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In this issue: Attached with this issue: July 1 - September 30, 2005! FIRST PRIZE: Movement Analysis for Better Health (Courtesy of Fitwell Training Solutions) -- Goes to the first member who recruits a total of 3 new members from July 1 through September 30, 2005. SECOND PRIZE: $50 Savings Bond (Courtesy of EagleBank) -- Goes to the first member who recruits a total of 2 new members from July 1 through September 30, 2005. See attachment for more info. Networking Breakfast Wednesday, July 13 7:15 - 9 a.m. Holiday Inn Silver Spring 8777 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring Parking available in public garage behind hotel. Business After Hours Wednesday, July 27 5:30 - 7 p.m. Trendz Rejuvenation Spa 8716 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring Public garage parking behind the building with access from Fenwick and Cameron. AUGUST Networking Breakfast Wednesday, August 10 7:15 - 9 a.m. Holiday Inn Silver Spring 8777 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring Parking available in public garage behind hotel. Business After Hours Wednesday, August 24 5:30 - 7 p.m. Zipin & Melehy 8503 Colesville Road, Suite 610 Silver Spring SEPTEMBER Networking Breakfast Wednesday, September 14 7:15 - 9 a.m. Holiday Inn Silver Spring 8777 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring Parking available in public garage behind hotel. Business After Hours Wednesday, September 28 5:30 - 7 p.m. RGF Culinary Services 1316 Fenwick Lane Silver Spring For a complete GSSCC calendar, see the attached, or visit here. Sponsorship for Networking Breakfast and Business After Hours Increase -- Effective July 1, the promotional fee for members who register to sponsor a spotlight speaker at GSSC's Networking Breakfast will increase to $150. Promotional fees for sponsoring a Business After Hours increase to $200. Members who have already signed up to sponsor either event and who pay the promotional fee before July 31, 2005, will be assured the 2004-2005 rate. Looking for help with odd jobs this summer? Thunderbolt players are looking for odd jobs in the Silver Spring/Takoma Park communities. A listing of players will be maintained at Blair Stadium for players to work on light jobs around the home or business, e.g. painting, cleaning, gardening, mowing, and moving items (no heavy lifting or working off high ladders, please). Employer and player negotiate the length of the job and the rate (minimum is $10/hour). Players are available most days during the morning and early afternoon. Send your job listing to OConn12@starpower.net. Include your name, address, phone number, job description and pay rate. The job will be posted at Blair Stadium Colorworks Promotions (January) Gold's Gym (February) CHF International (March) CitiBank FSB (April) Adams National Bank & The World Building (May) Summit Hills Apartments & Corporate Suites (June) The following members also deserve special recognition, for their help and support in recent months: Citibank For sponsoring the April, 2005 Resource Lunch Eggspectation For hosting GSSCC's quarterly New Member Orientation Programs EmbroidMe Randolph Hills Nursing Center Blair Mansion Inn Montgomery Works York Castle Tropical Ice Cream For contributing items for the Welcome Bags distributed at New Member Orientation sessions More Items Needed! Help welcome new GSSCC members! GSSCC member companies may provide quantities of giveaway items such as mugs, note pads, pens and other items with your business imprint to include in welcome bags for new GSSCC members. To contribute items, contact Nancy Pond at npond@gsscc.org or call 301/565-3777. Gold Affinity Network Solutions, Inc. Atlantech Online, Inc. Chevy Chase Land Co. CONCEPT LLC EagleBank Sandglass Silver Bates Creative Group CHF International Galaxy Billiards Cafe Howard University Continuing Education Lerch Early & Brewer, Chtd. Montgomery Investigative & Security Svcs. Sandler Sales Institute Nancy Schwiesow - Long & Foster Singleton Studios Sport Chevrolet/Jeep/Honda TNT Auto Parts The Tower Companies Bronze At Home Care, Inc. Bud Miller Associates, Inc. Judy's Hallmark Shepherd's Table Starpower GSSCC's 2005-2006 Board of Directors CHAIR Carmen Camacho, Bud Miller Associates, Inc. IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Tom Collins, Atlantech Online, Inc. VICE CHAIR Economic Development Fred Samuels, Cahn & Samuels LLC VICE CHAIR Fundraising Dewey Thomas, Encore Management Corporation VICE CHAIR Government Affairs Scott Wallace, Linowes and Blocher LLP VICE CHAIR Membership Development Valerie D. Day, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church DIRECTORS Ray Barry, AFI Silver Theatre Pat Bennett, Citibank, FSB Larry "The Banker" Bolton, EagleBank Paul DiPiazza, Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd. M. Genevieve Hardesty Trizec Properties, Inc. Barbara Henry, Discovery Communications, Inc. Abby Kern, Borders Books and Music Jawed Khan, Consolidated Theatres -- The Majestic Mary Frances leMat, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. Aurelia Martin, City Place Mall Roscoe M. Moore, Jr., PH RockWood Corporation Alyssa Oberman, United Therapeutics Brad Stewart, Ph.D., Montgomery College Stacey Wahlert, Chevy Chase Land Company John Walsh, Data Quality Solutions, Inc. Stephanie Warlick, Colorworks Promotions PRESIDENT Jane Redicker MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAMS Nancy Pond ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT