The Woburn Chamber of Commerce Benefits Business and Community

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]How the Woburn Chamber of Commerce Benefits Business[/gdlr_heading]
The Woburn Chamber of Commerce was formed in the early 1980’s. For over 30 years we have been dedicated to supporting Woburn businesses. The Woburn Chamber of Commerce offers support at City Hall for new businesses as well as those seeking to expand or renovate. We are proud to act as a liaison between business and the many community organizations, non-profits and charities in the area. We know that giving back benefits business in many ways and we are proud of the contributions of our members that help make Woburn a strong and vibrant community. For many of our members the opportunity for varied and ongoing networking is vital to growing their contacts and their business. We have maintained ongoing network gatherings at member businesses as well as adding the Women of Woburn and the Young Professionals to our line up. We will be continuing to grow with our “Lunch and Learn” program launching this June.

[gdlr_heading tag= font_weight=”bold” ]What our Members Say[/gdlr_heading]

[gdlr_video url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u45IKjtkdc” ]

Featured in this short video are Steve Carr, General Manager at Dave & Busters. Steve and his team have been partners with us on many great events and have been positive community partners. Mayor Scott Galvin explains the important role of the Woburn Chamber of Commerce in advocacy and community. Our mission to encourage “Buy Local, Buy Woburn” mean we promote and encourage shopping Woburn first for products and services. President and CEO of Cummings Properties, Dennis Clarke who has been closely involved with the Woburn Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years speaks about the collaboration fostered by the Woburn Chamber of Commerce. Paul Moriarty, owner of Moriarty Financial Group shares some of the ways that businesses can use the Woburn Chamber of Commerce as a resource for support. Scott Matheson, COO at Dole & Bailey has been a longtime member, with us since the 80’s! Also in the video is Andy Hackett, owner and president of Team Logic IT of NE Massachusetts. Andy encourages you to reach out, invite us over for a tour. Sit down with us and let us share some of the ways membership can benefit your business.

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You’re Invited to Join Rise Against Hunger

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Join Rise Against Hunger[/gdlr_heading]

Rise Against Hunger is driven by the vision of a world without hunger. Their mission is to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable and creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources. They will be hosting a light dinner and conversation on March 1st from 6 to 8 pm, sharing their vision of a world without hunger and how you can be involved!  They are located at 17B Everburg Road.

[gdlr_button href=”http://events.stophungernow.org/RiseAgainstHungerOpenHouse” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]RSVP[/gdlr_button]

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Rise Against Hunger[/gdlr_heading]
Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030.

Regardless of your location on the map, age, schedule or resources, Rise Against Hunger believes you can make a positive difference in the fight against hunger. Even seemingly small contributions can add up to a BIG impact. They invite you to take action and join their growing movement to end hunger worldwide by 2030.

[gdlr_video url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ddM4eiY-dE” ]

[gdlr_button href=”http://www.riseagainsthunger.org/” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]LEARN MORE[/gdlr_button]

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New Executive Director for English At Large

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Maureen Willis is New Executive Director of English At Large[/gdlr_heading]
“We are very pleased to appoint a person with such impressive credentials and experience.  After an extensive interview process with a number of highly qualified candidates, the Board and staff voted unanimously for Maureen. Her knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to take on the challenge of guiding the excellent work of our staff and ensuring our continued growth, makes her the ideal choice to take EAL to the next level.” ~Hicham Mouhsin, President of EAL’s Board of Directors

“I am excited and honored to be joining EAL as Executive Director.  Both personally and professionally, I am inspired by the mission of EAL to help people new to our country achieve their life goals. It will be extremely rewarding to work to support this success.” ~Maureen Willis

Maureen is a native of Woburn with more than 20 years of  experience in nonprofit administration, communications, marketing, and fundraising. She is a founding director of the Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF).  She has led the development offices at several community-based nonprofits, and most recently has served as a consultant to a number of charities in Greater Boston. Willis has a B.A. in Executive Management and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy from Bay Path University.

Willis also brings a great deal of energy and commitment to the English At Large mission of helping adult immigrants gain the English language skills that will enable them to attain economic self-sufficiency, support their families, and become fully engaged in their communities.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]English At Large, Volunteer Based Non-Profit[/gdlr_heading]

English At Large (EAL) is a recipient of a 100K for 100 grant from the Cummings Foundation. They are a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that provides free individual and small group English language instruction to adult immigrants in 21 Greater Boston communities. EAL  provides free, practical, and accessible English language instruction to refugee and immigrant adults in 21 Boston area communities.

