Note from the President
of the GMCC  It’s hard for me to believe that I will soon begin my seventh year as President of the Chamber. There have been many changes in the way business is conducted since I started as the Chamber’s Administrative Assistant 17 years ago. Remember your first fax machine? It was magic the way you could transmit a message across town or even further simply by inserting the sheet of paper into the fax, plugging in the number, and away it went. And typewriters; remember the Selectric’s with the ball in the middle? Making multiple copies of a document required carbon paper, White Out, and those great typing erasers since correcting a typo was not as simple as striking the “delete” key on today’s keyboards! Technology was supposed to make our lives simpler, or so we thought. But today it seems technology has made our lives more hectic, complicated and ever-changing. And it’s easy to get caught up in the non-personal world of websites, Google searches, and emails. At the Chamber we’ve struggled to keep up with the modern ways of doing business. When I first started here we had one computer, no website, and we didn’t even accept credit cards. Today, if our network server or email go down for even a few minutes, it’s a full-blown crisis. The reality is, however, that the really important things that the Chamber does have not fundamentally changed; not in the last 17 years and probably not in the last 50 or 100 years. And it all starts with our philosophy. We believe that what is good for the residents of Greater Manchester is good for Manchester’s business community. And that the continued success and prosperity of Greater Manchester’s businesses is vital to the well-being and lifestyle of the people who live and work here. While we may have adopted 21st Century communication tools to help us in our efforts, technology alone will never let us meet our goals and objectives. No, that takes some very old-fashioned and very non-technological elements like concern, common sense, dedication and teamwork. The long-stated goal of the GMCC is to make Manchester an even better place to live, work and do business. And whether we’ve typed that on letterhead on an old Selectric typewriter, emblazoned it on our website, or put it at the bottom of 1,000 emails everyday, our efforts toward that goal have been consistent for over 100 years. As President of the Chamber a good part of my role is facilitating. Knowing who needs help or support and knowing who to call to make sure they get it. And I am never disappointed by the response of our member businesses or public partners, no matter what is needed or how often I call. I’ve been around a while, and I can tell you this. Manchester Chamber business people are the most generous, committed, hard-working and caring people I have ever known. In any place, at any time. Should you have any questions, concerns, issues or ideas for the Chamber, please be sure to pick up the phone and give me a call. Or feel free to send me a fax or email. Thanks. Sincerely,  Sue O'Connor President | Message from the Chairman of the Board  I joined the Chamber in September of 2003. It sounded like the right thing to do for my business. I had recently moved to my downtown Main Street location, and I felt the Chamber could help the business grow, and get me involved in my community. I started slowly, first attending Coffee Connections, a few grand openings, seminars, after hour’s events. I found them beneficial and enjoyable as well. I met new people, made new business contacts, and acquired new clients. I volunteered on the Golf and Dinner Dance committees then joined the Ambassadors. Later, I was asked to be on the Board, then the Executive Committee. But, never did I think nine short years later that I would be accepting the Chairmanship of the Manchester Chamber. I am truly honored. Thank you. And thank you to Mike Downs for his time and hard work during his tenure. It’s been a tough two years, but Mike kept a steady hand at the Chamber’s helm. Thank you also to the Chairmen who have gone before me, and to our Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Their careful eye, guidance and wisdom is instrumental to our success. Sue O’Connor and her team, April DiFalco, Amy Belske, and Lisa Lamb, can always be counted on to do whatever is necessary for the benefit of our members and our organization. Thank you. We will miss Bob Pagani and Linda Wieleba as they retire from our Board, but know that your willing participation is much appreciated, and we hope to work with you through the Chamber in the future. Welcome to our new Board members: Ryan Gripp, Stan Kontogiannis, Tom Ostergren, and Steve Pedneault. Thank you for accepting your new role as Board Members. And to this year’s Community Achievement Award Recipient, our heartfelt congratulations and thanks for all you do for our community. You are a shining example of community involvement for us all. I plan to be a very active Chairperson, getting to know as many member businesses as possible over the next two years. I hope you will join me as we work together to convey the benefits of Chamber membership to the many businesses who are not yet members. Please feel free to contact me or Sue O’Connor, Chamber President; to discuss any ideas, suggestions, or concerns, you may have about the Chamber. I am excited and proud to serve as the Chamber’s Chairperson for the next two years. Sincerely  Kathy Kamerer GMCC, Chairperson of the Board Katherine’s Hair Design |