L'Tanya Chew Design: Sandglass Systems Copyright by the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce 8601 Georgia Ave., Ste. 203 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301/565-3777 Fax: 301/565-3377 www.silverspringchamber.com info@gsscc.org | When the members of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce look back on our past year, they will undoubtedly remember fiscal year 2004-2005 as a period marked by positive change. Downtown Silver Spring continued its “makeover” into a vibrant commercial community. Route 29 corridor improvements spurred development and change in the commercial areas of Burtonsville, Briggs Chaney, White Oak and Burnt Mills. The Chamber experienced its first change of staff leadership in seven years. And, the end of my term will mark a new beginning, as we appoint our new chair, Carmen Camacho, the first female Hispanic-American steps up to chair a major Chamber of Commerce in the state of Maryland. Yet, through and with the change, a constant remains: the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce is made up of a great group of people committed to the good of our businesses, and just as important, the good of our community. I so appreciate the work done by our Fundraising, Membership, Economic Development and Government Affairs committees. The efforts of these committees and the board of directors deserve your thanks and applause. I truly believe that participation at the committee and board level turbo-charges the value of being a member of this chamber. To those of you who have served, I say, thank you. To those of you yet to join a committee, I say, please, get involved! As my term as Chairman of the Board comes to a close, I think about all that we have accomplished. As some of you will recall, the year did not get off to an auspicious start. At last year’s Installation Luncheon, County Executive Doug Duncan swore me in when I was on crutches due to a foot injury. I’d like to think my little set-back was temporary, and I do believe we were able to run forward from that day on! We have indeed had our share of challenges this year. One of our board members, Kathy Dillon of Borders, had to resign from the board because of illness. Our president of seven years, Cris Bombaugh, resigned and took a position with a member company, the Stern Agency. Finding a new president took a lot of effort and time, but I’m pleased to say that our search ended with the successful placement of our new president, Jane Redicker. I am very enthusiastic about the experience and passion she brings to the position. I feel that Jane and our incoming chairperson, Carmen Camacho of Bud Miller & Associates, will elevate the stature of the GSSCC in the coming fiscal year. They will make quite a team in the year ahead. At the beginning of my term, I set three goals for the year: I am happy to report progress in all three areas. Our membership reached all-time highs in both numbers and revenue, continuing an upward trend over the past three fiscal years. The Chamber became a resource for State- and County-elected officials on issues ranging from transportation to workforce housing. We pushed the process for improvement of the Montgomery Hills commercial district and increased the effectiveness of the County’s Green Tape Program. Our Fast Forward program for startup business attracted more than 20 new business participants, and drew impressive presenters such as Ellis Kitchen and Chris Foster from the Ehrlich administration. I know the Chamber will continue this program this fall, and we are actively seeking ways to grow the scope and reach of our efforts. Our Awards Dinner in March at Riderwood Village was our largest and most profitable one ever. At the dinner, many were recognized for their contributions, including County Executive Doug Duncan who presented the Silver Spring Champion award. Our golf tournament earlier this month at Blue Mash was our largest ever and also generated the most revenue we’ve ever received from this important fundraiser. The tireless efforts of Golf Tournament chairperson Stephanie Warlick was a huge reason for the success of this event. In closing, I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank my boss, Ed Fineran, and the rest of the staff at Atlantech Online, for giving me the time, space and support to be your Chairman this year. Being actively engaged in the leadership of the Chamber requires a great deal of time and effort and I really do appreciate the willingness of my company to sacrifice my presence for the betterment of the community. I have so many other people to thank, but I would like to especially recognize the indispensable assistance of past chairs Charlie Atwell, Andy Fraser, Bruce Lee and Sally Sternbach. Your continued engagement with our chamber is manifested by your ongoing support and advice during my term remind me of what makes this organization so great -- committed individuals who care greatly for their community. Finally, to each of you, thank you, for the honor of being your chairperson this past year. It has indeed been an adventure, a privilege and an honor. After an intensive search, GSSCC is pleased to welcome local resident Jane Redicker as the Chamber's new president. In her new role, Jane will be the Chamber's chief staff officer responsible for day-to-day operations of the Chamber and for working with the Board of Directors to develop and implement strategy. Jane brings a wealth of Chamber experience to Silver Spring, having served as executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, China from 1995-1998. There, she tripled membership and revenues in three years as she positioned the organization as the preeminent voice of international business in China. Most recently she has been an independent communications consultant, working from her home in Silver Spring’s Colesville neighborhood. "We're delighted to have found someone of Jane's caliber," said Tom Collins of Atlantech Online, 2004-2005 chairman of the Board. "She brings impressive skills in communications, operations and goal-oriented consensus building. We're confident that Jane will help the business community and the Chamber to thrive, as Silver Spring continues to grow and prosper. What's more, as a resident, she brings an important perspective to the table – as a customer, an observer and a participant in the business life of our community." Jane, her husband Steve and their daughter Katherine live, work and shop in Silver Spring. Steve has his own consulting business here. "Along the way, I have watched and lived Silver Spring's renaissance," Jane said. "Today I stand ready to work with the Chamber’s Board and all of our members to play a significant role in building on Silver Spring's continuing success story." A more politically influential Chamber with a significant increase in membership, continued fundraising success, and a hand in bringing quality retail to Silver Spring: that’s the vision outlined by incoming Chamber Chair Carmen Camacho before a sell-out crowd during GSSCC’s 2005 Awards & Installation Luncheon at the Silver Spring Holiday Inn. Addressing more than 178 Chamber members and special guests including State Sen. Ida Ruben (D-Montgomery County), Montgomery Council President Thomas Perez, Council members Nancy Floreen, Steve Silverman, George Leventhal, Michael Knapp, and State Delegate Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s County), Camacho, the first Hispanic-American to chair a major chamber of commerce in the State of Maryland, recalled growing up in nearby Hyattsville and “going to a place called Silver Spring,” which offered the first Hispanic-owned businesses in the region. Since then, as co-owner of Bud Miller & Associates Inc. with her husband Joe, Camacho has both witnessed and played a significant role in transforming Silver Spring into the first-class business and residential center it is today. “Today, Silver Spring has certainly arrived with a flourish, and all of us here today can say that we played a significant role in that,” she told luncheon attendees. “But as I humbly accept the chairmanship of this wonderful organization, my message to you today is that Silver Spring has not yet, in fact, reached its full potential.” Camacho outlined four major goals for the Chamber during the next year:
“Be on notice Chamber members, and beware Board members,” she concluded. “I plan to make the most of (your) talents, using them to their full potential for the success of the Silver Spring business community.” Perez congratulates Camacho  In his keynote address, Council President Perez congratulated Carmen Camacho, telling the audience that she epitomizes the business and community spirit that is Silver Spring. Perez exhorted the Chamber to continue to remind County and State officials that “our work is not done here,” and indicated that his priorities for Silver Spring include the speedy development of the civic center (with an ice rink) and the attraction of the Birchmere into the old J.C. Penney location near the corner of Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue.State Senator Ida Ruben added her congratulations to both incoming Chair Carmen Camacho and outgoing Chair Tom Collins, offering Senate resolutions honoring each for their service to Silver Spring. Governor’s Citation Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich sent greetings in the form of a Governor’s Citation that read, “Be it known: That on behalf of the citizens of this State, in recognition of the outstanding service your organization has provided to the community and the residents and businesses in the Silver Spring area…in honor of the occasion of your 2005 Awards and Installation Luncheon; and as the people of Maryland join together in expressing our great respect and admiration for your positive and lasting contribution to our state, we are pleased to confer upon you this “Governor’s Citation.”
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 | Business Appreciation Award – Eggspectation, for its unprecedented level of support in catering the new member orientation breakfast and the 2005 GSSCC Golf Tournament. |
 | Volunteers of the Year – Norm Scherer, a member of the Fundraising Committee, who worked tirelessly on this past year’s awards gala; and Kate Stookey-Boit, who volunteered to chair the silent auction for this year’s awards dinner. |
 | Chairman’s Cup – Sally Sternbach, a founding member of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, who provided advice and guidance as the Chamber selected Jane Redicker as its new president. Congratulations to all! |
| Pat Bennett, CitiBank, measures a golfer for an arm's length of raffle tickets. |  |
 | LDG's foursome strikes a pose. Left to right Montgomery County Council President Tom Perez, Jim Matthews, Blair Lee, Bruce Lee. |
| GSSCC Golf Classic Chair, Stephanie Warlick, Colorworks Promotions, waits for a putt with Drew Coffey from Alpha Shirt Co., a guest of Colorworks. |  |
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