Members Gather for Fall Breakfast

Annual Event a Seasonal Success

(11/2/09) Nearly 80 members attended the SFABA Annual Fall Breakfast at Stillwater's  Restaurant on October 30 (if you missed it - everyone's still talking about the French toast).

Bruce VanIderstine, SFABA President, thanked Greenfield Savings Bank for sponsoring the event and emphasized the theme of volunteerism. VanIderstine addressed the importance for members to volunteer to help make the events and promotions successful and to improve the value of membership.

Larry Flaccus of Kenburn Orchards, and a member of the Communication Committee, presented an overview of how businesses can maximize visibility and self manage through an individual webpage on the new www.shelburnefalls.com Website. Executive Director, Mary Vilbon, thanked Flaccus for his time and expertise he volunteered to the SFABA to make the website a reality.

Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. discussed the five business sustainability audits they will be conducting under a grant from WMECO. Paul Tangredi of ECS explained the application process for businesses. Contact the SFABA office by December 5 if you are interested.

Daniel Lieberman, IT Consultant and a member of the Communications Committee introduced Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and reviewed the impact these new technologies can have on a business. A Business Roundtable, free for SFABA members, will be held December 9 on the subject. Register with the SFABA Office by December 5.

The Village Information Center provided attendees with a brochure highlighting the history of the Village Information Center with the statistics from this year: there were 44 volunteers who donated a total of 1,000 hours; almost 10,000 people visited the VIC from every state and 45 countries. Thank you to the volunteers who help drive business to our members!!

State Representative Denis Guyer spoke briefly about the state of the economy and pending projects such as the initiative to bring broadband to underserved communities in our area, as a driver to foster economic development in the area.

Thanks to Greenfield Savings Bank for sponsoring this event.