Their vision is that newcomers to the United States will develop the English language skills and acquire the cultural knowledge they need to fully engage in their communities and fulfill their life goals.

EAL helps people overcome language barriers, so that they can get find jobs, adjust to their new environment, obtain community services, access health care and advocate for their children at school.

Each year EAL’s trained volunteers provide free one-to-one English language tutoring and small group instruction to hundreds of adult learners in 21 Boston-area cities and towns, helping them improve their English language skills, adapt to American life, and participate in their communities

 [gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Volunteer Opportunities with EAL[/gdlr_heading]

Resume Review Event
English At Large will be holding two resume review events for learners to work on their career goals!
 We are looking for volunteers to help English language learners practice and improve their resume writing skills.
 By serving as a resume reviewer, your candidate will improve how they present themselves to potential employers, and deliver important cultural information that can be hard to access.
There will be a volunteer orientation session before the event — if you have not volunteered at a resume review event before, please plan on attending one.

There are two resume reviews:

Saturday, February 25, from 10:30 am – 1:45 pm at the Acton Memorial Library in Acton, MA.

Monday, March 27, from 12:30 am – 3:00 pm at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington, MA.

Website: www.englishatlarge.org

Introducing the Language and Culture of the U.S.

 

 

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Baker Administration’s Proposed Health Assessment on Employers

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Proposed Health Assessment on Employers[/gdlr_heading]

The Baker Administration’s proposed 2018 fiscal year budget includes a $300 million health assessment on employers. The assessment is meant to help cover the deficit the state faces in funding MassHealth (Medicaid).

The administration plan would impose a $2,000-per-employee fee upon companies at which at least 80 percent of full-time worker equivalents do not take the company’s offer of health insurance, and that do not make a minimum contribution of $4,950 annual contribution for each full-time worker. If 70 percent of a company’s employees accept company health insurance, the company would be assessed $2,000 per employee for the number of employees represented by the 10 percent difference. (aimblog, Jan. 26, 2017)

Specifically, the budget calls for a $2,000 per full time equivalent employee assessment on businesses with more than 10 employees if the employer does not contribute at least $4,950 towards each full time employee’s health care and have an 80% take up rate (participation rate) in a group health plan.

 

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]What Does This Mean To Your Business[/gdlr_heading]

The following are helpful links to learn more about what this would mean to your business.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Contact Your Legislators[/gdlr_heading]

 

    You can reach out to your legislators and tell them how this would affect your business. The malegislature.gov site has a find your legislators link which gives you all the information you need to contact them.
        [gdlr_button href=”https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
        ” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS[/gdlr_button]
        [gdlr_button href=”http://www.goodlayers.com” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Find Your Legislators[/gdlr_button]
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10th Annual Food & Wine Tasting

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Woburn Host Lions Club’s 10th Annual Food and Wine Tasting [/gdlr_heading]
The Woburn Host Lions Club will be having their 10th Annual Food and Wine Tasting on February 25th from 6 to 9pm at the Crowne Plaza in Woburn.  For the 10th year this event features tasting over 50 wines from vineyards located all over the world. Enjoy sampling menu items from popular area restaurants. The Woburn Host Lions Annual Wine and Food Tasting is a must attend event.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Entertainment[/gdlr_heading]
WPMC’s Easy Gourmet will provide culinary exhibits throughout the evening including his crowd favorite seared scallops. Beer sampling from local breweries will also be available. Enjoy live entertainment by Mary Beth Maes.

Must be 21 years or older to attend.

Enjoy a unique evening of wine, food and entertainment and support the efforts of the Woburn Host Lions. The event has sold out every year, get your tickets today.

[gdlr_button href=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woburn-host-lions-10th-annual-food-and-wine-tasting-tickets-31251357652″ target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Tickets[/gdlr_button]

 

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IT Small Business Incubator

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]IT Small Business Incubator[/gdlr_heading]
The State of Massachusetts has introduced a new program to help simplify contracting with the Commonwealth for small IT businesses…

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s procurement department, the Operational Services Division (OSD), in partnership with MassIT, invites small IT professional services companies to participate in the IT Small Business Incubator Pilot, which aims to reduce barriers to doing business with the Commonwealth, expedite contracting, and increase access to innovative services.

