Message From the Chamber of Commerce

First, on behalf of the Chamber membership, we are very grateful to our neighbors who volunteer many hours as our political leaders, many more volunteers and Town staff members who helped our neighborhoods recover as can be done at this time and especially to the many volunteers (including Town staff members) at the Farmington High School Storm Shelter!  All these efforts made paying Town taxes worthwhile.  A very sincere thank you to all of you.

I shouldn’t overtake an active Town Chair who has publically created serious political pressure on CL&P on Thursday (11/4) to supplement, no doubt, many private efforts.  I can focus the Chamber’s energy on recovery.  I will be asking Mike Clark how the Chamber can assist (or even lead) seminars such as one on FEMA applications that Farmington may find useful.

We are a very busy Chamber with a strong seminar series; our possible June signature Town wide event; video member moments, member milestones, and member highlights for posting on our new web site and FaceBook; very exciting changes to the Annual Dinner event; the EDC video we are donating to the Town, Town Duck Parade, planned 2012 joint Sign Regulation work with the TPZ, our new Tourism committee now being formed; government advocacy efforts on your behalf; developing FHS/TCC programs; and especially helpful (and new) healthcare benefits.  But all of these volunteer efforts need time that has been taken from us by the storm. 

As a result, I am postponing the November Business After Hours Event and the Board of Directors meeting both scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th to an undetermined date.  I invite you to continue helping your neighbors as we get back to enjoying the wonderful place to live and work that we call Farmington.  If the Chamber can be of assistance to you, please let me know at president@farmingtonchamber.com.

I hope the storm’s impact on your property has been small, if any, but the impact on a stronger sense of neighborhood has been strong.

From Robert Perry, President of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce & President and Business Growth Strategist.