Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
 
• Feb. 27: Outlook 2015 Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. The guest speaker will be Gov. Charlie Baker. He will be joined in the program by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will remark on events at the federal level. Outlook is the area’s premier legislative event, attracting more than 700 guests. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues. Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations  are required. Contact Member Services Director Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]
 
• March 4: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. The topic is “Hard Hats Required: The I-91 Viaduct Project.” Learn about the state reconstruction project and its local ancillary impacts, with a panel discussion featuring Al Stegman from the Mass. Department of Transportation, Chris Cignoli from the Springfield Department of Public Works, and Mary McNally from the Springfield Parking Authority. Salutes: TSM Design on its 30th anniversary and Revitalize Community Development Corp. on its new name and expanded services. Sponsored by United Personnel. Reservations are $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, and $30 for general admission. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

• Thursdays through March 26: ACCGS Leadership Institute 2015, 1-4 p.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield, in partnership with Western New England University.
 
• March 11: ACCGS Speed Networking, 3:30-5 p.m., at Frank Webb’s Bath Center, 145 Performance Blvd., Springfield. Network in a fast-paced round-robin format, then stay for the After 5. This event is open only to members. Reservations are $20 for members, $25 at the door. Includes complimentary ticket to After 5. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
 
• March 11: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Frank Webb’s Bath Center, 145 Performance Blvd., Springfield. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

• March 24: ACCGS Pastries, Politics, and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. For political and policy junkies. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
 
AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700
 
• March 26: Margarita Madness 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. Taste a variety of margaritas and vote for your favorites. This is a Division One competition between restaurant and business margaritas. Your votes will determine who will take home the coveted trophies. Business margaritas provided by Alden Credit Union, New England Promotional Marketing, Hadley Farms Meeting House, Country Nissan, Lord Jeffery Inn, TD Bank for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, Encharter Insurance, Applewood at Amherst, and many more to come. Restaurant margaritas provided by Bistro 63 at the Monkey Bar, Bread & Butter, Bridgeside Grille, Chandler’s Restaurant, the Pub, Lord Jeffery Inn, Hadley Farms Meeting House, Chez Josef, Johnny’s Tavern, and many more to come. Food provided by Emily’s Gourmet to Go, Something Special Catering, Pallazo Café, Glazed Donut Shop, Pop’s Biscotti, and Johnny’s Tavern. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 253-0700.
 
CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
 
• Feb. 25: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
 
• March 6: Shining Stars Banquet, 6:30-10 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Business of the Year: DeJordy, Dugre, Croteau & Company, P.C.; Citizen of the Year: Andy Crane, A. Crane Construction; Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Jason Reed, Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee; Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Elms College. Tribute to Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Tickets: $60 per person.
 
• March 25: 21st Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, contact the chamber at (413) 527-9414.
 
GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414
 
• March 25: 21st Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, contact the chamber at (413) 527-9414.
 
GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
  
• Feb. 24: How to Start and Maintain Your Business/Marketing Your Business, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Holyoke Chamber, executive conference room, 177 High St., Holyoke. Series Sponsors: PeoplesBank, Common Capital, Mass Cultural Council/the Artery, in partnership with Holyoke Creative Arts. What you need to know about designing a logo, branding your business, advertising opportunities, social media, and developing a website. Tickets cost $20. Call the Holyoke Chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.
 
GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• Feb. 24: 2015 Table Top Orientation, noon to 1 p.m., at the chamber office, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. For Table Top participants only. RSVP to (413) 584-1900.
 
