A Message From Our President
Happy New Year to all of our members and to all of our friends and associates. 2012 is the year of the dragon in the Chinese calendar and promises good fortune and expanding influence to the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber. As your incoming president this is exactly the atmosphere in which I had hoped to start my term.
What will your Chamber be doing for you this year to further this good fortune and expansion of influence? We will continue with our successful networking opportunities for our members including our Business After Hours and our larger events such as the golf tournament and wine tasting. And we will expand by encouraging our members to bring their friends and business associates who are not yet members. We will continue with our successful speaker programs and build on the expansion that has already occurred, continuing to partner with the Greater Hudson Chamber and other organizations as well as broadening participation within the towns within our catchment area from both members and non-members alike. We will continue and expand our successful outreach programs within our communities to members and potential members. Also within our communities we will continue to educate members and potential members alike on the tremendous resources that are available within the Chamber that are there simply for the asking. And, we will continue to sponsor community events such as the holiday parade and the annual dinner that enhance and expand on the positive image of the Chamber.
In the last year or so the Board of Directors has committed in our communities to playing a larger role supporting and promoting projects that impact commerce in our area. As a Chamber we have had the good fortune to develop relationships with individuals at the town, regional and state levels that directly impact many of the commerce issues that will be impacting our area for this and the coming generation. We are committed to continuing and expanding those relationships and to making the Chamber an integral part of the decision making process.
Also, in the past year the Board of Directors has accepted the role of the place to go first when a business or individual needs information about commerce in our catchment area. Our member towns are being encouraged to use us in that capacity and this is resulting in very positive feedback. These services are not just for newbies but are also available to members and prospective members. We have tremendous resources at our command and are available for the asking.
Yes, despite the less than ideal business conditions, this does promise to be a year of good fortune for the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. Join in the excitement and the opportunities. I, the Board and the staff look forward to speaking with you, hearing from you and working with you as we all experience and benefit from the good fortune 2012 promises to bring to our chamber.
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Bill Parnell is an equity holder in Parnell & McKay, PLLC, Attorneys and can be reached at 603 434 6331 or by email at wb.parnell@parnell-mckay.com . He welcomes and encourages questions and comments.
