November 30, 2004

REPORT TO THE BOARD:
CHAMBER ACTIVITIES SINCE NOVEMBER 2003

This report contains a capsule summary of major Chamber activities in the past year. A bullet (*) indicates a program that was initiated or expanded during 2004.

1. IN-HOUSE DEVELOPMENT

* Hired Roberta Gallagher to replace Anne Williams as the Program Manager.

* Entered into serious discussions with the Rockport Chamber of Commerce regarding a possible affiliation of the two organizations, generating an initial proposal for review by both groups.

Developed a $450,000 operating budget, complemented by Division accounts in excess of $150,000.

Coordinated the sale of 500 tickets to the $25,000 Game.

Coordinated the sale of 300 tickets to the Irish Sweepstakes.

Organized the seventeenth Goods and Services Auction, accumulating the incredible amount of $160,000 in donations.

Maintained and promoted the Chamber web site, www.capeannchamber.com, with hits continuing to increase in its third year.

Sponsored a retreat for the Board of Directors.

Coordinated the fifteenth Chamber Golf Tournament.

Held 11 regular Board meetings plus a special session in December to review the proposed budget for 2004.

Held the Chamber's Annual Dinner-Dance at The Tavern on the Harbor, featuring the induction of Bill Scott as President and a tribute to Mike Costello's 25 years at the Chamber.

Coordinated a meeting on fiduciary responsibilities for HR managers and HR professionals on Cape Ann.

Coordinated an orientation session for new members of the Board of Directors.

Maintained active memberships in the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Massachusetts Association of Membership Development, and New England Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Organized drink concession booths at the Waterfront Festival to boost non-dues income.

Sponsored a fund-raising night on Horizon's Edge.

* Produced a new street map for use by locals and visitors.

* Held an appreciation reception on the Picton-Castle for Chamber volunteers and friends.

Used electronic means to distribute information to Chamber members, i.e., transmissions via facsimile and email instead of U.S. Post Office.

Utilized postcards for meeting notices instead of letters, saving $.14 per notice being mailed.

Continued to display the work of area artists in the lobby.

* Updated the lobby signage to better direct visitors to available information.

* Purchased a new copier machine.

* Purchased a new computer for the Economic Development Manager and upgraded entire computer network to MS-Office 2000 software.

* Installed new cabinets in front office and new bookcases in the Program Manager's office.

* Obtained a new speaker system to use at functions.

2. MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES

* Recruited 77 new members, representing an investment of $20,665. Total Chamber membership on 12/1/04 stands at 1,100.

Coordinated five Evening Business Exchanges at Coastal Kitchen & Cabinet, Tuck's Candies, The Landing, Cogswell's Grant, and Julietta House, the first time that mixers were held in all four of our service communities in the same year.

Coordinated three Breakfast Clubs.

Produced the newsletter on a monthly basis, including a new feature on "Cape Ann in the Media", highlighting stories about the region and Chamber members. Advertising in the newsletter continues to be strong.

Sponsored three seminars for the membership including: Activating Your Entrepreneurial Spirit, a Business Plan Seminar (coordinated with Salem State Small Business Development Center), and an Introduction to QuickBooks.

Produced six Cape Ann Chamber Businesswomen's programs, including the popular Women of Cape Ann program, the Businesswomen's Fall Luncheon with Guest Speaker Sue Welch, the Holiday Wine-Down, and the sunset cruise aboard Essex River Cruises. The fourth Spring Fling focused on landscape and gardening and drew a crowd of over 70 businesswomen.

Produced a weekly membership email update allowing members to submit a short paragraph on their business to be shared with over 950 recipients using email.

Offered a regular counseling program for small businesses.

Sponsored four receptions/orientations for new members.

* Created a Contractors' Division to serve the needs of members in the trades, and sponsored three mixers and a seminar on legal issues.

Offered six health insurance programs, a dental program and a disability insurance program for the membership.

Organized Christmas parties in Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, and Manchester.

Maintained and increased links to the Membership Directory on the Chamber's website, offering an online presence to each Chamber member for free.

Offered a Manchester Athletic Club discount program.

Offered an expanded advertising package to new members.

Maintained an Ambassadors Program to reach out to members. Ambassadors held monthly meetings and made over 150 contacts.

* Recognized Ambassador of the Year Ruth Pino at the Annual Dinner.