• Feb. 26: Starting Your Own Business, 6-9 p.m., at the Business Growth Center, basement level, 1 Federal Street, Building 101, Springfield. Starting a small business requires more knowledge, skills, perseverance, and planning than meets the eye. This three-hour workshop will help you clearly understand the details, challenges, opportunities, and rewards of owning and operating your own business through the real-life experiences of several successful entrepreneurs. This course is a suggested prerequisite for our Business Planning workshop. Tickets cost $25. RSVP to Len Gendron, SCORE Western Massachusetts, at (413) 785-0314, or e-mail contact.[email protected]
 
• March 3: Build Your Marketing Toolkit Seminar, 5:30-8 p.m., at the Business Growth Center, basement level, 1 Federal Street, Building 101, Springfield. Attendees of this presentation will learn what marketing really is (and isn’t), how marketing has changed in ways that benefit small businesses, the importance of setting goals and objectives for their marketing efforts, and the 4 Pillars of Marketing Success, a framework that shows how different marketing activities all fit together, and will help small businesses reflect on their own marketing program. Start to build a foundation of marketing knowledge, from which you can build more effective campaigns to help your business or organization grow. Cost: free. RSVP to Len Gendron, SCORE Western Massachusetts, at (413) 785-0314, or e-mail contact.[email protected].
 
• March 4: Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Fitzwilly’s, 23 Main St., Northampton. Arrive when you can, Stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsored by Thornes Marketplace, Grogan Speer, and ESB Financial Services. Tickets: $10 for members.
 
• March 6: 2015 Annual Meeting, noon to 2 p.m., at Union Station Banquets, 125 Pleasant St., Northampton. A fun meeting with your chamber colleagues. Play Jeopardy; we’ll test your knowledge of our members. A fun wrap-up of 2014 and preview of 2015, honoring our volunteers. Sponsored by PeoplesBank. Tickets: $35 per person for chamber members.
 
• March 13: Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts, 9-11 a.m., at the chamber office, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Learn tips and tricks no one ever teaches you from the trainers at Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
 
• March 17: 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., in the Hotel Northampton Grand Ballroom. Also, Join us at Fitzwilly’s for the annual after-breakfast toast and for the laying of the wreath at the Daley and Halligan memorial stone on the former state hospital grounds. Tickets: $20 per person. Tables of 10 also available.
 
• March 25: 21st Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, contact the chamber at (413) 584-1900.
 
GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
 
• March 2: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.
 
• March 13: March Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Westfield State University, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Westfield Bank. Gold sponsor: Westfield Gas & Electric. Silver sponsor: FieldEddy Insurance. For more information or to donate a raffle prize, call the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
 
• March 18: March After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Noble Primary Care, 57 Union St., Westfield. Bring your business cards and make connections. Refreshments will be served. Tickets: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
 
NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
 
• March 7: Full Moon Snowshoeing, 6:30 p.m. Join us for a full-moon snowshoe hike at Hilltop Orchards in Lenox. We will be led on an interactive, 90-minute journey that includes a bonfire, wine tasting, and entertainment. Dress for the weather, and bring a light and some water. The event costs $10 and includes a tasting of six Furnace Brook wines (if you are 21 or over). Bring your own snowshoes or rent them for $15. RSVP by March 1 by joining our Facebook event.
 
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310
 
• March 18: Professional Women’s Chamber Tabletop Expo/Luncheon,
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Storrowton Tavern, Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Featuring Tracy Noonan of Wicked Good Cupcakes and contestant on ABC’s Shark Tank. Reservations are $25 for PWC members, $35 for general admission. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880
 
• Feb. 25: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The breakfast will feature a panel of various legislators: State Sens. James Welch and Donald Humason, Agawam Richard Cohen, and West Springfield Mayor Edward Sullivan. Tickets: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information on ticket sales, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].
 
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIERLD
www.springfieldyps.com
 
• March 14: 2015 YP Cup Dodgeball Tournament, at Springfield College, 263 Alden St., Springfield. To register a team (up to eight players, two must be of the opposite sex ) or an individual, visit springfieldyps.com/2015-dodgeball-individual-registration-form. E-mail questions to [email protected]. Reception to follow at Nathan Bill’s Bar & Grill, 110 Pond Road, Springfield.
 
• March 19: March Third Thursday, 5-8 p.m., at the Storrowtown Meeting House and Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. This event is open to everyone. Invite your friends. Food and cash bar. Admission: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members.