Upcoming Events, Member News, and More!

Insider Newsletter

Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce

KennebecValleyChamber.com

March 2020

Upcoming Events

March

03/03 Cynergy - Trivia for a Cause

5:30 - 7:30 pm

@ Quarry Tap Room

03/04 Membership Refresher

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

@ KV Chamber

03/10 KV Chamber Board Meeting

5:00 pm

03/11 Women's Network Luncheon with Judy Camuso, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

@ Senator Inn & Spa

03/19 Cynergy Spring Dodgeball Kickoff

6:00 - 8:00 pm

@ Cushnoc Brewing Co. Tasting Room

03/25 Business After Hours

5:00 - 7:00 pm

@ Day's Jewelers

03/26 Cynergy Spring Dodgeball League Begins

April

04/01 Membership Appreciation Month Begins

04/08 Women's Network Luncheon with Jenna Mehnert, NAMI Maine

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

@ Augusta Civic Center

04/14 KV Chamber Board Meeting

5:00 pm

04/15 Chamber Connection with Hannah Pingree, Office of Policy Innovation and the Future

7:15 - 9:45 am

@ Senator Inn & Spa

04/22 Business After Hours

5:00 - 7:00 pm

@ Skowhegan Savings Bank

*Bold items are open to the public

Trivia for a Cause

Tuesday, March 3 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM

The Quarry Tap Room

Join Cynergy for the first Trivia for a Cause event of 2020! The theme for the trivia questions is animals. All proceeds to benefit Animal Rescue of Kennebec. This is the snow date for the trivia event originally scheduled for February.

5:30PM - Doors Open
6:00PM - Trivia Start
7:30PM - Trivia Ends

$5/person to play

Prizes for 1st and 7th place teams!

Thank you to our Cynergy Sponsors!

Spring Dodgeball League

Every Thursday, March 26 - May 14

Team registration for Cynergy's Spring Dodgeball League closes this Thursday, March 5th !

The price to play is $200 per team or $25 per person. Team shirts included in the price. The minimum number of players per team is 6 and the maximum is 8. Must be 18 years or older to play!

If you don’t have a complete team or are an individual looking to join a team you can stop by the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce or email Cynergy .

Thank you to our Cynergy Dodgeball Sponsors!

New Member Orientation & Member Refresher

FREE Event! Seating is limited. Sign up today!

Whether you joined in the last month or the last decade, you are welcome to join us for New Member Orientation and Membership Refresher! You will have an opportunity to learn about the many benefits of a chamber membership and network with other members. Join us and gain a wealth of information on putting your membership to work for you and your business!

WHEN

March 4, 2020

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

WHERE

Kennebec Valley Chamber

269 Western Avenue

Augusta, ME 04330

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

The Senator Inn & Spa

Fish and Wildlife:

Priorities For A New Decade

with

Judy Camuso,

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Judy Camuso became Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in February, 2019, and became the first department employee to be named commissioner in over 30 years, as well as the first female commissioner of the department. She has over 20 years’ experience with MDIFW and Maine Audubon, and lead several statewide natural resource initiatives as wildlife director for MDIFW. In 2018, Camuso was selected as one of 50 Mainers leading Maine to new heights by Maine Magazine, and in 2015, she received MDIFW’s Employee of the Year, Governor’s Award.

RSVP

IMPORTANT: Your reservation guarantees your seat at the event. To cancel, please notify us three (3) business days prior to the event or you will be invoiced.

Thank you to our Women's Network Luncheon Sponsor!

KV Chamber members and guests are welcome to join us for networking with business professionals from the 23 communities we service! Day's Jewelers, located at 4 Stephen King Dr. #2 in Augusta, will host Business After Hours on Wednesday, March 25.

Delicious hors d'oeurves will be served and a cash bar will be available. Complimentary wine will be available courtesy of Cellardoor Winery.

Every Business After Hours is an incredible opportunity to win amazing door prizes and take part in the 50/50 raffle.

RSVP

Thank you to our Business After Hours Sponsor!

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7:15 - 8:45 am

The Senator Inn & Spa

Innovation in Policy Making

with

Hannah Pingree,

Director of Policy and Management,

Office of Policy Innovation and the Future

Hannah Pingree was appointed to lead Governor Mill’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future in January 2019. Hannah previously served as Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives from 2008 to 2010. She also served as the Maine House Majority Leader, Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services, and as a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs during her terms in Maine Legislature from 2002 - 2010. Hannah spearheaded successful legislation on energy, broadband, housing, environmental health, and health care during her time in office.

RSVP

IMPORTANT: Your reservation guarantees your seat at the event. To cancel, please notify us three (3) business days prior to the event or you will be invoiced.

