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In this issue: Linked with this issue: GSSCC Events October 2006 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Wednesday, October 11 7:30 − 9:15 a.m. Eggspectation 923 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring DISCOVER THE TASTE OF SILVER SPRING Thursday, October 26 5:30 − 8 p.m. Discovery Communications 1 Discovery Place Silver Spring Payment required by October 23. November 2006 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Wednesday, November 8 7:30 − 9:15 a.m. Location TBA BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Wednesday, November 15 5:30 − 7 p.m. 850 Sligo Avenue Silver Spring December 2006 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Wednesday, December 6 7:30 − 9:15 a.m. Location TBA BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Wednesday, December 13 5:30 − 7 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott 8506 Fenton Street Silver Spring Spotlight Speaker Sponsorships are available for upcoming GSSCC Networking Breakfasts. If your company is interested, please call (301) 565-3777 for more information. Summit Hills Apartments (July) Lee Development Group (August) EagleBank (September) Group Benefit Services and Moorenko’s Ice Cream Café (July) Special Secretary Sharon R. Pinder, Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (August) DB Consulting and JW Computers (September) Business After Hours Hosts If your company is interested, please call (301) 565-3777 for more information. To Our Corporate Sponsors The following members deserve special recognition, for their help and support throughout the year: Chamber Silver Partner Discovery Communications Lee Development Group Washington Adventist Hospital Chamber Business Partner Bud Miller Associates, Inc. Digital Industry, Inc. Montgomery College Sandglass Systems Chamber Partner Atlantech Online Colorworks Promotions Eggspectation Linowes & Blocher M&T Bank Michael, LLC Minuteman Press Chamber Friend Harvey Maisel, Silver Spring Extra Space Self Storage New Members GSSCC welcomed 21 new members to our ranks during the past quarter. Many of these members were formally introduced to the Chamber at our New Member Orientation Breakfast on Wednesday, October 4, 2006, hosted by member restaurant, Eggspectation. Please join us in welcoming these members to the Chamber community: • A+ Legal Services, Greenberg & Lieberman • AccounTeks Business Solutions • Caregivers Unlimited • Cash Bookkeeping & Tax Service • Easter Seals Greater Washington-Baltimore Region • Esystems, Inc. • Fitness Together • Hearts & Homes for Youth • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. (Robbi Kimball) • The Map Guys • Mercantile Potomac Bank • Michael, LLC • Montgomery County Employees Federal Credit Union • The Perfect Event, LLC • Provident Bank • Randolph Village • Service Care Pharmacy • Starbucks Coffee Company • Taste of Jerusalem • White Oak Private Storage • Wireless Toyz Thank you to the following members who renewed their membership since July 1, 2006: • The Adams National Bank • Affinity Network Solutions, Inc. • Andalman & Flynn • A. R. Bruce & Company, Inc. • Arrow Bookkeeping • Asian Bistro Inc. • Auras Design, Inc. • Bankers Business Management Services, Inc. • BB&T Business Banking • The Bennington at Silver Spring • Bud Miller Associates, Inc. • Color Me Mine of Silver Spring • Cushman & Wakefield of Maryland, Inc. (Edward Baca-Asher) • DC Arab American Chamber of Commerce • EBA Ernest Bland Associates, P.C. • Encore Management Corporation • Enterprise Properties LLC • CHI Centers • Dr. Bruce Fox • The Gazette • G. G. Tauber Co., Inc. • Global Investigative Services, Inc. • Grosvenor USA Limited • Hilton Silver Spring • Hoover-Fisher Florist, Inc. • InTac, Inc. • Junior Achievement of the National Cap. Area • JW Computer Systems, Inc. • Kay Management Co., Inc. • Kefa Cafe • Leeds Realty, Inc. • Madlaw Consulting, Inc. • Melehy & Associates, LLC • Mi Rancho Restaurant • Moments That Matter, LLC • Montgomery County Police, Silver Spring • Montgomery Works • Moren, Inc. • Pepco • The Radius Technology Group, Inc. • Randolph Hills Nursing Center • RedDog Cafe • Sandglass Systems • Sarabi Chiropractic • Silver Spring Towers Apartments • Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. • Steven Drake Associates, LLC • Taylor & Osterman, PA • Tempchin & Bowers, LLC • United Bank • Verlan Fire Insurance Company • White Oak Systems, LLC • Wolpoff Industries • YMCA Youth & Family Services • Zalco Realty, Inc. • The Zipin Law Firm GSSCC Board of Directors CHAIR Brad Stewart Montgomery College IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Carmen Camacho Bud Miller Associates, Inc. CHAIR-ELECT Jere Stocks Washington Adventist Hospital VICE CHAIR Economic Development Barbara Henry Discovery Communications, Inc. VICE CHAIR Fundraising Carmen Camacho Bud Miller Associates, Inc. VICE CHAIR Government Affairs Jere Stocks Washington Adventist Hospital VICE CHAIR Membership Development Jay Knisley Eggspectation TREASURER James Walker Adams National Bank GENERAL COUNSEL Paul DiPiazza Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd. “Larry the Banker” Bolton EagleBank Valerie D. Day St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Paul DiPiazza Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd. Alyssa Friedrich United Therapeutics Corporation M. Genevieve (Genny) Hardesty Trizec Properties, Inc. June Mickens Social & Scientific Systems Jerry Miller Minuteman Press Roscoe M. Moore, Jr. PH RockWood Corporation Alexander Papanicolas Chevy Chase Land Company Frederick Samuels Cahn & Samuels, LLP Dewey Thomas, Jr. Encore Management Corporation Scott Wallace Linowes and Blocher LLP Stephanie Warlick Colorworks Promotions GSSCC STAFF PRESIDENT Jane Redicker MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT and SERVICES MANAGER Alcora Walden ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT L'Tanya Chew Editor: Jane Redicker Design: Sandglass Systems Copyright: Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce 8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 203 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Tel. (301) 565-3777 Fax (301) 565-3377 info@gsscc.org www.silverspringchamber.com | 2006-2007 GSSCC Chair