[gdlr_button href=”https://blog.mass.gov/osd/small-business/introducing-the-information-technology-it-small-business-incubator-pilot/” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]READ MORE[/gdlr_button]

Please visit the website through the link above to find out if your business qualifies and what you need to do to participate.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]What Types of Services Qualify?[/gdlr_heading]

The types of services they are looking for include:

  • Applications/systems design and development;
  • Software and systems integration;
  • Information technology planning; and
  • Other intellectual work performed by IT professionals.

 

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]When is the deadline to respond?[/gdlr_heading]

While there is no set deadline for response, the Commonwealth is planning to guide the first cohort of Pilot participants in July.

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Celebrate Woburn’s 375th Anniversary

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Woburn’s 375th Anniversary Celebration[/gdlr_heading]

2017 will be a year of celebration marking Woburn’s 375th Anniversary since it’s incorporation as a City. This milestone provides an extraordinary opportunity to recognize the rich heritage of this great City and the significant contributions of the men and women who have gone before us.  A committee has been working hard over the last several months to organize a variety of events throughout the year to commemorate this historic milestone.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Historic & Interfaith Celebration[/gdlr_heading]

Woburn’s 375th Anniversary celebration will kick off with an Historic and Interfaith Celebration to be held on Sunday, January 8, 2017, at 2 p.m. in the First Congregational Church, followed by light refreshments downstairs at the church. The kickoff event’s keynote speaker is U.S. Senator Ed Markey, who has represented the people of Woburn in local, state and federal government throughout his legislative career. The celebration will feature a local children’s choir led by Lynn Burns (Music Director at St. Charles), and High School Choral Group, Mishawum Choral Society, and a Community Choir, led by Brian Gilbertie (Music Director of the Mishawum Choral Society and Woburn High School Choral Group).  The ceremony will also include a recreation of the 1642 installation of Rev. Thomas Carter, the first minister of Woburn.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Year Long Celebration[/gdlr_heading]

The 375th Celebration Committee has planned a year long celebration that includes a Winter Family Festival & ice Hockey Classic, Battleroad Clean Up & Rededication, an Anniversary Gala and much more. Please visit the website to learn more about the planned events, history of Woburn and to donate.

[gdlr_button href=”http://www.woburn375.com/?post_type=tribe_events” target=”_self” s

ize=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]375th Events[/gdlr_button]

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Join WCEF at the Women’s Forum and Purse Raffle

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Woburn Community Education Foundation, WCEF[/gdlr_heading]

In 2014 the Woburn Community Education Foundation was formed to help “fill the gap” in funding for Woburn public schools. WCEF raises funds through special events and direct appeals. These revenues are then are gifted back to the public schools through our Educator Grants Program as well as through special initiatives for educational enhancements not covered by the district’s publicly funded budget. This non-profit organization has made incredile strides in just a few short years and are moving forward, full steam ahead. Maureen Willis, WCEF Executive Director joined us at the September Women of Woburn lunch at the Courtyard Marriot. She gave a preview of oneof the purses which will be raffled off at the upcoming Women’s Forum.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Women’s Forum & Purse Raffle[/gdlr_heading]

One of their most popular fundraisers is the Women’s Forun & Purse Raffle. This great event features a key note speaker as well as the purse raffle. This year’s special guest is award-winning journalist, author and inspirational keynote speaker Kelley Tuthill.  Please consider joining them on Sunday, October 16th at 11am at the Crest View Plaza in Woburn for a wonderful brunch buffet and raffle of high-end and designer purses, all to support WCEF’s Educator Grants program.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Emily Riemer[/gdlr_heading]

Emily Riemer, a local native of Andover, MA, is currently the co-anchor of NewsCenter 5’s EyeOpener as well as NewsCenter 5 at noon.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Join Them[/gdlr_heading]

Please help them welcome Emily to Woburn!  Event tickets are $50 each, which includes one free entry in the fabulous purse raffle.  Additional Raffle tickets will be sold at the event only for $5 each or 6 for $20.  Forms and tickets can be found on their website at www.woburnedfoundation.org/fundraising/womens-forum

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Celebrating Our 32nd Anniversary

The Woburn Chamber of Commerce is celebrating our 32nd Anniversary.