Thank you to our Chamber Connection Sponsor!

Welcome New Member!

Assistance Plus

Annette McLaggan, 1-800-781-0070

assistanceplus.com

Augusta Center for Health & Rehabilitation

Nancy Marcille, (207) 622-3121

augustacenterrehab.com

Augusta Family Dentistry

Christopher & Holly Logan, (207) 622-3879

www.augustafamilydentistry.com

Digital Spirit Media

Andrew Collar, (207) 557-9022

www.digitalspiritmedia.com

Mpowered, LLC

Ellen Miller, (207) 577-6268

www.MPOWEREDUS.com

UBS Financial Services, Inc. - Monument Square Financial Advisors Group

Jeff Dunkle, (207) 791-5117

www.ubs.com/team/msfa

W.S. Emerson Company

Sheila Polityka, (207) 989-3410

wsemerson.com

YMCA Camp of Maine

Jeff Gleason, (207) 395-4200

www.maineycamp.org

Member Anniversaries

40+ Years

Kennebec Journal

30+ Years

Thayer Engineering Co., Inc. | U.S. Cellular

20+ Years

Lamey Wellehan | Maine Development Foundation | MaineGeneral Community Care | North Country Rivers - Whitewater Rafting

10+ Years

5+ Years

Aquatic Technology, Inc. | Care & Comfort | Harvest Time Natural Foods | Mix Maine Media | The Gardiner Center for Stress Management

Also Renewing

Member Spotlight: NFP Property & Casualty, Inc.

Nichole Kindelan, ACSR, CPIW

Mike and Lina Michaud of Augusta proudly represented the Maine Elks Association in Reno, Nevada.

Mike a 30+ year member and Past Exalted Ruler of the Augusta Elks Lodge #964, also serves as the Maine Elks Association “Antlers” Junior Elks Program Director. The Augusta Elks Antler Program was the first in New England to kick-off a National Youth Program in Elkdom.

Lina, a 13+ year member and Exalted Ruler, Elect is excited to serve their lodge in a leadership role. Lina also, serves as the Maine Elks Association Scholarship Director.

Mike and Lina are passionate about their service to the Elks and their community. The couple started the Greater Augusta Area Back to School Program in 2017 through a $1,500.00 Anniversary Grant awarded to their Lodge through the Elks National Foundation in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

The Greater Augusta Area Back to School Program is still thriving, today, as area businesses, clubs, organizations and individuals have embraced the program and vowed to make sure that no child from our local communities, goes to school without the tools to succeed. This year the program will fall under its own 501(c)(3) entity. The event will be held on August 16th, 2020 at the Cony High School gymnasium.

The Maine State Elks major project is the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. In 2020, the Maine Elks will have gone over 5 Million dollars in donations to MCCP. A milestone that many Elks throughout the State have worked hard to achieve.

Save the Dates to visit the Augusta Elks Lodge Public Events:

March 14th – Bicentennial Saturday Night “Bean” Supper: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
May 5th – Cinco de Mayo Youth Night: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
June 14th – Flag Day Service & Barbecue: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Chamber Member News

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently presented donations totaling more than $9,000 to local non-profits from its employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. The program pools employee contributions collected each quarter and distributes them to non-profits selected by and voted on by the employees. The recipients of the Q4 2019 contributions are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick; Emmaus Homeless Shelter; Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity; and Girls on the Run Vermont.

City of Hallowell recently received a $10,000 Maine Bicentennial Community Grant to support the Hallowell Granite Symposium, a ten day event focused on the art of stone carving (specifically granite) planned for September 12-21, 2020 on the grounds of Stevens Commons in Hallowell. Six of Maine’s most notable sculptors will transform granite quarried in Hallowell into works of art inspired by one of the four “Maine200” Bicentennial themes over the ten day event. The public will be invited to interact with the artists on site at Stevens Commons daily and to watch the sculptures develop over time. Visitors will vote for their favorite sculpture and at least one work of art will be selected to commemorate the Maine State Bicentennial as permanent public art in the city of Hallowell.

Family Violence Project has an ongoing need for volunteer advocates to help answer our 24-Hour Helpline for those affected by domestic violence. As a volunteer advocate on the helpline, you will make a difference in people’s lives by volunteering once a month from the comfort of your home. Family Violence Project offers a free training that prepares you for this volunteer role; also, a staff person will always be available to assist you by phone while you are volunteering. Family Violence Project’s next volunteer training will be held in Augusta starting April 4 from 8:30 to 3:30 and then every Tuesday & Thursday from 5:30 - 8:30 until April 19th. Volunteer interviews must be completed by 4:30pm on Tuesday, March 31st.

