April 1, 2008

Watertown Savings Bank After Hours Recap
Yesterday evening the Chamber's after hours event hosted by Watertown Savings Bank was alive with contemporary jazz played by GENI, energy, interesting conversations and networking by representatives from AFD Theatre, Arlington Children’s Theatre, Arlington Entrepreneurs, The Arlington Shopper, Armstrong Ambulance Service, The Basket Jeanie, Cambridge Savings Bank, Card Concierge, Center for Cancer Support and Education, Century 21 Adams, ChiroCare Associates, PC, Coach LizBlu, The Computer Cafe, Edward Jones Investments, Fitness Together Arlington, Gormley Chiropractic, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Imprintastic!, Jacki Sorensen's Aerobic Dancing, Jute & Jackfruit, Leader Bank, Mirak Automotive Group, New Europe Bakery, Nourish to Flourish, Reflection Films, Robbins Library, Rubicat Design and Photography, Silpada Design,Sunshine Cleaning Systems, Visiting Nurse and Community Health (VNCH), Wachovia Securities, Wanamaker Hardware and Young Adult Vocational Program.

This event's networking ice breaker consisted of just a few questions. I was convinced I knew attendee's business had been in Arlington the longest. I was sure it would be Armstrong Ambulance or Mirak. I was wrong on both counts! Founded in 1898, VNCH was the right answer! We were also looking for attendees who fit into these particular categories and which I are color-coded above:

• women-owned businesses
• SOHOs-(small office, home office)
• women-owned who are also SOHOs
• those with blogs turned out to be just Margy Rydzynski's Arlington Entrepreneurs and New Europe Bakery and the Chamber

This time we took the competitive element out of the drawing and entered everyone for the door prizes. Winning the gift basket that Watertown Savings Bank hired The Basket Jeanie to put together (a Chamber Connection!) was Coach Liz Blu who promptly and generously donated it to the Young Adult Vocational Program. Winning the World Series baseball was New Europe Bakery. Thanks to the wonders of technology and fresh batteries for the camera, enjoy the photos taken at the event!

Welcoming us to the event were Watertown Savings Bank
Branch Manager Jeety Gandhi and Brett Dean.

Lorraine was joined at the registration table by our new Events Intern Renee St. Germain from Young Adult Vocational Program. We hope Renee will be on hand for the new members breakfast on April 17! You can see our newest Chamber member Tim Havern of Wachovia Securities to the right of Renee.

While GENI played behind the teller line. . .

. . .more than 60 folks networked on the other side of the line.

Craig Rabe of The Computer Cafe powered Chamber Promo with a 32-inch screen and also brought along a brand new combination computer and wide screen that he set up on the other side of the room. Here he is with Matt Paine fine tuning Chamber Promo on the really, really big screen.

Did you know that as a Chamber member attending these events, you can have your logo, tagline and URL be included in Chamber Promo as you see here with slides for The Computer Cafe, Mirak Automotive Group and Shop Arlington First?

Two of our newest Chamber members, Dr. Robert Kum and Dr. Keith Puri of ChiroCare Associates humored me by posing next to the wide screen till their slide appeared. (They didn't have to wait too long!)

Jackie Daley, the new ED for the Arlington Children’s Theatre arriving for her first Chamber event.