • Sponsorship Opportunities available HERE
  • Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off - Saturday, October 3rd
  • Sponsorship & Exhibitor information coming soon

Please email Elyse with any questions and to reserve your sponsorship level.
Bios for our recipients will be included in future publications
Chamber Member News & Events
A Nashville Christmas
December 13th 7:30pm
Claremont Opera House
The concert features traditional Christmas favorites along with songs by classic country music artists such as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and others performed by the cast of classic country music revivalists, The Country Jamboree. The performance also includes guest appearances by Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison tribute artists and Santa Claus has also been known to make an appearance at the show.
 
“There is a certain magic that happens when you combine Christmas songs that are woven into the very fabric of American music with legendary classic country tunes by the likes of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard…it makes for a very entertaining performance of great music,” said one of the show’s singers and front man, Major McCain.” He added “You can’t help but have a great time at this show.”
 
Las Vegas Weekly quoted, “an incredibly entertaining performance” and The Orlando Sentinel said, “lots of great music from beginning to end performed by an incredibly talented group.”
 
The show tours nationwide, with the goal of keeping the sounds of classic country music and traditional Christmas songs in the spotlight at venues from coast to coast. “This legendary music cannot be forgotten and we’re doing our best to keep it in the public eye,” said McCain. Members of the group have shared the stage with country music artists such as Travis Tritt, Lynn Anderson, Eddie Rabbitt, Joe Diffie, Juice Newton, Mickey Gilley and others.

Sweet Fire BBQ will be on hand with a cash bar.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online by phone at 603-542-0064 or in person at the Opera House Box office in City Hall Complex at 58 Opera House Square, Claremont, NH.
Sullivan County public hearings notice of a Community Development Block Grant Project, scheduled for Monday, December 6, 2019 at 3:00 pm at the Sullivan County Health Care Facility, 5 Nursing Home Drive, Unity NH - 1st Floor Frank Smith Living Room. Agenda Available Here
Staff from the Verizon Wireless store located at 153 Washington St. worked together to support the annual Stuff-a-Truck event held on November 23, 2019 by NH C.O.R.E. and the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce.
They collected 519lbs of food, 10 turkeys and 177 give a meal boxes that were donated to the Claremont Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.


Employment Opportunities
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Donates More Than $10,000 to Local Non-Profits through Employee-Driven Giving Program
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently presented donations totaling more than $10,000 to local non-profits from its employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. The program pools employee contributions collected during the quarter and distributes them to non-profits selected by and voted on by the employees. The recipients of the Q3 2019 contributions are: Downeast Community Partners in Ellsworth, Maine; Turning Points Network in Claremont, New Hampshire; and Everybody Wins! Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont.
 
“The Casual for a Cause program is a win-win for our communities and employees,” said Jack Frost, VP director of community giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “Our employees have the opportunity to collectively select and donate to local nonprofits they are passionate about, and their contributions support and enhance local programming for those in need in the communities where they live, work, and serve.”
 
Downeast Community Partners is a community action agency serving low- and moderate-income residents of Hancock and Washington counties. The organization is dedicated to providing quality services to families and individuals as they work toward family, personal, and occupational goals. Learn more about them at www.downeastcommunitypartners.org.
 
“I want to thank the Bar Harbor Bank and Trust employees for their generous donation,” said Mark Green, executive director of Downeast Community Partners. “It is particularly gratifying knowing that these funds came directly from the employees and that they selected Downeast Community Partners to receive them. We will use this donation to support a recovery home for women and children that we are planning to open in Machias after the first of the year. This home will provide a safe and supportive environment for these individuals and families that currently is unavailable in our region.”
 
Turning Points Network (TPN) is a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that offers crisis and support services to female and male survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. The contribution donated by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees will go toward their school-based education program focused on topics such as disrespect and bullying, healthy dating relationships, personal safety, and more. Learn more about them at www.turningpointsnetwork.org.
 
“We are thrilled and honored to have been chosen by the employees of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust to receive the 'Casual for a Cause' donation,” said Jennifer Ucci, development director for TPN. “We are grateful for BHBT’s commitment to safer communities and TPN’s School-Based Violence Prevention Program – which this school year, will help teach more than two thousand students across Sullivan County healthy behaviors and the necessary skills to remain safe from abuse.”
 