Maine Film Center and 19 other arts and education organizations and independent cinemas have joined together to present Maine in the Movies (www.mainemovies200.com), a 17-city festival of 35 films set in Maine, March 5th through 15th throughout the state to celebrate the state’s Bicentennial. More than 80 motion pictures have been set in Maine since the first in 1910.

MaineGeneral Health is now accepting applications for its 2020 Health Scholarship Program. The scholarships support the education of health care professionals in the Kennebec Valley and are available to individuals pursuing degrees in a variety of health-related disciplines. In 2019, MaineGeneral Health and individual sponsors awarded more than $48,000 in scholarships to 57 students in the Kennebec Valley. Scholarship recipients ranged in age from 17 to 45, pursuing degrees in nursing, radiology, pharmacy, sports medicine, social work and other health care careers. Scholarships generally range $500 to $2,500 each. To learn more about MaineGeneral’s Scholarship Program and how to apply, visit give.mainegeneral.org/scholarships. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 1.

Ma gnusson Balfour team members Craig Church and Dennis Wheelock were the recipients of the 2019 Triple Gold Award and the Double Gold Award respectively. Church has been with Magnusson Balfour since 2009 and Wheelock joined the team in 2012. Both come from strong real estate and entrepreneurial backgrounds with Church covering the greater Portland region and Wheelock covering the greater Augusta region. In addition, the Magnusson Balfour team was the recipient of the 2019 Platinum Group Award for all of Keller Williams Realty in the state of Maine.

NAMI Maine presents "Successful Opiate Recovery Strategies" with Dr. Stephen Loyd on Friday, May 8th at 2:00pm at the Augusta Civic Center. Join NAMI Maine for an afternoon with Dr. Stephen Loyd, a medical practitioner who brings his own personal experiences with addiction to opiods and benzodiazepines to the conversation on substance use and recovery. This event is free and open to the public. Please register to reserve your seat at www.namimaine.org/page/drloyd

New Dimensions FCU awards $4,000 in scholarships each year to area graduating students who have excelled academically and have been active in their community. Four seniors will be chosen to receive $1,000.00 each. To be eligible for a scholarship, the student must be a graduating high school senior, be an active member of New Dimensions Federal Credit Union for one year prior to the Scholarship Application deadline (Example: deadline is April 1, 2020 – account has to have been opened prior to April 1, 2019), and must be planning to attend an accredited educational institution. For more information and the online application, visit newdimensionsfcu.com/youth-scholarships.

Quality Inn and Suites Maine Evergreen Hotel of Augusta was awarded one of its highest accolades, the 2020 Ring of Honor Award, by Choice Hotels for the hotel's lofty ranking at the top 1% of the Quality brand.

Snow Pond Center for the Arts launched an Expressive Arts program for the Augusta Boys & Girls Club Teen Center during February vacation. The program which started with bucket band, making masks and the creation of the club’s own song, will meet once per week for an hour. The sessions will explore life skills through theater, dance, visual arts, and music. Plans to record the club’s song are underway

and the visual arts created will be displayed throughout the Augusta area including Capital Area Federal Credit Union who sponsored this unique program.

Theater at Monmouth is looking for young people who play well with their friends and are imaginative, energetic, and excited to explore Shakespeare at Camp Shakespeare at Theater at Monmouth this summer. The best way to explore Shakespeare is hands-on and on your feet, and CampShakes will do just that for students in grades 4 through 8. Classes in voice, movement, and acting help students explore Shakespeare’s text emotionally, physically, and intellectually in preparation for a final performance for family and friends. This year, there are three week-long sessions to choose from: Session 1, As You Like It, runs July 27-31, Session 2, Romeo and Juliet, runs August 3-7, and Session 3, Twelfth Night, runs from August 10-14. The final performance for each session will take place the final day of camp, Friday at 3 p.m.

Thomas College invites high school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers and other educators to join them for Talent on Tap: Partnering to Catalyze Maine’s Future on Wednesday, March 11 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Waterville Brewing Company. Thomas College President (and former Maine State Economist) Laurie G. Lachance M.B.A. ’92 will engage in an informal conversation on how we, as educators, work together to bring each young adult to their greatest potential. Please register at thomas.edu/ontap

Zardus School of Massage is now enrolling for spring and fall terms. Enroll by March 15th and take advantage of Reflexology as a part of you massage therapy certification! Enjoy a more individualized one-on-one approach with smaller class sizes and full time school without the full time hours. Licensed by the State of Maine Department of Education as well as an assigned school by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and American Massage Therapy Association. Reserve your spot today at zardusartofmassage.com or call 207-446-7470.