Example # 1 Chamber Member A (CMA), a large organization, recently wanted to distribute a highly specialized document to a certain segment of its clientele. CMA needed several hundred copies of this 100-page document in a hurry. The CEO of CMA recalled meeting the owner of Chamber Member B, a small printing company specializing in custom jobs and quick turnaround times, at a recent Networking Breakfast. One brief meeting at another Chamber event and one phone call got the ball rolling. CMB even helped with editing and produced a first rate document that was ready on time and within budget. CMB has just finished printing the second edition of the document for CMA and both companies are looking for additional ways to collaborate. Joining the Chamber is good for business! Example # 2 Chamber Member X (CMX), a small company had just made a substantial investment in renovating a building that would provide office space for its new headquarters. Key to the financial success of the project was finding a tenant who would lease a portion of the building. CMX had been involved in lengthy negotiations with Non-Member Business A (NMBA), and had hopes of securing a deal. At the eleventh hour, NMBA’s demands became simply unreasonable and agreement was impossible. CMX faced starting all over to find and negotiate with a new tenant and the clock was ticking. Fortunately, through Chamber networking opportunities, CMX learned that a Fellow Chamber Member (FCM) was looking for new space. Within weeks, a deal was made between Chamber members that has proved successful for both. Joining the Chamber is good for business! Example # 3 Active Chamber Member F (ACMF) had long supported GSSCC by donating materials and supplies for various meetings and events. Large Company Q (LCQ) had attended many of these events and became aware of ACMF’s line of business because of its contributions to the Chamber. When LCQ began planning its next major event, it turned to ACMF to provide all the needed convention supplies and materials. Joining the Chamber is good for business! Connections like these are being made every day between Chamber members. Each of you can probably cite many more examples of how your membership in the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce is good for your business. The key to making the process work is taking advantage of every networking opportunity and becoming involved at the committee level. Watch this space in the not too distant future for more ways in which the Chamber can encourage and facilitate more member-to-member business transactions and relationships like those I have described. If you have any ideas that you would like to bring to the table, please e-mail me at bstewart@gsscc.org or give me a call at (301) 650-1312. I look forward to hearing from you. Register today for GSSCC's second annual "Discover the Taste of Silver Spring." Don’t miss this fabulous evening of networking and culinary delights, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Thursday, October 26, at Discovery Communications. GSSCC’s Fundraising & Special Events Committee has already recruited ten of Silver Spring’s best eating establishments to donate some of their tasty treats for this event. Signed on to date are: Armand’s Chicago Pizzeria; Asian Bistro; Blair Mansion Inn; Eggspectation; Jackie’s; Lebanese Taverna Café; Moorenko’s Ice Cream Café; redDog Café; Taste of Jerusalem; and Whole Foods Market . Watch your e-mail as more details are finalized for this great opportunity to sample some of Silver Spring's great food, to meet old business associates and new, and to raise money to support GSSCC's programs and activities. Ticket price is $40 for GSSCC members, $45 for non-members. (Advance ticket purchase only. No sales "at the door.") Click here to reserve your place today. Chevy Chase Land Raises the Stakes Chevy Chase Land Company has raised the stakes for GSSCC in meeting the Discovery Challenge. Chevy Chase Land has pledged to match Discovery Communication’s $5,000 challenge grant, IF GSSCC can raise the original $5,000 from among its members. That means that if GSSCC can raise $5,000, it will receive a total of $10,000 from Discovery and Chevy Chase Land, combined. In recent days, Atlantech Online and Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. joined Bud Miller Associates, Inc.; Colorworks Promotions; Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.; Linowes and Blocher; Montgomery College; PH RockWood Corporation; United Therapeutics; and Washington Adventist Hospital in contributing to the Challenge. GSSCC sincerely thanks these members, whose generosity has put us on track to meet the $5,000 Discovery Challenge. But still, we’re not quite there. GSSCC needs your help. No contribution is too small. Click here and sign on today! Save on Utility Bills GSSCC members participating in the GSSCC’s first-ever energy purchasing cooperative have already seen savings in their utility bills. One member reports savings of approximately $600 per month on six meters. These savings were possible, because our partner, CQI