Everybody Wins! Vermont is a literacy mentoring program that matches adult volunteer mentors with students at local elementary schools to read, have conversations, and make enduring connections. In 2019, 1,200 children and mentors will together for an hour each week in 21 Vermont schools. Learn more at www.everybodywinsvermont.org.
 
“Times are hard, and not-for-profits are working harder than ever to change the story for people who are struggling,” said Beth Wallace, executive director for Everybody Wins! Vermont. “Community-spirited organizations and individuals like the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and their generous employees really make a difference. We are so grateful to Bar Harbor's Vermont employees both for mentoring young readers around the state and for pitching in to help more children love to read, and have a better chance at a good life when they grow up.”
BHB&T employees in Maine present the donation to Downeast Community Partners (DCP) in Ellsworth. Presenting check is Lisa Veazie of BHBT (second from left) to Downeast Community Partners Executive Director Mark Green (far right).
BHB&T employees in New Hampshire present the donation to Turning Points Network (TPN) in Claremont. Presenting check is Deb Johnson of BHBT (left side) to Jennifer Ucci, Turning Points Network Director of Development (right side).
BHB&T employees in Vermont present the donation to Everybody Wins! Vermont (EWV) in Rutland. Presenting check is Missi Case (2nd from left) to EWVT Executive Director Beth Wallace (right side) .
Visit your local Verizon - Amcomm Wireless
at 153 Washington Street Claremont!
Turning Points Network Survey
Turning Points Network is conducting a community needs assessment to provide us with feedback about our services, and about any unmet needs of survivors in Sullivan County. The information collected from this survey will help us to enhance and improve our work with survivors, and our prevention work.

The survey is open to survivors, providers, and all community members. Please take the survey below, we really appreciate it!

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Kicks off Annual Holiday Toy Drive
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is kicking off its second annual Holiday Toy Drive on Monday, December 2. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any Bar Harbor Bank & Trust from December 2 through December 13. All the toys collected will be donated to local nonprofit organizations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
 
“When you are doing your holiday shopping this year, consider purchasing an extra toy and bringing it to your local Bar Harbor Bank & Trust branch,” said Joseph Schmitt, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “Together we can bring smiles to children in our communities who are in need of holiday cheer.”
 
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust collected more than 1,200 toys during the inaugural Holiday Toy Drive in 2018.
Places we LOVE in
Sullivan County
Choose your favorite outdoor place, building, restaurant, business or historical site. Any place where others can visit is perfect to share. Use your smart phone to snap a photo, then visit bit.ly/LoveSullivan to upload and describe what makes it special to you!
Community News & Events
ServSafe in Mandarin Chinese
A ServSafe class that will be taught entirely in Mandarin Chinese will be held in Manchester on January 14. 2020.
Upper Valley Land Trust - Corporate Volunteer Program
The Upper Valley Land Trust has an exciting opportunity to offer Upper Valley businesses and employees! Now in its second year of operation, the Corporate Volunteer Program puts your employees to work in the community, volunteering with our local environmental nonprofit to make a difference socially and ecologically. This offering is designed to provide an opportunity for your Upper Valley business to spend time volunteering in the outdoors and strengthen bonds between your team members. This program will benefit your business in many ways:
 
·         Engaging employees in team building activities in a beautiful environment outside of the typical workplace
·         Involving your group with our local social and natural communities
·         Providing a philanthropy opportunity for a business and its employees
·         Reenergizing and resetting a team dynamic before diving back into work projects
 
We are ready to create a volunteer experience tailored to the needs of your company! Contact Paul Blazevich ( (603) 643-6626 x 201) for program offerings, more information on CVP, or to begin customizing your own volunteer experience. UVLT’s current project offerings for CVP are attached below, which also includes program logistics and a recommended packing list for participants.
 
The Upper Valley Land Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, committed to preserving natural areas, working farmlands, and priority habitat so residents and visitors alike can enjoy the scenic landscapes that make the Upper Valley so special.
‌