* Produced a new Chamber Directory to be distributed in 2004.

* Began monthly meetings of the Cape Ann Holistic Health Group.

* Received the Award of Excellence from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for the Holistic Health & Wellness Guide.

3. RETAIL

* Provided input on Phase IV of the reconstruction of Gloucester's East End, resulting in plans for the addition of period lighting, brick sidewalks, trees, and a reconfiguration of Flanagan Square.

Coordinated Sidewalk Bazaars in Gloucester and Manchester.

Assisted the City of Gloucester in promoting and administering the Downtown Facade Improvement Program.

Organized Christmas programs in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, and Essex.

Generated $220,000 worth of local sales with the Gloucester Gift Certificate program since it's inception.

* Redesigned the materials and ads for the Gloucester Gift Certificate program.

Maintained the downtown banner program with the City of Gloucester.

* Purchased lobster buoys to use as holiday decorations on Gloucester's Main Street.

Held regular meetings with Gloucester City officials to discuss downtown issues.

* Coordinated and funded a free trolley to take cruise ship passengers from the Elliott Terminal to Gloucester's downtown.

Planned the fifth annual Gloucester Holiday Homecoming and built a lobster trap tree in downtown Gloucester.

* Updated the Welcome to Manchester package for new homeowners, including coupons from 20 businesses.

* Planned the first annual "Gloucester Shop and Dine" promotion.

Organized the Christmas Club coupon program for all Cape Ann retailers.

Developed retail promotions in all four communities throughout the year.

Continued discussion with the Selectmen and the Police Chief in Manchester regarding parking concerns and enforcement in the downtown area.

Coordinated the City-Chamber Joint Parking Committee.

* Provided input to the Manchester Planning Board on proposals for downtown improvements, and co-sponsored a workshop on economic development and transportation.

Attended meetings of the Downtown Development Commission.

Continued to meet with City of Gloucester representatives in order to implement Gloucester Plan 2001.

* Added 20 more flower boxes for 8 downtown Gloucester businesses, bringing the totals over the past few years to 80 flower boxes provided to 42 businesses.

4. TOURISM

Maintained space at the 128 North Visitor Center in Beverly, at which the Chamber distributed brochures for 46 tourist-related members in an A-frame brochure rack.

Coordinated a cooperative advertisement with New England Group Tour Planner.

Maintained the Cape Ann Innkeeper on Call Program with over 50 accommodations participating to assist visitors in finding a place to stay after the Chamber office and visitor centers are closed.

Distributed a listing of weekly events to inns and area attractions called This Week on Cape Ann.

Helped to coordinate the eleventh annual Gloucester Seafood Festival, bringing thousands of visitors to Cape Ann for the mid-September event.

Redesigned, published, and distributed 250,000 Cape Ann Visitor Guides.

Maintained an 800-information line and e-mail address for visitor inquiries.

Coordinated a $28,000 advertising campaign to promote Cape Ann.

* Assisted in the coordination and greeting of visitors from cruise ships coming into Gloucester Harbor.

Maintained and promoted the Chamber's tourist website, www.CapeAnnVacations.com, which received over four million hits in the past year.

* Began planning a complete redesign of www.capeannvacations.com, including an internet marketing campaign.

Received $5,500 in advertising grants from the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Coordinated regional cooperative advertising program in a spring preprint insert, which goes into 20 major newspapers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Coordinated regional cooperative advertising program in Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide to New England.

Coordinated regional cooperative advertising program in Massachusetts Getaway Guide..

Expanded office hours to seven days a week from May through October to accommodate visitors on a daily basis.

Coordinated the Gloucester Schooner Festival, the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, and the Essex ClamFest.

Attended meetings of the Gloucester Tourism Commission.

Hosted the 20th Annual Travel Writers' Weekend.

Supported the programs of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Displayed a Cape Ann tourist poster (with cooperative advertisers) at the Mansfield Information Booth, and funded posters at three other sites on the Mass Pike.

Utilized the services of Rebecca Yavner and Heather McDonald for tourism-based projects during the summer.

Maintained a list of tourist inquiries for a direct mail program.

Hosted a Tourist Division mixer to kick off the season.

Operated the Harbor Loop Information Booth for the fourth year, servicing close to 15,000 visitors.