Associates, combined the needs of our participating members with those from two other Chambers in the state of Maryland, creating an even larger group with more purchasing power. The program will continue and another GSSCC “class” will be formed in January 2007. However, members who are interested in getting involved before the end of the year should call our office. If there is enough interest, GSSCC will arrange to link our members to other groups throughout the State. On Regulations for Sidewalk Vendors The Montgomery County Council, in late 2004, adopted a bill authorizing certain vendors using slow-moving pushcarts to operate on sidewalks or public rights of way in certain central business districts (CBDs), including Silver Spring. County officials in the Department of Permitting Services have been working to develop the regulations that will govern the operation and license of these pushcart vendors. Recently, the Chamber had the opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations and made a number of recommendations that would serve the interests of existing member businesses in the Silver Spring CBD. Our recommendations included: prohibiting pushcarts from locating directly adjacent to a business with which they would be in direct competition; requiring vendors to keep the carts clean; requiring all items to be kept within the cart and not on the street or sidewalk in front; requiring each cart to have a legible sign that includes the vendor’s license number and a phone number to call with complaints about the operation of the cart; including in the regulations specific penalties for non-compliance. Members who would like to review a copy of the proposed regulations and the Chamber’s comments may call the office with this request. Likely Next Session in Annapolis The Maryland Chamber of Commerce told Chamber leaders at a recent meeting of the Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) to expect passage of a significant health insurance bill and a multitude of attempts to increase taxes not only for large corporations, but also small businesses in Maryland during the next legislative session. Health Insurance It appears that the Wal-Mart bill, which spurred the introduction of similar legislation that would have affected much smaller businesses, will not be revived through the court system. However, it is very likely that efforts will be undertaken to adopt a Massachusetts-style health insurance program. This could include: • Individual health insurance mandates for high-earners; • Employer mandates for minimum “fair share” contribution for employee health insurance; • Employer mandate for disclosure of health insurance coverage; • Employer mandates to provide “cafeteria” insurance plans; and • Employer assessments for employees that use free hospital health care. Legislation that would allow associations, such as Chambers of Commerce, to form groups under which small business members could purchase health coverage at lower rates failed during the past two sessions. Given the current environment, it will be difficult to expect a more favorable outcome this session. Increased Taxes The state’s temporary $1 billion cash surplus will be applied to the fiscal year 2008 budget presented in January and the structural deficit will come roaring back in 2009 with an annual projected shortfall of more than $1 billion as increased spending is likely for Medicaid, State retiree health insurance liability, State pensions and school construction. Long term deficits will renew pressure for increasing taxes. Possible proposals may include a tax on the gross receipts of businesses, an increase in the sales tax, and a tax on services (something that will affect many Chamber members). At the same time, efforts are underway to commission a study of the overall Maryland tax structure, which will likely recommend raising business taxes. There also appears to be a trend toward state bills that empower county and local governments to have more tax power, creating a much more complicated tax structure for businesses. GSSCC will follow these issues at the State level and work through its Government Affairs Committee to raise the needs and concerns of business to our elected officials. If you are interested in being involved in these efforts, or work at the County level on local issues, we welcome you to join this committee. For more information, contact the our office. Looks at Retail in Silver Spring GSSCC recently participated in an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Assistance Panel study on “Developing a Retail Strategy for Silver Spring.” Sponsored by the Silver Spring Regional Center, the panel focused on strategies fore developing retail in City Place Mall, along Colesville Road north of Georgia Avenue, and along Georgia Avenue south of Colesville Road. The final report will be completed before the end of the year. GSSCC’s Economic Development Committee will get a preview of the results at its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday morning, October 19. If you are interesting in joining the committee for this presentation, contact the our office. • The Forsythe Group, LLC , is now working in conjunction with ReMax Realty Services, please check their updated contact information here. • Don't miss Mercantile Potomac Bank's Grand Opening Giveaway Celebration from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 13. Not only will any who opens a checking account during the week of October 9th receive a $50 gift card, but there will be refreshments for all and $25 gift certificates to local retailers will be given away every hour all day long! |
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