The Woburn Chamber of Commerce began with the idea that Woburn businesses deserved to have an association dedicated to advocating for their best interests. Thirty two years later we are still going strong.
We are proud to have been supporting Woburn businesses thrive for 32 years! The Woburn Chamber of Commerce has been at work behind the scenes at City Hall all this time working to make ensure that Woburn continues to be a business friendly city. We continue to offer networking opportunities that now include our Woburn Young Professionals events and Women of Woburn monthly munches in addition to our monthly Network Gatherings. We offer free assistance with your business’ Google listing, help promote event and sponsorship opportunities and give members a fully updatable listing on our site.

We are proud of our members and our community. Together we are strong partners in business and community success.

As part of our 32nd Anniversary celebration we are offering $25 off of our annual membership fee for each new member referral.

BECOME A MEMBER

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Proudly Sponsoring Wu Stock on Aug. 14

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The Woburn Chamber of Commerce is a proud sponsor of Wu Stock:

WUSTOCK – AN OUTDOOR ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.

The Scoreboard Sports Bar & Grill and The Crowne Plaza Boston  are producing an outdoor rock music festival called Wu Stock. The concert will benefit two local breast cancer related non-profits, the Tanner Ta Ta Foundation and the Friends of Katherine Wall. The festival will feature 4 of the best New England based, nationally and internationally recognized touring rock tribute bands.

Purchase Tickets HERE

The festival will open with Introduction, A Chicago Experience performing the best of the music of the Chicago Transit Authority, later know as just Chicago. Foreigners Journey, The Authentic Foreigner and Journey Experience will perform next. Followed by Live Bullet, A Tribute to the Music of Bob Seger. 

Last up will be Draw The Line – The only endorsed Aerosmith Tribute Show worldwide! They boast accolades from Steven Tyler & Joey Kramer as well as family & friends of the legendary rock group. This is as authentic as it can ever get!

The event will be held on the back patio and parking lot of the Scoreboard Sports Bar & Grill / Crowne Plaza Boston – Woburn. The festival gates will open at 12:00 pm on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The bands will start at 1:30 pm and run until 9:00 pm. 

Scoreboard General Manager, Stephan Harron promises, “The festival will be a day of incredibly good music. We are very excited about having been able to secure 4 great bands to perform at one show. A wide variety of foods will be available ranging from burgers, dogs and sausages right off the grill to New England Lobster Rolls and everything in between. The beer selection will include local brews as well as domestic and imported favorites. We are working with our wine distributors to put together a variety of wines sold by the glass.”

About the not for profit organizations benefiting from the event ticket sales:

Tanner Ta Ta Foundation
The Tanner Ta Ta Foundation helps local women and families in a variety of ways. The Tanner Ta Ta Foundation was incorporated in 2009 after many years of informal support between friends. The Foundation has several goals:

•To provide emotional support to women and families at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis, as well as during treatment and beyond.•To provide gifts of encouragement and care to women in treatment.•To be a source of support for children and spouses of women in treatment.•To network with other organizations.•To support the research into breast cancer causes and the search for a cure by sponsoring walkers in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.•To be a source of education, information, and continued support for the health and well-being of survivors of breast cancer.
For more information on the Tanner Ta Ta Foundation please find the Tanner Ta Ta Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or at tannertatas.org

Friends of Katherine Wall
Katherine Wall was a 3-sport athlete at Arlington High School and UMASS Boston. She excelled at soccer, ice hockey, and softball. She was inducted into the UMASS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. Soon after graduating from UMASS at the age of 23, Katherine was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation -an aggressive treatment with the hopes that the cancer would not return. She remained cancer free for almost 4 years until the cancer was found again in her lymph nodes. She again endured another surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation with strength and hope that this time the cancer would be gone. Unfortunately that was not the case. Katherine always approached life and her diagnosis with courage, humor, and hope that a cure would be found soon.

That did not happen, and on September 2, 2015, Katherine died peacefully at home. She went on her terms with courage, grace, and dignity surrounded with love. So in the end cancer didn’t win, Katherine did like always.

The Friends of Katherine Wall is a fund to award scholarships to seniors from Arlington High School. The recipients are athletes who may have struggled in some other way throughout his/her school career. In 2016, two scholarships were awarded and the Friends of Katherine Wall hope to continue this each year in Katherine’s memory.

Katherine’s mother, Jeanne Wall, leads the Friends of Katherine Wall.

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