Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Dec. 18: ERC5 Holiday Party, 5-8 p.m., at Spoleto, 84 Center Square, East Longmeadow. For more information, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].
• Jan. 8: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Ludlow Country Club, 1 Tony Lema Drive, Ludlow. The program will be “Success of Small Business,” a moderated panel discussion. For more information, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].
• Jan. 15: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Melha Shrine Center, 133 Longhill St., Springfield. Come clown around with us! Cost: $5. For more information, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 18: December Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cost: $20 for members, $26 for non-members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Dec. 17: Holiday Dinner Dance, 6 p.m., at the Delaney House, Holyoke. Menu: maple glazed turkey, roast loin of pork, tenderloin of beef carving station, sesame seared tuna, Asian vegetable medley, and more; seafood station; chef-attended pasta station; lavish greens, vegetables, and fruit-salad station; butler-style hors d’oeuvres; Viennese dessert table; cash martini and full-service bars. Dance the night away with D.J. Fred from B & B Entertainment. Cost: $50 per person inclusive. Purchase a table of eight for the price of seven. To order tickets, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 527-9414.
• Dec. 17: GRIST (Get Real Individual Support Today) Meeting, 9 a.m., at the chamber office, 33 Union St., Easthampton. Are you a business of one? Are you a small-business owner without your own marketing department? Do you ever wish you had someone to toss around some ideas with about growing your business? The GRIST group can help. It’s a new  hamber member benefit, an ongoing small group for folks who want to meet regularly to share ideas and get advice on the daily challenges of running a successful business. Like the saying ‘all is grist for the mill,’ we feel that any idea or word of advice that one business person can share with another is of potential value in helping each other’s business grow. This small group of 10 to 15 people is limited to chamber members and those interested in joining the chamber. We welcome interested guests to attend one meeting to see what the group is all about. GRIST meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. at the chamber office. RSVP by the Monday preceding each meeting to Fran Fahey at [email protected] or Derek Allard at [email protected]. Call Fahey at (413) 529-1189 or Allard at (413) 282-9957 to find out more.
• Jan. 23: Big Raffle Drawing, 6 p.m. Only 300 tickets are for sale each year. Grand prize: $5,000; second prize: $500;
third prize, $200; fourth prize: $100, fifth prize: $50. The drawing takes place at the annual dinner meeting, Jan. 23, and you do not need to be present to win. For more information or to enter, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Dec. 18: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Delaney House, One Country Club Road, Holyoke. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Dec. 17: 2013 December Incite Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. Incite Information presenting speaker: Kathleen McCarthy, Smith College President. Series sponsor: United Personnel. Admission: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
• Jan. 28: Nonprofit Marketing Roundtable 2014 Workshop, 8-9:30 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by the Creative Marketing Group. Struggling to gain visibility with your target audience? Are your marketing materials producing tangible results? Are your best messaging ideas living only in your head? The  chamber has help on the way. Three women business owners — Janice Beetle, Ruth Griggs, and Maureen Scanlon of the Creative, a marketing and communications collaboration in Northampton — will lead a nonprofit Flash marketing workshop. They will meet with business owners, listen to your marketing and communications concerns, and help you brainstorm practical, professional solutions on the spot. Learn more about how to strategize, advertise, brand, and promote your business; reach the media; and maximize your message in person, in print, and online. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, contact Jasmin Tomic at (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Jan. 15: PWC Tabletop Business Expo/Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. Showcase your product or service. For more information about the Professional Women’s Chamber, contact Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1310 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Jan. 8: January After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at the Westwood Restaurant & Pub, 94 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by Northpoint Mortgage. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members, cash at the door. Haven’t been to an After 5? Your first one is free. For more information or to register, contact Pam at (413) 568-1618.
• Jan. 13: Health Care Symposium (time to be announced), at the Dever Stage, Parenzo Hall, Westfield State University. Presenter: Lynn Nichols, president of the Mass. Hospital Assoc. Sponsored by Noble Hospital. For more information or to register, contact Pam at (413) 568-1618.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880

• TBA: January Coffee with Mayor Cohen. Date and location to be announced. Keep checking website for updates, or e-mail [email protected].
• Feb. 5: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. (Event is open to the public; attendees must pay at the door if they’re non-members.) For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].
• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at the Storrowton Tavern Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Dec. 19: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., at the Springfield Museum of Science, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. Join us as we take our monthly Third Thursday Holiday Party to the Springfield Museum of Science and its Magic of Gingerbread Exhibit. You will enter a realm of fanciful gingerbread houses created by local bakeries, schools, youth groups, individuals, and families as part of an annual competition. Contestants were inspired by favorite holiday stories, historic places, and their own imaginations to create these marvelous gingerbread displays. Come take a stroll through this magical world filled with gingerbread houses, decorated holiday trees, and scenes inspired by the classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol. Light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar will be provided by Elegant Affairs. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members.
• Jan. 16: January Third Thursday YPS Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Don’t miss this upcoming Third Thursday and the unique opportunity to become more involved with the YPS. Complementary parking in the Tower Square garage with elevator access directly to the venue. YPS is a guest of the Colony Club for this event. We ask that you please respect and follow their business-casual dress code; jeans will not be permitted. There will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Invite your friends and bring plenty of business cards. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members, including food and a cash bar.