Supported the Essex National Heritage Area commission, with Executive Director Michael Costello serving as a Trustee.

Helped to coordinate several meetings in Gloucester and Essex regarding the scenic by-ways program on Route 133.

Sponsored two Gallery Strolls in Rockport, the first as part of the Christmas program and the second in conjunction with Motif #1 Day.

* Produced a new Cape Ann street map, featuring the four communities on one side and the State on the other.

5. INDUSTRIAL

Met with key Gloucester officials on issues of importance to industry.

Helped to organize a Gloucester presence at the Boston Seafood Show.

Coordinated the publication of the Gloucester Seafood Directory.

Organized the nineteenth annual New Fish Festival, promoting greater awareness of the diversity of fish species.

Testified against Gloucester's proposed water and sewer rate increases, citing the negative impact on business.

* Organized meetings with Massachusetts Electric officials to focus on region's energy needs and recent problems with utility services.

6. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Met with Mayor Bell on a regular basis to review key City issues.

Organized the campaign against tax classification for the 23rd consecutive year.

Worked with government officials and police departments on parking issues in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, and Essex.

Coordinated the Cape Ann Caucus, bringing the area's public officials and business leaders together to discuss the housing crisis, MBTA station improvements in Gloucester and Rockport, regional planning initiatives, water and sewer issues, the North Shore Transportation Study, and the future of Addison Gilbert Hospital.

Continued work with business and civic leaders from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Manchester, and Ipswich on Economic Target Area issues.

Sponsored numerous discussions with Essex officials regarding the sewer construction and Route 133 improvement projects.

* Worked with the Gloucester City Council and the Building Inspector on new fees for building permits.

* Presented Manchester merchants' concerns regarding Planning Board proposals for downtown improvements.

* Worked with the City of Gloucester and the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to sponsor a winter conference addressing the housing issue on a regional basis.

Attended Harbor Plan Implementation Committee meetings.

Sponsored candidate debates in Rockport (twice!), Manchester, and Essex.

* Opposed Gloucester City Clerk's efforts to raise money by imposing vendors' fees and licensing fees.

* Testified on several occasions on Gloucester's new drive-through ordinance.

* Joined with Gloucester's downtown merchants in expressing grave concern about the proposed move to Main Street of the Moose Lodge.

Supported City efforts to dredge the inner harbor and Annisquam River and opposed Board of Health proposals to exercise greater control over dredging.

Continued to work with the City and the MBTA on station improvements in the Railroad Avenue area, and met with private developers on plans for the former Parisi site and the Americold property.

* Attended regional housing workshops.

* Helped to lead campaign to allow alcohol in Rockport restaurants, and made a financial contribution to the ABC Committee.

7. COMMUNITY/PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Recognized the achievements of four business people during Small Business Week.

Organized an Easter Egg Hunt for the children of Rockport.

Supported the Gloucester Pride Stride.

* Helped to fund a new ramp and floats for the Public Landing in Essex.

Maintained a community calendar of events to prevent scheduling conflicts and provided holiday information to the media detailing what's open and closed.

Organized a wide variety of ongoing community activities, such as the Essex ClamFest, the Schooner Festival, the Sidewalk Bazaars, and the Waterfront Festival.

Supported the Gloucester Fireworks Fund.

Provided a small donation to HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children).

Served on the Cape Ann Health Care Task Force.

Sponsored a visit to Manchester by the Walker Brothers Circus.

8. EDUCATION

Continued the work of the Business/Education Collaborative.

Increased support for the Collaborative and participation from the three Cape Ann public school systems, the community college, and the vocational school.

Continued to work with the Business Department at GHS regarding their participation in the DECA Marketing Program.

Sponsored the annual Focus on Education Breakfast, featuring remarks from the new Superintendents from Cape Ann's three school districts.

Awarded three Chamber scholarships of $1,000 each to area graduating seniors.

Awarded the Sylvester "Red" Deering Scholarship of $1,000 to a graduating Senior from Gloucester High School.

* Created a scholarship in honor of Patricia Roy-the first woman President of the Chamber-to be awarded to a graduating female pursuing a career in business.

Assisted with the "Taste of Essex" reception in support of the Woodman Scholarship Fund.

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
978-283-1601 ~ info@capeannchamber.com ~ Fax: 978-283-4740